For starters, here are Ed Shadid’s remarks about the phantom $30 million dollars associated with the MAPS 3 convention center, a broadside against the Oklahoman, and perhaps some other things. Somehow, I got mixed up in the friendly fire, and that’s OK by me, just fine.
I’ll complete this post later but here’s some starter information:
- My conversation with David Holt … in that September 25, 2009, conversation with the mayor’s former chief of staff, the $30 million associated with relocation of the OGE substation is mentioned and discussed (see item 6). This relates to whether the convention center is a $280 million or a $250 million expenditure.
- He mentions the KOKH Fox Video on the Oklahoman’s Ethics as related to the MAPS 3 campaign, something that was touched upon here.
- Did the Oklahoman have a conflict of interest as to the MAPS 3 election, since David Thompson, then president of the OPUBCO Communications Group and publisher of the Oklahoman, was also the President of the Greater OKC Chamber and leader of the MAPS 3 campaign, and did that affect the Oklahoman’s reporting of the news about MAPS 3? I thought that it might … see Quo Vadis, Oklahoman.
- Shadid was blasted by a July 28 editorial for his delving into the MAPS 3 convention center issues. This is the same Oklahoman which argued for his opponent in the spring election and which has had few good words to say about him.
He seems to think that the Oklahoman is a part of the “Fourth Estate,” normally attributed to the written and broadcast media, and that it ought to report the news.
He says that he thinks that we can learn from past and move forward. Let’s hope so. But, even if Ed Shadid cannot muster 5 votes on the City Council for civility it its procedure, at least he has a bully pulpit. That is good.
That should be enough for now. It’s time for my mid-day nap. More later.