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Councilperson Cooper to host Ward 2 MAPS 4/Better Streets, Safer City Meet-Up Forum on Nov. 21

Post Date:11/15/2019 9:38 AM

Councilperson James Cooper is hosting a public Ward 2 MAPS 4/Better Streets, Safer City Meet-Up Forum on Nov. 21 for Oklahoma City residents to learn more about these two initiatives and visit with City staff to ask questions.

“This public meet-up allows Ward 2 residents to hear about how my vision for our city fits within the context of Better Streets, Safer City and MAPS 4,” said Councilperson Cooper. “Importantly, residents will also have an opportunity to speak with City Staff about these projects, add their voice to the discussion, and address specific ideas and/or concerns they might have about issues affecting their neighborhoods.”

The forum is 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 at Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23^rd St.

Staff from the Police Department, OKC Parks, the Planning and Public Works departments, EMBARK, the Homeless Alliance and Oklahoma City Public Schools will attend to present and answer residents’ questions

Funded by a temporary penny sales tax, the proposed MAPS 4 program would raise a projected $978 million over eight years, debt-free. MAPS 4 requires approval from Oklahoma City voters in a Dec. 10 special election.

MAPS 4 would keep Oklahoma City’s sales tax rate unchanged. The temporary tax would take effect April 1 when the Better Streets, Safer City temporary sales tax expires. Learn more about MAPS 4 at okc.gov/maps4.

The Better Streets, Safer City bond and sales tax programs include more than $1.2 billion in infrastructure investment across Oklahoma City, including numerous projects around Ward 2. Visit okc.gov/BetterSafer for project maps, lists and more.

More about MAPS 4

The proposed MAPS 4 package is focused on neighborhood and human needs, as well as quality of life and job-creating initiatives. More than 70 percent of the funding is dedicated to neighborhood and human needs.

The proposed MAPS 4 program includes 16 projects:

If voters approve the MAPS 4 program, each project will be refined in the coming years as the process unfolds, much like the previous MAPS programs. MAPS 4 will have oversight from the City Council and a volunteer advisory board.

Election and voting information

The MAPS 4 election will be Dec. 10 with only one item on the ballot. Voters will vote yes or no on a single capital investment program, which the Council will devote to the MAPS 4 program.

Click here to see a sample ballot.

Oklahoma City voters registered at their current address are already eligible to vote. The deadline is Nov. 15 for new voter registration or updating your registration to a new address.

Visit the Oklahoma State Election Board’s website at ok.gov/elections to download a voter registration form. Check or update your registration using the voter portal.

Voter registration forms are also available at your local county election board, post offices, tag agencies, libraries and other public locations.

Voters who have disabilities can find more information about voter assistance in Oklahoma at ok.gov/elections.

State law requires proof of identity to vote. Acceptable forms of ID are a voter ID card, driver’s license or another form of ID issued by the federal government, state government or federally recognized tribal government. Voters may also cast a provisional ballot by proving their identity with a signed, sworn affidavit, which is available at the polling station.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the MAPS 4 election is 5 p.m. Dec. 4. Apply for an absentee ballot or download an absentee ballot request form at ok.gov/elections/ovp.

Overseas voters, including military members, can get more information about overseas absentee voting at ok.gov/elections.

Early voting for the MAPS 4 election is 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 6 at your local county election board:

Oklahoma County Election Board, 4201 N Lincoln Blvd., (405) 713-1515
Cleveland County Election Board, 641 E Robinson Street (Suite 200) in Norman, (405) 366-0210
Canadian County Election Board, 200 S Bickford Ave. in El Reno, (405) 422-2422
Pottawatomie County Election Board, 14101 Acme Road in Shawnee, (405) 273-8376.

Regular voting is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at your usual polling location, which you can find using the voter portal at ok.gov/elections/ovp or on your voter ID card. Two precincts in far northwest Oklahoma City have new voting locations as of this fall: Precinct 550151 now votes at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at 10600 N Council Road, and Precinct 550153 now votes at Newchurch at 9201 N Rockwell Ave.

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