He's lucky he gets to get out

It is high time for the city of Waveland and bay St Louis to work together. Between the county and the two towns there is much wast and duplication. Let's move forward to rebuild a better community instead of trying to reclaim the old inefficient one.

Just because a man goes to see his family does not give anyone the right to cry foul especially when he has been there working his "***" off trying to get their city re-established. It would be assumed that the person yelling the loudest is mad because the mayor was not there when they called and is probably the last person that needs financial help.

Let the man get away. The stress must be aweful. Imagine if you hadn't seen your wife and 5 kids in 2 months. I really don't know why this story made the press. Let the man sleep late for a few days.

Nothing wrong with a little R&R but I don't think the mayor is prepared for what happens between now and April when the City is expecting to receive Property Taxes from people who don't even have a house left. Have they even prepared the Tax bills? How will the people even get the bills when they don't even have mail boxes? Running a City with only half the funds will be impossible.

Mayor,

There are always going to be petty people who criticize any and everything you do - you know that. Do what you think is right and screw the naysayers - they probably didn't vote for you anyhow.

Taking a trip two months after the hurricanes isn't abandonment by any means. This is probably the first time he's had to take a break. Everyone needs to recharge and he will since he still has a lot of work left to do. Let the complainers run for mayor next time and let's see who wins.

I visited waveland for the company I work for in regards to rebuilding his town about a week after the hurricane. Mr. Longo could barely stand much less hold a serious conversation. He looked like he had been on hiss feet since the first time the hurricane was spotted in the Gulf. I saw the devestation with him and his right hand man that also looked like he had been thru hell. For anyone to criticize this man and his team should look in their mirror first. If anyone could be more compassionate or dedicated they'd have to be next to perfect. If more towns had mayors like Mr. Longo this country wwould be better off. And for the record whoever is complaining should direct their complaints to FEMA and Haliburton. I saw no sign of either well paid group while I was there.

He decided to run for public office - to be there for his citizens, no one forced him. Similar to no one forces our young men to join the service. Do our serviceman get to see their family after only 2 months of fighting......no - some don't see their family for a year! Stay home Mr. Mayor - fight for your citizens, call your wife on the phone.

I live in Waveland. Or rather, I used to. My home is south of the tracks and sits in absolute darkness, when night falls. While I do not disparage Mayor Longo for visiting his family, I am very bewildered by his comments that "We are way ahead of where people expected us to be". I would like to know who these "people" are and what WERE their "expectations"? The city of Waveland does not have a building inspector, nor do they have enough employees in their utilities department (down to 3 from 11 employees prior to Katrina). How can 3 people possibly put us "way ahead"? Why does the next town over, Bay St Louis, have streetlights lit up on every street but Waveland does not? Why do we sit in town meetings once a week and discuss the same issues and ask the same questions over and over and over? Because WE ARE NOT "way ahead"! In fact, we are falling behind. Waveland is in a very grave situation and the citizens are begging for help. Some are still living in tents, some in their vehicles and yet others have nothing to live in at all!
Mayor Longo, it is time to step out of your own darkness and LEAD the town and its people.

I don't understand, did I miss something. Why would the Mayor NOT need rest, peace and a few minutes of solitude. One would think he would have been encouraged to take a few days off. Good rest means a clear relaxed mind. Love and support from his family is also a great energy booster. Wake up simple people and have some love and care for your Mayor.

Many people can only think of themselves, not the 2 year old who hasn't seen his/her father in two months. The whiners owe Mayor Longo an apology.

I think it was said that he hasnt been to more than one meeting. I undeerstand needing a break but there are many who dont have the luxury of a place to go and rest, there homes are destroyed and they want there mayor there with them to get thing rebuilt. Think about those who cant go to Maine and rest they need help NOW not later when Longo is rested. I am from Central Florida we had three hurricanes come through were i live in a row our devistation wasnt as bad as yalls but we expected our elected officials to do there jobs to get the city back as soon as possable then take vacations.

I applaud the man for staying as long as he did. After all, there is only so much one man can do. And to those who deem his absence an atrocity, I say this: Though a mayor (or any elected official for that matter) is responsible for his people, he is also very much human and all the more responsible for his own family. I think the man stepped up to the plate and smacked a homerun. My respects, Mr. Mayor, and may you serve many more years in office.

To all who have posted comments...I am intrigued by the wide spread of opinions as to the performance of the mayor of Waveland. Some have said "stay home and do your job", others have said "give the poor man a break" -- both with equal passion. So my observation is that only point of view can be accurate. Someone is ignorant or misled. Who is right? The deeper question is, when you take stories like this and multiply times 1,000, who do you believe anymore? The attackers or the attacked? Are both wrong? Are both right? How are we supposed to know? Who do we listen to for accurate "un-spun" information? Is there any such thing as "un-spun" information anymore? I am confused and frustrated, because I do not know realistically whether Waveland is in deep trouble or if it "ahead of the game".

It's easy to sit some place else and write about what someone should or shouldn't do. All the officials in the affected areas need respite from the grind. They also need to be seen as working for the people they serve. Judging others should end. This tragedy should pull people together and not apart. There is a current of dissatisfaction across the area that must be overcome if normalcy is to return. Working together for the good of all should be paramount. Neighbors working with neighbors, cities working with each other, state to state cooperation, and local, state, and national entities coming together. It starts with the individual and spreads. I think it's time for everyone to reach across and take the 'hand' of the person or the entity next to them and agree to solve areas problems as best they can where they are - at all levels. Only then can they move forward.

The mayor should visit his family and rest some. I have been in and out. However, the real problem is that the mayor has "not been there" when he is there! Nothing is happening; he will not allow any rebuilding so people are leaving. We live(d) south of the tracks and would like to get started along with a lot of other people but the mayor just wants the city to sit and contemplate the future! Rest, come back, and lets get the city moving! We need building permits Mr. Mayor, not excuses! FEMA isn't keeping us from building, you are!

Effective leadership requires a clear mind, and unemotional assertation of the circumstances. Before undertaking a big task, as it is pretty clear he has his work cut out for him, let him take a brief moment to clear his judgement and enable himself to be objective. Who knows, maybe his wife will have some new ideas for him on how to handle the towns' problems.

I can only imagine the nightmare these people are going through. I get upset when my cable goes out. With that said, the poor man needs any break he can get. He has all of these people to think about, not just his family. Give the man a break

It is just not ours to judge. At this point in time, Tommy Longo probably needs to recoup his spirits and determination, and if seeing his family, in lieu of drinking and carrying on, is what it takes, more power to him!!!! More cities need family men to lead them from the darkness into the light!

You people in Waveland need to reassess your relationship with fellow human beings. Getting angry because your mayor wants to visit his wife and kids after not seeing them in 2 months is down right pathetic. Nothing FEMA, your state government, your local government, the Red Cross, or your fellow Americans is good enough for you folks. Try being self sufficient for once. Move if you no longer like it there, just don't move here.

I find it really funny how some poeple can sit here and tell the mayor to stay home and fight for his citizens. News flash his family is part of the community in Waveland and they are citizens. I also find it funny that people have very stronge opinions on the hurricane when they did not even live through it. For those of you who are clueless, Katrina was a life or death situation in which those who are fortunate enough to still have a family need to spend sometime with them. During the hurricane I was not sure if all my family survived which was very difficult and I did not know if they were okay until weeks after the storm. For those who did live through the storm quit being selfish!! You are alive and obviously have a lot to be greatful for.
City officals are doing their jobs the best they can, but keep in mind their city is not their only job. For some city officals they are working in the dark. Mayor Longo does not have total control of what will happen with Waveland, higher government officals have more authority as well as say so. As a community I know people are coming together to rebuild. Things will not go back to normal over night, it will take years.
I feel that we are in a time when the people of Waveland and Bay St. Louis need to stick together and quit pointing the finger at people. Finding someone to blame is the easy way out.

I live in Waveland, south of the railroad tracks. Needless to say my house is destroyed. You have to live in this devastation to understand it. Photographs and articles do not fully describe the situation. The total wreckage and the smell of dead fish and sewage are too awful for words. I think the mayor needs a break. He will be able to function better when he gets back.

I WAS AT WAVELAND TO PUT IN WATER AND SEWER LINES AND NEVER ONCE DID i see your so called mayor. I DID MEET SEVERAL OF YOUR ALDERMEN AND REST ASURE SOMEONE IS ON THE JOB .AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE COMPLAINING ,WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HELP?

The mayor sounds like he did a good job in the crisis phase. He was there and did his best. a crisis has many phases, first immediate, the next looking at recovery, the next doing it. No elected mayor is trained for that. Give him a break and let him change gears and see his family. He needs to look at options and work with the community so it ends up better than ever.

Most of the responders who supported Mayor Longo's trip have not seen this area, nor have they witnessed Longo's always private agendas. He is NOT a good mayor to begin with..He seldom attends productive meetings, and when he does, he usually slips away before saying anything meaningful. Bay St. Louis and Waveland DO need to merge. It is laughable that two "villages" have so much duplication of the payrolls and services, especially now that both towns are so broke. Bay St. Louis' Mayor Eddie Favre is not much better, but at least BSL does have good Councilmen. It is impossible for anyone outside this area to know how truly beautiful this area is. It is incredibly beautiful -- but we really need some effective politicians to take the lead.

I was in a bad situation once when a friend gave me the best advice I ever received, "Never explain, your friends don't need it and your enemys won't believe it".
Mike Baker
Maj USMC (Ret)

I WORK FOR THE CITY OF WAVELAND,THE MAYOR HAS SCENE HIS FAMILY SINCE HURRICANE KATRINA,WHEN HE FLEW TO NEW YORK AT THE EXPENSE OF 3 DOORS DOWN,TO WATCH THE SAINTS FOOTBALL GAME." MUST BE NICE" HE HAS 2 FEMA TRAILERS FOR HIS FAMILY TO COME BACK HOME BUT NO ONE LIVES IN THEM.HE CHOOSES INSTEAD TO LIVE UPSTAIRS AT THE SOUTHERN REGIONAL WASTEWATER PLANT WHERE HE AVOIDS THE CITIZENS AND EMPLOYEES OF WAVELAND. THESE ARE THE FACTS!!!

Oh Dan! You have to be kidding! Self sufficient? What do you think the residents of Waveland have been doing since the storm? Certainly not living the high life on government handouts. The entire county is a wreck. No one can get going on rebuilding until they can get permits, materials, contractors. Heck - you can't even get groceries unless you can drive a distance. As for moving, the majority of the population has left. Some for the short term, others forever. That's part of the problem. No tax base = no town. No place to live, eat, shower, work, or any of the other basic necessities of life means you can't live there. So you can't pay taxes... It's a vicious cycle.

I know Mayor Longo. He's a good guy. Yes, he needs a break. Some time away to not have to think about the daily frustrations over how the heck he's going to get his town going again. Waveland, hang in there. You have all my sympathy and my faith as well. You will rise again.

A pack of dogs! That what I hear. Angry cold hungry dogs growling at each other and anyone who stands before them. I can tell you that there was running water in Waveland on Labor Day and working street lights in Waveland by September 14. Does it matter that Mayor Longo had knee surgery just a few days before the storm? Does it matter that the last time he saw is wife, she was driving away from the wreckage in a used van, the only adult with five children, a broken wrist and only a few dollars for gas?

There isn't anybody out there who cares more for the people of Waveland than Tommy Longo.

I know there are WONDERFUL people in Portland, OR. But, Dan... You are an WRONG for making such generalizations about the citizens of Waveland. Believe me, we are very self-sufficient people down South. We are extremely resourceful and would "give the shirt off our backs" for our neighbors in need. And, even though EVERYONE is in the same boat (predicament)... We have still managed to help each other. I am sure there are people in Portland who don't like you living next to them! Trust me, we are trying desperately to find our way out of the rubble that was once a charming and beautiful little beach town! Please let me reassure you WE WILL RISE from this catastrophe. And, when we do... I would advise YOU never to step foot in "our neck of the woods" with your ignorant attitude. Because, some SOUTHERN boy will be breaking open a can of "whip***" on YOU! BIG grin! Don, WE will even let YOU get a head start running! How's that? The DEEP SOUTH is ready for YOU, Danny boy! WE are ready to show YOU how self-sufficient WE are! I needed a good laugh! Ha! On a more serious note, the DEVOTION Tommy Longo has shown to Waveland before, during and after the storm is truly beyond words AMAZING! I saw how shaken he was even two weeks after the storm hit. The man has done everything possible to be there for Waveland after losing everything (himself). My "bonnet" (grin) goes off to you, Mr. Mayor! My deepest gratitude and appreciation to you, Tommy!

I have just returned from a week in Waveland/Bay St louis mucking out/ gutting homes. I hear the frustration of those residents on this site, but I also met down there an incredible amount of residents who have humbled me and filled me with hope for the future. What Waveland is like is beyond most people's comprehension and I suggest strongly that people who are not residents or people who have not got off their butts to go down and help, keep their comments and judgements to themselves. Perhaps a few inspectors would care to offer their services free for the next year, live in a tent of course while they do so. They need constructive, active, do-ers, not people who talk about it. Get down there everyone & help.

Dan in Portland, you don't have a clue! Elderly people in Waveland are living in tents; I don't mind the mayor getting a break but he isn't doing his job when he is there. All he would have to do under present FEMA regulations if ok building permits. We lost our home, a business, and can't do anything because of the mayor's lack of willingness to act.

I think the Mayor definitely needs a break but by the same token, it doesn't appear that much has been done in Wakeland. What's taking so long? Is the mayor holding things up, since I know FEMA, the Red Cross and other organizations have given help. Why is the neighboring city in so much better shape? Maybe the mayor should have his wife and kids come to a neighboring town and stay in a hotel, like so many others had to, and then he can see them and be on the job at the same time.

It is neccessary to cool down tempers and work things out.The mayor doubtlessly needed a break. What the city went through is truly stressful. Hopefully after the R&R the Mayor is ready to kick ***.For the waveland people; the best progress is the one you make for yourselves.

Waveland & Bay St. Louis are like to different planets. Waveland swims in a sea of corruption and politics. I don't care if the Mayor visits his family, but if waveland politicians and city officials lose their long held grip due to Katrina then so be it. Waveland is a far worse place then ut used to be many years ago and it's due in no small measure to the mayor and his alderman as well as their appointees. It's a power trip. Waveland has earned infamous slogans like come to Waveland on vacation leave on probation, speaking to it's over zealous police force and annexing everything in sight to broaden their area of control. I hope the good people of Waveland and Hancock County will have more of a say in the future of Waveland then those in power now. God Bless everyone there and may your recovery be swift.

My question is: Why would anyone in their right mind go into politics in this country. In Iraq they assasinate them, and here in America, we crucify them. Why doesn't everyone stop complaining about unimportant issues and get down to business. God knows that you people down there have more than enough on your plates to complain about so why in the world would you add some silly thing like "the mayor going to visit his wife and children" to the the mix. Stop bitchin and get on with the job of rebuilding your lives.

every body has to have a break...but i would not want to mayor ...how about you?

Wow, I have never done this but some of you are really ticking me off. yes, the man has a job to do and he needs to do it. I don't live there so ican't say what he has or has not done. I am the wife of a man in the military and if the stress of the job he has to do was not enough not seeing your family can be distracting and devasating. He needs a break to recoup and clear his mind. maybe then he can concentrate on the job ahead.

One man can't do it all--can't fix everybody's problems. People in coastal regions should know the risks of living there by now. Hurricane devastation of that magnitude can happen in any given year. If people decide to live along the coastlines regardless of the risks, they just have to suck it up and deal when the storms do come. Quit beating the guy up and quit looking for a hand out, too, because of a personal choice gone bad.

You whiners need to get a life. Instead of bringing out the best in people, this tragedy seems to be bringing out the worst in people.

The Mayor of Waveland's DEVOTION to his city is AMAZING! He lost EVERYTHING (himself) yet he still manages to be there for the citizens. So what if he is "out of pocket" for a day or two or three! I saw him two weeks after the storm hit attending mass on the slab of St. Clare's church. He was physically BEAT DOWN! I could see he was still SHAKEN by the catastrophe and had not slept in days! My "bonnet" goes off to you, Mr. Mayor! Grin! And, for those people who say "try being self-sufficient for once." WE in the DEEP SOUTH are very self-sufficient and will eventually pull ourselves out of the rubble of a once beautiful and charming little beach town along the Gulf of Mexico! WE WILL RISE AGAIN... until then, PLEASE keep us in your prayers! Tommy, hope you were able to get many hugs and kisses from your darling wife and children while you were in Maine! Don't pay attention to the whiners and complainers! They are probably NOT true SOUTHERNERS!

I think that the whiners have a lot of nerve. Shame on you. I would love to have a Mayor so dedicated to go 2 months without seeing his/her family. I will gladly trade your mayor for mine. I live in Detroit and would love a Mayor who really cares about the people not the house he lives in or the car his wife drives. But yet we stand behind him, why? because he is our Mayor and we elected him into office.And until that term is over we will stand my him. So appreciate what you have. And why, as citizens of the same area are you allowing your neighbor to live in a tent? Instead of picking on your Mayor why aren't you helping him. He is only one man.And one man cannot do everything. It takes the whole town to pitch in and do what is nessessary to make your town a town again.

My family and I have always been generous with our donations to help people in need throughout our country and the world. I never dreamed we would be the one needing help from others. Thanks so much to all who have helped. Just give us some time, and we'll be back to being the ones helping. Dan, of Portland, I hope you never find yourself in this uncomfortable position of needing help from others. However, if you do, I believe you can count on the good folks of South Mississippi to lend a hand.

The point having been made over and over again:The mayor is holding things up and hendering rebuilding efforts, is amazing to me. Please share with me what it is that he will gain from such slovenly conduct if indeed it is true?

I was at the meeting Tuesday when Longo was not present and we needed our leader. Mayor Longo was also not at a very important meeting that involved Hancock County as a whole. That was the disappointment. That also brings the fact that Mayor Favre has not left his town (hats off to you!).
Bay St Louis and Waveland are two very small towns. There is no reason these two cities should not be combined and all positive results would come from it.
Please post the negative. For one I could repair my house right now if I lived in Bay St Louis. I could see my mayor on the streets or even weekly at the meetings they hold. I would have a building inspector to speak to. (oh, and Waveland is ahead of "the bay"?)
I have been here with my family (children) since the storm. I did not leave and I need to. I do have a job that I must go to (to keep) and my home has been destroyed by 3 feet of water. I slept in this home until my FEMA trailer arrived two weeks ago. Myself and my children slept on mattress that floated and pillows that were atop our beds that were there for the storm.
The city of Waveland is BEHIND Bay St Louis and other towns as we still are NOT allowed to repair our homes. I have the money, I have a contractor ready to go. Mayor Longo and the city are holding us up on the repairs. This means a longer time we all must stay in our lovely FEMA trailers (if you got it, many are in tents).
I am stressed, I need a break but I stay so I am here to get my bldg permit, here to sign up for things and keep informed. (Let's not forget the things that Waveland is not posting that we must do and we find out thru gossip.) I waited every day for my FEMA trailer and would not even visit my eldery parents in a near by town because I thought I NEEDED to be here. (they are my family)
Unsympathic - Want to see pictures of my home, my families home. Come visit. See if you can even find our Mayor on our streets. (I have not ran into him once!)

As a sailor who has been deployed many times in the US NAVY, I completely understand the need to get out of the situation for a break. we don't have the opportunity to see our families on deployment, but if we did, we would all take it. From what i have read and been following about the Hurricane I can understand the Mayor's actions in seeing his family. It's not running away from the problem, its regaining focus to make the second wave of attacks to deal with the problem. Even when deployed we get port visits to help us re-energize, even after our emergency mobilization after 9-11. After being hit hard during Hurrcane Ivan as a resident of Southern Alabama, i sympathize with the people of the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, but as one person said, he is only one man, and blame only goes so far, but doesn't truly accomplish anything. Support your Mayor, supprt you neighbors, and work together. This was a disaster, not a happenstance.

Looking for someone to blame will not make it all disapear. I believe with every tragedy you have to look at the bigger picture. Yes thousands lost their lives, homes, jobs, family, friends and everything else, including there hopes. We all have our crosses to bare. I am so glad that you have so many people helping and keeping you in there prayers. We are in the middle of a war. So maybe the bigger picture was. That we took time to think about everyone in the path of Katrina. Instead of our family in iraq. As we see our guardsmen & women there helping. Wishing it was our family member we see helping instead of the letters from Iraq letting us know they are still keeping our country safe in a far away land. God bless us one and all. I am very saddened that our military give up there lives to let us a land we can call The land of the free & home of the brave. And god bless you all in the line of Katrina having the mental strength to carry on. May your families always be close and feel loved.

I sincerely hope that someone would resolve this situation without the bickering and back-stabbing. This reminds me of what my grandparents used to say (who survived the dust bowl in oklahoma with no food or water for a lot longer than you all, scraping cans clean, and that all before a world war), "complaining aint never got anyone anywhere." It's time for America and the town of Waveland (citizens, mayor, aldermen/women, and everyone else) to pick up a hammer, a shovel, a pick, and get to work - that's what makes America stronger - not complaining and expecting someone else to take care of unfortunate situations that happen.

This is to Lee Makavel....Mr. Makavel, I have never done anything like this before. I am from Upstate New York and have been reading the comments left behind for Mr. Longo. Never met the man, never heard his name before until I started reading the responses on this page. What is following is COPIED from a newspaper article I found while googling Mr. Longo's name. They say ignorance is bliss...Mr. Makavel, you're down right mean spirited! I was always taught that if you didn't have anything nice to say about anyone, don't open your mouth. This is purely political nonsense at it's best.

taken from an expert from a Maine Newspaper article about Mr. Longo's wife and children. I apologize I don't remember the name of the newspaper, but if you google Mr. Longo's name, it's about the 3rd or 4th topic....They have seen him only once since they left Mississippi. The Maine Emergency Management Agency and first lady Karen Baldacci arranged a ride for the family down to Giants Stadium in New Jersey on Sept. 19, where the New Orleans Saints would be playing their home opener. Her husband had been asked to attend by the NFL as part of a fundraising effort.

He's been on television since, looking tired and gray. But Longo knows she can't convince him to take a break, not even for Thanksgiving.

"He said 'I would love to be able to do that, but I've got make sure people here have a Thanksgiving,' " Longo said. "He will do without in order that they have."

Mr. Makavel, I hope your hungry because I believe that you should eat your words, huh???!!!! THis is what's called an act of kindness, something your completely incapable of! So much for "southern hospitality an all"!

It's sad to see how "some people" react to the simplest things in life, like taking a break for a day or two. People of Waveland get real! What would you be complaining about right now if the mayor of your town didn't survive the hurricane? How to elect another one? Or put the blame on someone else? Just for your information, everyone of you should count your blessings,(for God spared your life) and not complain about the life you now have, but strive to make it better for everyone around you. Ever hear of the old saying "If your not part of the solution, then you must be part of the problem." Believe me when I say that God is large and He is in charge, for if you trust in Him and believe, when you reach the pearly gates, then what will todays problems amount to after all?

I am in Waveland as I write this. Waveland is a wonderful city with couragous people. I was sent down to Waveland 4 days after the storm. My assignment for FEMA was to Mayor Longo and the city of Waveland. I was with Tommy Longo everyday all day for an entire month workin with him on everything from victim recovery to public assistance. During my original time down here he rarely was able to leave my sight. I watched as he would crawl to the restroom in the morning to throw up because he was so sick. I was with him above the sewage treatment plant where he and his family weathered the storm and he continues to live in everyday. I would force him to lay down and turn off his phone usually well after midnight then I would show my anger to him the next morning because he didnt.
Tommy is a man of courage, principal and integrity. Unlike those oportunist who are condeming a man for working around the clock to return his family and all other displaced people of Waveland to their rightful homes.
People will always disagree on method, policy and proceedure. Now is no time for politics. Now is the time for concerned men and women to work togather and not use Katrina as a platform for election. Im certain that Tommy is one the concerned. Please if you love your city join with him. TODAY IS NOT ELECTION DAY.

I have no comment on the mayor. However, I have met some of the most amazing people in Waveland, MS! Their attitudes and sense of hope is inspiring. We have been coordinating teams to go to the affected areas as well as supplies from all over the country. If you are in Waveland and need help, let us know. We will do our best to send someone or connect you to who can help. If you want to help please visit our website and come on down. These folks need our help. It is now 2 months after the storm but the devestation is staggering. Please don't look the other way. So many have lost everything. Our prayers are with all those in Waveland and the gulf coast region. God has not forgotten you!

I live in Waveland. My children live in Waveland. My son is a Hancock County Sheriff's Deputy. He is due to go on his shift at 6 am tomorrow. He spent hours tonight trying to locate a usable police cruiser...and finally his wife drove him to pick one up at 9:30 tonight! It's not even a Hancock County car..it is a used vehicle that the Polk County, FL sheriff's dept gave to the HCSO. Two weeks ago, my son was driving in his cruiser which had no sirens...they had been taken out previously to be used in another car. My son was in a wreck due to the two reasons...one, no siren...and two...faulty brakes. His brake light went on TWO WEEKS before the storm, and he brought it to the maintenance guy who happens to be a convicted criminal who was part of a trusty program. He told my son there was nothing wrong with the brakes. When he had his accident, his brakes locked up. After the car was driven back to the maintenance man, he ok'd it for service...WITHOUT EVEN OPENIG THE HOOD OF THE CAR. Needless to say, 2 days ago my son was patrolling and when he went to brake, he had to swerve off the road into a ditch to avoid hitting anyone. The Sheriff's Department was given 4 Dodge trucks right after the storm...and not one regular deputy got one..they went to the upper echelon, including the County Tax Assessor!!!! The Waveland Police Dept were called heroes cause they hung onto trees during the storm and lost all of their equipment. I tell you what was heroic...after the winds had died down to about 60 mph, Hancock Sheriff's Deputies were out and about..in
Waveland as well as the County...rescuing people, bringing injured to the hospital, getting water and ice to people...crucial in the first three days, until help arrived from the outside police agencies. The Sheriff's deputies suffered tremendous loss as well...all but 2 of them lost their homes and everything in them...but they were out there, working 15 hour days, while the
Waveland Police Department stood in their parking lot. Four Sheriff's deputies were responsible for patrolling Waveland...2 in the am and 2 in the pm. Not one Waveland Officer offered to ride with them. Most deputies worked 10 days straight without a day off. Yet, no one has acknowledged them...no one sent them fancy painted cars, no one sent them Tupperware tubs with their names on them, holding new uniforms for them. The deputies have been given nothing..nothing by their commanders. The deputies are responsible for calling fellow officers to see which cars are available for their shift. They have also had to buy their own uniforms to replace those lost in their ruined homes.

There is a serious lack of leadership in Waveland and Hancock County right now. I saw Tommy Longo once since this debacle began...riding in a car in the dark, just looking out the window staring at rubble. How fortunate his family is that they got to go away...the rest of us are here dealing with tents, heat, millions of flies, and mass confusion. Before you start criticizing the citizens of
Waveland, be sure and understand that Waveland is taking care of Waveland...our people are looking out for each other...I for one, have not seen a single alderman anywhere in town. Now if my son can manage to deal with our losses, and with daily problems such,as leaking sewage, garbage pickup that comes when they have a mind to, a FEMA trailer whose hot water heater stopped working the day after it got here, filing tons of paperwork...and still put on his uniform and go out and do his job..then why can't our Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriff. You people wanted to be leaders..to be the Big Guys....being a leader during a terrible, terrible crisis means more than appearing on CNN, or speaking to reporters...it means speaking to your PEOPLE here in Waveland, giving them a sense that you are aware of what is expected of you. How anyone in a position of extreme responsibility can go off on a vacation and think that things can just sit till you get back...well, they must have gone to the George Bush School of Government. When election time rolls around, I hope tht everyone remembers how our leaders dealt with this massive crisis....do the words Charlie Foxtrot come to mind????

I've been to the Waveland area twice since Katrina. I have personal friends who know the Mayor. From what I understand, he's been working his tail off since Katrina to help rebuild - I know of many many families who have been touched by his generosity and dedication.

Let the man go see his family. Band together and help each other in this time of crisis. Ridiculing a man who has been working nonstop isn't the way to go about it. He will be back, and from what I have heard about him, he will be back stronger than ever.

Rest rejuvenates people. Give him a little rest.

Mr. Smith, thanks for your post but what is your group? You did not include that nor your website.
I applied for help in early October at the library where the paper states to go but I have never been contacted. I am over whelmed and have seen no help with my home except for a tree trimmed from my roof by the county. I like many are overwhelmed.

Well I don't know about anyone else from Waveland, Mississippi but after reading all of the comments I am ashamed to say I am from Waveland.

A number of the people who are sooooooo hostile towards not only the Mayor but everything else, are suffering from Stress. It affected me too, I was back in the area right after the storm and did what I could do and got to where I couldn't function properly. That's why people have to get away, get a new prospective on things and come back in.

Imagine looking at utter destruction day in and day out. Your vision for the future gets really bleak very quickly. You cannot function properly. If the Mayors response has not met your needs or expectations it is because he should have gotten away sooner and got a new prospective. He has lived in a Stewage Treatment plant for 2 months! I went to see him and see if he was ok and to see if there was anything I could do for him, Can anyone else who has written from Waveland say that they have done that?

Betty Sue,take a break and get away. You will function better when you get back and you won't be soooo frustrated and angry.

and where are all of the Waveland people supposed to get away to? Did you ever think that we are here because we love our city and are committed to staying here, cleaning out what is left of our homes, tending to details. Are the police supposed to go away and take a vacation? Who will keep order here? Who will protect your property while you are getting away and getting a new perspective??? I find that post extremely insulting. I see people living in tents...in their cars...in what is left of their homes, still reeking of slime and mold...ask them if they would like to move into the sewage treatment plant!

I am a long-time resident of Waveland,MS and I have raised my children and recently a grandchild until Katrina came in and seperated our family, took our home and all that we own, only to change our lives forever. Waveland is like something out of a horror movie, this once peaceful, friendly, beautiful town is now spooky, erie, and down-right scary especialy when darkness falls. I have sat here and read comments all night good and bad and I still see the same in all statements, NO PROGRESS!!!!!!!!! We have no water, no sewarge, and no lights and they haven't even begun to do anything about the south side of the tracks, let me enlighten the ones who think that just because you live on this side of the tracks that you have money, well not everyone is fountunate to have that luxury, I am a hard working citizen and I wasn't given or had my home handed down to me, I earned it, payed my taxes and you would think after 2 months from a storm, going into the the 3rd that by now we would make some sort of progress, We HAVEN'T, we are living PRIMATIVE times and in this day and age we should be moving forward not backwards. The only thing that keeps me from going insane is living with 300 other residents and city employees who are in the same boat sharing the same views, attitudes and helplessness that we face everyday and what holds us together is the spirit that comes from our hearts because we all feel the same way. Bottom line is we NEED HELP and LOTS of it?????

Support your Mayor! Stand together as a people and unite to use all of those energies to better your situation. Being angry will not fix anything! Neither will being in a hurry!

Have faith in your Mayor! He is doing his best- working long hard hours, surviving high on emotion and low on sleep....he cares so much for his people of Waveland that he sent his family to Maine so he could focus on YOU the people. At lease with his family up here in Maine with loved ones, Mayor Longo can concentrate on the job that needs to be done for YOU in Waveland!

Why don't you go to him and ask him what "YOU" can do to help? As of Monday "I" am sending my adult son down there to see what "HE" can do to help! We have strong ties to the Gulf Coast- I was born in Gulfport and graduated Gulfport High in '82. I have always felt a connection to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and for this reason Zac (my 19 year old son) feels that this is his home too.

Please welcome him with open arms and hearts and join with him to help rebuild the beautiful city of Waveland. Have faith! I'm not even a "religious" person, but I have faith that Zac is doing the right thing and I just hope that there are more of him already down ther willing to take that extra step too.

Do you even know about the school bus that was donated from Rhode Island? Do you know how much cordination it took to get everything in order for them to drive up here and collect the school bus and bring it back to the city so the kids could have safe transportation to school? If you don't know about the time and effort put into this project (just to name ONE of MANY), than please take the time to contact Tommy and ask about what's going on........and don't forget to also ask what YOU can do that would be more productive than looking up newsarticles and bashing the efforst thus far.

God bless you and best of luck to you all!
Cindy

I would like to than you for supporting my husband, Mayor Tommy Longo. It was a difficult decision to send us to Maine. No man wants to be away from his wife and children, especially Tommy. He is a dedicated father and husband. In the days following Katrina, when we saw very little of Tommy, he was busy assessing the damage and recruiting relief. During this time he came to the realization that it would be impossible to split his energies between the two things he loved the most-his family and his community. He knew that if we were with family, even though 3000 miles away, he would be able to devote himself to the task ahead-rebuilding Waveland. I personally think he is doing a fine job. He LOVES Waveland and its citizens. It is a hardship on him and us to be separated. But we realize it has to be this way for now. Other people depend on him. He wouldn’t be TOMMY LONGO if he didn’t respond to the needs of Waveland! Thank you again for your support.

I just returned from being a relief volunteer in the Gulf Coast area (Biloxi to Waveland areas). While most people outside the area are shocked by the "complaints", it's what i heard daily. Most of it has to do with Government promises from FEMA, etc. But the reality is the local government officials get the brunt of the harrassment & venting. People don't see beyond their own unfolding crisis. I know many I delt with would get outright hostile with me as if I had caused Katrina. It was part of my job to let them vent. Its a hard job to do too. My heart is still in the Waveland area & in Biloxi, though now I am back in ice cold South Dakota. I want everyone to think about one thing...the mayor is merely a man -- it was mother nature who you should be upset with. We all have our capacities & the mayor needs to be able to vent too, and i know most residents wouldn't want to be in his shoes. I know as a relief coordinator people only saw me here & there, and at times I might seem to be just "traveling by" in my car, but my task might be important to someone- just not the person seeing me just looking around. Those road trips are important too, since assessing the problem of debris removal & equipment needs are important too. Waveland has a bonus also, better than any other city in the area, but I never heard one resident mention the Distribution Center operated by the Rainbow group. Why not? Why are you only complaining about what you don't have? You have a childcare center set up by volunteers, so parents can "shop" and "dine" and even listen to musicians. Wow!! Most mayors & cities in the region haven't been so willing to accept "hippie-types" camped in their cities. You have a mayor who was willing to go out on a limb & get the services & he got them there. Those in turn have been working to get other services to Waveland & to the city too. Just remember you aren't alone in suffering. Volunteers from around the country (and globe) have chosen to pitch in to help you & your mayor. I know its tough, with cooler temps, etc. But please remember the army of volunteer organizations are working with people like your mayor to get services back to the people. We know there is the need. You haven't been forgotten. In fact even now, while sitting in my home -- with a winter storm blowing outside, I am working to continue the networking of resources to the area. There are many just like me doing similarly. Even that trip of your mayor may give him ammo to get more support & resources into Waveland. Especially those news interviews. Some of you may see them as moments of him being in the lime light, but I can bet he'd give that up in a nano-second for everything to go back to life before Katrina. So, if you need to rant & vent, I understand. But this isn't the time for politicing. Its a time to bring the people together, to support each other & to rebuild lives & livelihoods. If your community has needs, please share them with me & others like me, so we can work to get things done. We are here, in body or at least in spirit -- don't put this burden on the shoulders of your mayor alone. We all are part of this country & in some way a part of Waveland. So lets all work together as a team, rebuilding will get done a lot faster that way.

The FEMA maps are in. Go to http://www.fema.gov/hazards/floods/recoverydata/katrina_ms_hancock.shtm

I think it was smart to wait for these maps. At least now one can have some idea how high a structure needs to be to get a decent rate on flood insurance. We are all going to buy flood insurance, aren't we?

I have never understood the idea that an elected official has to go down with the ship---that he isn't allowed to eat or rest or do anything restorative until every last citizen has had those things first. First of all, the man is recovering from knee surgery, walks with a limp and sleeps on a cot! I'd say just THAT puts him above and beyond the call of duty.

I'd says the mayor's critics need a nice good strong dose of reality! Move to Chicago for an election cycle. Experience machine politics! Or maybe a nice stint in Oregon (and I am a liberal) where nothing ever gets done because people are too into discussing way left political philosophy. Or perhaps a nice stay in Hollywood, where there is no mayor at all and the neighborhood wants to secede from the rest of the city! Or better yet, south central LA! That'll teach you all about a lack of concern from elected officials.

I understand the horrors involved, but you STILL do not get to be whiny demanding children! My guess is the people who are most strongly demanding the mayor does not get to visit his family are not the people who are most discommoded anyway. I'd be willing to bet that THOSE people---the ones most strongly affected---have a good strong healthy sense of compassion and kindness and are willing to cut the people who are working so hard for them, some slack.

THEY are not whiny and demanding children.

I lived in Clermont Harbor, just south of the railroad tracks and what people have been calling "ground zero". For those of you who live in Bay St. Louis you know where that is. For others, you probably don't. Its in Bay St. Louis, its just a small community. Well it used to be. I think Tommy Longo has done a terrific job balancing his family and his job. Everyone had to worry about their family, Tommy has 5 kids and a wife, and on top of that had to worry about a whole city. So to the people critisizing him and don't even live in Mississippi, you have no idea what its like to have to deal with a situation like that. Good Job Mayor Longo!

I'd just like to add another comment. After having spent a second "tour of duty" working on the Mississippi coast, and having voluntarily based myself as the State coordinator for our relief agency, just down the road from Waveland in the small town of Pearlington -- I do believe there were a few whiners who expected EVERYONE to take care of their problems. They assumed too often that someone would solve the problem. Yet many refused to relocate to start their lives anew. Many just dug in to "stick it out". Well that is great if they stuck it out, but sticking it out doesn't mean you get to whine cause people didn't do enough for you.

The mayor of Waveland did far more for Waveland than Senator Lott, but just today the people of Mississippi re-elected a man who was more intereste din helping his development buddies get cheap land deals in east BIloxi than worry about getting fema trailers to people on the coast!
So what does that say for the mindset of the people of Mississippi. As one volunteer told me, "Mississippi is returning to its former ways". I think that is true. The haves are forgetting about the have nots & the good ole boys are back in business.

The people of Mississippi didn't use the most important voice they had -- their voting power -- to make changes for the betterment of the coast. Instead it's business as usual.