So Here's What Boulder is Saying About Jane Jenkins

I believe these comments were from the Daily Camera website in Boulder rather than OKC Talk. In any event, I don’t want to comment on just one statement in the blog just to vent…but I will. Regarding the “nukesinboulder” comment (perhaps we know enough in the name alone), I have never seen such an arrogance and condecension aimed towards a city as when I hear people talk about OKC. I have now lived in seven states, 14 towns/cities (OKC for 9 years now), travelled in every state but two and multiple countries and almost all I hear about OKC is “poor you for living there.” The thought that we still fight dust storms and ride to town on horseback or live in teepees just galls me to no end…some people really think that, believe it or not.

In all my places to live I have not come across people who were so willing to help at the drop of a hat, even give you the shirt off your back if you asked for it and care so much about their city. I understand that OKC may have gone through a period of stagnation in the past perhaps. But since MAPS (passed a couple years before I arrived here) OKC has been on a constant upward spiral, in my opinion. You have MAPS (and its myriad of improvements), MAPS for kids, Bricktown, the Ford Center, the Thunder, and future Devon Tower, potential MAPS 3 and more…those are just the highlights. The common denominator here is the people of OKC. We voted to bring most of these things here ourselves. We didn’t rely on the Federal government or anyone but ourselves and just reinforces my belief that the most effective government (since we apparently have to have one) is local government. We know how to spend the money and have done so with maximum effect and then private investment has come, i.e. the Devon Tower, private Bricktown investment, etc.

We still have growing pains…e.g. private Bricktown developers reluctance to see the market rate for their property is not that of Tokyo. But we are on a great path and when other companies in the country and world see that fact they will beat a path to our door. We just need to open their eyes. I hope Ms. Jenkins can get up to speed on our fair little city quickly and keep this momentum going. What a great city/state to live in. Here endith the lesson.

OK boys, let’s keep the personal attacks for the other websites. Comments have been moderated. Email me if you want to see the comments reposted.

This looks to be a great hire for Downtown Inc. It is amazing to me how much better the results are when people in OKC take the time to go through a process that searches out the best person, design, firm, etc for the job at hand. Some recent examples:

1. Devon Tower selecting Pickard Chilton
2. The City of OKC holding a competition for the I-40 pedestrian bridge
3. The designs for the Flatiron project selected through a competition by invitation
4. And hopefully now the hiring of Jane for Downtown Inc.

Unfortunately, this still seems to be the exception more than the rule. The list of recent and current projects that would have benefited from a similar process is too long to list.

I hope every city department, business, and organization will take note and try in the future to make OKC better than just okay.

I second what all Brent said. I actually monitored and recorded some of the most ludicrous things said about OKC online when the tower was announced, I don’t think I should link to my blog on here though. The stuff is truly insane, as if they’re actually offended by OKC’s rise. Here’s one of my favorite comments posted by someone from New Orleans on another site:

“I think what I’m most happy about is what this does for the esteem of those from Oklahoma City. They’ve always seemed to feel second rate about OKC, so, maybe a tall building will change that for them. It certainly represents poor city planning if it is approved.”