Letters to the editor: Monday, February 4, 2008
Letters to the editor: Monday, February 4, 2008

Comments Comment on this article17

Published: February 4, 2008

This city is about right size
I've never voted against a sales tax increase or a school bond issue. I'm always for helping our police and fire departments, schools and other worthwhile functions. But I will vote against the 1-cent sales tax for the Ford Center improvements. All of us are being asked to pay for something that would involve only a small percentage of residents. Those who are not interested in professional basketball or who couldn't afford a ticket would still be paying for them.

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What bothers me most is the argument that the tax is needed "if we are to be a first-class city.” I thought we were already a first-class city! I respect and am thankful for the mayor, city council and other leaders, for what they do to manage and improve Oklahoma City. However, this isn't Chicago, Miami or Los Angeles. This is Oklahoma City, a city that's just about the right size.

City leaders need to find another way to accomplish these improvements.

B.J. Thorne, Oklahoma City

Won't work
Oklahoma City's temporary sales tax of 15 years ago lives on! First we were taxed to build the Ford Center for $92 million. Now we're being asked to pay a tax for $121 million worth of improvements to Ford Center in order to lure the Seattle SuperSonics. If the team can't draw the revenue in the more affluent, larger Seattle market, it won't here either.

Ford Center is great and supposedly was a bargain, so it should be generating a profit and therefore help pay for its own remodeling. The idea that we shouldn't have hotel guests or ticket buyers pay anything for the update on Ford Center is ridiculous. If the center is to benefit us, that should be measured by just those two items.

James England, Warr Acres

Wrong priorities
Oklahoma City announces a $3 million operating budget cut due to revenue shortfalls at the same time the city wants to raise $100 million to improve the Ford Center with tile floors, luxury suites and a new facade. Leaders also want to add another $20 million building to the city inventory in the form of a basketball practice center. Take a drive by the old police headquarters and see all the broken out and boarded up windows in that city building. Something's wrong with our priorities!

Let's vote no on the Ford Center upgrade until we figure out how to maintain what we already own. The current economic situation will probably result in more revenue shortfalls. Will it take longer than 15 months to raise the Ford Center money? Will the temporary sales tax be extended again until construction cost overruns and revenue shortfalls are covered?

Ray Sears, Oklahoma City

Why it's important
This presidential election is probably the most important in many years — and not for the fact that a black or a woman might be chosen. More important is the fact that due to the aging of our Supreme Court justices, the next president could possibly appoint four new justices. This could change America for many years to come, with either a liberal or conservative court. I hope everyone considers how important this election is to our future.

Jim Tusing, Oklahoma City

Youth vote critical
Oklahoma students who are now 14 years old will be able to vote in the 2012 election cycle. These young Oklahomans should let political powers know that they're watching and, when allowed, they will vote their mind. 18-year-olds, who will vote for first time this November, should speak their mind and vote their thoughts and beliefs. Not voting is a vote for giving up their rights, thoughts and beliefs. The young of this state should be an important voting bloc who exercises their freedom. They can make a difference if they don't vote.

Bob White, Piedmont


 

Related Topics: Basketball, Sports, Politics, Local Politics, Men's Professional Basketball

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http://www.journalrecord.com/article.cfm?recid=86094-----This editorial plainly states what I believe is true, and have no evidence to disbelieve: This arena tax is not driven by the Sonics' owners, but rather by the NBA. Everyone is free to vote against the tax, but if you think we'll get the NBA anyway, you are fooling yourself. Accept it and take responsibility if you plan to vote "no".
Jill, www.okcthunderfans.com - Feb 8, 2008 at 8:55 pm
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I guess we shouldn't have passed MAPS1 either, since the Brictown Ballpark was built for a private owner. I don't see anything wrong with using hotel and restaurant taxes to help with the financing, but OKC is no big tourist destination, so it would probably take us years and years to generate the money. Then we'd also be paying on the debt. Same with a seat tax. When the arena only holds 20,000 people, it would take 500 events with a seat tax as high as $10 per ticket to raise that kind of money. Again, we'd be paying the debt on it. And how about our parks? Should we charge people for entrance? How about the Civic Center and the Bricktown Ballpark? Ticket taxes on them too? The public library? If we only charge the people who actually use things that benefit the community and add to quality of life, then we're not doing anything as individuals for our community. How about property taxes that go to support schools? I've never had a child go to OKC public schools, but I've been paying property taxes in OKC for 20 years. Why, since I don't benefit directly? If you use the "I am only willing to pay for things if it's good for me", then we are people who happen to live in proximity, we are not a community. I'm willing to pay for schools, because it's good for other people who live here, even if I've never used them. I was willing to pay for the Brictown Ballpark, the Convention Center, the Civic Center, parks and libraries, even though I rarely use most of them. But it's good for our city as a whole. The same is true for the Ford Center. Anyone who's ever visited an arena in comparable cities knows the Ford Center is far below the quality of most of them. Tulsa has a $200 million dollar arena, KC a $300 million dollar arena. Louisville is building a $350+ million arena, and they'd probably be thrilled to put an NBA team there. Wichita is building a more expensive arena than we've got. It's time to take a step forward and become a more prominent city, and hosting an NBA team and havng a nicer arena is one of multiple ways we need to do this.
Jill, www.okcthunderfans.com - Feb 8, 2008 at 8:31 pm
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I guess we shouldn't have passed MAPS1 either, since the Brictown Ballpark was built for a private owner. I don't see anything wrong with using hotel and restaurant taxes to help with the financing, but OKC is no big tourist destination, so it would probably take us years and years to generate the money. Then we'd also be paying on the debt. Same with a seat tax. When the arena only holds 20,000 people, it would take 500 events with a seat tax as high as $10 per ticket to raise that kind of money. Again, we'd be paying the debt on it. And how about our parks? Should we charge people for entrance? How about the Civic Center and the Bricktown Ballpark? Ticket taxes on them too? The public library? If we only charge the people who actually use things that benefit the community and add to quality of life, then we're not doing anything as individuals for our community. How about property taxes that go to support schools? I've never had a child go to OKC public schools, but I've been paying property taxes in OKC for 20 years. Why, since I don't benefit directly? If you use the "I am only willing to pay for things if it's good for me", then we are people who happen to live in proximity, we are not a community. I'm willing to pay for schools, because it's good for other people who live here, even if I've never used them. I was willing to pay for the Brictown Ballpark, the Convention Center, the Civic Center, parks and libraries, even though I rarely use most of them. But it's good for our city as a whole. The same is true for the Ford Center. Anyone who's ever visited an arena in comparable cities knows the Ford Center is far below the quality of most of them. Tulsa has a $200 million dollar arena, KC a $300 million dollar arena. Louisville is building a $350+ million arena, and they'd probably be thrilled to put an NBA team there. Wichita is building a more expensive arena than we've got. It's time to take a step forward and become a more prominent city, and hosting an NBA team and havng a nicer arena is one of multiple ways we need to do this.
Jill, www.okcthunderfans.com - Feb 8, 2008 at 8:30 pm
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This is like a sinister WPA project....one with zero accountability and no benefits for the working class. This is a total sham and the chamber knows it.

mapsformillionaires.org
steve, Oklahoma City - Feb 5, 2008 at 10:30 am
I don't know the other Earl, but I do know he is wrong about you being a duck, Bert. You're an old goat.
earl, oklahoma city - Feb 4, 2008 at 10:11 pm
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I do not know if there is 2 Earls or if Earl is talking to himself
BERT, HENRYETTA - Feb 4, 2008 at 5:28 pm
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Earl, I don't think it's words that give you a problem, it's their meaning. You always get miffed when anyone extrapolates (it's in the dictionary), infers, implies insinuates, or concludes. I somehow hear Nixon talking when I read your messages. For example, "I will not be the one to raise the issue of Senator Kennedy's religion in this campaign ....." You seem to want the moral glory of being a conservative, but don't want to admit that your philosophical colleagues have screwed things up, and played you like a banjo. Besides,Earl, good friend, if you walk like a duck and squawk like a duck, there's a good chance you're a duck.
earl, oklahoma city - Feb 4, 2008 at 5:24 pm
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Ask the people in Norman who never go to a football game at OU what those games mean to the economy of Norman. The ticket price pales compared to what they spend just on Campus Corner.
Cale, oklahoma city - Feb 4, 2008 at 3:58 pm
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Mr. Thorne and others just don't get it. The impact goes far beyond those people going to the basketball games. The waitress at Tapwerks will make more money and subsequently she will spend that money around town. Those NBA players that make millions will spend some of that money here. It amazes me that people cannot see that. It's like saying that the only people making money in Vail are the people operating the chair-lifts. These people are "penny
wise," "dollar foolish." Everyone thinking that they are "conservative" need to remember the words of your savior Ronald Reagan "a rising tide lifts all boats."
Cale, oklahoma city - Feb 4, 2008 at 3:54 pm
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Earl, One more thing. Is Barbara Jordan running for president? Mr. Tusing was discussing only those two running against each other for the chance to run for president.
BERT, HENRYETTA - Feb 4, 2008 at 3:52 pm
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Earl, You are again nit picking and really not telling the truth your self. Mr. Tusing did not endorse any body, He just said think and you should try it a little. Now I said I was a conservative and proud of it. But I never said one thing about how well any official was doing nor did I endorse any one in office ar trying to run for office. I never said that anyone in office was doing what I wanted him / her to do. If all you can do to make your point is try to spin and put words in others mouth then you have no point. But you sure can use a lot of words
BERT, HENRYETTA - Feb 4, 2008 at 3:49 pm
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Vote No to helping the rich get richer by using tax payers. www.march4vote.org !!!
Bill, Oklahoma City - Feb 4, 2008 at 2:11 pm
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Earl, I still think it is important -- as long as Tusing is using terms of "identity politics" -- to make sure we classify Barbara Jordan as a black woman, and not tear her in half as Tusing's classification system would do. He would have her either being a woman or being "a black." You don't want me to decide whether your are EITHER a conservative OR a person, do you? No. As far as "not telling the truth," Mr. Tusing doesn't lie, but he does present, knowingly or unknowingly, half-truths. He indicates that the court must be EITHER conservative OR liberal. Geez. He also indicates that my vote will somehow be a vital factor in determining who the judges will be and will not be. It does not. I'm glad to read that you're proud to be a conservative, but what legislative and executive achievements can you point to with pride? Our so-called leaders and so-called representatives look to me, because of what they have produced, like ineffective stooges ..... and didn't most of them say they were conservative (2000-2006)?
earl, oklahoma city - Feb 4, 2008 at 1:32 pm
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Those of us who watched GW Bush put 2 new supreme court judges in place are already thinking about this & have been for at least the last couple of years.
Concerned, Central Oklahoma - Feb 4, 2008 at 10:32 am
Earl, I am a conservative and I am proud to make that statement. Now other than the nit picking you have about Mr. Tusing's letter the question I ask you is it the truth? i do not see where he is telling anyone how to vote but just giving them a another reason to think about their vote.
BERT, HENRYETTA - Feb 4, 2008 at 9:34 am
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David D., Mr. Tusing is clearly considers himself a conservative -- only conservatives divide the world into two neat camps, of conservative and liberal. I'm not surprised he's hesitant to say so. Using his categories of "black" and "woman" would make it impossible for him to properly classify black women candidates, such as Barbara Jordan was, or Maxine Waters is -- or even acknowledge their existence. would she be "a black" or "a woman" to him? That means, to me, he doesn't give such persons very much consideration. No, I think he was trying to warn us, in his letter, that the only real power, or ideal, conservatives have left is in choosing Supreme Court judges. Conservatives in government(2000-2006) betrayed all their principles -- especially lowering the cost of government and successfully managing a well-equipped military force.
earl, oklahoma city - Feb 4, 2008 at 8:59 am
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Mr. Tusing, "black" is an adjective, not a noun. You mean "a black man," in reference to Barack Obama, and should say as much. And, in fairness, Mrs. Clinton (to whom you also refer) is not just "a woman," therefore, but "a white woman." In fact, she's not just any white woman -- she's been a party worker for 30 years, in Arkansas and in Washington, D.C., supporting candidates from or devising party policy behind closed doors. In addition, she is the daughter of a career government worker. He, on the other hand, he had no political connections growing up, and has spent most of his political life either talking one-on-one with people or constructing and voting on legislation in public. But it would be just as unfair of me to say that "a leader or a hack might be chosen" as it is of you to say "a black or a woman might be chosen." Can we agree on "a black man or a white womnan might be chosen," instead?
buzzy, oklahoma City - Feb 4, 2008 at 8:42 am

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