Tulsa World Endorses Lakin

[DowntownNow]

Grizzle, it's my understanding that the Council originally wanted Greenwood Chamber to repay the entire loan from any profits generated from the project.  The problem I see here is this...it is too easy for a party to end up saying there were no profits generated from the acquisition, construction and operations of such a project when nothing has been presented to show costs and an operating proforma with potential profits. 

The other problem I saw with this is the fact that all other CDBG recipients were non-profits, the only one to submit as a for-profit and as a proposed Section 108 Loan program recipient was Greenwood Chamber.  The repayment would not apply to non-profits but can see where the repayment would apply to a for-profit venture since Greenwood already stated they anticipated profits from the venture.

As a Section 108 Loan, those funds have to be secured by the current and future CDBG allocations given to Tulsa by HUD, meaning those funds are not available for other potential projects around Tulsa.  Also, the ultimate party responsible for default on the loan is the City of Tulsa, not Greenwood Chamber. 

Now, any profits generated by the first venture, if any, can go into the next Greenwood Chamber project...essentially trapping that money within the North Tulsa community.  While not a bad thing since North Tulsa is in need of more economic growth and development, it robs the other areas of Tulsa to compete for those funds in the future with worthwhile projects themselves.

In the end, City of Tulsa will have to cover the cost of this 'loan'...either through repayment itself to the CDBG fund or through the decreased allocations each and every year.

The same type of repayment goal is evident in the Vision2025 downtown housing fund program.  Those funds are channeled into no-interest, typical 10 year loans to encourage private redevelopment with the expectation that those funds will be repaid and channeled into other future projects.  To say there is no precedent is mis-leading...and to say that out of this year's CDBG allocation this is the only project forced to repay is also mis-leading.  Its more accurate to say the Greenwood Chamber's proposal is the only one for Section 108 Loan Program funding that was required to repay the allocation.

[Conan71]

FYI: 11:30am tomorrow on 98.5fm/KWGS.com

Did Dick Lexia post that?  I think you mean 89.5.

[sgrizzle]

Did Dick Lexia post that?  I think you mean 89.5.

Yeah, 89.5fm

[jiminy]

Yeah, 89.5fm

Right.  And we're going to trust you to keep our books straight?   

[sgrizzle]

Funny, I didn't think I was for leveraging a property tax to pay for the Fire Department...
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=262&articleid=20090818_11_A5_Thethr880126&allcom=1#commentform

[guido911]

Right.  And we're going to trust you to keep our books straight?   

Darned right. After all, we elected a president that has visited 57 states, reported the deaths of 10,000 people in a Kansas tornado, and loves those Penn State Nittaly Lions.

[Conan71]

"Shakin' the Bush, Sapulpa (8/18/2009 9:01:57 AM)
It concerns me that Grizzle:

- WORKS FOR AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER
- IS OBVIOUSLY SKEPTICAL OF FUNDING POLICE & FIRE
- AND HE WANTS TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES

G - O - N - E !!!

Lakin seems like a qualified candidate and I hope he continues to pursue his political ambitions.

Christiansen is still my man for District 8. He is very pragmatic, educated, and it seems taht he truly cares about the job he is doing. If he will stick to being a Watchdog for The People's tax money, push for making the Police & Fire ACCOUNT for how their budget is spent, and vote against ANY tax increase, I feel he will be re-elected and will do a good job.

One more thing Councilor Christiansen.... PLEASE... PLEASE push for a new rule or ordinance that would REQUIRE THE TULSA METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO ACCOUNT FOR EVERY DIME OF HAPROX $2M to $3 MILLION IN HOTEL TAX MONEY THEY RECEIVE FROM THE CITY EACH YEAR! THEY ARE USING THIS MONEY DIRECTLY AGAINST MANY OF THE CITIZENS' WISHES WHICH IS A FORM OF TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.

Thanks! "



Hmmm, AEP makes you evil, eh?  What ever happened to Kaiser Konspiracies, Komrade?  This guy lives in Sapulpa but Christiansen is "his man for D-8".

This has got to be the same knob that wrote the Sapulpa Herald a couple of months ago and said: "To all you hunters who kill animals for food, shame on you; you ought to go to the store and buy the meat that was made there, where no animals were harmed."

[Townsend]

Funny, I didn't think I was for leveraging a property tax to pay for the Fire Department...

and apparently "Grizzle sounds a bit short of brain food"

Fun to run for office?

[sgrizzle]

and apparently "Grizzle sounds a bit short of brain food"

Fun to run for office?

Other than the part about me supporting fire districts I thought the article was pretty good. (in reality I said that I had not read the details on the proposal but applaud the creativity to find more stable funding sources for the city)

And yes, it's a hoot.

P.S. I have signs now.

[Grizzle4D8]

Walk da 'hood fo' Mo' Shizzle fo' D8: 23 August, 1300-1900.  Meet at 7758 E 106TH ST.  http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=7758+E+106TH+ST,+tulsa,+ok&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=42.360237,79.013672&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=A

[Conan71]

Walk da 'hood fo' Mo' Shizzle fo' D8: 23 August, 1300-1900.  Meet at 7758 E 106TH ST.  http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=7758+E+106TH+ST,+tulsa,+ok&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=42.360237,79.013672&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=A

Does Bikerfox know this?

[FOTD]

Grizz....nice play in the paper....good comments. Wish Lakin were running for Mayor leaving you the seat. Keep up the good fight.

[sgrizzle]

Lakin is picking up another endorsement, kind of.

A large local bank is hosting a meet and greet for their employees to "Meet The Candidate."

[Conan71]

Lakin is picking up another endorsement, kind of.

A large local bank is hosting a meet and greet for their employees to "Meet The Candidate."

Oh, do tell which large bank.  The suspense is killing me!

[swake]

Oh, do tell which large bank.  The suspense is killing me!

It's Arvest!

Kidding