Tulsa Mayoral Debate: How Would You Provide Affordable Housing In 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.

The Tulsa Housing Authority says the demand for affordable housing far exceeds the supply in Tulsa. If elected, how would you provide more affordable housing in Tulsa?

Keith: I will be working with the housing authority. We think that for like, $2.4 million, that in one year, we could get at least 200 families off of the streets, and they have got a nice, solid plan. It's going to be philanthropy. It's the Tulsa Housing Authority and the City of Tulsa, everybody working together. And I want to be part of that plan. And again, yet, 200 people off the streets in one year, and I believe we can do it.

Nichols: When I started, we started this campaign talking about issues, talking about a vision for the future, one of those issues that we've talked about from the start is affordable housing. Again, you can go to Monroeformayor.com and see our affordable housing plan, which includes us getting 6,000 new affordable units ready and up online by 2028. It also includes a 60% reduction in blighted properties in our neighborhoods as we revitalize our neighborhoods and bring a sense of pride back to communities. And then it also means that we have to expedite some of these affordable housing projects to ensure that the city is not in the way of us doing what we need to do to get these, these projects out of the ground. Like I said before I mentioned the 900 kids at Tulsa public schools that are homeless. There are another 1,200 kids that are in families facing eviction. This is a crisis of epic proportions. It's the reason why we spend so much time talking to developers, talking to families about how we get over the top of it. And like I said, you go to Monroeformayor.com and see that affordable housing plan.