Tulsa Mayoral Debate: What Is The Biggest Problem Facing Tulsa?

The Tulsa mayoral debate between candidates Karen Keith and Monroe Nichols is currently underway. Monroe Nichols, a Democratic representative for Oklahoma House District 72, is vying for the mayor's seat.

Karen Keith, also a Democrat, is the Tulsa County Commissioner for District 2. Her jurisdiction includes Sand Springs, Tulsa, Jenks, and Glenpool.

What is the biggest problem or issue facing Tulsa, and how will you address it?

Keith: So I believe the biggest issue for us is homelessness. This is something we have to tackle, beginning at City Hall, getting making it easier for us to get more affordable housing out of the ground, and it's just too difficult to get the permits. We should have pre-permitted plans for Habitat for Humanity. It's the same plan. You shouldn't have to take it back and forth whenever you're building the same house over and over. I will work with HUD, and in the first year of office, we would like to get 200 homes set up for homeless people who are on the streets. I'm also currently working with our business leaders downtown to set up a low-barrier shelter. It is really needed, and they are willing to help me get that thing going. I'm continuing to work with that, and I hope to announce those plans here anytime soon. I'm excited about working on this issue. I firmly believe I can move the needle because I know how to work with the individuals who are working in that space.

Nichols: I'd have to agree. It's why I started the campaign, really launching a strategy to end homelessness as we know it by 2030. That strategy makes it so that homelessness is rare, brief and nonrecurring, and getting us a functional zero in six years. That starts with taking ownership of the issue in an accountable way, making sure we get somebody appointed at the city who will lead our homelessness strategy across the city. That starts with us working to coordinate the care of those folks who are experiencing homelessness, getting out there with the outreach workers and understanding the underlying issues facing those individuals. What we know about homelessness is that it's getting 8% worse. It hits us everywhere, from economic development to education, with 900 Tulsa Public School kids who are homeless today, the homelessness strategy is on Monroe for mayor.com. we are ready to go with 6,000 affordable units in the first four years. We will end this problem in this administration, and I look forward to leading.