Kevin Canfield
Tulsa World Staff Writer
Mayor G.T. Bynum said he supports an ordinance amendment moving through the City Council that would address individuals obstructing sidewalks or other public rights of way.
“Community discussions around this matter have been ongoing for over a year, and I appreciate my colleagues on the City Council for weighing all options and trying to reach a community consensus around this proposal,” Bynum said.
Bynum proposed a different version of the amendment in May 2022 at the request of Police Chief Wendell Franklin to give officers a tool to address those instances when they encounter individuals camping on sidewalks or other rights of way.
Later that year, the proposal was tabled to give councilors more time to receive community feedback and do research on the issue.
In August 2023, the mayor’s Housing, Homelessness & Mental Health Task Force recommended that the City Council bring the measure back up for consideration.
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The latest version differs from the 2022 proposal in that it eliminates jail time as a possible penalty and limits the possible fine to no more than $100, excluding costs, fees and assessments.
Under the 2022 version, first-time offenders would have been subject to a fine of no more than $100, excluding costs, fees and assessments, or jail time of no more than five days, or both. For subsequent convictions, the penalty would have been a fine of no more than $200, excluding costs, fees and assessments, or jail time of no more than 10 days, or both.
Bynum said the proposed ordinance amendment would not criminalize homelessness.
“The current proposal does not make a person’s perceived housing status a matter of what is criminal, but establishes clear community standards for all Tulsans,” Bynum said.
The proposed amendment would make it “unlawful and an offense for any person to obstruct any street, alley, crosswalk, sidewalk, or trail used for the passage of pedestrians … vehicles, or bicycles to which the public or a significant group of the public has access, unless allowed by the terms of a license or permit issued by the city.”
The 2022 proposed ordinance amendment included language prohibiting sitting, kneeling, reclining and lying in public rights of way, with exceptions for disability or activities permitted by the city.
The latest proposal removes that language and adds language stating that injury or equipment failure would constitute an affirmative defense of a violation.
Councilors were expected to vote on the measure last week but it was pulled to make minor modifications to the text.
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