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Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: deepestblue82 on July 18, 2007, 04:29:43 pm I'm sure you're aware of the story of Bell's being forced to close. Well I decided to do something about it. I've started a petition to effectively boycott the Tulsa State Fair because of Bell's absence. I think the only thing that will get the attention of Tulsa County is to see how many people not just in Tulsa, but all over Northeast Oklahoma are distraught by this. Some of you may agree, some of you may not...that's your right. But I'd like you to consider that what this petition states is where $110,000 a year of your tax dollars are going. Not just that, but the man that Tulsa County hired that booted Bell's, may have been hired illegally.
You be the judge. http://www.petitiononline.com/TSF2007 Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: mdunn on July 18, 2007, 05:39:24 pm what would be the goal of this petition??Bells is gone,and I doubt they would ever bring it back.Bells had its good years and now its time for the bells to move on.
Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: guido911 on July 19, 2007, 07:44:47 am Were our tax dollars used to help Bells move? I remember there was talk but I was unsure what ultimately happened.
Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: sgrizzle on July 19, 2007, 07:56:17 am The county paid to help move zingo.
Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: cannon_fodder on July 19, 2007, 08:09:41 am Lets see if we can make the fair a failure too. Perhaps, with just a little effort, we can turn Expo from an amazing urban success into a wasteland once we chase away Bells, the fair, get the Driller's to leave, and close Big Splash for safety.
Moving Bells was not handle well imho. But punishing the fair seems to be a relatively unrelated affair and will have no meaningful effect on the underlying grievance. Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: sgrizzle on July 19, 2007, 09:20:27 am Eventually the fairgrounds will only be fairgrounds and no private enterprises leasing space.
Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: Conan71 on July 19, 2007, 09:42:13 am quote: Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: Conan71 on July 19, 2007, 09:44:17 am Deepest blue,
What is your particular axe to grind? I'm unhappy about Bell's being booted out as anyone. Just curious if you are a concerned citizen, former employee, or something closer than that. Interesting background check you did on Bjorklund on the web site that links from your personal info page. I can assure you Randi Miller won't get a supporting voice from me next time around. Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: Sangria on July 19, 2007, 10:43:28 am We will know one way or another after this year if it was a good idea or not to remove Bells.
Perhaps when Randi Miller's office is up for election people will remember this and get rid of her once and for all. You want to stop what's happening then cut it off at the roots - Randi Miller. Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: cannon_fodder on July 19, 2007, 11:02:36 am A brief Google search will tell you all you want to know about our new poster, and more.
An interesting, and angry person, to be sure. But not associated with Bell's in any way. Tip for ya'. As you strive to be taken more seriously you may have to tone down the information that is available about you on the internet. Some details of ones personal life and views are best kept personal, especially in lieu of your political aspirations. Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: Conan71 on July 19, 2007, 01:06:49 pm Well,
Affiliations like this: http://www.tulsaleather.com/members.htm Will kill any public political aspirations in our conservative little 'burg, assuming this is the same person. Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: deepestblue82 on July 19, 2007, 03:29:30 pm My goal here is not to "restore Bell's to its former glory". My goal is to inform the taxpayers of Tulsa County of something that I think was not in our best interest, and to hold to account those who made those decisions. My personal affairs are my own, and are not the issue....nor are my political aspirations, or lack thereof. I am a citizen concerned with the fact that our tax dollars may not be necessarily used as effectively as they could be. Was the clock ticking on Bell's being on the fairgrounds? Yes. It was only a matter of time. They would have eventually been a victim of "progress". Do I think their demise was unnecessarily expedited? Absolutely. I don't think that the Tulsa County Public Facilities Authority cares about what the people of Tulsa County think about this. Moreover, I think the only way for them to grasp it is to hit them where it hurts. There's power in the pocketbook. But everyone is entitled to their own opinion, right?
Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: Breadburner on July 19, 2007, 03:31:56 pm They look like they should be hanging out at the blue oyster club....
Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: DM on July 19, 2007, 03:38:23 pm quote: Sounds good to me. [:D] Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: cannon_fodder on July 19, 2007, 03:40:41 pm Right on many counts Blue82.
I think Bells sat on the cash cow so long that it was just a matter of time before they got the boot. At the same time, I do not think the county was particularly concerned about public opinion on the subject. And yes, there is power in the pocket book - but punishing the fair for transgressions of the County will do nothing to undue the harm that was done. Next election will do more to show them how they screwed up. You're personal affairs and political aspirations are a non-issues in this matter, indeed. But the only way I was able to discover that was by research. For all we knew you were in the Bell family, an employee, or a political candidate that lost to Randy. And yes, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Welcome to Tulsa Now. Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: deepestblue82 on July 19, 2007, 04:06:09 pm Fodder,
Thank you for agreeing with me on some of this. I also appreciate your due diligence in taking the time to see for yourself that I am not connected to the situation other than being a taxpayer. I, in turn agree with you that the ballot box will probably be the ultimate display of the error of their ways. I hope that the public having full knowledge of the situation, will have some influence on that...even if the Fair is unaffected. All I can do is try to put the information out there in a manner where I can expose it to as many people as possible. Only time will tell...but I think this may have gotten a few people's attention. quote: Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: Rowdy on July 19, 2007, 05:34:57 pm quote: [:o)] Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: Shavethewhales on July 19, 2007, 08:43:50 pm I'm all for this. I mean, the fair is a turd now anyway, so I wouldn't go anyhow.
The reason for this is simple, for anyone still at loss: this is where the fair will feel the most hurt, and ultimately the only effective means at shaking them up so that they will listen to the tax payers whose money they spend so flippantly. I'm sorry, but after spending $210,000 to move Zingo, $200,000 to clear the site, and much more to build the actual parking lot, we have what? A parking lot, with over $150,000 less profit coming to the fair each year, not to mention a severe lack of decent attractions at the fair. All the while more trailer parks and random dumpy businesses will be stacked up on public property... This doesn't have so much to do with Bell's, in my view (although believe me, there's and endless amount to rant on there), as it is about idiots wasting absurd amounts of our money. Any message we can send will help. Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: Conan71 on July 20, 2007, 08:07:23 am DB82
Thanks for clarifying that you don't have a personal "horse in this race". I'm so mercurial about the fair, I only wind up going every two to three years. I suppose I don't really see the point in retroactive punishment for a case like this, the damage is done and it won't bring Bell's back and I doubt it would provide any incentive for the county to help Bell's start over. I believe this is another very blatant example of the haste with which our city and county government are moving at these days on major decisions which affect us all without proper due dilligence. Other recent examples are Fairgrounds annexation, City Hall, and the river plan. We are being told to trust a small handful of elected officials who have forgotten they are our peers first and foremost. They've done the due dilligence, we don't need to know all the sticky details because they are smarter and know what is best for us. I believe Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: guido911 on July 20, 2007, 05:42:03 pm And then there's this from the Tulsa World:
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=070720_1__TheTu04740&breadcrumb=Breaking%20News Bells' tax bill is due. Will the mistreatment of this family ever end? Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: Shavethewhales on July 20, 2007, 06:46:31 pm Why weren't their taxes paid? They were only given several hundred dollars of our money...
Btw, what's been going on with Bell's? They said that there would be some sort of announcement by now, but the only recent developments have been this and their domain expiring. Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: shadows on July 22, 2007, 11:20:00 pm We have authorities that are beyond the suffrage of the citizens. They are not responsible to anyone.
We have managers paid by the taxpayers but the taxpayer has no control over these third party commanders. The personal tax assessment against the no longer Bell’s stretches equal protection beyond belief. The county can seize the personal property and sell it. They already seized a large part of the personal property and destroyed it. Now the horse is dead thus the county wants to see if they can beat it until it kicks-in a few more times. These thousands of dollars income to the county was in addition to the percentage Bell paid the county. Bell was not a traveling amusement stage show but was affixed to Tulsa’s children and the land. The third party in this case that made the decision to remove Bell’s from the fair grounds surely had a vendetta when the time was not allowed to dismantle the family treasures but ordered then bulldozed down. From his lofty seat, as he watches the destruction of a home grown family dream, he is insured that he cannot be touched. One cannot believe that because of the loss incurred, as well as the destruction, Bell will ever be able to rebuild it in another location. An untouchable person pointed his finger and said “destroy that park”. So it was done. “Now pay the personal tax on it before we destroyed it”. Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: waterboy on July 23, 2007, 07:44:55 am quote: I absolutely agree with you Conan. (I guess I'm going to have to go re-read the manifesto or consult my treasury of Pravda back issues.) Not sure this city/county administration is any different than previous ones but you've described the condescending arrogance that's taken Tulsa off the map. Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: guido911 on July 23, 2007, 07:53:13 am Wow Shadows. Deep...
I guess Bell's should not have to pay its taxes because gosh darnit they were just not treated right. Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: rwarn17588 on July 23, 2007, 11:01:03 am savethewhales wrote:
Btw, what's been going on with Bell's? They said that there would be some sort of announcement by now, but the only recent developments have been this and their domain expiring. <end clip> That's because there isn't an announcement coming. The outrage has dwindled over recent months when they realized that Robby Bell was a lousy amusement park manager. Bell's is not going to re-emerge anywhere else as long as Robby Bell runs it. If he divests or sells his equipment, then maybe a suburb would make an offer. Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: Conan71 on July 23, 2007, 11:07:57 am "interest and fees totaling $20,618.48." [B)]
Tax on what property? They didn't own the land, must be on the improvements. Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: Steve on July 23, 2007, 12:35:29 pm quote: Yea, I think it was some sort of personal property or inventory tax on the rides/equipment/improvements. I live 1/2 mile southeast of the fairgrounds, within walking distance, and I haven't been to the Tulsa State Fair or Bell's Park in over 10 years. (Perhaps if I had children or grandchildren, my story would be different.) I will not "boycott" the Tulsa Fair, I just won't go because I have no interest in attending. Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: Conan71 on July 23, 2007, 01:40:01 pm Eh, I have to go every couple or three years just to see neandertals munching on turkey legs whilst wandering aimlessly around, make fun of the carnies, and get that warm feeling of being surrounded by young thug gangstas.
What wholesome entertainment. Title: The Tulsa State Fair Post by: Steve on July 23, 2007, 02:54:42 pm quote: True. You do see a lot of "characters" at the fair that you don't see any other time of year. People watching would be the only element that would entice me to attend the Tulsa Fair; so far I have been able to fight the temptation for at least 10 years. And what is it with those awful turkey legs?!?!? I don't much care for turkey anyway, but those gristly, tendony, nasty turkey legs? I would rather just go hungry than be seen chawing on one of those! |