The Gabs

Charlene Myklebust: Gulfport: “Balancing repair of the aging infrastructure and balancing that with new development and keeping Gulfport charming, and not getting carried away, like other Florida towns have. And then the other thing I’m concerned about is some of the properties are in really bad shape, a lot of disrepair, and so it would be nice if we could help some folks shore up their properties and get them looking nice.”

Dariel Martin, San Jose, California: “We moved here, my wife and I, moved here three years ago and the idea about code enforcement is really a problem in Gulfport. Just to put up a fence in my house, took me four or five weeks before I could get an approval and then eventually get it done. So that code enforcement is something that has to be looked at. We need more efficient, experienced people in the city offices to deal with that.”

Geri Eaton, Gulfport: “That’s what everybody’s saying now: We want to keep Gulfport the way it is. I mean it’s impossible, but keep it charming and keep it small, not big. We don’t want to turn it into Treasure Island, no offense to Treasure Island, but yeah. Anyway, not sorry. And we would like to solve the parking problem, but if you’re going to accept it as a humble little hamlet then you’re gonna have parking problems.”

Maggie Gouldin, Gulfport: “I’m concerned with keeping, you know, doing something with the infrastructure to keep it, you know from flooding and all of that. And I’m concerned about gentrification. Keeping Gulfport affordable and charming and not filled with a bunch of, I don’t know, more gigantic stores.”