Barnes vs. Gomez
The race for Tulsa City Council District 4 is one of the most hotly contested in this year's general election. First-term incumbent Maria Barnes, a Democrat, is being challenged by Eric Gomez, a Republican. My column in this issue of Urban Tulsa Weekly is an account of the District 4 candidate forum, held on March 11 and sponsored by the Pearl District Association. It was one of the most informative forums I've ever attended, focused on zoning, planning, and land use issues, particularly Neighborhood Conservation Districts (NCDs).
Here's the audio for the event. (Flash plugin required):
(You do need to have the Shockwave Flash plugin installed in order for the player to work. If you'd prefer to download the 7 MB MP3 file, here's a direct link: Tulsa City Council District 4 candidate forum, Maria Barnes and Eric Gomez, sponsored by Pearl District Association.)
Here is the text of Maria Barnes's NCD "mythbusters" handout, which I mention in the story.
Also, in this issue of UTW:
Charles G. Hill, who lives in an Urban Conservation District in Oklahoma City (very similar to Tulsa's proposed NCDs), explains the aims and impact of such a designation.
My column two weeks ago was about the specifics of the draft Neighborhood Conservation District ordinance for Tulsa.
The February column linked in this entry dealt with the theoretical rationale behind NCDs and the political aspects of the development industry's opposition.
Here is the draft Neighborhood Conservation District enabling ordinance (45 KB PDF) and here is the report on NCDs by Council policy administrator Jack Blair (1.5 MB PDF).
This entry links to my conversation about NCDs on Darryl Baskin's real estate radio show.
Here's an earlier blog entry that links to my November 2007 column on NCDs and has many links on the topics of teardowns, McMansions, and neighborhood conservation.
Here's the audio for the event. (Flash plugin required):
(You do need to have the Shockwave Flash plugin installed in order for the player to work. If you'd prefer to download the 7 MB MP3 file, here's a direct link: Tulsa City Council District 4 candidate forum, Maria Barnes and Eric Gomez, sponsored by Pearl District Association.)
Here is the text of Maria Barnes's NCD "mythbusters" handout, which I mention in the story.
Also, in this issue of UTW:
- Maria Barnes makes her pitch for re-election
- Katherine Kelly, in the cover story, surveys Tulsa's fine Asian dining options
- Brian Ervin spotlights the T-Town Trolley, a free transportation service linking entertainment venues in the Blue Dome District, 18th & Boston, Cherry Street, and Brookside, sponsored by Urban Tulsa Weekly
- Brian Ervin also has a very balanced piece on the controversy over State Rep. Sally Kern's opinion that the "homosexual agenda" is "the biggest threat our nation has." Ervin had Kern elaborate on her remarks and got reaction from Chuck Wolfe, president of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. (Wolfe says there is no "homosexual agenda," but then what defines "gay and lesbian victory" if not some sort of agenda?)
- Movie reviewer Cory Cheney walked out of a movie for only the second time in his career. Find out which one and why.
Charles G. Hill, who lives in an Urban Conservation District in Oklahoma City (very similar to Tulsa's proposed NCDs), explains the aims and impact of such a designation.
My column two weeks ago was about the specifics of the draft Neighborhood Conservation District ordinance for Tulsa.
The February column linked in this entry dealt with the theoretical rationale behind NCDs and the political aspects of the development industry's opposition.
Here is the draft Neighborhood Conservation District enabling ordinance (45 KB PDF) and here is the report on NCDs by Council policy administrator Jack Blair (1.5 MB PDF).
This entry links to my conversation about NCDs on Darryl Baskin's real estate radio show.
Here's an earlier blog entry that links to my November 2007 column on NCDs and has many links on the topics of teardowns, McMansions, and neighborhood conservation.
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I laughed all the way through Cory's movie review article I read in the green issue.
His wit and humor is very infectious and hilarious. And you get a good movie review at the same time.
He is to be commended.
I lived 17 years about 2 blocks from Philbrook Museum and it was a very influential neighborhood where everyone took pride in their homes and property. The homes are expensive.
I also really like Florence Park neighborhood and I think Barnes will win. Florence Park has a lot of historical value to Tulsa, and a lot of people have remodelled the inside of those older homes with new kitchens and other updates. I am for Preserving Midtown. The inside of those homes have some interesting architecture, some have preserved the servant quarters which is in addition to the house. It's definitely a neighborhood worth preserving this historical neighborhood of Florence Park.