Oklahoma City, In the Press

[TeeDub2]

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how...paign=11072019

Oklahoma City #8!

[Plutonic Panda]

Thought I’d post this video to stir up conversation. Much of this guy says is inaccurate to say the least but oh well...

[jonny d]

Thought I’d post this video to stir up conversation. Much of this guy says is inaccurate to say the least but oh well...

According to quite a few on this board, the guy will be 100% correct. Lol. I disagree with a large % of what he says, though.

[dcsooner]

What he said about property values is imo accurate. Thinking low prices for housing, low cost of living is great is fools gold, it means low wages, slow property value appreciation and minimal demand due to no one moving there increasing demand and therefore driving up prices.

[Thomas Vu]

Somebody wanna save me the click/view and list out the 10 reasons?

[bchris02]

Thought IÂ’d post this video to stir up conversation. Much of this guy says is inaccurate to say the least but oh well...

In my opinion he's spot on when it comes to the weather, the schools, and the speeding tickets. The rest is not necessarily inaccurate but is outdated, especially the part about Tulsa being more hip and more urban and the city being boring. It also seems like the homeless problem in OKC used to be a lot worse than it is now.

[Rover]

In my opinion he's spot on when it comes to the weather, the schools, and the speeding tickets. The rest is not necessarily inaccurate but is outdated, especially the part about Tulsa being more hip and more urban and the city being boring. It also seems like the homeless problem in OKC used to be a lot worse than it is now.

And he kept using Oklahoma general statistics which didn't necessarily apply to OKC.

[OKCRT]

In my opinion he's spot on when it comes to the weather, the schools, and the speeding tickets. The rest is not necessarily inaccurate but is outdated, especially the part about Tulsa being more hip and more urban and the city being boring. It also seems like the homeless problem in OKC used to be a lot worse than it is now.

Speeding tickets for sure. The weather isn't that much different than many other places in this part of the country. Schools def. need some help. But OKC needs more and better things to do to attract and keep the younger generation. OKC is night and day better than 20 years ago but needs more.

[Plutonic Panda]

Oklahoma is probably the most over-policed state I can think of. I generally go 15-20 over and usually I’m in the flow of traffic in other states but do that in Oklahoma and cops think you are murdering puppies. It’s bizarre. The schools are another thing he gets right.

Though the homeless I feel is getting worse in OKC not better.

[bchris02]

Speeding tickets for sure. The weather isn't that much different than many other places in this part of the country. Schools def. need some help. But OKC needs more and better things to do to attract and keep the younger generation. OKC is night and day better than 20 years ago but needs more.

In regards to weather, winters are colder, summers are hotter, it's always windier, and it's much more tornado prone than areas just a little farther east. However, that's a fact of life of living in Oklahoma. Nowhere has the perfect climate; it's a matter of what kind of climate you prefer and what negatives you are willing to deal with. Nobody moves to Oklahoma for the weather unless they are moving there to chase storms. A lot of people can't take the Arizona heat but for me, I'll gladly deal with it for three months in exchange for perfect patio weather the rest of the year.

In regards to attracting the younger generation and offering more things to do, I think the city has come a long, long ways in recent years. At the end of the day, a lot of it simply comes down to jobs and the economy. I don't think OKC will ever be the kind of place people move to because it's "cool" like say Austin or Denver, but as long as the quality of life continues to improve and jobs continue to be created, the city should continue to attract and retain young people.

Oklahoma is probably the most over-policed state I can think of. I generally go 15-20 over and usually I’m in the flow of traffic in other states but do that in Oklahoma and cops think you are murdering puppies. It’s bizarre. The schools are another thing he gets right.

Though the homeless I feel is getting worse in OKC not better.

Yeah here in Phoenix you pretty much have to go 15-20 over or else people will be riding your ass and flipping you off as they pass you. I'd say the nicest thing about the fast-paced driving culture is not having to sit and wait behind cars at green lights because everyone is on their phones and don't see that the light has turned green. That never happens out here but it's an epidemic in Oklahoma.

In Oklahoma, speeding just isn't worth the price of the speeding tickets or hassle of dealing with the cops, in my own personal honest opinion.

[SEMIweather]

OKC cops should really consider prioritizing red-light runners over speeders when it comes to ticketing. The speeding here is whatever but the red-light running is absolutely terrible (and much more dangerous, IMO).

[ChrisHayes]

OKC cops should really consider prioritizing red-light runners over speeders when it comes to ticketing. The speeding here is whatever but the red-light running is absolutely terrible (and much more dangerous, IMO).

Here here! I'd like to see an army of unmarked police cars going after the red light runners. Minimum of 200-300 dollar fine.

[LocoAko]

OKC cops should really consider prioritizing red-light runners over speeders when it comes to ticketing. The speeding here is whatever but the red-light running is absolutely terrible (and much more dangerous, IMO).

Or the inverse -- sitting through entire light cycles because some idiot is on their phone and everyone else is apparently too polite to honk.

[Plutonic Panda]

Or the inverse -- sitting through entire light cycles because some idiot is on their phone and everyone else is apparently too polite to honk.

Or you do honk(not even a full laying on the horn honk a quick love tap) and the person ahead of you gets so offended they purposely wait and/or brake check possibly road rage...

[dankrutka]

It's always sad to see so many people just parrot the urban-schools-are-bad talking points (the narrator says the same for neighborhoods). I've posted it before, but I had Ben Felder on my podcast and he shared his story that he would never have considered OKCPS because of the state rankings and negative perception. However, since he's an education reporter, he actually visited and learned about the OKCPS school in his neighborhood and was really impressed.

Literally, the biggest reason urban schools struggle everywhere (not at all an OKC phenomenon... NYC has the most segregated schools in the U.S.) is because people keep repeating that they're bad and using flawed metrics (e.g., A-F) to evaluate them. This leads to White flight, which is what the video narrator argues for. White flight results in segregated schools with high concentrations of poverty in the same schools where there are huge disadvantages to meeting scores on standardized tests that just widen the historical education debt among schools. Again, the very reason this happens is because people with means abandon urban schools. It's a vicious cycle.

Unfortunately, it's not a surprise though because the U.S. gave up on implementing Brown v. Board and school integration starting in the late 1980s despite the incredible success of integration. Anyway, arguing OKC's public schools are bad so don't move to OKC is a dumb argument because it's a national phenomenon. Now, the state of Oklahoma underfunds schools, is a right-to-work anti-labor state (thought not as bad as Texas), and those are fair criticisms of Oklahoma education. Some of those are true of other states and some aren't, but they're certainly true for the entire state, not just OKC.

[mugofbeer]

The weather? What city just got hit by a swarm of tornados causing $2 billion in damage?. Are businesses going to stop moving to Texas because it's hot, humid (or dry in the west), subject to tornados, hurricanes, extraordinary floods, fire ants and killer bees?

[AP]

It's always sad to see so many people just parrot the urban-schools-are-bad talking points (the narrator says the same for neighborhoods). I've posted it before, but I had Ben Felder on my podcast and he shared his story that he would never have considered OKCPS because of the state rankings and negative perception. However, since he's an education reporter, he actually visited and learned about the OKCPS school in his neighborhood and was really impressed.

Literally, the biggest reason urban schools struggle everywhere (not at all an OKC phenomenon... NYC has the most segregated schools in the U.S.) is because people keep repeating that they're bad and using flawed metrics (e.g., A-F) to evaluate them. This leads to White flight, which is what the video narrator argues for. White flight results in segregated schools with high concentrations of poverty in the same schools where there are huge disadvantages to meeting scores on standardized tests that just widen the historical education debt among schools. Again, the very reason this happens is because people with means abandon urban schools. It's a vicious cycle.

Unfortunately, it's not a surprise though because the U.S. gave up on implementing Brown v. Board and school integration starting in the late 1980s despite the incredible success of integration. Anyway, arguing OKC's public schools are bad so don't move to OKC is a dumb argument because it's a national phenomenon. Now, the state of Oklahoma underfunds schools, is a right-to-work anti-labor state (thought not as bad as Texas), and those are fair criticisms of Oklahoma education. Some of those are true of other states and some aren't, but they're certainly true for the entire state, not just OKC.

If I have to explain to one more family member why we plan to send our son to OKCPS and that it is not ruining his future, I'm going to lose my mind.

[catch22]

With any of these "lists" you have to remember that perception is reality. While you can present as many facts to counter as you want, someone's perception of something will still rule their opinion. If a person feels cold, good luck convincing them they are wrong because the actual temperature is 73 degrees. It's just what it is. Other places have more severe weather, other places have worse schools, other places have more of whatever - but they may not carry the same perception. A lot of that is preconceived.

[PhiAlpha]

What he said about property values is imo accurate. Thinking low prices for housing, low cost of living is great is fools gold, it means low wages, slow property value appreciation and minimal demand due to no one moving there increasing demand and therefore driving up prices.

Unless you actually want to buy a house (and property values have appreciated quite a bit over the last 5-10 years)...tell people looking to buy a home in California that high property values are a good thing.

[GoldFire]

To change the tune to something positive, here is a recent article in TechCrunch where Zillow named OKC and KC as the top two cities for tech startups to expand into: https://techcrunch.com/2019/11/04/wh...ook-to-expand/

[mugofbeer]

Oklahoma is probably the most over-policed state I can think of. I generally go 15-20 over and usually I’m in the flow of traffic in other states but do that in Oklahoma and cops think you are murdering puppies. It’s bizarre. The schools are another thing he gets right.

Though the homeless I feel is getting worse in OKC not better.

I guess that OK is so over-policed explains why l got pulled over just south of Stratford, TX (in the panhandle just south of Boise City) for going 3 MPH over the speed limit. He kept telling me "1 MPH over the limit is still speeding" and was actually going to write me a ticket.

I asked why he pulled me over but the 4 HPs in Colorado or the 2 l had just gone by in OK didn't pull me over if l had violated the law to which the obviously young patrolman replied "l guess we take the law more seriously in Texas."

It wasn't until l asked for his name and badge number and for him to follow me back to Stratford to chat with his supervisor that he changed his mind and gave me a warning.

This is just my most recent experience. I see police all over Denver looking for speeders. Denver metro has dozens of red-lite cameras I've witnessed flashing and taking pics of cars on green lights. Downtown, some get you if the bumper of your car is even an inch into a crosswalk. So, l don't think it's factual to say OK is more policed than anywhere else is incorrect.

[Plutonic Panda]

Fair points. It is certainly debatable. That is crazy about being pulled over 3 MPH over the limit. Several times I’ve passed CHP on I-5 doing 20-30 over posted limit and they either just flashed their lights or did nothing at all. I don’t think cops should really be worried about people speeding on freeways. Should be more focused on residents in areas and school zones.

[Rover]

So, laws are just suggestions, right? Or just laws we don’t want to follow? Lol. Following the law is so pesky and unfair.

[Plutonic Panda]

So, laws are just suggestions, right? Or just laws we don’t want to follow? Lol. Following the law is so pesky and unfair.

Hey why stop there Rover, let’s take it to the extreme and conflate murder and a traffic infraction and scold officers on exercising discretion for one law and not the other.

In all seriousness, there are a hundred arguments you could make with your black and white logic. Might as well repeal medical marijuana laws, since its federally illegal.

I’ve received my fair share of speeding tickets. I often joke that I paid for a door or two on the new Edmond police station. I don’t hold any animosity towards officers for enforcing the law. It is what it is.

[Rover]

Hey why stop there Rover, let’s take it to the extreme and conflate murder and a traffic infraction and scold officers on exercising discretion for one law and not the other.

In all seriousness, there are a hundred arguments you could make with your black and white logic. Might as well repeal medical marijuana laws, since its federally illegal.

I’ve received my fair share of speeding tickets. I often joke that I paid for a door or two on the new Edmond police station. I don’t hold any animosity towards officers for enforcing the law. It is what it is.

If everyone has decided that 5 miles over is still within the law, then why not just raise the limit? But then, is 5 miles over that okay? Why have a law at all if it is just discretionary? We either have laws and limits for a reason or we don't. Maybe we should have electronic signs and change the speed limit according to time of day, visibility, traffic count, surface type, moisture, tire tread, condition of struts, alignment, etc. OR we can let everyone decide for themselves what a safe speed is for them and those they affect. I am sure my 17 year old nephew and 86 year old aunt would agree with who's driving safely. LOL.