Why is City Hall doing all this stuff?

Numerous times over my years as a businessman in Enid I have heard complaints about the "city fathers" not doing enough to grow the city, that we need more jobs, etc. Certainly there have been times over the last 50 years when this was a valid complaint.
We have had stand-still administrations, cost-cutting administration; we have plain silly administrations, we have had well-intended but sloppy administrations.

None of these accomplished much.
But we cannot complain about the current group of councilmen and our city staff. They have taken a pro-active stance toward growth in our city, and I think they are doing good work.

Look at what City Hall is currently doing: We are building a new sewage treatment facility that increases capacity substantially, we are building new water towers to improve water pressure, we are studying how best to increase our daily water production capacity. All these position us for physical growth. We are continuing to invest in the Downtown area in order to keep it a viable part of the city, currently building an impressive new events center and repurposing the venerable Convention Hall.

City leadership has cooperated and encouraged the school system capital improvement program.

Soon we will no longer need to apologize for our educational facilities – and we will soon have a fabulous facility for Enid and area high schools to use for basketball and volleyball.

All these indicate real progress, it seems to me. But there are still problems in Enid that need attention.

One of these is the declining fortunes of Oakwood Mall. There have been ownership and management changes, but the mall has been losing retail sales volume steadily over the last 10 years or so, thus losing tenants; it is currently at about 65 percent occupancy.
Enclosed, pedestrian shopping malls are a failing design concept all over the country; shoppers stay away in droves!
Given no creative vision and major new investment, Oakwood’s facility will be a MAJOR disaster for our community in another 10 years – comparable in many ways to the downtown area 30 years ago.

As some of you may remember, the Downtown retail sector was obsolete (not enough parking, crowded, older facilities, little flexibility for expansion) – and then-new mall concept recruited all the major retail companies out west.
We saw all the serious and capable retail stores move out of Downtown. The old area was a disaster, and without city government investment – in the tens of millions of dollars – it would have turned into an absolute ghost town – an urban disaster.
Concerned downtown investors and several city councils worked together; slowly the Downtown area turned into an administrative and office area for the most part, with some retail and entertainment facility.
David Allen Memorial Ballpark demonstrated the rich possibilities of excellent sports facilities; it has successfully competed for regional and national competitive events – and we hope the Events Center can do so as well.

Thirty years later, Downtown has been re-purposed and is viable once again.

But big-time retail left Downtown in the early 1980s! Retail activity keyed on the Oakwood Mall location. We soon had one-and-a-half million square feet of modern retail facility between Cleveland and Garland streets on Garriott road. Now more than 85 percent of the sales tax collected in Enid is generated along this two-mile stretch of our city.

But the core facility of this economic engine is seriously threatened. The mall is dying, store by store, with each retail season. Sales volumes are down; vacancies are up. The all-powerful American shopper does not like to use enclosed malls anymore!

And our leadership has decided to head off a big disaster when opportunity presented itself. The Tulsa-based Vector Company plans to purchase the mall facility, tear down much of the obsolete structure, renovate the major anchor stores (Pennys, Sears, Dillards), add a number of newer and smaller buildings for smaller retail companies and restaurants – and generally update and repurpose the entire facility.

City and county governments have joined together to offer incentives to Vector to fix the mall – by a process awkwardly called "de-malling!"

Vector has a vision for the current mall site. A key part of it will be adequate and well positioned parking close to every store’s front door, along with landscaping and activity areas.

Square footage will be about the same (475,000 square feet), but it will be state-of-the-art retail design, laid out for easy access and good retailing.

Redesigned and rebuilt, the new Oakwood Center (or whatever the Vector people name it ...) will be a major attraction and will bring new retail resources to our community, and attract new customers from our region as well. Thus we will once again be a retail destination for northwest Oklahoma.

Sales will increase (Vector estimates $34 million increase in net annual sales); sales tax collections will increase; the value of the property will increase (thus ad valorum taxes will increase). More employment will result. More people from our market region will come to Enid to shop, to eat, to go to the movies – and they will do it more often.

We will continue to see our sales tax revenues increase – benefiting city government – and overall the ad valorum tax base increase, thus benefiting county government, public school systems, health department and technical school system. Tax increment programs will provide the community incentives in the amount of about $4.7 million. No tax revenues that either the city or county presently collects will be diverted for the incentive package.

Only additional, incremental revenues will be committed to the incentive package. So, in effect, the city and county governments defer receipt of tax revenues in order to provide Vector the incentive.
Vector Company will invest at least $35 million of its resources in renovation and construction of the new retail center. Vector has a successful track record of doing such turnarounds and will be investing its own capital to achieve this.

The City of Enid will benefit; Garfield County will benefit; our schools and our health department will benefit.
I believe it is a win-win-win proposition – and I commend our leadership for moving ahead with it.
---

Enid News editorial: Reinventing Oakwood Mall
Enid News & Eagle: Committee agrees on parameters for mall project

God and Jerusalem ... and Mr Obama

The iconic Democratic president who laid out the basic U.S. strategy for dealing with the aggressive and totalitarian Soviet Union, Harry Truman, also set basic American policy supporting the Jewish possession of Israel. In 1948 Israel declared its independence, and the United States rendered official recognition within seconds. Days later, neighboring Arab states invaded – no doubt attempting ethnic cleansing, incidentally, though it was not called that at the time – and we immediately extended military aid. Israel fought fiercely and prevailed. They have fought several wars since then – and always prevailed; they have always had American support.
Mr. Truman’s fundamental policy was adopted by the Republicans under Dwight Eisenhower, Truman’s successor, and carried forward. Yet the Democratic Party has enjoyed the support of the Jewish voting bloc in the U.S. because of Mr. Truman’s initial action of fast recognition. The ethnic-religious group has regularly supported Democratic candidates in all U.S. elections since by significant margins.
Over the years, the U.S. has not always agreed with Israel – but we have supported her through thick and thin ever since. Like every good relationship between nations, we have not always approved of her policies or decisions, but we have always been in dialogue. We listen to each other.
But now things are different; Mr. Obama has a significantly different view. His party platform writers left out any reference to God or to Jerusalem (as the capital of Israel) in their platform – until political damage was done; then it was quickly fixed after calls from the White House. (“Don’t alienate the Jewish vote!”) But that’s just window dressing ...
What really counts for Israel currently is U.S. policy toward Iran – which is the sworn enemy of Israel and promises to "drive them into the sea" at some point. Iran is working very hard to develop nuclear weapons – and guess who she’d use them against? It takes no imagination to figure that out. Yet the White House recently warned Israel pointedly about her policy in respect to Iran: "Take no action!"
What is U.S. policy about Iran and nukes under the Obama administration? We have seen lots of Obama rhetoric, but ineffective diplomatic policy. Tough on Israel, but easy on Iran. It is weak, in short.
Implication of the Obama policy toward Israel seems to be: “Sit still until they hit you!” Of course, that will be the end of Israel. Why would Obama want such an outcome?
The fact seems to be that Mr. Obama has a very ambivalent attitude toward the Jewish state. He has obstructed the Israelis in many ways; he has publicly warned them to leave Iran alone. But he has done nothing to slow down or eliminate Iranian nuclear development.
The question must be asked: “Why does Obama act this way?” Thomas Sowell writing recently points out that Dinesh O’Souza seems to have the " ... best grasp of Obama’s strange ideological view of the world ..." O’Souza says, "I predict that even as Iran develops the full capacity to build nuclear weapons, Obama will do little or nothing to stop it."
Sowell then continues, " ... you don’t need a crystal ball to predict Barack Obama’s hostile attitude toward Israel, despite all of his lofty words saying the opposite.”
In short, Obama blows smoke to placate the Jewish vote in the U.S. (As he did at the Demo convention), but puts no real policy in place to change the probable results of Iranian intent.
It is time to tell the truth to the country, Mr. President. Don’t give us more facile rhetoric!
Mr. Obama needs to explain to the nation straight on that he intends to sacrifice Israel to Iranian hatred.
Perhaps Mr. Obama needs to tell us that his study under Professor Edward Said of Columbia University – a spokesman for the Palestinian enemies of Israel – made up his mind long ago to surreptitiously support the "other side."
Does he intend to let Israel die under the hand of the Iranian mullahs? That is what his policy implies.
Are we ready for that?

“There is an American Agenda!”

Election years are hard to figure out: Voters have a difficult time discerning the truth in campaigns, of choosing between candidates ... claim and counter-claim ... jillions of ads.

Nasty ad-hominem attack ads smearing mud and filth. Confusion is rampant!

The politicians are clamorous; as they campaign, they often stretch the truth, or sometimes simply make it up. They want above all to be re-elected, to remain in positions of public office and have the power and influence that such offices provide them.

Part of it is the evolution of our governments. We no longer have public servants who leave their career or profession in order to give back to their country for a period of time, then they return to their real life. Nope. Now-days we have career politicians. They intend to get and keep the job until they retire.

It is this factor that makes it so difficult for the average guy and gal, I think. Everyone in office wants to be re-elected. Nobody wants to give up the prestige and powers of office. Regardless of the office, regardless of their party, regardless of the quality of their service. Regardless of their presuppositions about public policy. The fact is many of them should be tossed out on their ears!

Frankly, most politicians tend to regard their office as their personal property. And that is as wrong-headed as it gets! That sort of reasoning leads to bent behavior, bad agendas and blatant pandering to influential groups on the part of office holders (Clientism).

There is a lot of that going on in 2012, it seems to me. No wonder we are drifting off-course, heading for the rocks and shoals!

But once in awhile, the air is cleared of the smoke and mirrors of professional political manipulators and pandering office-holders.

That is what happens when the American agenda is clearly enunciated; when the exceptional nature of the United States of America is spelled out and held up; when the perspective offered is focused on the true objectives of our Republic. When the liberty of the American people is celebrated.

Sometimes you hear the American agenda enunciated during campaigns.

Such was the case the second night of the Republican Convention. The speaker was Stanford Professor Condoleezza Rice, former national security adviser, former Secretary of State, committed and appreciative citizen of our country who has served for the best of reasons: in order to give back.

She spelled out the American agenda: We are united by a historically unique and powerful idea that is institutionalized in our Constitution; we are dedicated to unique and equitable principles about how to treat other people; we are dedicated to guaranteeing people as much opportunity as possible (short of them impinging on the rights of others); we are uniquely blessed with amazing industrial and commercial skills; we are truly the light and the hope of the rest of the world – and of ourselves.

If we are true to the unique truths and values that shaped this nation 225 years ago, we will long endure. If we are NOT true to these truths and values, they we will NOT long endure in our current position as the most important arbiter in the world.

We will decline and decay – but the vacuum of power in the world will be filled, and the world will return to the darkness.

Ms. Rice uplifted all of these things – just like John F. Kennedy did in 1960; just like Ronald Reagan did in 1980. You see, the American agenda is not peculiar to political parties. But it is peculiar to those with a knowledge of our history, an appreciation of the difficult role we have to play in the world, and possessed of long perspective. These people come to serve – not to have a career. Look for them! They are few and far between.

Perhaps Mr. Romney is one of these people ... if so, he needs to tell us that he is! I have not heard it from him so far ... On the other hand, after four years of observation, I am sure that Mr. Obama is NOT one of these people! He is a "clientist" politician, nothing more.

Condoleezza Rice easily made the best political speech on Wednesday night that I heard in years.

She was inspiring; she spoke with clarity; her ideas were classic American concepts and well-expressed. Shades of John Kennedy; shades of Ronald Reagan.

All the rest of the clamor and racket faded away; here was the intellectual searchlight that cut through all the fog! Thank God there are still some minds like hers involved in our national affairs!

Can we find more people who understand the American Agenda? Can we place them in offices where they have influence?

If we can, there IS hope for our country!

900-pound fiscal gorilla of the EU

I follow a number of public intellectuals. One of these is Victor Davis Hanson; he is a professor of classics, an expert in classical Greek and Roman history, especially their military affairs, and author of a number of military histories of merit. And he is a well-informed commentator on current American affairs in his syndicated column … and I picked up his comments on contemporary Greece the other day. Most interesting …

Prof. Hanson lived in Greece in the 1970s, studying and researching there; he described Greek life at that time as "genteel poverty," gracious and simple. It was a Balkan backwater, a place world affairs had ignored since WWII and its immediate aftermath, sheltered by the NATO umbrella. Greece was one of the few countries of Central and Eastern Europe that Great Britain was able to protect from the great Soviet land-grab following the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. The British fleet and Army were on the scene and able to convince Stalin there were easier pickings elsewhere. So Greece did not fall behind the Iron Curtain. She remained free but poor, in short. Hanson reports in the 1970s, the medical care was poor, highways were horrible if existent; there were no modern bridges, no subways, no airports.

But then came the opportunity to join the European Community; Greece did so. And things changed. It was easier for the Greek government to borrow money; the country could have followed the Euro Union guidelines and built a solid economy and financial structures to match, but that was not the Greek culture; Greece chose to embrace her own values. Government expanded budgets, public unions grew in number, governmental salaries and pensions were increased, infrastructure was built: highways, bridges, airports … but the economy did not grow enough to afford all this. Tax revenues faltered. So the government borrowed more and more, using the credit card of Euro Community membership.

The Greeks had embraced the Euro life style; but unlike their fellow Western European members, they did not build their economy. Nor did they manage governmental affairs prudently and carefully. They took part of the Euro cultural and economic package, but not all of it. And the inevitable liquidity crisis came last fall. At first, the EU stepped forward, made emergency loans and stuck their finger in the financial dike. But when it became apparent that Greece was not going to accept the necessary fiscal discipline needed to rectify the mess and manage their debt, Germany balked.

And Germany is the 900-pound fiscal gorilla of the EU. She is the only nation that can put up the money to save the little country.

You must have Germany on your side to get the EU guarantees that shore up your economy. The Germans told Greece to "clean up your act" if you want more help. Budgets had to be cut, salaries brought into line, pensions reduced, thousands of public employees laid off.

And the Greeks balked. The unions yelled to high heaven, political leadership faltered, then abdicated, and new elections were called. The primary question was: Stay in the EU – or – go our own way? Well, elections in mid-June put those in power who want to stay in the EU. Can they make the cuts and balance the budget? No one knows. ...

But Victor Davis Hanson believes it is critical for the country to gain control of its affairs. Failure to do so means huge problems for the small country. He sees a very grim future for Greece if they are not successful: “History (has never been) kind to the loud and proud but vulnerable Greeks, who have suffered centuries of invasions, occupations and civil wars, coups and famines … Take away the veneer of Euro membership and Greece is a tiny, broke, isolated and terribly vulnerable nation once again … the current insolvency is the very beginning, not the end, of Greece’s problem.”

How will things turn out? No one knows … but the viability of the Euro Union is on the line …

along with Greece’s future.

“The E.P.A. and Common Sense?’ (or “Why are all the yards in Enid drying up?”)

Is your fescue grass dying yet? Or your burmuda turned yellow?

It will be; phase two of the Enid City water conservation plan is in effect August 1. (Full disclosure: I herewith confess that I violated the sprinkling ban on the morning of August 3, since I forgot to shut off my automatic lawn sprinkler system … when I went out for the paper, my grass was still wet. But not anymore: my grass will now die, since I switched the system off).

The reason behind the ban is simple – The City could easily experience a water catastrophe -- but the reasons why have not been spelled out completely by the City in its communications.

First: the City water system is a "just in time" system; we have a water reserve lake at the water plant that holds about a day’s maximum supply, 18-20 million gallons of water; it is supplied by pipelines from the City water fields west of town. We are pumping our wells at 100 percent and pushing water to town as fast as possible. Usually the water supply is drawn down in the reserve lake during the day, then supply recovers to a normal level during the night. We are consuming close to 18 million gallons a day. But during the month of July, phase one of conservation effort – the reserve lake slowly "lost" this margin of a maximum day’s consumption; it was not recovering during nighttime hours, and drawn down to dangerous levels. Phase one conservation did not cut usage enough. Should a major fire get started, requiring massive amounts of water, the city could experience a disaster. (As Eric Benson, city manager, told me, “Given the facts, it is an easy decision to make, since we cannot risk such a possibility, but it is a hard decision to put into action because of the implications of cutting water usage.”)

Second: The Real Reason: the Environmental Protection Agency recently revised regulations that required Koch Nitrogen to discontinue using "gray water" (effluent from the water treatment plant, good for cooling but not for drinking, etc.) – and TO USE DRINKING QUALITY WATER for cooling in their plant.

Of course, these new regs came down the "decision tree" of Big Government in this country; it never saw the light of day in Congress, or in Oklahoma City, much less Enid America! Using the Congressional blank check given to the Agency; the EPA determined the new regs, passed them on to Oklahoma Department of Environment Quality, which notified to Koch Nitrogen, which came to the City needing fresh water in order to stay in business. (The question is: Were the consequences of this EPA decision ever discussed? Questions asked of the dozens, perhaps hundreds, of companies and cities bound to affected? Did any one in the process use common sense? Why can’t "gray water" be used for industrial cooling, then cleaned up and discharged?)

Suddenly, Enid had nearly a third of it’s daily maximum supply committed to Koch: 5.1 million gallons per day. Of course, Koch pays for the water, and of course, Koch would rather use gray water (which is much cheaper for them) than fresh water. But there is no common sense operative here; this is government at work!

You see, EPA requires drinking-quality water. In fact, the five million gallons of fresh water that used to constitute Enid’s safety margin of water supply! The five million gallons that let us water as much as we wanted to – paying for it, of course – throughout last year’s drouth.

But that was last year (old regs). Now, when we have a drouth, we cannot water our lawns and plants and trees as much as we’d like to do so. And they will die!

Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of investment by home owners in our city will be damaged (at best) or will die, and be a total loss to the home owner. Were our costs and losses considered when Big Government instituted new regs?

T’ain’t likely!

Is it the City’s fault? Hardly. Is it Koch’s fault? Nope. Is it the E.P.A.’s work? Yep.

What can we do about it? Not a damn thing … in the short run. But we can sure think about it as we stand in our yards in the hundred-plus degree heat, holding our hoses in our hands, watching our grass die, and watering our allotted one-hour-out-of-every-forty-eight, hoping to save our bushes and trees from a very ugly and expensive end.

And we can think: "This damned government is too big! And it makes arbitrary and stupid decisions like this one that impact our lives! And it’s time for a change in the way Washington does things!” That would be a good start.