Mayor, councilmembers: Keeping OKC 'big league' is critical to our city's aspirations

Thirty years ago next week, Oklahoma City’s modern renaissance began when the people of Oklahoma City approved the original MAPS.

There are at least two reasons for our city’s success these last three decades:

1. A city that continues to invest in itself is a city that will grow and thrive.

2. A city that works together will get things done.

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The seven of us are not all registered with the same political party. We live all across the city. We have very different backgrounds and perspectives. We are different generations. But, each of us voted to send this proposal to the voters on Tuesday. We each have different reasons for doing so. Our thoughts about this proposal are as unique as our wards and our constituents. Some of us like different aspects of the proposal a lot more than others. All of us accept that outcomes are never just as we want them to be. But, we each recognize that keeping Oklahoma City “big league” is critical to realizing the aspirations we each have for our great city.

The seven of us recognize that we have a sacred trust. We know that selfless public servants sat in these seats for a century before us, and we hope that our successors judge that we also took seriously the obligation to leave things better than we found them.

One of the legacies left to us has been a century-long commitment to a competitive downtown arena. Our predecessors sent proposals for new arenas to the voters in 1927, 1962, and 1993. They recognized — as we do — that the city’s arena is an economic engine and a centerpiece of our city’s quality of life.

The proposal on the ballot Tuesday secures that economic impact for another 30+ years, beyond 2050. And, it doesn’t raise the tax rate above its current level.

And yes, we consider it self-evident that the Thunder have dramatically changed the city. Becoming a big league city created opportunities for our city we could have never imagined. We don’t want to lose that, but the Thunder’s original lease has expired, and a new arena guarantees a new long term relationship.

We also don’t want to miss out on concerts and other shows that should be in OKC. Every concert that goes to a smaller market in our region (like Tulsa) is usually the result of having an arena that is too small by square footage and has serious technical challenges that make it difficult to load in the big shows. We’ve been here before, and when our arenas became obsolete in the past — like in 1962 and 1993 — we reinvested.

Each of us believes in the important work our city government does to support people at all socioeconomic levels and across the city. We recognize we jeopardize those efforts if we don’t have this economic engine providing the tax dollars that make this work possible.

Though not all of us voted for the Council’s Community Benefits Agreement resolution highlighting the needs of future workers at the new arena, we all believe that the jobs at the new arena can provide economic opportunity for all our residents.

Additionally, we value the philanthropy that has come with the Thunder, and we love the way the Thunder unites our city. We can hardly imagine Oklahoma City without the Thunder, and we are excited that we have the opportunity to keep them without raising taxes.

We respect those who disagree with details of this proposal, and we share many of their goals. But, we have studied this issue for nearly two years and accept that perfection is simply not attainable.

More: OKC arena vote: Here are some columnists' takes on the plan

In the end, each vote we will cast Tuesday counts the same as yours. Ultimately, this choice is up to you. Every major initiative of the last 30 years faced the voters. We wouldn’t have it any other way. We ask that you let your voice be heard Tuesday. We will see you at the polls.

David Holt is mayor of Oklahoma City. Bradley Carter, Ward 1; James Cooper, Ward 2; Barbara Peck, Ward 3; Todd Stone, Ward 4; Matt Hinkle, Ward 5; and Mark Stonecipher, Ward 8; serve on the Oklahoma City Council.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Thunder dramatically changed OKC; new arena will continue momentum