Source: Journal Record (Oklahoma City)
Rep. Sally Kern's now-infamous anti-gay speech to a state Republican gathering have had repercussions to the state's bottom line as businesses considering relocation to the state express concern, an Oklahoma newspaper reports.
Staubauch Co., a San Francisco Bay-area financial services company, has not yet ruled out Oklahoma City for a major office relocation, a vice president of a real estate search firm confirmed, but a consultant hired by the company was troubled by Kern’s comments during a recent visit to the city, a chamber of commerce official said.
Roy Williams, president of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, told the Journal Record the issue is a major concern the chamber is trying to address.
Williams said the Staubach consultant told them Kern's attitude would be troubling to many of his clients.
“He told us straight up … ‘I cannot recommend to any of my clients that they should consider Oklahoma City because of that,’” Williams said. “When you have one of the nation’s premier relocation experts making those statements, you should pay attention to that and not dismiss it.
“And that’s immediately what happened: People said, ‘Well, then tell them not to come here.’ The problem with that is they (relocating firms) represent many of the Fortune 500 companies. And to be so dismissive of something that’s a lot more sincere than people are giving credit, to me, shows a lack of understanding of what’s really going on.”
Kern’s comments in March gained attention nationwide after her screed before a small audience was recorded and posted on the video-sharing Web site YouTube. She called homosexuality a greater threat than terrorism.
“Not everybody’s lifestyle is equal, just like not all religions are equal,” Kern said. “No society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted more than, you know, a few decades. So it’s the death knell of this country.”
Williams confirmed a Staubach representative was invited to Oklahoma shortly thereafter, but it was not directly related to Kern. He said the state Department of Commerce was seeking consultants to meet with Gov. Brad Henry’s economic development team to discuss a wide range of issues.
As for Kern’s comments, “They no doubt send a message out there that no city wants to send, and that is one of divisiveness instead of unitedness,” he said. For the last five years, the chamber has made a greater effort “to embrace differences and embrace diversity, to build a community that is open and welcoming to anyone.”
“What we’re trying to do is show people what happens here and the real experience, as opposed to one person’s opinion. Because when we bring a company in, we encourage them to talk with HR (human resources) people and CEOs, to ask them pointed questions about these kinds of issues,” Williams said. “The way the community operates and functions is quite different from what one or two people may wish it were.”
Williams said business relocations to Oklahoma City have slowed down, as they have nationwide.
“There’s still a fair number of announcements that happen. But it is not the way it was three, four or five years ago,” he said. “It has slowed down a little bit, which generally reflects the economic situation nationally. As a result, we have fewer relocation announcements than what we’ve had. I see that in talking with my colleagues everywhere.”
The downturn in relocations has been counterbalanced by the expansion of existing companies and rise in entrepreneurship, he said, helping the city gain a net 12,000 new jobs in the past year.
Williams and other Oklahoma business leaders cited the state’s college work force, low cost of living, financial incentives and high per capita income as attractive elements. The city’s quality of life is improving as well, Williams said, with a wider ranger of leisure activities and creative outlets.
Full article: OKC Chamber: Kern spooks big biz relocation consultant | Journal Record