According to latest census bureau statistics, the Oklahoma City metro area was the 9th fastest growing metro area among large metro areas, from 2012 to 2013, good deal!

Oklahoma City - 10 fastest growing cities - CNNMoney (http://money.cnn.com/gallery/real_estate/2014/03/27/fastest-growing-cities/9.html)

Oklahoma City, OK Metro Are 1,297,397 (2012), 1,319,677 (2013)

Wow..impressive.

I am surprised that Oklahoma County added almost twice as many as Tulsa County (36,600 vs 19,000). Canadian county was the fastest growth % wise. Cleveland County added 13,500. (These are all 2010 to 2013 numbers).

The OKC metro grew by 9.2% in three years. Pretty healthy numbers.

Another take away, is that there is now over 1 Million people in just the Oklahoma/Cleveland counties combined.

Oklahoma County (755,245) + Cleveland County (269,340) = 1,024,585

Portland and Seattle are championed for their diversity and liberalism. They are also the whitest cities and most people moving to them are white young professionals. Now Portland and Seattle are definitely two of America's jewel cities but one can't help but notice the irony.

This whole video is funny. But the 1 minute mark sums it up perfectly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLeMu7ZrY2I

I am surprised that Oklahoma County added almost twice as many as Tulsa County (36,600 vs 19,000). Canadian county was the fastest growth % wise. Cleveland County added 13,500. (These are all 2010 to 2013 numbers).

The OKC metro grew by 9.2% in three years. Pretty healthy numbers.

Out that Oklahoma County population increase of 36,600, I wonder how much of that is Oklahoma City proper, and not Edmond, Midwest City, Del City, etc...

Where are you guys pulling these detailed numbers?

Okay, found the info.

For the OKC MSA

2010 Census: 1,252,987
July 2013 Est: 1,319,677
Percent Change: 5.32% over 3.5 years
Extrapolated change for entire decade: 15.21%


Still not 20% per decade, which is pretty much the threshold for boom-town status.

However, the population growth is increasing each year, so we could still get there if the trend continues.

Another take away, is that there is now over 1 Million people in just the Oklahoma/Cleveland counties combined.

Oklahoma County (755,245) + Cleveland County (269,340) = 1,024,585

OK County + Cleveland county is larger than the entire Tulsa metro area.

I am surprised that Oklahoma County added almost twice as many as Tulsa County (36,600 vs 19,000). Canadian county was the fastest growth % wise. Cleveland County added 13,500. (These are all 2010 to 2013 numbers).

The OKC metro grew by 9.2% in three years. Pretty healthy numbers.

The momentum is in OKC right now. Tulsa has some positive things going on, but for the most part they are still living off their past superiority.

Here is a link for more detailed county numbers:

American FactFinder - Results (http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk)

As far as OKC's growth, by any measure it is impressive, but not so fast that the economy can still produce enough jobs for incoming residents. I am still scratching my head as to how these places in FL that have 8%+ unemployment are adding as many people as they are. The growth in the US in general has slowed down, so 15.2% over the decade would be more than double the predicted nat'l average.



I am surprised that Oklahoma County added almost twice as many as Tulsa County (36,600 vs 19,000). Canadian county was the fastest growth % wise. Cleveland County added 13,500. (These are all 2010 to 2013 numbers).


Well, OKC has been in the driver's seat of this state's economy for at least a decade now.

IMO the untold story is how long dying towns out in Western Oklahoma are surging due to the all the energy production in the Mississippian & Granite Wash plays, while a lot of counties out in Eastern OK have screeched to a halt. The towns out in Western OK are in the OKC trade area people out there are apt to shop and do business here. It would be interesting to see how much money and commerce is flowing out of these areas into OKC.

Here is a link for more detailed county numbers:

American FactFinder - Results * (http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk)

As far as OKC's growth, by any measure it is impressive, but not so fast that the economy can still produce enough jobs for incoming residents. I am still scratching my head as to how these places in FL that have 8%+ unemployment are adding as many people as they are. The growth in the US in general has slowed down, so 15.2% over the decade would be more than double the predicted nat'l average.

Once a city becomes a boomtown, many times the momentum will continue long after the economic conditions that originally started that boom have faded or even turned sour. Charlotte is a perfect example of that. If there was another tech crash things could get very nasty in Austin but I doubt we would see their boom slow much at first.

Reading about the western OK towns gaining population was really interesting, since not long ago people wrote them off as eventually depopulating and dying. The same goes for towns on the Plains from Colorado to North Dakota. The energy boom obviously is responsible for this, and for the OKC metro's impressive growth rate. Tulsa's slower growth rate, but still healthy, is likely due to the energy sector not being quite as large as in OKC and Tulsa still trying to make up for several tough economic years in the early 2000's.

Are there numbers available for the cities of OKC and Tulsa and not just the counties/metros?

This release was just Metro/Micro and county. Individual city data is going to be released in May.
Population Estimates: Schedule of New Estimates - U.S Census Bureau (http://www.census.gov/popest/schedule.html)

Good to officially have 1.3 million in the metro (And actually a pretty healthy mark in (1.32 -- 3-4 more years and we'll easily be in 1.4 million)

Where are you guys pulling these detailed numbers?

In re-reading, it is Canadian County that grew by 9.2%, not Oklahoma County, but it does show Oklahoma County up 36,615.

Canadian County Tops Oklahoma Population Growth | KGOU (http://kgou.org/post/canadian-county-tops-oklahoma-population-growth)


Canadian County Tops Oklahoma Population Growth


By KURT GWARTNEY
The fastest growing county in Oklahoma is Canadian County. The U.S. Census Bureau released its latest estimates of population growth in Oklahoma this week, showing the county in the west part of the Oklahoma City metro saw its population increase by 9.2 percent between April 2010 and July 2013.


Credit U.S. Census Bureau
The counties next in line for growth were outside of the state's metro areas, with Texas County in the Oklahoma panhandle showing a 7 percent increase.

That's followed by Beckham County, 6.9 percent, on the border of the Texas Panhandle and Custer County, 6.9 percent.

In raw numbers, Oklahoma County added 36,615 residents over the reporting period, more than any other in the state.

Tulsa County is in second place with 19,016. Cleveland County is next in line, adding 13,582 people. Oklahoma County remains the most populous in the state with more than 755-thousand residents.

----------------------------

Two western Oklahoma towns are among fastest-growing in U.S. | News OK (http://newsok.com/two-western-oklahoma-towns-are-among-fastest-growing-in-u.s./article/3947284)

That's nice. Hopefully they will use the rise in taxes to build a sustainable path for them so when it busts they can be self-reliant and still have an economy that isn't completely reliant on oil.

As far as OKC's growth, by any measure it is impressive, but not so fast that the economy can still produce enough jobs for incoming residents. I am still scratching my head as to how these places in FL that have 8%+ unemployment are adding as many people as they are. The growth in the US in general has slowed down, so 15.2% over the decade would be more than double the predicted nat'l average.

As long as there are people that retire, Florida will continue to grow. With all of the Baby Boomers getting to that retirement age, I feel sorry for the folks that live there now. It's going to get a whole lot more crowded.

Okay, found the info.

For the OKC MSA

2010 Census: 1,252,987
July 2013 Est: 1,319,677
Percent Change: 5.32% over 3.5 years
Extrapolated change for entire decade: 15.21%


Still not 20% per decade, which is pretty much the threshold for boom-town status.

However, the population growth is increasing each year, so we could still get there if the trend continues.

This is stronger growth than we are used to. We are seeing tangible effects of revitalization, and not just the intangible.

Two western Oklahoma towns are among fastest-growing in U.S. | News OK (http://newsok.com/two-western-oklahoma-towns-are-among-fastest-growing-in-u.s./article/3947284)

That's nice. Hopefully they will use the rise in taxes to build a sustainable path for them so when it busts they can be self-reliant and still have an economy that isn't completely reliant on oil.

They won't.

Lol.

They won't.Well, I know who I won't count on for support lol ;)

I do business in these communities. The people are great. But they have no answers for anything beyond oil. They're in a multi-year drought situation that is very negatively impacting agriculture. Oil and gas, oil and gas, and ranching. That's it for the most part.

The spike in population in these areas -- with the exception of Weatherford, which has a university and is within an hour of OKC -- will reverse if and when the oil companies and petroleum-related service companies leave.

I wonder what these numbers look like when you compare density. I love the city but downtown seems so dead compared to other places with less 'growth'

I do business in these communities. The people are great. But they have no answers for anything beyond oil. They're in a multi-year drought situation that is very negatively impacting agriculture. Oil and gas, oil and gas, and ranching. That's it for the most part.

The spike in population in these areas -- with the exception of Weatherford, which has a university and is within an hour of OKC -- will reverse if and when the oil companies and petroleum-related service companies leave.Yeah, I actually didn't think they would do it either. I was just posting hoping someone would come show some things that were geared towards building sustainable paths for the cities. Unfortunately, it seems the small towns won't be doing that. These are cases where I support new urbanism in smalls towns. I think if these towns dedicated a 2 cent on the dollar tax which would go to hiring a firm to study and develop the town to become a new urbanist community, the town would survive in the long run and become self-reliant. The path2sustainability tax. 2 cents for 2 years will last a lifetime.... or something among those sorts :p

I wonder what these numbers look like when you compare density. I love the city but downtown seems so dead compared to other places with less 'growth'

True. You have to know OKC's past though to really appreciate where its at now. Other cities either never saw their downtown in as bad of shape as OKC's was in the 90s, or they have a significant head start in revitalizing. In ten years, downtown OKC will be on par with other, more vibrant peer cities like Louisville. Many of the projects that will get us there have already been announced. We just have to be patient and hope this economic cycle continues long enough to see this through.

Two western Oklahoma towns are among fastest-growing in U.S. | News OK (http://newsok.com/two-western-oklahoma-towns-are-among-fastest-growing-in-u.s./article/3947284)

That's nice. Hopefully they will use the rise in taxes to build a sustainable path for them so when it busts they can be self-reliant and still have an economy that isn't completely reliant on oil.

"like"

;)

There were a few cool maps on Business Insider based on the recent census data.

Immigration Map (http://www.businessinsider.com/population-adjusted-immigration-map-2014-3)

Births Minus Deaths (http://www.businessinsider.com/us-census-county-births-deaths-map-2014-3)

Domestic Migration (http://www.businessinsider.com/census-domestic-migration-map-2014-3)

The OKC metro had healthy growth in all three categories.

Maps: 2013 Oklahoma Population Estimates | The Institute for Quality Communities (http://iqc.ou.edu/2014/03/27/2013population/)

http://www.newgeography.com/files/cox-msa14-2.png

Also an interesting note for anyone who wants to see it

http://www.newgeography.com/files/cox-msa14-3.png

Special Report: 2013 Metropolitan Area Population Estimates | Newgeography.com (http://www.newgeography.com/content/004240-special-report-2013-metropolitan-area-population-estimates)

Okc metro increased by 69k from 2010-2012. That's pretty impressive.

http://www.newgeography.com/files/cox-msa14-2.png

Also an interesting note for anyone who wants to see it

http://www.newgeography.com/files/cox-msa14-3.png

Special Report: 2013 Metropolitan Area Population Estimates | Newgeography.com (http://www.newgeography.com/content/004240-special-report-2013-metropolitan-area-population-estimates)

Good catch, Mr. Panda.

Metro Area Population, Migration Data (http://www.governing.com/gov-data/census/metro-area-population-migration-estimates-2013-data.html)

Latest look at OKC metro area population increases | News OK (http://newsok.com/latest-look-at-okc-metro-area-population-increases/article/4022905)


Population increased in the seven-county Oklahoma City metro area (Oklahoma, Cleveland, Canadian, McClain, Logan, Grady, Lincoln counties) by 66,685 residents between 2010-2013.

Oklahoma County, with 36,615 additional residents, accounted for more than half the increase.

Metro Area Population, Migration Data (http://www.governing.com/gov-data/census/metro-area-population-migration-estimates-2013-data.html)

Latest look at OKC metro area population increases | News OK (http://newsok.com/latest-look-at-okc-metro-area-population-increases/article/4022905)

I wish someone would put together a graph where these folks came from.

I think Oklahoma will need to have new leadership, especially Governor, to really sustain growth outside of what is currently being driven by the energy industry. Things like this minimum wage increase ban taking control from local governments (and giving the state another black eye) plus our continued reluctance to properly fund education and infrastructure will eventually cause problems. Now is the time to take the growth and really invest in the state. It won't last .

I think Oklahoma will need to have new leadership, especially Governor, to really sustain growth outside of what is currently being driven by the energy industry. Things like this minimum wage increase ban taking control from local governments (and giving the state another black eye) plus our continued reluctance to properly fund education and infrastructure will eventually cause problems. Now is the time to take the growth and really invest in the state. It won't last .Unfortunately I believe you are correct. Marry Fallin really needs to go. We need a more progressive governor and my only hope is the urban populations really start to get more power than the rural and we can shed off some of this conservatism that plagues Oklahoma with more progressive thinkers(keep in mind, I consider myself more of conservative than anything) and get these small town thinkers out of power.

Unfortunately I believe you are correct. Marry Fallin really needs to go. We need a more progressive governor and my only hope is the urban populations really start to get more power than the rural and we can shed off some of this conservatism that plagues Oklahoma with more progressive thinkers(keep in mind, I consider myself more of conservative than anything) and get these small town thinkers out of power.

I agree, Mary Fallin is an embarassment. But I wanted to comment on the population charts. Clicking the link to newgeography, I found that all metropolitan areas listed except for one (Philadelaphia at -0.01%) have experienced popultion growth from 2010 to 2013. For example, New York has gained 400,000 residents since 2010. Think about that. New York City has absorbed nearly as many residents as the entire population of OKC - in three years. American cities and suburbs are growing, because the entire population of the country is growing. We have one of the higher birth rates in the developed world, we have a lot of immigrants, and domestically people are leaving small towns for big cities. We imagine that people are leaving New York, Chicago, Cleveland, and St. Louis, and Buffalo, but in fact all of those metropoliltan areas are growing.

Unfortunately I believe you are correct. Marry Fallin really needs to go. We need a more progressive governor and my only hope is the urban populations really start to get more power than the rural and we can shed off some of this conservatism that plagues Oklahoma with more progressive thinkers(keep in mind, I consider myself more of conservative than anything) and get these small town thinkers out of power.

So, I "assume" you are in favor of proper and properly maintained sidewalks to prevent and encourage the end or the beginning of the advance or decline of Urban Sprawl . . ?

Stick around for another 40 years, make careful observations, and then get back to me on your conclusions . . . =)

In the meanwhile . . . Carpe Diem.
It's good for the soul.

(btw: define: "progressive" in terms of thinking and political reality. =)

In the meanwhile . . . Carpe Diem.
It's good for the soul.

Is that some kind of fish?

I agree, Mary Fallin is an embarassment. But I wanted to comment on the population charts. Clicking the link to newgeography, I found that all metropolitan areas listed except for one (Philadelaphia at -0.01%) have experienced popultion growth from 2010 to 2013. For example, New York has gained 400,000 residents since 2010. Think about that. New York City has absorbed nearly as many residents as the entire population of OKC - in three years. American cities and suburbs are growing, because the entire population of the country is growing. We have one of the higher birth rates in the developed world, we have a lot of immigrants, and domestically people are leaving small towns for big cities. We imagine that people are leaving New York, Chicago, Cleveland, and St. Louis, and Buffalo, but in fact all of those metropoliltan areas are growing.

The data shown in the article actually showed overall population growth from 2010-2013 for every city on the list except for Buffalo and Cleveland. Philadelphia had a population growth of 1.06% over that time frame.

You're right that those cities all had overall population growth. But what that study shows as fact is that current US residents are leaving those cities more than other current US residents are moving there. Cities like NYC continue to grow because the rate of immigration and births are happening even faster. That doesn't change the fact that among current US residents who have the option, more people are choosing to leave than are choosing to arrive. Which is the whole point of the study.

I agree, Mary Fallin is an embarassment. But I wanted to comment on the population charts. Clicking the link to newgeography, I found that all metropolitan areas listed except for one (Philadelaphia at -0.01%) have experienced popultion growth from 2010 to 2013. For example, New York has gained 400,000 residents since 2010. Think about that. New York City has absorbed nearly as many residents as the entire population of OKC - in three years. American cities and suburbs are growing, because the entire population of the country is growing. We have one of the higher birth rates in the developed world, we have a lot of immigrants, and domestically people are leaving small towns for big cities. We imagine that people are leaving New York, Chicago, Cleveland, and St. Louis, and Buffalo, but in fact all of those metropoliltan areas are growing.

Not to be contrarian, but NYC lost over a quarter million population in a combined 2005 and 2009 according to census records. I remember during the financial crisis, there were stories how they couldn't leave fast enough.

I think Oklahoma will need to have new leadership, especially Governor, to really sustain growth outside of what is currently being driven by the energy industry. Things like this minimum wage increase ban taking control from local governments (and giving the state another black eye) plus our continued reluctance to properly fund education and infrastructure will eventually cause problems. Now is the time to take the growth and really invest in the state. It won't last .

If there are jobs and opportunities available, they will come. As far as a minimum wage ban, silly, but i doubt seriously anyone will base a decision to move here based on that. Businesses could very easily see it as a positive though most pay well over minimum anyway.

I will agree with you about education funding, however.

Unfortunately I believe you are correct. Marry Fallin really needs to go. We need a more progressive governor and my only hope is the urban populations really start to get more power than the rural and we can shed off some of this conservatism that plagues Oklahoma with more progressive thinkers(keep in mind, I consider myself more of conservative than anything) and get these small town thinkers out of power.

I agree with this. Oddly enough however, I don't see the kind of urban/rural political divide between OKC/Tulsa and rural Oklahoma that you see in other urban areas in other states. Any idea why?

I agree with this. Oddly enough however, I don't see the kind of urban/rural political divide between OKC/Tulsa and rural Oklahoma that you see in other urban areas in other states. Any idea why?

It exists in almost every large metro that is located in a republican state, and even some that aren't. I would almost say that divide exists between EVERY large metro and its respective state, unless the city is in a state that is small enough that there aren't many rural areas to begin with.

Heck, the rural areas in Upstate NY feel just as "old-fashioned" or conservative as any rural area I've been to in KS or OK. But nobody thinks about that because when they think about NY all they think about are NYC and Rochester/Buffalo. Nobody thinks about the rural areas of NY and their political views. But just because people don't consciously think about the rural/urban relationship in other states doesn't mean that they are any different.

I agree with this. Oddly enough however, I don't see the kind of urban/rural political divide between OKC/Tulsa and rural Oklahoma that you see in other urban areas in other states. Any idea why?

It exists, it's just a little bit further to the right. OKC and Tulsa are more liberal than the surrounding rural areas. Not enough to make them vote Democrat, but they are more liberal. ;)

2013 Population estimates for Metropolitan Oklahoma City +5.32% (1,319,677)

List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Metropolitan_Statistical_Areas)


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

It seems we will over take Memphis and perhaps Jacksonville soon if this keeps up.

Also, Raleigh is really kicking ass. What is going over there? I don't hear much about it. They might overtake OKC if we don't grow even faster...

Research Triangle brought a ton of jobs and companies to Raleigh in the last 15 years. It might have slowed down a bit but that's the main reason for their high numbers

It seems we will over take Memphis and perhaps Jacksonville soon if this keeps up.

Also, Raleigh is really kicking ass. What is going over there? I don't hear much about it. They might overtake OKC if we don't grow even faster...

Raleigh will overtake a number of cities; their airport is undergoing over $500 million in expansion and improvements:

Terminal C Renovation and Expansion at RDU International Airport (http://www.freelon.com/portfolio/print/222)


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

Raleigh will overtake a number of cities; their airport is undergoing over $500 million in expansion and improvements:

Terminal C Renovation and Expansion at RDU International Airport (http://www.freelon.com/portfolio/print/222)


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

Laramie, I believe that project was completed some time ago and it's now called Terminal 2. No matter, it is a beautiful facility and absolutely one of my favorite terminals. They did a wonderful job on it.

The Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill CSA functions as one metropolitan area. That area is neck and neck with Charlotte, though significantly less urban and centralized. It is really a true boomtown and is beyond comparison with OKC.

OKC will easily overtake Memphis and Jacksonville if trends continue.

North Carolina is attractive to people in the Midwest and Northeast. Lower cost of living and a healthy economy, and both mountains and ocean. They are like the Texas of the East Coast.

The data shown in the article actually showed overall population growth from 2010-2013 for every city on the list except for Buffalo and Cleveland. Philadelphia had a population growth of 1.06% over that time frame.

You're right that those cities all had overall population growth. But what that study shows as fact is that current US residents are leaving those cities more than other current US residents are moving there. Cities like NYC continue to grow because the rate of immigration and births are happening even faster. That doesn't change the fact that among current US residents who have the option, more people are choosing to leave than are choosing to arrive. Which is the whole point of the study.

Many people are just bailing due to the high costs of living -- which have always been high in NYC but have become almost unsustainably high, unless you're willing to share a one-bedroom with three people or you're making millions as a hedge fund broker.

NYC would continue to grow unimpeded but it's getting maxed out. Parts of Brooklyn are "gentrifying" but are surrounded by crime-ridden housing projects. There's just not much more left for average folks to afford.

Many people are just bailing due to the high costs of living -- which have always been high in NYC but have become almost unsustainably high, unless you're willing to share a one-bedroom with three people or you're making millions as a hedge fund broker.

NYC would continue to grow unimpeded but it's getting maxed out. Parts of Brooklyn are "gentrifying" but are surrounded by crime-ridden housing projects. There's just not much more left for average folks to afford.

I made the majority of my money through stocks and bonds; and stockings and bondage.

North Carolina is attractive to people in the Midwest and Northeast. Lower cost of living and a healthy economy, and both mountains and ocean. They are like the Texas of the East Coast.

Agree with this. Charlotte has the feel of a mini-Dallas and the Triangle is a mixture of Austin and San Jose.

North Carolina benefits from being an outlier of major population centers. The cost of living and doing business is lower than the bigger urban areas but shipping and transportation costs to access the larger populations are still low enough to make location in NC a net benefit. And, with all due respect to the zealot new urbanists, many choose to live the lifestyle vs crowded and expensive cities. With modern technology and transportation, it isn't necessary to be in NYC or Chicago to be efficient.

The triangle grows because it values education and provides a high quality educated work force for high paying jobs. Charlotte has banking, and access to capital is a major growth catalyst. Those are things OKC needs to emphasize..education at all levels as a priority and availability of investment capital. We need to leverage our natural resources while we have them and invest back into growth....not keep cutting as per tea partiests. There is a time to save and a time to invest. This is a time in OK and OKCs history we need to invest so we can save when we really need to.

Completely agree Rover. Developing a strong urban core is important but not everyone prefers that type of living. Many people want to live in a house with a yard. Charlotte has a very strong urban core but also has significant sprawl. The Research Triangle leans heavily toward suburban living. North Carolina is a more balanced state politically also. It leans conservative, but the Charlotte metro is pretty moderate and the Research Triangle is very liberal. I worry about the effect the extreme tea party conservatism is going to have on growth potential in Oklahoma, especially in the long term.

North Carolina benefits from being an outlier of major population centers. The cost of living and doing business is lower than the bigger urban areas but shipping and transportation costs to access the larger populations are still low enough to make location in NC a net benefit. And, with all due respect to the zealot new urbanists, many choose to live the lifestyle vs crowded and expensive cities. With modern technology and transportation, it isn't necessary to be in NYC or Chicago to be efficient.

The triangle grows because it values education and provides a high quality educated work force for high paying jobs. Charlotte has banking, and access to capital is a major growth catalyst. Those are things OKC needs to emphasize..education at all levels as a priority and availability of investment capital. We need to leverage our natural resources while we have them and invest back into growth....not keep cutting as per tea partiests. There is a time to save and a time to invest. This is a time in OK and OKCs history we need to invest so we can save when we really need to.

It's really astonishing and sad that all of our public services are being starved while our state is having a significant energy boom and low unemployment. OKC's economy is one of the best in the nation and Tulsa is not far behind, but our leadership insists on a poverty mentality for our education system. If this is how they approach things when times are good, I shudder to think how bad it could get here in the next economic hiccup.

Common education is not being invested in. Higher education is being cut off from state funding, forcing students to pay disproportionately compared to what previous generations paid to attain a basic college degree.

I've crunched numbers on the "tax cut" that has been passed by our governor, and it's chump change to me (and I am relatively high paid compared to most Oklahomans). This tax cut, which won't even take effect for two years, will create a future revenue crisis for Oklahoma.

Oklahomans need to think long and hard if this is the direction we want to continue as a state. We need new leadership.

It's really astonishing and sad that all of our public services are being starved while our state is having a significant energy boom and low unemployment. OKC's economy is one of the best in the nation and Tulsa is not far behind, but our leadership insists on a poverty mentality for our education system. If this is how they approach things when times are good, I shudder to think how bad it could get here in the next economic hiccup.

Common education is not being invested in. Higher education is being cut off from state funding, forcing students to pay disproportionately compared to what previous generations paid to attain a basic college degree.

I've crunched numbers on the "tax cut" that has been passed by our governor, and it's chump change to me (and I am relatively high paid compared to most Oklahomans). This tax cut, which won't even take effect for two years, will create a future revenue crisis for Oklahoma.

Oklahomans need to think long and hard if this is the direction we want to continue as a state. We need new leadership.Honestly our only threat to the progress we've made is ourselves at this point. We need to rise up and kick these monkeys we call the governor and legislators out. Nostreetville is 'that' way.

Honestly our only threat to the progress we've made is ourselves at this point. We need to rise up and kick these monkeys we call the governor and legislators out. Nostreetville is 'that' way.

I know that in this falls midterm gubernatorial election I'll be voting Democrat for only the second time in my life. I can't support the extreme positions of the state GOP.