This is good for OKC. It may not seem major because everybody is expecting huge news like the Centerpoint/OG&E deal or the new tower, but many cities across the country would LOVE to have an announcement like this, and many of those places need the jobs more than OKC does. I also think any new job announcement in OKC that isn't oil and gas related is doubly good as it gives us more of a cushion in case there is ever another 1980s style commodities crash.

I think we got played on this story. Congrats on the new jobs, but why would the governor be there? Slow news day?

I think we got played on this story. Congrats on the new jobs, but why would the governor be there? Slow news day?

See my post #64, two before yours, there's your explanation.

I guess some people would rather have 1,000 call center jobs.....or a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

I guess some people would rather have 1,000 call center jobs.....or a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

If the story is accurate, these jobs pay about the same as call-center jobs. It's still good news, and we should never take good news for granted. Just don't understand all the hype about a rather ho-hum announcement.

I guess some people would rather have 1,000 call center jobs.....or a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

No, I'd just rather not have the taxpayers subsidize hiring for a company like AT&T. As the kids would say, AT&frickinT! A company that made 7 1/2 billion dollars in 2012 and paid their CEO $22,000,000.00. As the kids would also say, WTF?

1,000 Call Center jobs at 16,500 (just a guess on my part re salary) v. 100 jobs at 42,000 coming into a community.

I could see many small business owners being way more excited by a new call center announcement in their community.

Kevinpapte: I don't know, while I can understand the volume of potential customers comparison, seems those making the $42K would have more disposable income to spend at a small business (which often has higher prices) than those making the $16.5K and struggling from paycheck to paycheck....unless you owned a payday advance type establishment

No, I'd just rather not have the taxpayers subsidize hiring for a company like AT&T. As the kids would say, AT&frickinT! A company that made 7 1/2 billion dollars in 2012 and paid their CEO $22,000,000.00. As the kids would also say, WTF?

That's just silly. So we should tell any very profitable companies that are considering expanding in Oklahoma that we aren't really interested because we only want to help small businesses with low profits? Whether you like it or not, it's just not practical in the real world. I promise you those large profitable businesses can find plenty of other places with incentives if we don't want them.

Good news for OKC.
It's a foot in the door. they will expand. I think there is a shift to relocating to the heartland. More, more, more.

That's just silly. So we should tell any very profitable companies that are considering expanding in Oklahoma that we aren't really interested because we only want to help small businesses with low profits? Whether you like it or not, it's just not practical in the real world. I promise you those large profitable businesses can find plenty of other places with incentives if we don't want them.

Here, I'll respond the way you do with other posters.

Well since you think that a huge corporation that made 7 BILLION dollars last year and paid their CEO 22 MILLION dollars needs corporate welfare to put a few jobs in OKC then that settles it, we can move right along!

Your late night persona of sniping and baiting wears thin.

Good news for OKC.
It's a foot in the door. they will expand. I think there is a shift to relocating to the heartland. More, more, more.

AT&T headquarters is just a 3 hour drive down the road in Dallas. I don't think shifting a few jobs up the interstate deserved government handouts. The world has turned upside down when this is looked at as normal. They got 3 different handouts, one being the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program giveaway. What is that? The description from the website is: "The program provides quarterly cash payments of up to 5% of new taxable payroll directly to a qualifying company, for up to ten years."

To a company that made 7.5 billion dollars last year?

Big corporate names like AT&T just love taking taxpayer money to help them meet their payroll. It's so sad to see them struggle as they do. I'm glad I'm helping, aren't you?

Here, I'll respond the way you do with other posters.

Well since you think that a huge corporation that made 7 BILLION dollars last year and paid their CEO 22 MILLION dollars needs corporate welfare to put a few jobs in OKC then that settles it, we can move right along!

Your late night persona of sniping and baiting wears thin.

Evidently my "sniping and baiting" hit a nerve. LOL

If you don't want your comments to be subject to criticism, you shouldn't be posting here.

I see absolutely no problem with the incentives no matter what the corporate profits are. Those job could have very easily have gone to Dallas.

So, yes, we can move along.

Evidently my "sniping and baiting" hit a nerve. LOL

If you don't want your comments to be subject to criticism, you shouldn't be posting here.

I see absolutely no problem with the incentives no matter what the corporate profits are. Those job could have very easily have gone to Dallas.

So, yes, we can move along.

Those jobs came from Dallas. You're right, we can move right along.

Every post hits your nerve, you love to argue. I was just waiting when it was my turn. Doesn't it get old?

If you're happy with the handouts (shame on you for calling them incentives), it's a good thing since you're helping pay for them! (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sucker)

Those jobs came from Dallas. You're right, we can move right along.

Every post hits your nerve, you love to argue. I was just waiting when it was my turn. Doesn't it get old?

If you're happy with the handouts (shame on you for calling them incentives), it's a good thing since you're helping pay for them! (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sucker)

And those jobs could have very easily stayed in Dallas.

My nerves are fine. I only argue when there is good reason and you certainly qualify. That never gets old.

I have absolutely no problem with the "handouts" and will gladly contribute my share.

Have a nice night.

And those jobs could have very easily stayed in Dallas.

My nerves are fine. I only argue when there is good reason and you certainly qualify. That never gets old.

I have absolutely no problem with the "handouts" and will gladly contribute my share.

Have a nice night.

I'll happily be the one to "qualify" for arguing with if you have "absolutely no problem" with cold hard cash from state coffers to AT&T.

You have a good night too.

I'll happily be the one to "qualify" for arguing with if you have "absolutely no problem" with cold hard cash from state coffers to AT&T.

You have a good night too.

Thanks, and I'm glad we have a majority in this state that favor being proactive instead of status quo. That's why the Oklahoma and Oklahoma City economy are ahead of most of the rest of the country. I have absolutely no problem with that and neither do most of the other people who want this state and city to progress.

Thanks, and I'm glad we have a majority in this state that favor being proactive instead of status quo. That's why the Oklahoma and Oklahoma City economy are ahead of most of the rest of the country. I have absolutely no problem with that and neither do most of the other people who want this state and city to progress.
But isn't the status quo to offer "incentives". How are the rest of the cities that offer the same type of "incentives" doing?

But isn't the status quo to offer "incentives". How are the rest of the cities that offer the same type of "incentives" doing?

Larry, you and I obviously have a different vision of what "status quo" means. My interpretation is that it means being happy with how we are and not doing anything to improve or change our community.
I'm quite sure that cities everywhere are offering incentives and I'm sure it helps many of them. I'm also quite sure that without incentives OKC and OKlahoma would be in a hole compared to many places. We have some natural disadvantages that have to be overcome and incentives certainly help.