tfromtulsa, Tulsa (10/29/2009 6:52:49 PM)

Kitty's $7.2 million BAILOUT to BOK for ITS failed convoluted loan would have saved city jobs and the mounted patrol unit.

Kitty working for no salary has cost this city dearly.

She's nothing more than a crook.

soonerguy, Tulsa (10/29/2009 6:15:17 PM)

I just dont get it. All of these decisions by our city leadership are so short sighted.
How exactly are we making progress when we are selling assets (helicopter, horses and equip) that will cost us 5 times as much to buy back when we need them again. We are covering a short term budget lapse by liquidating assets only to create a larger budget issue for the future.

There have got to be better solutions.

soonerguy, Tulsa (10/29/2009 10:40:17 PM)

pissedtulsan, I would consider the jobs that you listed as essential personel. No one (that I have seen) is talking about cutting them. People are upset about secretaries, clerks, "personal assistants" etc. I think most citizens are grateful to those who do the work you described, just as they are they firemen and police.

Why doesn't the city rent out the two vacant floors in OTC for bargain prices? 96000 sq ft at cheap cheap price of $8 sq ft is $768,000. Stop trying to get $16-18 for it in this economy. If we don't rent it out WE have to come up with the difference!

Mar, Tulsa (10/29/2009 7:18:08 PM)

I agree with soonerguy, Observer3 and kilgore.trout and also ol city boy.

calloy, you don't throw the baby out with the bath water. It will be more costly to re-purchase horses and helicopters IF we are ever at a point where the city can afford them again.

I feel the leadership including the Mayor and City Council have been very shortsighted. There were plenty of areas to cut in the budget, besides the policemen, helicopter and horses. Perfect example is the Tulsa police that live in other towns taking Tulsa police cars home, that would save a lot of money. Also, several have mentioned about the City Hall glass cube being lit up like a Christmas tree at night. I live where I can see the building and I've seen it lit up all over late at night.

Also, I agree with others, the Mayor has way too many assistants. Hopefully whichever guy we end up with as Mayor will cut in half the amount of assistants.

Few Clothes, America (10/30/2009 10:06:30 AM)

Horses are vital to any police department. The APD uses them in downtown Austin to be present for the 6th Street weekends, downtown festivals, the ACL festivals. It's sad to see them go from the TPD department. Elusive is dead on pertaining to the criminals clapping their hands in glee. I pity those who will be robbed, killed, and wounded with all of the cuts.

calloy, T-town (10/29/2009 7:05:56 PM)

that's too bad. i'm sure the program will be reactivated when times improve. i think the cost is worth it, if tulsa can afford it. right now, we can't.

irwindale, Tulsa (10/29/2009 10:26:59 PM)

...and now she is pawning our stuff before she splits.

irwindale, Tulsa (10/30/2009 9:33:43 AM)

The Mayor is pawning our stuff. Notice how quick the horses were stolen.

my view, Sand Springs (10/29/2009 9:10:03 PM)

Having to sell the horses can be sum up in three words.

It's a shame.

my view, Sand Springs (10/29/2009 9:37:22 PM)

pissedtulsan,

Take a chill pill.

Rocketman, Tulsa (10/29/2009 5:43:38 PM)

So long Trigger. Horses are really good for public relations, too bad they had to go.

owen, Tulsa (10/30/2009 10:00:32 AM)

So I guess I missed pissedtulsan's comments. From the responses, I think it's just as well.
I'm with JLB--if donations are given, why not to keep the equestrian program?
Will our criminals be bolder now that they know we have no helicopters to search at night?

Bubba, Bixby (10/30/2009 3:23:55 PM)

"Disbanding the Mounted Patrol Unit is projected to save $51,000 this fiscal year"

How much will it cost to replace the program in 2 years?

Unjustified big ticket purchases due to "use it or lose it" budgets and a poorly managed purchasing department is about as much to blame for the City's financial issues as anything.

Webmeister, Tulsa (10/30/2009 1:48:11 PM)

Here's a money-making idea for the horses:

Is the VIGO dog food plant still open in Sand Springs??

Ric, Broken Arrow (10/30/2009 12:30:56 PM)

They should have kept the horse patrol, perfect for downtown.

GreyRoof, Tulsa (10/31/2009 10:47:34 AM)

I can't wait for her to get out of office. Hopefully she moves out ot Tulsa once she is out of office. Let her try and get police protection for her house once she's not the mayor.

Moses, Jenks (10/29/2009 5:46:51 PM)

What a shame.
These well trained, good looking horses and the police officers who rode them were a great asset to the community.
Every time I saw the mounted patrol there were people and kids gathered around them.
This may not seem like a big deal to some folks but I think the loss is greater than anyone can imagine.
Combine the loss of the mounted patrol with the loss of the police officers who were laid off and the loss of the two police helicopters and it is indeed a very sad time for the City of Tulsa.
There had to be a better way to handle this problem!

dustyoutlaw, Tulsa (10/29/2009 6:40:59 PM)

Mounted patrol are always necessary in crowd situation like at the BOK. This is utter stupidity. Way to go Taylor. Could have cut one aide and paid for those horses. But you didn't.

dustyoutlaw, Tulsa (10/29/2009 7:18:49 PM)

I think you're probably right JMB. This whole Taylor parting shots thing smacks of mutual dislike. But she and her husband will get that 50K a year each for sitting on the board of the new ballpark for the next 20 years. Two million parting gift to herself.

Elusive, the burbs (10/30/2009 2:01:50 AM)

I'm sure the criminals are happy to learn the helicopter is gone. What a stupid move.

JLB, Tulsa (10/30/2009 9:01:59 AM)

Why not let the foundation donate $ 51,000.00 and keep the horses. That is what they say it costs to have them. Really, that's not much in the scheme of things. That's less than 1% of the cuts. How idiotic to think that would make a difference.

ranay22, Ponca City (10/30/2009 2:19:16 PM)

Why is that Webmeister? You hungry? They way everyone is talking, I don't think I want to step foot in Tulsa...

T5000, 'burbs, Ok. (10/30/2009 8:36:42 AM)

It's nice to see Ol' Paint won't be sent to the glue factory.

Skeptic, Tulsa (10/30/2009 10:24:10 PM)

"Legal arrangements prevent the officers from adopting them"

We let officers take their police cars filled with thousands of dollars of equipment home with them at night. Yet we won't let them "adopt" a horse. Common sense is extinct.

Thunder196, Tulsa (10/30/2009 3:11:55 AM)

I said when she was running for office, no one does anything for free. How do you like what she has cost Tulsa? She now goes merrily along her millionaire way. The little man gets the unemployment line, and she leaves the safety of the people in shambles.
.
She didn't run for re-election for a reason. She knew what was coming financially.
.
I have no problem saying, she played this city like a fine tuned fiddle. I told you so.