OKC Mayor Race 2014

[Just the facts]

Thought I would just drop this here as food for thought. Keep in mind while reading this that the people of Cincinnati already voted twice to approve the streetcar.

Cincinnati's New Mayor Calls Halt to Streetcar Project - WSJ.com

Cincinnati's New Mayor Calls Halt to Streetcar Project

A Cincinnati streetcar project, embroiled in controversy in recent years over cost overruns and management, faces an uncertain future after Tuesday's election ushered in a new mayor who vowed to halt the project that has tied up $148 million of city funds.

Mayor-elect John Cranley, a Democrat who ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility that included stopping the project, won about 58% of the votes tallied, according to unofficial results from the Hamilton County Board of Elections. He beat out current Vice-Mayor Roxanne Qualls, also a Democrat, who supported the project.

"We are going to cancel the streetcar," said Mr. Cranley, a lawyer and former member of the City Council, during a press conference on Wednesday. "They should immediately stop spending…let's put everything on ice."

It may not be so easy to stop the streetcar cold. The city began work on the project in 2007 and has already spent about $23 million. Construction workers began laying track and pouring concrete in August and utility relocation started last year. An additional $94 million is tied up in contracts, and it's unclear how much of that would still be paid out by the city.

"This is completely unprecedented," said John Deatrick, the project executive for the Cincinnati streetcar, referring to the possibility of the city pulling out of the project. "It doesn't mean that it can't be done, but we just don't know at what cost yet."

According to Mr. Deatrick, the city would contact vendors to notify them of the halt, then determine final payment, and then try to negotiate it down.

The project has been beset by a host of problems. The engineers' cost estimates were below contractor bids, and the city has had to pay an additional $17.4 million. The project has been through the bid process three times so far, as well. And the federal government has kicked in $5 million more than originally planned.

From another story:

http://www.wlwt.com/news/local-news/...?absolute=true

Wednesday, Cranley said that he was told to expect a congratulatory call from the White House, and that he intended to ask permission during that call to reallocate some $44 million in federal streetcar funding to other projects, such as the I-71/MLK interchange project.

Read more: http://www.wlwt.com/news/local-news/...#ixzz2k3vwQOyV

[Urban Pioneer]

If they do go through with it, that would be unprecedented and I dare say not "fiscally responsible". But that's politics for you.

[LakeEffect]

If they do go through with it, that would be unprecedented and I dare say not "fiscally responsible". But that's politics for you.

Yeah, future DOT grants will dry up. Additionally, I don't understand how Cranley thinks asking for money to be re-allocated to an interchange will work. I believe others tried it and DOT said no. So incredibly backward - stopping urban revitalization and asking for money for a highway project that will enhance the ability of people to live outside Cincy...

[Urban Pioneer]

Cincinnati has a long history of failed projects, mismanagement, corruption, racism, and political dysfunction.

Political rhetoric can be a powerful thing. And Shadid is attempting to master a similar rhetorical strategy here. I would like to think that OKC voters are not as naive.

[betts]

Cincinnati has a long history of failed projects, mismanagement, corruption, racism, and political dysfunction.

Political rhetoric can be a powerful thing. And Shadid is attempting to master a similar rhetorical strategy here. I would like to think that OKC voters are not as naive.

This is a perfect example of why voter turnout is important. If people fail to vote because they assume their candidate will win, bad things can happen. A mayor who is willing to risk that kind of financial disaster for his city doesn't care about his constituents or the city. And, when you create a psychological divide between downtown and outlying neighborhoods, everyone loses. Imagine the anger this new mayor is generating in downtown residents and streetcar supporters. Imagine how his pet projects will be greeted by them. It sounds like they will have a divided city council as well. What a disaster for the city.

[PhiAlpha]

I can't believe you are saying this.

Do you not realize how much Mick has done for said image problem? I'm telling you, he's practically a deity among Mayors and people all around the world know more about OKC thanks to Mick than ANY OTHER MAYOR IN OKC HISTORY.

You talk about head in the sand... Sheesh.

Is it possible to actually get a good debate out of the Shadid supporters here? Every post so far has been either a ridiculous/snarky one liner with nothing to back it up, or a long diatribe that makes little sense, with no factual support. Krisb's posts were the closest to solid arguments, but still were mostly theoretical and lacked any real substance about how Shadid was actually going to change anything or do anything better than Cornett. Is this the best support that campaign has to offer?

[ABryant]

This is the way it will be here for a while. I'd like to ban the trolls, but they will go away after the election.

[Edgar]

I can't believe you are saying this.

Do you not realize how much Mick has done for said image problem? I'm telling you, he's practically a deity among Mayors and people all around the world know more about OKC thanks to Mick than ANY OTHER MAYOR IN OKC HISTORY.

You talk about head in the sand... Sheesh.

Have a hunch gay Oklahomans weren't feeling the love in the tv spot's from Mick's senate campaign.

[betts]

Any word out on the street that OKC isn't a great place to live if you're gay precisely because of the mayor we have? Unless Ed is gay himself and is going to personally add diversity, I doubt he'll impact much. You can't change hearts and minds of people who are anti-gay for religious or political reasons. The rest of us are pretty indifferent to orientation I predict. We look at how a candidate can impact the city. My closest gay friend (a liberal Democrat) is in Ed's ward, is furious at what he's tried to do with the streetcar and how he's run his campaign, and said he won't vote for him for mayor or city council. He's more interested in how he has acted than what his orientation is or how gay-friendly he is.

[Edgar]

Any word out on the street that OKC isn't a great place to live if you're gay precisely because of the mayor we have? Unless Ed is gay himself and is going to personally add diversity, I doubt he'll impact much. You can't change hearts and minds of people who are anti-gay for religious or political reasons. The rest of us are pretty indifferent to orientation I predict. We look at how a candidate can impact the city. My closest gay friend (a liberal Democrat) is in Ed's ward, is furious at what he's tried to do with the streetcar and how he's run his campaign, and said he won't vote for him for mayor or city council. He's more interested in how he has acted than what his orientation is or how gay-friendly he is.

Remember when Humphreys returned from vacation and ordered the Cimarron Alliance banners removed from light poles? A mayor can indeed make a difference.
Again, Ed is just being the adult in the room and asking the obvious questions that should have been asked in the planning phase.MAP3 wasn't ready for prime time and it angers people when Ed points it out. That's not his fault.

[Midtowner]

Have a hunch gay Oklahomans weren't feeling the love in the tv spot's from Mick's senate campaign.

One of my pet peeves--folks who use apostrophes to make things plural. Apostrophes indicate possessive.

But again, as to the content, who do you think is going to really care about an ad which will be about 10 years old when this election happens? I haven't even been able to find these commercials. Can you provide links?

[Edgar]

thankls for the spell check nanny

[betts]

Remember when Humphreys returned from vacation and ordered the Cimarron Alliance banners removed from light poles? A mayor can indeed make a difference.
Again, Ed is just being the adult in the room and asking the obvious questions that should have been asked in the planning phase.MAP3 wasn't ready for prime time and it angers people when Ed points it out. That's not his fault.

While I disagree with Humphrey's removal of the banners, do you think they negatively affected anyone's position on gay rights? The people who agreed with his action were satisfied, and they aren't changing their minds based on that action. The people who disagreed thought: "how dumb" and were miffed or angry. It didn't make anyone pro or anti-gay. And he's not the mayor we're voting on.

Ed is not just asking questions. He waffles on his positions. He's spreading misinformation, not offering solutions and he personally pulled some pretty dirty political tricks to try and block the streetcar. In other words, he has no respect for the voters and by inference, the democratic process. Which is no surprise since he hasn't bothered to vote on key city issues like MAPS.

[Edgar]

Tax Commission returns payments made by same-sex couples - Tulsa World: Government

[betts]

And that's the state doing that, not the city. The state has a much bigger impact on public perception of our state outside of Oklahoma than a mayor. That's a far bigger problem and an issue that Ed can't fix at the city level. How's he fixing anything anyway? I have yet to hear a workable solution. He thinks when he is elected the world will suddenly understand how diverse and wonderful we are. Magical thinking we call that in Pediatrics.

[Edgar]

And that's the state doing that, not the city. The state has a much bigger impact on public perception of our state outside of Oklahoma than a mayor. That's a far bigger problem and an issue that Ed can't fix at the city level. How's he fixing anything anyway? I have yet to hear a workable solution. He thinks when he is elected the world will suddenly understand how diverse and wonderful we are. Magical thinking we call that in Pediatrics.

Mick needs to do an event at the Farmers Market and then we can compare photos with ed's rally.

[Midtowner]

thankls for the spell check nanny

It wasn't a spell check. I'm guessing you do know that spelling and 3rd grade grammar are two different things?

You also failed to respond to the two questions: 1) What relevance does a 10-year-old commercial have in this race; and 2) Since none of us have seen the commercial in 10 years and apparently you have, I suppose you have a link?

[Midtowner]

Mick needs to do an event at the Farmers Market and then we can compare photos with ed's rally.

[Edgar]

It wasn't a spell check. I'm guessing you do know that spelling and 3rd grade grammar are two different things?

You also failed to respond to the two questions: 1) What relevance does a 10-year-old commercial have in this race; and 2) Since none of us have seen the commercial in 10 years and apparently you have, I suppose you have a link?

you're so learned Mid. wow, has it been ten years. You remember the spots pandering to intolerant Bible thumpers taking on marriage equality.

[Midtowner]

you're so learned Mid. wow, has it been ten years. You remember the spots pandering to intolerant Bible thumpers taking on marriage equality.

No, I really don't. If they exist, surely you could provide a link?

My own search came up dry on any commercial. I did find something attributed to a "GossipBoy" website which no longer exists citing some anonymous source in 2008 that the mayor was in talks with Steve Kern about advocating any books in public libraries containing gay themes be purged... and no named source will say that. Sounds like some wishful thinking.

[David]

Unless an actual video can be produced, I'm going to assume it's just yet another lie out of the Shadid campaign.

His campaign and his campaigners really need to stop lying.

[krisb]

“What do you mean you weren’t in those meetings? It’s a $120 million investment, what do you mean you weren’t in those meetings?" A chat with mayoral candidate Dr. Ed Shadid (Part 2) | Red Dirt Report

[Hutch]

And that's the state doing that, not the city. The state has a much bigger impact on public perception of our state outside of Oklahoma than a mayor. That's a far bigger problem and an issue that Ed can't fix at the city level. How's he fixing anything anyway? I have yet to hear a workable solution. He thinks when he is elected the world will suddenly understand how diverse and wonderful we are. Magical thinking we call that in Pediatrics.

MAGICAL THINKING

From Wikipedia:

"Magical thinking may lead people to believe that their thoughts by themselves can bring about effects in the world or that thinking something corresponds with doing it."

[Hutch]

A chat with mayoral candidate Dr. Ed Shadid (Part 2) | Red Dirt Report

“As soon as we win, the Chamber takes it to these companies and says, ‘Look who we just elected mayor. We are a ‘Big League City.’ We know the legislature is a one-party state legislature, but Oklahoma City is different. And this guy, his whole platform, a big part of his platform, is celebrating diversity and inclusion. That’s who we elected as mayor."

Magical Thinking

[David]

“What do you mean you weren’t in those meetings? It’s a $120 million investment, what do you mean you weren’t in those meetings?" A chat with mayoral candidate Dr. Ed Shadid (Part 2) | Red Dirt Report

So...was Shadid at those meetings either?