Oklahoma City is blessed with one of the best city governments in the nation On Jan. 27, the filing period opens for Oklahoma City’s primary election for City Council positions in Wards 2, 5, 6 and 8. Most of the incumbent council members are expected to seek re-election, but Ward 2 Councilman Sam Bowman has […]
Bill Bleakley
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There should be no doubt about 744
You’ve heard a lot by now: “It’s all for the kids.” “We’re going to be a contender.” “We’ll go from No. 47 to head of the line, nationally.” All that’s missing is the Music Man saying, “Right here in River City!” The National Education Association, with its million-dollar ad campaign, teamed up with the Oklahoma […]
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Choosing a congressman
The 5th District congressional race could be decided prior to the general election in November. Because of the district’s registration and voting history, the next representative will most likely be a Republican. Among the seven Republican candidates for the seat, three appear to have the campaign funding and organization to be viable contenders. They are […]
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Oklahomans, let’s declare our independence!
It’s time to let registered independents in Oklahoma vote in the primary elections. According to the results of a recent SoonerPoll.com survey reported elsewhere in this newspaper, almost two-thirds of Oklahoma’s registered voters agree with this proposal. That includes more than half of the Republicans, nearly two-thirds of the Democrats and almost all of the […]
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A call for civility
One of the things that makes Oklahoma City a great city is the friendliness and cordiality of its citizens. However, aside from partisan elections for political office, this MAPS election seems to have developed a particularly vitriolic tone. As the MAPS 3 election approaches this Tuesday, we must make an extra effort to be civil […]
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Gazette at 30
When Oklahoma Gazette’s first issue came off the press in October 1979, Oklahoma City was a much different place than it is now. Much of the ’70s was rough on Oklahoma City. Instead of working on a rational plan of school desegregation, a recalcitrant board of education said “hell no” and got court-ordered busing. Integration […]
Posted inNews
Gazette at 30
When Oklahoma Gazette’s first issue came off the press in October 1979, Oklahoma City was a much different place than it is now. Much of the ’70s was rough on Oklahoma City. Instead of working on a rational plan of school desegregation, a recalcitrant board of education said “hell no” and got court-ordered busing. Integration […]
Posted inNews
Time is running out for city schools
It’s been a long wait for things to change in the city schools. After desegregation’s “white flight” devastated the district 40 years ago, many citizens have toiled through the years to rebuild the district. Nearly a decade ago, MAPS for Kids was organized, generating close to a billion dollars to rebuild the district’s aging infrastructure, […]
Posted inNews
Time is running out for city schools
It’s been a long wait for things to change in the city schools. After desegregation’s “white flight” devastated the district 40 years ago, many citizens have toiled through the years to rebuild the district. Nearly a decade ago, MAPS for Kids was organized, generating close to a billion dollars to rebuild the district’s aging infrastructure, […]
Posted inNews
MAPS in perspective
The seeds of the future successes of the MAPS initiatives were planted 24 years ago in the summer of 1985. While Oklahoma City languished from an oil bust, two initiatives sought to change things for the better. First was a citizens group for in-depth public opinion polling on what voters thought were the city’s problems, […]