Stitt defends Tulsa homeless crackdown as local shelter calls for empathy

Stitt defends Tulsa homeless crackdown as local shelter calls for empathy

From Listen Frontier by The Frontier

September 15, 2025 · 38 min

About this episode

The episode discusses Governor Stitt's Operation SAFE aimed at clearing homeless encampments in Tulsa and features contrasting views on homelessness from Stitt and Steven Whitaker.

This week on Listen Frontier , we’re looking at Operation SAFE, Governor Kevin Stitt’s effort to clear homeless encampments in Tulsa with the help of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The Frontier sat down with Gov. Stitt, who told me the operation isn’t about solving homelessness, but about enforcing the law. He said Oklahomans are experiencing “compassion fatigue,” and that many of the people removed from encampments “didn’t want help.” We also spoke with Steven Whitaker, CEO of Tulsa’s John 3:16 Mission, who offered a different view. Whitaker acknowledged the risks of being too compassionate, but stressed that the people living on Tulsa’s streets are our neighbors, and most of them are in desperate need of empathy, shelter, and support. Together, their perspectives paint a complicated picture of homelessness in Tulsa, and the deep divide over how the state and city should respond.

People in this episode

Guests: Kevin Stitt, Steven Whitaker

Topics covered

  • homelessness
  • Tulsa
  • Operation SAFE
  • empathy
  • law enforcement

Keywords

  • compassion fatigue
  • John 3:16 Mission
  • shelter
  • support

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Tulsa

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