Jay Cronley: Vision2 plan is the prune of Tulsa's eye
BY JAY CRONLEY World Staff Columnist
Friday, August 10, 2012
8/10/12 at 5:28 AM
The chief reason I voted for Vision 2025 was because of the BOK Center.
Lots of people were against it. Lots of people are against everything. Many said that they would never set foot in a wasteful monstrosity that would serve a relative few, saying it was far too late to try to copy Oklahoma City.
And how many of those who voted no have seen great shows at the building they were born to hate?
The BOK Center has far exceeded expectations.
It is the focal point of a still-growing and gawky new downtown.
Old folks and regularity: True, many of the showcase acts to appear at the BOK Center feature older folks still singing their greatest hits about teenage love. What great memories, - not only the audience, but the singers as well, recalling the lyrics.
But it's not their fault that the average performer age for the top shows is in the grandparent range. It's because there are few truly great younger acts. If it's Tuesday, it must be Tulsa. Many of the biggest shows are weeknights. But the BOK Center has improved the quality of day and night life here.
To compare Vision 2025 with the new proposal on the landscape, Vision2, is a little like comparing apples and prunes. There doesn't seem to be a lot of fun taking place inside the new proposal. It's almost like it's time to take our medicine.
Mr. Bubble meets Dueling Banjos: They're bound and determined to make part of the river a bubble bath. With Bell's gone, there's probably a market for paddling Made- leine in circles.
Whereas nobody wants a river like the Chattooga running through it - that was the river in "Deliverance" - there's something soothing about a natural body of water making and running its course.
Isn't there more to turning a river into a party site than wishing for it? Aren't there varieties of wildlife and environmentalists and hygienists to be considered?
The ton of money aimed at the airport raises questions about the practice of helping private companies in money trouble.
Would other businesses that are good for the city and need something like a new roof qualify for visionary bread?
Fifty million would be set aside for deal closing.
Bedroom communities would get big money for projects.
What projects?
We're not talking about something that could be put forward in the next year or two.
We're talking about something that has to be ready next month.
This feels fast-forwarded.
Talk fast.
Original Print Headline: Vision2: Here, have a prune
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