Something from the Gulf Coast

This gives you an idea of our new bridge(1/2 finished) but we can get across. O.S. businesses welcomed this happening and of course, the casinos are in their glory getting the tourists to spend. At the east end of the coast in O.S. we are getting along so much better. Even the beach front is getting rebuilt with homes and condos and the shrimp boats have gone out to get their harvest.
Now if Biloxi to the west and Gulfport, etc. would cleanup the debris, life would be somewhat bearable. The mall is pitiful but slowly getting rebuilt and shops are coming back. The biggest hangup is Hwy90 with so many high rise condos but no restaurants or gas stations starting to show. Many are heading to north Hwy49 around I-10 for eateries and shopping as well. I avoid that area as much as possible as the traffic is out of sight. But where else is there to go!!! O.S. is doing o.k. with a few eateries but shopping is no better than before which is really nothing.
Still no progress when it comes to federal money. Slabs are at the forefront on Hwy90 as insurance settlements are few and far between. Debris and shell frames of once homes and businesses still line the road. 30 months ago Katrina spit her wrath on us and left emptiness as she left. When are the local officials going to take better action to force folks to at least tear these monstrosties down. I think enough time has passed for the local community now to demolition these eyesores and get some rebuilding going. The owners sure are not doing anything nor will they ever. Gulfport is the worst offender for leaving gutted buildings just sit boarded up. My impression of what the federal money was supposed to do is to help rebuild. Where is the money, like billions, sitting just stagnating? It is time for accountability from not only the feds but the fund raisers as well. It is time for the citizens to start asking questions so the Gulf Coast can be revitalized. Maybe something can be challenged once we get a new Democratic party. The old Bush's regime sure left us out to dry.

Even tho September has arrived and it says 'fall' in the ads, it is not. One does not recognize fall in the south until sometime in November. Then the leaves are dropping, grass quits growing and not alot of folks at the beaches.
Here is the latest on the Gulf Coast of Ms revitalization program. The condos are progressing upward and outward along Hwy 90(the main drag). The latest is getting approval from Biloxi councilmen to rezone the Tivoli and White House hotel land for million dollar casino enterprises. Even the Choctaw tribe is trying to get approval to build a casino in Jackson County where no casinos are built YET. The rebuilt casinos are built back up and continuiing to lure tourists and locals alike, to come and play. Bus service is expanding, bringing folks in from all surrounding states for one day excursions with enticements of free buffet and maybe $10 play at the slots or tables.
Good news for Ocean Springs. The bridge is almost there to cross over into Biloxi. November 1 is looming around the corner. I drove down to the beach front yesterday to check it out and it is magnificent. I don't remember how high it is supposed to be but it right up there. True, now if we should ever get another Katrina(no way) it probably will crumble as before. No matter, it is a beautiful sight which ever side of the bridge you are sitting on waiting to cross. I certainly will appreciate this bridge as it means not driving a half hour or more to get to the other side.
Ocean Springs beach front is taking shape. Many of the damaged homes are being replaced bigger and more beautiful than before. These are the folks who have the bucks to do so. One very large apartment complex is coming along about 6 miles north of O.S. but I can imagine the rent should be $800 and up for a 1 bedroom. Habitat for Humanity has built many new homes for those without in Pascagoula(20 miles east of O.S.) Pascagoula and all the coast west to New Orleans still looks like it did 09-29-2005 after Katrina roared thru.
The latest for the 15,000 still in Fema trailers, is the feds are going to build "Katrina cottages" to get them out of the deplorable conditions. Many are getting sick from contamination in the trailers; crime and drugs are running rampid thruout these communities. The folks need to apply for this Katrina cottage and no telling yet what it will cost them to get in. They will have all appliances installed and I would imagine furniture will come from some other sources like church groups, etc. I believe these will be selected areas for communities to be built and not just plunked on someone's old slab. NO date has been given as to when this endeavor would even begin. During all this, Gulfport has decided to take the Fed money allocated for housing and use it to dredge the harbor for commercial use. Now that just gives you an idea of how politics works.
On the other side of the coin, the school that had to use port-o-lets because they needed a well dug so they could have inside facilities, are in the process of getting the well. Seems Robin Roberts of Good Morning America called someone to find out what the problem was. After the story make headlines and after a year later of paperwork, some head honcho of FEMA gave the approval to get it going. Robin had come to the coast to bring attention to Katrina and its aftermath via TV and accomplished many things. Many thanks to Robin and her efforts.
Many church groups and individual volunteers are making life alot better for those in need and we are so thankful. No matter what they say on TV or in newspapers, the feds and FEMA are a joke. The local counties and the feds continually blame each other as to why the money is not coming forward. That is going to be ongoing as long as politics are involved.
Someone said it will take at least 10 years for this area to take shape and this is obvious. I implore you not to contribute to any more fund raising as the money is NOT coming our way. I only know of DOLTR that is a local Catholic group that is helping by buying appliances or offering services where needed. Church groups and individuals are what are rebuilding the Gulf Coast of MS, thank goodness.
Thanks for reading.

I decided to check out the latest casino opening. This is the front of the Hard Rock Casino with the big guitar as its greeting sign. Quite impressive inside as well with lots of pictures of stars as a gallery and glitz all over. The place is a casino and hotel which is great for tourists with all its anemities. It was rather slow as it was early in the morning but I would imagine it will be different come 5/6p.m. Found their restaurants from early morning food to evening. Looks like Biloxi is turning into a gambling mecca and over the years will just get bigger for tourists on the eastern/southern coastline. There are many years ahead for the redevelopment to blossom into casinos and condos.