Around 675 people showed up, according to event organizers, filling the Grand Ballroom of the Oklahoma City Marriott Hotel. Speakers included city officials — Shadid, City Manager Jim Couch, Police Chief Bill Citty, Fire Chief Keith Bryant, Planning Director Russell Claus, Public Works Director Eric Wenger, Public Transportation and Parking Director Rick Cain and Utilities […]
Ed Shadid
Posted inNews
Sprawl, y’all
“Sprawl: OKC’s Unique 621 Square Mile Permutation” is a free public meeting slated from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, in the Grand Ballroom of the Oklahoma City Marriott, 3233 Northwest Expressway. “OKC is virtually alone among cities in terms of attempting to provide municipal services to such a large geographic area,” said Ward […]
Posted inNews
Ambulance alert
Stephen Williamson (pictured), president of EMSA, made a presentation before the Oklahoma City Council at its Aug. 16 meeting, and told the body that the city would be better served by sticking with the current ambulance service provider. EMSA’s response comes about one month after Oklahoma City Fire Chief Keith Bryant made a presentation to […]
Posted inNews
Shadid’s ‘sacrifice’
Central Oklahoma should be proud and thankful to have an astute individual in the person of Dr. Ed Shadid on the Oklahoma City Council. I don’t personally know him; nor have I talked to him. We need and should encourage differing opinions from the council members. From what I can gather, this spine surgeon gains […]
Posted inNews
‘Line in the sand’
The measure, authored by Ward 2 Councilman Ed Shadid (pictured right) and Ward 4 Councilman Pete White, failed in a 4-5 vote. Ward 7 Councilman Ronald “Skip” Kelly and Ward 5 Councilman David Greenwell joined Shadid and White in voting to approve the measure. Shadid criticized The Oklahoman at the meeting. Prior to the citywide […]
Posted inNews
Crossed wires
Shadid said he plans on introducing the measure in place of a joint resolution that was considered and deferred at the May 31 council meeting. That resolution would have required certain contracts be subject to at least three public meetings before eligible for a vote. Councilman Pete White spoke in support of the majority of […]
Posted inNews
Overcoming Momentum’s legacy
Federal law shielded disclosure of contributor names. Many became alarmed about secret committees influencing election outcomes, including this writer. This organization’s basic tactic was fear — fear that a candidate was too liberal, too conservative or not conservative or liberal enough. The bitter election is over, but Momentum’s legacy finds a present home in some […]
Posted inNews
CFN Quote of the Week
“It’s also an economic development issue. As we recruit companies like Boeing and others, trust me, there are large amounts of gay and lesbian employees in all of these organizations, and they want to know that Oklahoma City celebrates its diversity, that Oklahoma is going to protect all of its population. And I think that […]
Posted inNews
Grand proposal
Two major issues of the MAPS 3 program are likely to come up for approval at the July 5 Oklahoma City Council meeting: a proposed project timeline and a proposed site for the future convention center. While the timeline was discussed at a council meeting earlier in June, the body, which was divided on its […]
Posted inNews
Shadid’s surge
Shadid faced opponent Charlie Swinton, senior vice president and registered lobbyist for BancFirst, in the runoff for the council seat being vacated by outgoing Councilman Sam Bowman, who decided not to run for another term. The runoff election was the result of the March 1 primary race, which featured six candidates in the Ward 2 […]