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Local Issues
While I am running my campaign on TIF Reform, Transparency and Proactive Democracy, there are many local issues affecting Norman currently. Below are my stances on the bigger issues affecting Norman. However, my opinion is just one of many from our Ward, and how I vote on the City Council won't be based on my personal opinions, but based on what Ward 6 wants.
Arena and Entertainment District TIF
The people deserve to vote on the Arena and Entertainment District TIF and the debacle that is going on now is a spit in the face to those in Ward 6 who signed the petition to send it to a public vote. Bottom line, TIF reform is needed. While there are potential charter amendments that we may get to vote on in 2026, even if they pass they must be approved by the state, a process that could take up to an additional year. As a result, the next City Council must also pass ordinances to change the TIF process as a safeguard. My belief is that ANY TIF that exceeds a certain percentage of General Fund revenue for the prior fiscal year MUST go to a vote of Norman Residents before it can be enacted. If this conflicts with state law, then the City Council should require at least a 6-3 vote to approve TIFs at every stage in the process. Large infrastructure projects that define our community should be decided on by the Residents of Norman, not the City Council.
Unhoused/Homelessness
Like every growing community, Norman has a small number of unhoused/homeless individuals for a variety of reasons. I believe that a 24/7 shelter should be opened in the Griffin Memorial Hospital area, and once this facility is operating the 'temporary' shelter on Gray Street should close. This will allow those in need to get the proper help they need regardless of the time of day and help them to a path to permanent housing. Treatment options are important, but we have to focus on housing needs to prevent the situation from growing. The issue of a permanent homeless shelter is going to a vote of the people most likely in April in the form of a Bond proposal which I believe should be passed. Doing nothing not only has a financial cost, but a human one as well.
Flock Cameras
(Automatic License Plate Readers)
While Flock cameras don't come up often, they have multiple times the past few years so I wanted to say I am opposed to them in Norman. Data stored on this system lasts for an extended period of time and has the potential to be abused or shared with federal agencies without the knowledge of the city or vehicle owners. Future innovations in AI or policies with Flock Safety may make these potential abuses worse. On top of all of this, these cameras are costly, and at a time when city finances aren't the best, there are much better uses of money than on these cameras. To see a video of my thoughts, click here!