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Hot, to my surprise; Wright out

Thanks to Urban Tulsa Weekly staff for their kind words in naming me once again to the paper's annual "Hot 100" list. I'm pleased, too, to see great Tulsans like restaurant entrepreneur Blake Ewing, developer/urbanist Jamie Jamieson, and architect Shelby Navarro on the list. Tulsa city planner Theron Warlick is...

Posted by Michael Bates on January 9, 2011 8:39 PM

Keith TMAPC appointee doesn't live in TMAPC jurisdiction

Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith has appointed a new Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (TMAPC) member, but his home and neighborhood are not within the TMAPC's jurisdiction. Keith's appointee is Ryon Stirling, a City of Sand Springs homeowner. His property is unaffected by the decisions of the TMAPC. The TMAPC's...

Posted by Michael Bates on January 3, 2011 6:14 PM

Liz Wright on the radio

Pat Campbell interviewed not-ousted Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (TMAPC) member Elizabeth Wright on 1170 KFAQ Wednesday morning. It was an informative interview -- well done to both Pat and Liz. You can listen to the interview on the station's podcast: TMAPC's Elizabeth Wright interviewed by Pat Campbell, December 2,...

Posted by Michael Bates on December 3, 2009 1:12 AM

Karen Keith ouster of Liz Wright fails

County Commissioner Karen Keith's attempt to oust Elizabeth Wright from the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (TMAPC) failed for lack of a second at this morning's Tulsa County Commission meeting. Barring another ouster attempt, Wright will continue to serve on the TMAPC until her term expires on January 18, 2011....

Posted by Michael Bates on November 30, 2009 10:49 AM

Is the TMAPC a quasi-judicial body?

In the course of the ongoing effort by Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith to remove Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (TMAPC) member Elizabeth Wright, I've heard and read the TMAPC described as a "quasi-judicial body." Accordingly, these same sources claim that TMAPC members are like "referees," that they are to...

Posted by Michael Bates on November 30, 2009 12:29 AM

Karen Keith keeping Elizabeth Wright TMAPC accusations under wraps

Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith has yet to supply Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (TMAPC) member Elizabeth Wright with a list of specific allegations justifying Keith's call to remove Wright from the TMAPC over a year before her three-year term is due to end, according to an email from Wright...

Posted by Michael Bates on November 29, 2009 11:55 AM

Vote against removing Liz Wright: An open letter to John Smaligo and Fred Perry

I can't attend Monday morning's Tulsa County Commission meeting, so I sent the following letter to County Commissioners John Smaligo and Fred Perry urging them to vote against removing Liz Wright from the TMAPC. (I didn't figure there was any point in sending it to Commissioner Karen Keith, the lead...

Posted by Michael Bates on November 22, 2009 11:56 PM

Blast from the past: A truly rude TMAPC commissioner

In February 2004, leaders of neighborhood associations and homeowners' associations showed up by the dozens for a 1:30 p.m. hearing before the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (TMAPC) on zoning protest petitions. Many of those present had to make special arrangements to be at a City Hall meeting in the...

Posted by Michael Bates on November 22, 2009 1:11 AM

Karen Keith's <em>ex post facto</em> crusade for unfair zoning

Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith's bizarre and unprecedented campaign to remove Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission member Elizabeth Wright (for bogus reasons, a year before her term expires) reaches its climax on Monday, November 23, 2009, at 9:30 a.m., at a public hearing to be held as part of the...

Posted by Michael Bates on November 20, 2009 12:20 AM

Karen Keith trying to bully neighborhood leader off planning commission

UPDATE 11:40 a.m. 2009/11/02: Liz Wright called earlier this morning to tell me that the County Commission voted to approve the November 23 public hearing. Karen Keith based her call for a hearing on the need for geographical balance and her desire to make her own appointment, neither of which...

Posted by Michael Bates on November 2, 2009 12:07 AM

District 4 candidate forum audio

It took me too long to upload this file successfully, but here it is, coughs, sneezes, rumbles, and all. Audio from the League of Women Voters candidate forum, held on September 1, 2009, at Fellowship Congregational Church. All four candidates -- Democrats Maria Barnes and Elizabeth Wright, Republicans Rocky Frisco...

Posted by Michael Bates on September 7, 2009 11:37 AM