General thoughts (not random because my mind is so organized)

Tulsa's air quality took a monumental dive this morning. The city of Tulsa decided to burn the recycling we have all (about 50? of us) worked hard to put out on two Wednesday's a month. That's plastic folks. Plastic, isn't that one of the things environmentalists said was dangerous? That's why we recycle, to save the environment. Setting it on fire just puts the offending material in a different part of the environment.

The smell is extremely noticeable. I awoke this morning and had a frightening thought. Sometime in the night, someone (Mayor Bartlett's press secretary?), packed up the entire city and moved it to Cleveland, Ohio. That region was an industrial leader years ago (the 70's and before). Unfortunately, it also had the Cuyahoga River. That's the river that caught on fire. The floating chemical slick he had enter lighter than water. Rumor has it a passing fisherman created a spark when he tried to restart his outboard. The fire burned out eventually for lack of fuel. Anyone know a guy would be fishing in spot that smelled of industrial waste?

Mayor Bartlett has hired a press secretary. Lets see, we have already laid off police and are arguing about how they are going to come back. The firemen took a pay cut that needs to be restored. Seems a little suspicious. Is the Mayor hiring someone to go to the council meetings he(can't?/does not want to) attend, so that hear what the council is saying? That's what we have TGOV for. Is he clearing the board so he can paricipate more in the city's economic development effort? That would be appreciated by all of us that are out of work. Seems the Mayor might be trying to get the conflict with city council resolved. That's was what the mediators (two former judges) were supposed handle? Right?

City officials sell "quality of life" constantly. What do you say about a city who burns plastic overnight while they are supposed to be recycling it, creating a bigger stink than the elected officials. And a mayor who slashes the budget, including some from his own staff, then hires another body to speak for him. Surely not a Cleveland Ohio wannabe. Remeber. that city once called the "Mistake on the Lake" and was led by the ever (fill in you own blank) Dennis Kucinich (sp).

This will give you a bigger headache than Lebron James and Brett Favre.

Elected Officials-Falling Between the Cracks.

Not too long ago, we elected a mayor and nine city counselors. Some were repeat offenders, others new to the council for the first time. The latter includes Maria Barnes (District 4), Chris Trail(District 5), and G.T. Bynum (District 9). Jim Mautino took time off and re-elected to a another term in District 6.

Dewey Bartlett became Mayor last September. His first time as Mayor although he was on the first city council after the 1990 charter change.

That's lineup for the most contentious year in Tulsa political history. When is this circus ever going to be over? We have been through the charge that Bartlett and underling Terry Simonson "lied" to the Council about how to handle the layoff of X number of policemen. Then came the impartial investigation by a former cop. Then came council's consideration of the report without the presence of the Mayor himself, although he tried to attend but was prevented from same.

The City attorney then reused herself the whole staff. City Council attorney Drew Reece, fresh off a sabatical to run for County Commission, identified justification for the matter to go to Attorney General Drew Edmonson. Edmonson is fresh off an effort to become Oklahoma Governor. Edmonson will apparently will be the arbiter between the two sides of Tulsa's dysfunctional government.

Consider this. The Attorney General, or his staff, or both, will have to get up to speed on the details of this matter. Which will take an undetermined length of time. The AG may decide that his own staff must investigate the matter. There are three possible decisions that could extend the time to resolve this mess. If the problem is not resolved by the next inauguration day, the new AG will have to be brought up to speed.

Think this will get done before the new year? Later than that? Before the next council campaign? Wouldn't than be a bigger mess for the people of Tulsa?