Angry Citizen!, Bluejacket (11/9/2009 8:36:33 AM)

With a budget the size of Tulsa's, it is very strange that infrastructure is crumbling, and there's no money for police and fire. Jenks, Owasso, and Broken Arrow seem to be doing well. I suppose the city has taken on so many "projects" that they've forgotten their basic responsibilities to the citizenry.

my view, Sand Springs (11/9/2009 9:21:04 AM)

All I can say is if you want more of the same, elect Adelson for mayor. If I was living in Tulsa I would cast my vote for Mark Perkins.

JCash, Tulsa (11/9/2009 8:30:56 AM)

Carl,

I don't know how you do things in Henryetta but here in Tulsa we like to spend all of our city money buying stuff we can't afford....then lay off police officers. We try to send the message the message to everyone, even those in Henryetta, that "less is more."

That is, LESS police officers means MORE crime.

Barleybaby, Tulsa (11/9/2009 10:42:33 AM)

Kathy's three card monte is her final shot for Tulsa. The porkulus money was for 18 additional officers and she figured out how to make the funds for the city budget instead. Bait and switch at the very least. Shame on you. Mr. Perkins has both votes in our household.

Hijinx, (11/9/2009 11:18:51 AM)

I can sympathize with the cops family’s who were cut. But, I also sympathize with the thousands around the area who have lost jobs thru no fault of their own also. Many for the same reasons as above like the Mayors apparent short slightness. Yet I don’t see letters on here daily from Joe the plumber or Phil punch clock whining like I do from the cops. What’s done is done, get over it and move on. There are jobs right here in the World for security for 12 bucks or more. With uniforms and you can still carry your firearm. But you may have to drive your own car.

peelumba, (11/9/2009 7:00:39 AM)

they were laid off because their leadership wants things their way only.

Thunder196, Tulsa (11/9/2009 9:27:32 AM)

You forgot the mirrors she probably proudly adores those glass slippers in. Kathy Taylor loves to purchase things with other peoples sweat and blood.

loudshirt, (11/9/2009 9:43:10 PM)

To answer how the suburbs pay the bills and Tulsa cant. Simple if you look at most development in the greater Tulsa area it is in the suburbs. The only things built in Tulsa the last couple years has been BOK center, which has done better than projected, and the new ballpark. You can say what you want about needing those things. The way I understand it is that the city's "General Fund" which is used to pay for Police and Fire is tied to sales tax revenue. So if nothing new is built to increase sales tax revenue then the budget can not get any larger. Also to help your understanding of Municipal finances think of it as a whole bunch of gift cards. One goes to one store one goes to another. You can only buy things from the store the cards go to. If all the city's money was in one big pot then the police and fire departments would have to compete with TPS for money. TPS would have to compete with street repairs. TPD officers and many other city workers have helped create this budget problem and dont even realize it. Not they way alot of people have suggested simply driving a car home is only part of the issue. By living outside of Tulsa and shopping outside of Tulsa those city employees have helped with the budget shortfalls.

J C OK, Tulsa County (11/9/2009 11:16:28 PM)

This lady was not saying her husband or father lost their jobs. SHE WAS JUST speaking her mind about the lay off of others.

Ron B, (11/9/2009 4:24:48 PM)

Tulsa Mayor, kathy taylor, was more interested in getting a new office than keeping promised she made while running for office. When a politician makes a promise when running for office you need to multiply it by 0.1 to see what they might deliver. It was a self-perpetuating problem. As crime increased, due to lack of officers, many people moved out of Tulsa to other cities nearby. This caused a drop in sales tax revenue, making it impossible to pay officers. It will take a long time and better leaders to ever fix Tulsa's problems.

DBJohn, Tulsa (11/9/2009 9:07:17 AM)

Very good letter and so true.

Carl, Henryetta (11/9/2009 7:37:32 AM)

"So pardon my frustration with a leadership that does not value those who make such sacrifices for Tulsa".
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does that mean that you believe that if they don't get anything and everything they demand, they're not "valued"?