More bad news for the nay-sayers:
Tulsa and OKC, #6 and 10 respectively, are ranked Forbes "best cities for jobs" list:
http://www.forbes.com/leadership/2007/10/12/jobs-growth-environment-lead-careers-cx_mk_1012cities.html
1. SLC
2. Raleigh, NC
3. Phoenix
4. Jacksonville
5. Orlando
6. Tulsa
http://www.forbes.com/2007/10/12/jobs-growth-environment-lead-careers-cx_mk_1012cities_slide_7.html?thisSpeed=15000
7. Austin
8. Wichita
9. Albuquerque
10. OKC
- - -
Criteria include unemployment, poverty levels, wage growth, cost of living/median income, and job growth. Not bad company for two lowly Oklahoma cities.
quote:
Originally posted by hello
Do they live here? Because then I might put more stock into what they have to say.
There is so little in Tulsa to recommend itself and it seems content to not try to improve.
Or perhaps you can see the big picture more clearly from a distance...
quote:
Originally posted by hello
Do they live here? Because then I might put more stock into what they have to say.
There is so little in Tulsa to recommend itself and it seems content to not try to improve.
Are you commenting on the above article? The article was about jobs, you are commenting on what is in Tulsa to "recommend itself," whatever that means. Guess I'm not sure what you are even nay saying about at this point.
There are a lot of things going on and that "still have yet to be revealed" [8D].
At this point I would actually rather see slow but solid growth rather than too fast done poorly. We are on the verge of creating Form Based Code districts and are seeing the need for other methods so that any new growth we do get will create a wonderful, liveable city, with places that will last and grow well.
I would rather have a small city that is done well, is quality versus quantity, has beautiful places,and great urban neighborhoods. Big and fast growing isnt always the best.
Its perfectly fine to be Florence and not try to be Rome.
I posted a thread on another forum of a lot of my favorite places, buildings, downtown, etc. around town. Though there were other photo threads showing this and that skyscraper in other cities being built, I realized that the beauty and quality of what we have is quite impressive for a city our size and even for cities twice our size. Others commented to the same. If we add to that quality heritage, do things well. We can have a great city.
There is a city in Spain that wasnt all that well known or talked about on the world scene, or in Europe. Valencia. But a while back they started making a presence known on the world stage and have really started to boom. They have chosen to build some incredibly beautiful buildings, some wonderful architecture. Each new thing they build is stunning. They are a relatively small city but now have a lot of buzz and growth going on. They didnt start off with quanity, they focused on quality and quality of life and it has paid off.
The things we take the most pride in in this city are often those things that were done "beautifully well". We just need to not forget that and keep going with it. And of course dont forget the basics like schools, streets, etc.
I am proud that our arena will be something, above average, it will be another jewel, one more thing to show off and be proud of. Not the biggest, but dont underestimate the power of beauty and a thing well done. We have that as an underutilized assett in this city already, we need to grow it, enhance it and sell it. The fact that we are having decent job growth, and havent felt the mortgage crisis as badly as other places tells me that we will likely continue to grow, but I hope we make sure that what we do build we build well. Jobs arent fancy or splashy, but the growth they bring and the things we do can be done well or poorly. Jobs can bring the kind of city we want. Both need to be focused on and developed well, not either or if you want a great city.
Valencia
(http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/6366/lvalencia5sa7.jpg)
(http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/1980/lvalenciaehx1.jpg)
(http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/8571/lvalencia4uv4.jpg)
New Valencia Stadium
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i_E8jNQgfk&feature=related
If you're actually a degreed "young professional," you should not have a problem finding jobs in Tulsa in accounting, real estate, technology, law, or *especially* energy. Have you actually checked out the job market, or is it just a problem of perception?
quote:
Originally posted by TheArtist
There are a lot of things going on and that "still have yet to be revealed" [8D].
Its perfectly fine to be Florence and not try to be Rome.
I think it's much better to be Florence, no contest.
It is an over all ranking for gods sake, it doesn't say anything directly about anything. Just a basic assessment that the job market is doing good in Tulsa. If you hate Tulsa, then no... having a good job market will not keep you here.
Wichita is much like Tulsa. Without a skyline, minus 300,000 people, colder, and lacking the mid-town neighborhoods and architecture. It has a really nice East side that resembles South Tulsa, a Bricktown like area just East of downtown, and a great arboretum just west of downtown. It has slightly higher incomes and just about the same cost of living (housing is slightly more expensive).
I seriously considered an offer there, but decided I did not want to move in the new town was on par with Tulsa. Smaller, colder, and really has less to offer than Tulsa (no college football, less museums, less shows [ballet and opera far inferior], less art, etc.). Wichita has always been provincial to KC, Lawrence, Manhattan and Topeka.
It is a nice clean town though. If you are looking for something similar to Tulsa just a little smaller and don't care about football, shows, or some of the other things it is a really nice town. I just didn't consider it a huge step up. If you are looking for excitement and want to get away from all that is Tulsa... set your bar a little higher.
.
Frankly, if you are constantly bored in Tulsa you will probably be bored wherever you move to. If you do not like going to bars here, then you will not in NYC. If you don't go hiking around here then you won't around Denver. If you don't go to shows in Tulsa you won't in Vegas. If you never go the lakes near Tulsa you won't probably go to the beaches in LA. If you never go to Tulsa, ORU, Drillers, Oilers, or Talons games in Tulsa you are not likely to go to pro team sports very often. If you do not enjoy the Tulsa drag strip, the chili bowl, or the other races around here its not likely the races where else will constantly entertain you.
Other cities have lots to offer to be sure and Tulsa does not bring you the world... but if you truly think there is "almost nothing to do" then you are a lost cause wherever you end up. Did you go to Oktoberfest? The Muskogee Airshow? Rocky Horror was in town a while back. I'm sure there are 2 shows this weekend at the PAC. Probably something going on at the circle and another live theater too. When was the last time you were at the Philbrook/Gilcrease? Going to the ORU/Tulsa game tonight? Did you catch the BMX Grand Nationals in Tulsa over the weekend? Did you make it to the PGA when it was in town?
I'm not trying to insult you, but there is always something to do in any city half of Tulsa's size. If you think only OU/Texas games, NASCAR, Broadway, or other top tier entertainment options will keep you on your toes then you are in for an expensive and rude awakening when you move to some big city. Those options are not constant, are expensive, and grow weary themselves. Not that there isnt MORE to do in Chicago than Tulsa, but stating there is "nearly nothing" is giving up way, way too easily.
OK.
CF: Thanks for the positive article. However, it seems you can always count on some bozo out there willing to trash good news about Tulsa--Thanks Hello
To be fair, it's absolutely worth getting out of town for a while, if for nothing else than to satisfy wanderlust. I think the posters on this board have satisfied those yearnings and see Tulsa for what it is. And are happy.
I certainly sympathize with the idea that Tulsa could do so much more. But it's exciting that the city is doing so well in the employment arena, because regional development always begins with employment.
Good points artist and floyd.
I am lucky enough to get out of town enough to appreciate what Tulsa offers. This year I have been to Las Vegas, Chicago(2), San Francisco, Minneapolis, Memphis, Denver(2), Washington DC(2), Dallas(3), Kansas City (3), St. Louis(2) and Houston. I have been to fancy restaurants, trendy bars, museums, outdoor malls, children's spots and parks.
But Tulsa does have stuff that is equally fun. I loved DFest and Mayfest, went to Philbrook and Gilcrease multiple times, had a blast at TU's homecoming game, really enjoyed the atmosphere at Driller games with my kids and went to parties at some of the fanciest houses in town. I had a great time at Arnies on St. Patrick's Day, go to tailgate parties every Sunday with the Packers fan club, and enjoyed every soccer game, football game and scout meeting my kids were involved in.
I love that I feel part of a church community, have a school that almost every parent knows my kids (a school which scores almost perfect scores on all standardized tests), see my city councilor and state representative out and about, and am part of many community groups that want my input and help. There are dozens of things to do every night and every weekend in Tulsa. We stay so busy and have many close friends.
I am so blessed to have such a life and I give much of the credit to where I live. Our neighbors embraced us and many of them met us the day we moved in. My wife and I both work for non-profits, but that is still enough income for us to have a wonderful home with a backyard the size of a park . We spend very little time commuting which gives us more quality time with our kids. We feel safe in our house and have a fishing pond and walking trail less than two hundred yards from our front door.
None of these things would be affordable or available to us in any of the cities I have visited. Tulsa is great for us and the only place I could imagine raising our kids.
you all should take some planes some place some time. listen to the chit chat about where people are going. then mention where you are from or where you are going (Tulsa). You will here "Oh that's a nice town." STOP. Thats it, thats all you will hear. But if someone mentions Portland you hear oohs and ahhs.
The jobs ranking just means that tulsa has jobs....lots of ****ty, grunt work jobs. big whoop.
Actually, I've heard "I love visiting there" a lot.
The oohs and ahhhhs are true. Tulsa rarely draws oooh and ahhhhs like the hipper cities. I'm not arguing Tulsa is perfect nor even better than any particular locale.
And I agree that I would like to see more highly educated white collar jobs. But to call the current industrial boom "shi!!y grunt work jobs" is condescending and wrong. My company is looking to hire someone for one of this sh!t jobs at around $60,000 a year. How horrible for some poor bastard with a high school education.
Welders, pipe fitters, machinists... all do fairly well. The telemarketing jobs seems to be marginal and the slow growth of white collar jobs is troubling, but don't sell a job short just because its "sh!tty grunt work." Oil field work is grunt work, and Skelly, Chapman, and Zink all ended up OK.
Some think that because you say you like Tulsa, that means you like the way things are, that you dont want any change.
I am actually the opposite. The more I grow to like and care about Tulsa, the more I want to make it better.
There are also those who seem to dislike Tulsa, yet dont do anything to make a positive change.
Saying you like Tulsa isnt saying you dont think it could be better.
Certainly, the effects of 1804 are providing new opportunities in roofing, landscaping, concrete and dish washing.
"T" Towne has it made in the shade tons of jobs and low housing costs, what more can ya ask for? In the other cities listed with jobs most have sky high housing costs and/or rents. Wichita has cheap housing to, but I don't get the booming job market there. Wichita's job market seems poor to me. I have looked at job sites for Wichita and they seem bleek at least for my line of work (mfg). Omaha is a great city and is one of my favorite cities, Omaha has it all, the unemployment rate is around 3% and housing is not too bad, but prop. taxes are high about $1,000.00 plus for a $60,000 home. However, Omaha has a super system of jogging trails, you can run your legs off and not have to worry about cars, or crossing a street. Omaha's jogging trail system is second to none. The drawback is Omaha is a very cold city. I like Texas for it's warm, mild sunny climate. I lived in the D/FW MetroPlex back in the 1980's. Great weather in Dallas the winters are not too bad, and the summers are great sunny & warm.[:)]
Wichita is doing well because Cargill is doing very well. Cargill and Koch are the #1 and #2 largest private companies in the country and they are HQ'd in Wichita.
I moved here from California in 1989. Company I worked for merged with a company here. They decided to close down the operations in California. Got sent here twice with the transition and liked what I saw. They offered me a job and I moved here. Don't miss the left coast one bit.
quote:
Originally posted by inteller
Wichita is doing well because Cargill is doing very well. Cargill and Koch are the #1 and #2 largest private companies in the country and they are HQ'd in Wichita.
You are correct on Koch, but Cargill is HQ'd in Minneapolis, not Wichita.
QT & SemGroup are large private companies in Tulsa. SemGroup is the 12th largest. QT is # 40.
Helmrich and Payne and OneOK are "closely held" partnerships. Essentially private companies. Worth $4.1B and $4.36 Billion respectively. Both FORTUNE 200 companies.
So if large private industry is the key to a thriving metro, Tulsa should be doing very well. And it is.