Oklahoma City's pandemic-fighting mask mandate generally was panned by candidates in Tuesday's city council primaries.
One exception was retired Lt. Col. Susan Parisi, whose military career included service as the chief nurse of the 301st Medical Squadron of the U.S. Air Force Reserves.
"We cannot, we will not, get out ahead of this deadly pandemic until people stop complaining about their personal rights being infringed upon and just help out your fellow human being and put on a mask," she wrote.
Sixteen of the 18 candidates in Tuesday's primaries in Wards 1, 3 and 4 responded to questions on restoring last year's cuts to the police operations budget, reforms sought by critics of police violence and the mask mandate.
Ward 6 Councilwoman JoBeth Hamon has compiled police department data to produce a map detailing the deaths of 66 pedestrians and six bicyclists in traffic accidents since 2018. The list includes 32-year-old Brittany Thompson, who was killed two months ago. Police said she stepped into a traffic lane and was struck on Northwest Expressway between Penn and May avenues at 2 a.m. on a Monday. Hamon said on Twitter she hoped the map could “be the beginning of better communicating the impact of traffic deaths and the importance of creating streets for people.”
Of note: Hamon also called out the five council members who voted to ask the U.S.
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt congratulated President Joseph Biden on his inauguration Wednesday and said on Twitter that Skydance bridge would be illuminated in red, white and blue Wednesday night to mark the occasion.
"On behalf of the people of Oklahoma City, I send congratulations to President @JoeBiden and Vice President @KamalaHarris," Holt tweeted after Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office.
"We are grateful for their willingness to serve our nation. A special congratulations to Madam Vice President on her especially historic achievement," Holt wrote.
"Cities are the nation’s chief economic and cultural engines," wrote Holt, who serves on the board of directors of the National League of