Latest bureaucratic news from Tulsa

USRufnex · Jan 15, 2003

No news yet about April 5th exhibition game in Tulsa... nothing new about feasability study or proposed stadium location... only this from 1/12...

Former state GOP party chief may get lobbying post--
from Jan 12 Tulsa World, by Curtis Killman, staff writer

Former state GOP party chairman Steve Edwards may soon be on the city payroll.

...Edwards, a member of the mayor's transition team, has been volunteering his services since (mayor) LaFortune, a Republican, took office in April.

If hired, Edwards would be the second mayoral volunteer in the past two months who has found a home in LaFortune's administration.

The mayor in November added businessman Tom Warren to his staff.

Warren has previous experience as a stockbroker and a marketing consultant... "His background serves him for the function that he is performing, as far as a liason to the business community," (Deputy-mayor) Sewell said.

...The hiring of Warren advances the mayor's campaign promise to make the city more business friendly...

Both Warren and Edwards have been involved in discussions to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Tulsa.
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So, the last 2 unclassified city employees hired by Tulsa's mayor have been linked to the MLS effort... hmmmm...

USRufnex · Jan 24, 2003

Reminder: quotes from Tulsa World articles taken from www.tulsaworld.com

Being a former Tulsan, I've plunked down the bucks to access the articles... so you don't have to...

Here are excerpts...

Panel is finalizing county wish list plan from Jan 19 Tulsa World article by Susan Hylton, staff writer

Officials on the leadership team for Dialog/Visioning 2025 hope to have a plan in place by March for bringing new attractions and improvements to Tulsa and surrounding communities.

A vote could happen as soon as May for projects that would receive public funding. Tulsa Mayor Bill LaFortune said his chief criterion for projects is whether they make economic sense.

LaFortune said any public funds that would be requested would be accompanied by state, federal and private sector resources.

The next stage of the "visioning" process is a series of topical meetings that begins Jan. 28 and runs through Feb. 27 as members of the leadership team begin to identify and prioritize projects.

"This plan isn't downtown-driven, it's what's best for the city and the county as a whole," LaFortune said... "The feedback I received from many of the mayors from the surrounding municipalities is that they understand how critical the success of the city of Tulsa is to their success in the future."

LaFortune said feasability studies under way on downtown projects focus on five areas. Expansion and renovation of the convention center, a new arena, a baseball stadium, a Major League Soccer facility and an outdoor ampitheater in Greenwood in association with the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.

One study is supposed to determine if the Tulsa area can support a 20,000- to 25,000- seat arena, where it would be located, how it should be funded and what economic benefit it would bring to the area...

"There has to be hard evidence that we have the population base that we can support an arena that size," LaFortune said...

The South Tulsa County Coalition would like a new arena to be built where the population is growing in the southern part of the county with access to the Creek Turnpike and US 169...

LaFortune said downtown already has the necessary infrastructure in place and would require fewer investment dollars...

The Dialog/Visioning 2025 process will not stop in May, LaFortune said... "Everything is on the table in looking at county/city coorperation."

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Dialogue/Visioning 2025
http://www.tulsaregion.com

Northeast Okla. Adult Soccer
http://www.neoasa.org/

Incomplete site... rumor as it they may add some fun pix and stories in the future... search "soccer" or "Roughnecks"
http://www.tulsatvmemories.com

TulsaTV · Jan 25, 2003

Incomplete site?

"Incomplete site... rumor as it they may add some fun pix and stories in the future... search "soccer" or "Roughnecks"
http://www.tulsatvmemories.com

Shucks, and I thought that in 330+ pages I had a few fun pix and stories...

Jeremy Goodwin · Jan 25, 2003

Oklahoma has a Jazz Hall of Fame?

Why was I not told of this?

USRufnex · Jan 25, 2003

Re: Incomplete site?

Originally posted by TulsaTV
"Incomplete site... rumor as it they may add some fun pix and stories in the future... search "soccer" or "Roughnecks"
http://www.tulsatvmemories.com

Shucks, and I thought that in 330+ pages I had a few fun pix and stories...
Click to expand...

Sorry... it's a GREAT site... TONS of stuff... but the only soccer pic I saw was a mugshot of Charlie Mitchell... I WILL listen to the June '78 newscast for Roughnecks' highlights from Chris Lincoln... I remember as a kid writing him and asking him for info on the new NASL team, he sent me the NEW '78 media guide... for anyone who grew up in Tulsa and wants to take a trip down memory lane... "8's the Place" ads were classic... especially the ones with the chicks---one roller skating down riverside with "8's the Place" on the butt cheeks of her hotpants... the sailboat shot when the weather got a little, well, "nippy"?!?... ah, the 70s!... Uncle Zeb... the kidnapping of "Lionel"... a $99 recliner from "John F Lawhon furniture"... "Linda Soundtrak"... remarkable...

With all the talk of MLS coming to Okla., it'd be nice to have a website with some of the old Roughnecks pix... the rivalries with the Minnesota Kicks... a couple of 30K crowds when the Cosmos came into town... PBP hi-lites with Chris Lincoln/Bob Carpenter... later Jerry Webber/Bill Land???... wonder if the downtown Tulsa Public Library still has the World/Tribune from those days on microfiche...

USRufnex · Jan 25, 2003

Originally posted by Jeremy Goodwin
Oklahoma has a Jazz Hall of Fame?

Why was I not told of this?
Click to expand...

Wha?... you haven't heard of the "Tulsa Pork-Barrel Trio"? with their hit single, "Throw me a bone!" ???

USRufnex · Jan 25, 2003

http://www.okjazz.org/