Long Beach mayor accused of sabotaging casino project in legal battle
Jim Parrish, a local business owner in Long Beach, has filed a legal complaint against Mayor Tim Pierce and the Board of Aldermen. He claims city officials are blocking his casino project while pursuing deals with other developers. The dispute centres on a long-term lease and competing plans for the city's waterfront.
Parrish owns Parrish's Restaurant & Lounge and The Inn at Magnolia Alley in nearby Bay St. Louis. He holds a 20-year lease with Long Beach to operate his restaurant on city-owned Gulf-front land, which he says runs until February 2030. His proposal involves redeveloping the site into a casino hotel, a plan the Board of Aldermen approved in November 2024.
The conflict began after Mayor Pierce took office, replacing former mayor George Bass, who had backed Parrish's project. Before his election, Pierce had highlighted the 'reconstruction of our harbor' as the city's top priority. Now, Parrish alleges that Pierce is actively obstructing his casino plans to favour other resort developers.
Parrish's legal team claims Pierce has misrepresented the lease terms to potential competitors, calling it month-to-month rather than long-term. Parrish hopes the litigation's discovery phase will reveal which developers the mayor and aldermen have been in contact with. The case comes as three other casinos are being floated for development nearby, targeting the Biloxi gaming market.
Parrish insists the city is undermining his project despite its prior approval. He argues that officials are prioritising alternative proposals without transparency.
The lawsuit could force Long Beach to disclose communications between officials and rival developers. Parrish's lease remains in effect until 2030, but the city's stance on his casino plans is now under legal scrutiny. The outcome may determine whether his project moves forward or if other developments take its place.
