Geo. Kaiser wants to turn Tulsa into Austin!

[Tanis143]

I didn't say any of those things were bad, just that they haven't improved my quality of life......there is really nothing downtown that interests me and I haven't seen an extra cent in my pocket from any of the commercial interests you mentioned.

Again, those things aren't "bad"......but they certainly aren't "better" for everyone.

Actually, I will say that those features are better for everyone. They bring in more tax revenue that goes towards public works, education, police, fire, etc. Look what happened with BA once BassPro came in. That area was pretty empty and now its full, BA got quite a bit of money to make improvements to downtown (which to me was again money spent in areas for eye candy when we really need more police officers). Having more successful businesses means more money for the community, at least in theory.

 

[Buzzgun]

Actually, I will say that those features are better for everyone. They bring in more tax revenue that goes towards public works, education, police, fire, etc. Look what happened with BA once BassPro came in. That area was pretty empty and now its full, BA got quite a bit of money to make improvements to downtown (which to me was again money spent in areas for eye candy when we really need more police officers). Having more successful businesses means more money for the community, at least in theory.

I'd bet there are people in Broken Arrow that would disagree with you.....there is no way those features are "better" for everyone.

Along with Bass Pro and the other commercial "improvements" came increased traffic and congestion among other things. I remember when the BA expressway wasn't a parking lot during rush hour!

There are people who prefer New York City, and then there are people who prefer Mayberry. Making things "better" for one can't help but make things "worse" for the other.

 

[Glocktogo]

I know you’re joking but his family is Jewish holocaust survivors/refugees.

So was George Soros. Not that I'm comparing them to each other because I'm not. Just pointing out the flaw in that line of observation.

Seen this mindset before, back 20+ years ago in Bixby. Lots of cynical mentality. Things changed, now you have one of the better school systems around Tulsa, great housing, and the city is doing very well as a whole. Of course you also have the BOK example, in which OSA was full of cynical B.S. back then too......again... downtown is going through a "renaissance" of sorts. I DO understand that some want to live in nowhere Oklahoma and that's great, nobody is stopping them, but it seems many in Tulsa want to better their city. If people want to remain stagnant in other places, no worries there, more power to them.

Again, in your opinion. Better education, yes. More recreational opportunities yes. More leisure opportunities, yes. More jobs yes*. More people just for the sake of more people? No.

You can tout all the economic advantages you want, but neither George Kaiser nor any of these other Tulsa luminaries have managed to locate an affordable grocer/market in North Tulsa area. So let's just say the giving only goes so far.

Affordable housing, solid infrastructure, access to basic necessities, decent to good paying jobs *that match the skills and abilities of the local population* and low crime rates are the keys to making Tulsa a better place to live. Importing both the companies and the talent from predominantly liberal enclaves who are trying to escape the onerous taxes and costs of living they burdened themselves with, just to do it all over again in Tulsa? No. Just... No.

Again just my opinion, but it's not an unreasonable one.

 

[JD8]

Where the heck did I claim to be a libertarian? I'm an independent, always have said that. And yes, I have strong opinions when people want to spend their money on eye candy and claim it will bring divided factions of the city together and want to turn Tulsa into a liberal stronghold like Austin. No effing thank you. I've been to Austin several times to visit a family friend. Traffic sucks ass, prices are ridiculous, crime rate is high, so is the homeless. I like Tulsa as it is. Sure, I would love a pro sports team (something that would do more to unite the populace than a park btw), but I don't want Tulsa to become a huge metropolis.

I just see this park as a waste of money in the terms that it is supposed to "heal" a divided community. Had not that been a theme of this article I doubt it would have gotten as much attention.

Where in the article did Kaiser specifically say he want to turn this into a liberal stronghold?

 

[Dave70968]

Where in the article did Kaiser specifically say he want to turn this into a liberal stronghold?

In the part where he said something remotely favorable about Austin. Geez, read between the lines: <something nice about any liberal city> = "Yay liberal socialism!"

 

[JD8]

So was George Soros. Not that I'm comparing them to each other because I'm not. Just pointing out the flaw in that line of observation.



Again, in your opinion. Better education, yes. More recreational opportunities yes. More leisure opportunities, yes. More jobs yes*. More people just for the sake of more people? No.

You can tout all the economic advantages you want, but neither George Kaiser nor any of these other Tulsa luminaries have managed to locate an affordable grocer/market in North Tulsa area. So let's just say the giving only goes so far.

Affordable housing, solid infrastructure, access to basic necessities, decent to good paying jobs *that match the skills and abilities of the local population* and low crime rates are the keys to making Tulsa a better place to live. Importing both the companies and the talent from predominantly liberal enclaves who are trying to escape the onerous taxes and costs of living they burdened themselves with, just to do it all over again in Tulsa? No. Just... No.

Again just my opinion, but it's not an unreasonable one.

Sorry but this mentality is a joke. Admittedly.... better education.....better leisure..... more jobs.... but that's not enough. So basically you're upset Kaiser can't do everything for the local government and one line about Austin set you off to believe this is some liberal mantra? He should do more!! Where are our grocery stores!! Let's forget what he's done on the West side feeding god knows how many kids on a daily basis, nor the partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Not sure there's many local non-profits the KFF doesn't work with.

People around here have this irrational fear about "outsiders" when if someone spent 5 mins on research they'd see a significant focus of his small business non-profits is to KEEP people, here. He's been preaching this for quite some time. The goal is to keep educators, and the best and brightest here, he wants small businesses to remain in Tulsa. Now he does want to attract people from other cities as well. The horror!!

 

[Tanis143]

Where in the article did Kaiser specifically say he want to turn this into a liberal stronghold?

Saying he wants to turn Tulsa into another Austin pretty much sums it up. "is furthering his goal of drawing entrepreneurs and young professionals who could make his city the next Austin". So you have a person who is known to be left leaning stating he wants Tulsa to become just like a liberal city which is considered the liberal stronghold of Texas. Anyone can see the connection. He could have listed many other cities that have seen tremendous economic growth but he chose to name a liberal metropolitan area in an otherwise red state. Need I go further? And again, no thanks, if I wanted to live in a city like Austin, I would move there (but I would still rock the crimson & cream).

 

[inactive]

So was George Soros. Not that I'm comparing them to each other because I'm not. Just pointing out the flaw in that line of observation.

There wasn't any inference to be drawn. It was a statement of fact contrary to the joke about Kaiser being a Nazi party member.

I'm curious what you feel I was observing and what the flaw in it was.

 

[JD8]

Saying he wants to turn Tulsa into another Austin pretty much sums it up. "is furthering his goal of drawing entrepreneurs and young professionals who could make his city the next Austin". So you have a person who is known to be left leaning stating he wants Tulsa to become just like a liberal city which is considered the liberal stronghold of Texas. Anyone can see the connection. He could have listed many other cities that have seen tremendous economic growth but he chose to name a liberal metropolitan area in an otherwise red state. Need I go further? And again, no thanks, if I wanted to live in a city like Austin, I would move there (but I would still rock the crimson & cream).

Right, so he didn't specifically say it nor even hint to it but I get the whole confirmation bias thing, because apparently, Austin is a trigger word around here. Problem with your theory is.... how are his actions summing up to what you believe you see in that statement?

 

[donner]

Right, so he didn't specifically say it nor even hint to it but I get the whole confirmation bias thing, because apparently, Austin is a trigger word around here. Problem with your theory is.... how are his actions summing up to what you believe you see in that statement?

AGAIN, don't you know that parks are the gateway drug to liberalism? Sheesh, how many times do we have to say it? Because it's not like parks are open to everyone, regardless of political affiliations or anything