How's the Weather?
Just kidding. Though I’d add it was pretty nice out today.
Jeff Speck, author of “Suburban Nation,” is definitely shaking things up this week. First, let me point out some questionable reporting by a local tv station which I won’t name (we’ll just call her “Britney”). The station did a report on Speck. They didn’t have anyone criticizing Speck or his being hired by the city for $20,000 to come up with ways to improve pedestrian access downtown.
So the reporter finished out her story on Speck by reporting he was paid $20,000 and added this:
To put this into perspective for those of you who drive, at $10.66 a pothole, that $20,000 study could have paid for 1,876 potholes to be filled.
Yeah, ok. Britney, you know and I know that this is a cheap elementary reporter’s trick. By doing this you know and I know you’re trying to say the study was a waste of money. Geez, woman, just say it. But if you’re going to make such a judgment, I’ve got to ask how much time and effort you’ve invested into covering all this to make such a conclusion. Oh what’s that? You were just turning 12 when MAPS was passed? OK.
Yeah, I’m feeling feisty this week. Thing is, I’ve seen plenty of pretty worthless consultants hired by the city who offered no new ideas and no real solutions (I won’t say who or what).
But in this case, I’m hearing a lot folks saying that Speck’s ideas and solutions are groundbreaking and in many cases, quite doable.
Some glimpses before the story is fully reported this weekend by Bryan
Dean:
- The design for the planned boulevard to replace I-40 is badly designed
- All remaining one-way streets should be converted to two-way traffic
- The Greater OKC Chamber’s proposed headquarters is badly designed.
- Trees, trees, trees – we need more
- The importance of focusing on downtown and how it benefits all of Oklahoma City
I’ve got a lot more to write about about all this, but let’s wait for what Bryan gets out first. I also have some pretty edgy questions to ask Speck and I’m not sure that all of his suggestions make sense.
In the meantime I think I’ll make an inquiry about how much revenue is lost by the city because it provides free downtown parking spaces around City Hall for reporters (including myself) and how much money was spent building a press room overlooking the city council chambers. I’ll bet the total would cover even more potholes than the amount paid to Jeff Speck.
Ironically, I saw a note today in the city pio’s office that was a message from another local tv reporter who was asking about whether a law was needed to prevent animals from having sex in public. I kid you not.
Ahh… once again I’m making friends with my tv brothers and sisters …
-Steve
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Comments
Brian, I’d say animals having sex in public is a problem, but no more so than stores selling used underwear and exploding dog food (other stories done by local tv news stations)
Steve, I saw you with a hard copy of Jeff’s presentation at the ULI event yesterday. If you have an electronic copy of Jeff’s PowerPoint, are you at liberty to post it?
Yes, it will be posted. But wouldn’t it be better if we could let everybody see his presentation for themselves?
(Yes, I’m teasing again)
Glad to see Speck point out the design flaws of the Chamber, I bet Williams and Bennett are not happy “good ole boys” today. Any chance we’ll see a redesign? It sure has been quiet on the Chambers HQ front.
“…the planned boulevard to replace I-40 is badly designed” I would certainly agree with that if what has been described in various Oklahoman articles is true, basically that it is going to follow the same path as the existing crosstown. The crosstown is not a straight line but angles off at least a couple of times. If the boulevard follows the same path there are going to be places where it is literally feet away from existing streets. Haven’t heard of any plans to eliminate the existing streets that would be at odds with it. Anyone have any insight?
[...] who most recently told us what a miserable place central Oklahoma City is for pedestrians, and quotes this report from one of the news babes: To put this into perspective for those of you who drive, at $10.66 a pothole, that $20,000 study [...]
I was a skeptic of New Urbanism until attending Jeff’s lecture last night. Everything he said makes sense, and I tend to lean toward the “just trust me” option… I hope we’re able to implement the triage plan soon.
Take it easy on the TV people; they have to perform in 8-second chunks of information or the viewers will surf. Believe me, $20K was a BARGAIN.