I may be a liberal atheist, but I'm a fiscally conservative liberal atheist. I didn't feel the wealthy developers needed a helping hand in the renovation of downtown. The incentive was there with or without maps. I thought the bricktown canal was a stupid idea and an utter waste of taxpayer money that would eventually be funneled into the pockets of the government officials who quickly bought up the land and extort anyone going downtown with 5 dollar parking.

In hindsight, it's worked like a charm.

Then, one of the wealthiest men in Oklahoma, wealthy from marrying into the Gaylord family, teamed up with another of of OK's wealthiest men in Oklahoma, wealthy from being born into the Kerr dynasty and marrying a Westinghouse go out and buy a basketball team...they ask us to pony up millions of dollars for a practice gym and pimp our arena....that didn't sit well with me either....

And yet again, worked like a charm and I gladly pay my 1 cent sales tax now knowing the good publicity the Thunder have brought to my home town.