Exciting plans for new center
Astory this week by The Oklahoman's Steve Lackmeyer heightens the anticipation for the opening later this year of the MAPS 3 convention center.
At $288 million, the Oklahoma City Convention Center was the largest of the MAPS 3 projects approved by voters in 2009. It will have nearly 275,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space and 65,000 square feet of event space.
And as Lackmeyer wrote, it will be impressive.
The west side will include a “Virtual Sky,” a series of curtains in atrium glass walls. “The gleaming forms will capture the natural light pouring in across the downtown skyline,” he wrote.
On SW 4, which runs between the convention center and the Omni hotel that's under construction, a “4th Street Experience” is being proposed. It would include louvered structures, built at varying heights, to provide shade and protection from precipitation. Colored lights amid the structures will provide the “experience” at night.
It all figures to “create a very different gateway not just to the convention center and adjoining Scissortail Park, but to downtown as a whole,” Lackmeyer wrote. That's exciting.
Nelson brings broad experience to OCU post
The Oklahoma City University campus has gone through a rough patch with its police department. A veteran law officer, Oklahoma City police Maj. Dexter Nelson, is tasked with smoothing things out. Nelson was named OCU's police chief this week, the first black to hold the position. In 33 years with the Oklahoma City Police Department, Nelson served in positions ranging from gang enforcement to media relations to homicide investigations, and as supervisor of units such as the bomb squad. He joins OCU several months after an allegation of racial profiling led to the resignations of the campus police chief and a lieutenant. Campus police officers, Nelson says, “should embody the concepts of community policing, cultural diversity and fairness. My job is to ensure this and to make sure everyone is treated with respect.” We wish the new chief good luck.
Entrepreneur accelerator gets a nice boost
Oklahoma City-based StitchCrew is in the business of creating businesses — it seeks to “democratize access to resources, capital and networks for entrepreneurs everywhere.” A federal grant and matching contributions announced this week will help in that effort. StitchCrew received $300,000 from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. An additional $415,000 was raised by StitchCrew's local partners: the Oklahoma City Thunder, Inasmuch, Google, the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, Hogan Taylor and the Oklahoma Business Roundtable. StitchCrew selects up to 10 startups twice a year and, during a 12-week program, helps get them ready to take off and grow. The injection of new capital will help host the next four classes. U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn, D-Oklahoma City, said investing in entrepreneurs “is one of the best investments we can make.” She's right. Congratulations to all involved in this effort.
Sanders well positioned as Iowa looms
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has reason for confidence heading into Monday's Iowa caucuses, which provide the first test for Democrats seeking the nomination for president. Sanders leads former Vice President Joe Biden by 4 points and former Mayor Pete Buttigieg by nearly 8 points, according to the Real Clear Politics polling averages. Sanders is even stronger in New Hampshire, which holds its primary Feb. 11. He's up on Biden by 8 points according to RCP and by a whopping 15 points according to the latest American Research Group survey. Biden continues to lead nationally, according to RCP. However, Democratic strategist Bob Shrum says if Sanders wins in Iowa and New Hampshire, he could win the Nevada caucuses on Feb. 22. If so, “Will that begin to erode Biden's position in South Carolina?” Shrum said in an interview with InsideSources. “Will people begin saying, `You know, he's not really a winner.'?” Time will tell.