Tulsa Topics

Unlike the YES’s recommendation pleading with you to vote YES for the children, I decided to vote NO for the older generation.  Although I don’t necessarily act it at times, I’m a bona fide member of the older Tulsan voter brigade.  The group that has to pay the sales taxes for the groceries you kiddo’s eat and the property taxes that keep a roof over your head.  Tonight, I actually have a glimmer of hope for Tulsa.  Instead of taking the flim flam spin of the PR Meisters hook, line, and sinker, you actually decided giving a blank check to our wondrous County Commissioners may be a less than optimal use of your tax dollars.  Tulsa County voters….. I salute you!

Due to my crazy work schedule and other various sundry reasons, I couldn’t be as active in the NO campaign as I would like to have been.  Fortunately for the taxpaying citizens of Tulsa, you have some hard working people who are passionate and fight tooth and nail in hopes of a better Tulsa.  Being a combatant in the trenches gets tiresome when you are out-gunned and under funded, but the need for the fight being fought remains.  Tulsa Topics would like to give a nod to the following grassroots guerilla fighters for their efforts:

Michael Bates – UrbanTulsa columnist and proprietor of Batesline.com.
Tulsa City Councilors Roscoe Turner, Jack Henderson, and John Eagleton.  You guys rock!
Dan Hicks – You were fighting when others didn’t even know there was a fight.
The morning crew at KFAQ, Gwen and Chris.
The rest of the Tulsa Bloggers who, via the Internet, try to balance the Tulsa Whirled skew.
The citizens of Tulsa who voted NO today and decided they are not going to take it anymore.
And last but not least…. everyone who got involved above and beyond just voting.  You ARE the grassroots and worth more than slick PR firms, shiny campaign ads, and bulging battle chest.  Be proud, stand tall, and pat yourself on the back!

Honorable Mention:  KOTV for running some fairly unbiased and balanced reporting on the River Tax.

Hall of Shame:  River Parks Authority Board of Trustees.  Although it probably isn’t illegal, I believe it’s highly unethical to author a resolution supporting the River Tax.  Leave the politics to the politicians.

Analyzing The Vote And Pondering What To Make Of It

52.4% – NO
47.6% – YES

What inferences can be made of tonight’s results?

Regarding the County Commission:  Miller is predictable.  Her good traits she exhibited while on the City Council have faded and I predict she will dive like the home mortgage industry has of late.  Perry and Smaligo… I hope “fast tracking” this on the ballot bought you enough clout to offset your loss of face with your grassroots base.

Tulsa City Councilors:  Depending on which side you supported and the location of your district, you may have over half of your constituency perturbed at you.  Trust me on this one…. there are LOTS of soundclips of your statements and archives of news articles that WILL be used for you or against you in the next election.  This ought to give you something to look forward to.

I’m sure others will slice and dice the results of the River Tax election for weeks to come, so I won’t expound any further with my thoughts.  I will, however, leave you with this thought to ponder: Since this conceptual River Plan is deep sixed, where and what should Tulsa lay their sights on?  I for one propose streets and public safety, streets and public safety, streets and public safety, streets and public safety, streets and public safety, streets and public safety, streets and public safety, streets and public safety, streets and public safety, and STREETS AND PUBLIC SAFETY.  Do it for the kids!