Council majority 'concerned' about Alliance

WHOA. According to a story posted over the weekend at okgazette.com, a majority of the members of the Oklahoma City Council have expressed concerns over the formation of a new non-profit body to coordinate economic development for the City.

. . . several council members, including Pete White, Ed Shadid, Larry McAtee, Skip Kelly and David Greenwell expressed varying levels of concern about the plan, ranging from the ethnic and geographic diversity of those serving on the board, to the openness of information from within the group.

This is a stunning turnaround in view of the City's record of support for government-directed economic development via MAPS. But will "concerns" over how the new agency - let's face it, the proposed "Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City Inc." will be a what amounts to a government agency, irrespective of efforts to downplay that aspect - does its job translate into a rejection of this approach to building the City's economy?

We'll find out at tomorrow's Council meeting.