The good, the bad, and the okie...

[UrbanBlasphemy]

So here I am, sittin' here listining to the rain tap on the roof, listining to some good old Jimmy Buffet, wonderin', have I missplaced my beach or did some salty island breeze carry me off across the horizon? Well, I think the latter shall suffice.

I've been in Tulsey town now for three years - I think - depending on if my memory hasn't been clouded with too many of those mango margarita's from the Green Union.. Still, I can't seem to figure this town out.

I've spent the last three years researching Tulsa, discovering new and exciting horizons while at the same time traversing a seemingly bewildering network of tropical depressions - so I pose an inquiry: What's the deal?

I've always lived in larger cities, from Tampa to Chicago, Miami to Memphis, and I can honestly say that I've never lived in a place such as Tulsa. It's history is as rich as the waters off the gulf coast, people as gentle as a sea breeze, and culture as diverse as as the myriad grains of sand on the strand; still, Tulsa has a lot to account for.

So, without much further preamble and whimsical nonsense, I bring myself to the main point. Myself and a couple colleague's are in the process of composing a proposal to the city of Tulsa. The main focus is simple: Ways to foster pride and community in Tulsa, while at the same time generating low cost, innovative growth opportunities. I would go into more detail, but its never a good sign when eyes start to glaze over... especially without a salty drink in hand.

Still, I digress...

So here's my question, to anyone who wishes to take a kind moment in reply, tell me, what is the best and worst of Tulsa? What aspects of Tulsa do you think need improvement, and how do you think they could be improved? I would like not to focus on the problems, but rather, I'd like to hear solutions...


I appreciate your help with this..


Think I'm getting cabin fever (Forum fever?).. nevermind.. gotta run, got boats to build..

[sgrizzle]

Good: Tulsa's History
Bad: Tulsa's recent History

Really, I've never been a fan of the "Tulsa: A New Kind of Energy" slogan because the "new kind" they are talking about is potential energy. Tulsa used to have a lot of kinetic energy and I believe it will again sometime in the future but all we have right now is potential.

[waterboy]

I agree with that sentiment. We have been talking about our potential, our unique history, our dynamic personality for decades. Unfortunately, the reality doesn't synch with all those descriptions.

I don't have a salty drink nearby but my solutions might reflect lots of past experience with such...

Waterboy observations/solutions for the Tulsa malaise:

 *Relax a bit- we're too dang fundamental with an expectation of Calvinist work ethics. That means the worker bees are expected to work their lives away at low wages while the burgermeisters explore new and exotic locales to examine new and exciting beers. Not much in between. Work on developing a larger middle class to feed off of the most productive years of their lives.

 *Spread the largesse- hard to find anyone who will invest their hard earned trust fund inheritances unless of course it doesn't hurt at all (Kaiser, Warren, etc.). We love the entrepreneurial spirit as long as it is oil related, doesn't require much risk and is someone we know from church or the club. Not knowing important people here is the kiss of death for new low cost innovative growth. I have met very few money folks who have a feel for creative ventures. They know it too. Means the maoney stays in their pockets.

 *Intellectual elitism- We can't all have Masters degrees. We don't all link to definitive studies and research to prove our suppositions. Just because one can't produce a business plan that kicks donkey, doesn't mean it isn't a good plan. The worst plan I ever saw was from a Duke MBA who couldn't foresee the temporary nature of VHS tape rentals. Nurturing innovation is like a garden. The ugly plants sometimes yield the interesting fruit. Many good plans have withered because none of the elites would condescend to provide some direction. Think of Bell's fiasco.

This actually works both ways. Many of the high school graduates I have known refuse to have faith or believe in the capability of well educated and competent leadership. They insist on believing and supporting those with the simple solutions they can understand.

 *Conformity- Does Not Equal Leadership! There is this feeling around that the most conformist, rule following, upright, well dressed, specimens of suburban mediocrity are destined to be our leaders. We buy that here. Ironic to me since the best leaders historically have been those who are the opposite. Give in to those who look for solutions based in reality, not high school and corporate cosmetic values. Force your leaders to replace their ties, coats and pant suits with shorts and a Hawiaan print shirt, THEN listen to what they say. Yeah, that might mean listen to Paul Tay occassionally.

 *Drop the TEAMWORK sports analogies- most everyone at the lower levels has figured out by now that teamwork is a euphemism for indentured servitude. If you can assure your superiors that you will give up your personal life, work so hard as to put your health at risk and defend their inadequacies at all costs then...YOU'RE A TEAM PLAYER! Bs. Ask them if democratic capitalism is based on teamwork or self interest.

Well, its a start anyway.

[TheArtist]

I would say... keep on doing what your doing.

Everyone is going to have a different set of whats good or bad, different priorities depending on who they are, where they are in their life, socio-economic situation, etc.

You and your cohorts have their own set of things that they see as being important. Work on those. Let others know what you are doing and you will find other like minded people who also feel as you do and will want to help.

Sometimes by just getting out and trying to make a positive change, others see that and it gives them the idea to do something about their concerns as well.

Its very hard to address everyones concerns, but if you want people in Tulsa to have a more positive attitude about their city,,, every positive step made by all different kinds of people in different areas will add up. You do your thing and encourage others to do theirs. Together we will make progress.




As I have mentioned before, I think Tulsa is turning a corner, economically we are on sounder footing and on top of that a growing economy brings in new folks, like yourself, with fresh perspectives.  This is helping to change Tulsa. I think we are also as a city getting to the point where we will grow as a more diverse and well balanced city able to offer good urban and suburban lifestyle options. The growth of our first, "first ring" suburbs will help by feeding more people into the city. A larger population of young people who will want to go to college and live an urban lifestyle will help change the city. etc. etc.

There are lots and lots of different things that can be done to improve Tulsa and the attitudes Tulsans have about their city. Find something that inspires you to action, and go for it.




Best of Tulsa.... Its natural beauty. Its manmade beauty/architecture/old neighborhoods/museums/parks/trails. The arts.


Worst of Tulsa.... poverty and crime


Couple things I would like to see in Tulsa, something that I would like to be able to point out to visitors for instance... A real arts district. An area along the river or downtown that is bustling and alive. A real urban neighborhood. I would also really like a great contemporary art museum, would be nice to have that as another place to take my younger, more urban friends when they visit "Philbrook is wonderful, but it can bore some people to tears.".

[Hometown]

I've noticed some local energy companies expanding staffs to accommodate increased businenss.  Energy Industry pays significantly better than other local industries.

This is exactly what Tulsa needs.  More of this sort of activity would solve many of our problems.

Good jobs with good pay is all we really need.  Everything else would flow from there.

NOW HERE COME THE CHEERLEADERS TO TELL ME WE ALREADY HAVE THE BEST JOB MARKET IN THE WORLD.

[UrbanBlasphemy]

Excellent posts..

If I may, let me yet once again impose my latter degrees of insanity on you once again with a brief story...

There was a place off the coast of Marco Island, a run down fishing village where the streets was empty and the beaches ran foul with waste. It was a place where most avoided. One day, a group of people decided to do something about it. They went there with trash bags and garden hoes, rakes and shovels. To be brief, it is now one of the most serene beaches in the area. They planted seagrass and hibiscus, added benches, even built a boardwalk. What I'm saying is this, I'm not the type to sit around waiting for the world to change. A ripple in the sea sends waves across the ocean.

A wise man once said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."  I believe, in order to take that first step, we must know in what direction we are going..

So here we are, trying to understand what it is that Tulsa wants.  Not what the Mayor thinks we want, not what other cities dictate to us, but what we, as common individuals - and not so common ones.. ? - want..

My old man once asked me, "If you don't know where you're going, how are you ever going to get there?"

Maybe you can tell me if I'm wrong, but it seems as if there is a small percentage of the population that take the most pride in Tulsa, the rest just exist. I've looked for a comprehensive guide to Tulsa, but have yet to find one. I think Tulsa's history is brilliant, but it doesn't seem to be widely personified. When I moved here, I thought Oklahoma was all cowboys and indians, buffalo and prarie grass, but I've found a richness here that I couldn't have imagined before. Why isn't this stuff more publicised?  Better yet, what can be done to make people aware?  

...and I thought Key West had it's choice of colorful metaphors, Tulsa is a bubbling sea of antiquity..

So my thoughts.. Tell me how close to the mark I am.. A beautiful city attracts beautiful people..  How hard is it to sneak a few Hibiscus plants in along the river when nobody's looking?  Trash some of those junk signs.. Smile at a stranger.. offer time to help clean up a neighborhood..

What our group is trying to do is to take common problems and present solutions based on an economically feasable agenda..  Maybe someone will listen, maybe we'll be able to inspire, maybe not.. At least we've tried, and haven't given up.  You've given me a lot of good information to take back, and for that I thank you.

An arts district.. funny you should say.. a couple weeks ago I was talking with a good friend of mine who owns a jazz club here about the same thing. Once upon a time, Tulsa and Kansas City would trade jazz artists. She had some great ideas - who knows, with ideas and dedication it may just happen..


Anyway.. I think I have a Bahama Mama waitin' for me...(The drink, not the girl, although that would be nice too... [])

Gotta run... Got boats to build...

[RecycleMichael]

quote:Originally posted by UrbanBlasphemy
A wise man once said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."  

So does falling off a ladder.

[UrbanBlasphemy]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

quote:Originally posted by UrbanBlasphemy
A wise man once said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."  

So does falling off a ladder.

Been there.. done that.. got the t-shirt.. snagged on the ladder.

[Renaissance]

Easy to preach.  Harder to plant the hibiscus.

Get on it.

[UrbanBlasphemy]

"Easy to preach. Harder to plant the hibiscus.

Get on it."


If they only did.. I think, first, you have to learn to plant them..

So we ask questions.. and learn.. and listen.

And then, when we are confident in knowing where our actions lead, we do.

At least, that's what I've always been taught.


So, as for the doing.. We have compiled a report, "Dissertation of proceeding limitations on economic and socioeconomic growth in Tulsa and surrounding metro locations", (if you really want to know), that outlines specific behavior patterns and degenerative issues in the tulsa area, and more important, on how to combat those issues.  

We have conducted surveys (real world and net based) regarding the top issues that affect peoples everyday lives.  

We have conducted meetings to decide the best course of action in order to help promote Tulsa as both a destination as well as creating a sense of ownership and pride.

Once we have compiled all the information at hand, then we will take action.  


No reason to plant hibiscus in a park that Senior QuickTrip plans to revitalize anyway..


If I sound like I'm preaching, my apologies - I'm just happy to be assisting in a project like this again.

What we're looking for is the areas overlooked by big guys up on the hill...

A couple examples:

In St. Petersburg, we took a page from another great city.. They started a program, Volunteers Inspiring Citizens To Organize Restoration of Yards (VICTORY), to assist residents in low to moderate income neighborhoods in cleaning their yards, painting houses that was in need,etc.  Turned out to be a great mentor program for teens..

There's a program in many cities, "Adopt a road", that a great number of organizations help with.  We took that idea a little further, we persuaded a few organizations to not only just clean the litter off the road, but to help landscape it as well.  Sprinkle a few hardy seeds in certain locations and let nature do its work.. Pull down those "We buy ugly houses" ads, etc. etc.. A couple years of doing that and the effects were phenomenal..

We worked on community awareness programs, pushed family safe celebrations - some of the "family" events wern't so family oriented, if that makes sense..

Overall, we were able to accomplish quite a bit.  I only got to play a small part in it, but still, that's something to be proud of.. []


Not a bad gig for a misplaced beach bum right?

[cecelia]

quote:The main focus is simple: Ways to foster pride and community in Tulsa, while at the same time generating low cost, innovative growth opportunities.
...

what is the best and worst of Tulsa? What aspects of Tulsa do you think need improvement, and how do you think they could be improved? I would like not to focus on the problems, but rather, I'd like to hear solutions...

I grew up in Tulsa and still live in the area.

And I think it needs to be said that true pride is based in reality. Tulsa seems to spend a lot of time attaching itself to various celebrities and events  either w/o any necessary basis in reality or to such an extent that it becomes embarrassing.

Enough of the "Tulsa Connection!!11!1" nonsense.

Furthermore, that "ZOMG! Tulsa Connection!!11!" focus seems to be almost exclusively on rock stars and beauty queens. This leads naturally to a conclusion that Tulsa has produced no scholars, no leading or innovative scientists, no philosophical tinkerers, and that it's little more than a kind of intellectual strip mall churning out dutiful workers who sport *fabulous* hair and the latest styles, but who are lacking in higher level skills and maybe even brains.

And yea, it's true, Tulsa has produced its share of rock stars and beauty queens. But what place hasn't?

You know, other cities and towns in Oklahoma are confronting these problems head on and speaking about it openly. I know because I've heard it.

But Tulsa? It seems happy with the image of hanging desperately to the coattails of any star it can nab, as a place where ZOMG! you can get a great hairdo! and hear perfectly insane messianic preaching --- but anything beyond that? Not so much.

Needless to say, all of that leads to stagnation and makes a very bad impression - particularly the low educational levels, and lack of emphasis on meaningful accomplishment beyond the Hollywood variety.

Even more problematic, it makes Tulsa very clique-ish and self-satisfied. But that's to be expected - when kids are raised in an environment where the hairdo is more important than the intellect, where real problems are swept under the rug because the "right" people (read: a local star) might be offended, there is no other possible outcome.

Long way around to say that it's way past time that Tulsa grow up and relinquish its high school ways.

And perhaps your proposal could be a way to address these problems by shifting the focus to more meaningful, fruitful and lasting sources of pride.

[TheArtist]

Is "Tulsa Connection" a website? I have never heard of it and couldnt find anything when I Googled it? Nor have I ever heard of anyone bragging about Tulsa because of someone from here? Dont know who they would brag about for starters, or what good it would do, and who cares to boot?  What celebrities and events have we spent a lot of time attaching ourselves to? And whats "ZOMG"? lol

One other thing. I, like you, thought Tulsa had some low average educational levels and that was part of the problem. But startlingly and frustratingly, we rank fairly high compared to other cities in our levels of educational attainment.

So there is still something else going on here.



I see 2 basic things that negate our sense of pride.

Expectations and Habits.

We expect Tulsa to be more than it is, but our habits keep us from creating what we want.

We expect and want Tulsa to have cool urban places and urban things to do, but our habits keep us from getting out and supporting events and community type things, and our car/suburban culture and mindset keeps us from creating those great urban places. Good urban places and streets are also great community builders. Great urban places enable those "things to do" things.  

There is no there there.

There are no great "theres" here....yet. Well, I take that back, we have a few. Philbrook is one for example, but its not for everyone. Brookside and Cherry Street are turning into nice "theres".  Places you can go, feel proud of, point to, enjoy yourself, be around others, do different things, etc. Downtown stiiiiiill has potential lol. I think it will get "there" in a few years. As I have mentioned before, having a great arts district would be a nice "there" to have here.

"Theres" are places within a city that help give it its character and identity. Malls, suburban neighborhoods, etc. are not "theres" those are no where and everywhere. We have plenty of those, but not enough or good enough real "theres".

I also think that the improvements we are beginning to see along the river will begin to create another unique and wonderful "there" here, for us to be proud of and to enjoy.



Surely you can be happy wherever you are. Have a friend who loves living waaay out in the deserts near Tucson. It works for him and his personality, but thats not for everyone. If you expect Tulsa to be a city and live like a city, you will be quite frustrated to find that it basically lives like a big, car centric, suburb.

Tulsa is quite odd. On the one hand it has these towering skyscrapers that scream CITY! But its downtown and other areas are dead and not urban. Those skyscrapers are the result of oil money, not population. They are an illusion of urbanity. On the other hand, Tulsa has a decent amount of population, enough that it should have some decent "theres" here. But because of how that population is spread out in a suburban nature it lacks areas of real density.  It looks like a city, has enough population that people expect that it should offer at least a bit of a city type lifestlye,,, but it doesn't. Those people who expect their cities to be real cities will find that Tulsa is a giant suburb that also happens to have some really tall skyscrapers. They will complain that, there is no place to go, nothing to do.  As it matures, grows in density and population, and infills, Tulsa will get more "theres" here, for those people to enjoy.

[waterboy]

There, there Artist. You kind of lost your way there. Yes, we have high expectations and yes, we don't intend on changing our ways. And yes, we're pretty well educated. After that you kind of lose me.

Flat out, its religion, hubris, disparity in wealth and ultra conservatism that chokes the area.

[cecelia]

quote:We expect Tulsa to be more than it is, but our habits keep us from creating what we want.

We expect and want Tulsa to have cool urban places and urban things to do, but our habits keep us from getting out and supporting events and community type things, and our car/suburban culture and mindset keeps us from creating those great urban places. Good urban places and streets are also great community builders. Great urban places enable those "things to do" things.

There is no there there.

Exactly.

[txsooner803]

Wow, after reading some of the responses to the original post, I'm a little surprised at the negative tone of the responses of the OP. I can only speak as someone who has recently come to the Tulsa area, and will only be here a short time (this summer). However, just with my current internship I've been exposed to a lot oof the goings on of this city. The things that are experienced here are not much different than many cities in America in 2008. Better or worse it is the time we live in.

I can say that as a 22 year old college student, I really like Tulsa. To answer the OP, this place has a "vibe" to it that I can't really explain, but it is very intoxicating. I know several interns from OU who are up here this summer and I knew loosely down there. While catching a few drinks at Riverwalk Crossing with them the other night, we were all discussing and agreeing how much we like Tulsa, how we want to get jobs here permanently, etc. etc. Even when I first got my job while still in school this past spring, several students from this area told me how much they "love" Tulsa, how they plan to move back, how I will like it, and so on. Mind you, these are all pretty smart  young adults that are pretty much the future of any city's workforce.

I noticed one poster said that this city has trouble attracting people. Driving around I notice a lot of out of state tags here. I went to this website, which keeps very detailed demographic and population changes, and it pretty much confirmed what I thought. Here is the link http://recenter.tamu.edu/data/popm00/pcbsa46140.html
It pretty much shows that after a few rough years early this decade, a lot of people have moved into Tulsa MSA in the past two years (a net inmigration just over of 9,000). I know that's not huge, nothing like Phoenix or Vegas,  but considering that the US is growing at less than 1 percent a year, Tulsa grew 40 percent greater than that last year. I'd take those numbers.

I know that complex population numbers only tell part of the story, and there are no exact figures for the city itself. But it does say that as long as this area's economy is halfway decent, this area has a lot of appeal to a lot of people. I will say one thing that bothers me about this town. Besides the roads, I have noticed there is a lot of people my age that are sitting around "hanging out" either working odd jobs or living at their parents while going out to the bars every weekend. The only place I know where this happens this frequently is the Northeast corridor, but that is mainly because of cost of living issues. I think if Tulsa wants to improve, it should really focus on improving its educational choices. And I do agree with the notion that this city has a noticeable split between "haves and have-nots". Once you cross South 71st its like a different city. But I think that also that is an educational issue. If you have no education in 2008, then, to put it bluntly, you have no future.  

I'm not trying to gloss over Tulsa's problems, because, quite frankly I don't really know what they are more that what I have learned reading past posts from this board. Maybe I'm just overly optimistic and clueless, but I think if citizens want to improve Tulsa, its important for them not to get into a mental rut by making a list of everything that is wrong with Tulsa and trying to tackle them all. Like anything you do in life that way, it really becomes overwhelming after time and eventually very demoralizing. The citizens of my old hometown north of Dallas are getting into that rut it it is really starting to show negatively in the city.  I think Tulsa should focus on its strengths, and build up from there instead of seeing what other cities are doing and convincing itself, "well if we want to stand a chance in the new economy, then we MUST do what every other city is doing."

I'm sorry if I have offended anyone, but I just wanted to share my opinion as a new (and if everything goes right, a permanent) resident of your fine city. As a young adult, this city has some great things going on for it, and I just hope that its own residents see it as well.