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Residents press council for participatory budgeting and transit protections as police funding debate continues
Summary
Dozens of residents urged the council to adopt a participatory budget and to redirect money from policing to services such as housing, transit, parks and mental-health response. Riders and advocates also raised specific concerns about proposed changes to Route 19 and asked staff to preserve access while the city explores microtransit options.
A broad group of residents, organized in part through the People's Budget Coalition, used the council meeting public-comment period to press for a participatory budgeting process and to urge councilmembers to redirect portions of city funding from policing into services such as affordable housing, transportation, parks and non-police crisis response.
Speakers described lived needs across neighborhoods and ages: advocates asked for more investment in after-school programs, bus service to isolated neighborhoods, shade and trees in hot neighborhoods, and permanent supportive housing. Multiple speakers told council they do not feel safer when police budgets increase and asked for more preventive community services.
On transit, Embark riders and an unhoused resident raised concerns about service changes to Route 19 in east Oklahoma City. City Manager Craig Freeman told the council he would recommend an administrative transfer of funds to keep Route 19 service in place for one year while staff and partners evaluate options, including potential microtransit pilots and coordination with county and neighboring municipalities. Freeman said the city could temporarily reduce a one-time fleet replacement allocation to preserve route service while stakeholders work through a longer-term plan.
Community speakers and coalition organizers demanded an accessible, democratic budgeting process. "We want a more democratic process where the needs of the community are actually listened to," Dulce Montoya said, calling for investments in transportation and summer programs rather than additional police spending. Aurelius Francisco of the People's Budget Coalition said, "Cut the excess budget for the police and put that into services like mental-health crisis response, transportation, and recreation centers."
On Route 19 specifically, Lynette Morris, a resident who said she is currently experiencing homelessness, told council that eliminating or changing the route would cut access to medical care and employment. City staff later confirmed the dispatch/commuter trips early in the morning would remain in place even as some mid-day trips were proposed for reduction; Freeman recommended a one-year preservation of the route while partners determine a longer-term solution.
The council did not vote on a budget at the meeting; staff said public comments and written submissions received through the public comment period will be compiled and provided to the council before the June 3 adoption vote. Freeman and Embark staff committed to continued community outreach if microtransit or other service changes are considered.
