Letters to the Editor

The Union Station debate brought rail transit to the forefront of public and political awareness. While the matter involved saving a rail yard, of greater importance was changing our mindset and joining peer cities in the 21st century of public transportation. More importantly, it was about ensuring our economic future. The rail yard issue is […]

As a lifelong resident, I too would love to have all the things that MAPS 3 promises. However, the city leaders do not want to pay for the services that a growing city like ours requires. I have been an OKC firefighter for 15 years. Our department has decreased in number since I began my […]

Mayor Mick Cornett says if we pass MAPS 3 we will not have a tax increase. But if we do not pass MAPS 3 and six months later we pass the inevitable MAPS 4, will that be a tax increase? Or, will our taxes decrease if we do not pass MAPS 3? Congressional candidate and […]

A city’s public investments are a reflection of its social priorities. Oklahoma City has a history of deliberately supporting highway-induced suburban sprawl and a car-dependent culture. With the poorest one-fifth spending more than 30 percent of their budget on automobiles, the necessity of car ownership is a poverty trap in this community. Our unreliable and […]

The American Institute of Architects, Central Oklahoma is a professional organization committed to serving the community and the profession by promoting excellence in, and public awareness of, the built environment through quality architecture. AIA believes that we are impacted daily by our built environment, and this is why the American Institute of Architects, Central Oklahoma […]

In response to Wanda Jo Stapleton’s letter “Questioning Progress” (Nov. 18) ” yes, Wanda Jo, yes it is. It may not be the progress you envisioned in the past, but those railway battles have been fought, that war has been waged, and (cue salient metaphor) that train’s already left the station.   The planned regional transit […]

I’m responding to Avis Scaramucci’s letter praising MAPS 3 (‘A Vote of Confidence,’ Nov. 25). Domer and Phil Scaramucci and their wives, Janis and Avis, apparently have a close working relationship with Mayor Mick Cornett, chief proponent of MAPS 3. That family has contributed $17,800 to Cornett’s two campaigns for mayor and one campaign for […]

Planners of the first MAPS sales tax projects launched new pride in our city’s appearance, development and national reputation. The problem is that sales taxes always fall most heavily upon middle-income and lower-income families, while benefits of MAPS projects ” particularly the proposals for MAPS 3 ” all feed the investment dreams of Oklahoma City’s […]

My mother, who died in 2004, was aware of the things poor families needed. So throughout the year she would look out for useful, “poor family things” at garage sales and thrift stores. I remember her excitement at buying a set of knives, spoons and forks ” all for just 25 cents. At the end […]

The MAPS 3 proposal provides a substantive, responsible first step toward a comprehensive regional transit system. If there is any one element in MAPS that is truly and defiantly “citizen initiated,” it is the MAPS transit proposal. Undoubtedly, for many years, grassroots activism has surrounded the desire for a workable local and commuter transit system. […]