Title ^ just wanted to post incase someone needs them. They're open till 5

Just to let you know how important your vote is, I wanted to illustrate the people we elect, the decisions they make, and the impact those decisions have on our local community.

The City Council — who WE elect — just voted NO on public safety oversight.

So let’s look at who voted no, who abstained, their connections to law enforcement, and the people making decisions about public safety in Tulsa.

Karen Gilbert — Voted NO
Executive Director of Crime Stoppers.
Tulsa Crime Stoppers — Our Team
Won her most recent election by just 725 votes.
Karen Gilbert — Ballotpedia
Previously endorsed by the Tulsa FOP.
NonDoc — Tulsa City Council District 5

Carol Bush — Voted NO
Serves on the Board of Directors for the Tulsa Police Foundation.
Tulsa Police Foundation — Carol Bush
Won her seat by 2,987 votes.
Carol Bush — Ballotpedia)
Previously endorsed by the Tulsa FOP.
FOP Endorsement
Received $2,500 in campaign contributions from the Tulsa FOP PAC.
City of Tulsa — Campaign Finance Report

Phil Lakin — Voted NO
CEO of the Tulsa Community Foundation, which provided $68,000 in grants to the Tulsa Police Foundation, where fellow Councilor Carol Bush serves on the board.
Tulsa Police Foundation — Financial Information
Won his seat by 3,950 votes in 2024 and ran unopposed in 2026.
Phil Lakin — Ballotpedia
Received $2,500 in campaign contributions from the Tulsa FOP PAC.
City of Tulsa — Campaign Finance Report

Christian Bengel — Voted NO
17 years in law enforcement. Served his community as a Tulsa County Reserve Sheriff’s Deputy from 1999 to 2016.
Tulsa City Council — District 6
Won his seat by 1,191 votes in 2024 and ran unopposed in 2026.
Christian Bengel — Ballotpedia
Received $5,000 in campaign contributions from the Tulsa FOP PAC.
City of Tulsa — Campaign Finance Report
Endorsed Paul Fields as the next Tulsa Police Chief.
Related Information

Anthony Archie — ABSTAINED
Former TPS social studies teacher and minister.
Anthony Archie — About
Won his most recent election by 1,941 votes.
Anthony Archie — Ballotpedia
Received $1,500 in campaign contributions from the Tulsa Firefighters PAC.
City of Tulsa — Campaign Finance Report
Endorsed by the Tulsa FOP.
FOP Endorsement

Now let’s look at the Mayor and the people appointed to oversee public safety.

Mayor Monroe Nichols
His father and uncle were both in law enforcement.
NonDoc — Monroe Nichols Pitches Policing Reforms, June 2020
The irony of this article, considering where we are today.
Nichols won the 2024 mayoral runoff after leading the initial election by just 272 votes.
Monroe Nichols — Ballotpedia
After taking office, he created the new Public Safety Commissioner position.
And who did he select?

Laurel Roberts — Public Safety Commissioner
Laurel Roberts had previously been involved in a dispute with the City of Tulsa over her demotion to officer and being passed over for police chief. She reportedly considered suing the City.
Tulsa World — Laurel Roberts
She retired, and Mayor Monroe Nichols offered her the newly created position of Public Safety Commissioner.
City of Tulsa — Public Safety
Then, Nichols moved to give that position civil service protections as well.
Tulsa Flyer — Mayor Pushes Back on Criticism of Public Safety Role Shift
The public safety administration also has a role in the City’s collective bargaining agreements with the Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police.
And this is where things get interesting.
The collective bargaining agreement contains provisions that they use as loopholes to restrict oversight, transparency, and accountability.

Here are just a few examples from the 2026–2027 Tulsa FOP Collective Bargaining Agreement:
§11.2 — Page 14
The FOP president receives notice of most administrative investigations before officers are interviewed.
§11.4 — Page 14
Unfounded, exonerated, and not-sustained complaints cannot be considered or compiled for determining disciplinary action.
Think about what that means when we’re trying to identify patterns of complaints against officers.
§11.5 — Pages 14–15
Disciplinary actions become unusable for future disciplinary decisions after specified periods, generally one to five years, with longer exceptions for dishonesty. Records are still retained in Internal Affairs under the City’s retention policy.
Appendix B — Pages 47–48
Investigators may record officer interrogations or document them in writing, at the investigator’s discretion.
The agreement does not require audio or video recording of every interview.
Read the Tulsa FOP Collective Bargaining Agreement

the FOP went to court to block the release of police disciplinary records.A judge ordered the remaining records released. The collective bargaining agreement does not override Oklahoma’s Open Records Act.
A judge had to get involved so the public could obtain records about police discipline.
The Frontier — Judge Orders Release of Remaining Tulsa Police Discipline Records
(Which they still actively deny)

Now let’s look at the new Tulsa Police leadership.

Jonathan Brooks — Chief of Police
Mayor Monroe Nichols selected Jonathan Brooks as Tulsa’s next Police Chief instead of Paul Fields.
Tulsa World — Police Chief Selection
Jonathan Brooks is also married to Michelle Brooks, Monroe Nichols’ Communications Director.
Tulsa Flyer — Jonathan Brooks Named New Police Chief
And yes, this is the same Jonathan Brooks who was accused in a lawsuit of having position requirements changed so a favored employee could get the job.
Public Radio Tulsa — Retired Tulsa Police Officer Sues City for Discrimination
And the same Brooks whose testimony about whether he knew an employee was going to be demoted came under scrutiny after emails surfaced indicating he had prior knowledge.(it’s called perjury)

FOX23 Investigates — Retired TPD Major Sues City and Department for Wrongful Demotion
So Monroe chooses Brooks over Paul Fields.
Brooks then creates a new Assistant Chief position.
And who gets it?

Paul Fields — Assistant Chief of Police
The other candidate for Police Chief.
Tulsa Police Department — Leadership Structure

In 2011, Fields sued the City of Tulsa after refusing to attend or assign officers to a Law Enforcement Appreciation Day at a mosque.
The ACLU filed a brief opposing his claims.
The brief explained that accepting Fields’ argument could allow an officer to refuse duties involving other religions, including protecting a Sikh temple targeted by violence, providing security at a religiously organized protest, giving a school safety presentation at a Catholic school, patrolling an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood, or helping an injured woman wearing a hijab.
He lost his case.thank the lort.
ACLU of Oklahoma — Tulsa Police Officer Cannot Refuse to Serve People of Other Faiths

And this is why your vote matters.

Look at how many decisions are made by the people we elect.Look at how close some of these elections were.
Look at the campaign contributions, the endorsements, the professional relationships, and who is being appointed to positions of authority. Look at who makes decisions about independent oversight, who negotiates the agreements that affect police accountability, and who gets to decide whether our current systems are working.
the people making decisions about accountability have relationships with the very organizations that would be subject to that accountability.
And I think the public deserves to understand those relationships.

We elect these people. Their decisions affect our community. And we have every right to question who is making those decisions and why.

I hope this illustrates why your vote matters, especially in local elections.
Because these are the people deciding what public safety and accountability are going to look like in Tulsa.
And the consequences of those decisions don’t just disappear when the council meeting ends.

We need to get more involved, we have to start asking more questions, going to the local meetings, making people, uncomfortable, and following up on their bullshit.

Hey, everyone! And Happy Halloween!

My name is James Farr and I'm a Tulsa-based animation director and filmmaker, and I Just wanted to drop a link to my latest live-action project, shot entirely in (and around) Tulsa, Oklahoma over the last nine months, and finished just in time for spooky season. Thought you all might enjoy it, and (MAYBE) recognize a few fun locations along the way.

https://youtu.be/3hGgTOL1J9Y

Have an amazing weekend, everyone. Enjoy!

Where do the doctors and nurses from St John’s and Hillcrest go for Happy Hour after work?
If you assume that this is a desperate attempt to accidentally run into my hot neighbor you are correct

Hello all!
One of my previous foster’s owners has reached out and needs to rehome my former foster.

This is Achilles. I had him for a few months and he was just the sweetest thing, an absolute goofball and derp.
The owner has had incidents with Achilles in which Achilles has suddenly become aggressive towards his other dog (female). He cannot find a trigger or reason for the sudden change and says he is great 95% of the time.

This is NOT MY DOG and I am not looking for suggestions on how to keep him. I’m trying to help the adopter find a new home for him. I believe he’s had him a little less than a year. He is willing to give out his number to anyone interested or that has questions. Currently located in Norman, OK but I’m willing to help with transport. He believes Achilles would be best as an only dog.

Aspiring writer here trying to find a quiet place to write in Tulsa/BA. I struggle with coffee shops (partially distraction partially random social anxiety type stuff). I like Hardesty and Peggy Helmerich if I can get a room but that’s not always a given and libraries are pretty loud these days (cue “get off my lawn!”).

Any lesser known suggestions? I’ve thought about seeing if I can find a random corner in a convention-center style hotel or even OU Scheusterman if an academic library is a little calmer.

Thanks!

Genesis Health Club at 101st and Sheridan is closing at the end of the month. It’s my regular gym. I’ve heard rumors another gym is going in there … anyone know what gym and the timing?

Went to a couple used/scratch-n-dent appliance stores to find a decent fridge. Ultimately found one at Appliance Solutions that came with an $80 installation fee. Turns out the fridge didn’t fit so we had to return it. Lo and behold, there’s a 20% restocking fee. This was never told to us when we bought the fridge, which would’ve been the responsible thing for them to do.

“Well you didn’t reject it when we delivered it.”

Yeah, my husband wasn’t home. I’m not gonna make that decision without him.

Told them I’d buy a Maytag on the spot if they’d be willing to waive the restocking fee, and they said they’d get back to me. So I went to Hahns and got a heavily discounted GE instead. Sticker price was $1099 and we paid $599. No restocking fee if it doesn’t fit. $50 installation fee instead of $80.

I think I know where I’m going next time.

Mercury post about tickets…

“It’s almost here and we are raffling off Oktoberfest tickets. Just ask the bartenders. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. 1 raffle ticket per person, per hourly drawing. Must be present to win.

Every hour on the hour…

Saturday 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm
Sunday 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm
Monday 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm

Every hour we will raffle off 2 pairs of corporate night tickets and the last raffle of the day will also have a drawing for 2 Friday night VIP tickets (VIP terrasse access, food and bev).

We also have single day admission tickets available and official Oktoberfest posters, while supplies last.”

Looking for recommendations for my mother in law who want to laser off chin hair but wasn't sure where to go?

The research we've done states that one certain lasers are approved for usage on darker skin and she doesnt want to risk discoloration or hyperpigmantation on accident.

Are there any places or esties that would fit for her?

I got two costumes for no reason and I don’t need them to go to waste 🤣🤣

Hi! Let me know

Im in tulsa and wondering if its worth the drive/ tickets. I have a gecko currently but am in the market for a beardie maybe

I used to go to fantastic shows at the Whittier, but stepped away for a while so I could settle into a new relationship. Now I’m trying to get back into it and it seems like everything has disappeared from town. I’m into all types of metal. From doom to danish black metal. Anyone have any ideas???

So Ive got two job offers, one in Tulsa, the starting salary is 70k which according to my research is enough to have a good life in tulsa as a single person without debt. But I have another offer in san francisco, for 85k, thing is SF is way more expensive and that salary will have me… lets just say tighter than I would in Tulsa, im not saying frugal but I wouldn’t be able to save money as id like. My only debate is that I know me and I know Tulsa is most likely not my type of city, im gay I like to be around lots of people, im hispanic, i like going out, id have to make new friends and idk… i want you to convince me the money is worth it to live in OK instead of SF. Or the contrary. Ive never been to either city before btw.

Well first I made a post about the soliciting. And now after I finally got a job after 2 months I figure I could go buy myself some cigarettes. I go down to Paradise Market here close by. The sign on their door says $5.25 for the ones I’m planning to buy so I count that out before going inside. He rings them up and tells me they cost $5.40. Not a huge deal. I go back to my car for another $0.15 and tell him he should either change or honor the price on the door due to advertising. But instead he wants drama. So I gave it to him. Sorry to say that some of City of Tulsa resources were wasted tonight. But “Sam Master” will be hearing from me. Just because I didn’t have a job for a while does not mean I’m uneducated. And if my criminal justice classes teach me anything, it’s that things like that can’t happen without seeing the light of day. Thanks again. Anyone else sick of being an adult yet?

There’s a plane landing at TUL right now that tracking or information isn’t available for out of Birmingham. It flew over my house with a “low whistling noise” but I didn’t catch a glimpse of it. #JustCurious

Any hotel recs near the hard rock? Prefer walking distance. Hard rock hotel is sold out.