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----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 7:37 AM
Subject: lighten up
As a longtime resident and homeowner in
Ocean Springs, I applaud Mayor Connie Moran's stance on questioning MDOT
and making sure that the bridge is the best configuration for our city
needs. Many trained and highly successful architects and city planners
from around the country proposed a much smaller bridge than MDOT and for
good reason. She is only making sure that we have the best bridge
possible for our city's needs. After all , isn't that her job to examine
all avenues and ask questions to insure an effective outcome that is
beneficial to all? Maybe, if some of you who are throwing around all
this harsh criticism had attended the "Town Meeting" where the town was
presented the results of all the studies per the Charrette, you might
have a better understanding of the Bridge needs and traffic flow. Stop
being so small minded and judgemental!! The new brige will be built only
when Wayne Brown dictates it. After all Big Bridge, Small "you know
what"!! Nothing anyone says or does will change the outcome (even Mayor
Connie Moran) Mr. Brown has his own agenda and is held accountable to no
one in this state (not even the Governor can tell him what to do) So, we
need to just sit back, be patient and wait for him to do his thing.
Mayor Moran does so many good things for
this city!! This is her hometown, born and raised, and I assure you she
loves Ocean Springs and it's people and is working very hard to help
everyone maintain the quality of life that is so enjoyed in our
beautiful town.
I agree, Mr. Root, you need to stop trying
to represent this webb site as if it were the official Ocean Springs
webb site. Your intentions my be good, but you are not helpng Ocean
Springs, you are hindering it with this blatant misrepresentation of the
site. For people logging in from outside the area, it makes us look bad.
Get a reality check and put a disclaimer across the top and quit this
garbage.
Sincerely, Becky
----- Original Message -----
From:
To: <info@oceansprings-ms.com
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 12:38 AM
Subject: The bridge
...a copy for you. Sent to the Sun Herald 12/29. In
view of the gravity of the situation, combined with an
assumption of public support for the smart growth areas we've
generally embraced, I've not been able to see fault in the
approach out-lined in the following letter. ----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 7:15 PM
Subject: Bridge support for Mayor Moran
Dear Mayor,
I want to congratulate you on sticking to your guns. I live in Pascagoula and own a business. And I can tell you that our bridge stays DIRTY. Trash is everywhere even before the storm. Granted a lot of that has to due with the poor management of our town but you are the only one that understands that this is a tourist area now. You do not need a bridge that looks like you are going to shipyard. What about a jogging/bike path across the bridge.
So don't let them push you around. I wish you were my Mayor!!!
On another note: if they are in such a hurry to get the bridge built, how come they have not started the removal process of the old bridge. MDOT stated that the bridge contractor will be responsible for the removal but the final design does not have to be "laid in stone" for the removal to start. The MDOT should have already started the removal process. The removal of the old bridge is a two to three month process which is now a two to three month additional delay. They could be removing the bridge while it is still being designed.
Sincerely, Gary ----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 6:23 PM
Subject: 6-lane os/biloxi bridge too big.
I agree and support the mayor in
opposing the 6 lane os/biloxi bridge. Sounds way out of
proportion to the needs. I don't want a potential super hwy
running down the middle of O.S.
How can I help? ----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 8:28 AM
Subject: Biloxi Ocean Springs Bridge
I just read Ms. Weaver's article in the Sun Herald Forum. About all that I can agree with is her last sentence concerning the coast deserving better. Yes, the people of Ocean Springs deserve better representation.
The mayor and the majority of the Board of Aldermen for Ocean
Springs reached a "win/win" agreement with MDOT and then reneged on
that agreement. That is certainly enough to warrant the sarcasm and
criticism that they have received.
Ms. Weaver refers to Ocean Springs as if it were a single united
city against the six lane bridge. Nothing could be further from the
truth. I don't know what the majority of the people in Ocean
Springs would prefer for the new bridge, but neither does the mayor
or members of the Board of Aldermen. There has been no city wide
referendum or survey on the issue. The only support that I see for
the mayor is the Chamber of Commerce which only represents the
business interests in the city and is certainly not representative
of the majority of residents.
Ms. Weaver presents a lot of personal opinion and conjecture in her
article as fact. That's how advocates act, not supposedly
responsible city leaders.
Ron
Ocean Springs, MS.
----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 1:27 PM
Subject: Ocean Springs/Biloxi bridge
Would like it located along the lines of the railroad. ----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 6:25 AM
Subject: Smaller Bridge
Hello - would like to support your efforts in having a smaller bridge - We should protect the character of OS and what's left of the beach in Biloxi - Go Connie! Jim
----- Original Message -----
From:
To: <info@oceansprings-ms.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2005 1:32 PM
Subject: Bridge
I have seen some of the mean-spirited attacks on Mayor Moran.
She is doing exactly the right thing - making sure that Ocean Springs
will control its planning, and not MDOT. MDOT has claimed that traffic
numbers justify this huge bridge, when in fact they used numbers that
are not accurate. Planning properly will not slow down the bridge, and in fact will speed it up. ----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2005 8:27 PM
Subject: Biloxi/Ocean Springs Bridge
One look at the “unofficial” Ocean Springs website run by Mr. Root and you know where he stands on the bridge issue. My personal opinion is that if he is going to run a website that is so obviously partial in any manner, he should immediately change the name of the site so that it doesn’t appear to be an “official” website of the city of Ocean Springs. The lay person looking at the web site, and not knowing where to look for the disclaimer will think this is the “official” Ocean Springs website. If he chooses to not change the name he should at least make it immediately obvious that this is not an “official” city website. He should do this by building a banner across the top of the site so that it is crystal clear. Let’s address the three illustrations Mr. Root has so cleverly chosen to illustrate his obvious bias as to which bridge he favors, the 10 lane MDOT monstrosity. 1 – An obvious reference to Mayor Moran and her example that to build as MDOT plans would lead to a bridge that will be wider than the Golden Gate and the Brooklyn Bridge 2 – Mr. Root clearly thinks that to build an eight lane bridge, two lanes each side with two break down lanes each side, is taking the coast back to the horse and buggy days. 3 – The last picture Mr. Root has labeled as an example of a “six lane bridge”; I don’t know where he found that description; if you look at the picture on the website of Figg Engineering Corp., you will observe that the very same picture is not labeled; the angle of the picture makes it extremely hard to determine the exact number of lanes. For some reason there seems to be a popular misconception that by protesting MDOT’s proposal Mayor Moran and the majority of Ocean Springs Alderman are contributing to the delay in building the bridge, this couldn’t be further from the truth. If the scale of the bridge as proposed by Mayor Moran is adopted by MDOT, the bridge could be built in less time and cheaper than their proposal. In
conclusion it seems to me that those that object to the bridge as
proposed by Mayor Moran, should be directing their anger at MDOT and not
Mayor Moran. How come MDOT hasn’t even started removing the downed
structure of the old bridge from the briny deep? If there is a delay in
bridge construction it will be because of their lack of initiative to
get this debris cleared away. ----- Original Message -----
From:
To: <soundoff@sunherald.com>
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 3:17 PM
Subject: MORAN
After reading about and listening to Connie Moran, I am so glad I
live in St. Martin. We have no Mayor as yet, GOD forbid if we had one
like Moran, I would MOVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Maybe the next thing she
would want for the bridge is CURTAINS, or maybe a DOILY or some LACE.
Did she have brain surgery and they took out her brain if she had one.
She is an embarrassment to Ocean Springs and the people of Jackson
County.
From:
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2005 7:12 PM
Subject: O.S./Biloxi Bridge
I was last in O.S. in July and had begun to reconsider my retirement plans to include O.S. because of the small town quaintness. If the current bridge proposal includes expanding to a six lane high rise bridge, as I have heard, I am opposed to the idea. It would detract from the quality that I like so much about O.S. and that is it's small town quaintness. Rebuilding the same type of bridge is what O.S./Biloxi needs in order to restore that quality that I love so much in the town. Katrina could well be a once in a lifetime event and overreacting to this event is an injustice to the community.
Patrick
----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 12:07 AM
Subject: Biloxi-OceanSpringsBridgeProposal
WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE DOING? DON'T YOU THINK YOUR LITTLE CITY WILL EVER GROW? THE OLD BRIDGE HAD TOOOO MANY CARS ON IT WITH FOUR LANES; NOW YOU HAVE THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC FLOW, AND TRY TO PREPARE FOR MORE FUTURE GROWTH. IT'S COMING, WHETHER YOU WANT IT, PLAN FOR IT OR NOT. IT IS STILL COMING...... AND YOU WANT TO 'STALL' IT; WITH PETTY AESTHETICS. ANYONE LOOKING AT THE BRIDGE FROM THE SIDE; WON'T BE ABLE TO TELL, WHETHER IT'S SIX OR SIXTY LANES......EXPRESS LANES COULD BE USED FOR: AMBULANCES, FIRE TRUCKS, BUSES, (POSSIBLY LIGHTRAIL).. EVEN BIKERS.....YOU SHOULD BE WORKING ON WIDENING HWY 90 AND WASHINGTON AVE., TO SOMEWHERE BETWEEN SIX AND EIGHT LANES, (FROM CITY LINE TO CITY LINE.) TO KEEP THE TRAFFIC FLOWING SMOOTH; INSTEAD OF HAVING CONSTANT BOTTLE NECKS AT THE BRIDGE AND ALL ALONG THE MAIN THOROUGHFARES! IF GETTING IN OR OUT OF A LOCATION BECOMES TOO COMPLICATED; (BECAUSE OF BOTTLENECKS, WRECKS, SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC, ETC) THEN PEOPLE WILL GO SPEND THEIR MONEY ELSEWHERE. KEEP DOWNTOWN AND THE SIDE STREETS FOR THE SMALL TOWN CHARM. EASY IN AND EASY OUT! WHAT'S GOOD FOR OCEAN SPRINGS, IS ALSO, GOOD FOR THE COAST!
----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 2:01 PM
Subject: Ocean Springs - Biloxi Bridge
Dear Info,
Yesterday I read an article in the Sun
Herald concerning the bridge. There is a company out there that proposed
fixing the old bridge quickly and at a reasonable cost, and was rejected
by MDOT. It seems that with all the controversy over a new bridge, and
by the way the Artistic 6 lane is beautiful, why not fix the old one.
The company in question has done this before, in Louisianna recently
(the causeway over Lake Ponchatrain) and in Florida after Hurricane
Ivan. I live in Ocean Springs and work in East Biloxi, it used to take
me 15-20 minutes to get to work, and now it takes 45 minutes to an hour.
Traffic is terrible, everyone is getting frustrated and it isn't going
to get any better until the bridge is repaired or replaced. If put to
the voters, they just want a bridge that connects the two cities. We
don't care what kind of bridge, just one that works would do just fine.
This proposal needs to be futher investigated, and can be checked out at
www.bridgenow.org.
Patty
Ocean Springs
----- Original Message -----
From:
To: <info@oceansprings-ms.com
Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 3:18 PM
Subject: Biloxi-Ocean Springs bridge
Though I'm not an Ocean Springs
resident, I am back down on the Gulf Coast for a tour at Stennis Space
Center. I've posted some thoughts on how the transportation system should
be rebuilt on my website at
http://www.ajfroggie.com/roads/gulfcoast/ . My thoughts for the
Biloxi-Ocean Springs span are in the last parts of "Phase 1" and "Phase
2". In a nutshell, MDOT should build a temporary 2-lane span at the
existing location, then once CSX moves their tracks north away from the
Coast (as I feel they should), a 6-lane span should be built at the
location where the CSX bridge currently is. ----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 6:46 PM
Subject: Bridge Debate
Ok... You know ... it's not really the time to "debate" about the bridge... We need one built, and we need it as soon as possible... and I really am thrilled about the idea of it being a nice wide high rise with many lanes to travel. This will cut down on the backups that already were caused by tourist and local traffic, and will help to allow both cities to continue to grow without the worry of a new structure being needed for a while.
As for the idea of a temporary bridge
however, that is not only a bad idea, but almost a stupid idea, as it
will only cause the completion of a permanent replacement bridge to take
even longer... I know this, as I am originally from Milton, Fl where the
destroyed I-10 bridge from Pensacola lands on the other end. They took
two months just to get it all the way in place, and now are really just
beginning work on the replacement, more than year after Ivan... I am
telling you the "rope bridge," as I have so fondly named it, is
terrible... it is one lane heading in either direction, which the people
who live on either side, in Milton/Pace and Pensacola, dread having to
travel over during any kind of busy time of the day... Friends who live
there still actually opt to go around the way anyway just so that they
are not caught in an hour's worth of traffic to cross one body of
water...
I do agree that we need a bridge built as
soon as possible for commerce to once again thrive in both OS and
Biloxi, but not at the expense of making the permanent fix an even
longer wait!
I also believe that Mayor Moran needs to
realize that she was elected to represent the views of the majority
of the community, of which I feel I am a part, and not just a small
faction, or her own desires.
Jarod
Ocean Springs
----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 9:32 PM
Subject: Ocean Springs / Biloxi Bridge Proposals
As someone who drove the bridge every day to
and from Keesler AFB, I like the idea of a 6-lane bridge. The one in
Pascagula is great. No need to raise the bridge to let boats pass which
holds up traffic, especially when you are trying to get home in
preparation of a hurricane.
Right now, I just want a bridge back up.
The traffic is ridiculous to say the least.
----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 5:57 PM
Subject: bridge
The proposed bridge...yeah, we don't need it ! Sure.
Let's keep the old ways... A ferry, rope guided and pole
propelled, with room for cattle, sheep & pigs.
That's it.
My goodness, who needs to grow up?
Certainly not us in Ocean Springs.
Long live the last century...or two.
Backwards forever!
Seriously...wrong issue Mayor Moran.
Let's get busy on our real needs, and leave bridge planning to bridge
planners.
----- Original Message -----
From:
To: <info@oceansprings-ms.com
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 10:13 PM
Subject: bridge
I think the attitude towards the
bridge construction is really distasteful. There is nothing wrong with 6
lanes, 6 lanes to connect ----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 10:32 PM
Subject: The New Bridge
I am a life long resident of Ocean Springs and my family goes back many years. I traveled the old bridge daily going back and forth to work. I spent a great deal of time waiting on the bridge for for boats to pass and a had a great deal of frustration in recent years in tight, slow moving traffic. Anyone who drove on the bridge saw how crowded it had become as the casinos grew. The Mayor's objections over the six lanes says to me that she did not drive it daily. I do not believe she drives to Biloxi now as I do and many others. What was once a ten minute drive to work now takes an hour. I am now hearing that the bridge could be held up for years as a result her.
A part of being a civic leader is being
a visionary. Someone that can look ahead 30 years and see the growth
that is going to happen. This mayor does not have vision. I ask the
Mayor not to stall this bridge. It will only hurt Ocean Springs.
Sincerely ,
James
----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 11:42 PM
Subject: The Bridge
Dear City Hall,
Here is one citizen's opinion after
having reviewed examples of the bridges Figg Engineering Group built,
thanks to your link on the web page, and having given thought to the
objections the Mayor has put forth.
To object now and hold up the bridge is
wrong. To go back on a prior authorization is wrong. To keep residents
and business owners hostage in Ocean Springs is wrong. Switching horses
in the middle of the Sound is wrong.
Let the mayor to stand with me on the
corner of Washington Avenue and Highway 90 from 6 to 8 am for one week
and ask those waiting in traffic if a smaller bridge is what they think
is right for Ocean Springs.
Of course I want my town to be the best
it can be. Let the new bridge get started now, with recovery money
funding it. Would the mayor like to state how she proposes to fund a
smaller bridge by herself?
Without an adequate bridge built for
the future, going north of Biloxi will be more viable. Many will be
forced to take their tax dollars to Harrison County. That would be
wrong.
Please, don't cheat Ocean Springs'
future by small thinking that doesn't make common sense. The argument
that we don't need a "big bridge" is irrational and wrong.
We can have both a viable and
quaint downtown, go to Biloxi and enjoy living in Ocean Springs.
Concentrate on that idea, please.
Respectfully begging the mayor to stop
objecting. Those force feeding the mayor are wrong. Do the right thing
and let the bridge go forward now.
Michelle
----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 8:07 AM
Subject: Biloxi Ocean Springs Bridge
The Mayor and Aldermen of Ocean Springs are certainly not representing me and , I believe, the majority of residents when they oppose the six lane bridge. Just survey the people who are trekking to Biloxi on Washington Avenue each morning. If you want an example of an appropriate wide and high bridge just look East to the one over the Pascagoula River. It is a major improvement in efficiency and safety over the old draw bridge and I believe the same would occur if the appropriate size and height were used between Ocean Springs and Biloxi.
Opposing a six versus four lane bridge on
the grounds of appearance is laughable. What was at this entrance to
the city before Katrina? A rundown yacht club that looked like a shack
on stilts and an abondoned resaurant that had been empty for as long as
anyone can remember.
Ron
From:
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 10:20 AM
Subject: Let the Bridge be!
Connie
STOP!
I will do everything I can to see that you have to go away. We need the Bridge. I will get as many voter to go against you as I can. I promise you will not be reelected.
From:
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 3:03 PM
Subject: bridge controversy
Ocean Springs Mayor and City Council,
Please keep up the good work regarding the
Ocean Springs/Biloxi Bridge re-building controversy.
I drove the bridge multiple times weekly,
and am hard pressed to understand the need for a six-lane plus four
break-down lane bridge.
Please continue to ask questions and push
back hard until justification is given.
This is the first coast-wide re-building
effort. It should be done correctly.
Let's give an ear to the experts who spent
so much time and so many resources on planning.
Lisa
----- Original Message -----
From:
To: <soundoff@sunherald.com
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 3:17 PM
Subject: MORAN
After reading about and listening to
Connie Moran, I am so glad I live in St. Martin. We have no Mayor as yet,
GOD forbid if we had one like Moran, I would MOVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Maybe the next thing she would want for the bridge is CURTAINS, or maybe a
DOILY or some LACE. Did she have brain surgery and they took out her brain
if she had one. She is an embarrassment to Ocean Springs and the people of
Jackson County. Robert ----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 6:13 PM
Subject: ocean springs biloxi bridge
we need a 6 lane bridge the mayor is out of her mind her name should be changed to MORON ----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 7:34 PM
Subject: Bridge
Mayor Moran should immediately stop her petty disruptions of getting the bridge rebuilt. If her efforts in any way jeopardizes Federal funding for the bridge or delays the bridge, then she is doing a disservice to all citizens of the Gulf Coast.
Achim ----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 11:54 AM
Subject: Thank you Mayor Moran
Thank you Mayor Moran
Thank you Mayor Moran for asking questions, for verifying information and for finding reliable sources rather than depending on the "Good Ole Boys" of MDOT who appear to be serving their own interests and not that of the Gulf Coast citizens. To delay access across the bay for personal reasons is inexcusable. We could be using a temporary bridge today if we were being taken care of appropriately by our Mississippi Department of Transportation or should it be called MDOT: Men Destroying Our Trees. Currently Highway Commissioner Wayne Brown proposes cutting down thousands of trees on Interstate 10 to widen the tree-free zone from 30 to 50 feet. The timber companies who get the contracts will benefit, but what about people living along Interstate 10 who will lose the tree barriers that shielded them from the noise and pollution of the highway? And are these wider spaces to make the Interstate safer for people, or to make way for another "forest" of billboards? Thank you Mayor Moran for protecting our city from MDOT: Men Destroying Our Trees. It is a great comfort knowing you are leading our city. June |
