Andrés Chao, who is the consul at the Mexican Consulate in Little Rock, AR, extablished in 2007 at the invitation of Gov. Mike Huckabee. Tulsa, Oklahoma is in the official "jurisdiction" of this Mexican consulate, so Chao was in the city this week, "to meet with Mayor Kathy Taylor, Police Chief Ron Palmer, and other city officials. While Chao has already visited Tulsa several times since it was opened the Mexican consulate in Little Rock, Arkansas, Chao told The Week in the South that this will be their first 'official visit' with the leaders of the city," according to the Spanish-Language periodical, La Semana del Sur. The magazine conducted a phone interview with the Consul on March 14th, and quoted Chao as saying (Translated by Google from Spanish):

This will be the first time that I will meet with the mayor and police chief. I want to know because Tulsa is part jurisdiction of this consulate. I would like to talk to them about the situation of the Mexican immigrant community… and to open channels of communication. This will be my first official visit to the mayor and the chief of police.

The magazine also states, "Chao also plans to schedule future 'mobile consul' events in Tulsa to offer in-person help to those who can not travel to Little Rock."

It is not clear at this time how Mexican citizens are able to travel to Tulsa, which is ten hours from the Mexican border, but not to Little Rock, AR, which is four hours from Tulsa.

VDare blogger, and Oklahoma City native, Allan Wall reported last year, when the consulate was being built:

Oklahoma does not (yet) have a Mexican consulate/illegal immigration encouragement station. But Chao is consul in the nearby state of Arkansas, in the new Little Rock consulate So, being next door to the Sooner State, he can still do some damage. [El Nacional July 5, 2007--México abre nuevo consulado en EU]

Now, here's the 65-thousand-peso question: If cities in Oklahoma have now come under the "jurisdiction" of a foreign government, why are we having to struggle through language translators to get information about it? Shouldn't this be all over the English-language press, as well?

(Hat-Tip, Voice of Tulsa)

More information about the Mexican Consulte in Arkansas on WorldNetDaily.

Labels: Andrés Chao, HB 1804, Illegal Immigration, Immigration Reform, Kathy Taylor, Mexican Consul

Posted at 3/27/2008 09:08:00 AM |

It seems like more and more people are going into the city to do their shopping now days, because of the selection and better prices. This has forced some small retailers in some small towns to lose business, and, in some cases, close. Also, the towns are losing sales tax revenue, because people are spending their money in the city.

So, what to do? Force the big cities to pay 1% of that revenue back to the smaller towns, of course. At least that's the plan of Steve Martin (R-Bartlesville). If his legislation becomes law, Tulsa and Oklahoma City would stand to lose about $30,000,000 per year in tax revenue, but the cities would still have to foot the bill for the infrastructure to support the retail industries, says Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor.

Carolyn Stager, of the Oklahoma City Municipal League, says, "It would create a nightmare of litigation and turn city against city and neighbor against neighbor."

Labels: Kathy Taylor, tax increases

Posted at 3/11/2008 07:57:00 AM |

Don’t be surprised if you can’t get the theme from “Rocky” out of your head Wednesday as students from McLain High School and Gilcrease Intermediate School train with Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor in preparation for the annual Tulsa Run this fall, according to a press release by the Tulsa Public Schools.

The run has been a mainstay in Tulsa for three decades. It began in 1978 as a challenging and scenic course winding through downtown and River Parks. University of Arkansas runner Mike Clark set a state record that year. Fast forward thirty years and the run has grown in popularity with local celebrities participating and area businesses chipping in as sponsors.

A press conference at 8:30 a.m. on March 5 features Mayor Taylor and fifteen students from McLain and Gilcrease discussing this year’s run and accepting a donation of shoes and other gear from Runners World Tulsa. A light breakfast follows the news conference. At 4 p.m. Taylor and the students will train together.

The course starts in the heart of downtown, runs through sections of the historic Cherry Street and Brookside districts, continues through riverfront parks along the Arkansas River, and ends back downtown in Veterans Park.

Labels: Kathy Taylor

Posted at 3/02/2008 08:41:00 PM |

Labels: Kathy Taylor, SLIME

Posted at 1/09/2008 12:04:00 PM |

"We are continuing to work with the Hispanic community to get this information out and let them know that even though some people believe we are making wholesale 1804 arrests, the TPD has made no 1804 arrests in the 30-day period following the enactment of the law."

Why Not?

With Illegal Immigrants like this entering our Mayor and her police department should be ashamed for not up holding the law and ridding our state and country of this type of trash. The biggest argument that the Illegal Immigration lobby has is, "These people just want to work". The law enforcement community should be ashamed of its self for not making any arrest. The best way to spot an Illegal is the same way you spot a duck. If it looks like a duck and quacks like one, then its got to be a duck. If the person can't speak English and they have no proof of Citizenship or an ID then its an Illegal. So as a part of our SLIME Hall of Shame we welcome Mayor Kathy Taylor, Tulsa's worst. OKPNS encourages its readers to please send names to OKPNS for SLIME Nominees.

Related:

Stan Geiger: Wealth, Rank and Privilege?

Labels: Immigration Reform, Kathy Taylor, SLIME

Posted at 12/17/2007 09:30:00 AM |

Greetings!

I want to take a moment to update you on the progress of the BOK Center.

The arena is in its 27th month of a 36-month construction schedule. The installation of glass and steel panels are being added, along with other tasks being completed by the hundreds of workers on site. Exciting developmenets are happening everyday to the structure and there are many more to come that will contribute to the success of this new point of pride for Tulsa. With the recent sellout of the ONEOK Club Seats and the huge success of the sale of tickets for the Celine Dion concert, we are already starting to experience the great potential for Tulsa to draw new tourism visitors - not just from Oklahoma, but from the entire region.

Just over the past few weeks I was pleased to announce some exciting new private sponsorships for the BOK Center.

- Today, the Oklahoma Ford Dealers committed to a 15-year Founder partnership by sponsoring two suites. Ford will also serve as the official automotive sponsor for the BOK Center. In total, the commitment from the Oklahoma Ford Dealers is $4.9 million. - ONEOK has committed to at 15-year commitment totaling more than $5 million dollars for the naming rights to the premium seating level, club lounge, blue seating program, and for a founders suite and lounge box. - Williams Company has committed to a 20-year commitment of more than $5 million dollars to help pay for the center-hung scoreboard, the sponsorship of sports event replays, and a founder suite. - Cherokee Nation Enterprises has committed 10 years with a commitment of $2.3 million to a founder's suite and the arena's exclusive casino and destination resort. - Cox Communications has committed a 10-year commitment totaling over $2.5 million for the arena's official telecommunications provider.

These sponsorships represent another chapter in our public/private partnerships that we have formed to make this great building a success. They are helping to enhance the funding commitment made by Tulsa citizens and help to leverage our public investment from Vision 2025.

Finally, I wanted to remind you that Tulsa's own 66ers tip off their first home game tonight at 7 p.m. in the Expo Square Pavilion. If you and your family and friends need more information or to purchase tickets, just call 585-8444.

Please have a very safe and enjoyable weekend, and as always, thank you for all you do to make Tulsa such a great place to live!

Sincerely,

Kathy Taylor

Mayor

Labels: Casino, Cherokee Nation, Kathy Taylor, Tulsa, Vision 2025

Posted at 12/05/2007 10:41:00 AM |

Labels: Kathy Taylor, Tulsa

Posted at 10/29/2007 11:15:00 AM |

October 9 – Tulsa voters have spoken, and they do not want a tax to develop the Arkansas River. The question: whether or not to raise the county sales tax by four-tenths of a penny to help fund that development. The final results were 47.5% of the voters said “yes”, 52.5% said “no”. Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor called the River Tax vote a defining moment in Tulsa history. Read More

Related:

BatesLine: Tulsa County citizens win

Labels: Kathy Taylor, Tulsa River Tax

Posted at 10/10/2007 10:00:00 AM |

Courtesy of KOTV

With the river tax vote two weeks away supporters are now courting the north side of Tulsa, where some community leaders have blasted the plan for neglecting black Tulsans. On Wednesday, Mayor Kathy Taylor held out a carrot worth millions of dollars for a yes vote. News On 6 anchor Latoya Silmon reports on the reaction to the promise of pools and playgrounds on the north side.

Many North Tulsa residents vowed to vote no, but river tax supporters are moving north to change their minds.

“I'm not surprised because divide and conquer has always been one thing used in the north side of Tulsa,” said Dr. Warren Blakney, Minister of the North Peoria Church of Christ. “If you can divide the vote than perhaps you can get what you need.”

Read More

Labels: Kathy Taylor, Tulsa

Posted at 9/27/2007 12:41:00 PM |

AMERICA’s MOST BEAUTIFUL: Mayor Kathy Taylor and George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) Chairman and Tulsa Beautification Foundation (TBF) President Phil Lakin announced a $5 million pledge from GKFF to help beautify Tulsa-area gateways, highways and thoroughfares. The first TBF project completed was beautifying Tulsa International Airport by painting the Virgin Street bridge, replacing crumbling sidewalks and medians under the bridge, new irrigation systems and extensive landscaping. MIRANDA ENZOR for GTR Newspapers From BubbaWorld dot Net: Tulsa’s Mean Streets Tulsan Doug Lawson found out just how bad “Tulsa’s Mean Streets” have become recently while out on his can collecting route early Thursday morning. Lawson was robbed, struck in the head and shot in the leg by a couple of punks when he lied and told them he had no money or keys to his truck parked nearby. Was Lawson wrong to try to escape with his $25 and his truck? I wasn’t there and therefore can not say. But I do know that Mr. Lawson was lucky to escape with his life, as many Tulsans have not these past few years. Read more...

Labels: Kathy Taylor

Posted at 8/22/2007 03:43:00 PM |

“As a conservative Republican it is very difficult for me to ask for a tax increase, but I think the benefits will come back 10-fold. The effects will go way beyond my lifetime. It will help Tulsa compete for jobs, conventions and young professionals. Our kids and grandkids will look back and see how important this was for the whole area.” - Tulsa County Commission Chairman Randi Miller By David Jones Is the timing right to vote on a tax package to develop the Arkansas River corridor in Tulsa County? Tulsa County Commission Chairman Randi Miller is confident that when the proposed .4-cent sales tax is presented to the people it will be resoundingly accepted. Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor also thinks the time is right. “We have been working on and planning this project for years,” she says. “It’s time to stop studying and do something.” As for the decision of the County Commission to have a vote Oct. 9 Taylor said, “The election is totally at the discretion of the County Commission. This is a project that is truly a regional project. The biggest concern we have to get an educated workforce to move to the area is the quality of life. With the Bank of Oklahoma Center and the development of the river, this area will be ready to take off.” “Polls taken toward the end of June showed a narrow victory for the proposal,” Miller says. A poll recently published in the Tulsa World disagrees, showing a majority of voters opposing the project. Read more...

Labels: Kathy Taylor, Randi Miller

Posted at 8/20/2007 02:21:00 PM |

By Matt Llewellyn, "The Patriot" For our readers across the nation and around the world (yes, we have subscribers in Australia and Great Britain now) I am talking about our local Mayor for the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Kathy Taylor. Mayor Taylor recently succeeded in her goal to spend $76,000,000.00 to move city hall to a new building, despite the fact that the current building in only 4 decades or so old. Sure, the old building needs extensive repairs, but, why were these repairs not being kept up with as they broke. Now I will be fair, I am sure previous Mayors allowed the building to decline in repair as well. Now, correct me if I am wrong but if a restaurant fails to make required repairs are they not fined? If a home owner with children fails to keep their home safe and make needed repairs are they not brought up to everything short of the Supreme Court and accused of being everything but a child of God? If you, citizen of Tulsa, own a home and fail to control the height of your lawn you will be fined by the city of Tulsa. I am not positive what the exact height is but let's assume it's around 12 inches just to be fair. That paragraph represents written law, violation of the law and then penalty for breaking the law. Fairly easy concept right? If you break the law you are punished be it financially or by incarceration. Well, if you are a citizen that is. If you are an elected official you can allow the law to be broken under your authority and not be punished. Read more...

Labels: Kathy Taylor

Posted at 7/23/2007 02:49:00 PM |

By JonJayRay Below is an extensive excerpt from an even more extensive article. Tulsa is on the leading edge of local and state efforts to crack down on illegal immigration following passage by the Oklahoma Legislature of what is arguably the toughest anti-illegal immigration measure in the nation. The Tulsa City Council also embraced the get-tough approach by adopting a resolution calling on police officers to check the immigration status of “all suspected illegal aliens.” Those actions have sparked a fierce political battle, spread fear among Hispanics — both legal residents and those in the country illegally — and triggered an angry public face-off between demonstrators on either side of the great divide. Among the longtime residents shaken by the changes engulfing his city is Gary Rutledge, an MSNBC.com reader who said the demographic shift took his family and friends by surprise. “It’s happened so quickly and our neighborhoods have changed so rapidly,” said Rutledge, a political science professor at nearby Rogers State University. In East Tulsa, just across the main thoroughfare from his comfortable brick home, the broad avenues are now peppered with signs in Spanish and malls catering to Latino shoppers — offering everything from soccer wear and piñatas to check cashing services and Latin pop music. “That whole part of the city has become a miniature Juarez or Tijuana or whatever you want to call it,” said Rutledge. Read more... Related: Thirdwavedave: "Rep. Randy Terrill, author of Oklahoma's Immigration Reform Bill, Will Be Interviewed Tonight on "The Andrea Shea-King Show". (Florida) meeciteeworker: "Questions for Her Majesty"

Labels: Immigration Reform, Kathy Taylor, OK Legislature

Posted at 7/10/2007 01:30:00 PM |

Hat Tip: meeciteewurkor USIS … the largest provider of security investigations to the U.S. government, is offering its I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Product as a cost-effective service that employers can use to verify that an employee is legally authorized to work in the United States. With I-9 Employment Eligibility employers can comply with the recently approved House Bill 1804 that requires employers to verify the legal status of all new employees through an employment verification system. Granted, I know absolutely squat about this company’s services. However, I found it very interesting to know that the service exists right here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I wonder if services like this exist for police departments to check citizenship status? I mean, it’s basically the same thing, right? If you can’t work here legally, you can’t live here, right? I’m sure that it wouldn’t take much tweaking to serve our police. I wonder if something like this would fit in to the Mayor’s “clarification” of existing policy on illegal immigration? Here’s USIS website if anybody wants to go investigate to see what they’re all about. If it looks good, I suggest getting a quote from them, and sending it to the Mayor.

Labels: Immigration Reform, Kathy Taylor

Posted at 6/12/2007 02:47:00 PM |

Its difficult to know where to direct your frustrations in this editorial by the Muskogee Phoenix. The Phoenix has basically resorted to calling us xenophobes and nativists because a majority of us - both Democrat and Republican - want to know who is in our country! We also do not want to reward people who have broken our laws with a path to citizenship! If we are fearful, it is because of the security concerns we have due to our porous border with Mexico. "The illegal alien tussle in Tulsa exemplifies the need for Congress to enact immigration reform and calm Americans’ fear, much of it irrational fear, over illegal immigration. Rep. John Sullivan wanted Tulsa police to verify the legal status of everyone they come into contact with, and Sullivan received support from the Tulsa City Council, which approved that police policy about two weeks ago. Sullivan explained his motivation was to see that Tulsa received an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office and greater federal presence in eastern Oklahoma. Mayor Kathy Taylor had not signed onto the policy as of this past week. Good for her." Read more Related: Hat tip: Mike's Memo "Former State Trooper Dan Howard takes on Tulsa Oklahoma Mayor Kathy Taylor (D) and her 'Sanctuary City' Policies. He gave a 5-minute speech to the Tulsa City Council two weeks ago and looks like he dressed Rev Victor Orta down pretty well too! The strong resolution passed, but Mayor Taylor is probably going to ignore it and continue to welcome illegals. Dan is waiting for Round 2 on this issue. Citizens across the nation should be doing this."

Labels: Immigration Reform, Kathy Taylor, Rep. John Sullivan

Posted at 6/11/2007 02:07:00 PM |