Long Beach: Speak up for our city

If you have a problem with the recent actions of Alderman Gary Ponthieux and the Long Beach Board of Aldermen, speak up this week.

Since October 2015, Houng Le has tried to get Single Family R1 property rezoned so that 11 acres in a residential neighborhood could be converted into an RV park.

The neighbors revolted, clearly saying: “Stop. After Katrina, you passed two comprehensive zoning ordinances designating this property as R1 Single Family, just like it was before the storm. Relying on your zoning, we rebuilt our homes!”

Mr. Le got the message and withdrew his zoning request change.

Now, the Long Beach Planning Commission is going to vote on the identical zoning change at City Hall on July 28 at 5:30 p.m.

This is really wrong. Here’s why:

Rezoning this 11 acres will irreparably damage and devalue surrounding residential neighborhoods. Just look at the atrocious RV park at the corner of U.S. 90 and Broad Avenue in Gulfport.

Before Hurricane Camille, there was an RV park near this same Long Beach area. Our homes were frequently robbed, broken into and vandalized (including mine and my father’s). Camille destroyed the RV park and the crime disappeared.

Sure, Mr. Le will promise an upgrade to his RV park. If you believe this will happen, and that it will be properly maintained, I have a Hudson River Bridge I would like to sell.

Our city fathers took an oath to uphold the laws, not change them to the detriment of their neighbors and constituents.

This story was originally published July 23, 2016 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Long Beach: Speak up for our city."