Believe

Carlos Moreno
Aug 23, 2017 · 3 min read

I believe, as the Tulsa Regional Chamber does, that the development of a strong, dynamic, downtown urban core is of vital importance to a positive future for our great city. I also agree that attracting and retaining young professionals should be an important priority for Tulsa. In order to accomplish these goals, we must support enlightened public policies.

Now is the time to support a new way of thinking: young professionals prefer mass transit over cars, prefer density to sprawl, prefer productive land use over waste, prefer responsible tax spending over the status quo, and prefer determining our own future over having it handed to us.

I believe in the citizen-led planning process that is outlined in Tulsa’s Comprehensive Plan, adopted by the Mayor, the City Council, and the TMAPC. Residents; home-owners and apartment-dwellers in neighborhoods are taxpayers and supporters of nearby local businesses. They are the best source for great ideas. PlaniTulsa is revolutionary in that it puts the power of planning into the hands of those who will be affected by it the most, and allows citizens to collaborate with experts: the Planning Department for better neighborhood outcomes.

I believe that cities are for people, not cars.

Core values such as pedestrian health and safety, public green spaces, density of buildings, diversity in all its forms, and increased choices of transportation options are what must guide the changes and growth in Tulsa’s downtown. We want a choice. We don’t want to be confined to our cars. Bikes and busses are not the last resort of the downtrodden; they are the ways we want to choose to get around and experience our city.

I believe that right now, the stars are aligned for Tulsa to experience an economic development renaissance. We have a great comprehensive plan. We have new leadership at INCOG and the Planning Department that “get it” and are supportive of improved land use policies. We have a set of small area plans that are encouraging neighbors to roll up their sleeves and get involved at levels never seen before in Tulsa.

We have an active and entrepreneurial group of young professionals that have proven that they are ready, willing, and able put their money where their mouth is, and start their own businesses and contribute to a better Tulsa. Dense urban areas such as the Brady, Deco, and Pearl Districts have thrived due to this new, energetic, big-hearted entrepreneurial spirit and a love of Tulsa. We can choose to embrace that or dismiss it. Think carefully about that choice: it will send a clear message about whether Tulsa is committed to attracting and retaining young professionals, or simply wants to play lip-service to the idea.

Now is the time to support a new way of thinking: young professionals prefer mass transit over cars, prefer density to sprawl, prefer productive land use over waste, prefer responsible tax spending over the status quo, and prefer determining our own future over having it handed to us.

Dense, urban, more connected, pedestrian- transit- and bike-friendly neighborhoods is what we believe in and want. If you really want to attract and retain young professionals, you will support enlightened public policies that get us there.


Originally published at tulsanow.org.

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Carlos Moreno

Written by

community volunteer & magic bean buyer. @cap_tulsa graphic designer, @codefortulsa captain, @techlahoma board, @NextCityOrg vanguard. opinions are my own.

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