He said the city could fund the officers by cutting back on its overtime budget for police officers. That could change soon in a plan supported by both Cooper and Stone. Gulfport recently purchased a property on 49th Street that it plans to use for, among other things, a police substation. Other issues for Stone include Gulfport's absentee landlord problem and the fact that the city uses firefighters to handle code enforcement. Stone also thinks the current council does little to investigate city issues and is too agreeable.
Cooper refutes the suggestion that council members always agree with each other.
He said each individual researches issues before council meetings, which explains why few questions are asked publicly. Cooper is running again mostly because he wants to see the 49th Street redevelopment initiative put into effect. Besides the street itself, Cooper is excited about the drainage improvements at Tomlinson Park, the new amenities for that park and other highlights of the redevelopment plan. Ultimately, he hopes to get better lighting, sidewalks and curbing in the neighborhoods surrounding 49th Street. Cooper said he is also proud of the additional fire hydrants and resurfaced streets completed in Ward 4 over the last two years.