FROM CURTIS KILLMAN
World Staff Writer
LaFortune listens as an expert gives his views on creating a better Tulsa.
Mayor Bill LaFortune is asking others to share their vision with him.
He invited a group gathered this week to discuss the future of Tulsa to send him suggestions as to how they would like to see Tulsa develop in coming years.
He gave the group his e-mail address -- blafortune@ci.tulsa.ok.us . -- and said fire away.
The invitation came following a talk given by an expert on forecasting economic and social trends as to how Tulsa should reshape its future.
The event was geared toward broadening Tulsa's economy and is the first of several events aimed at developing what LaFortune and other community leaders call a "shared regional plan."
City business leaders brought the expert -- columnist and author Joel Kotkin -- here Wednesday to present his views of what Tulsa should do to compete in what he called the "new geography," which is also the title of his most recent book.
LaFortune, while appearing to differ with Kotkin on some issues, told the 150 people gathered at the OSU-Tulsa Auditorium he did see eye to eye in one area.
How Tulsans feel about themselves and their community is the No. 1 challenge for residents, LaFortune said.
Tulsans have to believe that their city is "one of the best places" to live if they are to accomplish any change, he said.
"If we don't talk up Tulsa, then we can't move forward," LaFortune said.
Kotkin had some straight talk for the group.
"It really is in the hands of Tulsans to decide where Tulsa goes," he said.
Localized economic problems, lower student test scores and an inability to attract and retain top young professionals are combining to hold back Tulsa, Kotkin said.
Tulsa, he said, is at a "historical moment" as it deals with the struggles of two of its larger employers, Williams Communications and WorldCom.
While the telecommunications industry may be faltering right now, "the game is not over yet," Kotkin said. "The technology revolution is not over."
Kotkin's discouragement of cities seeking to build new arenas and convention centers drew some applause from the crowd.
"I think those leaders are living in the wrong decade," Kotkin said, referring to backers of expanded convention industry facilities.
"I don't know that I would necessarily agree with that," countered Bob Mayer, Tulsa Convention Center director.
Tulsa can still justify a larger, more modern convention center facility, Mayer said.
"There are many, many cities that are expanding and building their convention spaces," Mayer said. "I don't think it is unrealistic that the reasons they are doing it shouldn't work for Tulsa."
Kotkin contends the convention industry has "played itself out."
"I can think of better things to do with the money," Kotkin said. | LaFortune also differed with Kotkin on the convention center issue.
"I was surprised to hear him say that was not necessary as we move forward," LaFortune said in a Friday interview.
"I hear very little dissension in Tulsa that our Convention Center that exists today either needs to be upgraded and modernized or a new convention center built elsewhere," LaFortune said.
"I believe the Chamber officials can point specifically to business we've lost which translates to lost sales tax revenues and impacts the quality of life in our city because we don't have the sales tax dollars that make the basic improvements to our streets and infrastructure," he said.
On the positive side, Kotkin sang the praises of Tulsa's arts community.
The city also is poised to take part in the high-technology revolution, thanks largely to efforts to connect the city to the Internet through the installation of fiber-optic lines, Kotkin said.
City leaders already are seeing signs of change in areas of downtown, too.
New downtown night spots and high-tech businesses that have sprung up in recent years are examples of where the city needs to be moving, said Pat Treadway, Urban Development Department planning and economic development manager.
"We believe the rehabilitation and revitalization of older parts of our city are necessary to complement what's going on in the exterior of areas of our city," Treadway said.
Quality of life and availability of skilled workers are the top determining factors in a company deciding where to relocate, Kotkin said.
The city has become more business-friendly to private investors but has room for improvement, Treadway said.
"We need to figure out how to do that and I think we are and I think we're getting better and we need to continue to do so," Treadway said.
LaFortune and others in coming weeks and months hope to explore ways to develop a vision for the Tulsa region.
Kotkin's talk and ensuing discussion was a "good first step in the visioning process," LaFortune said.
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