The demise of the "Cram-alot" Inn?

There is something fishy about this story. Without exception in every account on radio or TV, never do they mention who actually owns the Camelot. Consistently, they are referred to as "the owners". Isn't the ownership of this property a key component of the story?

After all, it is the responsibility of the owner of the property to keep it up. And they should be fined by the city for allowing it to get in such a state of disrepair.

What happens if a homeowner doesn't mow their lawn? The city will eventually do it for you and slap a lien against the property.

Now mayor Taylor is getting creative to solve this problem. Have the TIA (Tulsa Industrial Authority) loan the money to "the owners", with the promise they will tear it down and repay the loan from the sale proceeds of the property. Is there also a promise to actually sell the property after the demolition?

Why the media blackout on ownership? It is my understanding that at least several years ago the owner was the Transcendental Meditation non-profit church (you get my drift, I don't know the exact name). Anyone know if that is still the case? Why shelter the stigma of poor stewardship and poor citizenship by this group toward the City of Tulsa? Perhaps the bad publicity avoidance is also part of the "deal".

Also, look out for this one too. The Camelot has asbestos! Now just saying that increased the cost of demolition 5 fold. Here come the guys in the moon-suits. And I will bet one of the "good-ole boys" will "get" the job. All conveniently paid for by the up front money of the TIA, a public financing entity, in other words, YOUR MONEY! How conveeen-ient!

One last thing. As a native Tulsan, I and my friends have always called the Camelot, the Cram-alot. There is a part of me that will be sad to see it go. But in this case, it may be for the best to demolish it. The "owners" either won't or can't put any money into it and it is an eyesore thanks to them.

Not Another Traffic Light?!

Someone explain this to me, please!

The street engineers of Tulsa have just placed yet another traffic light just North of the I-44 overpass on Sheridan Road. The only thing I can figure is that they are about to make the access road that goes up the hill past the masonic lodge and TTC two-way instead of one-way as it is now.

Or else they just installed it so they can control traffic and make the through traffic have to stop or slow down.

Where did they find money to do this in the face of a city funding crisis?

Am I alone in being peeved by the poliferation of traffic lights between major intersections? I am all for removing about half of them and let the traffic flow.

Tulsa's Public Education Crisis

Nothing really new here in T-Town.

We are not exempt from the issues facing public education by cities around the country. At least the courts haven't taken over public education, like they did in Kansas City a few years ago.

Anyone out there that still believes that public education can heal itself?

If you do, just plan on more stories like the national chamber of commerce giving all of Oklahoma public education a grade of F.

Nothing has changed my mind. Tulsa's public education is incapable of reforming itself in any meaningful way. It will have to have reforms imposed upon it. And I hope we have non-academic types involved in that process.

Lobby your state elected officials to expand the sponsors for charter schools and change the funding to be distinct from traditional public education.