Sally Bell running

[Shavethewhales]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

Technically, I thought it had to do with a business plan that Bell's submitted. The park was in need of refurbishing and Bell's wanted to expand with a new ride but the plan was not very good. It was never made public. Really, even though it contributed to the bottom line of the fairgrounds, I think the board did not see the park fitting into their big vision of what the fairgrounds should look like. It was the execution of the eviction that irritated people. It looked political and capricious. This park should have been moved to another location where it could prosper but it wasn't the County's role to do that. I agree, business is business.

No way. Remember Boom Town USA, The park Bell's was to be transformed into? A complete retheme, a massive new wooden roller coaster, and loads of new rides - sounds like a pretty damn good plan to me. After years of legal battles dampened the plans for the park's revival, the Bell's revised their plans and eventually won permission to construct what would have been the largest roller coaster in the state. It was very well publicized due to the effort it took to get that far, though because they never actually got the chance to break ground on it many Tulsans still don't realize what could have been.

The past makes everything blatantly clear: Bell's was moving forward, trying to renew itself with new rides - but someone didn't want that - someone who happened to support county commissioners with generous 'campaign contributions'.

I wish Mrs. Bell all the luck I can in winning this election, not so much for Bell's, but for ridding Tulsa of a crooked politician who clearly cares more about lining her pockets than what Tulsa wants.

[waterboy]

You may be right about the new theme. Although the plans for the new ride may have been good, the rest of the business plan was never made public and was suspect. Bell's was screwed but he gave them the KY jelly. Anyone who does business with a govt. entity as long as he did couldn't feign ignorance of their vision, tactics, conflicts etc. Their failure to keep up the premises over the years (the golf course? the cheesy paving stones?) only helped the county to sweep them away.

If Sally Bell's only mission is to depose Miller then its just a tit for tat thing. She may win, but then what? As you noted the real problem is behind the scenes.

[TheArtist]

I do remember Boomtown USA, that was like 20 years ago. I remember every season before Bells opened hearing of some new plan or coaster or something just to get free news. Which would be fine if they ever went through with things. Not only were improvements not made,,, the park continued to decline.

Simple upkeep and appearance wasnt taken care of. Year after year the park added a new layer of rust, weeds and peeling paint. Sure they may have had problems of some sort, but who doesnt? You over come them and move on. They never did. Kept saying they were,,, but the proof was in the pudding.

How many decades were you willing to wait for them to get their act together? They could always cry, "but we were just getting ready to do this...We were delayed because of this...etc. etc.". That game could have gone on forever. And it did. I think the proof of what they were really about was in the basic appearance and upkeep of the park. They couldnt, or wouldnt, even do the basics.

One could simply look at the park and know it wasnt well run. It was a gross looking mess. Period. It was embarrassing to even drive out of town guests down that part of 21st. People would ask "What is that?" with a look of disghust on their faces. "Looks like and old abandoned amusement park."


And yes, the parking lot looks infinitely better.

[Shavethewhales]

^I first heard about Boomtown around 2003. I disagree with your attitude toward the state of the park - when I went during the last few years it was kept up enough to my liking. I mean, it was no disneyland, but it was just as good as any other similar park in the state. The rides were kept up just as well as those at Frontier City, and the park was just as well kept up as any other park in Tulsa. Look at Big Splash: it took a near-death incident to get them to do anything to fix up their parks, and don't get me started about the fair operators.

As for the golf course that everyone keeps mentioning: that was closed down so that it could be removed to make way for the new coaster. Why renovate an attraction that's going to be removed in two years?


It's true that Bell's kept having to push off upgrades, but they were certainly making progress. Two new rides in the 3 years before they were closed and a massive new coaster about to break ground showed that.

It's all history now, but I just don't like to hear people ripping on the park too much when it worked so hard at being something while the other fairground operators allowed their attractions to fall apart. It may not have been the shiniest place in town, but I sure enjoyed it.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

I don't know her, but the reason she gave for running seemed odd.

"Somebody needs to address the issue of whether open meetings laws were being violated and whether back room deals were being made" by the public officials who decided the fate of Bell's Amusement Park, Bell said. "I can't say it's happening, but it needs to be investigated."

It doesn't seem to be a compelling reason for someone to vote for her.

transparent government is not a reason to elect someone?  pancakes?  You clown.

[RecycleMichael]

quote:Originally posted by inteller
transparent government is not a reason to elect someone?  pancakes?  You clown.

It is a valid reason to vote against someone. But by itself it is hardly a compelling reason to vote for someone. Clown back.