Resident:
Raymond Thomas, Northeast Oklahoma City
Context: A lifelong resident of the northeast side, Raymond Thomas wants city developers and officials to know that his community needs the same essentials that other parts of the city have. That includes closer access to grocery stores with affordable prices and a greater variety of healthful foods.
Response:
Cathy O’Connor, President, The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City
Context: O’Connor said northeast Oklahoma City has struggled to attract new grocery stores and retail shops. Many parts of the areas are considered food deserts, meaning residents do not have easy access to grocery stores with enough fresh food.
A Deeper Look:
A Longer Reach for Health
Many high-poverty areas of Oklahoma City have limited convenient access to grocery stores with healthful food, placing them in “food deserts.” This map shows the percentage of residents living within a mile of a supermarket or grocery store.
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Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2013 American Community Survey
