Ed Shadid Launches Formal Attack on MAPS 3 Conv Center in tandem with Mayoral Bid

[betts]

It will certainly be an interesting experience. It will not only be a vote on a MAPS project but also a referendum on what direction citizens want the city to go.

And true to form, Ed throws a lie in. There's no CC hotel in MAPS.

[Laramie]

Dr. Shadid is running a risky campaign going up against MAPS. He's putting the City's future at risk. It's obvious that he doesn't have any real platform to run on so he's using what was the least popular and most costly item on MAPS III.

The new downtown convention center/hotel will keep Oklahoma City in competition with cities like Memphis, Albuquerque and Omaha which are getting second looks by conventioneer planners.


Memphis, Tennessee


Albuquerque, New Mexico


Omaha, Nebraska

We are not going to be able to compete for Tier II type conventions without the needed convention center exhibition space & facilities and the continued building of quality downtown hotels. We are missing out on what cities like Atlanta & Dallas have enjoyed--an influx of out-of-state money building the local economy.

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ... as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[kevinpate]

Yeah, but if you were a challenger to a fairly popular mayor, what would you want folks talking about:

(a) personal issues that some feel the challenger tended to misstate downplay and/or mischaracterize

(b) an apparent lack of a coherent plan to move the city forward, other than lead a fuss about better bus shelters.

(c) the fairly decent national and local reputation of the incumbent

(d) a streetcar system that as a council candidate the challenger said one thing, then did another as a member of council, including some tactics not typically seen regarding MAPs issues

(e) a convention center, that was never majorly popular to begin with, with a few paranoid accusations tossed on about a non existent hotel commitment of hundreds of millions to help generate a feeding frenzy.

And hey, guess what's been the primary conversation for a few weeks. Ya know, his handlers may not be quite the rubes they were appearing to be a while back.

[betts]

Denver has done very nicely with primarily regional events. We don't necessarily even need to shoot for national conventions. I think what the CC promoters need to avoid is too much hyperbole. Is the Cox an acceptable venue for our city going forward? If we don't build a new convention center with MAPS 3 money, we're looking at a 2030+ completion date, even if it got put on a MAPS 4 ballot and passed. Might we lose what regional business we now enjoy if other comparable cities are building newer convention centers? As I've said, the Cox is pretty shabby. I'd be embarrassed if a friend of mine wrote me and said s/he was coming to a convention here. I'm proud of the changes that have occurred in our downtown and I'd be excited to show them off. But, to me, the Cox Center is indicative of what we were in the 70s and 80s, not what we are becoming in this century. That's why I've done an about face and am now in favor of building a new convention center with existing MAPS money. If it comes to a vote, I'll be voting in favor of a new building. I'll still withhold judgement on the hotel, but that was never what we voted on to begin with and Ed's vote isn't about a hotel either. It's about stopping a project that was democratically approved by the people for his theoretical political gain. He doesn't care about a new bus system. If he did, he would understand what he's doing. He clearly doesn't care about passing future tax measures, because what he is doing is instilling mistrust in city government and in civic projects. All he cares about is getting elected. Good luck with that, Ed.

[Midtowner]

I think it's a mistake to talk about the CC as if we're doing it to make money. Any major city, major capitol city, needs a convention center. It's a gathering place for the community. It's a place where we graduate from high schools and sometimes college. It's a place where our businesses can meet. It'll host all kinds of events that the Cox just isn't able to do. When I think of the fact that Bricktown will be walkable, I start to think that this convention center is going to be more attractive than a lot of those I've been to which tend to be a little isolated.

[GaryOKC6]

We could have used the new convention center today at the Mayor's State of the City luncheon. There were over 1600 there. Ed should have gone. Maybe he would have picked up some pointers on how to have a good turn out.

[mkjeeves]

We could have used the new convention center today at the Mayor's State of the City luncheon. There were over 1600 there. Ed should have gone. Maybe he would have picked up some pointers on how to have a good turn out.

Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce? Did I read that right earlier today?

[GaryOKC6]

Yes. 1250.00 per corporate table.

[mkjeeves]

Sounds cozy.

[GaryOKC6]

it was kind of tight.

[mkjeeves]

How was the food?

[GaryOKC6]

I was actually good considering the number of people that they fed. It was one of the better meals that I had at a large event. I could not tell you what it was called though. I was a chicken breast cut up over rice and other ingredients.

[mkjeeves]

I had lunch with my wife, a subway sandwich and a bowl of chili for me, $20 with the tip for both of us. I win.

Can you tell me the history of the State of the City speech. This seems like kind of an odd arrangement, or is this the usual one?

[GaryOKC6]

This is an annual event that the Mayor presents. It started with Ron Norrick I believe..

[mkjeeves]

Always with the same group?

[GaryOKC6]

No I noticed that the crowd was mixed and a lot of young professionals.

[mkjeeves]

I meant always hosted by the Chamber. I'd think it kind of odd if the president of the US always gave the State of the Union at the Chamber of Commerce. I guess that was never the point of the State of the City, to be similar.

[GaryOKC6]

It was at the Cox center and was a Chamber event. It is typically a good presentation on what is coming down the pipeline for OKC. The table sponsors were all types of companies and I noticed several new companies that were all a younger crowd (30ish). There we lots of accolades on OKC from various national publications. I am sure that the video will be posted somewhere out there soon.

[mkjeeves]

I think I read it will be on the Chamber's website today or tomorrow.

[betts]

2014 State of the City: Mayor Mick Cornett address

[mkjeeves]

How's that working out for you? Where is the Oklahoman on reporting on the Town Hall?

Bill is still working on it.

No reporting of the town hall beforehand. No timely reporting after the event. That's an editorial position, as opposed to presenting the news.

No surprise.

[Edgar]

No reporting of the town hall beforehand. No timely reporting after the event. That's an editorial position, as opposed to presenting the news.

No surprise.

DOK investigative journalism found no sordid details in HS's past.

[PhiAlpha]

No reporting of the town hall beforehand. No timely reporting after the event. That's an editorial position, as opposed to presenting the news.

No surprise.

At least you and Edgar are consistent. When in doubt, attack the Oklahoman. Maybe they didn't report on it because it was completely insignificant and rehashes everything that was argued and decided 4 YEARS AGO. Just because Village Idiot Shadid brings it up again and is trying to get a revote (like every other MAPS Project...noticing a pattern?), doesn't make it worth reporting. Here's to hoping Shadid gets shamed out of OKC politics next month. His lunacy is starting to rival this guy's:

[mkjeeves]

We decided four years ago to build a hotel? I thought that was still up for current and future debate. Guess not.

You might want to tell the DOK to stop talking about it, they haven't gotten the word yet.

[catch22]

Where do you keep bringing a hotel in to this?

We never voted on a hotel, and a hotel is not being built. What is the major malfunction?

At some point in the future, the city may want to pay for a hotel, but that will be up to a vote of the people. Again, what is the malfunction?