<html><div style='background-color:'><P><BR>Jennifer, <BR></P><BR>Thanks for all the great work with SOKC, your collaborations, and insightful discussions about smart growth, mass transit, and good design for Oklahoma City! Connecting folks to the many aspects of sustainability is what the OSN is all about. <BR><BR>
<DIV><FONT face="Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif">Mr. Seneca Scott <BR>Trivestco Energy, Operations Manager <BR>Oklahoma Sustainability Network, President <BR>3271 E. 2nd St. <BR>Tulsa, OK 74104 <BR>918-576-9111 <BR><A href="mailto:chiefseneca@hotmail.com">chiefseneca@hotmail.com</A> </FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #a0c6e5 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 11px; FONT-FAMILY: tahoma,sans-serif">
<HR color=#a0c6e5 SIZE=1>
From: <I>"Jennifer Gooden" <jgooden@homelessalliance.org></I><BR>To: <I>"List Serve" <okc@sustainableokc.org>,"Sustainable OKC Announcements" <okcannouncements@sustainableokc.org></I><BR>Subject: <I>[OKC] Core to Shore</I><BR>Date: <I>Mon, 16 Jul 2007 14:03:49 -0500</I><BR><BR>
<META content="Microsoft SafeHTML" name=Generator>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007>There was a lot of discussion about Core to Shore on the OSN listserve over the weekend. For those of you who were following it, I have copied my response below.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007>-----------------------------------</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007>I regret that I was away from email over the weekend and am only now catching up on the many Core to Shore emails. As president of Sustainable OKC, I'd like to comment on the conversation.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007>I was once told that effective social movements have three components: the system, which includes government, business, law, and others with resources; the protesters, who make the issue visible; and the bridge, which is the moderate voice that generally identifies with the protestor but can speak the language of the system. This idea is applicable here in the Core to Shore conversation. Sustainable OKC is working very hard to be the bridge.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007>To be clear, Sustainable OKC in no way advocates for the destruction of Union Station or its rail yard. On the contrary! The best thing for the sustainability of the city would not include building another massive highway, particularly at the expense of rail. But taking an all-or-nothing stance means that we miss out on some opportunities. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007>Sustainable OKC is not directly involved in Core to Shore, but there is some overlap in people. I personally have become involved for a couple of reasons. When I look out and see people being bullish, confrontational, and negative, I feel sorry for the state of affairs in Oklahoma City. I want to create a place for people who seek more cooperative alternatives to get involved. I also believe we have the opportunity to make some wonderful gains in sustainability by working with the city on this project. The Core to Shore process now has a Sustainability Task Force, which is making recommendations about land use, affordable housing, storm water runoff, green building, and other strategies. This is an opportunity that we would have missed if we had responded confrontationally, as others
want us to. With a more positive approach, we have opened up dialog and encouraged the discussion of sustainability with city government, and this is a positive development.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007>I think the underlying context of this conversation is about world view. Sustainability is a big movement that encompasses a lot of interests, topics, and tactics. The flip-side of having such a big tent is that people inside will disagree; that is to be expected. The world view of this discussion has placed Core to Shore in the context of good and evil, with good guys and bad guys shooting it out, and plenty of conspiracy theories to boot. I don't see it that way, though, and it contradicts my experience. It's not an issue of good and evil - it's an issue of different people with different interests trying to plan for the future. Granted, some interests are seeking money, but some are trying to make the city a better place, and others are involved to advocate for sustainability,
quality of life, and concern for the poor. A good guy / bad guy approach glosses over the complexities of the situation.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007>The presentation on Wednesday night (<A href="http://www.sustainableokc.org/calendar/">www.sustainableokc.org/calendar/</A>) will provide an opportunity for people to learn more about the Core to Shore planning process. The presenters, Russell Claus and Hans Butzer, are great partners in sustainability and will have a lot of information to share about this project. </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV></FONT>
<DIV align=left><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2>Jennifer Gooden</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007>Sustainable OKC President</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=497000215-16072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV><BR>
<P>>_______________________________________________<BR>>To unsubscribe or change to digest delivery mode:<BR>>http://www.sustainableokc.org/mailman/listinfo/okc<BR>>Go to the bottom of the website, enter your email address, and then edit your options.<BR>><BR>>To subscribe:<BR>>http://www.sustainableokc.org/mailman/listinfo/okc<BR>
<P></FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE></div><br clear=all><hr> <a href="http://g.msn.com/8HMAENUS/2755??PS=47575" target="_top">More photos, more messages, more storage—get 2GB with Windows Live Hotmail.</a> </html>