And frankly "politics as usual" has created a total turnaround in local and national attitude towards Oklahoma City.

When "the usual" has been so beneficial what is the incentive to change? OKC isn't perfect and there are some prevailing attitudes I hope change, but Mayor Cornett is not symptomatic of those issues. If anything, he has done quite a bit to dispel a lot of the negative impression much of the country has of OKC, only to have people in state government open their mouths and reinforce stereotypes.

I earnestly hope -- and expect -- the voters are going to have a real 360 degree view of Ed Shadid, what he represents, what he misrepresents, and exactly the kind of character and leadership style he would bring to this city, and I expect the voters will overwhelmingly reelect Mick Cornett.

You guys have nothing to worry about Mick will be re-elected. The only thing that would keep that from happening is if he were to commit some kind of heinous crime. That is not going to happen. Mick and the Oklahoma City Council are the role model for how government should operate this country (bipartisan guided by common sense).

Have a look. Shadid supporters seem to understand that this election is more about human values than politics as usual.


http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html

Hey Krisb, congrats on your most recent off the wall post. Way to once again post a one liner that has nothing to do with what Shadid will do better than Cornett and follow it up with a link that again has nothing to do with any issue relevant to this election.

Keep it up, I think you might be getting closer... or not, I can't really tell.

You guys have nothing to worry about Mick will be re-elected. The only thing that would keep that from happening is if he were to commit some kind of heinous crime. That is not going to happen. Mick and the Oklahoma City Council are the role model for how government should operate this country (bipartisan guided by common sense).

Not worrying ends with people being ambivalent about voting. Shadid has a large backing of very passionate and persistent voters and "evangelists" Assuming that Cornett is going to walk away with this race could end up being a very costly mistake.

Unless the numbers are astronomical (well over 50k voters), Cornett will not just "walk away" with this thing.

He won the last election with only 14k votes, and turnout was less than 25k. I wouldn't be surprised if Shadid gets close to 25k himself…so Cornett needs supporters to actually go out and vote for the dude…and I hope that all the major businesses are letting their employees know that it is important for this city to get this election right.

I agree.

This wasn't the best weekend to go door to door.

Strong supporters of Dr. Ed Shadid are going to ignore any factual information you supply them about him. You mentioned that they invited you over to attend an upcoming meeting with Ed as the speaker? You absolutely refused their invitation. Do you honestly think that they are going to be swayed by facts and figures you supply them about Dr. Shadid?

Keep the good relationship you have with your neighbor, just avoid conversational topics about relationships, religions & politics.

Mick Cornett will repeat as mayor of Oklahoma City...
Isn't Dr Shadid's well researched factual information what makes the boys uncomfortable and willing to forever alter horseshoe protocol when his flight got cancelled. You know Mick thought that divine intervention.

Kind of like Ed making sure Meg would recuse herself for the streetcar vote and then trying to strong-arm another council member in an attempt to subvert the will of his constituents? People in glass houses...

He already thinks his ward 2 constituents aren't important. What makes anyone think he will act differently as mayor?

Isn't Dr Shadid's well researched factual information what makes the boys uncomfortable and willing to forever alter horseshoe protocol when his flight got cancelled. You know Mick thought that divine intervention.

As in the fact not only does he lie about the issues, he's a flip flopper on his stance on MAPS..... the one thing that's saved our citys bacon.

Quit trolling Edgar......

Edgar, did David Glover give you that insight?

Real leaders build coalitions so that their "well researched factual information" actually influences a vote. If there had been a snowball's chance in hell that Ed may have had something of a coalition built to make the vote competitive, then you/Ed might have my sympathy.

But as the streetcar vote indicates, even with the new council members, Ed is currently irrelevant when it comes to voting matters.

Isn't Dr Shadid's well researched factual information what makes the boys uncomfortable and willing to forever alter horseshoe protocol when his flight got cancelled. You know Mick thought that divine intervention.

Can I see an example of this information? What well-researched information has he presented? Please provide evidence to back up your assertions.

Can I see an example of this information? What well-researched information has he presented? Please provide evidence to back up your assertions.
The Doctor took out a full page in the Gazette after Mick did him dirty. You didn't read it? And you're an informed voter?

The Doctor? LOL. That's almost self parody.

If Shadid had been mayor, we would have NO MAPS 3, NO CONTINENTAL HQ, NO OKC THUNDER. The list goes on and on. He's an anti-MAPS kook who goes back on his campaign promises. Only people who do NO RESEARCH INTO THE FACTS could support this not-nice, disloyal, conniving, anarchistic, backstabbing, no-plan fraud. He is a fraud, and if he were to somehow fall backwards into winning this by some divine intervention, he would manage to screw up all the momentum this city has.

He should focus on his yammering talkfests that produce no plans as he seeks his spiritual awakening at OKC taxpayers' expense. He would be a worthless choice for mayor.

This is what I want to hear from krisb and Edgar: what are Ed's plans? What does he want to accomplish and how is he going to accomplish it? Mick has a track record of accomplishments, Ed does not. And no, I do not consider "transparency in government" an accomplishment. He wants to hire more police and firefighters? Where is the money going to come from? He is going to focus more on neighborhoods and not downtown? What is he going to do and where is the money going to come from?

Doug Dawgz Blog: March 1 City Council Election Returns & Ward 2 Runoff (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2011/03/march-1-city-council-election-returns.html)

Here are all of Shadid's ads from the last election. I was a huge supporter of his, but reading his ads, he doesn't seem to be in favor of following a lot of his own campaign rhetoric.

Posts by Ed Shadid In His Facebook Page

MAPS3 is a bond with the voters. It must be implemented in its entirety with transparency and with the maximum public deliberation.



And what did Ed do ? He tried his best to kill the MAPS3 Streetcar.......... What a contradiction.... and there is a few posters on here that just don't get it.

The Doctor took out a full page in the Gazette after Mick did him dirty. You didn't read it? And you're an informed voter?

After "the Doctor" did us dirty, I thought about taking out a full page ad too, and might yet if he keeps forgetting to tell the truth.

The Doctor took out a full page in the Gazette after Mick did him dirty. You didn't read it? And you're an informed voter?

Again, Glover by proxy???

Doug Dawgz Blog: March 1 City Council Election Returns & Ward 2 Runoff (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2011/03/march-1-city-council-election-returns.html)

Here are all of Shadid's ads from the last election. I was a huge supporter of his, but reading his ads, he doesn't seem to be in favor of following a lot of his own campaign rhetoric.

Of everything on Doug's blog page, comparing this small section to Dr Shadid's actions after the election should be enough for most people to decide whether this is indicative of a person who has earned the trust of the citizens of OKC.

"Posts by Ed Shadid In His Facebook Page

MAPS3 is a bond with the voters. It must be implemented in its entirety with transparency and with the maximum public deliberation. Mr. Swinton risks the legitimacy of future referendums by essentially eliminating the rail component. We do not get to pick and choose which projects we (or our unknown financial sponsors) want to move forward.

Thought MAPS 3 guaranteed light rail transit? Think again. Delay means losing $60-120 million in federal matching funds and making the project cost prohibitive by not coordinating with Project 180. Study the candidates comments closely."

OK, let's do that.

Shadid said he is not anti-MAPS as other candidates supported by firefighters have been labeled.
“I support the implementation of all aspects of MAPS 3 as promised to the voters with maximum openness, transparency and public deliberation,” he said."

Shadid said the only thing he has made clear at dozens of neighborhood meetings and candidate forums is he completely supports MAPS 3.
“I'm for implementation of all of the MAPS 3 projects with maximum openness, transparency, public deliberation, and I consider it a bond with the voters,” he said. “I've never said anything else.”

TrustED? The facts make that difficult. I harbor no personal animus toward Dr Shadid, but it is very difficult to reconcile his actions with his rhetoric.

Of everything on Doug's blog page, comparing this small section to Dr Shadid's actions after the election should be enough for most people to decide whether this is indicative of a person who has earned the trust of the citizens of OKC.

"Posts by Ed Shadid In His Facebook Page

MAPS3 is a bond with the voters. It must be implemented in its entirety with transparency and with the maximum public deliberation. Mr. Swinton risks the legitimacy of future referendums by essentially eliminating the rail component. We do not get to pick and choose which projects we (or our unknown financial sponsors) want to move forward.

Thought MAPS 3 guaranteed light rail transit? Think again. Delay means losing $60-120 million in federal matching funds and making the project cost prohibitive by not coordinating with Project 180. Study the candidates comments closely."

OK, let's do that.

Shadid said he is not anti-MAPS as other candidates supported by firefighters have been labeled.
“I support the implementation of all aspects of MAPS 3 as promised to the voters with maximum openness, transparency and public deliberation,” he said."

Shadid said the only thing he has made clear at dozens of neighborhood meetings and candidate forums is he completely supports MAPS 3.
“I'm for implementation of all of the MAPS 3 projects with maximum openness, transparency, public deliberation, and I consider it a bond with the voters,” he said. “I've never said anything else.”

TrustED? The facts make that difficult. I harbor no personal animus toward Dr Shadid, but it is very difficult to reconcile his actions with his rhetoric.

I will have to disagree with you there. I DO hold personal animus against Shadid because he is a slimy weasel who lied to my face. I'm a hardcore progressive voter, but I'm not a masochistic idiot, so I have learned the hard way not to trust this charlatan. He may seem nice, but he will lie to your face and stab you in the back. He is NOT a nice guy.

There is a surprising number of people who know him well, who worked to get him elected to Council, who volunteered to knock on doors for him, who are now working for Mick Cornett. Ask yourself what that means. The people who know him best, want him least. That should speak volumes. This guy is REALLY BAD NEWS.

There is a surprising number of people who know him well, who worked to get him elected to Council, who volunteered to knock on doors for him, who are now working for Mick Cornett. Ask yourself what that means. The people who know him best, want him least. That should speak volumes. This guy is REALLY BAD NEWS.

That is definitely something for voters to consider. It is another indication the Dr's actions do not match his promises and campaign pledges. That should be enough for most people to make up their mind even if they do not consider the progress OKC has made while Mayor Cornett has been in office.

There is a surprising number of people who know him well, who worked to get him elected to Council, who volunteered to knock on doors for him, who are now working for Mick Cornett. Ask yourself what that means. The people who know him best, want him least. That should speak volumes. This guy is REALLY BAD NEWS.

This is really all you need to know and hear about Shadid.

The Doctor is just being the adult in the room and asking the obvious questions that should have been long ago asked.
The cc is going to need a hotel to be viable and will still be a $ pit, as will the streetcar and there was never going to be federal funds for the project. The original MAPS projects a great civic undertaking- MAPSII highjacked by special interests to get taxpayers to build them a cc. Will our barons cover the operating deficits that

The cc is going to need a hotel to be viable and will still be a $ pit, as will the streetcar and there was never going to be federal funds for the project.

Please don't tell me this is in reference to the streetcar...

The Doctor is just being the adult in the room and asking the obvious questions that should have been long ago asked.
The cc is going to need a hotel to be viable and will still be a $ pit, as will the streetcar and there was never going to be federal funds for the project. The original MAPS projects a great civic undertaking- MAPSII highjacked by special interests to get taxpayers to build them a cc. Will our barons cover the operating deficits that

Edgar, you and 'the doctor' are little more than a troll. It's been spelled out in black and white over and over again........ and you keep coming back with the same repeated statements. Nothing new here.....

The streetcar TOD got a federal grant in the neighborhood of 10 million IIRC ?

Edgar, you and 'the doctor' are little more than a troll. It's been spelled out in black and white over and over again........ and you keep coming back with the same repeated statements. Nothing new here.....

The streetcar TOD got a federal grant in the neighborhood of 10 million IIRC ?

Here's that:

http://www.okctalk.com/transportation/34940-2013-usdot-tiger-grant-projects.html

The Doctor is just being the adult in the room and asking the obvious questions that should have been long ago asked.
The cc is going to need a hotel to be viable and will still be a $ pit, as will the streetcar and there was never going to be federal funds for the project. The original MAPS projects a great civic undertaking- MAPSII highjacked by special interests to get taxpayers to build them a cc. Will our barons cover the operating deficits that

Your version of history reminds me of a debate we were having elsewhere about the Texas school board's science curriculum, i.e., in that it has very little to do with reality.

MAPS II was MAPS for Kids and has been a huge success. You're welcome to post here and I'm glad to have you here, but stop with the same lame **** over and over again. How on Earth do other cities our size survive when they have conference centers, streetcars and conference center hotels?

Your version of history reminds me of a debate we were having elsewhere about the Texas school board's science curriculum, i.e., in that it has very little to do with reality.

MAPS II was MAPS for Kids and has been a huge success. You're welcome to post here and I'm glad to have you here, but stop with the same lame **** over and over again. How on Earth do other cities our size survive when they have conference centers, streetcars and conference center hotels?
operating deficits

operating deficits

So every city that has convention centers, CC hotels and streetcars operate in deficits? REALLY?!?!?

I will have to disagree with you there. I DO hold personal animus against Shadid because he is a slimy weasel who lied to my face. I'm a hardcore progressive voter, but I'm not a masochistic idiot, so I have learned the hard way not to trust this charlatan. He may seem nice, but he will lie to your face and stab you in the back. He is NOT a nice guy.

There is a surprising number of people who know him well, who worked to get him elected to Council, who volunteered to knock on doors for him, who are now working for Mick Cornett. Ask yourself what that means. The people who know him best, want him least. That should speak volumes. This guy is REALLY BAD NEWS.


I have been in a couple of different discussions recently with high level city officials who said this very thing.

It was also pointed out to me that ES does not even have his campaign headquarters in his own Ward, and frequently holds rally's or meetings in other Wards. I was also told by someone who knows and has talked with him, that when he was asked why he's not in his own Ward, he honestly answered he has few friends there. They went on to say he has bloodlines that will not support him, although, they obviously can't (won't) come out and publically say that.

That's also in line with sooner's comments...............

Every thoughtful, intelligent, progressive Democrat who is at all knowledgeable about city politics I know is supporting Mick Cornett. That says something to me.

I have been in a couple of different discussions recently with high level city officials who said this very thing.

It was also pointed out to me that ES does not even have his campaign headquarters in his own Ward, and frequently holds rally's or meetings in other Wards. I was also told by someone who knows and has talked with him, that when he was asked why he's not in his own Ward, he honestly answered he has few friends there. They went on to say he has bloodlines that will not support him, although, they obviously can't (won't) come out and publically say that.

That's also in line with sooner's comments...............

Yeah, his headquarters are on the SW/C of NW 7th and Hudson, just west of the Federal building and in the heart of the H&8 area.

operating deficits

What are the operating deficits for the MAPS I projects?

You can look at operations and maintenance in a vacuum. Everything a municipality owns requires maintenance, and most require an operations budget. If we were to increase the size of the bus system like Ed wants to do, O & M could run as high as $60 million annually, as estimated by COTPA. I don't see him mentioning that little fact. You have to take quality of life, enhancement of development and increased sales taxes into consideration. Not all of those factors can be measured, but looking at what's happening downtown, anyone who ignores what the MAPS projects have done and will continue to do for the city is a fool.

Yeah, his headquarters are on the SW/C of NW 7th and Hudson, just west of the Federal building and in the heart of the H&8 area.

That's Meg Salyer's ward.

Not worrying ends with people being ambivalent about voting. Shadid has a large backing of very passionate and persistent voters and "evangelists" Assuming that Cornett is going to walk away with this race could end up being a very costly mistake.

Unless the numbers are astronomical (well over 50k voters), Cornett will not just "walk away" with this thing.

He won the last election with only 14k votes, and turnout was less than 25k. I wouldn't be surprised if Shadid gets close to 25k himself…so Cornett needs supporters to actually go out and vote for the dude…and I hope that all the major businesses are letting their employees know that it is important for this city to get this election right.

This is a municipal election and more people say they will vote than actually do it. I would vote myself but, I am Midwest City resident now so all I can do is watch from the sidelines.

This is a municipal election and more people say they will vote than actually do it. ...

Which can be a bigger danger to a popular incumbent than it is to a motivated challenger, even one with some baggage. People with passion for change do decide to vote. People who are complacent did to vote later in the day and then their day takes over and suddenly it's 30 minutes to poll close, or 30 minutes after close, and the oopsey followed by an instant rationalization process kicks in.

Smartest thing candidate shadid has done to date is kick off his race so early. he has maximized his time to grow momentum amongst low information aginners while at the same time increasing the time span for complacency to take a firmer root on the incumbent side. The incumbent is likely to focus on the status quo and staying the course in general terms, and the challenger appears to be building an odd bedfellows coalition of folks who, while having a wide variety of trigger points, agree on one point, they do not like the status quo.

They do not have to agree why they don't like it to want to see a change to it.
They do not have to think the challenger is their savior for all time to support him.
They may have no intention of supporting him beyond the first 60-100 days.

Some people simply want to see Rome burn.
They don't even hate Rome.
They just enjoy the flames and knowing they helped make it happen.

Edgar,

If you want to prove right now that you are not just a troll, admit that you are wrong, because you squarely are.



CIP (capital improvement project/program) revenue does not include O&M. Do you understand that? I'm surprised Ed doesn't. He's one of 9 people that should know that intimately. I don't get why though he continues to bring it up.

Again. When any citizen votes on a temporary, capital improvements project(s) tax, they are voting on whether or not to give the local government the capital to build the projects defined. Not to maintain them.

Now that you know, will you continue to lie about it?exactly, no one asaked the obvious question about a dedicated funding source for maintenance.

exactly, no one asaked the obvious question about a dedicated funding source for maintenance.

That's not a true statement. I'd have to spend a lot of time looking through videos of meetings before the vote, but I know this topic was raised.

exactly, no one asaked the obvious question about a dedicated funding source for maintenance.


There's no specific dedicated O&M source for anything the city constructs. Where is the dedicated funding source for the buses Ed would like to replace the streetcar with?? There is none. And there won't be one unless the taxpayers agree to set up a permanent dedicated funding source for all mass transit - which they won't do if Ed screws up MAPS and which they won't pass if it contains funding only for buses. It's quite clear that while Ed is undoubtedly a smart guy, he lacks political intelligence. You don't spit in the voters collective faces and then turn around and ask them to trust you with their money again. Or you can ask, but they'll spit back.

There's no specific dedicated O&M source for anything the city constructs. Where is the dedicated funding source for the buses Ed would like to replace the streetcar with?? There is none. And there won't be one unless the taxpayers agree to set up a permanent dedicated funding source for all mass transit - which they won't do if Ed screws up MAPS and which they won't pass if it contains funding only for buses. It's quite clear that while Ed is undoubtedly a smart guy, he lacks political intelligence. You don't spit in the voters collective faces and then turn around and ask them to trust you with their money again. Or you can ask, but they'll spit back.

True that- have a hunch the MAPSIII bait and switch damms any future initiative.

True that- have a hunch the MAPSIII bait and switch damms any future initiative.

Edgar, you still haven't answered my question so I will post it again:


What are Ed's plans? What does he want to accomplish and how is he going to accomplish it? Mick has a track record of accomplishments, Ed does not. And no, I do not consider "transparency in government" an accomplishment. He wants to hire more police and firefighters? Where is the money going to come from? He is going to focus more on neighborhoods and not downtown? What is he going to do and where is the money going to come from?

So every city that has convention centers, CC hotels and streetcars operate in deficits? REALLY?!?!?

Case for bigger Boston convention hall has familiar ring - The Boston Globe (http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/04/22/case_for_bigger_boston_convention_hall_has_familia r_ring/)

Edgar, you still haven't answered my question so I will post it again:

Returning city governanace to the people and being mayor of all OKC.

Returning city governanace to the people and being mayor of all OKC.

So, he is returning city governance to the people by trying to completely derail a project that the people of the city voted for? So, he just wants to be Mayor... He has no other plans but to be Mayor. Got it.

True that- have a hunch the MAPSIII bait and switch damms any future initiative.

Bait and switch? Like trying to kill the streetcar when that's what many, many voters really wanted?

Case for bigger Boston convention hall has familiar ring - The Boston Globe (http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/04/22/case_for_bigger_boston_convention_hall_has_familia r_ring/)

Do you read the articles that you post? First of all, the article is from April, 2011. Here are a few snippets from your link that prove how weird and uneducated you really are:

Second paragraph: The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, opened just seven years ago, is so short of exhibit space and hotel rooms, the consultant said, that officials need to consider a mammoth taxpayer-funded expansion.

So you are basically making the case for a new convention center and a CC hotel. Good job.

He blamed the economic downturn — which, he said, his firm could not have foreseen — for the financial trouble at some halls. Moreover, performance figures reported by convention centers, Kaatz said, do not account for all the spending facilities bring to their local economies. For example, he said, Washington hotel numbers don’t include rooms booked outside of those reserved by event planners.

As for Minneapolis, Kaatz said, the center’s deficits are high because of out-of-control expenses, not lower-than-expected revenues.

Thomas Hazinski, the HVS consultant working in Boston, noted his firm’s findings have persuaded some communities to not pursue building projects, including Plano, Texas and Monterey, Calif. He too said the recession — not his firm’s research — are to blame for problems at hotels in Phoenix, Baltimore, and Austin.

While the recession has certainly hurt the convention center business, the industry’s leaders acknowledge their troubles were brewing before the economy fell.

Despite those findings four years ago, Convention Sports & Leisure and HVS have since issued studies for Dallas, Miami, New Orleans, Boston, San Antonio, and other cities that supported construction of new or bigger facilities.

In Boston, HVS’s preliminary finding is that a 1,000-room hotel near the convention center could trigger visitors to book 140,000 rooms from events at the seaport district facility. Massachusetts officials have said the hotel may need up to $200 million in public subsidies.

The consultants say the lack of hotel rooms near the center is a major drawback to luring conventions to Boston. Convention Sports also said Boston’s exhibit space of 516,000 square feet compares poorly with the more than 1 million square feet available at centers in New Orleans, Atlanta, Orlando, and Chicago.

True that- have a hunch the MAPSIII bait and switch damms any future initiative.

Precisely. Ed campaigning on finishing MAPS as promised to the voters and then trying to kill the streetcar so he can use the money for something he wants is a classic example. Voters are very happy with MAPS as outlined. It's when you ignore the voters that you screw any future initiatives - not just MAPS. It's a great way to bring progress in OKC to a screeching halt.

Edgar,

You are helping define just how GREAT Mick Cornett really is as the Mayor. Lots of bad exposure at this site though for Shadid.

Do you read the articles that you post? First of all, the article is from April, 2011. Here are a few snippets from your link that prove how weird and uneducated you really are:

Second paragraph: The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, opened just seven years ago, is so short of exhibit space and hotel rooms, the consultant said, that officials need to consider a mammoth taxpayer-funded expansion.

So you are basically making the case for a new convention center and a CC hotel. Good job.

He blamed the economic downturn — which, he said, his firm could not have foreseen — for the financial trouble at some halls. Moreover, performance figures reported by convention centers, Kaatz said, do not account for all the spending facilities bring to their local economies. For example, he said, Washington hotel numbers don’t include rooms booked outside of those reserved by event planners.

As for Minneapolis, Kaatz said, the center’s deficits are high because of out-of-control expenses, not lower-than-expected revenues.

Thomas Hazinski, the HVS consultant working in Boston, noted his firm’s findings have persuaded some communities to not pursue building projects, including Plano, Texas and Monterey, Calif. He too said the recession — not his firm’s research — are to blame for problems at hotels in Phoenix, Baltimore, and Austin.

While the recession has certainly hurt the convention center business, the industry’s leaders acknowledge their troubles were brewing before the economy fell.

Despite those findings four years ago, Convention Sports & Leisure and HVS have since issued studies for Dallas, Miami, New Orleans, Boston, San Antonio, and other cities that supported construction of new or bigger facilities.

In Boston, HVS’s preliminary finding is that a 1,000-room hotel near the convention center could trigger visitors to book 140,000 rooms from events at the seaport district facility. Massachusetts officials have said the hotel may need up to $200 million in public subsidies.

The consultants say the lack of hotel rooms near the center is a major drawback to luring conventions to Boston. Convention Sports also said Boston’s exhibit space of 516,000 square feet compares poorly with the more than 1 million square feet available at centers in New Orleans, Atlanta, Orlando, and Chicago.

recession, glut of space, modern communication, whatever you want to point to- what's apparent is the new cc will produce millions in operating deficits taxpayers will be on the hook for, while the chamber crowd reaps the benifits. Public risk, private profit. You know the song.

recession, glut of space, modern communication, whatever you want to point to- what's apparent is the new cc will produce millions in operating deficits taxpayers will be on the hook for, while the chamber crowd reaps the benifits. Public risk, private profit. You know the song.

We just had the worst recession in modern history and because of that, we don't need a new convention center... You do know that the convention center is going to be debt-free when it is built and that any business it books after that will be profit, right? So, the operating expenses can be paid from that profit. The chamber crowd will reap the benefits? How? By bringing people in who will spend money at restaurants, bars, shops, theatres, museums, etc? Won't the people who work at those places reap the benefits? What private entities are going to profit from this that are not restaurants, bars, shops, theatres, museums, etc? No, I don't know the song. Is it "You drive me crazy" by Britney Spears?

Personally I think that this city needs a new "living room" to host our out of state friends and local functions. It fits perfectly within the "Maps mold". Would I rather it have gone to public transit, sure. But thats not the mandate the citizens endorsed via their elected leaders.

Regarding the CC hotel, either Cathy O'Connor solves that problem or the free market it does.

Ed just wants to create an issue to run on by poaching "current events". He needs to get over it. The "Not this Maps" crowd lost remember?

This is not a race, ...it's a formality. The only way Mick does not win, would be if he ran the race like the Bayor QB when he gets to the goal line. ( tackles himself )

We just had the worst recession in modern history and because of that, we don't need a new convention center... You do know that the convention center is going to be debt-free when it is built and that any business it books after that will be profit, right? So, the operating expenses can be paid from that profit. The chamber crowd will reap the benefits? How? By bringing people in who will spend money at restaurants, bars, shops, theatres, museums, etc? Won't the people who work at those places reap the benefits? What private entities are going to profit from this that are not restaurants, bars, shops, theatres, museums, etc? No, I don't know the song. Is it "You drive me crazy" by Britney Spears?

problem seesm to be a glut because Interantional Sports Leisure and Convention has ben going around the country warning people of all the business they're losing without a bigger hall. we'll never know because the report for OKC is a closely guarded secret- no notes, screenshots. Now whose paranoid.

Personally I think that this city needs a new "living room" to host our out of state friends and local functions. It fits perfectly within the "Maps mold". Would I rather it have gone to public transit, sure. But thats not the mandate the citizens endorsed via their elected leaders.

Regarding the CC hotel, either Cathy O'Connor solves that problem or the free market it does.

Ed just wants to create an issue to run on by poaching "current events". He needs to get over it. The "Not this Maps" crowd lost remember?

...and that "living room" needs to be a place that carries a more Iconic Look for OKC. The current renderings make that "living room" look too boxy for our out-of-state friends. imo.

problem seesm to be a glut because Interantional Sports Leisure and Convention has ben going around the country warning people of all the business they're losing without a bigger hall. we'll never know because the report for OKC is a closely guarded secret- no notes, screenshots. Now whose paranoid.

And yet the only thing "The Doctor" has come out against in regards to the MAPS projects is the streetcar. He has come out against the CC hotel, which I understand but why is he not opposed to the building of a new convention center, park, whitewater rapids or state fairground improvements?

You are going to say something that you have no proof of that I can't refute to try to make your point. I cannot prove that there was a report and neither can you because "alledgedly" it is a closely guarded secret. That is basically the embodiment of a conspiracy. And the answer is you. You are paranoid that there are a ton of back room dealings to get a publicly funded (much needed I may add) convention center and only a handful of people are going to profit from this. You need to take off your Shadid colored glasses and examine the information that is out there, not come up with new theories about what is being done.

problem seesm to be a glut because Interantional Sports Leisure and Convention has ben going around the country warning people of all the business they're losing without a bigger hall. we'll never know because the report for OKC is a closely guarded secret- no notes, screenshots. Now whose paranoid.

Our current convention center is an embarrassment for a city our size. We need a new one. Period

This is not a race, ...it's a formality. The only way Mick does not win, would be if he ran the race like the Bayor QB when he gets to the goal line. ( tackles himself )

The other way he loses is if people read your comments that the election is "in the bag" and fail to vote. I agree that if the people who think this city is on the right track (which is about 75 percent of citizens) actually show up and vote, it will be a slaughter in Mick's favor. Problem is, sometimes the people who think everything sucks are more passionate to vote. So if you're feeling fat and happy in OKC, don't forget to extend your happiness to the voting booth, because the angry and disillusioned folks most certainly will be voting.

And yet the only thing "The Doctor" has come out against in regards to the MAPS projects is the streetcar. He has come out against the CC hotel, which I understand but why is he not opposed to the building of a new convention center, park, whitewater rapids or state fairground improvements?

You are going to say something that you have no proof of that I can't refute to try to make your point. I cannot prove that there was a report and neither can you because "alledgedly" it is a closely guarded secret. That is basically the embodiment of a conspiracy. And the answer is you. You are paranoid that there are a ton of back room dealings to get a publicly funded (much needed I may add) convention center and only a handful of people are going to profit from this. You need to take off your Shadid colored glasses and examine the information that is out there, not come up with new theories about what is being done.

That's because that's been the only major public vote so far. I'm hearing he's agitating against the Park now, too, and will most certainly be against the Convention Center. He has idiotic supporters claiming the city is getting screwed on the MAPS sidewalks, when money has already been approved to build the amount of sidewalks that were promised. It's sad when a candidate's only real chance to win is to have spokesmen like Edgar speaking on his behalf and / or to completely snow people on the facts.

He should start passing around the bong at his next major public event; he's going to need a very stoned electorate to win.