By Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice
OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday announced the end of an effort to remove homeless encampments on state property in Tulsa.
In two weeks, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol cleared 64 locations and disposed of nearly 2 million pounds of “debris” as part of Operation Swift Action for Families Everywhere, Stitt said.He said it would be up to Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols and city officials to “ensure
state and local laws are enforced and camps are not reestablished.
“OHP will continue to monitor state property and will return to enforce state law if necessary,” he said.
Nichols has been critical of the effort, saying it was a manufactured crisis. Nichols said Stitt did not coordinate with local officials.
There were no arrests, said Sarah Stewart, an Oklahoma Department of Public Safety spokeswoman.Troopers initially issued warnings to homeless individuals before beginning clearing encampments. People were offered rides to treatment or housing facilities or a trip to jail if they refused to vacate.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation was part of the cleanup effort and posted vacate notices on state property.
