Millions of Federal Stimulus Dollars Used to Maintain River Cru...

Sen. Tom Coburn opposes the funding for the river cruise boats saying the boats are strictly for Oklahoma City and federal tax dollars should not used to maintain them.

[Stan Wright]

My wife and I have frequented OKC many times and have stayed at Embassy Suites and the like on Merdian. We have heard about the river boats and have wanted to ride them down town. None of the hotels, etc. seem to know much about this or where to board. For tourists or locals maybe more needs done to publish where and how to use this transportaion. Its here in OKC and some of us need to know how to utilize it.....even if it is for pleasure.

[DAVE]

THE BOATS WOULD BE OK IF THEY PAID FOR THEMSELFS! DRY DOCK THEM UNTIL THEY ARE NEEDED AND CAN PAY FOR THEMSELFS!!!!!!!!!!

[Stacy]

I think that the problem concerning stimulus money going toward unfit programs is that the committee that is in charge of distribution sees this as a beauty contest.

[chas rolfe]

Just plane we do not need a almost 2,000000 dollars deal like the farrie boat on the river

[Trish]

I think the stimulus money designated for the River Boat Cruise is wonderful! Every major city I have traveled to has some form of River Boat entertainment. This is the first i have heard of the river boat. I certinly look forward to taking my family aboard. My advise would be to advertise more as oppose to criticize. Remember the stimulus is to stimulate the economy. This would be a nice added feature to our great state for locals as well as tourist. Does New York Circle Line Tour sound familiar? Or, how about San Antonio river Boat.

[Pete Patel]

There are riverboats on the artificial river down the turnpike, while we struggle to build anything on our real river. Like it or not, they have it figured out.

[Karen]

This is total mismanagement of stimulus money. First the river boats have Devon printed on the side. Do our stimulus money really need to go to an oil company for little boats to run up and down the river.........very few (approximately 12) according to local news report even ride them! This state has HORRIBLE roads and bridges that millions use and they are putting the money in the water. Sounds like something the mayor and Bricktown officials have their hand in. Stupid and wasteful use of tax dollars!

[SHARON]

I cannot believe our TAX STIMULUS MONEY is being spent on OKLAHOMA RIVER CRUISES & sending an OSU PROFESSOR TO ALASKA TO STUDY GRANDPARENT. THEN cuts to MEDICARE & CLOSING SCHOOLS are being talked about. WHAT good are eithe of OKLA. RIVER CRUISES & study GRANDPARENT IN ALASKA going to do for our economy recovery? AS far as I can see nothing! THIS is a big waste of our money. WHAT is wrong with our GOVERNMENT? THE GOVERNMENT makes these kind of decisions & THEY expect THE PEOPLE to have faith thatthey can run A HEALTH CARE PROGRAM. I don't think so!

[Donna]

Are you joking? The article before this one was our schools are in need of funds but instead our government is going to maintain a boat. What are our legislators doing? Good reason to get out and VOTE next elections!!!! If they can't spend stimulus money reasonably we need to find some officials that can.

[Jim]

Are you freaking kidding me? There are potholes that will swallow cars up. Everytime it rains, it floods in the EXACT SAME PLACE and you even laugh in the news broadcast about it!!! Lets spend the money on things that matter!!!!!!!!!!

[Dave]

Jim wrote:

Are you freaking kidding me? There are potholes that will swallow cars up. Everytime it rains, it floods in the EXACT SAME PLACE and you even laugh in the news broadcast about it!!! Lets spend the money on things that matter!!!!!!!!!!

Jim is right, this state has the worst roads I have ever seen and we are going to waste money on a boat that no one uses?! Who comes up with this stuff?

[Bob Waldrop]

The City Manager claims that if we didn't get this money from the feds, we wouldn't get it. What he doesn't say is that this money is taken from the money available to our regular bus system, which is already woefully underfunded. It's one more example of the Chamber of Commerce coup de tat of OKC government. Couch isn't seeking the common good of OKC residents, he's doing the bidding of the Chamber of Commerce.

[Rutha Christianson]

Money is tight, times are hard, people are out of work and I think this is the wrong place to be spending our money. How can we in good faith ask employees who need their salary for house payments, doctor bills and food to take a day off from our state government when we are spending money foolishly? Maybe this should go for a vote by the people. Mick Cornett and others may be surprised what we the people think!!

[Jo E]

It is totally unrealistic to spend such a large amount of money on such a trivial cause as the river cruises !!!!!

[Kay]

I have lived in Oklahoma City a long time. The river is one on the most beautiful things that as been done for our city in a long time. Their is things that need to done for our schools and our elder but this money will not change what it is that they need. Please lets us finish what it is that we have stated down town.

[Bryan]

these river cruises have been a total waste of taxpayer money from the start the way i see it this stimulus money should definately be used to help our public schools first but if our government officials insist on putting that money towards some kind of transportation it should go to boost and help out our nearly nonexistent bus service around the metro. but the morons at the capitol don't see it this way they would rather throw the money away on yet another project that they started that cant stand on its own how about sell off the river cruises to a completely private operation and put the stimulus money where it needs to be.

[De in Mustang]

stimlus money going to the river cruises is a waste of my tax $. the cruises are a nice tourist attraction only and will never be a part of our transportation system as some politicion has said trying to justify the waste.

[Karen]

Maybe the new can be called Micky C's debtor park!

[Zheu Hong]

The proposal of funding the $1.8 Million in Stimulus Funds for Oklahoma River Cruises is ridiculous and acceptable. I'd sincerely think that during this difficult time in our state & nation. We really need to use this fund wisely and justly for projects that are helping our Oklahomans who are facing hardships in their lives or for some of our schools that do need some funding for improving their educational programs for our children. Please remember: Life necesities and our children's future MUST COME BEFORE pleasure/entertainment/tourism -attraction improvement.

[Marie]

Just think what that 1.8 million dollars can do for the teachers and for meals on wheels