In their January cover story, Southern Business & Development magazine named the citizens of Oklahoma City their “2011 Person of the Year.” The annual award is usually reserved for an individual who has contributed greatly to development of a city or state. The publication made the unorthodox selection of Oklahoma City after recognizing the citizens’ commitment to improving the city over the last 20 years.
“Oklahoma City has been recognized across the country for our dramatic reinvention,” Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said. “I cannot think of any award more deserving than to recognize the people who have made that transformation possible. The work and cooperation of the citizens of Oklahoma City in every good thing happening in our city is truly unparalleled. This is a tremendous honor.”
Author Mike Randle explains how the selection committee came to make this choice: “We realize that the citizens of Oklahoma City are not a “person” to recognize in our annual “Person of the Year” cover story. But when we asked several in-the-know economic developers and politicos in Oklahoma City which “person” is most responsible for the success the city has earned over the years, none of them could identify a single “person” behind Oklahoma City’s transformation. They all had the same answer: the citizens of Oklahoma City are responsible for the city’s remarkable resurgence as one of the best economic development stories in the South and the nation over the last two decades.”
The story traces Oklahoma City’s failed bid to lure a United Airlines Center through the originals MAPS in 1993 and MAPS for Kids in 2001 to the General Obligation Bond issue in 2008 to MAPS 3 in 2009. The article takes a brief look at each of the eight multi-million dollar initiatives Oklahoma City citizens passed in order to improve their city.
Another strong theme of the article is the level of cooperation that exists between the citizens of Oklahoma City and their elected officials.
“In an age of marked skepticism of government in general, Oklahoma City stands out like no place in the country,” Randle said. “It is a city that has continued to invest in itself over and over again and the results are nothing less than extraordinary. In fact, there is no place – country, state, county or city -- that we know of where trust among the people and their leaders in government is stronger.”
Starting with the passage of MAPs in 1993, Oklahoma City citizens have voted to invest nearly $3 billion into various capital improvement projects and major bond issues. Those investments have led the private and public sectors to invest an additional $5 billion into the city.
“There are a lot of talented professionals who, over the years have worked to make sure our city thrives and prospers,” President & CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Roy Williams said. “None of it would be possible without the continued support and trust of the citizens of Oklahoma City. At the Chamber we work with some of the most talented developers across the country and you would have a hard time finding many who have gotten a better return on their investment than the people of Oklahoma City.”
The publication was also impressed with the margin of victory in most local sales tax and bond elections, routinely by more than 55 percent, and the level of pride the citizens of Oklahoma City take in their city during both good and bad times.
“Oklahoma City Citizens are proud to call this city home” Randle said. “They are willing to invest their time, money and talents to make it a better place to live. Whether a time of crisis, such as the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building, or a time of economic uncertainty, such as the recent recession, Oklahoma City Citizens do not shy away from doing what is best for their hometown. They have a proven history of joining together and saying YES to their city’s future. I’m not sure there are many other cities who can say the same. “
To read the full story visit www.sb-d.com.
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