A 'second chance' for Bell's?
Bell's is getting a "second chance," the Tulsa news media trumpets today. But a second chance at what?
Temper the enthusiasm. Keep the champagne on ice.
According to Randi Miller, the county commissioner who has assumed role of lead spokesman for the fair board on the matter, a second chance to submit his "business plan" to a group of three independent auditors and answer questions about cash flow, "the safety of the taxpayers" - insert a big "Huh?" here, if you will - and the ability to maintain and renovate the amusement park.
Which is different in what respect from the last request made of the Bells before the lease termination?
Miller complains to the Tulsa daily newspaper about "gross misunderstandings" of the failure to renew the lease.
To which we would say, no, Ms. Miller, we understand what is going on all too well. That's why there is a growing number of people who are raising their voices in protest. Nothing you or Expo Square president Rick Bjorklund have said so far answers the real issues underlying your actions. It is window dressing, and you know it.
Perhaps you are offering a "second chance" assessment as an opportunity to backpedal and rescind the non-renewal of the lease. We certainly hope so.
If there is a serious safety issue involved with Bells that you know about and the public doesn't, you owe it to the citizens - the aforesaid taxpayers - to say so openly. If you are merely hinting at public safety issues to cloak other motives, for shame.
If Expo Square tenants are to submit their financial bonafides and business plans for your review, then let's see the business plans of Big Splash and the Tulsa Drillers. How do they propose to increase the safety of the taxpayers, as you phrase it, and to increase the profitability of Expo Square? Is it true that neither of these entities currently pays rent for use of public land?
Miller is quoted as saying she needs to hear from "independent voices" before she can take further action.
We're sure hearing from a lot of them, and overwhelmingly they question the motives behind the non-renewal and the invocation of the 120-day "get out of here" deadline.
We would suggest that Tulsa fair authorities, county commissioners included, remember that good public service requires a certain amount of inconvenience to the public servant, and as distasteful as it might sometimes be, the necessity to treat the public (you know, the people who pay your salaries) with a little bit of respect.
There might be a diplomatic solution to this. If Bell's truly intends to move in the next year or so, perhaps everyone ought to sit down and negotiate a targeted withdrawal date and allow for "an orderly transition." While this might not work in violence-plagued Iraq, it still ought to work in midtown Tulsa.
Such a move would also give the county time to figure out how to explain to the voters what it really intends to do with that extra 10.4 acres.
posted by Dave the Oklahomilist @ 2:30 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Dave said, "Miller is quoted as saying she needs to hear from "independent voices" before she can take further action.
We're sure hearing from a lot of them, and overwhelmingly they question the motives behind the non-renewal and the invocation of the 120-day "get out of here" deadline."
I believe what Randi Miller is going to need to hear and is already hearing is the crash of her political career in the wake of the prior decision to close Bell's with such disdain. Her sudden change of heart in dealing with this matter certainly smacks of her realizing she has already committed political suicide. No one in their right mind would vote her back into any public office in or around Tulsa even if she does press for Bell's to remain at this point. Her mistakes have already been acknowledged and we know now where her loyalties lie. They aren't with the taxpayers. Our best interests have not even been considered in this.
Dave said, "If Expo Square tenants are to submit their financial bonafides and business plans for your review, then let's see the business plans of Big Splash and the Tulsa Drillers. How do they propose to increase the safety of the taxpayers, as you phrase it, and to increase the profitability of Expo Square? Is it true that neither of these entities currently pays rent for use of public land?"
Yes, Big Splash and Drillers (not certain about Fairmeadows) do pay a fee for use of the property. However, it is substantially dissimilar to the monies having been paid by Bell's. I second your motion for their business plans to be reviewed, but by the taxpayers of this county. We don't need three hired auditors to tell us when something smells of corruption and unfairness.
As far as safety issues are concerned, gangs are a citywide problem. It is up to the Tulsa Police Department and the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office to make it safer for all citizens no matter where we are. Bell's Amusement Park is no different than any other venue. Law Enforcement needs to address these problems before they come into the places our children go to have fun. It shouldn't fall on business owners to tackle the gang issue. Are you listening Ms. Mayor?! That is an entirely other blog!
I'm not too sure what Ms. Miller means when she says that she is looking out for the safety of the community. She never really comes out with any accusations based in fact. She mentioned the Wildcat accident from 1997, and that is about the extent of her evidence to back her claims of an unsafe venue. I will not take away from the obvious tragedy of that event, but nothing has been said about the two deaths and permanent paralysis that took place at Big Splash during their time open. If she truly was concerned with the ride safety, I would like her to bring out a statement from the Department of Labor substantiating her claim. After all, they did a very thorough examination of all of the rides at Bell's after the microburst tore through the place last summer.
I don't think that Randi Miller is backpedaling in the least. She knows that if Robby Bell publicly refuses her offer to have accountants review his business plan, he will likely look like he has something to hide. And what in God's green Earth would an auditing firm know about public safety?!?!?! She is just stalling. What she really wants is to tie up the Bell's hands legally until the 120 days are up and then confiscate their rides. I wouldn't put it past her for one second.
As I see it, I don't think Randi Miller, or others even considered the backlash this situation might of caused.
In short, she and others have got their collective tits in the public/political wringer, and are now trying to find a way out of a unpopular situation, while at the same time trying saving face.
A hard task at best.
The offering by Miller to take a outside audit into consideration if Bells is 'fluid' enough to maintain a business should not even have begun to come into play here, for as I see it, the finances of the Bells is not really any of their damn business, as long as the park pays the rent, maintains the equipment, provides security, etc.
I got a gut feeling that says this whole mess will quietly go away. For I don't think the 'powers to be' want the public demanding full disclosure about who pays what at ExpoSquare and why.
But it may be too late, for 'the fat is in the fire now'.
But if that situation does arrive, I see the bar tabs at Southern Hills going up a tad!
Follow my drift here?
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