EDMOND —
When Gov. Frank Keating and his wife Cathy led a huge fundraising effort in the 1990s to see the completion of the Capitol dome, hundreds of regular Oklahomans rallied to the cause. Children collected pennies and donors gave what they could to see the project come to fruition.
But a lot has happened since that rallying point for pride in the state’s American Indian heritage, resulting in a large bronze statue of a native warrior gracing the top of the dome. The recession, uncertainty from Washington politics and a change in priorities have all helped create a different landscape as the Native American Education and Cultural Authority desperately tries to finish the $171.5 million American Indian Cultural Center and Museum. Officials have said they need $80 million to finish the building and its opening exhibits, but a failed effort in the state Senate in May dashed their hopes of $40 million in matching money for the $40 million in private money promised to the project.
A bill to abolish the authority and move the project to the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department did not gain favor either.
So what to do? The state has a huge embarrassment sitting on its hands plus about $500,000 in annual maintenance upkeep so that citizens don’t lose the investments already made.
Many have argued that Oklahoma shouldn’t be in this situation when its state Capitol is literally falling down around the heads of legislators and visitors. And other infrastructure necessities such as those at decrepit Veteran Administration facilities are in need of cash infusions.
Without debating the need of the American Indian Cultural Center, we can forthrightly state that a solution must be found.
Scaling back to lessen the costs would be a great place to start. For example, according to the center’s own website, it has been commissioning public art for the museum since at least 2009. Certainly, a museum needs art, but some of those expenditures probably could wait until the most important components are paid for and in place. The scope and mission of the cultural center is grand in scale. We’re not suggesting that this is not a worthy cause for grand scale, but bottom line is we still have to be able to pay the bills.
This project needs a leadership team that can invigorate the process and find new solutions. We would place our bets on the leaders at Oklahoma City who pulled off the MAPS strategies. If the state is incapable and/or unwilling to finish the cultural center, then let’s give the project to Oklahoma City as part of the continued revitalization of the Oklahoma River and downtown Oklahoma City. The land originally was donated by Oklahoma City, so returning it is not too far in left field. Even if it means completely repurposing the project to another use, that would be better than letting millions of dollars go to waste.
Our View
OUR VIEW: Cultural center needs OKC
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Be Edmond needs your help
BMX star and local legend Mat Hoffman knows what’s it like to fall from great heights and find yourself at one of the worst low points in life. He also knows how to climb back up and tackle life’s problems head on.
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OUR VIEW: Be Edmond needs your help
BMX star and local legend Mat Hoffman knows what’s it like to fall from great heights and find yourself at one of the worst low points in life. He also knows how to climb back up and tackle life’s problems head on.
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OUR VIEW: OKPOP — great idea, bad timing
The Route 66 museum in Clinton has been such a success that Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, said the turnaround project proves that popular culture is a best-seller when it comes to museum projects. It also proved that when a community gets behind a project and raises the funds to launch it, they all can reap the rewards of the increased tourism and recognition.
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OUR VIEW: Choice is clear
This Tuesday, Edmond residents are asked to go to the polls to choose between incumbent Mayor Charles Lamb and Richard Prawdzienski for the office of mayor. Voters citywide also will be asked to consider whether to retain Nick Massey as its Ward 4 councilmember or select newcomer Shilpa Abbitt, an engineer employed by Devon Energy in Oklahoma City.
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OUR VIEW: Line-item budgets should return
Some may have made fun of the nickname — the Doomsday deal — but the thought behind new Speaker of the House T.W. Shannon’s move to name a House committee specifically to monitor federal dollars coming into Oklahoma was right on target.
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OUR VIEW: Economic development plan deserves consideration
An economist recently told the Edmond City Council that the entire Oklahoma City metropolitan area has the potential to boom with economic growth in the next decade. Edmond officials are making plans now to be ready for that potential growth to ensure the city gets its fair share of the economic pie.
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OUR VIEW: Doing the right thing
On Wednesday, the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Senate swore in their newly elected and re-elected members in preparation of the 2013 legislative session. It was a moment for those elected to public office to savor their success, share their victory with family and friends who came to watch the ceremonies and be cordial with their new colleagues.
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OUR VIEW: Lankford, Jolley, McDaniel get our vote
Few times in American history have we seen people divided so politically as we have during this election cycle. The partisan gridlock of Congress and the relentless sniping of presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle are more than just fodder for late-night comedy.
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OUR VIEW: Say yes to SQ 766
State Question 766 poses one of the most drastic questions for voters to consider in state history. The language of this state question requires voters to say either yes, they don’t want a tax increase, or no, they do want one.
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