District 4 - 2008 City Council Elections

[booWorld]

I'm an Independent, so I won't be voting today.  But I'll be watching for the returns after 7pm.  

Thanks to all the candidates for getting in the race -- I admire that.

[Double A]

Hey Gomez & Matlock, clean up your damn signs that are littering the right of ways. Sheesh!

[Steve]

I voted for Maria Barnes reelection, only because of her apparent support of neighborhood conservation/zoning districts.  I will grant her another 2 years, and we will see what efforts she puts forth.

I was very disappointed that less that 1000 registered voters bothered to vote in the city primary in District 4.   There are over 10,000 registered Democrats in Tulsa city council district 4, but less than 1,000 voted in the primary election.  Pathetic.

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

I voted for Maria Barnes reelection, only because of her apparent support of neighborhood conservation/zoning districts.  I will grant her another 2 years, and we will see what efforts she puts forth.

I was very disappointed that less that 1000 registered voters bothered to vote in the city primary in District 4.   There are over 10,000 registered Democrats in Tulsa city council district 4, but less than 1,000 voted in the primary election.  Pathetic.

First time in many years I did not vote in an election. It was obvious to me that in D4 Maria would have no problem and guess what? People are busy as hell trying to pay for $4.50 gal milk, $4 gal gas. I guess Mazlow was right. Voting is farther down the list but I'll vote in the general.

[booWorld]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

People are busy as hell trying to pay for $4.50 gal milk, $4 gal gas.

Anyone who has the time to post on this forum an average of 2 or 3 times per day is not that busy.  I live in District 4.  Where is gas $4 per gallon?

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by booWorld

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

People are busy as hell trying to pay for $4.50 gal milk, $4 gal gas.

Anyone who has the time to post on this forum an average of 2 or 3 times per day is not that busy.  I live in District 4.  Where is gas $4 per gallon?

Really? I try to post in the a.m. before going to work at 10. Then try to keep up with stuff at lunch around 3pm and if bored then again late in the evening. Glad someone notices. Is it bothering you? It was the first election vote I've missed in about 20 years.

I don't look at the pump. I put in $20 worth a week. Then make it last no matter what. Figured it was getting near that.

[booWorld]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

quote:Originally posted by Steve

I voted for Maria Barnes reelection, only because of her apparent support of neighborhood conservation/zoning districts.  I will grant her another 2 years, and we will see what efforts she puts forth.

I was very disappointed that less that 1000 registered voters bothered to vote in the city primary in District 4.   There are over 10,000 registered Democrats in Tulsa city council district 4, but less than 1,000 voted in the primary election.  Pathetic.

First time in many years I did not vote in an election. It was obvious to me that in D4 Maria would have no problem and guess what? People are busy as hell trying to pay for $4.50 gal milk, $4 gal gas...

In general, numbers and statistics don't bother me.  Taking the numbers from Steve's post, fewer than 10% of registered Democrats voted in last week's District 4 primary election.  So more than 90% of registered Democrats chose to skip the election.  I'm not bothered by these numbers.

I took a walk today through Stonebraker Heights and Carlton Place (my neighborhood) on my way to QT to check the price of milk and gas.  I noticed a contractor's name cast into a relatively smooth concrete sidewalk with the Arabic number "1912" written below the contractor's name.  I assumed that the sidewalk was built in the year 1912.  I further assumed that a good concrete sidewalk could last for at least 95 or 96 years.  It doesn't bother me that quality concrete can last for a century.

The price of gas fluctuates.  This fact doesn't bother me.  I don't know what the price was last Tuesday when more than 90% of registered Democrats in District 4 chose to stay away from the primary election, but today it ranged from $2.969 to $3.169 per gallon.  The price of milk sold in gallon jugs ranged from $3.75 to $4.05.  So if the more than 90% of registered Democrats in District 4 who didn't vote in last week's primary were all busy working to pay for $4.50 per gallon milk and $4 per gallon gas, then I can understand why they were so busy working.  They were paying about 15% more for milk than they needed to be paying.  They were paying a whopping 30% more for gas than they would need to pay for it at Quik Trip, assuming today's average price.  If the more than 90% of registered Democrats pay 15% to 30% more for everything else they purchase (besides milk and gas), then I'm assuming that they must have to stay busy working more to be able to afford the same standard of living as those who don't pay those inflated prices.  This doesn't bother me.  

As far as the number of registered Democrats who did take the time to vote in the District 4 primary last week, I see it as a "glass 9% full" rather than a "glass 91% empty" scenario.  These percentages don't bother me.

2.64 posts per day on this forum is only a ratio.  It doesn't bother me.

$25 per square foot is another ratio, and it's one that bothers me somewhat.  According to the City of Tulsa's website, that's the amount of the construction contract for Boston Avenue from 3rd to 10th.  I don't like to see relatively smooth concrete (even if it happens to be old) ripped out and replaced with expensive and relatively rough brick-like pavers (even if they happen to be brand new).

Paying 15% more than necessary for milk is a choice.  Paying 30% more than necessary for gas is another choice.  Unfortunately, whether or not to pay $25 per square foot to renovate seven blocks of Boston is a choice nine Tulsans get to make for rest of us.  This bothers me a bit, but I'll be able to make my choice in the general election.

"I walk this empty street -- on the boulevard of broken dreams -- where the city sleeps, and I'm the only one, and I walk alone."

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by booWorld

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

quote:Originally posted by Steve

I voted for Maria Barnes reelection, only because of her apparent support of neighborhood conservation/zoning districts.  I will grant her another 2 years, and we will see what efforts she puts forth.

I was very disappointed that less that 1000 registered voters bothered to vote in the city primary in District 4.   There are over 10,000 registered Democrats in Tulsa city council district 4, but less than 1,000 voted in the primary election.  Pathetic.

First time in many years I did not vote in an election. It was obvious to me that in D4 Maria would have no problem and guess what? People are busy as hell trying to pay for $4.50 gal milk, $4 gal gas...

In general, numbers and statistics don't bother me.  Taking the numbers from Steve's post, fewer than 10% of registered Democrats voted in last week's District 4 primary election.  So more than 90% of registered Democrats chose to skip the election.  I'm not bothered by these numbers.

I took a walk today through Stonebraker Heights and Carlton Place (my neighborhood) on my way to QT to check the price of milk and gas.  I noticed a contractor's name cast into a relatively smooth concrete sidewalk with the Arabic number "1912" written below the contractor's name.  I assumed that the sidewalk was built in the year 1912.  I further assumed that a good concrete sidewalk could last for at least 95 or 96 years.  It doesn't bother me that quality concrete can last for a century.

The price of gas fluctuates.  This fact doesn't bother me.  I don't know what the price was last Tuesday when more than 90% of registered Democrats in District 4 chose to stay away from the primary election, but today it ranged from $2.969 to $3.169 per gallon.  The price of milk sold in gallon jugs ranged from $3.75 to $4.05.  So if the more than 90% of registered Democrats in District 4 who didn't vote in last week's primary were all busy working to pay for $4.50 per gallon milk and $4 per gallon gas, then I can understand why they were so busy working.  They were paying about 15% more for milk than they needed to be paying.  They were paying a whopping 30% more for gas than they would need to pay for it at Quik Trip, assuming today's average price.  If the more than 90% of registered Democrats pay 15% to 30% more for everything else they purchase (besides milk and gas), then I'm assuming that they must have to stay busy working more to be able to afford the same standard of living as those who don't pay those inflated prices.  This doesn't bother me.  

As far as the number of registered Democrats who did take the time to vote in the District 4 primary last week, I see it as a "glass 9% full" rather than a "glass 91% empty" scenario.  These percentages don't bother me.

2.64 posts per day on this forum is only a ratio.  It doesn't bother me.

$25 per square foot is another ratio, and it's one that bothers me somewhat.  According to the City of Tulsa's website, that's the amount of the construction contract for Boston Avenue from 3rd to 10th.  I don't like to see relatively smooth concrete (even if it happens to be old) ripped out and replaced with expensive and relatively rough brick-like pavers (even if they happen to be brand new).

Paying 15% more than necessary for milk is a choice.  Paying 30% more than necessary for gas is another choice.  Unfortunately, whether or not to pay $25 per square foot to renovate seven blocks of Boston is a choice nine Tulsans get to make for rest of us.  This bothers me a bit, but I'll be able to make my choice in the general election.

"I walk this empty street -- on the boulevard of broken dreams -- where the city sleeps, and I'm the only one, and I walk alone."

For heavens sakes dude. I exaggerated. Get a life. Food is going up. Gasoline has gone up. I work f**king hard and was too tired to go vote. Lots of other folks are just like me and found little to attract them to the D-4 primary. In fact they find little to attract them to any vote. In my workplace during the last River tax vote..NOBODY else voted yet ALL had strong feelings about it.

I have so little faith left in Tulsa leadership and public works that your story doesn't surprise me in the least. There is a lack of appreciation for quality work and quality history throughout our nation now, why should we be any different?

Today, Maria Barnes and one of her sons were working my neighborhood which has real live Democrats very much like yours. The young man who approached me was quite likable and I am always impressed with candidates who actually go out and campaign in person. Of course I will support her and put a sign in my yard. I know where they live and actually grew up with her husband in the same hood. When I asked where he was going to high school he said Cascia Hall. Ironic to me. Not Central or Rogers where she resides. Not even Booker T. where he probably could have been accepted. Private school. Wonder what the rest of her district thinks of that? My kid is smart, I work hard and am way underemployed because I'm too damn old to be seriously considered for my skill set. NO one replies to my applications. Not state or local government, not business, not friends. My son won't be able to attend a private school. We're working hard to get him into Washington but Edison or Central may be forced upon us. My wife works hard and is at risk for losing her job and guess what...her sister of the same age is finding the same age discrimination I find. Even worse for her she doesn't have a great figure and ex-cheerleader looks like the younger newer college grads. Of course there's lots of jobs if you will simply sacrifice your body, give up your self respect and work for $10hr. (no overtime of course). That's what I did. And forget the retraining education. If you have any time or money left over it gets you very little return on your investment. Maybe $15hr and a chance to wear a uniform.

We're feeling kind of screwed by our system actually. Can you tell? Our real estate taxes and new income reality threaten to force us out of our home. She loses the job we're done. Both credit cards maxed. One car has 160K miles the other is rusting out at 130K. How are you with those facts and figures? I now don't make enough to refinance the existing balance on my old home and struggle to keep it up to the standard of surrounding homes. Yeah, life sucks and lots of my friends and acquaintances are feeling the same hard slaps to the face. Kind of hard to get too patriotic these days.

I'm not whining. I had a lot of chances, made a lot of money and lost a lot. But I never thought that my country and my capitalist system would turn against me. A lot of what I believed for most of my life about politics and business is simply crap and it seems many here on this forum just don't live that life or see that life or recognize the hypocrisy. Gas could be $5gallon and milk as well. Doesn't matter, cause I got $20 week for gas, $150 week for food and thats that. And it looks like I might need to cut back to 2 posts per day.

[booWorld]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

I'm not whining.

Okay.  I did not vote in the primary election last week, either.  

"I walk this empty street -- on the boulevard of broken dreams..."

[booWorld]

The Pearl District Association hosted a forum with candidates Maria Barnes and Eric Gomez on March 11.  Audio files of the forum are posted on BatesLine.com.

One follow-up I would have loved to have heard:

Eric Gomez:  "I don't think we can fire INCOG in July."

Great follow-up would have been:  "How about in August?"

The question was about whether or not the City should renew its contract with INCOG on August 1.

I thought the questions were interesting, and the responses from both candidates were adequate, and not evasive.  Councilor Barnes did mention something about her stance on HB1804, but I have no idea what her stance is.  Whichever candidate wins, I think District 4 will have good representation.  I've voted for Barnes and for Gomez in past elections.  I hope the candidates will square off another time or two before the general election.

Thanks to the Pearl District Association for hosting the forum...

[Double A]

I don't trust Gomez at all. His answers seemed very elusive to me. I'll vote for Maria, but if she really thinks she can get INCOG to change their ways she is completely naive and in for a very rude awakening. That tiger can't change it's stripes, it doesn't matter who is at the helm. The city of Tulsa should be in complete control of planning within the city of Tulsa, not INCOG. Like Roscoe says, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result".

[booWorld]

^ Well, at least Maria Barnes did acknowledge the need to move away from the land planning part of INCOG.  I would have much preferred that she and Eric Gomez had said, "No, the City should not renew its contract with INCOG."

Other than transportation planning, the City should cut ties with INCOG as quickly as possible before we all drown in a deluge of white chocolate hot chocolate.  August 1 sounds great to me -- it could be a day of liberation.

One of the reasons I'm suggesting revisions to the NCD draft ordinance is to get INCOG out of the process.  NCDs should originate with the property owners who really want them, not developers, not INCOG, not the Planning Commission.

[Double A]

quote:Originally posted by booWorld

^ Well, at least Maria Barnes did acknowledge the need to move away from the land planning part of INCOG.  I would have much preferred that she and Eric Gomez had said, "No, the City should not renew its contract with INCOG."

Other than transportation planning, the City should cut ties with INCOG as quickly as possible before we all drown in a deluge of white chocolate hot chocolate.  August 1 sounds great to me -- it could be a day of liberation.

One of the reasons I'm suggesting revisions to the NCD draft ordinance is to get INCOG out of the process.  NCDs should originate with the property owners who really want them, not developers, not INCOG, not the Planning Commission.

We are on the same page here.

[LongtimeTulsan]

quote:Originally posted by Double A

Here's another example of Maria grandstanding on the issues. How about her little lectures to all the appointees on the ABC's about how it is so important to show up to those meetings and how if you can't make the commitment you shouldn't be serving? How many Council committee meetings has she missed? Regular Council meetings? If you're gonna talk the talk, you better walk the walk.

Ms. Barnes attended 94 out of 95 meetings.