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Episode 308

Meat and Potatoes (with Camal Pennington)

On October 14th, voters in Oklahoma City will vote on a new general obligation municipal bond to fund city operations. New city councilperson representing Ward 7, Camal Pennington, joins Andy to explain why this is important.

Visit vision.okc.gov for more information on the GO bond.

Transcript
Speaker:

Hello and welcome to Let's Pod this.

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I am Andy Moore.

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Friends, welcome back another week,

another Friday night in the big town.

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, We've got a really important conversation

today about something that's going

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to affect every single person who

lives, works, drives, shops, does

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anything in Oklahoma City, and that

is the:

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The Go Bond.

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The Go Bond, if you will.

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, It's a $2.7

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billion package of investments.

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That's really like.

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The meat and potatoes of city government,

streets, sidewalks, parks, libraries,

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public safety, and much, much more.

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, The election for this, the vote on

this will happen in just a couple

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of weeks on Tuesday, October 14th.

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And it's, , up to Oklahoma City

voters, everyone who lives in Oklahoma

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City, it's your chance to vote on

whether or not you approve this,

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, and to help us break it all down.

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I'm joined by one of Oklahoma

City's newest leaders at City Hall.

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Ward seven, Councilman Camal Pennington.

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Camal is an attorney, a community

leader, and now a public servant

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representing Northeast Oklahoma

City and parts of downtown.

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Um, he got elected earlier this year,

last year, this year, this year.

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April 1st.

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Um, so today we'll get to know

Camal a little bit more, but mostly

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we're gonna talk about what's in

the bond, what it means for Ward

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seven and the rest of the city.

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Um.

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And we'll go from there.

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Come on.

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Thanks so much for being here.

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Thank you.

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I'm excited, very excited to be here.

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Uh, always excited to have a member of

our city council here in the studio.

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So you've had several other

city council members here?

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I have.

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I mean, you're new.

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Okay.

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So I didn't have a chance.

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Guess.

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Well, not yet.

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No.

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This is your first chance,

but you're welcome.

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Anytime.

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Um, no, but Councilman Cooper and

Hammond have been on the show.

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They're both great.

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A couple of times I've,

I lived in, um, in Ward.

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Two.

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Is that, that's north of 23rd Street.

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Yes, that's right.

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So I moved sa, I moved less than one mile,

but I switched, uh, city council wards.

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I also switched state senate

districts just in a short move.

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So you gotta learn new people, um,

and build new, I love all of them.

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They're, we have a great city council.

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Mayor Holt's been on

the show several times.

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Um, so I know that obviously you're

one of the newest members of council.

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Um, so to start, let's get to know you.

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Tell us a little bit

about your background.

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What drew you to public service

and um, what you hope to accomplish

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with your time on council.

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Yeah, so I'm born and

raised Northeast, OKC.

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I'm very proud of that.

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Um, love our city.

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I actually live in the same

neighborhood I grew up in.

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Oh.

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So my parents, a few of my sisters, uh,

we all still live in the ne my grandma.

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Um, we all live within a few blocks of

each other, so it's, it's really a joy.

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Um, but I'm, I'm a proud north.

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East High School, Viking, um, went

on to Oklahoma City University

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where I had a, a Clara Looper

scholarship that paid my way Yeah.

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To OCU.

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So, um, love, feel very

fortunate to have been a part

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of that legacy of Clara Looper.

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Um, then I went to law school at the

University of Oklahoma College of Law and,

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um, knew in the middle of law school that.

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I was not meant to be somebody

who was going to practice.

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Traditionally.

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I thought, I can't bill hours.

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I can't be stuck to a desk.

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I've gotta figure something else out.

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So, um, after taking the bar, I moved

to Washington, DC um, and started

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where everybody has a law degree.

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Absolutely.

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No one told me that.

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I wish somebody had told me that.

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Uh, so lawyers are a dime a dozen there.

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But, uh, so I started off as an intern.

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An unpaid Yeah, intern

that worked full time.

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For Congress, they don't do that anymore.

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Yeah.

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They don't even allow that.

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They pay them a minimum.

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And it's, it's not much.

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It's not much, but at

least more than I had.

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That's right.

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Um, so, but it was a great start.

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I worked for a great member of

Congress, Kathy Castor, she's still

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there representing, uh, Tampa, Florida.

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Yeah.

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Learned a lot about public service.

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Yeah.

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Um, I came back and started working for

the American Federation of Teachers,

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where I was their staff attorney, but

that was dealing more with contracts

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and employment issues and mm-hmm.

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So that was, that was.

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A fun time to fight for teachers.

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Um, I then went to work for the

University of Co, uh, of Oklahoma

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College of Law where um, I was director

of annual giving for a few years.

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Then I was director of Admissions.

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Yeah.

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Um, so access to quality

education is a passion of mine.

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And, um, now I serve as executive director

of, it's my community initiative, and

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we are a nonprofit that's focused on.

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Family strengthening in Oklahoma City,

we want to create self-sustaining

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healthy families for everyone.

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And so our True Dads program

is probably our flagship.

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Um, it helps dads become better partners,

parents and providers to their families.

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And so we do just a number of programs

and that are federal and state funded.

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And so I just feel fortunate to be.

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A part of, of making a difference in

this community, but what inspired me?

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So that's part of the question.

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Sure, sure.

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Um, my mom was a teacher for almost

40 years in Oklahoma City Public

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Schools, and I grew up with remembering

before the first day of school.

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You know, teachers started a

couple days before students,

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and I remember her saying.

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It's year 20 something and I'm

so excited to go to school.

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Yeah.

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It'd be, oh, it's year 25.

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I'm so excited to go to school.

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And she'd have students or their

parents knocking on our door

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'cause they needed a ride to work.

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They needed a letter of reference,

they needed food, they needed whatever.

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She was always there to, uh,

to support those students.

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'cause she just believed

that if we're gonna live in a

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better world, it's up to us.

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Mm-hmm.

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And so I'm inspired by that, that service.

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And so the opportunity to

serve the council, um, is just.

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Something I feel really grateful

for and wanna make sure that every

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kid, no matter what your income is,

no matter what you look like, no

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matter what part of this community

you live in, that you have access to.

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Um, great streets, great housing, great

parks, great and a great education.

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Yeah.

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And so that's really what I hope we

can build here together in Ward seven.

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Yeah.

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That's amazing.

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Um, I, a couple of weeks ago I

was at a meeting with a bunch of

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leaders of networks, like national

networks generally, and we were

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talking about impact networks and,

uh, we, there's a book about it.

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We were all kind of sharing

and learning together.

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And one of the examples in this book,

it's, I think it's called Impact Networks.

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I forget the author, but if you Google

it, it's probably the first one.

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Um.

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Was about a school who mapped the

impact networks of, uh, the community,

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but it was based on teachers, right?

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So each teacher has their class of

20 or 30 families, and when they.

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Just like seeing it mapped out, like

drawn little circles and lines and, um,

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they realized that, you know, one or two

teachers were solely responsible for like,

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connecting with this entire immigrant

community in whatever state it was in.

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But just seeing this like network of.

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School administrators to

teachers, to the community.

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And you realize very quickly that

teachers are like gatekeepers.

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Not in a bad way.

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Yeah.

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But like they're the entry point.

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Um, they are the, they are the

community leader for dozens of families.

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Every year, all the time.

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And so stories about your mom or like,

it makes sense like that I can, I can

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picturing this, this little drawing

of people reaching out to your mom

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saying, Hey, you're our point of contact

whether you know it or like it or not.

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Like this is how it works.

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Uh, and I think that's an element of.

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Education that we too often forget.

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Right.

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We think about teachers as

being, that's a job they do.

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They go and they teach and

they come home and they come.

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And that's not the end

of the story at all.

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It's a calling.

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Mm-hmm.

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And especially when you think about she

survived the era where pay was really low.

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Mm-hmm.

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Um, and so having, you know, luckily

married, but had plenty of kids, so.

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Mm-hmm.

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So, um, you know, it's, it's not easy

to go into that profession, but I

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think all of it, the thing that, that.

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What you're saying reminds me of is

the fact that no matter what your

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income level, if you went to school,

I wanna ask you, who are some of the

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most influential people of your life?

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And I promise you mm-hmm.

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Someone's gonna name a

teacher that they had.

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That's right.

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That inspired them, that helped

them, that believed in them.

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Mm-hmm.

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Um, and so there's something

powerful about that.

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I also think that when you look at, uh,

the fact that there's just fewer places.

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Where community comes together.

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Those third spaces are just, yeah, there.

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There are fewer of them.

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Fewer of us go to church, fewer of

us join social clubs, fewer of us.

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And so the school is one of those

last places where people can make

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that connection of community.

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And so having a quality teacher

in every classroom matters.

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Yeah.

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So yeah.

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Now I am biased.

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My wife is the president of the

American Federation Teachers Oklahoma

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City and the state of Oklahoma.

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So.

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We talk about teachers a lot and the

importance of that, but that's great.

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Well, we'll have her on

on a future episode then.

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I'd love to hear her side of this story.

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Oh, yeah.

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Uh, well, let's shift to this

big issue that voters are

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gonna decide in the next month.

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We mentioned the top of

the show, the:

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Um, for those who may not know, uh, Camal,

what's in the geo bond and why is its.

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So important to Oklahoma City.

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Well, first I think it's best to,

to start with explaining how city

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government is funded in the first place.

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Yeah.

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So, um, in Oklahoma, which is very

unique, so I believe we're the only

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state in the union that this is

true, that our municipalities, our

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operations, are funded by sales taxes.

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So, um, anytime you've,

everyone knows about maps.

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Mm-hmm.

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So every time we've wanted to do some

other additional special projects,

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we've had that temporary sales

tax for maps that's been added.

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Uh, but the way that infrastructure

in our city has been paid for

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has been through property taxes,

and that's what the geo bond.

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Is so, um, we are currently, there is a

geo bond that's in place from:

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Better Streets, safer Cities Initiative.

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And so that's still in place.

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So before it expires, we're

hoping to put in this:

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bond, so taxes would remain flat.

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Mm-hmm.

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It's the same number.

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It's 16 mills.

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It's the same as it's been

for decades in Oklahoma City.

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So this doesn't raise taxes, but it

makes really important investments

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in our infrastructure that without

this funding wouldn't be possible.

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Yeah, that's an important,

I think a very important.

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Place to start.

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I'm glad you said that.

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And you also said, the thing that I

think a lot of voters want to know

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is, are you gonna raise my taxes?

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And the answer is no.

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We're gonna keep 'em

just where they're at.

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Right?

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Absolutely.

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It's staying flat.

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Um, so the bond altogether is $2.7

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billion.

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Um, and it includes like.

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I think 11 propositions or something.

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Yes.

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Um, what kinds of projects

are included in that?

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So, number one, the largest, uh,

amount of funding is for, uh, streets.

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So street resurfacing, street

repair, which is so important.

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But I, I just wanna remind our listeners,

uh, we live in a very large city.

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Mm-hmm.

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620 square miles.

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There are enough lane miles.

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That are managed by the city of

Oklahoma City to go from Oklahoma

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City to Anchorage, Alaska.

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It is a huge undertaking.

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Yeah.

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So, um, the fact that there's a

billion dollars in this package for

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the roads alone is really important.

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And this is just city streets, highways,

or different responsibility, right?

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That's state and federal.

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Yeah.

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So, um, these are just

the streets and bridges.

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Um, but it's also important things like.

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Drainage issues.

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Yeah.

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Um, it's, it includes some of these

propositions are for public safety,

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so we need new fire stations in some

places, or fire station renovations.

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Mm-hmm.

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New police stations, other city facilities

like, uh, helping us to ensure that the

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family justice center, that's really

gonna be very helpful and transformative

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to needy families in our community.

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That, that gets the support,

infrastructure support that it needs.

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Mm-hmm.

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Um.

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There's also some money in

there for economic development.

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We want jobs to continue to come into

our community, and for me in particular

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in Ward seven, very excited about, uh,

$50 million for affordable housing Yeah.

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Initiatives.

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And so tomorrow plug, shameless plug.

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Uh, tomorrow, uh, Councilman, uh.

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Cooper and Councilwoman Hammond

and I are hosting an affordable

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housing forum at MetroTech at six 30.

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Um, so come out, but we're gonna talk

about ways that, that some of those

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funds, if it, if this bond goes through,

uh, could really impact us creating

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quality neighborhoods for everyone.

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Yeah.

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So that's great.

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Um, I know that, you know, we

refer to this as the meat and

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potatoes of city government.

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Um.

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And I you mentioned streets.

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I think this is like, this is the

money that goes through the things

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that most of us take for granted.

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Yes.

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Right.

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It's the stuff that like pays the

bills to keep our city safe and

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growing and like moving about.

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Um, but it's not the things

that are big and flashy.

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Um, do, is there anything else

about those projects, um, that you

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want to add that we didn't already?

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Talk about?

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Well, I, I think I'll just say, you

know, I, I love that the meat and

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potatoes, uh, statement because whenever

I'm trying to explain to people the

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importance of city government, I

just wanna start with the basics.

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Mm-hmm.

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The city is impacting you every

single day when you got out of bed.

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And you went to the bathroom mm-hmm.

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And flushed your toilet.

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That was the city of Oklahoma City.

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Yeah.

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That was your infrastructure dollars

that, uh, ensured that you could do

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that when you turned on the faucet to

wash your face and brush your teeth.

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Oklahoma City, you got in the, in your car

and you got hit the road to go to work.

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The city of Oklahoma City is maintaining

your roads and you got to an intersection.

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Who's maintaining the

intersections, right.

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Oklahoma City.

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You know, it's all, every bit

of your daily life is being

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touched by these dollars Yeah.

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That we're putting into the geo bond.

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And so I would just, again, strongly

encourage people to support it.

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Yeah.

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Because without it, um, there's

it, we already have a tight budget.

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We had a we 4.5%

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budget cut this year to city services.

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Um, which is being felt when my

neighbors complained to me about the

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park across the street from my house.

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Yeah.

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That, um, took a little

bit longer to get cut.

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Mm-hmm.

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A few times and I said, well, we

did have a budget cut everybody.

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Yeah.

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So there's less staffing to go around.

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Um, so it matters.

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Yeah.

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Having the support really matters.

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Yeah.

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I think that's the thing is,

you know, we, we really do take.

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So much of infrastructure

for granted, right?

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Someone we can set it and forget it.

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Someone else is taking care

of it, uh, until it breaks.

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Yes.

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And then you realize, and then we're mad.

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Then we're mad.

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Um, you know, I live, uh, near-ish, 23rd

in May and, or excuse me, 23rd in Penn.

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And we've had a string of,

um, over this summer of, um.

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Pipe issues, like water

issues underneath a pin.

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And the city was always quick to come out.

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And often it means they come out,

they dig a hole, you know, they

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stop the leak, which ensures water

pressure for the neighborhoods.

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But then, you know, someone else

has gotta come back and fix it.

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This is not a, it's not like one

guy in a truck that has everything

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he needs to dig a 20 foot hole and

also patch the hole the next day.

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And so people were complaining

about traffic having to get

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rerouted and I was like, yeah, but.

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We didn't lose water at all.

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And like losing water for

one day is a real pain.

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Oh my God.

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That's terrible.

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Yeah.

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You wanna go stay in a hotel, right?

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Right.

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Like we have to go stay in a hotel

if there's not hot water, you know?

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Right.

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Um, to say nothing about the businesses

and restaurants around there that

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needed to stay operational, like

there's a lot of stuff, uh, and

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the effect that they could patch.

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What is aging infrastructure like?

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The reason we're having these

problems is not 'cause someone

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patched it wrong, it's because.

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Hey, man, the pipes underneath the

street were put there decades ago,

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and they're not gonna last forever.

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Things have to be replaced,

maintenance has to be done,

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and that takes time and money.

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And that's where the, the geo

bond comes in, right, is to ensure

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that the city is able to fix those

period, certainly in a timely manner.

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Absolutely.

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And I, I think that residents

just, I just wanna emphasize that

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there, our budget from the, for

the, our sales taxes, it's tight.

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You know, it really is difficult for

pe for those people who say, well, if

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I don't support the geo bond, then, you

know, they'll, they'll figure it out.

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No, I, I, I it will be very difficult.

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Yeah.

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Uh, but we have made, through the Geo bond

though, we've had a tremendous impact.

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If you have grown up in Oklahoma City

like I have, and seen the decades of

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growth that we've experienced, there's

finally sidewalks in my neighborhood.

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Mm-hmm.

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That's been because of the support

that we've given to the geo bond.

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You know, I think about all the

resurfacing that's happened along

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23rd Street and many parts of it.

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Mm-hmm.

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Um, that just would not have happened.

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Mm-hmm.

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Without the geo bond.

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Um, we're also ensuring that some

of our other amenities that, that we

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have in this city are continuing to

get the maintenance that they need.

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So think about Riversport.

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Yeah.

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Um, also in ward seven, um, is it

really, it's, I didn't realize your

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ward went that far south, but we

have so many things in Ward seven.

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Yeah, both arenas.

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So the Paycom and the new one.

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Yeah.

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Um, we have river sport.

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Yeah.

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Uh, we have uh, we have Devon Park.

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Yeah.

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So Softball Hall of Fame.

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So both Olympic venues.

420

:

Yeah.

421

:

That will be in Oklahoma City are in ward.

422

:

Yeah.

423

:

So I'm very proud of that.

424

:

But some of the support in the geo bond

is gonna ensure that we can maintain

425

:

those facilities and that they, they're

gonna be world class, not just for the

426

:

Olympics, but for us to use it mm-hmm.

427

:

For, uh, the life of them.

428

:

It also includes, um, some money for a

multipurpose stadium for lower bricktown.

429

:

Which will be another exciting

addition of potentially having soccer.

430

:

Mm-hmm.

431

:

And other, uh, events being

able to be in our city.

432

:

So we wanna continue to be a big

league city, um, not just for

433

:

these cool projects, but also for

creating great places to live.

434

:

Mm-hmm.

435

:

And that's what the geo bond does Both.

436

:

Yeah.

437

:

That's great.

438

:

So you get, you get the boring maintenance

stuff that no one cares about, but you

439

:

also get some exciting developments

that shows progress is still happening.

440

:

Absolutely.

441

:

Uh, you mentioned earlier 50 million

in economic development for Ward seven.

442

:

Well, is that right?

443

:

It's, or is that total?

444

:

It's, it's, it's about, it's 50

million for affordable housing.

445

:

Okay.

446

:

That's right.

447

:

So's it?

448

:

I think it's a hundred and, um, a

hundred and ish, uh, million for,

449

:

um, some economic development.

450

:

Yeah.

451

:

Incentives as well.

452

:

So I think what I read for Ward

seven in particular, out of this.

453

:

You know, um.

454

:

A huge amount of money

for the Bond overall.

455

:

But Ward seven has like $379 million

of projects included in your ward.

456

:

Yes.

457

:

And you mentioned the multi-use

stadium, some other things.

458

:

Um, what else do you think

are the most significant ones

459

:

for your constituents there?

460

:

Well, so there's a few things.

461

:

Um, one, the expansion of the

Ralph Ellison Library is huge.

462

:

Um, Ralph Ellison Library is just a, it's

iconic, um, in northeast Oklahoma City.

463

:

It's my childhood library

too, and so many others.

464

:

But, um, so many people in our community

don't have quality access to the internet.

465

:

Um, the.

466

:

Opportunity for there to be

safe places for kids to go in

467

:

the summer is provided there.

468

:

Um, we want to create better

readers in, in the next generation.

469

:

And so making sure that that

library can serve more people

470

:

in a quality way matters.

471

:

Um, there are funds for, to support

the street scape, uh, resurfacing of,

472

:

of Northeast 23rd Street, which, you

know, Andy, if you go drive under I 2 35

473

:

headed east from, uh, from the oth from

that side of, of Oklahoma City and it.

474

:

Feels like you've gone into

a completely different world.

475

:

Mm-hmm.

476

:

Like you're living in a completely

different city and that, and we

477

:

don't want that to be the case.

478

:

We want northeast Oklahoma City to

thrive and for it to be seamless

479

:

when you're driving through

and seeing the development.

480

:

Yeah.

481

:

Um, that's happening on 23rd Street.

482

:

So this resurfacing funds

are really important.

483

:

Um, it's some, there are some

several million dollars help

484

:

finish the deep fork trail.

485

:

Um, and I get a lot of call.

486

:

You'd be shocked how many people call me.

487

:

That's like the new like

bike and multi-use trail that

488

:

goes all around the city.

489

:

Right.

490

:

And so, uh, completing that is important.

491

:

Um, the last, that last portion over

on, um, Kelly is gonna be another

492

:

important place where we want to try to

fix that so we can complete the loop.

493

:

Um, and so that's part of it.

494

:

And then there's also $10

million in support for the Clara

495

:

Looper, uh, civil Rights Center.

496

:

And just so that the.

497

:

The public knows this is such an

iconic, um, an important investment

498

:

because it's one of the ways that

Oklahoma City has contributed to the

499

:

United States becoming a better place.

500

:

Mm-hmm.

501

:

Um, you know, Claire

Loop's sit-in movement.

502

:

Um, it.

503

:

It started sit-ins for everyone across

the nation before Greensboro did

504

:

it, they got it from Oklahoma City.

505

:

And so this making sure that that history

is known and showcased to the world

506

:

when we'll soon host the Olympics in a

high quality facility really matters.

507

:

And so I think that

investment is important.

508

:

Um, I don't want my neighbors, so

I, the Ward seven is, is a big ward.

509

:

Yeah.

510

:

I have everything from, I, there are

farms to bricktown, to suburban areas.

511

:

Um, this bond definitely includes.

512

:

All of our neighbors.

513

:

So there are major arterial

streets, um, that are getting

514

:

some improvements that need it.

515

:

Um, I know that, uh, there's, for

example, Wellington Park in the northern

516

:

part of my ward that borders, uh,

Edmond, uh, we're redoing Bryant Avenue.

517

:

That is a, a consistent area of complaint.

518

:

Bryant and Memorial have been an issue.

519

:

Mm-hmm.

520

:

So there's, there are things like that.

521

:

There's several other major arterials in

the far greater far northeast Oklahoma

522

:

City, Spencer area where we're fixing

roads that are just in really bad shape.

523

:

Mm-hmm.

524

:

Um, Westminster, Anderson, awa,

um, those are places that basically

525

:

feel like they're the other side.

526

:

They may as well be Arkansas as far away

from central Oklahoma City as they are.

527

:

Um, but they're still part of our city.

528

:

And so it's just really good to

see that this bond really is.

529

:

Is making sure that all parts of the ward

are getting some attention and some love.

530

:

Yeah.

531

:

It's so funny, even as you're talking,

I, I was, I just drove, uh, at Bryant to

532

:

Memorial yesterday 'cause I was taking my

kids to their grandparents' house and so

533

:

it's like a part of the town that I don't

go to often, but it affects people I love.

534

:

Right.

535

:

Um, exactly.

536

:

My daughter goes to the school she

goes to is in your ward and so I'm

537

:

thinking about my path of like where

I drive and how it will affect me

538

:

when I'm driving on these roads.

539

:

Um.

540

:

Like what segments are in need of

attention to make sure that I reach

541

:

out to the right person to make

sure it's on someone's list of like,

542

:

Hey, here's some areas that need

attention, that need some work.

543

:

Yeah.

544

:

Um, and I, you know, Oklahoma City

is, we are a car based town, right?

545

:

Like everyone drives everywhere.

546

:

And so even if it's no matter, I guess,

you know, no matter where you are.

547

:

You're gonna feel the effects

of this kind of vote, right?

548

:

Like it's going to Absolutely.

549

:

Any street you're on, you may not

think it's in your neighborhood,

550

:

but it's in your backyard some way.

551

:

And then the complaints will come because

they're tired of the construction styles.

552

:

Right?

553

:

Right.

554

:

You know, 'cause that blocks

traffic and slows things down.

555

:

That's when we start building stuff.

556

:

So as long as we don't tear

out the sidewalks on Broadway

557

:

here on Automobile Alley again.

558

:

Yes.

559

:

So annoying, so brutal.

560

:

This is the third time we've done it.

561

:

Um, but they look great though.

562

:

They do look good and it's, it has

gotten more functional every time, right?

563

:

Yes.

564

:

Um.

565

:

Now I know, you know, some voters might

be skeptical of big bond packages,

566

:

and we've already discussed how this

is not going to add any new taxes.

567

:

Um, but can you tell us a little bit

about what accountability measures are

568

:

in place to ensure that these funds are

like spent wisely and that the funds go

569

:

to the projects that are being promised?

570

:

Well, one, I think it's

important to realize this.

571

:

Our city is really well managed.

572

:

Especially financially.

573

:

And so we've maintained

the AAA bond rating.

574

:

We are, um, in Exemp, we've received

national awards regularly for how well

575

:

managed our finances are as a city.

576

:

And so I think that's

important to remember.

577

:

Mm-hmm.

578

:

And then the city council

provides that oversight over

579

:

how we're spending this money.

580

:

But it is.

581

:

It's, it's going to core infrastructure.

582

:

The projects are specifically listed

for which roads, you know, which

583

:

sidewalks where it's gonna be.

584

:

And so we'll be providing

that direct oversight.

585

:

Um, and our city staff

is outstanding mm-hmm.

586

:

And able to, to assist

us with that as well.

587

:

But trust me, the pressure's on.

588

:

Yeah.

589

:

Because as soon as people see their

road, I, I can promise you I'm gonna

590

:

be getting phone calls about when

the construction's gonna start.

591

:

Yeah.

592

:

So, yeah.

593

:

Um, the accountability has been what

has also made, uh, our residents

594

:

have faith in what, in Oklahoma City.

595

:

That's why we can have four

different maps projects, you know?

596

:

Right.

597

:

Four different iterations of maps because,

uh, of that belief that we'll be honest

598

:

and transparent about the way we act.

599

:

And so we take that obligation seriously.

600

:

Sure.

601

:

Um, so the actual.

602

:

Voting on this, it's 11 different

propositions, which means there

603

:

will be like effectively 11

items on the ballot to vote.

604

:

Yes, you have to vote yes on all of

them for the whole bond to go through.

605

:

It's kind of broken up.

606

:

Um.

607

:

How should, uh, how do you think

voters should think about making their

608

:

decision about these propositions?

609

:

What if someone's like, well, I

like some of these and not others.

610

:

How does that affect the whole?

611

:

That's a great question.

612

:

So I've, I've had two different events,

um, for neighbors and at, at one event

613

:

at a neighbor who I deeply respect.

614

:

And, and I understood this perspective,

shared well, if there's not.

615

:

A library in our immediate community, then

you don't need to vote yes for the mm-hmm.

616

:

Library proposition.

617

:

If there's not a new fire station in

our neighborhood, then why would I vote?

618

:

Vote for that one.

619

:

And I, there's not a new park.

620

:

I'm not gonna vote for it.

621

:

And I said, wait a second.

622

:

Just remember that without these funds,

you're actually making the pot smaller.

623

:

For us to be able to serve every, all

those other interests that you have.

624

:

So, um, we're very creative

in trying to use the funding.

625

:

We have to have the maximum impact

for creating a high quality of life

626

:

for the people in Oklahoma City.

627

:

So, if your park may not be listed as one

of the projects this time, but was maps

628

:

four, did Maps four include some mm-hmm.

629

:

Parts of your park

that, that got improved?

630

:

Um, having a, a new police station

in one area alleviates the, uh,

631

:

makes more officers available.

632

:

In another area mm-hmm.

633

:

Which may end up impacting you.

634

:

Mm-hmm.

635

:

So it's important to realize we live in

one whole city and the more that we ensure

636

:

that we have resources to service the, the

greatest need, the more it helps us all.

637

:

Yeah.

638

:

Um, and so it's, it's still, again,

you have to appeal to our, our sense

639

:

of the Oklahoma standard, again,

of caring for our neighbor, um,

640

:

in order to, uh, as you're voting.

641

:

So I, I'd encourage people to

just remember we're here to,

642

:

if we grow the pie, it's better

for all of us to be able to eat.

643

:

Yeah, I have a tangible example from my

own experiences in my old neighborhood.

644

:

Um, several of us neighbors were talking

about the lack of sidewalks and like,

645

:

especially like bicycle access around

to get to our neighborhood and to

646

:

get out into the rest of the, to like

the more bike ready parts of town.

647

:

Yeah.

648

:

And so this was during the

pandemic when we were all out.

649

:

Walking and biking a lot,

trying to get outside.

650

:

And so we set up a zoom call with,

uh, Councilman Cooper, who was my

651

:

city council member at the time, and,

uh, some of his staff and some other

652

:

folks from the bike walk, OKC plan.

653

:

And for the, and for the

current, the Better streets.

654

:

Safer Streets to say like, Hey,

what, like what is the plan?

655

:

I haven't really paid attention.

656

:

Are we on?

657

:

The plan somewhere,

like are we even listed?

658

:

If not, is that an option?

659

:

How do we think ahead?

660

:

And we said we want to get on someone's

radar for the next month, which is

661

:

the one we're talking about today.

662

:

And for like a real kind

of narrow strip Right.

663

:

On specifically, it was

Villa between 23rd and 30th.

664

:

Okay.

665

:

But kinda by Shepherd Mall.

666

:

Yeah.

667

:

And um, that was, you know,

five years ago and then along

668

:

the, it wasn't part of the plan.

669

:

We were just outside that phase, but.

670

:

As time went along, um, some funds

were freed up from one project

671

:

that allowed, not for a whole

big one, but for a small one.

672

:

And so it all kind of came together 'cause

it was, we had had the conversations

673

:

and discussed what was needed and

kind of brought it people's attention.

674

:

So it was at least like

next in line or somewhere?

675

:

Yes.

676

:

That they said, Hey, you know what,

we've got a little extra money in our

677

:

pocket, um, that we think we could use.

678

:

Here to fix this.

679

:

And so they were able to, um, come in

and build in some bike infrastructure

680

:

and some sidewalks to make it more

handicap accessible, more bike accessible.

681

:

Um, and those things make it

just accessible to everybody.

682

:

It didn't fix everything we wanted, but

it was a, a, a good reminder of like, if

683

:

we didn't speak up, no one would know.

684

:

Absolutely.

685

:

And it would not go, we can't just like

post online or like curse the heavens and

686

:

hope that someone builds us a sidewalk.

687

:

Um.

688

:

But it was because we had the bond in

place because, uh, we had had those

689

:

relationships in place and those

conversations that we were able to, um.

690

:

To see the fruits of our labor, which

was, you know, even as a guy who works

691

:

in civic engagement, still affirming

to be like, oh, hey, it really

692

:

does work when you show up so well.

693

:

And it's important to remember there are

unallocated funds that are in here too.

694

:

Mm-hmm.

695

:

For, so if there are overages and

costs that we don't anticipate,

696

:

or in that instance mm-hmm.

697

:

When they come, when a project comes in

at less than what the estimated cost was.

698

:

So that allows us to be able to

have flexibility to get to the

699

:

projects that, um, that people want.

700

:

So I would encourage anyone, if you

don't see your particular street, your

701

:

sidewalk, your whatever bike lane mm-hmm.

702

:

Go ahead and still report that to your

council person, go ahead and still report

703

:

that to the action center because we're

still accumulating those recommendations

704

:

that we can continue to make progress.

705

:

Yeah.

706

:

That's great.

707

:

Um, if this bond passes, what

do you think is the first thing

708

:

that residents will notice?

709

:

'cause it doesn't, and I guess

does it take effect next year then?

710

:

Yeah, it would start next year.

711

:

Okay.

712

:

So what do you think is the

first thing people would notice?

713

:

Um, you're probably gonna, construction.

714

:

Construction, you're probably

gonna start seeing roads that the,

715

:

the worst roads that are list.

716

:

Did are probably gonna be

the, the starting point.

717

:

Yeah.

718

:

Because some, I mean, we know

the damage that it does to, to

719

:

tires and other, um, other things.

720

:

It's, it's not good.

721

:

So we really wanna make sure that

the roads get, get started on.

722

:

Um, we also, because of the fact that

we're an Olympic host, um, the, some

723

:

of these amenities I know are gonna

be things that have to be worked on.

724

:

Now.

725

:

Mm-hmm.

726

:

Because we'll be hosting events

soon here and so you won't be

727

:

able to do construction at the

same time as hosting people.

728

:

Yeah.

729

:

So some of those projects I

think will, you'll see some

730

:

work there, so it'll be good.

731

:

Yeah.

732

:

Yeah.

733

:

That's, you know, I think about what

would, if we were having company over

734

:

to our house, whatever mom told us to

clean and how to get ready for company.

735

:

Just imagine that company is like

every country in the world, right?

736

:

Like it's a Olympics are a

very big deal for our city.

737

:

So that's super exciting.

738

:

Um.

739

:

Camal if, uh, listeners want to get more

information, and I hope they do, where

740

:

can they go to get more information?

741

:

Well, you can go to, uh, vision.okc.gov

742

:

or if you just Google OKC Bond 25.

743

:

Um, I, I did it right before I came in.

744

:

Nice.

745

:

So, um, can confirm.

746

:

It does work.

747

:

Um, and that's where you can find,

I mean, it's got a great map.

748

:

So when you go there, you can

look up your specific address

749

:

and see what projects are nearby.

750

:

Um, you can find out about

every single project there.

751

:

So I would strongly encourage you

to go, um, look and just explore

752

:

the map and, and find out more

about what all the bond is gonna do.

753

:

Awesome.

754

:

And on the website, um, all the projects

are like broken down into categories

755

:

like arts and culture, community

environment, innovation, parks, planning,

756

:

transportation, um, and then it's.

757

:

Even, I guess I probably incorrectly

assumed that this would be like

758

:

a starter website that's going

to be building information.

759

:

No, no.

760

:

This is a trove of information,

including closed projects that

761

:

have already been completed, right?

762

:

Yes.

763

:

And so you can also see like, hey,

where we've been and where we're

764

:

going, which I think is really helpful.

765

:

And for me at least a good reminder

of like all the stuff that's

766

:

happening in this big town that

we can't all possibly know about.

767

:

So like you said earlier.

768

:

Even if it's not in my neck of the

woods or doesn't affect me directly,

769

:

it is really exciting for me to

know that stuff is being built, that

770

:

is being maintained or upgraded in

other powers of Oklahoma City because

771

:

like we rise together Absolutely.

772

:

As a town.

773

:

Um, great.

774

:

Well, um, some key dates I

want to hit before we go.

775

:

Um, the, the voter registration

deadline for this election has

776

:

already passed, so I assume if you're

listening to our show listeners,

777

:

you're already registered to vote.

778

:

If not, we should have a side

conversation about why not.

779

:

Um, if you want to vote absentee,

you have until the 29th, you have one

780

:

week to request your absentee ballot.

781

:

Um, that's a easy, convenient way to vote,

but don't forget, it has to be returned.

782

:

Basically by election day takes a

stamp or you can drop it off in person.

783

:

It has to be notarized.

784

:

If you need a notary,

I'm a notary, hit me up.

785

:

I'm happy to meet you somewhere.

786

:

The election day itself is October 14th.

787

:

That is a Tuesday.

788

:

You can vote at your

regular, uh, voting location.

789

:

You can also, oh, I assume

there's early voting for this.

790

:

Probably the.

791

:

I would assume so on that week before.

792

:

Yeah, that probably Is it the

weekend, but the Friday and Thursday.

793

:

Friday, yeah.

794

:

Yeah, Friday.

795

:

Yeah.

796

:

Beforehand.

797

:

Listeners, I'm sorry.

798

:

You can go to the election board

website and find that information.

799

:

Elections do okay.

800

:

Dot gov.

801

:

Um, but I assume, I mean, turnout in

these is usually lower than we would like.

802

:

Yes.

803

:

It's lower than we would like for

every election, but this kind of stuff

804

:

where it's not like the presidential

election, turnout's usually pretty low,

805

:

and that means I see this as a threat.

806

:

Right.

807

:

When turnout is low, it is easier

for people to mount an insurgent

808

:

campaign against something.

809

:

'cause it doesn't take that many people.

810

:

Right.

811

:

Um, and so that's why it's important

for us to, um, be aware of this

812

:

and to, to show up to vote.

813

:

Um, Councilman Pennington,

thank you for being here today.

814

:

Thank you.

815

:

I enjoyed it.

816

:

It's doing great.

817

:

Please come back some other time.

818

:

I will.

819

:

Let us know what's happening in

Ward VI seven, uh, and let us

820

:

know what's happening with, uh,

your nonprofit sometime as well.

821

:

We'd love to talk more about that.

822

:

That'd be great.

823

:

Um, friends, thanks for being

here, listeners, as always.

824

:

Uh, don't forget, mark, your calendars

for October 14th for this election.

825

:

Um, as we say, every week decisions

are made by those who show up.

826

:

Here's a concrete opportunity for

you to show up, um, before that.

827

:

Also, don't forget next week

on Thursday, October 2nd, we're

828

:

hosting our film screening.

829

:

Of Majority Rules, which is

a documentary about Alaska's

830

:

electoral reform campaign for open

primaries and ranked choice voting.

831

:

Uh, it's, I just watched

it again the other day.

832

:

It's so good.

833

:

Um, please join US Rodeo Cinema at 7:00

PM Um, you can get details on our website.

834

:

Let's fix this.org/events.

835

:

All right.

836

:

With that, we'll see you next week.

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About the Podcast

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Let's Pod This
Oklahoma politics for regular folks

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About your host

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Andy Moore