Comments on: The Presentation http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2009/05/21/the-presentation/ The Oklahoman's Steve Lackmeyer covers downtown OKC brick by brick. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:10:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5 By: slackmeyer http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2009/05/21/the-presentation/comment-page-1/#comment-2990 slackmeyer Thu, 21 May 2009 21:45:00 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=1534#comment-2990 Alright gang, I think this horse has been beaten, humiliated and is now eight feet underground.

]]> By: Casey Cornett http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2009/05/21/the-presentation/comment-page-1/#comment-2991 Casey Cornett Thu, 21 May 2009 19:42:44 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=1534#comment-2991 I agree with Colin completely.

Steven, he hasn’t been called Mickey since his days at Coronado. Plus, this “getting off the hook” thing implies something wrong has already happened. We can’t forget that this city is big and deserves the attention of more than just one thing. I still haven’t heard any city leaders say that transit is off the table yet that’s all I hear from comments on this blog.

I seem to be reading overreaction after overreaction after overreaction.

Keep doing your thing Steve.

]]> By: Colin http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2009/05/21/the-presentation/comment-page-1/#comment-2995 Colin Thu, 21 May 2009 19:15:21 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=1534#comment-2995 I just finished reading all 35 comments in the previous thread, and here are my thoughts:
-First of all, Steve, you do us all a great service by reporting on these issues. I don’t think you have any sort of grudge against MTA, Jeff Bezdek, public transit, or anyone else. You have reported on transit for years and have been nothing but fair. You obviously are just doing your job as a reporter. I respect that. It’s not easy to be the guy who has to spoil the party by asking the questions that need to be asked.

-Yes, Jeff Bezdek overreacted, but I can kind of understand why. From his perspective all of the questions about the funding of the group and his personal resume probably seemed like a challenge to his character. He is right in pointing out that political organizations can’t organize as 501c groups…501c(3) is only for religious, educational, and charitable organizations. I suppose you could argue that MTA is an educational campaign, but given that it has an explicit political aim, I think the IRS would have a problem with that. He’s also right in pointing out that his educational background is not strictly relevant; Bezdek has shown himself to be a good public citizen who is capable of pulling off ambitious projects, and his proposal is currently the best one on the table. That’s really all that matters.

Anyway, you two should sit down for a real interview in a couple weeks and put this behind you. This city needs you both to be on your game.

]]> By: Steven http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2009/05/21/the-presentation/comment-page-1/#comment-2994 Steven Thu, 21 May 2009 18:48:38 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=1534#comment-2994 Nope, and not trying to antagonize either. You know I read your articles just as much or more than anybody. My observation is that the grilling of Jeff over a blog has been more extensive than any other public questioning from any other article from my readers perspective. Others have stated similar concerns in relation to this topic, so there has to be at least some valid concern about it.

Just surprised I hear more about Jeff’s creditials than what is the Mayor doing on transit. Seems like Mickey gets off the hook. Jeff Bezdek is the only citizen who has the balls to make a transit initiative,and a quality one at that, which is more than we can say for any City Councilperson, Mayor or Chamber representative. In fact, you have even done good reporting on the continual watering down of the original MAPS trolley project, and it seems like that issue goes virtually undetected on the radar. I wish the same calling out was given on OCURA. Any in depth calling out on why they are stalling the Overholser Green project? What is the developers background, why hasn’t he secured financing? Is OCURA going to allow numerous extensions on time like Legacy? Why won’t OCURA have a public website? In the end, I think we’re all in the same page in wanting a better OKC.

]]> By: ThePlainsman http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2009/05/21/the-presentation/comment-page-1/#comment-2993 ThePlainsman Thu, 21 May 2009 17:52:04 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=1534#comment-2993 I read the previous story and the comments. I was curious as to Jeff’s (over)reaction as well. I’m glad he clarified a few issues, but I too, was surprised by the tone. Keep doing your great, thankless work. Many of us appreciate it.

]]> By: slackmeyer http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2009/05/21/the-presentation/comment-page-1/#comment-2992 slackmeyer Thu, 21 May 2009 17:42:44 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=1534#comment-2992 Good lord Steven, really? After reading my writing for so long, you think I’m just about “the scoop”? Please. You also weren’t at the press conference where I did grill the mayor about transit and clearly you didn’t read the result of that questioning.
Steven, why is it bad to ask Jeff about the group’s board members, his background and their funding when he’s out soliciting funds? The more I hear protests about this, the more I have to wonder if there is something more to this story than memeets the eye.

]]> By: Michael H http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2009/05/21/the-presentation/comment-page-1/#comment-2998 Michael H Thu, 21 May 2009 17:10:38 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=1534#comment-2998 Steve’s doing his job – everyone should simma down and keep the eye on the big picture. Here’s a nice little video about new urbanism, why its a good idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGJt_YXIoJI&feature=player_embedded

]]> By: Steven http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2009/05/21/the-presentation/comment-page-1/#comment-2997 Steven Thu, 21 May 2009 16:50:30 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=1534#comment-2997 So what is the standard for picking and choosing who you ask the tough questions to? Some of your articles are cake, while some of them are very good. You know I read your blog daily and link to your articles regularly and support and promote you. However, it seems to be you have singled Jeff out more than you have other interviewees? What gives? Why aren’t you grilling the Mayor about transit? Why aren’t the tough questions about transit being asked to the Mayor? He’s been aweful hush about it and keeps putting it aside while he’s got no problem being vocal about a new convention center that citizens didn’t even vote for in citizens surveys. Sounds like mudracking to me. Hope you and Jeff work this out soon, because it’s ridiculous. I hope this doesn’t stem from the Gazette breaking the story first.

]]> By: Kris Bryant http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2009/05/21/the-presentation/comment-page-1/#comment-2996 Kris Bryant Thu, 21 May 2009 15:25:38 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=1534#comment-2996 Your job as a journalist is to ask tough questions…and perturb the system, so to speak. My comment about it being odd was not directed at your questions, but the process of going back and forth with it on this public comments forum. I guess Web 2.0 changes a lot of things. Just seems like there’s a lot of defensiveness back and forth from miscommunication.

I’m no journalist, but perhaps the traditional mode of phone/face to face interviews prevents a lot of that disconnect. Just my two cents. Thanks for your boldness in keeping this community on its toes and for sparking thoughtful conversations about important issues!

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