Be honest name everything that is wrong with Tulsa! (Owasso: landscaping, neighborhood)

[LOUISIANA'SLEGEND]

The reason I mention if there is racial, social, and even class division in Tulsa, is because I think thats the number reason for slow growth in a city. If you can find ways for the diverse groups and cultures to mesh together, or at least be in situations where they can at least have that opportunities to do so, growth in community occurs. Im questioning the attitude and character of Tulsa towards each other. Look at these cities for example, Dallas/Fort Worth and San Francisco. Both very populated cites with many diverse cultures and people. People come to those two cities just for that, because the feel welcomed and accepted in the environment. With that, fast growth occurs.

A man can only go has far as his culture goes, but what if its broaden with other cultures such as indian, hispanic, and african-american. You can clearly see the impact the influences of other cultures in bigger cities, I mean big impacts. You know how many lawyers, doctors, and the fortunate go to less fortunate areas of town just to eat food their moms and wives can never cook in bigger cities? Dont you think if people like that see the area you think they wont talk about it, help it the area? I think so, I always been told a way to man herat is his stomach, and hell if the food is good, im gonna make sure i do what it take to keep it coming.

Things like shopping malls with mass cultural stores, events for all to enjoy(maybe pro-team preseason games in the new arena) Start a new movement "Tulsa United" and have a parades and carnivals for it, indian appreciation day, lol, an oil day festivital or something, just things that will tie the community together.

It takes being passionate about your community and all that lives there, to pick up that old Tulsa coat, shake the dust off, starch it, iron it, customize it, do what ever it takes to make that coat the most stylish and most attractize coat u can........why? because its yours and no one esles.....like your Tulsa, so wear that coat with pride and honor because u put in work on it. Theres gonna be lint of course but there are lint rollers for that.

When will folks realize its the people that make the environment, you chose to live there, you spend your money there, you take part in the everyday activity there. The goverment and the mayor has to take in what you, "the people" do, your actions, your motions, before they can do anything. The growth of the Tulsa will come as quick as the
compass points in no direction, meaning one point........the Tulsa's point.

I forgot to mention, Im from Monroe/Shreveport, Louisiana. I never been to Tulsa, but will move there soon, just questioning the mindset of Tulsa as a whole......I thank i did a good job right?

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by LOUISIANA'SLEGEND

I forgot to mention, Im from Monroe/Shreveport, Louisiana. I never been to Tulsa, but will move there soon, just questioning the mindset of Tulsa as a whole......I thank i did a good job right?

I think you did a GREAT job... I would like for you to move there because IMO you'd be a great asset to the city of Tulsa. I love the positive, can-do attitude! I give you an A+!

[peggydavis]

Tulsa is far from being a dead city. I'm so glad they are getting the new arena. Its success might be a kickstart for some other needed projects.

From an outsider's point of view, Tulsa is too divided. The bond issues failed because the city is divided, IMO. I don't mean it is divided by race, but the different areas seem to work against each other instead of uniting behind one goal.

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by peggydavis

Tulsa is far from being a dead city. I'm so glad they are getting the new arena. Its success might be a kickstart for some other needed projects.

From an outsider's point of view, Tulsa is too divided. The bond issues failed because the city is divided, IMO. I don't mean it is divided by race, but the different areas seem to work against each other instead of uniting behind one goal.

You are entirely correct. It's Tulsa against the suburbs; they don't work together very well. There is a lot of division in the city whereas OkC seems to have pulled together for a common goal.

[livingintulsa]

The Northside of Tulsa, it has been the part of Tulsa that most people don't even want to think about. Development on the north side has mainly been commerical. I am speaking of The Springdale area. Impoverished? I believe thats the wrong word. It is simply the side of town that is used as a " we don't want it in our neighborhood " place to drive the junk yards & tire shops. Dead? No. Residents are just plain tired of being overlooked, and rightfully so. The smallest of needs are overlooked, and yes the North side of Tulsa has been taken advantage of, as far as being the forgotten side of town. There are many beautiful areas on the Northside of Tulsa. If the Planning Commission from many years ago would have taken pride in the city of Tulsa as a whole, it would be much more pleasing to the eye. North Tulsa is alive, and taking Pride in their areas. Residential involvement on any side of town is a must, and from what I've seen, the North side has come along way, & standing stronger than ever, making their voices heard.

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by livingintulsa

The Northside of Tulsa, it has been the part of Tulsa that most people don't even want to think about. Development on the north side has mainly been commerical. I am speaking of The Springdale area. Impoverished? I believe thats the wrong word. It is simply the side of town that is used as a " we don't want it in our neighborhood " place to drive the junk yards & tire shops. Dead? No. Residents are just plain tired of being overlooked, and rightfully so. The smallest of needs are overlooked, and yes the North side of Tulsa has been taken advantage of, as far as being the forgotten side of town. There are many beautiful areas on the Northside of Tulsa. If the Planning Commission from many years ago would have taken pride in the city of Tulsa as a whole, it would be much more pleasing to the eye. North Tulsa is alive, and taking Pride in their areas. Residential involvement on any side of town is a must, and from what I've seen, the North side has come along way, & standing stronger than ever, making their voices heard.

I'm glad to hear that livingintulsa. The North side is a beautiful side of town and it has been neglected by city planners. It shows a lot about the people that live there that won't let it die, but in fact are moving forward. I dearly hope that the city leaders will start looking to the North side more and more often.

[DogLover99]

I actually live near Tulsa (west). We moved here in 2007 from Houston. The following are my assessments:

1. Lack of vision. The 'we've always done it this way' mentality. I saw someone ding the suburbs vs. Tulsa. The 'burbs would support the city if the city would give the burbs what they want.

River development.
Road improvements.
Emphasis on family/kids
Police/fire academies

Instead you get things you don't want (halls of fame, arenas, pet projects).

2. Lack of priority. Do NOT try to pass a river tax when the rumblings of a new road tax are on the horizon. Do what a city is supposed to do: roads, police, fire.

3. Weather. Nothing we can do, but DANG! Evidently this area is where meteorologists come to train. There's always something happening, snow, ice storm, thunderstorm, tornadoes, hot, cold, wow!

I also don't get the west-a-phobic thing: we lived in Sand Springs for five years, then bought a beautiful home on Lake Keystone, where we've been ever since.

Any other metropolitan area would have developed Lake Keystone, but not Tulsa! My example is Lake Conroe by Houston. Keystone is infinitly more beautiful than Conroe but undeveloped.

Other than that, the good FAR outweighs the bad. Crime is low, and the topography and scenery are wonderful. The people are fabulous, and I love the way everyone helps others.

Great thread, really enjoyed adding my two cents!

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by DogLover99

I actually live near Tulsa (west). We moved here in 2007 from Houston. The following are my assessments:

1. Lack of vision. The 'we've always done it this way' mentality. I saw someone ding the suburbs vs. Tulsa. The 'burbs would support the city if the city would give the burbs what they want.

River development.
Road improvements.
Emphasis on family/kids
Police/fire academies

Instead you get things you don't want (halls of fame, arenas, pet projects).

2. Lack of priority. Do NOT try to pass a river tax when the rumblings of a new road tax are on the horizon. Do what a city is supposed to do: roads, police, fire.

3. Weather. Nothing we can do, but DANG! Evidently this area is where meteorologists come to train. There's always something happening, snow, ice storm, thunderstorm, tornadoes, hot, cold, wow!

I also don't get the west-a-phobic thing: we lived in Sand Springs for five years, then bought a beautiful home on Lake Keystone, where we've been ever since.

Any other metropolitan area would have developed Lake Keystone, but not Tulsa! My example is Lake Conroe by Houston. Keystone is infinitly more beautiful than Conroe but undeveloped.

Other than that, the good FAR outweighs the bad. Crime is low, and the topography and scenery are wonderful. The people are fabulous, and I love the way everyone helps others.

Great thread, really enjoyed adding my two cents!

Excellent post doglover, and welcome to the forum!

[gdblauvelt]

I live in Florida, soon to be back in Tulsa, and the one thing that strikes me is that everyone, in Florida, that I talk to wants OUT! Doesn't matter if it is a stranger, or a friend, they all say they want out. Especially now with the housing market is down, here. Not to mention the other problems. But not in Tulsa. If you ask anyone there it seems the farthest they want to move to is the country, and they still want to be close enough to get into the city in just 15 minutes. I find that refreshing, and a real compliment to the quality of the state and its people.

[Jammie]

Good point, GD. The only place that I can think of that I've heard Tulsans want to move to is Grove, but several of them already have vacation homes there.