Reasons for my vote on the river tax

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

Its not insane when your on the other side of the river and are worn out from, jogging or biking and want to get back to the east side and are looking for the closest option. I may be mistaken, but I do not believe these are one way bridges.  Not everyone stays on just one side of the river. Perhaps you can see the 61st bridge as a way for people on the west side to escape the sewage treatment plant and get to the east side. lol

Uh, like they can't use the existing I-44 or 71st Street bridges to escape west Tulsa??  

Have the 11th, 21st and 31st street bridges also disappeared??

FB, you are now only allowed the following roads:

21st, 71st, memorial and peoria

If west tulsa has to 2.5 miles one way or the other to get around, so do you.

When jogging or bicyling, there's usually a little-used short-cut:

STRAIGHT across the river sand-bars between the East and West banks.

But, watch out for the Quicksand......and, it might be tough on Roller-Blades.  Sorry.

Or, maybe you can use the 31st Street Pedestrian Bridge....

Curious about the 31st Street Pedestrian Bridge being blocked off ALL SUMMER, during the PEAK usage time of the year.

Was someone trying to ARTIFICIALLY create the impression that there were too FEW pedestrian crossings across the River??

Hmmmmmh?

Seems like those 3 months of repairs could have easily been scheduled from November - February, when Riverparks usage abates.

Hmmmmmmh?

[xx(]

[shadows]

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

Its not insane when your on the other side of the river and are worn out from, jogging or biking and want to get back to the east side and are looking for the closest option. I may be mistaken, but I do not believe these are one way bridges.  Not everyone stays on just one side of the river. Perhaps you can see the 61st bridge as a way for people on the west side to escape the sewage treatment plant and get to the east side. lol

Use your cell phone and have EMSA pick you up.  Look on your water bill and you can see where you are paying for emergency transportation.  If you had a bridge you might not be able to get back across the river of sand on it.

If you don't use EMSA it will go away.

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

Originally posted by Friendly Bear

Originally posted by TheArtist

When jogging or bicyling, there's usually a little-used short-cut:

STRAIGHT across the river sand-bars between the East and West banks.

But, watch out for the Quicksand......and, it might be tough on Roller-Blades.  Sorry.

Or, maybe you can use the 31st Street Pedestrian Bridge....

Curious about the 31st Street Pedestrian Bridge being blocked off ALL SUMMER, during the PEAK usage time of the year.

Was someone trying to ARTIFICIALLY create the impression that there were too FEW pedestrian crossings across the River??

Hmmmmmh?

Seems like those 3 months of repairs could have easily been scheduled from November - February, when Riverparks usage abates.

Hmmmmmmh?

[xx(]

Man, you are the most paranoid I've ever read on this forum. Now you making me defend a group I'm not real comfy with. RPA made changes on the approaches to the pedestrian bridge. The railings were weak and dangerous. The surface of the bridge across Riverside puddled up and needed resurfacing. The pedestrian bridge itself seems to have had added bracing put on but I'm not sure of that. Their timing is always bad but may have to do with budgeting or something. I agree that I have missed it all summer as I enjoy the wind, the creaking, and the bouncing as well as the characters you see there. The views are good too.

Honestly man. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

Originally posted by Friendly Bear

Originally posted by TheArtist

When jogging or bicyling, there's usually a little-used short-cut:

STRAIGHT across the river sand-bars between the East and West banks.

But, watch out for the Quicksand......and, it might be tough on Roller-Blades.  Sorry.

Or, maybe you can use the 31st Street Pedestrian Bridge....

Curious about the 31st Street Pedestrian Bridge being blocked off ALL SUMMER, during the PEAK usage time of the year.

Was someone trying to ARTIFICIALLY create the impression that there were too FEW pedestrian crossings across the River??

Hmmmmmh?

Seems like those 3 months of repairs could have easily been scheduled from November - February, when Riverparks usage abates.

Hmmmmmmh?

[xx(]

Man, you are the most paranoid I've ever read on this forum. Now you making me defend a group I'm not real comfy with. RPA made changes on the approaches to the pedestrian bridge. The railings were weak and dangerous. The surface of the bridge across Riverside puddled up and needed resurfacing. The pedestrian bridge itself seems to have had added bracing put on but I'm not sure of that. Their timing is always bad but may have to do with budgeting or something. I agree that I have missed it all summer as I enjoy the wind, the creaking, and the bouncing as well as the characters you see there. The views are good too.

Honestly man. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Just one of those CURIOUS timing coincidences?

The weathering of the Riverside Drive Pedestrian overpass and the deteriorating approaches to the 31st Street pedestrian bridge occurred over a period of many years.  

Afterall, the Riverside Drive Bridge Overpass was built over 70 years ago.  The exact date is carved on the bridge.  Drive by and verify it sometime.

These curious but convenient coincidences are simply fascinating.

Like when Mayor Bill MisFortune convened his grand 2003 convocation in the Convention Center for a "Visioning" meeting, the pre-packaged publicity pre-amble to the Vision 2025 Tax Blitzkrieg.

One of the more astounding sound bites on the evening news was the Leaky Roof of the Convention Center, used as a partial justification to grab more tax dollars through what became Vision 2025.  

There was Mayor MisFortune lamenting the sorry state of the Convention Center roof, and commiserating with the audience on how SORRY he was that the roof was leaking, and he guessed that meant WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

The really CURIOUS thing about that leaky Convention Center roof was it had not rained for a month before the "Visioning" convocation.

Did they call out the Fire Department pumper units to FLOOD the roof to stage that convenient sound bite???

Just another curious coincidence?

[]

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

Originally posted by Friendly Bear

Originally posted by TheArtist

When jogging or bicyling, there's usually a little-used short-cut:

STRAIGHT across the river sand-bars between the East and West banks.

But, watch out for the Quicksand......and, it might be tough on Roller-Blades.  Sorry.

Or, maybe you can use the 31st Street Pedestrian Bridge....

Curious about the 31st Street Pedestrian Bridge being blocked off ALL SUMMER, during the PEAK usage time of the year.

Was someone trying to ARTIFICIALLY create the impression that there were too FEW pedestrian crossings across the River??

Hmmmmmh?

Seems like those 3 months of repairs could have easily been scheduled from November - February, when Riverparks usage abates.

Hmmmmmmh?

[xx(]

Man, you are the most paranoid I've ever read on this forum. Now you making me defend a group I'm not real comfy with. RPA made changes on the approaches to the pedestrian bridge. The railings were weak and dangerous. The surface of the bridge across Riverside puddled up and needed resurfacing. The pedestrian bridge itself seems to have had added bracing put on but I'm not sure of that. Their timing is always bad but may have to do with budgeting or something. I agree that I have missed it all summer as I enjoy the wind, the creaking, and the bouncing as well as the characters you see there. The views are good too.

Honestly man. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Just one of those CURIOUS timing coincidences?

The weathering of the Riverside Drive Pedestrian overpass and the deteriorating approaches to the 31st Street pedestrian bridge occurred over a period of many years.  

Afterall, the Riverside Drive Bridge Overpass was built over 70 years ago.  The exact date is carved on the bridge.  Drive by and verify it sometime.

These curious but convenient coincidences are simply fascinating.

Like when Mayor Bill MisFortune convened his grand 2003 convocation in the Convention Center for a "Visioning" meeting, the pre-packaged publicity pre-amble to the Vision 2025 Tax Blitzkrieg.

One of the more astounding sound bites on the evening news was the Leaky Roof of the Convention Center, used as a partial justification to grab more tax dollars through what became Vision 2025.  

There was Mayor MisFortune lamenting the sorry state of the Convention Center roof, and commiserating with the audience on how SORRY he was that the roof was leaking, and he guessed that meant WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

The really CURIOUS thing about that leaky Convention Center roof was it had not rained for a month before the "Visioning" convocation.

Did they call out the Fire Department pumper units to FLOOD the roof to stage that convenient sound bite???

Just another curious coincidence?

[]

Maybe, but totally unrelated to overpass repairs. What was RPA's motivation when they shut down the pedestrian bridge all summer a few years ago to put new decking on it...and it coincided with thousands of people visiting for the ABA Bowling Championships? Stupid timing from people dissociated from the rest of the city thats all.

I think both times it was donated money that made the repairs. A use it or lose it type thing. But perhaps it was part of a larger conspiracy put together by the oligarchy. Only you would know.[]

[RecycleMichael]

Just a friendly note to a certain friendly bear...

You are right, it is all a conspiracy.

Everybody but you is in on it. Yhe rest of us are going to conspire to make a better Tulsa.

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

Just a friendly note to a certain friendly bear...

You are right, it is all a conspiracy.

Everybody but you is in on it. Yhe rest of us are going to conspire to make a better Tulsa.

Well, EVERYBODY are actually not in on it.

Somebodies are conniving, coordinating,  consorting, communicating, and CONTROLLING every aspect of our public policy and public policy administration, to benefit a concentrated cabal of connected construction companies and their cronies.  

Did I mentione the local Dozen controlling Oligarch Families?

Cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc?

See?

[}:)]

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

Just a friendly note to a certain friendly bear...

You are right, it is all a conspiracy.

Everybody but you is in on it. Yhe rest of us are going to conspire to make a better Tulsa.

Well, EVERYBODY are actually not in on it.

Somebodies are conniving, coordinating,  consorting, communicating, and CONTROLLING every aspect of our public policy and public policy administration, to benefit a concentrated cabal of connected construction companies and their cronies.  

Did I mentione the local Dozen controlling Oligarch Families?

Cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc?

See?

[}:)]

And if I were the leader of it you could say "Conan's cabal of conniving....cronies".

Wow, FB, that's a lot of C's in one paragraph.  "The letter C" must have been the sponsor on Sesame Street this morning.  Conan is proud.  

(don't take the Sesame Street line personal, I enjoy most of your posts, just couldn't miss that oppt'y).

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

Well I see that no one has posted a direct reply to my opinions, presumably because they can't muster any facts to directly contradict my positon.

VOTE "NO" on OCTOBER 9!!!

Hey, I'm a fan!

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

Just a friendly note to a certain friendly bear...

You are right, it is all a conspiracy.

Everybody but you is in on it. Yhe rest of us are going to conspire to make a better Tulsa.

Well, EVERYBODY are actually not in on it.

Somebodies are conniving, coordinating,  consorting, communicating, and CONTROLLING every aspect of our public policy and public policy administration, to benefit a concentrated cabal of connected construction companies and their cronies.  

Did I mentione the local Dozen controlling Oligarch Families?

Cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc?

See?

[}:)]

And if I were the leader of it you could say "Conan's cabal of conniving....cronies".

Wow, FB, that's a lot of C's in one paragraph.  "The letter C" must have been the sponsor on Sesame Street this morning.  Conan is proud.  

(don't take the Sesame Street line personal, I enjoy most of your posts, just couldn't miss that oppt'y).

No offense taken.

Likewise, I mostly enjoy your posts.  Mostly.

[:X]

[jne]

Looks like Inhoffe got our 'damn' money through the Senate.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=070925_1_A1_Thebi04568

[swake]

quote:Originally posted by jne

Looks like Inhoffe got our 'damn' money through the Senate.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=070925_1_A1_Thebi04568

Not quite, this is an "authorization" bill, not an "appropriations" bill, this bill is authorizing the spending of money on the project, but does nothing about actual funding. That's done in a whole other bill.

[Conan71]

Furthering that thought, it's still got to get past the President.

Swake, isn't that basically the reason the border fence has been so long in happening?  They passed the authorization bill but not the funding bill?

[swake]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

Furthering that thought, it's still got to get past the President.

Swake, isn't that basically the reason the border fence has been so long in happening?  They passed the authorization bill but not the funding bill?

I think the fence got partial funding, but yes, I think that is exactly the same thing.

I think it's a way for politicians in Congress to be able to say "look what I am doing" when in reality they haven't accomplished anything. I read one article that said that the Corp has billion of dollars in unfunded projects. We are now on that list. Woo-figgin-hoo!

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

I am voting "NO" on this latest river tax plan for the following reasons:

1.  I think Tulsa has much higher priority needs than river development for shopping/recreation.  We have $650,000,000 and growing daily in street and bridge repair needs.  We need about 100 additional police officers to combat growing crime.  We need about 50 additional code enforcement inspectors to clean up and monitor trashy properties and make our city attractive and safe.  We don't need more river dams and commercial shopping/dining centers by the river.  If it is such a good economic thing, let the developers do it with their own private money or donations, and then let them reap the profits.

2.  I hate sales taxes.  Sales taxes are extremely regressive and hurt the lowest income classes the most.  I vowed over 20 years ago, that until Oklahoma exempts basic groceries and clothing items, necessities of life, from sales taxes, that I would vote "NO" on ANY sales tax issue that comes up for a vote.  I have remained true to that.

The "rebate" provisions in this river tax and other past taxes are ridiculous.  They just add another layer of paperwork, and many won't apply because of the hassle or lack of understanding.

I would prefer that all local city/county sales taxes in Oklahoma be abolished and replaced with a fair, graduated city income tax.  But I know that ain't gonna happen anytime soon, as long as our government officials are rich millionaires.  Governments, federal & state, have spent the past 25 years cutting income taxes for the rich and shifting tax burden to the poor.

Just to add to my previous post....

A recurring theme we keep hearing from river tax supporters is that there is nothing for young people to do in Tulsa, or the perception that there is nothing to do so employers will not move here and "young professionals" will not stay here.  Nothing to do?  I would agree with this viewpoint only if we eliminate each and every one of the following existing Tulsa entertainment and cultural options:

1.  Tulsa's great museums.  The Philbrook, the Gilcrease, the Tulsa Historical Society, the new Tulsa Air & Space Museum, the Jazz Hall of Fame, and others.  These institutions have vast collections and rotate their exhibits, as well as host touring exhibits of national importance.  You could visit these museums 3-4 times a year for many years and never "see it all."
2.  Tulsa commercial art galleries that showcase the wealth of local artistic talent, in all varieties of artistic media.
3.  Tulsa movie theaters, especially the Circle Cinema, which provides Tulsans the opportunity to view thought-provoking films of social importance.
4.  Tulsa live local theater companies such as Theater Tulsa, Heller, Nightingale, and others which give us live, local theater to suit most every taste.
5.  The Tulsa Opera, 'nuff said.
6.  The Tulsa Ballet, 'nuff said.
7.  Tulsa pro/semi pro sports such as the Talons and Drillers.
8.  Local clubs which showcase local/regional musicians.  I do wish there were more piano bar/jazz clubs in Tulsa, but that will probably come with time.  And local dance clubs too, with recorded music if that is your thing.
9.  Locally owned, unique restaurants with great food, many of which also provide live music entertainment.
10.  Organized adult sports leagues.
11.  Organized youth sports leagues.
12.  Local civic organizations such as Rotary, Jaycees, Lions, Shriners, etc.  These groups proved educational, social, and charitable opportunities for their members.
13.  The marvelous Tulsa City/County Library System, with its millions of print, video, and audio documents, available to any Tulsa County resident.  Check out a book (remember those?) and read it once in a while.
14.  The under-construction BOK Arena, which will bring even more entertainment options to us Tulsans.
15.  Area gaming establishments with their gaming, dining, and entertainment options.
16.  Church sponsored activities for youths and adults.

I am sure there are more I will think of after I post this.  My point being that today's youth and Tulsa "young professionals" must have the attention span of a half millisecond if they cannot currently find enough venues to occupy their free time.  Quality of life for me is not about some new river development, it is about mowing my lawn without fear of being pistol-whipped and robbed, it is about feeling safe in my own home, and it is about living in attractive, clean neighborhoods.

Our public funds should go to fixing existing infrastructure, hiring more police officers and paying them a salary befitting an occupation that requires them to put their life on the line daily, beefing up our city inspections and code enforcement department with about 50 more inspectors, keeping our existing roads and public rights of way clear of trash and well maintained, and maintaining and repairing our existing parks, recreation centers and public pools.  These facilities were paid for with the tax dollars of my and older generations and have been allowed to degenerate to trash dumps and vandal magnets.  What a waste.

Our regressive sales tax in Tulsa has already reached its limit.  Vote NO on October 9th!