See you all at the centennial celebrations!

I as well think that Bruce is vindictive as he once told my neighbor that I reported him and that was not true. I had used my neighbor’s property as an example of several in an email to staff wherein I questioned if the city was enforcing the RV ordinance. Subsequently, Jim O’reilly told me that he drove by my neighbor’s property and it was he that told Bruce of the potential violation. My neighbor hasn’t spoken to me since then. I advised Metcalf and O’Reilly of Bruce’s actions. I never got the courtesy of a response, much less an apology nor am I aware that Bruce ever advised my neighbor of the truth. Most interesting about all of this is that immediately thereaftyer staff decided that the ordinance was unenforceable because of corner lots, set backs, etc. They put the ordinance on hold to study it and come up with something new. Now here is what is interesting…at the workshop O’Reilly said that this rule hadn’t been enforced in years!! Makes you wonder why staff never took any proactive action to do anything about it??

Speaking of vindictiveness, that was also eveident in the permit inspection area. When I had a new roof put on my house it took 2 plus days to get a final inspection. The inspector claimed, via Fred Metcalf, that it had been done. I advised that I’d write that on the permit and remove it from my window. Several hours later I went outside to find the permit thrown on the mat in front of the front door with a terse note stating “inspected for 2nd time!” The inspector is apparently no longer with the City. Again, though no effort was made by management to apologize for this rude behavior. It is interesting that we hear so many complaints about the Community Development department but seldom hear complaints about any other. Why is that?

2iveiw,

Yep you heard it right; I am getting out of Gulfport. For over ten years, I have been battling with Bruce Earling, Gulfport’s code enforcement officer and self proclaimed code maker upper.

Heck if it wasn’t for Bruce I would not even be involved in Gulfport politics. He has been violating me since I moved into my house. I, like many other people in Gulfport, moved to Gulfport because I liked the outside vision of this “quaint” little town. If I had known that for ten years instead of being able to live a nice quiet little existence that I seeked when I moved here that I would spend those ten years worrying about breaking the codes, many of which are not enforced in other areas of the city, I would HAVE NEVER MOVED HERE.

It didn’t take long for Bruce to take a dislike to me, I would imagine because I grew up in a big city and his small town power trip was laughable to me. And I still laugh, but not as much. You see over the years Bruce has violated me for many things. Most noticeable were the amount of cars that I like to have and tinker on. Some of the bright Orange stickers I have even been able to save as souvenirs. But I have been cited for my rock yard sprouting a weed or two. I have been cited for having trash in my yard when someone threw a beer bottle on my front yard. That’s a drive by beer bottle toss to you younger folks. I once asked someone why they threw their beer bottles out the window. They told me it was cheeper to get a littering ticket then to have an open container violation.

I kept all my cars insured and registered and when I couldn’t comply with the two unregistered vehicle code, I moved one of the vehicles to a neighbor’s yard. But Bruce couldn’t let me get away with that. He came out, measured the street, Found that my car was a few inches over into the city right of way, you know the area between what is your property and the street, and violated me once again.

I have done everything I can to be within the city codes and when he couldn’t find one to violate me on, he made them up.

Now I don’t know if Bruce is a sick individual or just has a personal vendetta against me, but I have come to the conclusion, after he telephoned one of my customers and told them they could not do business with me, that there is no stopping his vindictiveness.

Of course his boss Fred Metcalf and their boss City Manager Jim O’Reilly will stand behind him and say that what he does is all legal and correct. And since it appears that he will never give up violating me, I have decided that I DON’T WANT TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE living in fear of this guys harassment.

As a fixture I will be forgotten and replaced. My friends all say I have let Bruce win, and yes that’s probably true, but I don’t want to fight with him anymore. And since the city will back him all the way to court, I obviously do not fit in here and I am moving to another location.

Lori Russo introduced us. There really was no time to snuggle, we both had folks to meet and greet and there wasn’t much time. We would have stayed longer but the band drove some of the people we were visiting with out the door so we didn’t stay as long as we might have. Acoustics, without an amplifier in the casino while people are eating would be the best approach. As the party goes on and the food is gone, then you can crank it up and spill drinks on the dance floor, would be my approach after many musical experiences in the casino and other confine venues.

We had a good time, and I’m happy for your success, nothing that a little load music will can really spoil in the long run.

Congrats!!

Now I am trying to figure out who you are. I hope we met when I had some time to talk. I was running around a lot and talked with quite a few people for only a minute.

Rob

I missed the food as it evaporated very fast! I hear it was great. Thank you to Stella’s. Next time we’ll serve the food as I saw a lot of plates piled very high with sandwiches.

Oh, my wife is Theresa who was there. Ester is my partner in the magazine. I don’t think Theresa or Ester would like any confusion.

Thank you for attending and I was happy to see a few ‘dogs there!

Rob

The sandwiches were a good appetizer before we headed down to Bellini’s for some tapas and Caipirinhas. The music was far too loud, and I noticed that some folks were holding one ear as they were trying to eat with the other. I saw folks walking into the casino with their hands over their ears, and when we left, there were a dozen plus folks on the porch who had exited because of the music. After a discussion on the porch with some of the patrons I returned inside to inform Lori Russo that the music was too loud and that folks were leaving because of it, I hope she was successful in managing the volume, it really ruined what was the beginning of a great event. Good 2unes, it was just far too loud.

We purchased a $2 magazine and walked through the pages with some of the contributors as they explained their part and recollection of events. They are a fascinating group of imaginative folks and I wish them all the best. Oh and by the way, I finally met Rob and his lovely wife Ester, though I don’t think he knew who I was.

All Good Wishes!