Shell Company suing over the Trash Contract

[shadows]

Sorry, but the past 23 years of the city operating under the new charter should have proven to the citizens how more efficient city operations can be conducted.  If there is a doubt just ask anyone in the glass cube.  Ask the citizens how much more secure they felt when the strong mayor laid off some 100 policemen as crime was increasing.

The city has experience a land fall in sales taxes as food products increased from 25 to 100 percent but this increase in the food products has limited the ability of many to maintain an healthy diet.  There is a growing concern among the working poor, aged and retiree, with very limited incomes, that increases their burden added on to their struggle for existence. 

The failure to enter into the hauling contract after awarding it leaves in the minds of many citizens that changes were made after the contract was awarded.   Instead of a service to the citizen it seems to be another source of revenue (new tax) collected from the citizen.  Since the city owns the trash and must dispose of it and the recycles are sold to a recycler in bulk, the price of the recycles will vary with supply and demand. 

The citizens are not afraid of change but in the past the changed have become detrimental as shown in the increasing city budget.     

[RecycleMichael]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?subjectid=61&articleid=20120409_61_A9_Justas338120

Trash lawsuit little more than sour grapes and politics

By World's Editorials Writers
Published: 4/9/2012 

Just as Tulsa is beginning to put the trash hauling controversy behind it, along comes a group threatening to file a lawsuit and rehash what rational people believed to be a done deal. So far, the lawsuit is little more than a threat by a group calling itself Tulsans United for Fairness. Its attorney says the threatened lawsuit would challenge the trash board's decision based on the Open Meetings Act and Competitive Bidding Act. An earlier lawsuit also challenged the Open Meetings angle and it was dismissed.

The group's members claim that the main issue is representation. They say the trash board is not accountable to the public or even the City Council. What, exactly, does this group expect? Neither the City Council nor the public can vote on every decision made at City Hall. Do these people have any idea how city government works? Do they understand what a representative democracy is?

Members of city boards and commissions, most of whom perform their role for no money, are appointed by councilors and the mayor. They answer to the mayor and/or City Council. The mayor and councilors answer to the voters. If voters don't like the way things are going at City Hall they can change the cast there, as they did in the last city election. The change in Tulsa's trash policy was a years-long process that involved the trash board, several councilors and the public. There were no secret meetings.

Opponents of the change often cite a poll that found that more than 90 percent of Tulsans didn't want to change their method of trash collection. Change is difficult. When most people were asked if they liked their current trash collection system, they said "yes." That doesn't mean that they were adamantly against changing. It sounds as if sour grapes are being served and politics being played. Two members of the group ran for City Council and were defeated. So, if you can't win the election, get in there and stir up trouble another way.

One is running as a Republican for a House seat and another is running in the Republican primary for U.S. First District Congress. Can't hurt to get some free publicity, although we don't understand how a local trash issue has any relevance in a congressional race. Tulsa's trash collection system was going to change no matter who received the contract.

This contract went through the correct process. Although there are likely to be some early glitches, it will eventually be the best system for the city. Frivolous lawsuits such as the one threatened do nothing other than waste money and time and continue to make Tulsa look silly to our friends in the suburbs and around the state.

[carltonplace]

I can't believe that four republicans are suing to keep a subsidy in place. Isn't that a form of welfare?

[Conan71]

I can't believe that four republicans are suing to keep a subsidy in place.

Everyone is a conservative until their subsidy is in jeopardy.

And on gun laws everyone is a liberal until they've been assaulted. 

[Hoss]

Everyone is a conservative until their subsidy is in jeopardy.

And on gun laws everyone is a liberal until they've been assaulted. 

Hey, I've never been assaulted..but I'm a social liberal/fiscal conservative-moderate.  Does that count?

Oh, and C, I did go down to the election board last week.  Welcome me to the droves of registered Indies.

[Conan71]

Hey, I've never been assaulted..but I'm a social liberal/fiscal conservative-moderate.  Does that count?

Oh, and C, I did go down to the election board last week.  Welcome me to the droves of registered Indies.

Oh no! You got caught out in the wind too, eh?

Welcome to Independence!

[Hoss]

Oh no! You got caught out in the wind too, eh?

Welcome to Independence!

I'm sick of it.  I'm nearly ready to get that pony!

http://www.verminsupreme.com/

[cannon_fodder]

FWIW, Ken Walker, one of the guys who filed a Governmental Tort Claim against the trash board, is on the ballot today.