Taylor Affirms Support For Improvement Package

Date: 10-17-13

Taylor supports Improve Our Tulsa package

City leadership, city workforce and Tulsa citizens also announce their support of the $919 million capital improvement package

(Tulsa, Okla.) – Former mayor and current mayoral candidate Kathy Taylor announced today that she is in support of Improve Our Tulsa, the capital improvements package that will be on the ballot Nov. 12.

“I think the City Council showed great leadership in how they put this package together and listened to input of Tulsans, like we did on Fix Our Streets,” said Taylor. “I appreciate the thoughtfulness that went into this process and overall, I think it is a good package.”

Taylor stressed the importance of investing in the city’s infrastructure. “As the former mayor of the city of Tulsa, I support the Improve Our Tulsa capital improvements package and hope Tulsans will vote yes on Propositions 2 and 3 on the November ballot,” Taylor said. “Repairing our aging infrastructure attracts and retains jobs. These investments in basic city services are important for the health and safety of our families. And these investments are the kinds of things – streets, public safety, parks, libraries – that anchor a community and make it a place we all want to live and raise our families.”

City Councilman Jack Henderson echoes Taylor’s support of the capital improvements package.

“Improve Our Tulsa includes much needed resources for my district, such as Lacy Park. If we continue to let our city parks fall into disrepair, our property values decrease, blighted areas grow and crime increases,” said Henderson. “I am proud of the collaborative effort from the council to put together a comprehensive plan that will improve all districts of our city.”

Small business owner Tony Agostino realizes that capital improvements are necessary to attract and retain young professionals and grow the city’s economy.

“As a young professional and small business owner, I realize we have to continue to fix our streets,” said Agostino. “Young professionals may not move here for our streets, but they won’t consider a city that has such poor infrastructure that it hinders doing business. We need to do all we can to increase Tulsa’s competitiveness for new businesses, and create and retain much-needed jobs.”

With crime on the rise, the Fraternal Order of Police also recognizes the importance of the capital improvement package that will ensure the Police Department receives improvements needed in order to keep citizens safe.

“We support Improve Our Tulsa for the additional resources it gives our department – being able to replace our helicopter, make improvements to the police academy and support our overall capital needs,” says FOP spokesperson Jessica Caswell. “Public safety is high on everyone’s radar right now, and we need to pass this package so we can ensure the ability of our officers to protect the public.”

“The stakes are high with this capital improvement package,” said Taylor. “It’s important to remember, a well-maintained infrastructure system isn’t the result of economic growth, it’s the framework for economic growth. On Nov. 12, I hope Tulsans will vote yes, and together, we can ‘Improve our Tulsa.’ ”

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