Tulsans hoping for "water in the river" will start seeing a new slogan: "No more dam taxes."
The word play reflects Citizens for a Better Vision’s opposition to the Vision Tulsa sales tax proposals and their centerpiece low-water dam projects.
Citizens for a Better Vision held a news conference Tuesday in front of the closed Henthorne Park pool. Spokesman George McFarlin said proposed capital projects aren’t the city’s responsibility.
"There's nothing on that project list to put water in the pool, just water in our river," McFarlin said. "Which is higher priority? The children? Or water in the river for the Indian casino?"
Geologist Bob Jackman is with the group and said the science and engineering to support the dams isn’t there.
"This is not good planning on the river and then the way they've approached the levee system," Jackman said. "I do support many of the items in there, but I think they need to go back and redo everything."
In a statement, the Vision Tulsa campaign contends all flood concerns and environmental approval have been resolved.
Community activist Tracie Chandler doesn’t support giving millions of dollars to the Gilcrease Museum, the zoo or the airport.
"They are in north Tulsa, but tax dollars do not come to the neighborhoods and the community of north Tulsa," Chandler said. "They benefit the city, and the city taxes don't come to us."
Citizens for a Better Vision members argue only projects with the best representation are included in the funding package. They also said if the sales tax measures and a one-cent state education sales tax pass, Oklahoma’s sales tax burden would be too great.
