Editorial: An Overheard Quote

Thursday, March 13, 2008

I was in a meeting of the Harrison County Board of Supervisors, listening and waiting for any discussion relate to my coverage area (Biloix & D'Iverville) when two women nervously approached the board to talk about their dismay over the planned destruction of Gulfport's public library. I was listening halfheartedly, thinking about all I had to do that day when one of them, Debra Peterson said, "People are starting to look at, not only what they are being asked to give up, but what they are getting in return." 

For some reason, I wrote it down. She was, of course talking about a specific issue in her community, something I didn't know very much about. But, her words, the way she said them, the sound in her voice, struck me as being familiar. It seems like I've been hearing people say the same thing for a long time. That little sentence stayed in my head for days. 

Loss and change are always difficult and the people of the Coast have lost so much: evidence of our history, personal homes and landmarks. What are we getting in return? What are we replacing those things with? How does the loss and the gain compare? An antebellum home for a condo tower? A Vietnamese shrimping village for a W-F casino district? One hundred twenty-two oak trees for a casino/retail development? Where does it end?

Mayor Holloway said he wants Biloxi to be a city with casinos not a city of casinos. With everything we've lost in the storm isn't Biloxi a city of casinos already? And if not, how will anyone prevent it from being one?

Holloway said there is enough casino-zoned land in the cit already without stretching down Highway 90 past casino row, but Councilman Mike Fitzpatrick wants to see limited casino zoning down 90. Which was is it going to go?

Meanwhile, the mayor told the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce Tuesday that it looks like the downtown Biloxi library and former Ohr Museum will likely be torn down as well. No discussion so far about what might go in its place. 

How about a casino? What do you think? The staff of Biloxi-D'Iberville Press seeks your opinions. Write to the editor at editor@getthepress.com.