MAPS 3 Debate is On
As you can tell from newspaper editorials and internet discussion boards, the opinions are split but passionate on the MAPS 3 proposal. For example, my MAPS 3 opinion page has over twenty responses, and we'll just say that exclamation marks are used more than a few times. With the vote just less than a month away, all the details of the plan are becoming clear and the sides are organizing efforts.
Coming out in support of MAPS 3 are, obviously, the mayor and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, as well as many other civic organizations, schools and businesses. They have a campaign website at www.yesformaps.com. On the other side of the issue are Oklahoma City's fire and police unions, among others. Their committee "Not This MAPS" claims there are far more pressing concerns in the current economic climate.
As for the proposal itself, specific details continue to emerge. The streetcar system would be five to six miles downtown, State Fair Park would get exhibit space and public building upgrades, and a whitewater kayaking venue would be added on the Oklahoma River. One MAPS 3 component, the downtown park, was more clearly illustrated at a presentation a couple of weeks ago. Designers intend to include a cafe, lake, amphitheater, dog park and skating rink. Frankly I think that's a bit too busy, but what do I know.
What do you think? Voice your opinion on MAPS 3 and how you intend to vote.
MAPS 3 Logo © Oklahoma City
Comments
VOTERS BEWARE!! I just received my Voting Ballot since we vote via mail for the Dec 8th election and Maps3 is trying to pull a fast one on the Voters. The Item to be voted on does not say Maps3, it says Oklahoma City Improvements 1 cent sales tax. VOTE NO!!! – taxes are already too high and all of the utility companies are increasing their rates. The Federal Government is putting this Country deeper and deeper in debt everyday!! Watch for increased federal taxes next year too. Oklahoma State Agencies have to keep cutting their budgets every month due to lack of sales tax revenue. How about Maps3 going to help our state agencies keep employees and keep providing services, instead of building things just for Rich People to enjoy. Who else can afford to ride the River Boats or park in Bricktown for an Event – if you can even afford to attend the event?? Enough is Enough!!! Voters stand up for your rights and keep what little of your paycheck you can!! VOTE NO!!!!!
Vote no!
Until the city takes care of our first responders needs, AND stresses a city-wide commuter system that includes the suburbs as well as the inner city, I will continue to oppose the extension of this sales tax, just as I opposed the extension for the Ford Center. It is time to send a clear message to our city leaders that they need to focus on the whole city instrad of just one area.
Remember the reports on how OKC’s air quality is suffering? If this goes on much longer the EPA will be mandating different gasoline formulas that WILL cost us more. Are you ready for even higher gas prices? We NEED a real commuter system instead of the current joke ofo a bus system and the proposed street car system that will only service the entertainment district
Couldn’t we just go back to 1963? OKC is getting way to close to ALMOST being a real city with all this Bricktown crap, improvements to the Ford Center, etc…. lets get rid of the Internet and cable TV too! Oklahomans have worked too hard to earn a reputation as a state full of uneducated, back woods hillbillies to see that washed away with anything that might be viewed as progress.
Well, if you have some convincing arguments, why don’t you post them ZHD. Worried about debating with an ignorant hillbilly? At least the two of us who have spoken against this extension so far here have argued points instead of merely dropping into name calling. Seems to me you may be the ignorant one here.
Well Steve, Are you really serious about a “city-wide commuter system”? “that includes the suburbs as well as the inner city’???? Why not propose an intergalactic commuter system? Its just as likely to be approved and used by a population of Oklahomans who for the most part have never been on a bus that wasn’t painted yellow.
And you opposed the extension of the Ford center, for what? Why? You give no rational for that.
You also mention OKC air quality, that’s a reasonable concern, but what exactly about MAPS3 is it that will push the EPA into mandating gas formulas for Oklahoma?
You spew miscellaneous rantings with no clear reasoning for your inconsequential concerns.
You do not like the Bricktown area, why not just leave it at that?
WANT TO DEBATE?
Oh, I see….somehow my concerns must be inconsequential while yours must obviously carry more weight. Silly me for not realizing that!
What I was getting at in regards to the EPA was that a comprehensive commuter system might help the air quality in the metro area and possibly forestall any penalties from the EPA.
Yes, I am serious about a wide spread commuter system. Perhaps the reason that most people here haven’t ridden a “bus that wasn’t painted yellow” is because the current bus system in OKC is mostly a joke. Have you ever considered that people might take advantage of a better commuter system if there was one in place? I think not.
Why was I against the so-called improvements to the Ford Center ? Simple. I think it is a mistake to become hostage to a private enterprise, and with gift of the improvements to the owners of the Thunder, that is exactly what the voters here did. It will only be a few years before the owners come back around crying that the facility just isn’t state of the art anymore and they just can’t possibly stay there unless the taxpayer ponies up more money rather than pay out of their own pocket.
I would have supported a fee on all tickets sold for Ford Center events being added to help pay for the improvements, but that apparently was never considered by our city leaders. I know that too many cities have fallen into that trap and that is has mostly become the usual way of doing business with a pro sports team. I just happen to disagree with it strongly, and always will.
Just exactly why do we need a new convention center? Because some hired consultants told the city government what it wanted to here? Lets remodel the Cox Convention Center and save a fair amount folks.
My feelings about Bricktown? I don’t hate it or even dislike it, but neither would I miss it if it wasn’t there. I seldom go there as I see no point in subjecting myself to the parking situation when I can go to restaurants that serve excellent food at lower prices, theaters that show the same movies with good sound systems and seats, and can find pretty much everything else I care to do (other than a concert now and then) elsewhere in OKC.
Myself, I’ll leave Bricktown to the tourists and those with a lot of discretionary cash.
This will be the last I post here. I could go on, but with the high opinion you have of your viewpoints and the perhaps elitist disregard you hold for anybody who dares to hold a differing opinion, evidenced by statements like “You spew miscellaneous rantings with no clear reasoning for your inconsequential concerns. ” it would be pointless.
Good afternoon.
I’m hurt.
So, has anyone noticed that Tulsa got the HR Cafe and not us? How about Dave and Buster’s? Has any of the concert generation noticed that to see the good ones you have to go to Tulsa now. My friends and I attribute this fact to the new sports team that we could care less about. There are a few people with all the control in this city, so it really almost doesn’t matter what any of us say, they will do whatever the hell they feel like doing. We just live here. A friend of mine called the Dave and Buster’s headquarters to ask if they were putting one in here, and they said, and I quote “We will NEVER put one of OUR establishments in YOUR city”