In a show of unity spanning more than half a century, Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum and a group of his predecessors endorsed the Improve Our Tulsa 3 capital improvements proposition Monday during a news conference at the Tulsa Zoo.

The $814 million initiative heads to voters tomorrow. Hosted by the Tulsa Regional Chamber, Monday’s event featured a “Do It For Tulsa” theme and remarks from Mayor Bynum and former Tulsa mayors Kathy Taylor, Dewey Bartlett Jr., Susan Savage, Rodger Randle and Robert LaFortune (in absentia). 

Mayor Bynum read his statement from LaFortune, his grandfather who was Tulsa mayor from 1970-78.

“This capital improvements package addresses our city’s core needs,” LaFortune’s statement read. “It is not a list of extravagant ones. By voting for Improve Our Tulsa, you are voting to take care of our city’s infrastructure, our streets and bridges, vital equipment for our police and firefighters… 

“This capital improvements package isn’t about politics. It’s about maintaining and enhancing the quality of life for this and future generations of Tulsans…”

The four-part proposal devotes $279.8 million to streets, $249.4 million to city facilities, $152.8 million to capital equipment and $90 million to housing and neighborhoods.

“You don’t get to vote on these packages at the state level,” Savage said. “You don’t get to vote on these packages at the federal level. This is local control, local government. These are local initiatives that enable us to make a local investment for a community we love.” 

A total of $47.5 million is earmarked for a new public safety center. But most of the package would help preserve what the city already has, attractions that include the Tulsa Zoo, BOK Center, the Tulsa Performing Arts Center and the Cox Business Convention Center. 

“To keep this city a world-class city, we have to maintain our infrastructure,” former mayor Dewey Bartlett said.

Kathy Taylor was mayor from April 2006 to December 2009.

“For me, I’m proud of what this package represents from the standpoint of so many citizens that were involved and our elected leaders that listened,” she said. “That’s our it’s supposed to work. That’s how it worked.

“…Investing in our city makes other people invest in us…”