If you think Kaiser doesn't care about the river..

[sgrizzle]

..you might want to go down riverside right now from about 41st to SW BLVD. The Kaiser-funded rehabilitation has already begun.

I don't remember Kaiser ever saying he would keep his donations if the tax didn't pass, although some have inferred it. This would suggest otherwise.

[cks511]

The improvement at the north end of Riverside at SW Blvd is the Cyrus Avery Plaza. It belongs to V2025, or what I like to call Riverpalooza #1.  Actually Avery Plaza is going to be pretty cool, so I shouldn't be so sarcastic.....lol..at least for this part of it. I believe they are behind schedule and scaled back on the plaza.  You can find the original spec on V2025 site.

But I think Kaiser will keep his money that is up for a vote.  Yes, I do.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by cks511

The improvement at the north end of Riverside at SW Blvd is the Cyrus Avery Plaza. It belongs to V2025, or what I like to call Riverpalooza #1.  Actually Avery Plaza is going to be pretty cool, so I shouldn't be so sarcastic.....lol..at least for this part of it. I believe they are behind schedule and scaled back on the plaza.  You can find the original spec on V2025 site.

But I think Kaiser will keep his money that is up for a vote.  Yes, I do.

That is on the east side of riverside drive. The west side is shut down and it has signs on it saying "river trails enhancement paid for by the George Kaiser Family Foundation" so while he may be able to pull back SOME money, it's already being spent.

[bokworker]

Isn't the work being done now tied to Kaiser's gift of $12MM that was announced some months ago? Completely seperate from the offer tied to the current river proposal.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by bokworker

Isn't the work being done now tied to Kaiser's gift of $12MM that was announced some months ago? Completely seperate from the offer tied to the current river proposal.

My understanding is the $113M number includes all donations.

[jackbristow]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by bokworker

Isn't the work being done now tied to Kaiser's gift of $12MM that was announced some months ago? Completely seperate from the offer tied to the current river proposal.

My understanding is the $113M number includes all donations.

bokworker is correct.  The Trails are completely separate.  That has nothing to do with the tax.

[Rico]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

..you might want to go down riverside right now from about 41st to SW BLVD. The Kaiser-funded rehabilitation has already begun.

I don't remember Kaiser ever saying he would keep his donations if the tax didn't pass, although some have inferred it. This would suggest otherwise.

Tulsa County voters could be asked this fall to approve a $277 million tax initiative to implement portions of the Arkansas River Corridor Master Plan, officials said Wednesday.

If approved, the private sector will add more than $100 million, the largest private donation for a city-county project in state history, said Ken Levit, executive director of the George Kaiser Family Foundation.

To me... just in my small uncivilized world this sounds as though we get the gift if the Tax is approved.

[Conan71]

...and if approved, BOK gets some of the bond underwriting.  Not suggesting that's nefarious, but I am pretty miffed that there's a $100mm gun to the heads of voters.

[Townsend]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

...and if approved, BOK gets some of the bond underwriting.  Not suggesting that's nefarious, but I am pretty miffed that there's a $100mm gun to the heads of voters.

Better than a hill of chat

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by Townsend

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

...and if approved, BOK gets some of the bond underwriting.  Not suggesting that's nefarious, but I am pretty miffed that there's a $100mm gun to the heads of voters.

Better than a hill of chat

this thread should be closed for misinformation, or at least a correction posted up front.  as already mentioned this was the initial 12m smokescreen apart from the 117m they will yank away when the river tax fails.

[TheArtist]

That trail enhancement was something promised before this river plan vote. Rumor has it, lol, that Mr Kaiser has some charities in mind that  he will use this money for if this river vote does not pass. He will give money away, it just wont be for the river, and not all will be here in Tulsa. He may be rich but even he cant help everyone, or change and do everything he may want to.

If any of us won a million dollars, how many of us would do the most moral thing and give it all away to help sick and injured children, the dying and suffering of the world? I bet most of us would not give all of it to such things. We would take at least some of that money and selfishly spend it on relatively more frivolous things. I would try to find some balance, but each person has to weigh such things and figure out how best to spend their money, how to make the most of it. How, even when giving, to make the most impact and make the biggest difference. The more people gather together to do something the more worthwhile and greater the impact can be.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

That trail enhancement was something promised before this river plan vote. Rumor has it, lol, that Mr Kaiser has some charities in mind that  he will use this money for if this river vote does not pass. He will give money away, it just wont be for the river, and not all will be here in Tulsa. He may be rich but even he cant help everyone, or change and do everything he may want to.

If any of us won a million dollars, how many of us would do the most moral thing and give it all away to help sick and injured children, the dying and suffering of the world? I bet most of us would not give all of it to such things. We would take at least some of that money and selfishly spend it on relatively more frivolous things. I would try to find some balance, but each person has to weigh such things and figure out how best to spend their money, how to make the most of it. How, even when giving, to make the most impact and make the biggest difference. The more people gather together to do something the more worthwhile and greater the impact can be.

oh give me an eff'n break.  The man is worth billions....he needs a hefty tax deduction so he can keep some of his money from Uncle Sam.  Spare me the bleeding heart story....business is business and thats all this "donation" is.  He is just trying to wield some unnecessary influence with it.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

That trail enhancement was something promised before this river plan vote. Rumor has it, lol, that Mr Kaiser has some charities in mind that  he will use this money for if this river vote does not pass. He will give money away, it just wont be for the river, and not all will be here in Tulsa. He may be rich but even he cant help everyone, or change and do everything he may want to.

If any of us won a million dollars, how many of us would do the most moral thing and give it all away to help sick and injured children, the dying and suffering of the world? I bet most of us would not give all of it to such things. We would take at least some of that money and selfishly spend it on relatively more frivolous things. I would try to find some balance, but each person has to weigh such things and figure out how best to spend their money, how to make the most of it. How, even when giving, to make the most impact and make the biggest difference. The more people gather together to do something the more worthwhile and greater the impact can be.

oh give me an eff'n break.  The man is worth billions....he needs a hefty tax deduction so he can keep some of his money from Uncle Sam.  Spare me the bleeding heart story....business is business and thats all this "donation" is.  He is just trying to wield some unnecessary influence with it.

The donation is from KFF and not from Kaiser. He donates his money to KFF and already has any tax donations he is going to get. His foundation is a non-profit and doesn't need any tax deductions.

[cannon_fodder]

and aside from that...

Giving away money is NEVER a a net saving.  If you give away $1,000,000 you do not save $2,000,000 in taxes.  You still come out with less money.  

I don't understand why people think giving away money for "a tax break" somehow means the person's donation is lesser.  If giving away money saves you money, then why aren't you doing it?

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

That trail enhancement was something promised before this river plan vote. Rumor has it, lol, that Mr Kaiser has some charities in mind that  he will use this money for if this river vote does not pass. He will give money away, it just wont be for the river, and not all will be here in Tulsa. He may be rich but even he cant help everyone, or change and do everything he may want to.

If any of us won a million dollars, how many of us would do the most moral thing and give it all away to help sick and injured children, the dying and suffering of the world? I bet most of us would not give all of it to such things. We would take at least some of that money and selfishly spend it on relatively more frivolous things. I would try to find some balance, but each person has to weigh such things and figure out how best to spend their money, how to make the most of it. How, even when giving, to make the most impact and make the biggest difference. The more people gather together to do something the more worthwhile and greater the impact can be.

oh give me an eff'n break.  The man is worth billions....he needs a hefty tax deduction so he can keep some of his money from Uncle Sam.  Spare me the bleeding heart story....business is business and thats all this "donation" is.  He is just trying to wield some unnecessary influence with it.

So what? Doesn't he still have to decide what to do with it? You saying he just throws that money around without any consideration? He has no conscience or care whatsoever about where his money goes?