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I have lived in downtown Ocean Springs for the last four years. I am at a loss to describe the changes of the last four years. A charming, safe, laid back, vibrant paradise is turning into not those things rapidly. Three years ago, I walked to the gas station for medicine at 3 am and felt safe. New Year's Eve of '21 going into '22, I walked arm in arm with my better half, admiring the knarled live oaks and twinkling lights, with other actual residents out doing the same thing. Tonight it looks like Mobile, Gulfport and other cities...large groups of young people and tourists and extremely loud music, excessive traffic...I hurried inside my house tonight wondering what has happened to downtown in just three years. More than 1 shooting in our previously quiet paradise in a recent span...and plans to expand these changes. Please vote...follow the money trail...and vote.

Unless we act as a community now - against the literal dismantling of this sweet place, there will be nothing authentic to savor

We are on day two of a wedding anniversary trip to Ocean Springs that we planned as an adventure to somewhere we'd never heard of or been. The moment our tires rolled along the East Beach road and I saw the live oaks on one side and the beach on the other with a couple of families (including their pets!) leisurely riding bicycles, I was in love. We are smalltowners from Arkansas and respond best to smalltown charm. Something about these old trees and wide open beach front with families in tow calls our hearts and we have both mentioned possibly retiring here. We have never spoken or thought about leaving our hometown...until we met Ocean Springs. Our vrbo has a "saveOS.org" sign in its front yard so of course we looked it up. It's shameful that the almighty dollar is threatening this jewel in the crown of our country. Let the many places that are overdeveloped already be that way. Let Ocean Springs be its way. Growth is just being bigger. Cultivation is being better, and I think Ocean Springs can be cultivated by putting its charm forward, not squashing that charm under stacks of buildings and attitudes that don't reflect what it is. Being something we are not never leads to good things. My prayers are with the residents of this super neat town!
Sincerely, A smalltown girl, her husband and their two dogs.

I lived in Ocean Springs since 1980. My parents retired there in 1978 from Covington, LA. I loved the small town charm and the quaintness. I worked at Ocean Springs hospital as a nurse for many years. I retired in 2018 and moved to a farm in Mobile area. I still have family in Ocean Springs. I have been so disturbed what has been happening downtown, mostly on Government Street. I foresee Ocean Springs being ruined by over development just like Destin was. It was also a quaint little fishing village until greed took over. I know change is inevitable but this is not good change. Those who are promoting this are destroying the small town charm of Ocean Springs all to line their pockets. It really saddens me to see the town I love so much being ruined by greedy developers.

As an immigrant to Ocean Springs from the UK 33 years ago the city had until the last 8 years or so been largely unchanged from my first arrival. I find that very comforting as the city has been able to maintain it's small town southern charm throughout that time. Sadly recently it seems that those days are fading fast with the development of Government St into a localized Bourbon street and the Front Beach project, which I am happy to see, won't put a marina in amongst the sand beaches that we enjoy. One of the saddest things that we, as Americans, constantly do is erase our history in the name of improvement and progress. As is often said, without knowing our history we cannot know where we come from. Knocking down old buildings and disturbing socially utilized areas for the sake of progress erases such history and while I accept that some improvements are necessary from time to time progress for progress' sake is counter productive. One can simply conserve what we have and be just as attractive, if not more so. If we protect the look of the city as we protect the ancient live oaks we will have something to be proud of instead of destroying it and having a faceless 'modern' city.

We are not residents of ocean springs (yet), but we visit frequently with our family of 5. We are currently visiting, and we noticed "saveos" signs everywhere,and we wanted to know what was going on! After extensively reading your well informed website, we have reached the same conclusion that something has to be done! We commend all the residents standing together to keep ocean springs awesome. It's a great atmosphere and historic place. May God bless you all in this endeavor to preserve something beautiful. Bigger (commercializing front beach, etc) does not always mean better. When you place value on what's important such as: time with those you love, safety, creativity, etc and having a beautiful and peaceful place to live this out, it deserves a fight!
Sincerely,
Big fans of Ocean Springs the way it is.

As a former employee of the City of Ocean Springs, I got an inside look at how business gets done here, and just how often money itself and those who have it dictate the actions of many of our elected officials, unelected officials and business leaders. Citizen requests for attention to issues that matter most to them, their families and their personal quality of life go unheeded if that citizen should happen to fall outside the favored sphere of influence, which really includes the majority of us. This situation is not unique to our little town, and I support a gathering of folks willing to stand up and make their voices heard by group force, the best power readily available to us.

We moved here 23 years ago as a military family because Ocean Springs was a quaint and beautiful place to finish raising our children. The schools were rated highly in comparison to other districts. We are retired military and decided to stay here but now we begin to wonder if we have made a mistake. We rarely go downtown to eat anymore due to the out of control drinking and partying that has become a mini New Orleans, not a family environment. We shared our concerns with the mayor and he didn't think there was anything wrong with the downtown and he had no concerns. We have enjoyed the beach front for walking and just enjoying the outdoors. Ocean Springs has changed like so many places but society has changed too. Save Ocean Springs!

We retired to OS in January 2023. We purchased the house of a family member who has lived here all his life with the intent to make it our final home. We love our new town! We are walkers, and we often walk to Front Beach to enjoy the peaceful beauty there. We may be newbies to the area, but we share the concerns of OS's long-time residents. We disagree with the direction our community leaders are taking in regards to Front Beach development and other town items. We join our voices with SaveOS!

I have lived in Ocean Springs since 1965 and my childhood was spent on Front Beach. Our beach is what attracts people to this city, and I am saddened to see what this city administration wants to do to commercialize it. They have already destroyed the family atmosphere in our downtown area - it is not a safe place to take your family at night on the weekends. I hope the people of this city will join together to stop this mayor from proceeding with "his" vision for this city and insist that he LISTEN to the citizens that elected him and INVOLVE citizens in decision-making and planning!

I was raised in Biloxi but loved Ocean Springs because of the charm, the people riding bikes, sitting outside having a drink. A warm people town. Small businesses had been here over 50 years, huge live oaks, the quiet little beach where I now walk my dog. Then the mayor that's in now...overdevelopment is all I can call what he's done. Building two, two-story houses maybe 8 ft. apart ON HIS PROPERTY both staring at an OVERPASS of dull concrete. Then allowing three story buildings but requiring no parking at all, much less ANY handicap parking, nowhere in the city-developed parking lots are there handicap accessible spaces. I was a member of the Art House, the only self-supported art gallery operated by local artists. But the PRESENT officials actually, without notifying taxpayers, CLOSED Cash Alley permanently. The art house has suffered terribly, not selling enough art to make a profit, much less pay the rent. Your city did that to Art House and Buzzy's Breakfast Cafe. NOT FOR SAFETY. The people that are renovating the corner where the bar and flower shop were, have actually opened the east side up to serve his customers on the taxpayers' paid street, where cash alley was, but now is closed. He's extending HIS DINING AREA tremendously by using the closed street. the beautiful and expensive Cash Alley custom cast Iron...that was erected when they put the huge balls up, is now gone after only months. And all of a sudden, POKE LIGHTS for the NEW restaurant surround the closed street next to his business, right under your noses and no one has said a word. It's past time for people to WAKE UP!!

I have been working to get our message out to the people of Ocean Springs by going door to door along with some other very dedicated volunteers. We all have heard stories of problems and complaints from across the city from east to west, bay to bayou. By talking with people, I have come to realize that most people love Ocean Springs. They don't hate Ocean Springs, they actually hate that they have no one in the city government that is listening. They are angry and they are tired of having to deal with so many issues all at once. They are tired of complaining about the noise issues in the neighborhood, or the changes that have come to the neighborhood, or the traffic in the neighborhood. Most are grateful that someone is listening and trying to do something about the particular issue that bothers them. They are willing to put a sign in the yard to just do something to help change the city back to what it was when they decided to live here. Look around everyone, I am so grateful that so many people are willing to show their support for Ocean Springs and try to save it.

We recently relocated to Ocean Springs from Charleston, SC, a city that has sold its soul to tourism and developers. In the few short months that I have been here, I have seen the beginnings of the downward spiral that ruins a town for the people who call it home. I want to help the people of Ocean Springs preserve the beauty and charm of their city and their quality of life.

I live in Gulf Hills now. Work in the city and lived in OS from 1997 until 2016. City officials are not listening, seem to have personal agendas, perhaps some conflicts of interest. We are headed in the wrong direction.

I hate the direction our city is headed. My heart breaks at all the destruction of trees and natural habitats.

I have lived in OS for 52 years and I feel the mayor, etc. have a totally different agenda than what the citizens want. Our town is changing and not for the better.

The board that I served with was responsible for having our sewer plant removed from the harbor. In 1977 when we took office our sewer plant discharged its effluent into the harbor. It was a 1930s engineered mechanical plant that got 80% of the fecal material on its best day - and somedays it got none at all. So, when the conditions were in place the effluent tumbled out of our harbor into the bay and when the tide was rising, our beach became washed with feces. It was disgusting. And my board fixed it. And for the past 40 years we have enjoyed the nicest beach in Mississippi. And I understand now our current board wants to fix that. Our beach doesn't need to be fixed. Our beach needs to be left alone. Let the citizens enjoy their beach. Let the 88 yacht owners rent a slip in Biloxi. Plenty are available there - Briley Richmond

I've lived here in Ocean Springs mostly all my life and now there isn't anymore history. The mayor has destroyed Ocean Springs. He doesn't care about our roads and streets. All he cares about money. He doesn't listen to the people here in Ocean Springs. We don't even have any cops writing tickets for the people running red lights on Washington and people not stopping at 4 way stops on Government St.

I had been living in Bermuda but knew I had to leave upon retirement as I had a work visa. While touring the gulf coast for a retirement location I saw the sign for Ocean Springs and decided to check it out. The peaceful beachfront won me over! It breaks my heart to think the city would destroy it with a development. Usually when a bad decision is made it's because the deciders are profiting off that decision. Pretty obvious the residents don't want it!

I love Ocean Springs. All of my children went here and I have met the nicest people in Mississippi. Downtown OS was the best place to take a walk to clear your mind but now it is just a headache to even go down there. And what is the mayor getting out of this? I am just confused how he takes office and all of a sudden we are turning into a city, not a small town anymore. They are running all of the wildlife out of their environment. It is truly sad. Just like this RV Park they approved. Do they even have a small clue of the disaster it is going to become. It's nice all of the people who care about Ocean Springs are trying to stop all of this nonsense but it is not going to do any good. They are not listening to the people who live here unless you're rich or you own a successful business. The rest of us do not have a voice in the matter. I took this picture last year and I got over 10,000 likes on it. It is a small bayou in Gulf Park Estates and if they keep building there won't be any more pictures like this to take. I hope they stop or slow down.

The government of Ocean Springs never seemed to consider whether or not the infrastructure could handle all the new construction and subsequent additional families. Highway 90 is to be avoided at all costs after 10 am, Ocean Springs Rd is becoming a highway to Vancleave, you can't even get to downtown without a small car or golf cart and the only people who can afford to buy a home downtown are those that sold their homes in other states and earned an outrageous equity. Parking a nothing short of a joke downtown. And lastly let's not forget all the housing developments built on areas that used to be bayous. How those people don't need flood insurance is beyond me. I love Ocean Springs but am so terribly disappointed that greed has overrun common sense

I rarely go downtown anymore due to the vast amount of cars lining the streets. It's too much for such a small town.

I was born in Pascagoula and raised in Bayou La Batre, AL. My family was poor, and my father worked as a shrimp boat captain while my mother did everything she could to help bring in money from opening oysters to bookkeeping. When we decided to move here 6 years ago, we chose Ocean Springs for its beauty, charm, community, and schools. In the past few years, it has gone downhill. There is fighting about everything, from entitled people trying to throw what weight around they think they have to the trees getting cut down. After all the shootings downtown and fights, I am scared to go down there and bring my children. My son and I went down there for a parade only to have a fight break out in front of us and there were no cops anywhere around. When we did find a cop, she didn't care. The schools are so packed now there is no room on the buses for kids. Why are there more homes and apartments being built when the schools are getting overwhelmed? Why are family homes being threatened just so new businesses can be built? Why build a new marina when the beaches need work? Now as for my roots I mentioned, my great grandmother and my grandfather were born in a shack on front beach, before the man-made beaches of Biloxi. Back before hwy 90 when it was just a dirt road. I know things can't go back to the way they were, but they need to change from the way they are. They are selling the soul of the city to the highest bidder and what will be left for the rest of us wont be worth having.

We need to begin now to let everyone in city government know how many people are concerned about the waterfront and Pine St. Waiting until the election will be too late to affect either one. Let me know what we can do now to change the direction of city government on these issues.

I grew up here and am so disappointed to see the many changes happening to such a charming place. Government St is not the place it was just a few years ago. The charm there is gone. Now the city leaders want to commercialize our beach. And the trees are another story the way they are allowed to be butchered. Government street charm is gone; we must save the rest of our special town that everyone loves before it is too late to turn back.

I was born in O.S. and my parents and grandparents are from here as well. I was always proud to say, "I'm from Ocean Springs, Miss." Today, I'm still proud of O.S., but I wonder how long my son will be able to say the same. I fear the direction our city government has taken and I am proud that the citizens, both old and new, are working together to help maintain the beauty and charm of our special Shangri-la.

I love this town; however, the elected officials have an agenda that could ruin the nature of this town forever. I realized this after attending city hall meetings where I watched person after person implore them not to vote for certain measures, yet they did it anyway. I'm appalled at how they allow the bars to blast music into surrounding neighborhoods all night long. They can't say no to the bar owners. It's obvious and it has to change!

I grew up in Ocean Springs and married my high school sweetheart whose family has been here for generations. We worked, travelled and lived around the United States and the world for almost 40 years before retiring and coming back to Ocean Springs. We thought about retiring elsewhere but always felt at home when we came back to our home town. It has been heartbreaking to see what is happening to our City, especially the downtown area. No one's voice seems to matter more than that of a few developers and bar owners. I fully support the “Platform” on this website and pray that the people of “the Gem of the Gulf Coast” make their voices heard in the next election.

Anything we can do to help, please let us know. We live in Gulf Hills, however we own property downtown at Shearwater Pottery Property. Thank you for all the many of you for helping make our community the best and for fighting all the developers.

I have lived my entire life here, 68 years. Attended St. Alphonsus catholic school 1st grade through 8th. Than to OS junior high & high school. I lived on Cleveland Ave and the entire area from old railroad bridge, Benjamin point at entrance to ft bayou. From the bridge destroyed by Camille to OS harbor. It was the greatest area to live. Fishing, boating and the beach were where our neighborhood was.Such a great place. But things are not going well in our town. The mayor and all alderman except ward 2 and 3 and at large have made a decision for all of us. They want to change our city for the almighty dollar. Government street is an absolute nightmare. Highway 90 a race track. And they want more and more. Its time for them to give up on their ideas, we do not want their front beach food truck and associated makeshift marina. Look at how much success they have had with front beach walkway, in constant need of repairs. And ward 4 Ken Papania wants the same for east beach. The traffic on that road is unsafe. This administration has to be stopped and they can kma.

My wife and I recently moved here from Charleston, SC. As a native of Charleston, it broke my heart to see what over and inappropriate development did to what is, maybe now was, one of the most beautiful cities in this country. My wife and I fell in love with Ocean Springs as it is and would hate to see it suffer the same fate as Charleston. I'll be happy to do whatever I can to prevent that. Please feel free to contact me and I will be happy to tell you the sad story of Charleston.

We live in AL and probably visit three times a year. I noticed the signs and looked over the website. The site really hits why we find the area special. It is a beautiful city. It needs protection like similar cities. It is very unique.

I'm a frequent visitor to OS. My Dad lived here for 7 years before recently moving to West Point. I'm appalled at the things I've read, and I can tell you 100% the yard signs work. I was visiting this week, out for a jog, and saw several. I had no idea any of this was happening. Please post a link to your Venmo or another form of electronic payment, to make donations easier. If you need help with social media, i.e. instagram or facebook set up, let me know and we will see if I can find someone to donate time to set up for you. Looking forward to helping the cause.

Do not make OS another Destin, FL/Orange Beach, AL. No more hotels, VBROs, or high density housing. Improve what we already have. Fix existing issues. Any new entertainment venues/hotels should be out on Hwy 90 so as not to create more traffic congestion/noise downtown or in neighborhoods. We have witnessed Pascagoula and Biloxi do "Renewals" and fail many times. Stop wasting our tax money. Let OS be OS! We travel the world and always say there is no place better than OS!!! Preserve it and our trees.

OS is my hometown. My ancestors were the town founders. Thanks for your efforts to keep OS a small town jewel.

Ocean Springs is my hometown, as was my great-grandparents, grandparents, my children, my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren! We have a legacy of family because of the beautiful, small, artistic, beach town, and we owe a duty to our progeny to keep it that way. I'd like to see some fresh new faces in the local government who truly love Ocean Springs and care about it and want to save the beautiful charm and memories of what it once was. As Cat Stevens put it, "I know we've come along way we're changing day-to-day, but tell me where do the children play?" Let's make some changes the next time we go to the polls and vote, and let's save Ocean Springs from becoming something that it isn't.

My dad, a 5th generation Mississippian, moved us here, and I attended 8th grade at what is now the Mary C and graduated from OSHS. I love the Greyhounds and my town. I'm saddened at what this mayor and BOA have done to our town. They have sold it to tourists and developers. Let our voices and votes be heard! 2025!!

We live .4 miles from downtown Ocean Springs. The music blasting from the rooftop bars makes my windows shake and keeps me awake until 11 PM on Wednesday, and Thursday nights, and until midnight Friday and Saturday Nights. On Sundays the bands start around 11AM, and continue into the night, most months out of the year. The aldermen and mayor tell us they make too much money from the bars to have an enforceable decibel level. The bands are being heard. The bars are being represented. Now, the voters and residents need to be heard. I want the elected officials to represent their residents, and not just a handful of people who sling drinks.

I moved to Ocean Springs originally in 2008 and immediately fell in love with the small town vibe and the sense of community everywhere I went. Back then the Government Street Grocery was the best bar in downtown with live music all the time and I always felt safe, even as a female going out alone. Due to work, I moved away and returned in 2020 because I wanted to raise my daughter in such a lovely and safe town. I am very concerned with the conflict of interest in the current city government and do not approve of the direction this town is taking with developers. I was always quite happy to drive to New Orleans when I wanted a big city party night. I am absolutely appalled that they want to develop on top of a superfund site (and the board approves). Let's band together and get some people in office that care about our citizens!