Ideas 4 MAPS

[onthestrip]

If this were for MLS I would 100% support it. It appears that MLS will go beyond 28 teams and right now it's around $100 mil. fee to join. I would imagine that fee will go higher so if OKC has the people that want to own a team hopefully they could get on the short list. If you get a promise of MLS then you build a first class stadium. I think the new Stadium in Stl is going to cost 200 mil+ and team owners are paying for it. Think the city/state is going to donate land and they will get some tax breaks. I think it would be great if OKC could get a promise for a team then put forth the stadium on maps.

If they could work that out then you go after one of the new XFL teams and have another tenant for spring football.

I agree. If for an MLS team, lets do it. But for a minor league soccer team, it better be a cheap component of MAPS 4 because I dont have much desire to pay for a stadium that gets a couple thousand people a handful of times a year for soccer games. Now if the OSSAA can get involved a bit and guarantee a certain amount of use for high school events, that would help do some convincing that it should be included in MAPS.
Frankly, I dont see a local stepping up to the plate to buy a MLS franchise, if we could even be awarded one in the first place.

[David]

We didn't have a team when we built a basketball arena, and getting the Thunder arguably only happened because New Orleans was hit by Katrina which roundabout led to an environment where the the NBA started taking OKC seriously. An MLS team likely wouldn't require an actual Act of God to arrange.

[Pryor Tiger]

Isn't Bob Funk extremely interested in being the owner of a MLS franchise? I'm sure there are enough $ people in OKC that would go in on it. Thinking 1.5 million in OKC and 1 million in Tulsa, we could create quite a bit of interest for a fan base. Much of the schedule runs contrary to NBA also!

[Midtowner]

Isn't Bob Funk extremely interested in being the owner of a MLS franchise? I'm sure there are enough $ people in OKC that would go in on it. Thinking 1.5 million in OKC and 1 million in Tulsa, we could create quite a bit of interest for a fan base. Much of the schedule runs contrary to NBA also!

I'm sure Funk is very interested in a franchise so long as he doesn't have to pay for it.

[jedicurt]

We didn't have a team when we built a basketball arena, and getting the Thunder arguably only happened because New Orleans was hit by Katrina which roundabout led to an environment where the the NBA started taking OKC seriously. An MLS team likely wouldn't require an actual Act of God to arrange.

we built it with a tenant in mind... it just wasn't basketball... the city was basically told that if they build it, the Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL would move here... and their ownership then used us building are arena to get Glendale to build their new arena.

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City had no idea that when we built our downtown arena that we would land the more prestigious NBA over the NHL.

OKC overachieved...

[citywokchinesefood]

we built it with a tenant in mind... it just wasn't basketball... the city was basically told that if they build it, the Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL would move here... and their ownership then used us building are arena to get Glendale to build their new arena.

I have been a long time fan of the NHL and really hope it can continue to develop as a league. In the next 10-15 years it would be cool if we were to replace the Peake with a new arena built to house the Thunder and an NHL team.

[jedicurt]

I have been a long time fan of the NHL and really hope it can continue to develop as a league. In the next 10-15 years it would be cool if we were to replace the Peake with a new arena built to house the Thunder and an NHL team.

the time frame of about 10 years would be quite perfect... the few teams that are struggling in current markets have contracts that mean they would be looking in about that time frame. Arizona Coyotes and Florida Panthers are two most likely... with St. Louis Blues after that. most of the other teams have strong followings, even through bad years.

We are much more likely to get minor league hockey back, and hopefully a team solely owned by it's NHL Affiliate. perhaps getting St Louis or Colorado AHL, or Dallas ECHL. and i would be happy with these options

[shawnw]

http://journalrecord.com/2018/12/10/...ding-new-jail/

[OKCRT]

http://journalrecord.com/2018/12/10/...ding-new-jail/

Uh No. Put a jail and stadium on there and I predict that you will see the end of MAPS

[David]

I think it would be bull**** of the highest order for the City to have to come in and spend MAPS money to replace the jail when the County who is actually responsible for it has apparently just been procrastinating for a decade.

[Laramie]

Uh No. Put a jail and stadium on there and I predict that you will see the end of MAPS

A new county jail will be the responsibility of the county; not Oklahoma City: https://newsok.com/article/5409282/t...il-takes-shape

Oklahoma Gazette: https://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/d...nt?oid=2981041

A preliminary cost outline includes $235 million to build a new jail, $65 million for the juvenile detention center and $5 million for the mental health facility.

We could appropriately call it Bedlam.

Thank God we haven't gone to a city-county partnered government like Louisville/Jefferson County metro government.

[OKCRT]

IMO they want to build a bigger jail so they can arrest more non violent folks for failing to pay traffic tickets or low level personal drug possession. They can make a lot of money and flood the courts and keep the wheels of justice turning. Remember,OK has one of if not the highest rates of incarceration in the WORLD. Yes,right here in good old Oklahoma.

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine was stopped and taken to jail because he forgot or didn't pay a ticket from over a year ago. They towed his car and took him to jail. Seems a little excessive to me to take someone to jail for failing to pay a traffic ticket. I would imagine this happens quite a bit. If you fail to pay a ticket you might end up in a cell with a murderer.

Actually he had a couple of unpaid tickets but still.


So I assume they can't try to slip the City's portion of the jail on the MAPS ticket and then have the county pay the rest?

[jonny d]

IMO they want to build a bigger jail so they can arrest more non violent folks for failing to pay traffic tickets or low level personal drug possession. They can make a lot of money and flood the courts and keep the wheels of justice turning. Remember,OK has one of if not the highest rates of incarceration in the WORLD. Yes,right here in good old Oklahoma.

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine was stopped and taken to jail because he forgot or didn't pay a ticket from over a year ago. They towed his car and took him to jail. Seems a little excessive to me to take someone to jail for failing to pay a traffic ticket. I would imagine this happens quite a bit. If you fail to pay a ticket you might end up in a cell with a murderer.

Actually he had a couple of unpaid tickets but still.


So I assume they can't try to slip the City's portion of the jail on the MAPS ticket and then have the county pay the rest?

OKC has cut the number of prisoners by a great margin, and is at the forefront of the state for making nonviolent crimes non-jailable offenses.

[citywokchinesefood]

You really are that crazy, arent't you? OKC has cut the number of prisoners by a great margin, and is at the forefront of the state for making nonviolent crimes non-jailable offenses. But by all means, keep ignoring those facts.

I think they are a little off base. But, I do think that we need to consider demanding an end to incarceration for drug possession tagged on as a part of this funding mechanism. From what I have read about the plans for the jail, I would like them to put more money and effort into the mental health facility. In addition to better access to mental health facilities, Oklahoman's need better access to social workers, addiction treatment, and vocational programs when incarcerated. I want to see some criminal justice reform and social outreach tied directly to this.

https://okpolicy.org/in-its-first-ye...elony-filings/
https://okpolicy.org/as-rates-of-the...d-punishments/

[HangryHippo]

Actually he had a couple of unpaid tickets but still.

While I tend to agree that jail seems excessive, there are consequences for actions, or in your friend's case, inaction.

[HangryHippo]

I think they are a little off base. But, I do think that we need to consider demanding an end to incarceration for drug possession tagged on as a part of this funding mechanism. From what I have read about the plans for the jail, I would like them to put more money and effort into the mental health facility. In addition to better access to mental health facilities, Oklahoman's need better access to social workers, addiction treatment, and vocational programs when incarcerated. I want to see some criminal justice reform and social outreach tied directly to this.

https://okpolicy.org/in-its-first-ye...elony-filings/
https://okpolicy.org/as-rates-of-the...d-punishments/

Agree wholeheartedly. Less money for jail, a lot more money for mental health and related services.

[gopokes88]

OKC has cut the number of prisoners by a great margin, and is at the forefront of the state for making nonviolent crimes non-jailable offenses.

Also,

Pay your f*cking tickets

[d-usa]

The jail time for unpaid tickets are usually not because of the tickets, they are usually bench warrants for failing to appear in court to deal with them.

[OKCRT]

The jail time for unpaid tickets are usually not because of the tickets, they are usually bench warrants for failing to appear in court to deal with them.

That's exactly what they took him to jail for,a bench warrant. I understand it was totally the guys fault for not paying his tickets on time but seems to me they could come up with a better solution. It would be interesting to see how many people go to jail for not paying tickets. I bet the number is pretty high. He was in jail for 2 days and had to pay to get his vehicle out of the impound so what started out as a few hundred dollars ended up costing him around $1000.00 and a couple days in jail.

[Laramie]

Passenger Rail from Oklahoma City to Tulsa via the Eastern Flyer: http://www.easternflyer.com/images/r...2014_large.jpg

Oklahoma City Union Station. Photo from Raymond Woods on Flickr.

The passenger waiting area with its 25-foot-high ceiling was restored in 1978 by Thurman Magbee and can be cleared of office pods added in the center of the area so that it can be returned to its original appearance. [Photo provided by the Oklahoma Historical Society]

Could MAPS money be used for more downtown OKC connection for more upgrades to the Union Station to make it a viable passenger rail alternative to Tulsa: https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/loca...9cfe45b40.html

[HangryHippo]

That's exactly what they took him to jail for,a bench warrant. I understand it was totally the guys fault for not paying his tickets on time but seems to me they could come up with a better solution. It would be interesting to see how many people go to jail for not paying tickets. I bet the number is pretty high. He was in jail for 2 days and had to pay to get his vehicle out of the impound so what started out as a few hundred dollars ended up costing him around $1000.00 and a couple days in jail.

Again though, there are consequences. What other recourse would you like the city to have for someone who fails to pay the fines and fails to appear? It didn't have to end that way for him.

[d-usa]

The better solution is to contact the court at any point prior to being pulled over and make arrangements.

[baralheia]

Passenger Rail from Oklahoma City to Tulsa via the Eastern Flyer: http://www.easternflyer.com/images/r...2014_large.jpg

Oklahoma City Union Station. Photo from Raymond Woods on Flickr.

The passenger waiting area with its 25-foot-high ceiling was restored in 1978 by Thurman Magbee and can be cleared of office pods added in the center of the area so that it can be returned to its original appearance. [Photo provided by the Oklahoma Historical Society]

Could MAPS money be used for more downtown OKC connection for more upgrades to the Union Station to make it a viable passenger rail alternative to Tulsa: https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/loca...9cfe45b40.html

While I do remain a very strong proponent of the idea of returning Union Station to a transportation use such as this - it would make an E-W commuter line and the eventual passenger service to Tulsa much less challenging from an engineering standpoint - unfortunately I believe that ship has long since sailed. There is enough room in the Union Pacific rail corridor to install a second set of tracks and a platform, but to my knowledge the underground tunnel from Union Station would need to be rebuilt. I do not believe the tunnel survived the construction of the realigned I-40, since that went right through the former (and massive) rail yard where the station's platforms used to be. Additionally, I think most (if not all) of the people with power in the city are more interested in having Santa Fe Station serve that purpose instead, with all of the money that's been pumped into the building so far - so there's little support for Union Station, unfortunately.

[OKCRT]

Again though, there are consequences. What other recourse would you like the city to have for someone who fails to pay the fines and fails to appear? It didn't have to end that way for him.

Not sure what else can be done but reading that article saying the jail is extremely overcrowded there must be a better solution for traffic bandits. I don't look at someone not paying a traffic ticket in the same light as a murderer or rapist or someone that is out committing actual crimes. But in OKC they are all lumped together. Do other cities put people in jail for unpaid traffic tickets?