District 5 city council candidates talk about policing, blighted properties and drones at forum    

Residents in Tulsa City Council District 5 questioned Councilor Karen Gilbert and challenger Adam Burnett about their positions on surveillance cameras, blighted properties and taxes. 

The only District 5 candidate forum was Monday at the Aldersgate United Methodist Church, located in the district at 3702 S. 90th E. Ave. The district covers parts of east, midtown and south neighborhoods. 

Tulsa Press Club president Jason Collington moderated the forum. Questions were posed by Tulsa Flyer interim managing editor Ginnie Graham, Tulsa World reporter Kevin Canfield and those in attendance. 

Gilbert has lived in the district for more than 30 years and is seeking re-election because residents asked her to do so, she says. She served in the seat from 2011 and 2018. She was elected again in 2024. She has been executive director of Crime Stoppers since 2018.

Burnett has lived in the district since moving to Tulsa in 2019 and is a partner at Fraiser, Fraiser & Hickman with a background in civil rights and criminal law. He is running to give working people better representation. 

Here are some takeaways from the forum:

Main priorities: Gilbert said the most pressing issue for District 5 are vacant, abandoned priorities, including the OYO Hotel and Studio Star, both now on the road to demolition by the city. Burnett says priorities are to increase the budget for code enforcement and to utilize Improve Our Tulsa 2 funds for the district.

Blighted properties: Both support increasing code enforcement staff to decrease a backlog and get faster service. 

Surveillance cameras: Tulsa police have access to about 3,000 Flock cameras in the city. Gilbert supports their use as a way to reduce crime. Burnett opposes them, saying dependence on third-party, for-profit companies erodes public trust between residents and police. 

Law enforcement oversight: Burnett said he “absolutely” supports a charter for an office of independent monitor separate from the police department. Gilbert said she is working to convert the existing Tulsa Police Advisory Board into a public safety board to oversee Tulsa police, 911, code enforcement and animal welfare.

Sales tax: Mayor Monroe Nichols had asked the council to approve a resolution for voters to decide on raising the general sales tax by 0.7%. The measure stalled at the council. Gilbert said she was against the initiative because city officials had not gone through a public input process. Burnett said he supports the measure to let voters choose. Both support the proposition before voters Nov. 3 that would raise the hotel/motel tax from 5% to 9.9%.

Homelessness: Burnett said he supports Nichols’ plan to end functional homelessness by 2030, saying point-in-time data shows a 31% decrease. Gilbert said she voted for additional funding for Safe Move Tulsa that was launched last year, adding the effort requires coordination between nonprofits, the city and community partners.

Drones: When asked about support for drone services, such with the recent announcement of Manna Air Delivery to provide food drone deliveries, Gilbert said she was undecided. She said she was for job creation but wants to hear more from residents about their concerns. Burnett said companies need to comply with the FAA and be held accountable for any accidents.

Improve Our Tulsa 2: Burnett said he was unaware of any IOT2 funds being spent so far in District 5. He is in favor of adding disability accessible bus stops and sidewalks. Gilbert said she had held community meetings for residents to decide how to spend discretionary funds for each district from the voter-approved tax package. So far, the possibilities are adding a sidewalk on 37th Street and Hudson Avenue and installing a water foundation in Darlington Park. 

Have questions ahead of the Aug. 25 election? Email connect@tulsaflyer.org.

Faith Harl is a Tulsa Documenter and contributing writer for the Tulsa Flyer. Visit tulsaflyer.org/documenters for information about the program.

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