Those in favor of the Maps 3 campaign "Yes for Maps" include 7 city councilman, current Mayor Mick Cornett, and former mayors Kirk Humphreys, Ron Norick, Andy Coates and Jim Norick. Governor Brad Henry and Governor Frank Keating also endorse Maps 3.
Those that oppose Maps 3 include a handful of misguided citizens and one city politician, councilman Brian Walters.
Those opposing the MAPS 3 initiative try to make people believe that there are others that are in favor of their side other than their greedy unions (and they are probably right) but how do others show their appreciation? By giving a hefty $250. Unions gave $120,000.
Businesses have contributed over $220,000 in favor of "Yes for Maps" money. http://newsok.com/three-maps-3-campaigns-file-fundraising-reports/article/3421660?custom_click=lead_story_title
The Union bosses for anti-Maps coming from the Police and Fire have been clamoring from the beginning that they need more public safety employed to help the cause...but when the union negotiations began (by Union bosses that live in Newcastle and Norman) none of their demands dealt with more public safety...http://www.okcfriday.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=92&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=4566&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1079&hn=okcfriday&he=.com
again...greedy. Do our police officers and fire fighters deserve the respect they receive? Absolutely they do. They also are shown that by the city by being paid well with early retirement packages and 5 days off at a time.
Oh, and the average fireman makes $77,000 and the average police officer makes $75,000 (read discussions on it here, http://bit.ly/8oydFS), not bad considering the median income of an ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD in OKC is $32,656. "INCOME: The median income of households in Oklahoma City city, Oklahoma County pt. was $32,656. Seventy-eight percent of the households received earnings and 16 percent received retirement income other than Social Security. Twenty-four percent of the households received Social Security. The average income from Social Security was $11,893." - www.census.gov
Recently, those supporting the Anti-Maps coalition vandalized public property with spray paint...causing more OKC employees to work through the very cold morning yesterday causing more OKC budget money being spent...way to think that one through.
Another reason the opposition tries to express their anger at the world is to try to have the voter tricked into thinking the $777m estimate is not going to happen...what they're not telling you (probably because they don't know and/or don't care) is that when the MAPS for KIDS estimate was set at $512m, it was set pre 9/11, set pre ".com" bust...set in a recession and ended in a recession and in the end what did it raise?? $514m...and they aren't telling you the same people used to get that $512m estimate are the same people that set the $777m estimate.
The anti-Maps act as if there is a good reason for them to cheer on their pessimism and negative attitudes...all I see are reasons to cheer on what OKC has come from the past couple decades.
The vote, if passed, will keep OKC's sales tax the SAME as they are currently, 8.375%. Want to know how that compares to other city's around here?
Warr Acres 8.5%
Nichols Hills 8.5%
The Village 8.5%
Bethany 8.5%
Yukon 8.85%
Mustang 8.85%
So, if you feel OKC has done well with our metro low 8.375% then vote "YES"
"Downtown is dead, and we helped kill it." - Former City Councilman I.G. Purser
The above phrase was the overall feeling of the citizens back on that April day of 1988. The anti-MAPS people have tried with much energy to make you think we are still living in that era. We most definitely don't. Take a few minutes to read who Oklahoma City is now and read that quote inbetween each article:
"Most recession-proof city in the country" http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/29/cities-recession-places-forbeslife-cx_jz_0429realestate.html
"#1 place to launch a small business" http://money.cnn.com/smallbusiness/best_places_launch/2009/snapshot/241.html
Need visual assurance our city is headed in the right direction? How about this photo of California Avenue before and after... http://twitpic.com/s0lmp
Do NOT let misinformation from the opposition sway your vote. I have provided sourced materials for you to double check what I've said and if you want to investigate further please check out all these other links to better educate your vote.
When you get to the ballot box on Tuesday, side with the people that have brought this city back to the place you're proud of...not the Union bosses that don't even live here. This is your city, not theirs. Prove that this Tuesday.
How did we get here??? MAPS. Keep it going. Vote "Yes" on Tuesday.
