MAPS 3 Public Process Needs Correction
October 24th, 2009
CITY CHARGES FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS?
Something is clearly wrong with the ongoing MAPS 3 public process and I know I am not the only one who has noticed. The public meetings promised over the summer didn’t happen and now we come to find out that the MAPS 3 press conferences promised to start in October are ticketed events that cost regular citizens (i.e. “nonmembers”) thirty-five dollars to attend. I would like to think that these ticketed luncheons are not the promised public meetings, but according to the Mayor’s Assistant David Holt, they are! I am honestly dumbfounded – my beloved city has resorted to charging for public meetings?
It is clear that the MAPS 3 public process is in need of correction. One can only hope that major changes are made in the next six weeks and that sincere gestures of public engagement are seen both before and after the December 8th vote.
Links to the sources displayed above:
9/17 Mayor and Council announce MAPS 3 proposal
10/22 Luncheons ‘map’ Oklahoma City’s tax plan details
October 24th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
This was in reply to a comment on another message board. Apparently certain “members” of the city have been made aware of and invited to attend public meetings, but I cannot find any record that these meetings were publicized. As it happens, the gentleman that notified me of the meeting, is a member of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce.
Posted by joseph:
“I attended a free public meeting a couple of weeks ago at Douglas High School where the Mayor spoke and there was many questions answered about the projects”
I have searched the City’s MAPS 3 website (okc.gov/maps3), YESforMAPS.org, done a number of google searches for a variety of terms looking for a schedule of public meetings. I even subscribe to the twitter accounts for the OKC Chamber, YESforMAPS, the City of Oklahoma City, and Mayor Mick Cornett – but nothing was announced. If the meetings are listed anywhere, they are incredibly hard to find. I am honestly not trying to create something out of nothing, I am simply commenting on the reality that exists.
Would you mind telling me how you found out about the meeting at Douglas? It seems like the City’s MAPS 3 website should list the meeting(s) somewhere, but it ostensibly does not (see here).
I spent the better part of the last 12 months researching the history of planning and development in Oklahoma City, and the current tactics closely resemble those that led to some of our City’s most stunning failures.
October 25th, 2009 at 12:11 am
Blair,
Looks like you’re getting hot and bothered! Welcome to the club.
About prior public notice of the Chamber’s luncheon on 10/21, after learning about it after the fact, I looked closely in the Oklahoman’s archives to see if I’d missed something but I could find no reference. While I wouldn’t say that it was secret (since it was a well attended Chamber sponsored luncheon in the Skirvin), prior public publicity (as far as I’ve been able to determine) did not occur. If it did, it was certainly not in the Chamber’s regular or MAPS3 websites or the city’s MAPS 3 websites, and I found nothing about the meeting in the Oklahoman’s archives, until after the fact.
On the other hand, I’ve now been given a link by David Holt which identifies the Chamber’s website which presents the streaming video presentation presented that date on both the Oklahoman’s and Chamber’s websites, and I’m in the process of putting together a new “MAPS 3 News” blog article now which will include it the presentations made at that time. If you want to look at that streaming video before I’m done working up that article, it is here: http://www.okcchamber.com/page.asp?atomid=1954
The mode of 10/21/09 meeting was essentially identical to Chamber presentations concerning the March 4 Ford Center vote … not a criticism at all since they were very well put together. Only the characters were different …. and, in truth (now having closely reviewed the streaming video), the meeting was very well done. Taking the place of Rich Horrow was Joe Jacobi as the sports speaker; in fact, he was was probably the most engaging speaker at the event. As to the event itself, like the March 4 vote’s counterpart, it was essentially speakers preaching to the choir and urging the choir to get busy and get out the vote.
Now, I need to take a close look at that crazy map you put together.
October 25th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Thanks Doug. Appreciate your continued role as “journalist by default.” I believe the majority – probably a full 100% – of those in attendance at the Chamber luncheon were invited in advance. I don’t see how anyone could have discovered the meeting based on the information that was available. I have Google Alerts setup for “MAPS 3″, in all of its possible configurations, and didn’t see anything come through on it.
Further, if the city wants to claim, contrary to what the Mayor’s Asst. David Holt has indicated to you, that the Douglas High School meeting was instead the first of the 3 press conferences, why was it not publicized anywhere on the City’s website? Further, why was there nothing after the meeting produced to let people know what was said and what new “details” were announced.
October 25th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
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October 25th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Wow. As one who has spent my entire career monitoring public opinion, predicting trends and sometimes, if all else failed, holding my wet finger to the wind to see which direction things were going, I must say, having Blair Humphreys, CGHill and Doug Loudenback taking issue this early in the MAPS3 process is stunning. Am I the only one stunned by this? Things are about to get very interesting as bloggers flex a collective muscle. Thanks for making me aware.
October 26th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Hey Jen –
I remain in favor of MAPS 3, but question the lack of public participation and fear the problem will continue during the implementation phase following a successful MAPS 3 vote. There are currently a number flaws with the prevailing thinking on the projects and their location. If these issues are not addressed, then the City may suffer as a result.
Plus, people just deserve a chance to be a part of the process. That is what makes America great!
October 26th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Blair-
I am not a news publication nor am I affiliated with the Chamber or City’s Web site but the luncheon was posted on the Chamber’s Web site that morning (as I looked to ensure the timing of the luncheon). I also tweeted about it (which you follow but I understand if you could have missed) but I am commenting on here not as a retort or argument but simply to inform you that Mayor Cornett is also speaking at the Bricktown Rotary tonight at 5:30 (not sure of the content of the speech but I’m sure you could find out if you wanted), and also the second installment of the MAPS 3 Chamber lunch will be this Thursday at the Petroleum Club this Thursday at 11:30-1 http://www.okcchamber.com/page.asp?atomid=632 with the third luncheon on Nov 16.
Hope I’ve given you enough “heads-up” and look forward to seeing you at of these meetings.
October 26th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Thanks Casey! I do appreciate the heads up. I have watched the Chamber luncheon video and appreciate that it was posted on their website. There is still a problem though, in that, citizens that wish to ask questions are forced to either pay $35 or attend one of the other free events that have not, to date, been publicized by the City of Oklahoma City or the Yes For MAPS campaign. It might be beneficial, and would certainly be appreciated, if both sites added a calendar of events to keep citizens informed about any opportunity to attend a public meeting on MAPS 3. Hopefully we will have figured out how to keep people informed for the post-vote public meetings regarding the planning and implementation of the projects.
November 2nd, 2009 at 5:19 pm
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