Not only is Devon Energy’s tower transforming the Oklahoma City skyline, but Project 180 — undertaken at the behest of Nichols as a condition of the tower’s location — is transforming the streets of much of downtown as well. But Nichols’ influence is not limited to Devon tower and the Project 180 area; he also […]
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Art suspension
House Bill 1665 suspends for three years the Art in Public Places Act of 2004, which requires 1.5 percent of any construction project costing more than $250,000 go toward funding art pieces in the project. The maximum cost for the artwork is capped at $500,000. HB 1665’s author, Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Tuttle, said that as […]
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For medicinal purposes
It is time to stop the scare tactics and lies spread by others. I think that prescription pills are more dangerous and addicting than alternatives. I think this bill will save billions of dollars by not persecuting “nonviolent offenders” and patients in pain. There are so many more positive benefits to medical marijuana than negatives. […]
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Can it happen here?
Truth be told, the ingredients are here. A new Republican majority, in charge of all the levers of lawmaking, has made a lot of noise about restoring fiscal sanity. In the meantime, Oklahoma’s Teachers Retirement Fund has a $10 billion unfunded liability. If and when the new majority addresses this issue, the teachers’ unions are […]
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Streetcar for the car-free
It is hard to believe, but that feeling of confinement and limited freedom so many of us experienced for a few days after the storm hit, is the everyday experience for tens of thousands of people living right here in our community. You’ll find clues that point to this fact throughout the city, particularly in […]
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Private and public
Three of state Superintendent Janet Barresi’s hires rejected by the Oklahoma State Board of Education in a contentious January meeting will stay on board using private funds to pay their salaries. Meanwhile, Barresi asked Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to look into possible Open Meetings Act violations by the board, alleging the push-back appeared orchestrated […]
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Point: Legislate morality
The church-state separation fetishists are at it again. Now the Oklahoma chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State are decrying efforts by the Oklahoma Legislature to teach creationism in public schools, create vouchers or other mechanisms for school choice and define the beginning of human life. The creationism debate will not go […]
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Counterpoint: Separation anxiety
Religious proselytizing in the state’s public schools will be virtually sanctioned under bills introduced in the Oklahoma Legislature for this upcoming session, a clear violation of basic church and state separation. The bills would also appear to directly violate Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma Constitution, which states: “No public money or property shall […]
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Sneak peek
For what it’s worth, here’s a vague idea of what’s cookin’ at the Capitol! SB 14: Sen. Josh Brecheen, R-Coalgate: Repealing Art in Public Places Act and the Art in Public Places Revolving Fund and the Art in Public Places Administrative and Maintenance Revolving Fund. SB 37: Sen. Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah: Sex education; requiring sex […]
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Bumper cars
One of the major projects of the approved MAPS 3 program came under fire by an Oklahoma City council member who said it was at odds with other city initiatives and something city leaders would end up regretting. Around $130 million from the MAPS 3 fund is dedicated to the modern streetcar project, which will […]