Tulsa Route 66 group holds political forum

Last Thursday, I attended a candidates forum held by the Route 66 Business League of Tulsa at Tally’s Cafe on 11th Street, which is Route 66.

Not only did the mayoral candidates speak, but so did city council candidates from east Tulsa wards. Each candidate was given three to four minutes to speak. Issues ran the gamut, but I’m going to report primarily on what the candidates said about the Mother Road.

Incumbent Republican Mayor Bill LaFortune didn’t talk a lot about Route 66. But he touted his record as mayor, which included the $15 million in public improvements to Route 66 via the Vision 2025 sales-tax package passed in 2003. “I always saw Route 66 as a unifying factor in our city,” he said.

Republican mayoral candidate Chris Medlock said he helped form the coalition that would ask for improvements from Vision 2025.

“There was so much excitement over it, we should have asked for $30 million,” he said. “My bad. But we had to be cautious.”

Medlock said the city lost an opportunity when it didn’t ask for additional Route 66 improvements in a general-obligation bond issue last year. He told me later that if the third-penny sales-tax renewal that’s likely be voted on in May doesn’t pass, many of those Route 66 improvements — including the proposed Route 66 Interpretive Center — won’t happen for years.

“I was there for the excitement over Route 66,” Medlock concluded in his forum remarks. “I will not let that go. Route 66 will be a major priority with a Medlock administration.”

Republican mayoral candidate Randi Miller arrived late and blew her chance to talk about Route 66. She mentioned her background and her promises of “a new direction.” But there was no mention of the Mother Road. That’s a disappointment, especially since she mentions Route 66 on her Web site.

The two major Democratic mayoral candidates, Don McCorkell and Kathy Taylor, did not attend. Later that day, I e-mailed them with the forum’s questions. One of Taylor’s aides said she’d provide answers before the deadline I set of March 1, but never did. McCorkell’s camp did not respond.

Longshot Republican mayoral candidate Brigitte Harper said “Route 66 was an untapped resource. Tourism is something we’re not working on to the best of our ability.”

Longshot independent mayoral candidate Paul Tay said he “didn’t have a lot of aspirations for Route 66, like Disneyland.” He advocated having four cops on bicycles patrolling Route 66. An interesting idea — except for that 11th Street from downtown to Garnett is eight miles long. Even cops in good shape would be worn out before the end of their shift.

Here are other tidbits from the forum:

— I asked Medlock why he didn’t attend Vision 2025 Route 66 Design Committee meetings from October 2004 to September 2005. He said he was busy fighting a recall attempt. He said other people took notes at meetings from him to keep him informed. Medlock’s explanation softened my disappointment over his no-shows, but I think there’s no substitute for face-to-face meetings — no matter how good the notes are.

— District 4 Council candidate Jack Wing is organizing the Tulsa World Route 66 Marathon this year.

— Incumbent District 3 Councilor Roscoe Turner pointed out that Admiral Place should not be ignored in Route 66 improvements. It was an early alignment of 66.

— Incumbent District 5 Councilor Bill Martinson said $60 million to $80 million of improvements are needed for Route 66 in Tulsa County, not just $15 million.

— District 5 Council candidate Al Nichols‘ statement that it’s “too easy to change zoning” in the city drew the only spontaneous applause. He also said that Tulsa University forcing out the Metro Diner on 11th Street “should have never happened.” TU is acquiring the Metro’s land and other parcels to create a new, snazzy entrance to the university.

— Incumbent District 6 Councilor Jim Mautino became so emotional telling his memories of Route 66 that he choked up twice.

— One thing brought up by audience members at the forum was the need to loosen zoning rules on Route 66 for new neon signs. Tally’s boasts marvelous neon, but the restaurant fought through a thicket of red tape before it was approved. Cool neon signs are part of the Route 66 experience — just look at Albuquerque’s Central Avenue.

— Combatting crime and making infrastructure improvements were the big issues at the forum.