Tulsa City Council Tables Vote On Brady Street Name Change

After a lengthy public hearing, the Tulsa City Council were split right down the middle on whether to change the name of Brady Street, and so tabled the vote until next week.

The street was named for Tate Brady, one of Tulsa's founders, but also a member of the Ku Klux Klan in the years just before the 1921 race riot.

When the hearing started at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday, 56 people signed up to speak and they were each given five minutes to make their cases.

There were people who argued the name shouldn't change, so the history wouldn't be erased and forgotten, while others argued that, while Tate Brady's name certainly belongs in the history books, it doesn't belong on the street signs.

"No one wants to honor a criminal or someone that has a questionable reputation. Or do they?" one speaker said. "So, why is it so difficult? Why are we asking for this change now?"

Another said, "Will renaming Brady Street change Tulsa's history as a racially charged city? No. What it will do is likely unleash a plethora of name change demands."

Going into the meeting, it was clear a tie was possible. Councilors G.T. Bynum, Jack Henderson and Blake Ewing had indicated they would vote to change it, while Councilors Jeannie Cue, David Patrick and Arianna Moore said their constituents were solidly against changing it.

Councilors Karen Gilbert and Skip Steele were the swing votes going into the meeting. Gilbert voted against it, saying she was representing her district. And Steel voted for it.

The ninth member and tie-breaker, Councilor Phil Lakin, wasn't there for the vote, as he was out of state on vacation.

The council will vote again on Brady Street's name next week, when Lakin returns from vacation.

8/7/2013 Related Story: Tulsa Mayor Says He Opposes Brady Street Name Change