As many of us are aware of, June 15 marks a day for Tulsa that brings a 50 year wait to an end. That’s right they are digging up a 1957 Plymouth that is buried beneath a sidewalk near the old Tulsa County Court House. This event has generated much buzz and excitement not only in the local community, but has also received countless national attention. I personally know of many people planning to drive in from neighboring and distant states to attend this spectacular event. And all of this was planned 50 years ago to be part of our states centennial celebration.
As a native Tulsan, and avid car enthusiast, I myself have been counting down the days on my calendar for nearly a year now. As the event grows nearer, my enthusiasm and excitement has diminished, not as a result of the novelty wearing off, but as a result of the details of the event continues to evolve. As I now understand it, I am going to be forced to purchase a ticket to be able to witness the unveiling of the 50 year old coffin. I was under the impression that the Oklahoma legislature provisioned funds to pay for projects and events for the year long celebration of our wonderful state.
Remember the fireworks that went on in downtown back in November, those funds paid for that event as well. I quickly grew concerned about the funds that the “Tulsarama� people are generating off of this event. I have to admit I have not been able to bring myself to pay the $25 required to purchase a reserved seat to the unveiling of the car. I did some research and discovered directly on the buriedcar.com website that on April 23rd, 2007 a press release was issued stating that “Mayor Kathy Taylor announced that the City of Tulsa will waive all fees associated with the use of the Maxwell Convention Center for the events involving the buried Belvedere.� Later on the same release adds that “On Thursday, April 19th, the Tulsa county Budget Board, unanimously passed a measure to aid the Tulsarama events as well, allocating 56,000 for law enforcement and safety involving the events.�
This is where my concerns began to grow greater, so I started making some phone calls. First I called my city councilor, who while quite interested in my concern did not have the answers to my questions readily available. Then I decided to contact the Oklahoma Centennial Commission directly, where my phone calls were never returned. The only person who I was able to get any information from was Paula Hale, the Tulsa Coordinator for the car event. She told me that they were attempting to generate funds for this event through primarily private donations. I asked her about the fact that the Convention Center and police protection had been underwritten by the City, and County. I never received a direct answer from her.
Now I understand that there will be expenses that will be incurred beyond simply having a building and police present. There will be event insurance, excavation fees, and other such expenses that go with any large event. I do however have a hard time believing that there is not a single excavation company in this entire great state of ours that would be willing to donate their services. I also find it hard to believe that enough private donations can not be generated to cover the other costs associated with this event.
Instead I will be left with 2 choices: Pay to park in downtown Tulsa Pay $75 for tickets to get my family seats, and I am sure there will be t-shirts and other novelties available at the event. Or I can simply not attend and wait to see the results of the event in the newspaper.
As a concerned citizen of Tulsa, I think the Oklahoma Centennial Commission has a duty to be financially responsible with the funding of their events and needs to be open with its citizens about where those funds are coming from. In addition I am concerned that I could not get a straight answer, as to where proceeds generated from the event that exceeded the costs would be diverted. I would not have such a hard time stomaching this whole situation if it were being put on by a private source, but this is the state and city governments hosting this event.
I am certain that I am not the only citizen that will share my concerns regarding this whole convoluted event. The city of Tulsa demands Answers.
Signed,
Bentley Wright
This sounds familiar- wasn't this post in the "letters to the editor" in this weeks UTW?
Anyway, I also think it stinks they are charging admission to see the car.
Why not? It's not like digging up that vault is cheap.
There's no free lunch, kids.
If you can't afford a ticket, just check the TV, newspaper and YouTube after it's all done. I don't think there will be a lack of news coverage by any stretch.
Not arguing that it's cheap to dig up a car - Just that it should have been included in the Centennial Celebration budget. Not that we can do much about it now.
Of all the things to get done at no cost...It should be the excavation and the crain....I can't imagine companies not fighting to provide that service for free....This is getting attention on a world wide level....
The crane will be provided either free or at labor cost.
However, I would like to point out that crane services are not heavily advertised as they have a limited audience. So seeing a crane from Tulsa on CNN or whatever probably wont help that company too much. The local exposure to business people is much more valuable.
One might think that some of those associated with Tulsa Vision Builders and the arena project would not mind contributing to this effort.
I forget, where do those construction companies get their funding from?
Of course, maybe no one has asked them.
Yes this is a copy of the letter that I sent to UTw which was printed this week. I also emailed it to the Tulsa world, and hope they will print it as well!
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
The crane will be provided either free or at labor cost.
However, I would like to point out that crane services are not heavily advertised as they have a limited audience. So seeing a crane from Tulsa on CNN or whatever probably wont help that company too much. The local exposure to business people is much more valuable.
Thank you for the valuble marketing lesson,but you answered your own question....Crane services are specialized buisnesses and frequently travel out of state for jobs...Another note an aquaintance of mine has a crane company here in town....Now back to topic.....
what a load of crap...
i'll watch it on cnn...
so the "dignitaries" are the only ones who can see the "unearthing" live but then they'll charge for the "unveiling" or you can just wait and go to see it for five bucks at the car show? e
There isn't any parking downtown on a normal day, how are they going to handle an event like this?
Um, yes, there is.
Hawkins, you've already displayed your ignorance of downtown on other threads. Don't aggravate the situation.
quote:
Originally posted by bentleytulsa
Instead I will be left with 2 choices: Pay to park in downtown Tulsa...
The event's on a Saturday. It will be incredibly easy to find parking for free on the street. Just park a few blocks away.
quote:
Originally posted by hawkins
There isn't any parking downtown on a normal day, how are they going to handle an event like this?
Has anyone complaining about parking in Tulsa ever been to an actual major city? You can find ample, affordable parking within a block or two of just about anywhere in downtown Tulsa at any time of day or night.
If you can't find parking downtown, then perhaps you're not smart enough to be operating a motor vehicle.
All these people constantly complaining about downtown parking should just move to mayberry. there's plenty of free parking downtown there.
$25 my donkey. I bet the brass hats from Vanguard will get comps. [B)]
Metered parking in downtown Tulsa has got to be among the cheapest in the western hemisphere. I'm not so sure it isn't cheaper to feed the meter for 8 hrs than it is to pony up an ungodly $3 or $4 to park in the parking garage.
quote:
Originally posted by Breadburner
Thank you for the valuble [sic] marketing lesson,but you answered your own question....Crane services are specialized buisnesses [sic] and frequently travel out of state for jobs...Another note an aquaintance [sic] of mine has a crane company here in town....Now back to topic.....
Thank you for your insight. Though a specialized business Crane's are not that mobile. Many cranes require a great deal of time and cost to transport and setup, they do not lend themselves well to interstate travel. Even mobile crane such as HTC's do not operate particular well over the road and travel at minimally safe speeds. Furthermore, most cranes over 100 Tons are over the weight and width requirements for travel on the turnpikes in Oklahoma. ON top of that, they are restricted to operate during daylight hours but NOT during rush hours.
All this is further complicated by the fact that most crane service is done in a regional market. Several larger players operate between states (Belger) but that is the exception, not the rule. Even these companies are regional in nature and appeal to a trade, not the mass market. Even in these companies most cranes will stay in the vicinity in which they primarily operate. Crane will travel for extended work, or if there is more than the odd job then the company will likely open up a division in that area.
For instance, it is rare for a company in Tulsa to send a crane to OKC. More often than not, the company will simply refer that business to an operation in the area instead of waisting the customers money and putting the wear on the equipment to drive to OKC.
I would have to disagree that cranes "frequently travel" to out of state jobs or, for that matter, that the national advertising for this event is what the focus is.
Another note: I help run the crane company that has been contacted by the planning committee of the car lift and offered to donate our services.
Did you really want to talk cranes or were you just making conversation?
Let's talk cranes. Take your pick: [;)]
(http://www.truckweb.ca/images/PauleMarcoux/Wreck/Oups_Crane.jpg)
(http://www.windowsonnature.com/Nature_Pages/Nature_Map/Pages/WadingBirds/images/BD_Crane_Sandhill_Three.jpg)
(http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/972/cranezr7.jpg)
(http://www.poetryconnection.net/images/crane1.jpg)
This game is getting challenging.
(http://www.filmica.com/sonia_blanco/archivos/fotos/frasier2.jpg)
(http://www.ussvictoria.co.uk/fullofshat/images/Denny%20Crane.jpg)
(http://polnotes.typepad.com/windfarmblog/images/hogansheroes2_2.jpg)