OKLAHOMA CITY -- As the vote on MAPS 3 draws near there is more and more talk about what it will mean for the city. However, not everyone is excited about the plan. In fact, two prominent local groups are coming out against the plan.
At their meetings this month, members of the International Association of Firefighters Local #157 and the Fraternal Order of Police voted unanimously to oppose MAPS 3.
Both groups agree previous MAPS projects have done great things for the city.
They also say they are not necessarily against the projects within MAPS 3; they simply feel in the past MAPS has not delivered what was promised.
Phil Sipe, local president of the IAF, says, "The promise it was going to provide the economic tax and revenue base, we feel, has not been fulfilled."
He says since 2002, 50 firefighter positions have been cut.
A spokesman for the FOP says a public study recently found the city needs nearly 200 more police officers to adequately cover the city, with the amount of growth it's seen.
The mayor says these groups are implying that public safety is not important; he says that is wrong.
OKC Mayor Mick Cornett says, "This community should be offended by any implication that public safety is not important because it absolutely is." Regardless, these two groups feel MAPS is leaving them behind.
Sipe says, "Growth in the city, we feel, can't be one sided. It can't just be about economic development; you also have to address the issue of how are you going to take care of that growth."
Sipe says local firefighters have offered to give their raises back in order to fund more positions, but they say that option was denied by the city.
The vote of MAPS 3 is scheduled for December 8, 2009.
At their meetings this month, members of the International Association of Firefighters Local #157 and the Fraternal Order of Police voted unanimously to oppose MAPS 3.
Both groups agree previous MAPS projects have done great things for the city.
They also say they are not necessarily against the projects within MAPS 3; they simply feel in the past MAPS has not delivered what was promised.
Phil Sipe, local president of the IAF, says, "The promise it was going to provide the economic tax and revenue base, we feel, has not been fulfilled."
He says since 2002, 50 firefighter positions have been cut.
A spokesman for the FOP says a public study recently found the city needs nearly 200 more police officers to adequately cover the city, with the amount of growth it's seen.
The mayor says these groups are implying that public safety is not important; he says that is wrong.
OKC Mayor Mick Cornett says, "This community should be offended by any implication that public safety is not important because it absolutely is." Regardless, these two groups feel MAPS is leaving them behind.
Sipe says, "Growth in the city, we feel, can't be one sided. It can't just be about economic development; you also have to address the issue of how are you going to take care of that growth."
Sipe says local firefighters have offered to give their raises back in order to fund more positions, but they say that option was denied by the city.
The vote of MAPS 3 is scheduled for December 8, 2009.
