'It is a regressive sales tax': OCDP hosts panel on Thunder arena deal

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — On Thursday evening, the Oklahoma County Democratic Party hosted a panel on the upcoming vote on whether to fund a new publicly-owned arena for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Organizers held the event at the Teamsters Hall near Reno Ave and S Portland Ave.

According to party officials, they wanted to include members of the public in the discussion amid what they described as an ongoing lack of forums to do so.

Voters are tasked with deciding whether to fund the proposal, which the City of Oklahoma City estimates will cost a minimum of $900 million, through a sales tax.

Nabilah Rawdah, affirmative action officer for the OCDP, asserted the sales tax will impact low-income residents the most.

She argued the tax will, "cost them around $1,200 per person... it is a regressive sales tax."

Paul Shinn, now retired, used to work as a budget and finance director. He thinks it's a bad deal for the city too, and would rather see the money go to services for the homeless, public transit, and affordable housing initiatives.

"Technically we're paying for something that we've already got, you know. The Thunder is here... The numbers they give about jobs and spending, those won't change with a new arena," he added.

On the other hand, Tim O'Connor, president of the Central Oklahoma Federation of Labor is looking forward to what a new arena could bring to Oklahoma City.

He helped negotiate a community benefits agreement he described as a big win for workers.

In his view, "I think it's more than good. It's probably closer for me to being historic. It's something that we've never been able to do with any MAPS projects in the past."

He's also excited about all the work opportunities the construction of the new arena would bring.

Voters will make their voices heard at the ballot box on Dec. 12.