Tulsa City Council Delays Vote On Changing The Name Of Brady Street

The Tulsa City Council plans to vote in two weeks on possibly changing the name of Brady Street.

A suggestion by Councilor Jack Henderson to rename it "Burlington Street" will not move forward before then.

Several councilors argued the name should be changed quickly, but the body eventually decided to notify property owners and residents along the street about the possible name change, before actually voting to do it.

Councilor Jack Henderson urged quick action, with a final vote on changing it next week, but other councilors wanted to give interested people an opportunity to have public input.

"What we're talking about is a city that needs racial healing," Henderson said. "This city has been through one of the worst race riots in the country and were arguing about changing the name of a street that honors someone who was in the Klan and possibly part of the race riot itself?"

Councilor Blake Ewing rejected the notion the additional input would provide any new information that would help the council make a decision.

5/16/2013 Related Story: Residents Appeal To City Council For Brady District Name Change

"If the overall feeling of the council that name is harmful, then the polling of the public is irrelevant. We know it's a split issue," Ewing said. "Do we harm the community more by dragging this process out, or do we serve the community better by acting quickly and putting the issue to rest?"

Councilor GT Bynum argued for prompt action, but insisted on notification and input from people who live and work along the street. Bynum said the street name was, "not going to heal all the racial problems Tulsa has had in this past. The more we make it about the street name and less about race, I think we ought to do that."

With the decision to provide notification, and a plan for a vote in two weeks, Henderson said, "I think the appropriate feedback is one meeting where people can provide input, and if that's the meeting where we vote, that's fine."