George Kaiser's Forbes 400 Profile...

[Tulsa4Life]

And I come from the other point of view that this is more than just frills!  As I see it we need to be willing to invest in our central tax base and then infrastructure problems will be addressed by this larger tax base.  Shouldn't our tax base be able to sustain the road repairs for the most part?

[perspicuity85]

quote:Originally posted by RuralDweller
Truthfully, it's no surprise that those from outside this community who drive into it, think it is a blighted community.  Other than cleaning up (somewhat) this year for the PGA, a typical drive into this city in the summer shows overgrown right-of-ways, dilapidated and defunct businesses, roads that will literally destroy the front-end on your vehicle, etc.  

Maybe it's time we took care of the basics first.  Once we get our roads & infrastructure beefed up, may then we can think about frills such as the river, etc.  I find it curious that a large segment of the voting populace thinks it's OK to mount a tax for river improvements while the infrastructure of this city is quite literally falling apart.

We do take care of the basics.  Didn't a large bond dedicated to street improvements pass through the city council recently?  The river improvements attract people like me who will soon be looking for a vibrant urban environment.  I'm a senior level college student working on a double major, and I view the river improvements as support for the urban core of Tulsa.  It is necessary for cities to invest in their urban core and cultural infrastructure in order to increase their tax base.  Young professionals aren't going to drive around looking for potholes on your streets, they're going to look for an attractive culture and lifestyle.  Supporting the river improvements is an indirect investment in Tulsa's physical infrastructure.  If people like me move to Tulsa, the city increases its tax base for physical infrastructure improvements.  If I live in the urban core, I will be driving on much less of Tulsa's city streets on a day-to-day basis.  I can assure everyone on this forum, lifestyle and culture are extremely important issues for young professionals.  Cities compete for residents in today's society.  Tulsa is already behind many other cities in the US in developing a competitive advantage.  The only reason I am looking at Tulsa as a potential place to live is the fact that I'm a native Tulsan and am aware of what the city has to offer.  Most people at nearby state universities are not aware of Tulsa's cultural infrastructure.  The river improvements, along with the midtown districts, and downtown are the core of the city that should be developed and marketed effectively to young professionals.  By not investing in the urban core, the city will only accelerate suburban sprawl, and further exhaust the infrastructure budget for the city and county.  Within the city limits, the population has decreased by about 6,000, while the metro area grows at a healthy pace.  The river improvements have a good chance of increasing demand for entertainment, recreation, and housing near the river, and relocation to the entire Tulsa metro area.

[cannon_fodder]

quote:Originally posted by Tony

The 117 million is chump change , offered through Kaisers charitable arm-- the same arm lowers his tax bracket one for one for every dime he "gifts" - and the only reason it is a one time only or else offer -- is that it will be a different sum offer the next go around -- this 117 million helps KAISER this tax season -- not next.

You are eligible for the same tax advantages.  In fact, if you were to donate all of your money you would pay no taxes at all.  Amazing!

The highest federal tax bracket is 36%.  So, at best, each dollar given away is really only an opportunity cost of 64 cents.  So instead of 117, he is only giving away $75million. What a bastard.  What's more, its only 1% of his total net worth.  The nerve.

What percent of your net worth did you give to the city this year?

Hate the tax if you want, but if someone wants to give the city a hundred million I'm game.

[Double A]

quote:Originally posted by Tulsa4Life

And I come from the other point of view that this is more than just frills!  As I see it we need to be willing to invest in our central tax base and then infrastructure problems will be addressed by this larger tax base.  Shouldn't our tax base be able to sustain the road repairs for the most part?

We got the same load of crap about Vision 2025. Look, we've already done pedestrian bridges, low water dams, and gathering places(amphitheater) in hopes it would spur river development. How'd that work out? Let's see, we have the poorly designed high maintenance Zink dam and pedestrian bridge and an amphitheater that goes largely unused. Let's do it again. How transformational.

[carltonplace]

Your logic seems to be: "We already have things at the river and they never worked or aren't utilized so why bother trying anything new?"

I don't know where you got the information that Zink dam is high maintenance. The pedestrian bridge gets tons of use (sometimes it's so busy it's dangerous with bikes, runners, pet walkers, families, photo opportunists, sight seers and fishermen all vying for the same space) and the floating stage has events all of the time which is surprising considering that the design is poor.

A commercial development at 21st and Jackson where the cement company is would increase need and use for a west bank venue. The current floating stage makes it cumbersome to load equipment and get performers safely on and off the stage. I'm not saying it must be replaced, but the current configuration isn't act friendly.

[swake]

quote:Originally posted by Double A

quote:Originally posted by Tulsa4Life

And I come from the other point of view that this is more than just frills!  As I see it we need to be willing to invest in our central tax base and then infrastructure problems will be addressed by this larger tax base.  Shouldn't our tax base be able to sustain the road repairs for the most part?

We got the same load of crap about Vision 2025. Look, we've already done pedestrian bridges, low water dams, and gathering places(amphitheater) in hopes it would spur river development. How'd that work out? Let's see, we have the poorly designed high maintenance Zink dam and pedestrian bridge and an amphitheater that goes largely unused. Let's do it again. How transformational.

We got what we paid for. Tulsa rejected a tax for the river so then Mayor Inhofe sold the land on the west bank to the concrete company to finance the dam, so it was done on the cheap. There's not a lot of development due to the lack of land and due to the public at the time not wanting development. The Amphitheater was well used for years, it's just in need of an overhaul.

You talk like Riverparks is some huge disaster, when in most people's minds it's a great asset for the city that we need to do more with.

[Double A]

quote:Originally posted by carltonplace

Your logic seems to be: "We already have things at the river and they never worked or aren't utilized so why bother trying anything new?"

I don't know where you got the information that Zink dam is high maintenance. The pedestrian bridge gets tons of use (sometimes it's so busy it's dangerous with bikes, runners, pet walkers, families, photo opportunists, sight seers and fishermen all vying for the same space) and the floating stage has events all of the time which is surprising considering that the design is poor.

A commercial development at 21st and Jackson where the cement company is would increase need and use for a west bank venue. The current floating stage makes it cumbersome to load equipment and get performers safely on and off the stage. I'm not saying it must be replaced, but the current configuration isn't act friendly.

I wouldn't be questioning the logic of it if we were in fact trying something new. Beautiful view of the expanding Sinclair refinery, a real destination. Prime commercial location indeed. How's that environmental study the city is doing to determine what enviromental remediation will be needed to make this property viable?

[Vision 2025]

quote:Originally posted by guido911

Conan: "So his gift to the river works out to be 1% of his net worth."

What a cheapskate

And just what have you offered 1% of your net worth to accomplish for the community?

[Double A]

quote:Originally posted by Vision 2025

quote:Originally posted by guido911

Conan: "So his gift to the river works out to be 1% of his net worth."

What a cheapskate

And just what have you offered 1% of your net worth to accomplish for the community?

How about paying your salary? Last time I checked, V2025 was a taxpayer funded program.

[cannon_fodder]

You donated 1% of your net worth to pay for the Vision 2025 directors salary?  Wow, thanks.  I had no idea.

[sgrizzle]

At best guess I give closer to 0.1% of my salary to vision2025.

I'm a dollar-menu-naire

[RecycleMichael]

1% of your net worth...not your salary.

[Townsend]

Great googaly moogaly, I'm worth $45 million!..

or $4.50 according to the source you choose to accept.


http://soundmedicine.iu.edu/archive/2003/quiz/humanWorth.html

[RecycleMichael]

I want to sell off some body parts, but I found out that I am prohibited from listing them on E-Bay.

Then I tried to donate them to science, but they were not interested either.

I guess I will have to donate them to science fiction.

[cannon_fodder]

You're only worth $45mil?  I'm priceless, my mommy told me so.  [}:)]