Credit: Shannon Cornman That push comes in the wake of the city’s 99 homicides last year, an increase of 41 compared to a total of 58 in 2011 and 56 the year before. And while it’s too soon to read too much into that jump, violent crime does appear to be in an upward trend, […]
budget
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The federal Titanic is sinking
This is an apt analogy for our nation’s current fiscal crisis. Because of an accounting gimmick where governments pretend future liabilities don’t exist and, therefore, don’t account for them, most Americans don’t know how big the problem really is. The amount typically reported, nearly $16 trillion, is actually only the surface of our debt. According […]
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Point: Slow down on ODOT funding
One of the few exceptions to the hard times is the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Following a long stretch in which state investment in roads and bridges remained virtually flat, the Legislature in 2005 created the ROADS (Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety) fund. Revenues for this fund come directly from personal income tax collections, […]
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Counterpoint: Roads funding is critical
Over the past six years, the Legislature, along with Gov. Mary Fallin and former Gov. Brad Henry, have rightfully positioned transportation as a core priority. Oklahomans should be thankful. Recently the Oklahoma Policy Institute questioned the investment that the Oklahoma Department of Transportation has received in recent years. Yes, transportation has received marked appropriation increases […]
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Mileage may vary
During the MAPS 3 Trails and Sidewalks subcommittee meeting yesterday morning, MAPS staff told subcommittee members that out of 131 alignments for city sidewalks, the program would be able to build an estimated 31 of those, spread out over two phases and at a cost of $6.8 million in MAPS 3 funds. The entire project […]
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Term of art
Robbie Kienzle, the Planning Department’s former head of urban development, started in the new role last month. The post oversees public-art spending, which is required by a 2009 City Council-approved plan that sets aside 1 percent of construction expenses for public art. In addition, she will oversee the city Arts Commission, coordinate activities with local […]
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Positive predicament
Jim Couch addresses city council. Credit: Shannon Cornman The expected surplus comes from the estimated 3 percent growth the city will see over the next fiscal year following higher-than-anticipated sales tax collections in May and June. The City Council on June 12 adopted the city’s $951 million 2012- 13 budget, and it was agreed that […]
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Get on the Sunday bus
Lauren Branch Mikayla Holden Incredible things are happening in every corner of Oklahoma City, but — despite the new restaurants, revitalized neighborhoods, art festivals and more — our community comes up short in one vital aspect of city life: public transportation. In my work as president and CEO of NewView Oklahoma, formerly the Oklahoma League […]
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Taxing measures
Oklahoma City Finance Director Craig Freeman Mark Hancock Under a proposed ordinance introduced at the May 15 City Council meeting, a first offense for a business owner’s failure to remit sales tax would go from a Class B offense — which allows for a jury trial and has maximum penalties of six months in jail […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Dark Crimes
Among the 50 titles here — yes, 50 — are some genuine classics, such as 1950’s D.O.A., Edward G. Robinson in 1947’s The Red House and Samuel Fuller’s The Naked Kiss, but I don’t recommend picking up this massive set for those three, as much better prints can be found from, respectively, Image Entertainment, Film Chest […]