TulsaNow candidate forum - meet district 4 hopefuls

[rdj]

We only had time to do one race.

District 1&4 are both an interesting contest, but 4 effects the urban core more.

District 9 is GT Bynum vs Paul Tay.

Totally understand.  I am very curious about District One.  Was invited to a meet and greet for Henderson's challenger but was unable to attend.  Hope to learn more about her soon.

[Gaspar]

Because Santa riding around town towing an inflatable penis is certainly a formidable campaign tactic.

He is very green.  0 carbon footprint campaign.  District 9 certainly has a shortage of inflatable penii, and Tay seeks to remedy this.

[AquaMan]

He is very green.  0 carbon footprint campaign.  District 9 certainly has a shortage of inflatable penii, and Tay seeks to remedy this.

You are funny. Is that area zoned for inflatable penii? Should we make some paths designated for inflatable bicycle promotional opportunities complete with air compressors? Of course we'll need some more regulation to protect the women and children.

[RecycleMichael]

I hope all you TulsaNow posters who live or work in District 4 show up for this forum. It is a week from today and it starts at 6:00 pm.

I will get there early to socialize. Find me and I will buy you one of their refreshing sodas.

[Claude]

What do you see as the primary core responsibilities of city government? [I see them as (1) Public Safety and (2) Infrastructure. It's like the hierarchy of human needs - air, food, shelter, first.] How do you rate the city's performance in the past 20 or so years in this regard given that our streets are in deplorable, even dangerous, condition and police and fire budgets continue to be cut such that academies fail to keep pace with attrition?  Do you believe the city's failure to provide these core services, adequately, accounts,  at least partially, for the migration to surrounding suburbs of middle and upper middle class citizens?  How will you get back to basics and address these issues?

[TheArtist]

What do you see as the primary core responsibilities of city government? [I see them as (1) Public Safety and (2) Infrastructure. It's like the hierarchy of human needs - air, food, shelter, first.] How do you rate the city's performance in the past 20 or so years in this regard given that our streets are in deplorable, even dangerous, condition and police and fire budgets continue to be cut such that academies fail to keep pace with attrition?  Do you believe the city's failure to provide these core services, adequately, accounts,  at least partially, for the migration to surrounding suburbs of middle and upper middle class citizens?  How will you get back to basics and address these issues?

And therein lies the debate. 

(1.) Public Safety:  Where should we currently put our money/time/efforts, schools and mental health or police and prisons?

(2.)  Infrastructure:  Is it the role of government to build rail lines and zone for TOD, or build roads and zone for Suburban, auto oriented development? 

I would say there is another aspect that people often consider and that is...

(3) "quality of life".  If a city does not offer good amenities and quality of life options (parks, attractive public spaces, art, etc.), another city will and then you may find yourself at a competitive disadvantage and your city will begin to lose jobs, population, and taxes. "Come to OUR CITY! WE have _______!!!  But there again, some would argue to let the private/non-profit sector fill that role, for if the government does the basics well and the private sector thrives then the amenities and quality of life offerings will improve as well. 

[Red Arrow]

(2.)  Infrastructure:  Is it the role of government to build rail lines and zone for TOD, or build roads and zone for Suburban, auto oriented development? 

Both really.  Just not in the same place. 

[Claude]

And therein lies the debate. 

(1.) Public Safety:  Where should we currently put our money/time/efforts, schools and mental health or police and prisons?

(2.)  Infrastructure:  Is it the role of government to build rail lines and zone for TOD, or build roads and zone for Suburban, auto oriented development? 

I would say there is another aspect that people often consider and that is...

(3) "quality of life".  If a city does not offer good amenities and quality of life options (parks, attractive public spaces, art, etc.), another city will and then you may find yourself at a competitive disadvantage and your city will begin to lose jobs, population, and taxes. "Come to OUR CITY! WE have _______!!!  But there again, some would argue to let the private/non-profit sector fill that role, for if the government does the basics well and the private sector thrives then the amenities and quality of life offerings will improve as well. 

I understand the debate, but we already have streets and really must maintain them as a high priority. If the way they've been maintained over the recent past is any indication of the way rail lines would be maintained, I'd just as soon they not build them.  IMO government too often forgets what its primary functions are.

I also believe that a safe, well maintained, clean and beautiful city goes a long way toward enhancing quality of life.

[RecycleMichael]

Event page on facebook...shows 27 people attending.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1446840645557622/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

[RecycleMichael]

How about TulsaNow posters coming out to this?

It would be nice to meet some of the people I don't know and joke around with those of you I do know...

[Conan71]

Bribe me with some Kentucky bourbon and I'll show up.

[Hoss]

Bribe me with some Kentucky bourbon and I'll show up.

Speaking of Kentucky bourbon, you ever tried Bulleit Bourbon?

don't worry guys, I'll spin this back onto topic once answered.   

[rdj]

Speaking of Kentucky bourbon, you ever tried Bulleit Bourbon?

don't worry guys, I'll spin this back onto topic once answered.   

If you like Bulleit Bourbon.  You should try the Bulliet Rye.  Fantastic neat, on the rocks or in an Old Fashioned.

Foolish Things doesn't serve liquor, correct?

I can't attend.  Hope it goes well.

[RecycleMichael]

You guys should try Scissortail Bourbon. Made in Oklahoma.

I have a bottle of Bulleit bourbon for conan. I owe him in a trade for Slim Jim peppers.
Be there tomorrow.

[TheArtist]

I understand the debate, but we already have streets and really must maintain them as a high priority. If the way they've been maintained over the recent past is any indication of the way rail lines would be maintained, I'd just as soon they not build them.  IMO government too often forgets what its primary functions are.

I also believe that a safe, well maintained, clean and beautiful city goes a long way toward enhancing quality of life.

At one time Tulsa had 6,000 people per square miles paying for the roads within each square mile. Then we went to around 3,000 people per square mile, then to around 2,000 people per square mile.  Then we keep adding more "lane miles" within each square mile "wider lanes, more lanes, larger intersections, etc."  To the point where we essentially have double the roads per the population that is actually needed (aka fewer people trying to pay for more and more roads who then seemed baffled at how costly it is to maintain them).  And we make it illegal to create good urban infill with our current zoning laws which if changed in areas would decrease road trips and increase the number of people/taxpayers, per square mile to help pay for the infrastructure.  

Was reading the other day about how one city was a little worried that their transit ridership was going down after having gone up for so long. Then they looked at some other numbers and were startled to notice that car trips were also down, yet population and jobs were up?!  What was happening was their pedestrian friendly/bike friendly zoning and infrastructure was making it so that more and more people were able and willing to get around via bikes and walking, decreasing both the need for transit and road use/wear and tear.