How others see Tulsa

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by aoxamaxoa

Artist, would a tax increase excluding groceries and clothing make more sense?

"The townsfolk are incredibly nice, but the emptiness is relentless (and kind of terrifying)."
How true. I wonder if he'd have more choices if he was a constant church goer.

TheTed,thanks for the thread. Sad how he missed McNellies and all the holes in the wall.

Urban sarcasm....interesting.

"Love to shake it on shake down street.
Used to be the heart of town.
Don't tell me
this town don't have no heart.
Just gotta poke around."
garcia/hunter

I have no idea what mix of taxes would be better. But it does seem that we are not alone in our tax structure. I have run across several articles about Tennessee and some of the cities there who are complaining about the same problems we have. The people have a low tax burden over all, but many of the cities rely on high sales taxes to try and pay for everything and they are having similar infrastructure, educational, etc. problems. On the one hand they could brag about low state, property and income taxes but on the other hand sales taxes were high and the cities, roads, jobs, were suffering. Wish I could have found this one article I read the other day, sounded just like us and our situation.

http://www.yourtax.org/facts/unfair.php3

http://www.yourtax.org/facts/index.php3

http://www.yourtax.org/facts/salestax.php3

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2006/10/02/story1.html?jst=s_cn_hl

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/pf/0704/gallery.tax_friendliest/8.html

I think getting rid of taxes on food would be a good thing.  The state has been and is cutting other taxes. But we still need to come up with some funds somewhere. Can the city raise property and income taxes? Seems interesting that the state politicians can cut taxes and get applauded but when anything needs fixing or improving its the local politicians that get the blame and the burden of raising taxes. Perhaps we should just eliminate the state government all together (except for a state highway organization) and make all other taxes completely a local matter. What else does the state do for us that we couldnt do right here without the middle man?

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by aoxamaxoa

Artist, would a tax increase excluding groceries and clothing make more sense?

Groceries should be tax exempt.

[Double A]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

Too bad he didn't venture down to Red Fork and quaffed a few beers at the It'll Do tavern. A few games of tabletop shuffleboard and Bob Wills tunes from the jukebox would have cheered him up. []

                                                That sounds like my kinda place.

[john stevens]

Many, many people outside of the state of Oklahoma don't even know where Tulsa is or anything about it.  I grew up in Tulsa and lived there until the early 90's.  I live in Baltimore now, and I have met people here (educated, mind you) that think we still ride horses to work and that indians live in teepees.  Many of those who express an opinion about Tulsa have never been there and don't know what they are talking about!

[azbadpuppy]

quote:Originally posted by john stevens

Many, many people outside of the state of Oklahoma don't even know where Tulsa is or anything about it.  I grew up in Tulsa and lived there until the early 90's.  I live in Baltimore now, and I have met people here (educated, mind you) that think we still ride horses to work and that indians live in teepees.  Many of those who express an opinion about Tulsa have never been there and don't know what they are talking about!

This is very true, and most people I come in contact with who have spent any time in Tulsa seem to love it.

[cannon_fodder]

quote:Originally posted by john stevens

Many, many people outside of the state of Oklahoma don't even know where Tulsa is or anything about it.  I grew up in Tulsa and lived there until the early 90's.  I live in Baltimore now, and I have met people here (educated, mind you) that think we still ride horses to work and that indians live in teepees.  Many of those who express an opinion about Tulsa have never been there and don't know what they are talking about!

Very true.  A friend from NYC came here for law school and was relieved to see that we had paved roads.  However, I'd like to point out that such problems really arent Tulsa's fault... it can't educate the entire sheltered country.

and as a side note:  many people around the country only know of Tulsa via the University of Tulsa playing a local team, in a bowl game, or going to the NCAA.  Or if they have an event here, see the PGA on TV, etc.  Those things have a much greater impact than the extra sales tax.

[aoxamaxoa]

I thought ORU was the heart of town.....televangelism has been our largest international viewing audience for decades now....why do you think the rest of the world knows about what's here?

[mr.jaynes]

quote:Originally posted by aoxamaxoa

I thought ORU was the heart of town.....televangelism has been our largest international viewing audience for decades now....why do you think the rest of the world knows about what's here?

Actually, from my research, there are a few nationally known evangelists with a Tulsa connection, such as Robert Tilton.

[aoxamaxoa]

quote:Originally posted by mr.jaynes

quote:Originally posted by aoxamaxoa

I thought ORU was the heart of town.....televangelism has been our largest international viewing audience for decades now....why do you think the rest of the world knows about what's here?

Actually, from my research, there are a few nationally known evangelists with a Tulsa connection, such as Robert Tilton.

Huh? What about Oral and Richard. World famous.
And JC is here! Joyce that is....

[OKC_Shane]

The thing is, when people from out of town are coming in looking for something to do... They're going to go to the middle of the city. That's where all the good stuff is supposed to be. They shouldn't have to search for the obscure places that only locals know about.

That beautiful skyline is a gigantic billboard that says "come here!" and creates some big expectations... and when people follow it in, they are disappointed.

Speaking of Esquire, OKC's Mayor also makes an appearance, for being fashionable, which is kind of weird... But whatever.

[Kenosha]

quote:Originally posted by OKC_Shane

The thing is, when people from out of town are coming in looking for something to do... They're going to go to the middle of the city. That's where all the good stuff is supposed to be. They shouldn't have to search for the obscure places that only locals know about.

That beautiful skyline is a gigantic billboard that says "come here!" and creates some big expectations... and when people follow it in, they are disappointed.

EXACTLY.

For what it's worth, OKC's Downtown has a lot more going for it than Dallas' does...it's dead at 5:30 too.  Fort Worth's DT has more action than DT Dallas...so this happens in lots of places. As evidenced by downtown revivals all over the country, we are nowhere near the point of no return, but it's time to start DOING, not just planning.

[shadows]

When posters want to take the tax off food the political structure turn white and head for a chair to sit down in.

The writer of the article did not ask where the mass transportation entrance was that he could take to the 71st corridor where all the jive places are.

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by Kenosha

quote:Originally posted by OKC_Shane

The thing is, when people from out of town are coming in looking for something to do... They're going to go to the middle of the city. That's where all the good stuff is supposed to be. They shouldn't have to search for the obscure places that only locals know about.

That beautiful skyline is a gigantic billboard that says "come here!" and creates some big expectations... and when people follow it in, they are disappointed.

EXACTLY.

For what it's worth, OKC's Downtown has a lot more going for it than Dallas' does...it's dead at 5:30 too.  Fort Worth's DT has more action than DT Dallas...so this happens in lots of places. As evidenced by downtown revivals all over the country, we are nowhere near the point of no return, but it's time to start DOING, not just planning.

Thats true about Dallas. But you know there are things to do there and can easily find them and know it when you run across them. Other than Brookside and Cherry, sometimes the Brady and Blue dome are not so obvious. Not quite enough "critical mass" in those areas yet and many of the things are sparsly spread out. Just hope things hang in there long enough for them to continue to grow.

Uptown in Dallas is pretty obvious to find with all its high rises and when you drive around there, well its starting to become very dense and european with lots of people out and about, shops and sidewalk cafe open at night etc. Its that european 5 and 6 story living above with retail along the bottom that creates a lively urban neighborhood.

[deinstein]

Yeah, but just north of downtown Dallas you have Deep Elum and the most skyscrapers this side of Dubai building condos.

[cannon_fodder]

Or the "Plaza" area of Kansas City is a good example.  Its not a high rise downtown, but full of dense 4 story structures and plenty of life.  That would be the area I want to live in (sans dog and child).

Another problem for Tulsa.  It takes a while for such things to develop since many people are locked into their suburban lifestyle with dogs, multiple cars, and playgrounds in the yard.  Its hard to transition from that to urban living I suppose (would be for me, no matter how much I like the idea).
- - -

Per not taxing food:  making exceptions to taxes is a slippery slope.  Do we include junk food?  What counts as food?  Why not tax free for all Oklahoma products, what % counts as an Oklahoma product?  Prescriptions?  If so, why not aspirin?  If so, what about toothpaste and mouthwash?  If we are going to do those - sugar free gum?  medical Supplies like ankle wraps and braces?  Every group will lobby to be tax free, and the most powerful ones will probably win... creating a cluster.  Poor small businesses trying to figure that crap out!