Oh boy, more city council-Mayor shenanigans...

[cannon_fodder]

I move to make me, or any number of persons really, the benevolent dictator of Tulsa.  Criteria in order of importance:

1) Ability to lead (preferably with a positive vision)
2) Understanding of urban needs including:    a) zoning, b) basic services, c) education, and infrastructure
3) Working kowledge of business/economics
4) not stupid, petty, or purposefully ignorant
5) has once been to Tulsa

Honestly, our current government is totally worthless.  We get nothing done, have no leadership, no vision, and don't address BIG needs.  No wonder frikken Little Rock and Springfield are passing Tulsa in many catagories.

I'm voting against everyone possible. 

Hell, Paul Tay for Mayor.

For that matter Biker Fox for... well, maybe we aren't there yet.

[Conan71]

I move to make me, or any number of persons really, the benevolent dictator of Tulsa.  Criteria in order of importance:

1) Ability to lead (preferably with a positive vision)
2) Understanding of urban needs including:    a) zoning, b) basic services, c) education, and infrastructure
3) Working kowledge of business/economics
4) not stupid, petty, or purposefully ignorant
5) has once been to Tulsa
6) has never met a member of Tulsa's oligarchy and wouldn't know George Kaiser from Kaiser Willhelm.

Honestly, our current government is totally worthless.  We get nothing done, have no leadership, no vision, and don't address BIG needs.  No wonder frikken Little Rock and Springfield are passing Tulsa in many catagories.

I'm voting against everyone possible. 

Hell, Paul Tay for Mayor.

For that matter Biker Fox for... well, maybe we aren't there yet.

Added a condition to your list.

[pmcalk]

What has happened to Tulsa in that time?  The north side has supposedly gotten better representation, but as a whole, the city's infrastructure appears to have suffered.  Maybe it's entirely coincidental that our streets started to deteriorate a lot faster after we no longer had a street commissioner.  We didn't have a star chamber back then and the city seemed to operate a lot more efficiently.  Is north Tulsa getting better representation than it was pre 1990?  Sure, there's been improvements, but it's still the most blighted region of our city.

I don't think its coincidental that our streets started to deteriorate, but I don't think it has anything to do with having a street commissioner.  I think it has to do with the fact that, beginning in the late 60s, Tulsa went on an annexation binge, basically doubling its total land area, and correspondingly seeing only very modest population growth.  Suddenly, the ratio of tax payers per square mile of pavement plummeted.  That was followed quickly by one of the worst economic downturns in the country (ie the oil bust of the 80s).  And just when the city seemed to be regaining some steam, we had the tech bubble burst.  Now we are seeing yet another economic downturn.  So, basically, for the past 30 years we have more roads than we can afford to maintain.  Why do you think that having a street commissioner would have made any difference (keeping in mind that it was the commission form of government that chose to overextend the city so drastically)?

All cities have areas of blight.  The question is whether people on the North side believe they have more of a voice in government now vs. under the old system.  And I would add that, in some cases, the roads on the north side are actually better today than they were back in the 80s. 

[Conan71]

I don't think its coincidental that our streets started to deteriorate, but I don't think it has anything to do with having a street commissioner.  I think it has to do with the fact that, beginning in the late 60s, Tulsa went on an annexation binge, basically doubling its total land area, and correspondingly seeing only very modest population growth.  Suddenly, the ratio of tax payers per square mile of pavement plummeted.  That was followed quickly by one of the worst economic downturns in the country (ie the oil bust of the 80s).  And just when the city seemed to be regaining some steam, we had the tech bubble burst.  Now we are seeing yet another economic downturn.  So, basically, for the past 30 years we have more roads than we can afford to maintain.  Why do you think that having a street commissioner would have made any difference (keeping in mind that it was the commission form of government that chose to overextend the city so drastically)?

All cities have areas of blight.  The question is whether people on the North side believe they have more of a voice in government now vs. under the old system.  And I would add that, in some cases, the roads on the north side are actually better today than they were back in the 80s.  

Some good points, PM.  Granted, they've at least got two resident advocates now though one is getting addled and the other who isn't overly bright constantly complains about his district constantly getting the short end of the stick to the point I think others tune him out.  I'd love it if someone like Jabar Shumate would finally beat Henderson.  Unfortunately the rest of the councilors are acting less and less like advocates for their districts, they seem to exist soley for the purpose of antagonizing the unelected mayor and his sock puppet.

[Townsend]

http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=14226838

Tulsa Mayor Sends Letter To Governor Disputing Allegations Against Him

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett has formally responded to allegations of wrongdoing by city councilor John Eagleton.

In a letter and supporting documents sent to Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin this week, Bartlett said he strongly denies he engaged in "misconduct, malfeasance and criminal behavior," as claimed by Eagleton.

Bartlett sent the material to the governor after Eagleton asked her to order the attorney general to review the councilor's allegations against Bartlett.

In the letter, Bartlett responds to each of Eagleton's 10 allegations.  He says "Mr. Eagleton's allegations contain misstatements and omission of facts and have no legal validity."

The governor's office provided a copy of the letter and supporting documents to News On 6.

Read Mayor Dewey Bartlett's letter and supporting documents.

In the letter, Bartlett requests Fallin "decline to accept any further action in this matter." Fallin's office has indicated she will be making her decision by Friday.

[Conan71]

http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=14226838

Tulsa Mayor Sends Letter To Governor Disputing Allegations Against Him

No wonder he sent a letter, didn't his cell phone burn up?

[Hoss]

No wonder he sent a letter, didn't his cell phone burn up?

"What's that burning smell?"...LOL.  +1

[Nik]

I can't believe the Governor is making the decision barely more than 24 hours after receiving Bartlett's response.

[Townsend]

I can't believe the Governor is making the decision barely more than 24 hours after receiving Bartlett's response.

I believe I read she was going to respond on Friday before she received the letter.

Her handlers most likely told his handlers he needed to do something before she could make her decision.  This way she'd look informed.

[Breadburner]

Thank god she is, instead of dicking around with this ignorant $hit......

[tulsa_fan]

I don't think she needed a response, it's not her job to determine whether Eagleton's claims are true or not, just that they require further investigation.  I believe she should push them on to the AG.  Awaiting response from Bartlett reflects that she is weighing both sides.  I think Eagleton pointed out more than enough cause for a formal invesigation.  ESPECIALLY when one of the biggest issues is Bartlett's lying . . . why would you decide not to investigate because he says its not true . . . .

[Townsend]

It keeps on keepin' on...

http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=14235893

TULSA, Oklahoma -- A letter from a Tulsa pastor appears to validate one of the "official misconduct" claims made against Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett.

Councilor John Eagleton says Bartlett is guilty of "official misconduct" in part because he encouraged people to sue the City Council.

Reverend Warren Blakney has signed an affidavit that says he met with Mayor Bartlett and his Chief of Staff Terry Simonson in December and he was encouraged by Simonson at that meeting to sue the Council.

Read the affidavit

Eagleton claims Bartlett personally encouraged the lawsuit, which Bartlett has denied.

Blakney is President of Tulsa's NACCP Chapter.

[Townsend]

Fallin's out.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20110311_11_0_GovMar386295

Gov. Mary Fallin will not call for the Attorney General's Office to investigate an ouster complaint against Mayor Dewey Bartlett.

Instead, she is going to let the public force the probe through an effort under way by City Councilor John Eagleton to collect voter signatures.

'These local issues should be resolved locally," Fallin said in a letter released shortly before 5 p.m. Friday. "The constant discord and conflict between the City Council and Mayor's Office are a clear impediment to the day-to-day business of governance and an obstacle to attracting new jobs to the city of Tulsa and the state of Oklahoma."

About three weeks ago, Eagleton sent Fallin a formal letter requesting an investigation into 10 claims involving alleged misconduct, malfeasance and criminal behavior by the mayor.

Eagleton added an 11th claim to his ouster complaint when he presented his case to the City Council last week, but it was not included in the letter or documentation he sent the governor.

The councilor has said he is busy collecting the 1,100 signatures needed to trigger an investigation.

Earlier today, the Rev. Warren Blakney issued a signed statement that he was in a meeting with Bartlett and Mayoral Chief of Staff Terry Simonson when Simonson asked him to be a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the City Council. Blakney declined the request.

One of the 11 allegations in an ouster complaint against Bartlett is that he solicited citizens to file lawsuits against the city, one of which concerns a council effort to change the city attorney post to an elected position.

While Bartlett and Simon confirmed the meeting with Blakney, he denied that any solicitation occurred. Simonson also said he never asked Blakney to join the council lawsuit.

Blakney is also the local chapter president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, although in his statement he was not speaking on behalf of the organization.

On Thursday, former Mayor Kathy Taylor sent a letter to Fallin rebutting part of Bartlett's answers to the ouster complaint he sent the governor.

Taylor states that Bartlett's response involving the $7,028 travel donations contains "certain allegations regarding me, which are inconsistent with my recollection of the facts."

Bartlett responded to Fallin on Thursday, outlining his answers to ouster claims against him. "Mr. Eagleton's allegations contain misstatements and omission of facts and have no legal validity," Bartlett wrote in his seven-page letter, which was accompanied by 25 pages of supporting documents.

The rancor began shortly after Bartlett took office and has continued to escalate, creating unresolved issues, including a council investigation into whether the mayor and his chief of staff lied to the council.

[Townsend]

"The City Council voted 8-1 on Thursday to overturn a mayoral veto of a council resolution that repealed a previous, legally challenged council resolution that had sought a Feb. 8 special election."



Got that?

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=334&articleid=20110325_11_A11_CUTLIN63931&rss_lnk=439

[Hoss]

"The City Council voted 8-1 on Thursday to overturn a mayoral veto of a council resolution that repealed a previous, legally challenged council resolution that had sought a Feb. 8 special election."



Got that?

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=334&articleid=20110325_11_A11_CUTLIN63931&rss_lnk=439

Biggest "Captain Obvious" quote in that?:

"This is really getting kind of stupid - goofy" ... Councilor Rick Westcott.