Streets forum
Our local Unitarians at All Souls Church at 30th & Peoria have an interesting approach to Sunday School. In place of Alongside Bible study or theological discussion, they present public forums on issues of civic importance. It might not be the most spiritually profitable way to spend Sunday morning, but it's often the only place that both sides of an issue get aired in an evenhanded town hall atmosphere. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to speak last October before the river sales tax election in a forum moderated by Clayton Vaughn with Kevin Stubbs of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Jenks Mayor Vic Vreeland, and Ken Neal editorial page editor emeritus of the Tulsa Whirled.
This Sunday, they're featuring the issue of Tulsa's streets and how best to fix them. Two members of Mayor Taylor's blue ribbon tax force, former Councilor Dewey Bartlett, Jr., and former Water and Sewer Commissioner Patty Eaton, will be there to argue for their plan to increase taxes by $1.5 billion. Councilor Bill Martinson has his own plan, reprioritizing existing revenue streams as much as possible. Former Streets Commissioner Jim Hewgley III emphasizes the need for short-term action in the form of a paving program.
The public is invited to attend. Here are the details:
Public Forum: Tulsa RoadsSunday, April 13
10:00-10:50 a.m.All Souls Unitarian Church
2952 South Peoria Ave.This Sunday, All Souls Unitarian Church will host a public forum on the issue of Tulsa's crumbling streets. The Complete Our Streets Advisory Council recently delivered its report, and the public debate now turns to specific proposals for addressing this urgent problem. Come hear a distinguished panel of community leaders discuss the state of our city's streets and how to pay for their rehabilitation.
Our panel:
- Dewey Bartlett, Jr.--Former Tulsa City Councilor and member of the Complete Our Streets Advisory Council
- Patty Eaton, Former Tulsa Waterworks Commissioner and member of the Complete Our Streets Advisory Council
- James Hewgley, III--Former Tulsa Street Commissioner
- Bill Martinson--Tulsa City Councilor, District 5
This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Brian Cross, adult religious education coordinator, at 743-2805, ext. 503.
(Modified in response to a comment from RecycleMichael. Modified again -- changed "listen in" to "attend" -- in response to a comment from Don Singleton.)
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Yes. The Unitarians have interesting public forums on Sunday mornings. But it is misleading to say..."In place of Bible study or theological discussion, they present public forums on issues of civic importance."
The Church has two bible study classes and a class on world religion each week. The sermons are also seperate from the public forums.
I think every church should find time to discuss local issues. This church helps with many things in the lives of it's members, including sharing their faith.
I really hate to pick nits, and it may only be the spell checker in some old, half-forgotten version of Windoze, but Mike, it's not it's, it's its. Please use the proper forms of words in these other-worldly discussions.....and, other than that, I think that this is basically a political discussion, and it should not be discussed at a tax-exempt institution. Because it all boils down to some political professionals trying again to raise our taxes.
You say "listen in" but is it on the web, or on the radio or what? "Listen in" implies something different from "attend"
My apologies for imprecise language. I don't know if they plan to put it on the web.
By the time the GENIUSES figure it out, gas will be $6.
Santa's patiently waiting for Memorial to be cleared of motorists driving gas-guzzling SUV's to spinning classes, and the BA renamed the Ho Chi Mihn Trail!
Geniuses can talk about fixing streets all they want. But, why bother, if no one can afford to DRIVE?
If you are still driving, you've just taken a 33% pay CUT of last year's salary. Lisa Margonelli, Oil on the Brain: Adventures from Pump to the Pipeline, Doubleday (2007)