Questions about Extending MAPS 4 Solely for More Arena Funding
Mayor Holt’s announcement last week that he is pursuing a vote to extend MAPS 4 past its planned 2028 expiration date in order to add additional dollars to the $70 million already included for the Paycom Center in MAPS 4 raises important questions.
In 2019, VOICE leaders actively pushed for the proposed MAPS 4 to be a MAPS for neighborhoods. We held listening sessions asking people what they wanted so much that they would be willing to tax themselves. The needs that surfaced included better public transportation, improvements to parks, expanded mental health access, homelessness solutions, and city walkability.
When projects addressing many of these needs were added, VOICE worked on public education about the package and supported approval of MAPS 4.
“Most of the projects that moved us to support MAPS 4 are still waiting for construction to begin, while the big Fairground and Downtown entertainment projects were prioritized,” says Fr. Tim Luschen, a VOICE leader and priest at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. “Adding additional funds to the original $70 million that are already earmarked for the Paycom Center needs to be a larger discussion with city residents, and not just a done deal presented to voters to take or leave.”
“We call for more transparency why this extension is being proposed and how the decision on what will be on a potential ballot is being decided,” notes Maureen Harvey, VOICE leader with First Unitarian Church. “Few of our families are going to marvel at a new arena when most families cannot afford to attend a Thunder game, and some cannot even afford to watch the Thunder on TV. Every day, though, our families feel the impacts of mental health and addiction struggles, and housing insecurity.”
Adds Fr. Luschen, “Some of our questions include things like how much is the ‘significant financial contribution’ that the Thunder are thankfully willing to contribute to the new arena? Are there other funding options to consider? How will construction of the arena benefit average Oklahoma City families? For example, can we build in a living wage for arena workers? In other words, how will this project help regular families in our city?”