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From YouTube: State of the City, 2013
Description
Here is a 28-minute video that was shown during the State of the City luncheon, a Biloxi Bay Chamber of Commerce-sponsored luncheon at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, on Feb. 25, 2013.
A
It's
good
to
be
up
here
again
this
year.
Our
story
is
one
of
milestones.
We
have
a
milestone,
large
or
small,
each
and
every
day
it
might
be
a
ribbon
cutting
for
one
of
the
234
new
businesses
that
opening
luks
lik
in
the
past
12
months.
Yes,
we've
issued
permits
for
234
new
businesses.
In
the
past
year.
A
Of
course,
the
Hard
Rock
Hotel
and
Casino
announces
new
hotel
tower
a
32
point.
Five
million
dollar
investment
create
a
250
construction,
jobs,
90,
permanent
jobs
and
154
hotel
rooms
opening
11
months
from
now
down
at
the
isle.
The
golden
nugget
is
spending.
150
million
dollars
will
have
new
restaurants,
new
amenities,
new
meeting
space
and
excitement.
That
will
remind
us
of
those
trailblazing
years
of
the
casino
industry
20
years
ago.
A
We
saw
a
major
player
boyd
gaming
entering
the
market
with
the
purchase
of
the
IP,
and
the
palace
continues
to
enjoy
the
benefits
of
a
53
million
dollar
up
green
I've
said
it
before
and
I'll
say
it
again.
Tourism
is
our
niche,
but
it's
more
than
the
casinos
we
are
sitting
with
casinos.
We
are
not
a
casino
City
casino
resorts,
attractive
people,
but
once
they
get
here,
they
fall
in
love
with
our
community.
A
These
facilities
are
all
enjoying
milestones
of
their
own
each
and
every
day
more
than
50,000
tourists
walk
through
the
front
door.
At
the
Visitor
Center
last
year,
the
center
also
hosted
156
special
events
with
more
than
10,000
guests
as
a
right
now,
just
two
months
into
2013.
We
have
more
events
book
for
this
year
and
we
had
all
the
last
year
will
guaranteed
a
record-breaking
year
at
the
Visitor
Center.
A
Every
Saturday
is
booked
throughout
june
and
we
have
only
a
few
Saturdays
available
in
july
august
and
sep
tember.
It's
the
same
story
for
with
a
civic
center
on
howard
avenue.
Every
single
saturday
is
booked
for
the
first
half
of
this
year
and
all
we
held
38
events
at
the
Civic
Center
last
year,
with
more
than
20,000
people
attending
those
events
of
the
21
annual
events
were
held.
20
have
already
signed
up
to
return
this
year.
Carnival
balls
were
about
a
fourth
of
our
business,
five
balls
with
about
5,000
people.
A
We
also
are
the
new
home
for
chefs
to
the
coast,
who
have
proms
from
biloxi
high
school,
the
I've
avail
and
Saint
Martin,
where
health
sold
out
boxing
matches
the
Chamber's
business,
expo
corporate
meetings
and
so
forth.
Weddings
have
been
big
business
for
us
at
both
facilities,
receptions,
engagement,
parties,
rehearsal,
dinners
and
plenty
of
small
wedding
ceremonies.
Rarely
does
a
week
go
by
and
we
don't
have
judge
fountain
or
judge
strong
presiding
over
two
or
three
small
ceremony
at
our
physical
sign
in
December,
twelfth
2012,
the
famous
12
12
12.
A
A
A
Last
year,
I
also
told
you
about
the
upcoming
openings
of
the
new
walmart
supercenter
McIlroy's
shark
heads
Biloxi,
boardwalk
marina.
Those
were
all
tremendous
milestones
and
they
were
making
an
impact.
The
new
walmart
helping
edgewater
mold
enjoy
a
robust
year
with
new
businesses
open
inside
and
outside
the
mall,
we're
working
with
Commissioner
king
who
add
sidewalks
Swiss
to
drive,
so
we
could
connect
edgewater,
mall,
edgewater
village
and
the
walmart
with
nearly
1200
apartments
and
block
away,
we're
also
continuing
to
see
a
surge
of
economic
development
downtown.
A
The
half
shell
oyster
house
has
been
joined
by
eight
restaurants
and
a
tark
dallas
or
antique
stores
in
the
past
12
months.
Yes,
that's
right.
More
than
16
small
businesses
open
downtown
in
the
past
year,
we
even
have
a
couple
of
clothing
stores
and
the
MORONI's
complex
I'll
go
is
for
more
of
the
thousands
of
people
south
of
Highway
90
at
the
boat
and
the
hard
rock
to
come
north
of
highway
90
to
explore
the
shops,
galleries,
restaurants
and
downtown.
That's
why
the
motor
grows
museum
is
returning
downtown.
A
This
year
we
had
a
peek
in
the
museum.
Last
month
we
made
the
transition
from
Christmas
at
Beauvoir
to
Carnival
season
and
what
a
great
event
christmas
at
beauval
was.
It
called
attention
to
the
national
landmark
in
our
city.
It
created
a
new
fourth-quarter
holiday
tradition
and
reminded
people
that
we
have
a
presidential
library
open
later
this
year.
Another
great
idea
was
main
streets.
Finally,
Friday
this
block
party
attracts
hundreds
of
people
downtown
each
month.
A
I
also
congratulate
our
other
community
partners
for
achieving
milestones
of
their
own
keishla
dedicated
a
new
dormitory
has
block
c
hall
to
recognize
a
strong
bond
between
the
base
and
the
community.
After
months
of
preparation,
hundreds
of
key
slamming
cheered
and
one
blue
dragon
danced
when
they
heard
the
air
force
inspector
general
deemed
81st
training
wing
as
excellent.
A
A
Congratulations
to
team
keister.
You
are
already
winners
and
opera.
What
can
I
say
about
the
great
things
in
biloxi
public
schools?
We
have
six
schools
in
the
Block
C
school
district,
3
or
star
schools
and
the
other
three
are
high
performing
schools.
They
scored
all
A's
and
B's.
In
fact,
I
entire
school
district
was
named
high-performing
district.
We
were
just
a
few
points,
shy
of
being
a
star
district.
A
We
jumped
from
the
number
20
in
the
state
to
number
9
and
when
we
say
luckily
means
business
when
it
comes
to
education,
we
mean
it
in
the
state
stock
market
games
this
year.
Luckily,
one
first
second
and
third
place
I,
also
congratulate
the
Mississippi
Gulf
Coast
Community
College
on
next
month's
opening
of
the
hospitality
resort
management
cell
at
the
Jeff
Davis
campus,
the
50,000
square
foot
center,
it's
sort
of
a
working
laboratory
to
train
future
workers
and
our
resort
industry.
A
There
are
four
teaching
kitchens:
a
400
person
conference
center
computer
labs,
a
full-size
hotel
room
classrooms
and
a
whole
bunch
more.
When
you
walk
in
the
front
door,
you're
greeted
by
full-size
hotel
front
desk,
like
I,
said
tourism
is
on
niche
and
we
making
sure
that
we
have
a
well-trained
workforce
and
talk
about
affordable
housing.
I
was
luxury
housing
authority
serve
575
families
before
Katrina.
Today
it
serves
1700
famous
next
month
the
housing
authority
will
begin
leasing,
the
75
units,
a
new
family
housing
and
move
our
paths.
A
The
Oakfield
development
on
peut
wrote,
one
of
the
most
impressive
milestones
has
seashore
Oaks
on
the
front
beach.
This
facility
has
assisted
living
in
market
rate
units
and
that's
not
what
you
would
typically
find
in
public
housing,
granite
countertops,
a
beautiful
community
room
amenities
such
as
housekeeping
and
on-site
food
service
is
also
a
swimming
pool,
on-site
security
and,
of
course,
that
beautiful
view
of
the
Gulf
of
Mexico,
you
won't
find
public
housing
like
that
anywhere
else.
A
Cedar
Lake
later
this
year
will
be
just
around
the
corner
from
where
health
management,
the
parent
company
of
luxury,
Regional
Medical
Center,
wants
to
construct
a
132
million
dollar
state-of-the-art
medical.
Some,
a
few
months
ago,
the
state
gave
the
green
light
for
the
144
bed.
Hospital
hospitals
in
neighboring
cities
have
appeal,
so
we're
going
to
have
to
wait
a
few
months
for
the
groundbreaking.
When
we
see
competition
like
this
in
South
Mississippi,
some
people
ask.
Can
we
just
all
get
along?
Which
brings
me
to
another
issue.
A
Annexation
annexation
is
how
acidic
growth
we're
not
for
the
annexation.
The
west
end
of
our
city
today
would
be
the
Block
C
lighthouse.
We
annex
world
market
Negro
point
in
1999
because
we
needed
room
to
grow
and
that
was
our
path
of
growth.
At
the
time
there
was
no
land
use
plan
or
zoning
for
Eagle
Point
or
World
Morgan.
If
you
had
a
half
million
dollar
home,
someone
could
have
built
a
junkyard
right.
Next
to
you,
we
have
invested
tens
of
millions
and
city
services
in
the
an
exterior
and
yes,
water
and
sewer
service.
A
Just
in
the
past
year,
we
spent
3
million
dollars
installing
sewer
service.
Let's
talk
about
the
two
recent
annexations
cases:
Luxa
did
not
initiate
either
one
of
them,
the
other
wheel,
drive
to
annex
land
and
that
would
have
boxed
us
in
on
the
Northeast.
Then
Gulfport
tried
to
hand
ax
land
and
that
would
have
locked
us
in
only
Northwest,
the
other.
We
lost
this
case,
but
continues
to
appeal.
Gulfport
lost
its
the
case
too,
but
they
say
they're
going
to
try
again
now,
as
we
prepare
to
present
our
case.
A
A
A
These
are
certainly
milestones
large
and
small,
but
nothing
is
going
to
be
more
high-profile
and
what
we'll
be
seeing
as
you
come
in
to
Biloxi
from
across
the
flux
of
a
bridge
over
the
next
several
months
at
Point
cadet,
the
new
Waterfront
Park
will
be
taking
shape
with
the
new
pavilion
splash
pad
green
space
and
a
prominent
in
the
maritime
seafood
industry
museum
vote
in
the
bottle
concept.
Will
let
people
know
that
they
have
arrived
at
something
special
by
day
and
by
night,
this
new
gateway
is
only
one
bright
spot
along
our
waterfall.
A
A
A
The
point
cadet
fishing
bridge
will
be
open
within
the
next
several
weeks.
This
is
a
9
million
dollar
milestone,
build
back
better
than
it
ever
was
we
have
lights
for
night
time,
fishing,
a
DAC,
sidewalks
and
turnarounds
at
the
midway
point,
and
at
the
end
of
the
bridge,
it's
going
to
be
a
fishing
bridge,
Anna
Pelican,
watchin
paradise.
A
It
was
a
cold
and
when
today,
when
we
dedicated
the
pasta,
ferry
causeway
Paul,
but
the
reception
has
been
very
warm
for
the
new
boat
ramp
and
pierce,
the
waterfront
promenade
and
the
new
lighting
and
the
benches.
This
is
a
great
place
to
fish
or
watch
a
beautiful
sunset,
we're
working
on
a
grant
to
build
nature
trails
and
interpretive
center
and
gardens
with
educational
exhibits.
We
hope
you'll
have
a
great
10-acre
nature,
preserve
along
the
pasta,
ferry
waterford.
Of
course.
A
Every
time
we
mentioned
popps
ferry
people
think
about
how
we
need
a
new
Popp's
Ferry
Bridge.
Let's
talk
about
a
foster
ranch
all
of
Popp's
Ferry.
Remember
the
nightmare
of
the
narrow,
two-lane
Popp's
Ferry
Road
we
used
to
have
to
endure.
We
widen,
tops
ferry
road
from
Cedar
Lake.
All
the
way
to
the
bridge.
We
can
see
the
success.
An
acetal
pops
quarter
and
more
is
on
its
way
we're
clearing
land
now
for
the
five
landing
of
popps
ferry
from
Cedar
Lake
to
the
city
limits
with
the
other.
A
A
What
we
know
is
the
new
bridge
will
be
65
feet
tall
in
a
size
point
about
as
high
as
the
I
110
high-rise.
It
will
have
to
be
open,
maybe
one
or
two
times
a
week.
We
also
know
that
the
big
bridge
is
going
to
cost
70
million
dollars
in
construction
alone.
Right
now,
a
survey
team
is
determining
the
right
away.
A
We
need
these
three
projects
widening
north
end
of
phosphorus,
extending
the
south
end
to
highway
90
and
building
a
new
bridge
with
the
huge
milestones
that
have
been
years
in
the
making
you're
talking
about
a
hundred
million
dollars
in
public
money.
I'm
glad
to
hear
that
Commission
of
king
wants
to
see
the
idea
of
a
new
height
end
connector
revived
and
made
a
priority.
We
need
a
new
connector
to
buxton,
making
use
of
the
improved
posture.
A
road
makes
sense.
Everyone
is
also
anxious
to
see
more
while
master,
355
million
dollar
infrastructure
work.
A
You
know
it's
355
million
dollars.
You
know
it's
a
million
feet
of
water,
sewer
and
drainage
lines.
You
know
it's
about
100
miles
of
city
streets.
What
some
of
you
may
not
know
is
when
it
will
be
in
your
neighborhood,
whether
you
feeling
son,
kiss
or
ancient
oaks
you're
driving
on
Lou
streets,
we've
completed
our
work
there.
If
you
live
in
lake
villa
or
north
of
old
bay
road,
you
know
that
we're
being
installing
moved
range
and
water
sewer
lines
will
be
wrapping
up
that
work
in
the
next
several
weeks.
A
I've
never
said
this
would
be
easy,
nor
would
it
be
overnight
we're
doing
20
years
worth
of
work
in
three
to
five
years.
Some
of
our
milestones
or
a
marathon,
not
a
sprint.
Construction
along
back
bay.
Around
kensington
drive
should
be
underway
in
West
Luxa
at
Goose
point
no
me
me
and
channel
more.
We
received
bids
last
week
and
we
expect
to
begin
work
in
weeks
at
pin
oak
people
point
and
east
shore
crest
in
South
bration.
We
expect
to
be
out
for
bids.
A
The
largest
share
of
our
work
will
be
in
East
bluff,
see
these
are
massive
contracts,
130
million
dollars
north
of
the
railroad
and
90
million
dollars
south
of
where
we'll
be
doing
another
30
million
dollars
worth
of
work
along
Highway
90.
All
the
way
to
west
beach,
these
contracts,
the
general
CSX
permits
and
highway
90
easements
I'll
goal-
is
to
have
all
these
projects
underway.
This
year
we
have
acquired
26
to
the
34
easements
needed
to
extend
the
Howard
Avenue,
the
streetscape,
all
the
way
to
myrtle
street.
A
The
design
is
ninety-five
percent
complete
and
we
expect
fema
to
allow
construction
again.
This
year,
you'll
see
the
new
sidewalks
new
ornamental
streetlights
and
other
amenities
on
how
it
happened,
but
not
all
over
how
milestones
or
it's
obvious,
as
others,
for
instance,
when
you
turn
on
that
faucet
in
the
kitchen-
and
you
don't
think
about
where
the
water
comes
from
this
summer-
would
be
wrapping
up
three
million
dollars
in
repairs
to
the
city,
water
wells
and
serve
homes
and
businesses
in
Biloxi
we're
more
than
fifty
percent
complete
with
digital
water
meters
throughout
the
city.
A
Instead
of
meter
readers
canvassing
the
city
each
month,
sophisticated
computer
network
will
provide
24.
7
monitoring
of
our
water
system
will
have
more
accurate
bills.
If
you
have
a
water
leak,
will
spot
it
right
away.
Incidentally,
we
are
still
in
couple
thousand
customers
short
for
the
15,000
water
department.
Cushing's
we
had
the
date
katrina
struck.
In
fact,
let's
talk
for
a
moment
of
our
pre-katrina
Luxy
and
where
we
are
today,
seven
and
a
half
years
later,
the
census
says
we
have
almost
forty
five
thousand
residents
a
thirteen
percent
below
more
than
50,000.
A
A
Remember.
The
country
has
been
suffering
through
the
worst
financial
times
since
the
Great
Depression,
but
still
we
saw
234
new
businesses
in
blood
she.
Last
year
we
issued
75
million
dollars
in
building
permits
in
our
city,
departments
are
doing
more
with
less
daily
attendance
at
the
natatorium
high
end
or
Olympics.
I
saw
improved
reached
20,000
last
year,
plus
another
10,000
swimmers
and
to
Snyder
Center
I'll
blocks
the
elite,
swim
team
jump
from
98
to
150
swimmers.
We
went
from
60
to
80
on
the
red
tide
team.
A
We
gave
456
swimming
lessons
last
year
and
eight
forty
percent
increase.
Why?
All
of
the
interest
we
think
it
was
a
2012
Olympics
in
a
gold
medal
of
the
u.s.
one
in
swimming
I'll
police
and
fire
departments
handled
106,000
calls
for
service.
Last
year.
A
thirty
two
percent
increase
think
about
that
almost
300
times
a
day.
Our
public
safety
people
respond
to
a
911
call
a
motorist
in
need
of
fire
alarm.
A
medical
emergency
or
traffic.
Stop
sixty-nine
percent
of
the
calls
to
the
Father
Papa
for
emergency
medical
calls.
A
We
had
three
year
lows
in
traffic
crashes
and
traffic
fatalities
last
year.
Our
overall
response
time
averages
one
point:
seven
minutes
in
the
police
department,
which
is
remarkable,
and
it's
three
point.
Five
minutes
for
our
father
former
on
emergency
calls.
A
bomb
squad
has
now
worked,
two
Super
Bowls
for
the
record,
who
did
not
touch
the
light
switch
at
the
Superdome
firefighters
performed.
A
We
had
a
number
of
businesses
like
the
talus,
the
hard
rock
and
a
boat
helping.
This
effort
to.
We
know
the
long
road
those
folks
have
in
front
of
them.
Since
Katrina
we
spent
more
than
175
million
dollars
and
rebuilding
our
city.
That's
an
average
of
about
twenty
two
million
dollars
a
year
on
major
construction
and
repairs
to
city
facilities.
Right
now,
we're
constructing
an
8.5
million
dollar
Public
Works
complex
to
replace
the
old,
dilapidated
warehouse
that
was
damaged
by
Katrina.
A
Our
new
complex
will
have
four
buildings:
administrative
building,
a
warehouse,
a
shop
building
and
a
vehicle
maintenance
facility.
This
is
all
being
built
on
the
site
north
of
the
railroad
and
will
be
completed
in
19
minutes.
Our
public
works
department
over
saw
dozens
of
streets
and
drainage
repairs
in
the
past
year.
You
see
the
new
traffic
signal.
Turning
lanes
and
new
sidewalks
visit
pass
road
intersections.
A
Let
me
say
that
I'm,
proud
of
what
we're
seeing
in
West
fluxing,
look
at
what
the
Melendez
family
has
done
with
shops
at
Popp's
Ferry,
and
what
they
have
done
is
the
form
of
blockbuster
Pass,
Road
and,
of
course,
we're
all
anticipating
the
opening
of
the
white
Phyllis,
which
is
destined
to
become
a
local
state
and
national
landmark
it's
one
malad
niche
milestone
after
another.
The
same
thing
is
occurring
in
downtown
by
group
no
of
zaruba.
A
These
local
businesswoman,
25
and
all
are
dedicated
to
the
resurgence
of
downtown
retail
and
artists.
So
far,
they
have
purchased
rehab
and
reopen
for
downtown
sites
and
they've
done
all
this
and
18
months.
This
is
the
kind
of
hard
work
and
dedication
and
has
made
Luxa
a
great
place
than
it
is
to
live
and
work.
A
Finally,
all
of
these
accomplishments
we
have
enjoyed
in
the
challenges
that
we
face.
We
must
remember
to
cherish
the
blessings
we
have
hitch
and
everything
the
beauty
of
our
surroundings.
The
majestic
sun
sets
the
deep
sea
and
freshwater
fishing
championship
golf
the
great
restaurants
and
shops,
a
small-town
charm,
the
climate
that
is
so
inviting
to
our
business,
the
many
traditions
and
events
that
celebrate
our
heritage
and
our
culture.
A
A
few
weeks
ago,
you
enjoyed
another
great
Mardi
Gras
parade
and
now
we're
going
to
gear
up
for
a
great
Saint,
Patrick's
Day
we've
seen
the
birth
and
growth
of
events
like
cruising
the
coast
and
the
arrival
of
others
like
Christmas
Eve
over
300
people
turned
out
last
year
to
see
the
reservation
of
the
Biloxi
sports
hall
of
fame.
It
was
a
great
evening
who
had
young
and
old
athletes,
some
were
parents
and
grandparents,
and
it
was
a
proud
night
for
everyone.
A
All
of
these
things
make
us
a
special
place.
They
define
who
we
are.
They
make
us
an
exciting
and
vibrant
community.
These
are
the
reason
that
people
like
Tom
wall,
thousands
of
Keystone
retirees,
decided
to
make
blocks
in
their
home.
These
posters
could
have
chosen
to
retire
anywhere
in
the
world,
but
they
chose
Biloxi.
That
says
something
special
about
us.
A
Go
back
to
what
I
have
said
time
and
again,
mr.
people,
people
make
blood,
see
a
special
place,
that
it
is
the
colorful,
the
outgoing,
hard-working
the
fun,
loving
and
caring
and
the
compassion.
I
am
proud
to
be
one
of
you
and
proud
to
be
your
mayor
each
and
every
day,
so
there
you
have
it
the
state
of
the
city,
a
milestone,
large
or
small,
each
and
every
day.
So
what
do
you
think.