Author Archives: Admin

Matching Grant Program For Beautification Projects Announced

Staff Reports

Qualifying neighborhood and homeowners’ associations can apply for a new matching grant beautification program, officials announced Thursday.

The grants are available to all neighborhood and homeowners’ associations registered with the city of Tulsa, or registered with a non-profit organization, according to a press release.

The grants will fund various beautification projects by providing a dollar-for-dollar match from the Tulsa Beautification Foundation and George Kaiser Family Foundation with other locally-raised funds.

The program was announced Thursday during a press conference with Mayor Kathy Taylor, city of Tulsa Working in Neighborhoods Department and representatives from the Tulsa Community Foundation and George Kaiser Family Foundation.

Certain criteria for proposed projects must involve the neighborhood and community residents and have a standing sustainable benefit with a necessary plan in place before improvements start, the release said.

“Encouraging neighborhoods to get involved in beautification through this matching grant has been a goal that it is exciting to see us finally be able to launch,” Mayor Kathy Taylor said. “This gives citizens the chance to create and implement sustainable change in their neighborhoods.”

Applications and requirements for the program are available at the city’s web site: www.cityoftulsa.org/community-programs/neighborhood-services/neighborhood-beautification-grant.aspx.

All applicants will then mail their application to the Tulsa Beautification Foundation to receive grant committee approval for their beautification project.

“We are excited to have the matching grant program in coordination with the City of Tulsa and look forward to start receiving applications for all neighborhoods or non-profits interested,” Phil Lakin, board president of the Tulsa Beautification Foundation said. “This is a great way for citizens to get engaged in their neighborhood as well as cultivate the spirit of volunteerism in our community.”

In conjunction with the matching grant program, an event called "Tidy Up Tulsa with Taylor," will be held on Sept. 26, from 8 – 11 a.m. The central meeting location will be at the Green Country Event Center lot at 31st St. between Garnett and 129th, to kick-off the event and for volunteers to receive bags and gloves, and then be dispersed to all areas in Tulsa.

"Tidy Up Tulsa with Taylor" is being coordinated through the Tulsa Metropolitan Trust, City of Tulsa, the Tulsa Beautification Foundation and the George Kaiser Family Foundation.

Construction Company President Pleads Guilty to Bribery

Staff Reports

A local construction company president pled guilty on Thursday to bribing a Tulsa public works official, according to acting United States Attorney Thomas Scott Woodward.

Max Elliot Wolf, age 57, of Owasso, president of Horizon Construction Company, Inc.,
pled guilty in federal court to procurement fraud bribery. He agreed to pay $939,078.56 in restitution to the city of Tulsa, according to a press release.

Of that amount, $100,000 was paid Thursday by cashier’s check, the statement said. The balance is due one week before his sentencing date.

Wolf admitted that from mid-2005 until June 2008 he made numerous bribery payments to former Tulsa Public Works Field Engineering Manager Albert Martinez with the intent to influence and reward Martinez for certifying fraudulent inflated invoices submitted by Horizon, the statement said.

Wolf is the fifth defendant to plead guilty in the public works corruption cases. His
sentencing is set for Dec. 14, after completion of a pre-sentence investigation. Wolf faces a prison sentence of up to 5 years and a fine of $250,000.

U.S. District Judge Terrence Kern is presiding in the case. The plea Thursday was before Magistrate Judge T. Lane Wilson.

Election attitudes may linger

David Arnett, Publisher

Tulsa at Night

Tuesday’s municipal primary election in Tulsa may have significantly changed how groups of people relate to each other. Specifically, the Firefighters Local 176 “identified their members as city employees while campaigning for specific candidates in direct violation of the Tulsa City Charter and the Federal Hatch Act” according to City Councilor John Eagleton, who did not face an opponent in the race.

Eagleton, an attorney, said in an exclusive interview that he would not file a complaint because, if litigated, it could cost the city millions in lost grants, possible fines, plus the cost of the litigation itself. “I’ve made my concerns known,” Eagleton added.

This blatant partisan campaigning by the Firefighters unions occurred because a handful of councilors urged the council to carefully review their budget. The union went to war in a door-to-door campaign that some report included threatening reduced public services if the budget curious councilors were re-elected. We should not be so easily scared. Many were angered. Of course union members can participate in elections as private individuals, but when they represent themselves as “public employee” affecting a public vote is stepping over the line.

Consider if the Tulsa Fire Department should duplicate Emergency Medical Services. Do we need two emergency responses to every call? Yes the union says, they have plenty of time and money – our taxpayer money. Sure the Tulsa Police Department needs an armored personal carrier (may look like a tank to you as it comes down the street). The unions are acting like a spouse hiding the checkbook – keep it up and divorce from public credibility is sure to follow.

The City Council races continue to the general election, but several were settled in the primary.

District 1

alt Jack Henderson – Democrat is back as an unopposed incumbent. Oh well, so much for civilized public discussion on the Council.

District 2

Rick Westcott – Republican re-elected incumbent – one of the best councilors in Tulsa history and one of those who recently called for an external audit of the Fire Department, thus provoking the Firefighter wrath. With no Democrat opposition, Westcott will continue his service on the council.

District 3

David Patrick – Incumbent – Democrat

Karl William Hulcher – Republican – retired racecar driver – web site asks on the home page, “Are you tired of the David and Rosco show?” However, every other page says, “check back” and provides at this writing no detail on any page. Maybe he will add something now that the Democrats are finished fighting through the primary.

District 4

EricGomez – Incumbent – Republican – real estate and construction consultant – a strong advocate for his district also targeted by the Firefighters union. He has been the strongest advocate for District 4 ever elected.

Maria Barnes – Democrat – former councilor –civic volunteer best know as accomplishing nothing during her last term in office and her strong support of Tulsa as a “sanctuary city” for illegal immigrants.

District 5

Bill Martinson – ousted incumbent – Republican –chief executive officer of Sintered Parts. Martinson was the best “numbers guy” ever to serve on the Council. He found the figures local special interests tried to hide and was dedicated to “sound fiscal” policies in city government. He found that over the last ten years, the police and fire budgets significantly outstripped inflation and consumed 74 percent of the growth in the City of Tulsa General Fund and all the city sales tax revenue. Strong stands on difficult issues have earned him respect of the citizens, but opposition from public union bosses. He did not offer an election web site, but referred people to his council page online.

Chris Trail –Republican (in name at least) is a restaurant operator well funded by local public unions and Democrats following Mayor Kathy Taylor. Will he recluse himself from any vote on the Firefighters contract? Can you guess his votes in advance?

District 6

DennisTroyer –Democrat Incumbent – retired from American Airlines.

James S.Mautino – Republican – former councilor returning to battle.

District 7

John Eagleton – Republican – an attorney, the incumbent did not draw an opponent in the race.

District 8

Bill Christianson – Republican – an incumbent frequently found on both sides of issues will return to the council after receiving the strong support of the Firefighters.

Phil Lakin – Republican – showed more promise in his first race for public office than any other newcomer to local politics in twenty years. Many hope he will run again, but against the Firefighters (ever heard of any union supporting Republicans as they did Lakin’s opponent?) he faced an almost impossible challenge and came within 222 votes of winning.

District 9

G.T. Bynum – Republican – incumbent will seek his second term on the council and was unopposed in this primarily Republican district.

Roger D. Lowry – Democrat will run again as he has run many times before with little funding and limited numbers of volunteers in the general election. Firefighters are expected to help him.

Mayor

The most exciting general election races will be for mayor and city auditor. Republican Dewey Bartlett, Jr faces Democrat Tom Adelson with several unknown independents in the race.

City Auditor

A credible challenge is brewing from Republican Preston Doerflinger of Democrat Phil Woods‘ long occupation in office.

In the mayor, city auditor and remaining council contests, Tulsa Today news reporters will be interviewing candidates in the coming weeks. As the resident op-ed writer, I will be considering their respective positions in future analysis.

Coburn Response To Obama Health Speech

Sen. Tom Coburn

alt U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-Okla), author of the Patients’ Choice Act, issued the following statement after President Obama’s health care speech:

“President Obama is right that Congress can agree to many of the goals he outlined tonight, and he was wise to acknowledge that those on the other side of aisle are equally committed to reform and have, in fact, produced ideas and solutions to achieve our common goals,” Coburn said, noting that his bill includes a detailed proposal to set up state-based exchanges that empower individual consumers rather than government or insurance company bureaucrats.

“However, the President still faces a fundamental challenge that the House and Senate health care bills as currently drafted do not line up with the plan he described tonight. If the President means what he says he needs to tell House and Senate Democrats to start over.

Both the House and Senate bills do, in fact, set the stage for health care rationing, taxpayer-funded abortion and a government takeover of the health care system. Suggesting that these radical provisions are the result of scare tactics or spin, rather than the decisions of committee leaders, is counterproductive.”

“Moreover, the American people are scared of a single-payer system because many key figures shaping the bill, including the President, have said a single-payer system is their preferred solution, and because independent groups have concluded that the public option could cause more than 100 million Americans to lose their private health insurance.”

“Yet, I take the President at his word that he is open to other ideas and I trust that he will do everything he can to force those writing the bills in the House and Senate to moderate their flawed bills. The final test will be the legislative product Congress produces over the next few weeks. Congress is not there yet.

The outline of Senator Max Baucus’ plan, for instance, still falls far short. Baucus’ plan is not financially sustainable; it increases the role of government in health care; and does not contain a prohibition on the taxpayer funding of abortion, among other faults. Congress would be wise to start from scratch using the President’s goals as an outline and craft a bipartisan bill the American people can support.”

Inhofe’s Response To Obama Health Care Speech

Sen. Jim Inhofe

alt Following is a statement released by Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) after President Obama’s health care speech:

“The President’s proposal tonight outlined four major high-cost areas related to health insurance companies. These proposals will not happen in a vacuum, and we all know there are no free lunches. Someone will have to pay for these proposals.

“I appreciate that the President at least spoke of limited demonstration projects aimed at medical malpractice reform. It is a good start, but alone is not enough. In addition, our health care system needs expanded health savings accounts, better access to quality care in rural areas, and market-based options that provide coverage for the uninsured American citizens who cannot otherwise get coverage.

“Instead of trying to work through failed legislative vehicles, Congress should start from scratch, take the time necessary to appropriately address this important issue, and work in a truly bipartisan manner for common sense solutions. The President speaks of bipartisanship, but many Republican proposals have been blocked from consideration. Reform is needed, but it must be the right approach.

“Before the August recess, Democrats in the House and Senate pushed as hard as they could to rush their bill through Congress. Their effort failed, but gave thousands of Americans a reason to vocalize their strong opposition to the proposed health care reforms. Again tonight, the President applied pressure to rush a bill to his desk. Apparently, the throng of American voices against these efforts has been largely lost on many Washington bureaucrats.

“During this last month, I held several town meetings in rural communities across Oklahoma. At each of those meetings, a multitude of Oklahomans expressed their anger over what is happening to our country with the democrat’s proposals on health care reform. In my years in office, I have never seen the level of outspoken opposition and energy that this issue has generated among so many Americans.

“If the President had listened to those Americans, he would have dropped his proposed ‘public option’ all together. Instead, he continues to advocate for at least some form of a public option. The American people and I will not support any such attempt at socialized medicine.

“As usual, President Obama’s delivery this evening was absolutely superb, but no level of eloquence can make his health care scheme look good. The American people just are not buying it. This speech was billed as unveiling the President’s detailed proposal for health care reform. However, in an effort to build consensus, he seemed intent on refocusing the American people and Congress away from details. As we all know, his big picture approach will only go so far, because the devil is in the details. I doubt that tonight’s speech changed many minds.”