What Of Gulfport?

Gulfport’s new mayor is sworn in and the promises have begun…the new mayor got elected because he was doing it for Gulfport.

Schloegel outlined the main goals in a new strategic plan they developed: Enhance revenue through economic development, with a city emphasis on retail expansion; work with the state port and state Transportation Department to plan a transportation corridor that will meet the needs of port expansion; tap a variety of programs to help residents rehabilitate substandard housing; improve infrastructure, from roads to playgrounds; build on the momentum that has led to superior fire and police service; and achieve a new standard in early childhood education.

During his first few months in office, Schloegel will lead the city’s economic development effort. He said a hiring freeze will temporarily prevent replacement of the director who recently resigned. When the position is filled, he will look for a director with experience in retail development. He said the Harrison County Development Commission and Mississippi Development Authority do a good job of focusing on industrial development.

Declining revenue will make any program he may want to start difficult…..my question is will he find new ways of increasing the city coffers or will he be giving away the city in the name of progress?

In the past, too many mayors have given away the school and killed the children (a metaphor, I think).  They have given tax breaks where tax breaks hurt the city and then the workers pay the price….companies get the gold…workers get the shaft.

Will our new mayor be good for the city or will he just be worried about the next election?

Barbour in 2012?

I recently heard a report that our beloved governor is on a swing through Iowa and New Hampshire….sounds like he is setting the stage for a run in 2012.

Back in the early days of the primaries, I suggested that the GOP candidate might consider Barbour as a VP candidate….boy, was I laughed at by many.  But once again I say he has the credentials for a run….head of the RNC, been a governor, a successful lobbyist, etc….he has the experience and the qualifications…so why not?

Since he cannot run for governor again……he has done as much damage as he could to the working population of the state and has helped bankrupt a state…they all sound very good for a Repub candidate.  He is also a Southerner which is another leading qualification for a run since the only support that the GOP really has is from elderly, white Southerners.

All in all….this makes him a pretty good prospect fort the party of “NO”.

Announcement

GSFP will be on vacation for much of the summer…we will return in early September….everyone have a great summer and stay out of trouble.

Do Not Look To Alabama For Help

The AP is reporting on the next hurricane to hit the Gulf Coast:

Alabama has a message for its neighbors: Don’t count on us next time you need shelter from a storm. And it’s not because Louisiana evacuees made a mess last time they came.Gov. Bob Riley said Tuesday that Alabama will take fewer out-of-state evacuees into shelters this year, so that shelter space will remain available for Alabama residents. He said the state will be especially cautious about filling shelters if there’s a chance another hurricane could affect the Alabama coast.

More than 6,500 evacuees, mostly from Louisiana, filled 28 shelters at community colleges across Alabama over Labor Day weekend last year as Hurricane Gustav neared the Louisiana coast. Most came in buses, many from the New Orleans area.

Riley said the decision to limit the number of out-of-state evacuees in shelters was not related to complaints by some community college officials that school buildings used for shelters were left in disrepair after the evacuees returned home.

I was wondering how long it would take states to get around to this……after all the bad press that evacuees got after Katrina it was only a matter of time.

Will Energy Costs Go Up?

If you listen to Repubs, it will.  They pick some obtuese figure to use and scare the public into submission.

Recently Gov. Barbour made this observation:

“Instead of a policy of more American energy, the proposed Obama policy is to establish a cap and trade tax, increase taxes on oil and gas companies by $81 billion and create a requirement that a certain percentage of electricity be generated with renewable fuels … a so called renewable portfolio standard,” Barbour said. “These policies have in common that they would all inevitably and substantially increase the cost of energy to the American families and American businesses, especially manufacturing.”

This should not effect manufacturing in the state….why?….they are given a free ride at every turn….so Barbour BS concerning industry is just so much crap.  Barbour is just repeating the playbook and daily talking pointys issued for Repubs to use in their count-offensive against “clean air”.

The Barbours have been champions of eliminating litter in Mississippi…good idea…but some how clean air means NOTHING to them.  Eliminating litter would involve getting free labor out of the the residents…..eliminating air pollution would require the govs donor base having to do the work…something we cannot have (that is sarcasm, in case you missed it).

Time To Make The Coast Presentable

Recently I read an article in my local paper about the “program” to Clean-up the Coast ahead of the National Governors Conference to be held on the Coast in the coming weeks.

It is all about appearance….we would not want the nation’s govs to get the wrong impression of Mississippi….and besides this will cost no or little cash…and that is what the governor and the politicians want.

If they think they will embarrass Bubba into playing ball and not littering…they are on CRACK!  Bubba cares less about what the Coast looks like as long as he can drink beer, riding around wasting gas in his boat and going to Hooters.

What these moronbic politicians should be worried about is the condition of the people in the state.,..that is a never ending embarrassment….low education…high amount of poor…high teen preggies…..crappy health care…these thing is what should be worked on and not how many years Toyota gets a free ride on taxes.

Mississippians are slobs and they will seldom change…but good luck with trying to bullshit the other governors.

Gulfport On The Sly

Gulfport city leaders, after a closed-door meeting, announce plans to annex 2.5 square miles north of the city. The plan is expected to draw fire from neighboring Biloxi and Harrison County and from residents in previously annexed areas who believe the city hasn’t provided adequate services there even years after annexation.

Can you feel the wool being pulled over your eyes?  Take a trip through North Gulfport sometime……check out the streets and such….after 20 years they still have not done right by the poor in the city.

Gulfport should not have been allowed to annex north up Hwy 49, they have dragged their feet on the promise improvements to the poorer neighborhoods.

A lawyer and expert on Mississippi’s open-government laws said Gulfport violated the law with its closed-door session on annexation and other matters. Gulfport Mayor Brent Warr, a lame duck who will leave office in weeks, responds that neither he nor the council did anything wrong with the secret meeting.

And his primary residence was an empty house during Katrina…….NOTHING Wrong?….yeah…right!

Mississippi’s Low Income Workers

There is a movement taking hold that would try to protect low income workers….and Mississippi has it fair share of those, as well as day workers and such.

Original source: civilrights.org

Organizations that advocate for working-class Americans, such as the Institute for Policy Studies and Jobs with Justice, recently formed a coalition called the Inter-Alliance Dialogue to address the needs of low-income workers, minorities, domestic workers, day laborers, and other groups most affected by the recession.

In recent months, employers have been eliminating jobs at a rate of about half a million per month, causing many people to lose their homes and healthcare, especially low-income workers and minorities.

The groups that make up the Inter-Alliance Dialogue are urging Congress to address the needs of low-wage workers, by:

* passing the Employee Free Choice Act to expand workers’ right to organize and improve working conditions;
* enhancing worker protection laws to prevent wage theft and workplace abuses;
* preventing the lending and credit industries from taking advantage of minorities and low-income people;
* implementing fair immigration reform that protects workers and their families; and
* providing equal opportunities for jobs for all workers in the emerging green economy.

Here Is An Idea

From a report by the AP:

A county sheriff in northern Ohio who banned pancakes from the jail menu to cut costs has found another way to save: He’s having the inmates grow their own food.Sandusky County Sheriff Kyle Overmyer got the idea for a vegetable garden at the jail in Fremont after he was forced to reduce his budget by $75,000 this spring.

Low-risk inmates who are allowed to mow lawns and do other chores around the county planted about an acre and a half of fruits and vegetables on jail grounds three weeks ago.

One inmate says everyone will enjoy the fresh food because budget cuts have made meals less appetizing.

Another great idea, but I believe this was tried in Harrison County about 20 years ago and had to be abandoned because of some visions of the old “chain gangs”.

A good idea and a money saving idea, but will there be ways that it can be abused?