Please Help Bell's

Not being cynical, just being truthful. It is naive to think that ALL examples of government work exactly as their supposed to and in the best interest of everyone.

From my experience, I'd say that government working effectively and *as intended*, that happens less often than the reverse...

There's just FAR too much room for *self-interest* when the polticians are able to make decisions that directly and indirectly affect them and their friends/family...and the benefits of actually SERVING the "public good" are not explicitly made clear to those politicians OR their constituents...

Elect me, and I'll fix all that... ;)

That's the thing, government is more often than not flawed by people with personal agendas that cloud their abilities to get done what has to get done. As long as politicians accept campaign money from the wealthy and corporations, many aspects of the government will continue to be mere tools of those with deep pockets in most cases. Maybe that sounds cynical but that's just the way it is, and to just accept that as "the way things go" is frighteningly irresponsible.

And that's my point, there is accountability. In the same sentence you're saying, "that's just the way it is," and then, "to just accept that as "the way things go" is frighteningly irresponsible." So which is it?

Jeff, back to your original statement...

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Jeff said:
When you have any kind of connection like that and you're in public office, you abstain from voting on those matters, especially in local government where everyone is related, sleeping together or knows each other.

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The problem with that is while in theory Commissioner Miller SHOULD HAVE acknowledged a potential conflict of interest, she was in fact the most outspoken against renewing the lease and demanding that Bells disclose financial information.

Ending the lease and publicizing what may or may not be private financial information potentially aids one of the park's competitors, who also happens to be one of the Commissioner's contributors. Accountability should happen NOW, not 3 or 4 years in the future.

^^ It's both. That's the way things are more often than not, but that doesn't make it right to just accept it. This type of stuff happens all the time and these people still get voted into office. To suggest people should just deal with it is ignoring the foundation of democracy and a democratic political system.

^ Yeah, Miller should have abstained from voting. It's clearly obvious that she has a vested interest in what happens so she should have kept her mouth shut, considering the position she holds.

The question NOW is, will the "Fair" Board recognize the power play going on with Miller *and* Bjorklund and re-issue a lease to Bell's since it's become SO apparent that the drive to get Bell's off that land was SUCH an underhanded self-serving move...

This is SO blatant, I'm even tempted to wonder if he (Robbie Bell) would have a civil case against one or both of them...

I'm pretty sure you have already seen this report from yesterday's Tulsa World:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/NewsStory.asp?ID=061119_Ne_A19_Inter40778

It would be interesting to see what these surrounding cities would be offering Bell's. The problem with moving from the fair grounds is trying to make up for the lost business of the fair, the cost to relocate, etc.

Tulsa really lost out when the council didn't approve a location for the Oklahoma Aquarium and let that go to Jenks. All that Jenks has seen since is positive development (the Aquarium is moving to phase two of their development ahead of schedule).

Also, Tulsa lost out when Bass Pro decided to build in Broken Arrow. Now that area is seeing rapid growth.

But I guess one man's trash is another man's treasure..........too bad Tulsa is keeping the trash and letting the treasures get away.

The City of Tulsa looks like it may fight to try to keep Bell's by annexing the fairgrounds. This would take control of the fairgrounds away from Tulsa County.

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/1106/375470.html

I'm 99.99% sure this will not happen, but I think it is interesting how this may now put two government entities fighting each other.

Aquarium, Bass Pro, Bell's....something smells *fishy* in Tulsa... :-/

Yeah, what's up with that?

Bell's is looking to Move.

http://www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=114762

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/1106/375628.html

The Tulsa County fair board met and Bell's wasn't on the agenda.

Edit:Added KTUL story link *** Edited 11/21/2006 12:34:07 AM UTC by Zingo***

Well, ^that^ certainly looks like a move is underway...

Sooooo hoping that Msrs. Adams and Fetterman get a call from Tulsa...the move to Jenks for Zingo would (will?) be closer than the one of Starliner...

Hey, Tulsa....good luck with that land, and your Fair and all....yeah... ;)
*** Edited 11/21/2006 12:59:38 AM UTC by rollergator***

As long as Zingo makes the move, I say good riddance. I think that Bell's will thrive without having to deal with the fair... no more curfew is among the list of pros.

^ Provided Zingo is relocated with everything else, seems like a no-lose situation for Bell's.

Dealing with the bunch of, ummm, "jokers" that are running Tulsa (into the ground) can NOT be anything Bell's needs while trying to expand their business. While other cities, like Jenks it seems, are interested in this kind of "community" AND business growth, Tulsa is going in the direction of having a few businesses run by friends and families of their elected representatives....

Good thing I don't work for THEIR Chamber of Commerce... ;)

The fair site would be no big loss really if Zingo, the pretty cool log flume, the race cars, and the classic dark ride can be saved and moved. Bell's is totally land locked with no real room for expansion so a move could really benefit them. Oh and they need to keep the neon sign too!

Looks to be even more official that Bell's is gone.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/NewsStory.asp?ID=061121_Ne_A1_Bells59522

I'm not sure about the relocation of Zingo, but I'm not cetain about the outcome of the ride either. I know there have been talks about demolition of the rides just to keep others from making profit from them (because of the 120 day removal).

In their earlier relocation plans, Bell's was going to operate basically two parks.........the new Bell's, and the old park (during the fair). They were going to leave Zingo, Log Ride, etc. and operate them during the fair.

The other ride I'm not sure about either is the skyride that went from one side of the fair to the other.......this ride was Bell's biggest income generator during the fair. I would also remove (demolish) that so no one could make money from it.

There are so many classic rides that are going to be lost by this move........The one I think we will miss the most is Phantasmagoria.

Tulsa World published a letter to the editor from a coaster enthusiast, from outside the Tulsa area.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/NewsStory.asp?ID=061130_Op_a16_let7

Bell's has offically asked for more time (9 months) to move their rides.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/NewsStory.asp?ID=061129_Ne_A1_Bells19748

That's not just any enthusiast, LOL...

Dave's da bomb...but it really looks like the Board has *made* its decision...

zingo will be saved
http://www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=121225
Does anyone know the fate of phantasmagoria?
hopefully they can save it too.