Private Funds Question...

[Sangria]

build the River people say there is nothing in this for the private parties who donated the cash. They are doing it because they love Tulsa.

Apparently, they missed the news broadcast when Randi Miller said something to the effect "If we don't vote for this project now, the funds won't be there later."  Guy from Quick Trip agreed with her.

Ok, if there is nothing in it for them - then why not donate the money anyway. It was just going to enhance the trails and build a little park. All of that can be done whether the project goes through or not.

I mean, if they are telling the truth and all they want to do is help Tulsa.... why not do it anyway?

[TheArtist]

More bang for your buck. Why settle for 100 million dollars worth of improvements if you can leverage that and achieve 400 million?

I imagine if I won the lottery and wanted to donate some money to say a college or something. I wouldnt want to give it all away. I would budget some amount and say. " I will give you this IF you add to it. "  That would make my investment worth something much more than I could achieve alone if I didnt ask for matching funds. I may not consider my donation enough to do much all by itself, but with additional funds it could create something meaningful.

These people must be thinking several things.

1. Having the low water dams and pedestrian bridges, funds for private development, the living river concept,etc. will be a good thing for Tulsa.

2.  I want to do something for the river in Tulsa.  What can I do that will get the most improvements when I have this much money to give?

3.  Which is most likely to get more done? Giving the money no strings attached? or saying I will give this, IF you add that?

Which is most likely, with the sum of money they have, to get the most done?  What would you do?

They could take that same amount and get an equal match perhaps at a college or hospital. It would be shameful to not require you to add to it in this case when they could be giving it some where else. If you didnt want to help out I would say to heck with ya and donate some place where my money could be added to and do something greater than it could alone.

If they cant leverage it with this. They will "leverage" it with some other project.

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by Sangria

build the River people say there is nothing in this for the private parties who donated the cash. They are doing it because they love Tulsa.

Apparently, they missed the news broadcast when Randi Miller said something to the effect "If we don't vote for this project now, the funds won't be there later."  Guy from Quick Trip agreed with her.

Ok, if there is nothing in it for them - then why not donate the money anyway. It was just going to enhance the trails and build a little park. All of that can be done whether the project goes through or not.

I mean, if they are telling the truth and all they want to do is help Tulsa.... why not do it anyway?

Their idea is to provide an incentive to "leverage" public money into a larger project. Its an advertising/pr investment at best. Will they receive a public relations value for having their names on the park and the river improvements? Yes. Is that direct compensation? No more than when a wealthy patron builds a wing on to your church and asks it be named for their spouse. Remember, it could just as easily end up bad PR so there is a strong donation component. When the leaders of the community that you operate in come asking for help, this is a good way to respond. The same thing you or your business do when your kids school principal asks for a donation to a fundraiser.

I suppose QT may relish the added tourist traffic and consider building a store nearby to capitalize, but that would be a stretch. I wouldn't read too much into the comments other than that they will find other places to use that money if this opportunity passes.

[shadows]

All of Tulsa should be excited that BOK and QT has such a generous disposition as we force them to put their names on our buildings that are being or have been built with taxpayers money who many count their pennies to buy bread and milk for their children.

[cannon_fodder]

quote:Originally posted by shadows

All of Tulsa should be excited that BOK and QT has such a generous disposition as we force them to put their names on our buildings that are being or have been built with taxpayers money who many count their pennies to buy bread and milk for their children.

Shadows... poor people dont count pennies to buy bread and milk.  They just throw their WIC certificate on the counter with a  few food stamps.  They need their pennies to pay for cigarettes, beer and cable TV.

Second, we didn't force them to put names on any building, we sold it to them and they agreed to buy it.

and, as we have discussed in MANY MANY MANY MANY threads... what good would it do the "poor people" to have "city of Tulsa" on the front of the arena?  To do so, we would have to tax some $20,000,000..00 more.  Explain to me how that would do anyone in Tulsa any good that is strapped for cash.

Lets see... the city needs money, and a company wants to be seen as a good citizen while getting some advertising.  I know!  Lets raise taxes on people.  That's a win win.

[shadows]

CF:
Lets see, you are right as usual but doesn't the BOK have an outstanding  lien on 25 acres of the Tulsa Airport from the airlines deal which at present the interest is equal to the price the bank is paying to name the arena? Isn't that a tradeoff? That is after we get a lien release and pay a few million for getting them to name the arena.  It could have been call just Tulsa's Arena for a lot less.  

Bok, QT; selling Tulsa to corporate America.  Who can we sell the sewer smell naming rights to?

I assume that is still the Tulsa Airport and not the BOK Airport but at any time I expect it to be renamed by the council on demand of the mayor.

Poor people, I understand among you millionaires, have been deleted as if you cannot see them they do not exist.   lol