Voted!

[OKCDrummer77]

Voted YES, #240 at NW 19th & Portland a little before 1:00.

[DelCamino]

Voted YES! at 11:30 a.m. #388 in my precinct. Another in my household is voting YES! later this afternoon.

[Platemaker]

Couldn't she just zip up her jacket? LOL

Everything Purplemonkey says is total BS.

[Mikemarsh51]

Wow, Kerry, you can call your city manager about that tax!

It's interesting about perspective, my friend who worked at Homeland used to brag about how much she made as a cashier.

[purplemonkeythief]

Everything Purplemonkey says is total BS.

Excuse me?

[CCOKC]

3 votes yes for my household.

[OKCMallen]

Andy, I guess that you've never repeated yourself on this forum and I apologize that it bothers you so much. I repeated it because it bears repeating.

I've been a firm supporter of both firefighters and police officers, especially since I have close relatives who are both (although in different cities). I'm not unsympathetic to their wants and needs. I've supported EVERY previous request for more funding, including the 3/4¢ public safety tax added years ago. So I was profoundly disappointed in their unions' very active and very public opposition to this MAPS proposal. They've thumbed their noses at the very community that has supported them so much in the past. And I look forward to the opportunity to express that opinion to the donation solicitor. God knows the unions won't listen.

Case-in-point.






The "Not this MAPS" coalition is "spearheaded by the pledge of major financial and volunteer support by The Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police and The Oklahoma City Firefighters Association Local 157." (1) Coincidentally, both the police and fire labor contracts with the city are currently up for negotiation and in arbitration.

Myth: Firefighters Local 157 union president Phil Sipe said the December 8th election "is not about negotiated issues between police and fire and the city."(1)

Fact: Unfortunately, it seems the union opposition to MAPS is entirely about gaining further leverage in current and future contract negotiations.

The facts are in black-and-white in this letter from James R. Moore, the attorney negotiating with the city on behalf of the police union:







This letter states that as late as November 10, 2009, the police union was willing to "get on board with MAPS 3" if their contract demands could be met.



In September, FOP president Gil Hensley described this MAPS to City council members as a package of "good projects” that was flawed because it doesn’t include money for public safety. (2) By November 13, when contract negotiations had not produced the desired results, Hensley said in a press conference that this MAPS was a "bad plan" and that "police and fire are united in (an) effort to defeat this MAPS proposal."(1)

Recently both unions submitted their “best and final” offers to the city for their contract negotiations, and not a single one of their issues addressed public safety. One of the police union demands was to add a full-time city-paid police officer to the payroll to do work for the union full-time. Another demand was for an additional paid day off during each 28-day work period.

The Fire union final demands included more sick leave, holidays, vacations, overtime, wages, an enhanced pay matrix, and a revised longevity schedule.

Bottom Line
The opposition to this MAPS is being lead by two unions that are in contentious labor contract negotiations with the city. Their views on MAPS changed only after contract demands were not met to their satisfaction. The fact is, these MAPS projects are "good projects." Let's "get on board with MAPS 3" and vote YES on December 8.

[Jared6]

#168 at my polling place across from Westmoore HS right before noon, YES vote from me.

[aintaokie]

I can't vote, I don't live in OKC. But Yes MAPS or NOT this MAPS, I will continue to spend most of my money in Oklahoma City and pay whatever sales tax is added on to my purchases and enjoy what OKC has to offer (Which is pretty good). I live nearby & work in Oklahoma City & I'm sure many others do the same with their spending & their jobs. Think about it.....

[HOT ROD]

now, why didn't the media run with this DIRTY POLITICS spin (the union letter posted by Mallen above)? Especially since many if not all of the "Not This Maps" promoters and union officials have yelled their heads off spitting lies and myths about city leadership and MAPS, just to 'stick it' to the mayor and city manager.

I think the unions have lost any leverage they COULD HAVE had with the city - by opposing MAPS 3. I think it is clear that it will pass - so the city "won". Now, without a paddle or fiddle, the unions would still want to juicy up their contract???

Fat chance of that. If I were the city, I would completely remove all aspects of the past horrible contract and make a new fair and equitable one - which would hence add officers at the competitive median salary points and pay OT like every other non-exempt employee in the united states is paid. Then, use additional gains (if any) to build the fire and police stations that were left off - to pay that ridiculous contract that's in place.

Im sure there might be very many officers in smaller cities around the nation who might come to OKC to be an officer for the median salary plus STANDARD WORKED overtime!!!

Seattle posted job notices all around the country a year ago about departmental positions and they started at the MINIMUM salary point (not median). Also there are many military personnel who definitely qualify for the line of work and the OKC might even get some federal benefits for hiring veterans (im not sure how that works for municipalities).

I wonder how many officers would DARE to strike. And I wonder then, what the unions poorly representing OKC will do then? ... ....

[HOT ROD]

Also, I dont understand the opposition (I understand the 'not this maps' motivation - leveridge/dirty politics, but not the anti-tax folks); taxes will not increase. People are voting to continue the tax. ...

It's a no brainer to me, because although the city has gotten better - OKC is HARDLY able to compete with peer and even lesser cities in most categories or interest. MAPS has put OKC on the map, and MAPS 3 continues the momentum at a time when the city (and economy in general) needs an injection.

[SoonerLakers]

No soonerlaker, this was sanctioned by administration and the wish list was sent through channels. I will take the bike to the administration office in my personal vehicle so it doesn't get scratched tomorrow, nice that you had my back though. By the way since manpower is low, everything we do is on the fire engine. I hope that's ok with you.

I guess that is OK with me. Keep up the good work and maybe next time your union will let you vote as an individual instead of having to "tow the company line"

[Doug Loudenback]

Well, er, ah, it's time for me to go to the polls and cast my ballot. The comments made by Iron and his brethren and sisteren have caused me pause ... should/shall I change how I've earlier announced that I would be voting? Gotta admit, those guys were damned persuasive ...

Back in 20 minutes ... I'll edit as needed.

ON EDIT: Took longer than expected. Voted at St. Luke's Methodist which covers Heritage Hills East, Heritage Hills & Mesta Park. Was told the turnout had been rather heavy but I don't know what that really means. My vote was #674, I think. I tried to mark the "No" arrow ... but ... but ... but... my guardian angel told me that I would be in deep sh*t city if I did and I didn't want to piss off my guardian angel. A Yes vote was cast.

[OKCMallen]

Go get'em Doug!

[OkcMetal]

3 votes from my house hold..Lets Go OKC!!

[westsidesooner]

Also, I dont understand the opposition (I understand the 'not this maps' motivation - leveridge/dirty politics, but not the anti-tax folks); taxes will not increase. People are voting to continue the tax. ...

It's a no brainer to me, because although the city has gotten better - OKC is HARDLY able to compete with peer and even lesser cities in most categories or interest. MAPS has put OKC on the map, and MAPS 3 continues the momentum at a time when the city (and economy in general) needs an injection.

As stated before I don't get to vote on Maps 3 since I live in Bethany, but I do 90% of my shopping and spending in OKC and would like to add that a thriving OKC means a thriving OKC metro. I dont understand how some people just dont get that. What better time to continue a tax that will benefit not only OKC but the county, metro area and the state than during a weak economy. Talk about an economic stimulus. Construction, retail, ...all kinds of jobs would be created. Eventually adding to the cities ability to hire more police and firemen. And with a new convention center....which will lead to a new hotel, some if not a good chunk of this money will come from visitors to Oklahoma. All registered voters in OKC Please vote!!! YES

[sroberts24]

3 YES votes from my house, 2 from my parents, 2 from my sister's, 4 from my neighbors and Kevin (my favorite Chile's bartender)!

[okiedokiegames]

Also, I dont understand the opposition (I understand the 'not this maps' motivation - leveridge/dirty politics, but not the anti-tax folks); taxes will not increase. People are voting to continue the tax. ...

All things being equal, do you purchase an item from a store that sells it at normal price, or do you buy from a store that has an item for sale?

Taxes won't increase, but they may decrease andTHAT is what some folks are wanting.

[thoth]

Just voted YES. Does anyone know if any entity is doing exit polling?

[OKCMallen]

All things being equal, do you purchase an item from a store that sells it at normal price, or do you buy from a store that has an item for sale?

Taxes won't increase, but they may decrease andTHAT is what some folks are wanting.

We'll get these projects built at a SALE price due to the economic conditions. There's your sale.

[megax11]

I voted too with all my fire and police buddies this morning. 22 of us went together. Guess what we voted.

Well duder, you fire and policemen can keep hounding the public for donations, but when they call me, I will just hang up for the police and fire's sheer arrogance, because the union makes them greedy for more money.

Police can call and give me this sob story of losing policemen in the force, but the arrogant police can take that story somewhere else, because if they act out of greed, divine retribution comes back 10 fold.

Good job shooting yourselves in the foot. If the union thought it could negotiate a new contract with the money police and fire wanted, because they weren't happy with 60 mil a year (which is being spent how,) then imagine how hard it will be to get the city to see your side when you clearly spit in their face, over wanting more money (greedy union is greedy as usual?)

Hope you peeps don't call my house, because I will just laugh until hung up on.

[adaniel]

Voted YES! And I saved the city a NO vote from my grandma! I found out that some "volunteers" from the NTM campaign paid her a visit this week and told her that her taxes were going up! I had to convince her otherwise, so put her in the YES column.

Pretty pumped as this is the first vote I'ved cast as an official OKC resident. When I was living in Norman I kept my registration in Texas at my parents house,, but I figured this election was too important to not do something.

[decepticobra]

The worst part of your accomplishments this morning is that now you get to pick those 100 signs back up. Peace.

unless some teenage punks have already kicked them out of the ground and onto the street with their steel-toe doc maartens.

[OKCMallen]

Well duder, you fire and policemen can keep hounding the public for donations, but when they call me, I will just hang up for the police and fire's sheer arrogance, because the union makes them greedy for more money.

Police can call and give me this sob story of losing policemen in the force, but the arrogant police can take that story somewhere else, because if they act out of greed, divine retribution comes back 10 fold.

Good job shooting yourselves in the foot. If the union thought it could negotiate a new contract with the money police and fire wanted, because they weren't happy with 60 mil a year (which is being spent how,) then imagine how hard it will be to get the city to see your side when you clearly spit in their face, over wanting more money (greedy union is greedy as usual?)

Hope you peeps don't call my house, because I will just laugh until hung up on.

Also, check their average salary against the national and local median salaries. Cops aren't hurting for money. They have a tough job, and they're well-compensated.

[megax11]

Us who voted yes can take pleasure in knowing that when we die, we paid with our hard earned money for kids to have things to do and new places to see here in OKC, thus contributing to this cities growth, while the greedy did nothing for this city, but eat, sleep, ****, then die.

We can know we paid for the future generations to have something new.

I love NOT being greedy.