Hi, kids!

It’s time once again to turn a jaundiced eye toward the news and newsmakers of the day who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life or detracted from it in some significant way:

Volusia County Schools: “In the District of the Blind, The One-Eyed Superintendent is King…”  

True public servants – those who devote themselves to a cause greater than their own self-interests –understand the importance of conducting their personal and professional lives in a manner that avoids raising ethical questions or casts doubt on one’s integrity. 

Careful to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, always mindful of maintaining the public trust.

It’s an important life lesson for young people as well.  Acting with honor, even when no one else is watching…

That means respecting both the letter and spirit of the laws that should rightfully govern everyone equally – including the conduct of governance.  In Florida, the most venerated statutory protection citizens enjoy is our commitment to Government in the Sunshine. 

With limited exceptions, under provisions of both the Florida Constitution and Sunshine Law, We, The Little People are guaranteed access to meetings of governmental entities at the state and local level, the right to reasonable notice, and the ability to inspect and copy meeting minutes. 

The open meetings law is broadly applicable “…to any gathering, whether formal or casual, of two or more members of the same board or commission to discuss some matter on which foreseeable action will be taken by the public board or commission.”

As a result, most responsible elected bodies prominently post adequate notice of events where two or more members of the same governing body will be in attendance, even if no official action will be taken. 

That’s called transparency and avoids the perception of collusion or prohibited communication.

Last week, Volusia County District Schools held its second annual State of Our Schools – Superintendent’s Address at The Center at Deltona, an event attended by all but one elected member of the Volusia County School Board. 

What?  You weren’t aware of it? 

Me neither…

Because this year’s soiree was “invitation-only.”

You read that right.

There was no mention of it on the VCS website and not even a blip on the district’s event calendar.  In fact, the first “Press Release” I saw was posted on March 6 – one day after the address – which contained a cobbled together overview of the program’s talking points.  

According to an after-the-fact post on the district’s Facebook page, invitees included the district’s senior administration and “elected officials, business partners, nonprofit organizations, and education advocates,” with the presentation “sponsored” by a host of vendors, professional service providers, and contractors doing business with Volusia County District Schools…    

In my view, the program appeared to be another over-orchestrated coronation for Superintendent Carmen Balgobin, a shameless self-promoter who frequently sets elaborately embroidered stages to tout her “accomplishments,” always in a place and form not favorable for public challenge.  

According to a report by Mark Harper in The Daytona Beach News-Journal last week:

“Mid-year data suggests Volusia County Schools’ A rating will be maintained again when the Florida Department of Education issues grades in 2026, a top administrator has announced.

Speaking at the district’s State of Our Schools event on Thursday, March 5, Chief Academic Officer Julio Nazario-Valle made the prediction before an audience of about 250 people at The Center of Deltona.

“The data does not lie, right?” Nazario-Valle said. “What happens at the end of the year is what we have seen throughout the year, so I will say that I am expecting…”

He paused, as Superintendent Carmen Balgobin egged him on.

“… For the second year, consecutive, another A,” Nazario-Valle said.”

Rah, Rah, Sis-Boom-Bah…

Call me jaded, but the answer to Mr. Nazario-Valle’s curious question is, “It depends on who’s gathering the “data” – who is interpreting it – and to what end.” 

Unfortunately, Superintendent Balgobin never seems to “egg on” that level of external scrutiny, preferring that School Board members – and those of us who pay the bills – simply accept the gilded “data” as presented.

To her credit, District 4 School Board member Donna Brosemer chose to uphold the highest standards of the public service when she opted not to attend what was clearly an unannounced invitation-only event involving two or more of her elected “colleagues” – who chose to ignore the optics – and the concerns of those of us on the outside looking in…     

In an email dated Monday, February 23, that was forwarded to me by someone who received an invitation, an administrative assistant in the district’s Community Information Services, wrote:

“As this is an invitation-only event with reserved seating, the event has now reached full capacity.  Admission will be reserved exclusively for guests whose names appear on the final guest list.”

Disturbingly, on March 5, in response to an inquiry regarding the propriety of an unnoticed event which included the majority of the Volusia County School Board, Gilbert Evans, an attorney who serves as general counsel to both the district and the school board (?), quibbled and wiggled:

“The event is purely celebratory in nature, and no School Board action or decision-making occurs” (Says who?).  To ensure full transparency, the complete presentation is made publicly available following the event so all families and community members can share in the accomplishments of our students and schools.  

The event was publicly advertised on the Volusia County Schools website (No. It wasn’t.).  Community stakeholders and partners were invited with an RSVP process that ensured seating for all guests. After all pre-registered attendees were accommodated, walk-in guests were welcomed, and no individual was denied access.”  

Then, on Monday, in an email explanation of the event disseminated to all school board members, Mike Micallef, Executive Director of “Graduation Assurance” and Student Services in Dr. Balgobin’s “cabinet,” wrote:

“The State of the Schools event was not invitation-only.  It was publicly posted on the Volusia County Schools website and open to all community stakeholders.  The RSVP process was used solely to guarantee seating for those who pre-registered.  After all RSVP guests were checked in and seated, walk-in attendees were welcomed and offered any available remaining seats.”

Unfortunately, (for the district’s basement-level credibility), I have it on good authority that at least one person was denied entry to the event…

During the Volusia County School Board meeting on Tuesday, the incredibly bright and civically active Kim Short, who serves on the Education & Workforce Committee for five area Chambers of Commerce, with an extensive history of volunteerism and boots-on-the-ground support for our schools, confirmed the event was never properly noticed on the website, social media, or community calendars.

She also confirmed that a citizen was denied entry to the State of Our Schools after being told, some people inside “…did not want her there.”

Whoa. Having a gatekeeper to sort the wheat from the chaff at the velvet ropes doesn’t sound very welcoming to me…

Most powerfully, Ms. Short set board members and Dr. Balgobin straight: “Strong leadership doesn’t just welcome applause.  It welcomes criticism, different viewpoints, and sometimes honest disagreement…” 

She’s right.

Sounds like Dr. Balgobin and her coterie over in the Ivory Tower of Power in DeLand desperately need to get their stories straight… 

Before I condemn the bulk of our school board for gathering to “celebrate” without reasonable public notice to the rest of us “stakeholders and partners” who pay for everything, I am going to suggest that this is what happens when what passes for our elected oversight takes everything the administration says and does at face value.

“It must be okay if Dr. Balgobin says so, right?”

“Everyone gets an ‘A’!  How?  Because I said so…”

In my view, the awkward optics surrounding the Superintendent’s Address is another prime example why fiercely independent school board members like Donna Brosemer need the access and protections afforded by Sen. Tom Leek’s “Bill of Rights,” which will expand oversight for elected officials seeking the truth for their constituents.

According to reports, the bill is well on its way to becoming law, thanks to Ms. Brosemer’s diligent efforts and the good work of Sen. Tom Leek, Sen. Don Gaetz, Rep. Traci Koster, and others. 

In a state that ostensibly values transparency in governance, bad things happen when elected boards, councils, and commissions come together behind closed doors for “invitation-only” soirees where elected officials, government contractors, and other “partners” doing business with their district are in attendance.   

So much for that whole ‘avoiding even the appearance of impropriety’ horseshit, eh?

In my view, someone with the responsibility for enforcing Florida’s open meetings law should do something about this. 

They won’t – but they should…

Maybe it’s time for Volusia County voters to put an end to this lockstep conformism and dedication to protecting the status quo – elect independent leadership that will actually put the needs of students, teachers, and stakeholders first – and provide the strong administrative and fiscal oversight we deserve.

Whatever the event was, I hope Volusia County voters remember this gross elitism and arrogant snub at the ballot box in November.  

Bait-and-Switch: “Volusia Forever” Means Just That.  Or Does It?  

As a resident of Volusia County, I voted (twice) to ensure our threatened wild places – woodlands, wetlands, springs, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and other environmentally sensitive areas – were protected from greed-crazed exploitation in perpetuity.   

We knew what we were doing – and why. 

In fact, in 2000, Volusia County voters overwhelmingly voted to tax ourselves for the purpose of land acquisition, along with environmental, cultural, historic, and outdoor recreation opportunities through the Volusia Forever and ECHO programs. In November 2020, Volusia Forever was renewed with over 75% percent of voters supporting this important conservation initiative.   

Then, in January, the County Council discussed potential “goals” (sorry, I just upchucked in my mouth a little..) for 2026, which included the possibility of turning the venerated Volusia Forever into “a non-in perpetuity program (example 100 years).”

Next Tuesday, in their infinite imbecility, the Volusia County Council of Cowards will take up what many believe is a bait-and-switch attempt to make changes to the conservation program, to include possible changes to how conservation lands are selected, limiting or eliminating matching funds for local, state, and federal partnerships, reducing the millage that supports Volusia Forever acquisitions, and reversing the program’s voter mandated intent to protect conservation properties in perpetuity (read: “forever”).

Yeah.  I know…

Kudos to the cities of Edgewater, Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Daytona Beach, and Deltona for their letters and resolutions supporting leaving Volusia Forever’s time-honored provisions intact – along with the support of great environmental activists and advocacies, such as the Indian River Lagoon Council, the Deleon Springs Community Association, 1000 Friends of Florida, Dream Green Volusia, ECHO Volusia Forever, Southeast Volusia Audubon Society, and others.

Most of all, my sincere appreciation goes out to the countless citizens of Volusia County who have made their voices heard. 

The matter will be discussed as Agenda Item 03 on Tuesday, March 17, beginning at 4:00pm, in The Frank T. Bruno, Jr. County Council Chambers, 123 West Indiana Avenue, DeLand. 

It’s going to be a barnburner, folks…  

If you care about clean water, wildlife habitat, and what remains of our critically endangered environment – and would prefer that your sacred vote for Volusia Forever not be subject to the whims and wants of elected shills intent on manipulating the tenets of the program to allow conservation lands to be sold for development in the future – you’ll want to attend the meeting, voice your opinion, or watch the proceedings online here:  https://tinyurl.com/uz7f6ab8

This one’s important.

Quote of the Week

“I’m not worried about seeking outside employment,” Petito said. “This item was scheduled to return on March 16 at a workshop. I think putting it on today is unnecessary. I just think that it continues to display a very sloppy approach to trying to find a transition.” Petito normally sets the agenda. She said the county attorney’s office did so this time, because the March 16 agenda was overloaded, Pennington said.

“When you decided that you wanted a change in leadership,” she continued, “I said that I would be willing to stay on to tentative budget. I still feel that way, because the budget is the most important thing that you guys are responsible for in county government. I said I would stay on until we got to tentative.

We deliver that on July 13. My last day would be July 14.

There was discussion among the board that that wasn’t happy. Rip the bandaid off. I think somebody said, make the separation immediate. Let her go. Now. This is sloppy. This is not a professional look. I’m here as a professional. I will stay on. But if we could continue to act as professionals and move forward with the budget while you all search for a permanent replacement, that would be wonderful.”

–Departing Flagler County Administrator Heidi Petito, as quoted from the FlaglerLive.com article, “Heidi Petito Scolds Flagler Commissioners For Unprofessional Handling Of Her Pending Summer Resignation,” Monday, March 9, 2026

Admittedly, I’ve given Flagler County Administrator Heidi Petito some heartburn through the years, much of it related to her selective communications skills that frequently blindsided the Board of County Commissioners and kept the municipalities guessing…

But when she’s right, she’s right.

In my view, the effort to terminate Ms. Petito has been “sloppy” and unprofessional from the beginning, a ham-handed rout that has adversely effected morale among county employees, resulted in the exodus of at least one promising senior administrator, and exposed disturbing differences between the elected officials.   

Most problematic, things like this cause potential candidates for the position to raise an eyebrow and question the stability of the county government before applying…  

In December 2025, three of the five Flagler County commissioners – Leann Pennington, Kim Carney, and Pam Richardson – opined on an evaluation that Petito “does not meet expectations,” while Commissioner Greg Hansen found that Petito “significantly exceeds expectations,” and Andy Dance found that she “exceeds expectations.”

In January, during the waning minutes of a BOCC meeting, Commissioner Carney made a motion to fire Petito out-of-hand citing a lack of confidence and poor communications.  The motion died for lack of a second, but it gave Commissioner Dance an opening to criticize Carney’s tactic, explaining the move was in “…bad faith, and it lacks transparency.”

“On its face, you’re doing it at the end of a meeting when nobody is an attendance and nobody knows about it.”

Regardless, the handwriting was on the wall.  Petito’s days were numbered…

In February, deputy county administrator Percy Sayles resigned for undisclosed reasons; however, many felt his departure was related to the deteriorating relationship between Petito and the majority of the BOCC.

Then, Ms. Petito also tendered her resignation – effective July 14, 2026 – to provide an opportunity for the county’s annual budget to be prepared and passed.  Later a “mutual separation agreement” was approved by the BOCC which finalized the transition and granted Petito a generous severance package.

Disturbingly, with things reasonably settled and a plan in place, during a special meeting held earlier this week, Commissioner Pam Richardson upset the applecart by asking Petito if she wanted to leave before July 14…    

That’s when Ms. Petito took off the gloves and spoke candidly to the BOCC.

Good for her.

With Ms. Petito, an experienced administrator with institutional knowledge in place for the next four months, the clearly fractured Flagler County BOCC now has the opportunity to put differences aside, conduct a professional search, and find the ‘right fit’ for Flagler County.   

In my view, the success and stability of our region depend upon it. 

As we have seen in Volusia County, Palm Coast, Deltona, Orange City, etc., etc., etc., tension, toxicity, and petty internal squabbles do nothing to cure the myriad ills we face or bring about the positive change this infinitely challenged metropolitan statistical area of ours so desperately needs.   

Here’s hoping Ms. Petito’s delayed departure leads to healing.  

And Another Thing!

“If we truly think “optics” are important, perhaps we should be asking ourselves – what are the optics of casually dismissing those the organization is intended to serve?”

–A. J. Fawver, Community Planning Professional

I was having a conversation with a smart friend of mine this week when talk turned to why so many local government organizations have a growing aversion to public engagement. 

A manufactured “Us v. Them” mindset where bloated bureaucracies turn insular and convince elected officials they are infallible – that all solutions to the innumerable issues we face here on the “Fun Coast” are the exclusive domain of an entrenched senior staff – and “public input” is unwanted, time-consuming, and unrealistic.

It has become a weird contradiction – most noticeable during the campaign season – when politicians talk, ad nauseum, about the importance of citizen involvement and make disingenuous promises, then fall right back into lockstep conformity, doing everything in their considerable power to protect the status quo, and limit We, The Little People’s ability to participate once they return to the dais.  

It dominates the local political discussion.  So why do our ‘powers that be’ pretend to be oblivious to it?

For instance, I watch elected officials shake their heads and commiserate about the lack of quality applicants for advisory boards and oversight committees – while those same “decision-makers” routinely ignore the strategic insight and hard work of their current volunteers. 

To add insult, some compromised politicians ostracize those they appoint (and serve) when their advice doesn’t conform to a prearranged narrative – besmirching the character and reputation of individual committee members simply for having the courage of their convictions – and a willingness to hold firm to their values when providing guidance to the elected body.

I’m talking about a growing number of so-called “public servants” who actively suppress public participation then sit like stone gargoyles – ignoring citizens who work for a living and take the time to appear before a board, council, or commission to speak for exactly three-minutes. 

That includes those smallminded martinets who wield the gavel like a cudgel and order citizens physically removed from the peanut gallery when their demands for good governance exceed the overly subjective bounds of “decorum.”

Unfortunately, it is getting worse, and at the risk of sounding like a conspiracist, it seems carefully choreographed across a number of challenged jurisdictions…  

A concerted effort to silence public participation in all forms – an institutional attempt to control the dialog by labeling dissenting opinions as falsehoods and fabrications – while those who pound on the closed portcullis of government seeking a voice on pressing civic issues grow increasingly disillusioned and marginalized.

The result is widespread apathy. 

The sad reality is most people don’t know the name of their mayor, or care who represents their district on a municipal commission or the county council…

Each week I hear from bone-weary neighbors – committed citizens and activists who seek positive and authentic change on a variety of issues facing Volusia County and beyond – who vent the utter frustration they feel as our elected dullards ignore their educated entreaties while unfailingly granting those extremely wealthy special interests who underwrite their political ambitions carte blanche. 

As a result, the insanity of unchecked development in the absence of adequate infrastructure is overshadowing every aspect of our lives as local governments continue to permit a “shove ten-pounds of shit into a five-pound bag” growth management strategy as demanded by our wholly compromised state legislature and the power brokers who control them…  

My unoriginal encouragement is to quote my favorite mock-Latin aphorism: Illegitimi non carborundum.

Don’t let the bastards grind you down…

Never quit.  Never forget.  Vote your conscience.

That’s all for me.  Have a great weekend, y’all!

Hi, kids!

It’s time once again to turn a jaundiced eye toward the news and newsmakers of the day who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life or detracted from it in some significant way:

State of the County: “Driving the Future.  Honoring Tradition.”  Seriously?  

We live in a time when our elected officials on the Volusia County Council blatantly obfuscate and procrastinate, muddying the water (literally) on some of the most critical issues of our time. 

In fact, it has become so common that many no longer bother to sort the wheat from the chaff. 

As a result of the near constant manipulation, many of my neighbors say they simply don’t pay attention to it anymore, choosing instead to apathetically bury their heads in the sand and shut out what passes for governance in Volusia County.   

Most troubling, good people increasingly refuse to participate in the political meat grinder that devours those who run for local office.  A process that is now limited to hand-select marionettes, malleable shills born without the emotion of shame, supported by wealthy special interests, and passionately devoted to protecting the stagnant status quo.

I guess it’s true, we get the government we deserve…

Each year we are reminded of just how far afield things have gotten when our politicos, hangers-on, and a smattering of concerned residents come together for the State of the County Address. 

This year our elected officials, senior staff, and those residents with the constitution to stomach it, gathered in the Lost City of Deltona for a “free lunch” usually paid for by government contractors doing business with the County of Volusia (?). 

Read that last line again…

A chance for our political elite to preen and posture, rub elbows, cackle, and backslap, while touting last years “accomplishments.” 

A stilted afternoon where our elected officials desperately try to hide their utter distain for Chairman Jeff Brower and the tragicomedy that plays out around his efforts to slow-the-growth, defend what remains of unspoiled Volusia County, and protect our finite natural resources from the threat of malignant development.  

This year, the dubious theme of the address was “Driving the Future.  Honoring Tradition.”

Really?

A trite line, no doubt concocted by some spinmeister in the “Community Information Division,” that denies the fact our elected officials – and those entrenched senior enablers on staff who craft the narrative – have done nothing to drive our collective future or honor our cherished traditions – such as beach driving/access, supporting a vibrant arts community, or the reverence and respect the vast majority of Volusia County voters have for the protection and conservation of our environment.

I’ve said this before, but we now find ourselves in a time when our quality of life – and that of our children and grandchildren – is threatened by abject incompetence, bureaucratic procrastination, and an institutional dedication to protecting the profit motives of those who can pay-to-play at all levels of government.

And no one who accepts public funds to serve in the public interest seems to care. 

During his speech, Chairman Brower spoke of the importance of maintaining local control and defending our right to self-determination in county and municipal governance. 

He’s right.

With the growing threat of state preemptions to home rule authority increasing every day that the Florida Legislature is in session – and the ongoing assault on local governance as state officials threaten the elimination of small, accessible, and responsive representation – it is clear to anyone paying attention which special interests own the high ground in Tallahassee (hint: It damn sure isn’t We, The Little People who vote those compromised shills into office…)

According to an excellent piece outlining Chairman Brower’s speech by Sierra Williams writing in the Ormond Beach Observer last week:

“At the same time, we understand that responsible government means planning ahead,” he said, “anticipating challenges and making decisions that serve both today’s residents and future generations.”

The United States was designed, he said, to be accessible to the people through a system built on balance.

“The government closest to you is best suited to make local decisions,” Brower said. “Local leaders understand those conditions. Volusia, cities and county governments, understand our communities, our environment, our economy and the real-world effects of policy decisions.”

Even well intended policies can produce unintended consequences. While the county regularly engages with its state and federal partners, he said, it is local officials’ jobs to ensure “decisions made beyond our borders are informed by local realities.”

Well said – and infinitely true. 

That’s something I hope everyone in Volusia County and beyond can get behind this election season – “The government closest to you is best suited to make local decisions” – especially in terms of controlling growth, protecting our threatened environment, and defending our dwindling quality of life… 

Dollars and Sense: Turning Volusia County into a Cultural Wasteland

In a nasty display of bait-and-switch deception, last October, the Volusia County Council put citizens and not-for-profit arts and cultural organizations across our region on an emotional rollercoaster when they voted to deny previously vetted, approved, and budgeted grant funding.  

The vote to cut funding followed a staged Pageant of Pomposity which included some of the worst political grandstanding in the history of the artform…

In June 2023, councilmembers sat stone-faced through two-hours of supportive public comment before voting 6-0 (with Councilman David “No Show” Santiago absent…) to continue the Volusia Cultural Council and the Community Cultural Grant program which has provided assistance to area arts, cultural, and heritage organizations through a competitive process for the past 36-years.

Then – completely out of the blue – last fall, Councilman Danny “Gaslight” Robins took faux-offense to the fact the Shoestring Theater, a Lake Helen playhouse that has served Volusia County for 75-years, allowed a privately funded “Volusia Pride Pageant,” while the iconic 103-year-old Athens Theater in DeLand permitted an outside group to rent the venue to screen an adult only production of the “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” which included a “drag show” before the movie.

Just like that, over thirty area arts and cultural organizations – legacy programs that have supported Volusia County’s economic viability and enhanced the lives of residents for decades – saw their grant funding completely eliminated when the council voted 6-0 (you guessed it, Santiago had something better to do…) to return the traditional $611,758 allocation to the general fund.

Undeterred by having the rug pulled out from under them in the eleventh-hour, patrons, activists, and concerned citizens continued to voice their support each month – speaking out at Volusia County Council meetings, establishing petitions, and organizing alternative funding – including an incredibly selfless sacrifice by both the Athens and Shoestring theaters to defuse Councilman Robins’ tempest in a teapot by pulling their grant applications from consideration. 

The opportunity to reconsider the vote was made possible thanks to the efforts of County Councilman Matt Reinhart, who made a motion to bring the matter back at the council’s February 17 meeting.

On Tuesday, before a packed house, the council voted 5-2 to authorize some $572,000 for the grants, partially fulfilling their broken promise to arts and cultural organizations.  Councilmen Robins and Troy Kent voted to deny funding and continue the gross betrayal of those groups, fairs, festivals, galleries, and productions that enhance our quality of life and add millions of dollars to our regional economy annually.

Unfortunately, it appears this asinine bruhaha may be the end of future arts and cultural grant funding in Volusia County…

Why? 

Some of our shortsighted elected “representatives” tut-tutted about “priorities,” claiming the arts are not a “core government service” – which has never been a problem before – especially when corporate welfare and pet projects (like a multi-million-dollar publicly funded motorcross facility?) need our greenbacks… 

According to a report by Sheldon Gardner writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal this week:

“Some also pointed to the possibility that taxpayers could vote for significant property tax reductions in November, which would take a large chunk of county government funding away.

“Things have greatly changed in Florida. The Florida Legislature is going to put some kind of a property tax reform on the ballot. When they do that, it will pass because no one likes property taxes,” Volusia County Council Chairman Jeff Brower said.”

Call me a naïve rube, but I happen to believe Floridian’s are (by and large) smart enough to see this property tax initiative for the rushed shim/sham it is – a means of legislatively skewing the playing field in favor of their political sugar daddies in the development industry – by eliminating small, responsive, and attentive local governments as a means of reducing the mosaic of growth management regulations that form a chainmail to protect what’s left of the Sunshine State.    

Most people understand the need for quality governance and well-tailored essential services and don’t mind paying fair and reasonable taxes to ensure their quality of life, protect our unique culture and heritage, and preserve the beautiful natural amenities that Florida offers.

For now, politicians at all levels of government will use this legislative sideshow to their advantage, right up until voters tell these bought-and-paid-for shills to stick their “property tax elimination” scam where the Florida sun don’t shine.

Maybe then those we send to Tallahassee can get serious developing workable and sustainable tax reform for all Florida residents and business interests.  

Volusia County Government: Where Common Sense Goes to Die…

“Public infrastructure should never be installed without appropriate due diligence,” Willacker said. “There should be a required review to ensure that any solution is effective, legal and safe for all users before it is built, not after a complaint is filed.”

The Beacon sought additional information from Volusia County regarding the decision-making process, including who authorized the installation, what design standards were used and whether the project received an ADA or administrative review before construction.

Multiple requests for clarification were sent to Volusia County Parks and Recreation Director Tim Baylie, County Manager George Recktenwald and County Council Member David Santiago. None of the officials responded.”

–Reporter Robin Mimna, writing in the West Volusia Beacon, “Deltona trail bollards to be widened after ADA concerns,” Wednesday, February 25, 2026

According to reports, in 2023, Deltona residents expressed concerns over unauthorized all-terrain vehicles, golfcarts, and other motorized traffic unlawfully accessing the Coast-to-Coast/St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop trail. 

Apparently, the best efforts of county officials, law enforcement, surveillance cameras, and signage failed to resolve the problem. In response, Volusia County hired a contractor (?) to place bollards (concrete filled metal pipes) at the Courtland Boulevard crossing to physically prevent vehicular traffic from entering the trail.

Sounds like a logical solution, right?

According to the Beacon’s report, “Soon after installation, trail users reported the openings were too narrow for some legitimate users, including people using adaptive bicycles, wheelchairs and strollers. Advocates said the original spacing measured about 29 to 30 inches, below the 36-inch minimum clearance generally required under the Americans with Disabilities Act for accessible routes.”

Doh! (facepalm…)

Yep.  It seems everyone up and down the line – including the myriad senior bureaucrats who must have been involved in the project’s research, development, approval, and supervision (or lack thereof) – forgot the old craftsman’s adage, “Measure twice, cut once,” or to ask the commonsense question, “Is this physical impediment we’re erecting ADA compliant?”

That expensive and laborious point wasn’t lost on Ann-Marie Willacker, a DeLand resident and wheelchair user who regularly travels the C2C trail.

According to the report, “I think we’re looking at two separate problems,” Willacker said. “The first is that the bollards installed are an ineffective, dangerous and illegal solution to the very real issue of unauthorized vehicles on the trail. The second, and the more concerning one, is that the county does not appear to have a clear procedure for installing barriers on public property.”

Volusia County officials don’t seem to give two-shits, either…

When the West Volusia Beacon and others reached out to Volusia County Parks and Recreation Director Tim Baylie, County Manager George Recktenwald, and Councilman David “No Show” Santiago – senior appointed and elected officials who are incredibly well compensated with public funds to serve in the public interest – they couldn’t be bothered to return their calls…

So much for that “responsive” county administration we hear so much about, eh?

I can’t wait to see how “No Show” Santiago attempts to spin his way out this latest SNAFU…

Whatever.

In most organizations, there are formal processes in place to ensure accountability – the ownership of outcomes – one that evaluates individual responsibilities, sets clear expectations, investigates failures, and builds internal and external trust through transparency.

Not here.

In Volusia County, mediocrity remains the operative ethic…     

Quote of the Week

“It’s time for Ormond Beach residents to come out again to witness two commissioners meetings in Ormond Beach, one on March 13 at 6 p.m. and the other on March 24 at 7 p.m. at the City Commission Chambers at City Hall in Ormond Beach.

The meeting on March 24 at 7 p.m. will be a regular commissioners meeting with the Tomoka Oaks Golf Course issue on the agenda.  The meetings will focus on the developers’ five-year fight to convince everyone that their idea of building homes on the golf course is not a safety or a quality-of-life issue.

I assume that the developers who want to build on the golf course in the middle of the Tomoka Oaks Development will present their case to the city, and the public, about what has changed that makes this the right time to build 254 homes on the golf course.

Could it be that since we last met with the developers that sidewalks have been put in on the sides of the roads leading to the proposed new development or perhaps roads have been widened?  Have the 119 species of wildlife packed their bags and moved out of harm’s way?  Maybe the residents have convinced themselves that their property values will increase despite the incompatible new homes that would be built in the middle of their long-established neighborhood?

Will the developers be able to convince us that the inevitable traffic congestion accompanying the new homes will not be a public safety issue?”

–Ormond Beach Resident Darla Widnall, as excerpted from her “Letter to the Editor,” Ormond Beach Observer, “Has anything changed?” Wednesday, March 4, 2026

To quote the clairvoyant child Carol Anne from Poltergeist II: The Other Side – “They’re back…”

And Another Thing!

“Hey kids, it’s time for another episode of correcting Mr. Mark “Bad Information” Barker also known as Roscoe P. Coltrane, the small town sheriff who never gets the story right.

There you go again defending Greg Gimbert as a “civic activist” and calling me out for supposedly labeling someone who disagrees with me a liar.

No, Mark. I asked him to clarify to the people that Volusia County has no plans for this. Big difference. But I wouldn’t expect Roscoe P. Coltrane to understand the nuance of actual facts versus fiction.

Greg Gimbert, in my opinion is a bad person. You may like him I get that. Your favorable stories about him clearly show that. It looks like you failed that FBI Academy class on investigations or at least the part about attempting to get the truth. I can only assume when you were the top cop in your local small town there were several cases left unsolved if you did similar quality work there.

That’s why the name Roscoe P. Coltrane suits you so well.

Another great thing about this? I’m grateful to the several people who have reached out to me thanking me for taking you and your silly blog to task and also for taking on your con artist friends that you defend so religiously.

I decided to do some research and asked AI to suggest what you may look like during your “Blog Fiction Articles” writing time and this is what it came up with. See attached image

Looks about right to me! The “Hazzard County Sheriff’s Department” sign the “Barker’s View Blog” on the computer Flash the dog looking embarrassed at his owner’s work the failed FBI Academy report card the martini and gin bottle for inspiration and of course the nameplate “Roscoe P. Coltrane.”

So until next time kids stay tuned for another episode of Roscoe P. Coltrane’s Fiction Hour. Let’s see what tall tale he dreams up next while Flash hides under the desk in shame. Keep watching because the show never disappoints even if the facts d (sic).”

–District 5 Volusia County Council Member David Santiago, as posted to various Facebook sites, Thursday, February 26, 2026

Gotta admit the above oddly framed grammatical nightmare – the apparent official response of a sitting Volusia County Councilman and voting member of our River-to-Sea Transportation Planning Organization – is among the most cringingly creepy diatribes I have ever received.    

Trust me. I’ve received a few dispatches from Bizzarro World in my day, but this takes the cake. 

Hell, it takes the whole damn bakery…    

Does Councilman Santiago really have the time to “…research AI to suggest what I may look like”? 

Seriously? 

Environmental destruction, threats to perpetual conservation, and overdevelopment?  Screw it.

Widespread flooding?  Not a pressing concern.

Countywide transportation infrastructure and critical utilities shortfalls?  Not now, maybe later.

Sunrail?  Another day.

Citizen fears about ongoing pressures on our finite natural resources?  Nah. 

Santiago’s got the pressing issue of Barker the Bitcher to deal with…   

My God. 

This is what passes for civic “leadership” in Volusia County, folks…and it is why we are doomed.  

Civically engaged residents who dare to speak out on the myriad issues we face and exercise their inalienable right to free and unfettered speech do so to their own detriment. 

Citizens of Volusia County are increasingly subject to the wrath of petty tyrants who cloak themselves in a false sense of infallibility, label differing opinions as “lies” and “half-truths,” then engage in personal attacks from the dais and social media designed to destroy the character and reputation of anyone with a dissenting view.  

In my view, given the power dynamic – the difference in influence, power, and control – between elected officials and their strategically suppressed constituents, it reeks of abuse of position by thin-skinned politicians and appointed administrators who get their knickers in a twist when We, The Little People attempt to hold them accountable for their dereliction.   

For instance, on Monday, residents of the Lost City of Deltona found that not only has the public participation portion of what passes for a City Commission meeting been omitted from Deltona TV – a public access channel ostensibly broadcasting in the public interest – now they are being punished by having public input on agenda items intentionally obscured from view as well. 

What do they fear from engaged citizens seeking to participate in their government?

In addition, the commission voted to postpone a resolution that would have authorized City Attorney Gemma Torcivia to initiate a lawsuit against a resident who voiced concerns about the city’s water quality after ‘forever chemicals’ were found in Deltona’s drinking water.

I guess between the chilling “cease and desist” order and the saber-rattling of a lawsuit, someone decided to take a closer look at the First Amendment…

While I don’t agree with anything this guy says, it is important that anyone who cares about the sanctity of constitutionally protected free and unfettered speech – especially political speech – defend his right to express concerns free of government funded intimidation.  

Most sitting politicians and senior bureaucrats I frequently take to the woodshed on this blogsite are smart enough to consider the source – just one man’s view on the issues – neither always right, nor always wrong.

They possess the political instinct to consider the slings, arrows, and trivial criticisms from the outside looking in, then use them to their advantage as a barometer of public perception and engage constructively.      

Then there are a few self-important simps who cannot resist getting down in the mud and wallowing around in it.  Protecting the official narrative (and defending the indefensible) with their gaslighting and histrionics – adding to the suspicion and speculation that runs rampant among their confused constituents.

As an example, last week in this space I spoke out on a recent majority vote of the Volusia County Council that denied residents the right to vote on a proposed charter amendment that would have prevented the future possibility of potable reuse – the so-called ‘toilet to tap’ process – from supplementing drinking water in the county’s water utility service area.   

Why? 

Because I happen to disagree with the practice of augmenting our finite water supply with treated sewage simply to allow more, more, more malignant development across our already claustrophobic region.   

In turn, Councilman “No Show” Santiago, a techy perennial politician with little visible means of support outside government/politics/influence, decided it was in the public interest to take to social media and denigrate my former law enforcement career, and publish a blatant falsehood that I “failed” the FBI National Academy (the world’s premiere law enforcement leadership and professional development course) from which I proudly graduated in 1996.

He even took time away from the pressing issues facing his district and Volusia County to create a cartoon of me to reinforce his bullying and bluster, I assume for the benefit of his half-bright minions who can’t read…

Frankly, it was weird.

Like, really weird…

Look, I realize these screeds can be provocative (good!) and after all these years I’ve grown some hard bark.  It takes a lot to get under my skin, especially when the source is some pint-sized martinet with a history of defamation, deceit, and character assassination.

I’m still not sure what to make of Santiago’s cringy invective, but I hope it tells the citizens of Volusia County all they need to know about David Santiago’s worst instincts… 

I believe if you care about good governance in your own backyard, you should care about good governance everywhere.

If you are reading this, I assume you are an educated voter and concerned citizen who respects and learns from diverse opinions on the issues facing the “Fun Coast.” 

Despite the official obstacles placed in your way – I ask you to please stay involved.  

Speak your truth despite bullies who punch down from their exalted dais – keep calling attention to the issues we collectively face – and never accept the carefully orchestrated and self-serving narrative pushed by our ‘powers that be’ as the unvarnished truth. 

Ignore those self-anointed arbiters who stand in their echo chamber and decide which views and opinions are acceptable, and which are “lies,” “half-truths,” and “con games.” Most important, stand up against their intimidation, and voice your opinions on the issues that face your family and mine.  

Then vote your conscience…

That’s all for me.  Have a great final weekend of Bike Week 2026!  

Hi, kids!

It’s time once again to turn a jaundiced eye toward the news and newsmakers of the day who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life or detracted from it in some significant way:

Weaponizing Justice in the Lost City of Deltona

The term “lawfare” is defined as a legal action taken as a hostile campaign against an individual or group.  More accurately, the word describes “An attempt to damage or delegitimize an opponent, or to deter an individual’s usage of their legal rights.”

In addition, the legal term SLAPP – strategic lawsuits against public participation – describes legal actions taken with the intention of censoring, intimidating, and silencing vocal critics by burdening them with the cost of a protracted legal defense. 

It appears both of these malicious weapons are now part of the Lost City of Deltona’s growing arsenal of ways to silence dissent, chill public participation, skew the political playing field, and obscure the facts on issues important to longsuffering residents.

In my view, that continuing three-ring clown show presided over by the hapless Mayor Santiago Avila Jr is an abomination. A repugnant affront to the concept of good governance with symptoms indicative of deep-seated dysfunction and a cautionary tale to other municipalities of the fate that awaits apathetic voters who are willing to accept petty corruption and civic mediocrity as business as usual.

As things currently stand, what passes for public participation during regularly scheduled City Commission meetings have been relegated to a television blackout period before the “meeting” is convened.  The input of citizens is omitted from the Deltona TV broadcast, and absent the recordings posted to social media by conscientious residents, participation is now an exercise in futility for those wishing to voice their concerns.

Granted, those Deltona residents who make frequent appearances can be a raucous bunch – engaged citizens not afraid to speak their mind on the issues of the day – or take their elected representatives to the woodshed in a manner that reflects their growing frustration and sense of alienation.

It’s not always pretty. 

The most recent turmoil in a city consumed by it occurred when a group of citizens righteously threatened a lawsuit for alleged sunshine violations after a botched attempt to continue a meeting that was previously cancelled.  According to reports, a large group of citizens planned to speak on an affordable housing project and were under the impression the meeting had been cancelled due to the fact a majority of the elected officials couldn’t (or wouldn’t) attend.

Apparently, at the direction of City Manager Doc Dougherty, the previously cancelled meeting was later called to order (?) with just two commissioners present, ostensibly a ham-handed attempt to continue the discussion of the housing project to a later date without the required notice.

Concerned residents now want the city to readvertise the item with a proper 30-day notice.

Then, earlier this month, Deltona City Attorney Gemma Torcivia requested guidance from the City Commission on whether to commence legal proceedings against Jason Voelz, a somewhat scattered and undecided political candidate who appears to be running for everything from the Florida Senate District 8 seat, to Deltona Mayor, and/or the District 5 Volusia County Council race.

The commission voted 5-1 authorizing Torcivia to prepare a resolution for potential litigation against Mr. Voelz.

His crime?  Speaking his mind on a matter of widespread civic concern…

As I understand it, (and I’m not sure I do) at issue is Mr. Voelz’ vocal concerns about the safety and quality of Deltona’s water utility – which has been a common refrain among residents for years – along with unanswered questions regarding the city’s current permit allowing treated surface and reclaimed water to be injected into the aquifer.

According to Ms. Torcivia, last month Voelz sparked a “panic” for his outspoken allegations regarding the safety of Deltona’s potable water supply.

Apparently, on the evening of January 23, after receiving phone calls from numerous “panicked” residents (really?), the City Attorney took it upon herself to pen a late night “Pre-Suit Notice and Demand for Retraction” – now described as a ‘cease and desist order’ – demanding that Mr. Voelz retract his “false, unprivileged, and defamatory” statements which Torcivia contends resulted in “reputational harm” to the City of Deltona. 

Say what?

Best I can tell, last month, Mr. Voelz appears to have posted information on social media regarding PFAS and PFOS levels – often referred to as “forever chemicals” linked to numerous health and environmental concerns – pollutants that have been identified in Deltona’s drinking water. 

Sounds like a legitimate concern to me.

The Facebook post was under the headline “Bad Water” – accented with a photograph of a tainted glass of brown tap water – and concluded with a request to support the Let Volusia Vote movement to ban potable reuse (‘toilet to tap’) in Volusia County.

It appears Mr. Voelz’ comments didn’t sit well with those pro-development shills in Deltona government who would prefer the deleterious effects of overdevelopment on our collective water supply be kept out of sight and out of mind.

In my view, it is what it is. 

At best, a bald-faced attempt to silence a vocal critic of Deltona’s water supply – at worst, the weaponized use of city resources to besmirch and destroy a citizen and potential political candidate for exercising his First Amendment right to speak his mind on a matter of critical civic concern.

As I interpreted Torcivia’s odd explanation, Mr. Voelz’ comments on Deltona’s water quality were tantamount to screaming “Fire!” in a crowded theater – words intentionally designed to create widespread panic – which would take his post outside the bounds of constitutionally protected speech. 

Bullshit.

In addition, Torcivia opined that since Voelz is a declared candidate for public office, his civic involvement somehow diminishes his right to free and unfettered speech in voicing facts and opinions that may differ with Deltona’s official narrative.

In my view, using the full force and treasure of the Lost City of Deltona to silence a citizen for speaking his truth from the everyman’s soapbox of social media – especially in an age and place where public participation in government is actively being suppressed and hidden from public view – is patently designed to have a chilling effect on anyone else who may dare raise their head (or run for office) against the current clown troupe in charge of that farcical theater of the absurd.

Something tells me Deltona is about to receive an expensive education in the narrow exceptions to the First Amendment and the value our courts have historically placed on the sanctity of free speech.   

Open up your wallets, Deltonians.  Here it comes again… 

Politicians are fond of saying “words have weight” when pushing back on citizen input. That’s true. 

But in a power dynamic where the words of those in power and their obsequious senior staff seem to be the only thoughts that matter, speaking out on matters of collective concern becomes the duty of every citizen.

Regardless, given the shambolic nature of Deltona’s governance over the past, oh, decade, it could be argued that one would have to go a long, long way to cause reputational harm to what is, by any metric, a shit show staged in the bottom of a flaming dumpster… 

Unity in An Age of Division: The Future of Volusia County Hangs in the Balance

I like pithy quotes. 

For instance, the timeless wisdom of Winston Churchill who said, ‘It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations,’ hits close to home. 

Sage advice for an unschooled rube like me. 

I gain knowledge from the words and insight of others. That whole experiential learning thing that says those who refuse to learn from the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat them (George Santayana).   

Having graduated Summa Cum Laude from the School of Hard Knocks I can report it’s the most expensive education you can receive…   

Our often imprecise history records that Benjamin Franklin said at the signing of the Declaration of Independence “We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately,” emphasizing the importance of unity, solidarity, collaboration, and cooperation among the American colonies at a time when the Crown was intent on sending our rebellious forefathers to the gallows…    

More likely than not, Ben never said anything of the sort, but what was later found to be an old Flemish proverb is one of those “Franklin-isms” that stuck.  An inspirational line often used during times of conflict, suggesting that discord and divergence from a common goal can have disastrous consequences for the individuals and factions involved.

It’s true.  In matters of politics and governance, there is strength in numbers, especially at the ballot box.

I was reminded of that truism this week watching online spats ignite between dedicated civic activists and grassroots environmentalists who are fighting everything from dangerous ‘forever chemicals’ in our water, widespread flooding, degradation of wetlands, the destruction of sensitive rivers and springs, and the insidious impacts of unchecked growth on our health and quality of life.   

Each with noble and symbiotic goals who now find themselves at odds over how best to address the universal issue of maintaining a clean water supply in a time of disastrous overdevelopment.  

A critical civic issue of concern to all Floridians at a point in our history when greed conquers all and malignant sprawl is destroying our natural resources with the full support of many of those state and local officials that we elected to represent our interests.

Earlier this week, I was disheartened to learn of accusations that Volusia County Council Chair Jeff Brower – arguably the only friend of the environment on the dais – may have violated Florida’s open records law by blocking critics of his support for “toilet to tap” prohibitions on his social media page.

If so, that’s wrong.  Censorship stifles free expression, and Mr. Brower (of all people) should know that.

It dissolved into name-calling, allegations, and invective on all sides – egged on by those giddy pro-growth shills who have sold their political souls to the development industry – and take immense joy in seeing a diverse coalition of environmental advocacies fall apart. 

“Never interfere with an enemy while he’s in the process of destroying himself.”

–Napoleon Bonaparte

Unfortunately, it appears the wheel came off the slow-the-growth and environmental protection cart just as we enter what will be a heated and hard-fought election season…

Perhaps the infighting was choreographed, or maybe it is merely a sign of the times.  An age when the fabric of our society continues to fray and everyone is polarized by myriad social issues, political ideologies, and lopsided public policy that favors those who can pay-to-play over the needs of many.

All while the bulldozers continue to roar and the smoke from what used to be old-growth hardwood forests now ground into splinters wafts on a foul breeze… 

In my experience, passionate people often disagree due to their unshakable commitment to a cause greater than their own self-interests, the desire to defend their unique solutions to intractable problems and effectively lobby for their cause. In many cases, those healthy debates and the honest competition of ideas lead to positive outcomes through informed public policy.

Unfortunately, that rarely happens here on Florida’s “Fun Coast.”  

One thing I hope we can all agree on: Volusia County has long suffered from a dearth of leadership.

Now, our quality of life – and that of our children and grandchildren – is threatened by abject incompetence, bureaucratic procrastination, and an institutional dedication to the stagnant status quo.

For years, we have put our faith in jackleg perennial politicians – self-absorbed dullards with oversized egos and undersized intellect – who easily succumb to the myth of infallibility that comes from listening exclusively to those pseudo-experts who claw their way to middle management in county government then help control the narrative.    

For what it’s worth, I ask those civic activists and dedicated environmental advocates who have fought so hard for positive change to find common ground.  In my experience, backbiting wastes precious time and energy, undermines the morale of supporters, diverts attention, and ultimately destroys the effectiveness and momentum of a righteous movement to protect our finite natural resources.

Find that common ground.

Stay the course. 

We need your collective energy and activism now, more than ever.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

–Margaret Mead

Quote of the Week

“Deltona is a city with enormous potential. As the largest municipality in Volusia County, it is home to people who work hard, raise families, and want a city government that delivers. Lately, however, too much of our civic life has been consumed by controversy rather than capacity, and that is not sustainable.

Over the past year, the Deltona City Commission and the mayor have been mired in disputes over official travel, winter ball fundraising, and questions of transparency and adherence to policy. A proposed vote of no confidence following a trip to Washington, D.C. became a public spectacle, and recent scrutiny surrounding events associated with city leadership has raised questions about clarity and purpose. At the same time, the city is preparing for difficult but necessary fiscal decisions, including hearings on utility rates that will affect households across Deltona.

This is about governance capacity and professionalism, meaning the ability of institutions to operate consistently, follow clear rules, and maintain public trust.

When disputes over procedure or messaging dominate headlines, they distract from the work that improves daily life. That work includes managing utilities fairly, planning responsibly for growth, and maintaining roads and parks.

Deltona deserves leadership that treats public office as stewardship, not spectacle. That requires investing in institutional stability, strengthening policy frameworks, and communicating clearly with residents about why decisions are made and how they serve the common good.

If Deltona is to reach its potential, its future must be defined by steady competence rather than recurring controversy.”

–Christopher Bellingham, Deltona, Hometown News Volusia, “Deltona needs focused, steady leadership,” Thursday, January 29, 2026

Better watch yourself, fella… 

Voicing an opinion on the Lost City of Deltona is how you get crossways with the ruling junta, which now results in a forcible demand from City Attorney Gemma Torcivia. 

By unilateral edict of the city’s Legal Department, you are now subject to a “cease and desist” gag order and extorted apology – which will no doubt include Torcivia’s draconian interpretation of the limits on your First Amendment right to free and unfettered speech – the expression of civic grievances, and your ability to advocate on issues of widespread concern without fear of retaliation. 

Since we’re on the topic of inspirational quotes, here’s another favorite of mine:

“Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.”

— President Harry S. Truman

And Another Thing!

When I was a little kid, whenever my grandparents would drive down from Tennessee for a visit, they would take my sister and I to Daytona’s famous Boardwalk for rounds of Goofy Golf, Ski Ball, and a lovely day at the beach. 

It was a time when you could conveniently drive and park on the beach, long before ugly poison poles and sign pollution blocked access to the strand, and the enticing sights and smells were ocean air, cotton candy, footlong corndogs, and saltwater taffy.   

In those days, a common sight in Boardwalk arcades was the “Dancing Chicken,” a coin operated amusement consisting of a brightly painted box containing a live chicken.  For a dime, the box would light up and the chicken would emerge, scratching around a small dancefloor, “dancing,” for the customer’s entertainment.

Following the performance, the chicken would pull a small ring with their beak and be rewarded with feed pellets.  When the reedy song stopped, the lights went out, and the star of the show sauntered back to its coop, waiting patiently for the next sucker to approach with a shiny dime.     

It was always less spectacular than you thought it was going to be.  You were out a dime, and the only ones getting fat were the chicken and the unseen carnival huckster who owned it. 

I was reminded of the give-and-take of that old sideshow amusement this week. 

Last week in this space, I vented my spleen on the Volusia County Council of Cowards’ suspicious refusal to allow Volusia County residents the opportunity to vote for a charter amendment on the issue of potable reuse.

The disgusting practice of “supplementing” our drinking water with treated sewage by pushing it directly to the tap or injecting it into our underground source water.

The idea of prohibiting the practice before it comes to Volusia County has been the focus of civic activist Greg Gimbert and his clean water advocacy Let Volusia Vote for years.  In the lead up to the county vote, Mr. Gimbert made a whirlwind tour of Volusia County asking for the support of municipalities (who control the majority of regional water utilities) for similar potable reuse prohibitions.

Earlier this month, by a 4-3 majority vote of Councilmen “No Show” Santiago, Danny “Gaslight” Robins, Jake Johansson, and Matt Reinhart, the Volusia County Council shot down the charter amendment and a proposed county ordinance that would have proactively prevented the use of treated effluent as an alternative water source in Volusia County’s unincorporated service area.

In my view, it wasn’t a panacea to all the threats facing our water supply, but it seemed like a good start to allow residents to vote on a matter of civic concern.

My pointed views on the abject cowardice of our county representatives clearly struck a nerve with Councilman David “No Show” Santiago – a techy perennial politician – who casually labels anyone who disagrees with him a “liar” with an ulterior motive.

Last week, he balled up his little fists, stomped his tiny feet, and threw one of his patented gaslighting tantrums on social media; screaming counteraccusations, personally denigrating Gimbert and his Let Volusia Vote, while demanding “proof” that Volusia County has immediate plans to use potable reuse. 

Everyone is aware that the county’s water utility has no current plans to implement potable reuse or aquifer storage of reclaimed water. The push by Mr. Gimbert and Let Volusia Vote was for a preemptive ban on the practice.    

Regardless, Santiago is a master of the insidious manipulation of “facts” that has become popular with certain members of the Volusia County Council – such as demanding someone prove something that everyone knows does not yet exist.  

In his cheap ploy to (once again) paint civic activists as liars and frauds, Santiago intentionally ignored the fact that potable reuse is currently being touted by state environmental authorities as a means of accommodating more growth by exceeding the finite limits of our natural resources with “alternative water sources” to meet the greed-crazed needs of the development industry.

The Florida Potable Reuse Committee (that’s a thing) has called recycled water the “future of Florida,” and the Florida Department of Environmental Destruction has made it clear that potable reuse – recycled treated sewage – will be an alternative drinking water source for public utilities across the state.

At present, potable reuse is being tried on an experimental basis by the City of Altamonte Springs through their pureALTA project, the City of Daytona Beach previously evaluated the concept, and the City of Deltona holds a permit allowing surface and reclaimed water to be injected into the aquifer.

Even closer to home, Mr. Santiago strategically failed to mention that Volusia County’s own Comprehensive Plan (7.1.8.8) specifically states in its Potable Water Element:

“Volusia County, in partnership with SJRWMD (St Johns River Water Management District) and other utility service providers, shall pursue development of an alternative water supply source or sources to meet the projected demand of the Central Springs/East Central Florida Regional Water Supply Plan.”

A quick review of the Central Springs/East Central Florida Regional Water Supply Plan (2020-2040) finds:

“Although direct potable reuse (DPR) is not currently providing potable supply in SJRWMD, DPR methods have been tested and found to be successful in Florida. Once statewide DPR guidelines are developed, several utilities are expected to move forward with implementation of DPR to meet a portion of their water demand.”

The ordinance and charter amendment pushed by Let Volusia Vote were preventative – the exercise of caution and foresight to protect current and future generations from the unknown effects of drinking recycled treated sewage merely to accommodate the profit motives of insatiable developers – and putting trust in the voters of Volusia County.  

Unfortunately, potable reuse is just one of the myriad hazards to the quality and quantity of our water supply, environment, and quality of life.

Yet bought-and-paid-for politicians at all levels of government continue to facilitate slash-and-burn land clearing to allow more, more, more density and sprawl, which makes it clear to most that direct potable reuse is coming to a tap near you… 

In the meantime, like that Dancing Chicken of yore, Santiago will continue to squawk, peacock, and preen when protecting the mercenary interests of those uber-wealthy developers who drop a dime in his campaign account, feed his political ambitions, then watch him perform on demand. 

That’s all for me.  Have a great 85^th Annual Daytona Beach Bike Week, y’all!

Hi, kids!

It’s time once again to turn a jaundiced eye toward the news and newsmakers of the day who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life or detracted from it in some significant way:

Daytona Beach: Mayor Derrick Henry is a Disgrace…

The axiom “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” is often used to exemplify the no-win paradox faced by law enforcement officers.  Human beings providing a vitally important service where all possible actions will conceivably result in a negative outcome, criticism, or blame.

That’s especially true in an age where police officers have become punching bags (literally and figuratively), dehumanized forms in uniform who are expected to absorb the verbal and physical blows of an increasingly uncivil society.

I was reminded of that unfortunate reality last week when Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry – a perennial politician with a victim mentality and chip on his shoulder – used a traffic stop involving his wife as a flashpoint to take the stage, stoke discord, and denigrate the men and women of his city’s police department.

In an arrogant post-midnight rant, Mayor Henry suggested that the benign stop and impairment check was somehow indicative of systemic racism – insinuating the two-officer unit that conducted the stop, and a sheriff’s deputy who stopped to assist, is somehow evidence of “over-policing in Black and Brown communities.”

Bullshit.

Although Mayor Henry wasn’t there (he was on the phone with his wife during the encounter) he was somehow able to determine the stop was “unnecessary,” “questionable,” “frivolous,” and did not warrant a “sobriety test.”

After his wife received a verbal warning for an improper turn and went on her way, Mayor Henry took to social media to (per usual) paint himself as the victim in one of his egotistical passive-aggressive screeds.  Instead, in a pique of arrogance, the mayor exposed just how little he knows (or cares) about the very real threats faced by law enforcement officers today:

“Two police units and one sheriff responded. Three officers for this type of stop is absurd. Having flashlights pointed into your car, as if they were searching for drugs, does not lend itself to a friendly or routine encounter. It felt excessive and intimidating.

I am truly thankful for the professional tone the officers maintained, and I am appreciative of the onlookers who stood nearby and monitored the incident.

But what troubles me most is that for many in that neighborhood, this is routine.

That is the larger issue. Over policing in Black and Brown communities is real. When multiple units respond to minor or questionable stops, it creates unnecessary tension and increases the risk of escalation.”

Turning a minor traffic stop into an overblown indictment of policing in diverse communities, Mayor Henry thundered on, besmirching the good name and solid reputation of the Daytona Beach Police Department for having the temerity to stop his wife.  

“I was not happy hearing my wife go through this, but I was even more concerned about how many others experience this regularly. I stand with those who live with this every day, and I call for an end to over policing in Daytona Beach and beyond.

Our community deserves safety without intimidation.”

Using exaggerated accusations and power plays to an end is nothing new for Mayor Henry – or his wife – and this is not the first time I have expressed my thoughts on the arrogance of power and the suggestion of political privilege by those with elected honorifics. 

One of the trappings of high office is that those who hold them naturally expect to be treated differently that Joe and Jane Lunchpail (read: the rest of us…).

Those of us who live in the real-world understand that when we commit a traffic infraction in the presence of a law enforcement officer we may be stopped, issued a citation or warning, and hopefully use the experience to correct our driving habits.

That’s called enforcement and accountability in deterring unsafe driving behaviors and enhancing public safety in the community.  

The concept applies to everybody. 

In my view, the mayor publicly disparaged the Daytona Beach Police Department as a coercive and intimidating message to any officer who may have the misfortune to encounter another member of the Henry family in the line of duty.  

Disgraceful…

On Wednesday evening, apparently realizing the controversy his callous rant ignited in the community, Mayor Henry concluded the City Commission meeting with a longwinded campaign speech – still forgiving his comments as those of a husband rather than mayor (?) – and, in my view, did nothing to unite residents affected by his divisive comments, reassure members of law enforcement, or accept responsibility for his insinuations.

It was exactly the type of face-saving blather and fluff Mayor Henry’s constituents have come to expect through innumerable previous bruhahas and blunders…

Kudos to Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young for his courage and transparency in addressing Mayor Henry’s baseless accusations, standing firm for his officers and staff, and reassuring the citizens he serves that his department’s enforcement efforts are never race-based and always predicated by individual behavior and the law.

Perhaps Mayor Henry should put the same effort and passion into solving the myriad issues facing his city’s shambolic administration – to include ongoing allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse that have resulted in widespread embarrassment, citizen speculation, and a pending state audit of city finances.

Better yet, Mayor Henry’s latest midnight meltdown should be the catalyst for a unifying change of elected leadership in this challenged community.  

Perhaps now is the time for Mayor Henry to end his fourteen-year reign of mediocrity, step aside, and allow the longsuffering citizens and business owners of Daytona Beach the strong civic vision, unifying leadership, and responsible stewardship they expect and deserve.

Volusia County Council of Cowards: Refusal to Address ‘Toilet to Tap’ is a Slap in the Face

I’m just another dull-witted rube making my way in a world gone crazy. 

Trying desperately to make sense of the absurd and holding tight to a few remaining core beliefs, grasping desperately for stability amidst the chaos.  With my hopes for our future dwindling, I don’t expect much from those institutions we once put our faith in at a time when it seems the dominant theme in our civic lives is overwhelming mistrust and widespread disillusionment.  

But I still believe that the foundational principle of a functioning democracy is the ability of We, The Little People to vote our conscience on issues of mutual concern and change our elected representation when they put the wants of a few over the needs of many.    

Sound familiar?

On Tuesday evening I dejectedly watched another example of politicians putting the greed-crazed wants of those they are politically beholden to over the very real concerns of their claustrophobic constituents on an issue that should have been an easy call – a universal no-brainer – in giving anxious residents a say in protecting their drinking water.

Call me crazy, but I don’t want my grandchildren forced to drink their own recycled sewage to facilitate the profit motives of some speculative developer intent on paving over every square inch of Florida for more zero-lot-line wood frame cracker boxes “starting in the $300’s.”  

The disgusting idea of ‘toilet to tap,’ or its more palatable moniker “potable reuse,” as the Florida Department of Environmental Destruction pronounces it, refers to the process of augmenting our drinking water with treated wastewater or directly injecting it into the aquifer. 

According to the state’s pseudo-environmentalists, it’s all about accommodating more, more, more demand as the bulldozers continue to roar:

“There is a growing demand for water supply in Florida. As our population continues to increase, so will the demand for clean, potable water, and to meet those demands, we will need find and develop additional sources of water (Florida DEP). 

Rather than respect natural limiters to growth, bureaucrats in Tallahassee and beyond have been given marching orders to experiment with ways to fool Mother Nature – engineering “scientific processes” they hope will allow developers to exceed our finite resources by recycling human waste.  

On Tuesday, the Volusia County Council of Cowards sold the potential health and safety of your grandchildren and mine on the altar of greed – crushing the fervent hopes of residents who sought both a county ordinance and ballot language for a charter amendment to forever prohibit the use of “blackwater” to supplement drinking water in the county’s unincorporated service areas.  

During a lengthy discussion (that had the feel of a scripted and well-choreographed arthouse production) those compromised shills on the dais trotted out every possible argument for denying Volusia County residents the opportunity to vote for a charter amendment banning ‘toilet to tap.’

The excuses ran the gamut from “This is a solution in search of a problem!,” “We have no plans to develop a potable reuse program at this time,” “let someone else deal with it in the future,” to “Let’s keep kissing the sizeable asses of our benevolent overseers in Tallahassee, don’t make waves, and go along and get along,” fearful that proactively protecting our drinking water would provoke the wrath of state legislators and regulatory agencies…

Of course, Councilman David “No Show” Santiago engaged in his tiresome histrionics, claiming Chairman Brower was guilty of “misstatements,” and labeling the entire effort by the grassroots advocacy Let Volusia Vote a “con game.”

Which is rich, coming from the original political grifter…

According to an article by Jarleene Almenas writing in the Ormond Beach Observer this week:

“Volusia has zero plans to do this,” Councilman David Santiago said. “Don’t be fooled by what you’re seeing in social media that that’s what we’re doing. It is a con game as it pertains to Volusia County.”

A toilet to tap ban, Santiago said, is a “county solution looking for a county problem.” Additionally, the county only controls 7% of total utilities in Volusia; municipalities control the majority. A charter amendment that only pertains to 7% of users would be a “disservice” to the county residents, some of whom might believe this would impact their city utilities.

“You walk up to the average Joe and you say, ‘Do you want to drink poopy water?’ Of course, they’re going to tell you, no,” Councilman David Santiago said. “That’s a pretty easy statement to come up here to the dais and say, ‘People don’t like this.'”

From one ‘average Joe’ to another, that’s Santiago’s arrogant way of saying Volusia County voters are too stupid to even be given the opportunity to vote… 

At the end of the day, what passed for a public hearing was a typical exercise in bought-and-paid-for hacks running interference for their campaign sugar daddies in the development industry – asking prearranged questions with a stern face – then letting those highly paid marionettes and fixers they call “experts” in the senior executive ranks tell them exactly what they wanted to hear.

After the obligatory posturing, preening, spit-pats, and tut-tutting – Councilmen Jake Johansson, David “No Show” Santiago, Danny “Gaslight” Robins, and Matt Reinhart – voted against our right to vote on an issue of collective concern. In folding like cheap lawn chairs, the majority refused to send a strong message to the cities and state or proactively address ‘toilet to tap’ as an anticipatory means of protecting the health and safety of Volusia County consumers.

Damnable cowards…

Once again, Volusia’s Old Guard successfully defended the status quo, crushing our ability to have a substantive say on a critical issue when they believe the personal/profit motives of their political donors are threatened by the demands of their long-suffering constituents.  

In my view, the motives and collusion of the majority of the Volusia County Council and the mercenary special interests who underwrite their political ambitions are now impossible to ignore.   

With Tuesday’s vote to suppress the citizens right to vote on another issue of collective concern (remember the beach driving fight when Volusia County sued us with our own money?), the Volusia County Council has lost its legitimacy as a governing body as these sullied sellouts expose themselves as the dull tools they are.

I cannot guarantee that things will change if we elect the current slate of grassroot candidates who have pledged to support initiatives that slow out-of-control growth, set commonsense environmental regulations, and protect those conservation areas we were once assured would be kept safe from development in perpetuity.

But I can assure you nothing will change if we don’t.

As Thomas Jefferson said, “The government we elect is the government we deserve,” and Volusia County residents deserve better…

Quote of the Week

“Within months of Gov. Ron DeSantis handpicking him as Florida’s new attorney general last winter, James Uthmeier landed a lucrative side gig: a $100,000-a-year teaching assignment at University of Florida’s law school for just two hours of instruction per week.

The former DeSantis aide’s paycheck makes him the highest-paid adjunct professor at UF’s Levin College of Law in at least a quarter century, according to compensation records dating back to 1997. His salary is eight times higher than what the median law school adjunct earns, and comes as the DeSantis administration leans on Florida’s 40 public universities and colleges to justify their spending practices.

Since August, Uthmeier has been moonlighting in the classroom on Monday evenings. The attorney general — a political lightning rod with relatively few academic credentials — lectured 27 law students last fall in an upper-level course examining, among other things, “the implications of executive overreach,” according to syllabi. This spring, he’s leading a 15-student seminar on constitutional law.

The seminar syllabus touts his credentials as Florida’s top legal official, promising students that “Professor Uthmeier will highlight real-life examples of separation of powers and federalism at work.”

Uthmeier’s adjunct job isn’t unusual; attorneys general around the country have taken on part-time instructional roles at state universities. But the pay — for a job that typically pays a few thousand dollars per course — is raising eyebrows in the legal community.

“Somebody needs to justify the Florida attorney general getting $100,000 a year to teach,” said Joseph DeMaria, a Miami attorney and longtime adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Law. “It’s a hell of an eye opener.”

Combined with his attorney general paycheck, Uthmeier’s teaching stipend pushes his total state-funded salary to $240,000 — nearly $100,000 more than the governor’s annual pay.”

–Reporter Garrett Shanley, writing in the Miami Herald, “‘Professor Uthmeier’: Inside Florida attorney general’s $100K teaching job at UF,” Wednesday, January 18, 2026

(Find the rest of the article here: https://tinyurl.com/tjjvhydb )

In all honesty, I don’t give a damn about your party or your politics. 

I couldn’t care less if you are “Red or Blue,” “liberal” or “conservative,” or a member of any of the other constantly warring factions that keep the hoi polloi divided, preoccupied, and distracted while those who control the narrative continue to enrich themselves at our expense.

This latest revelation of a senior state official making bank for a no-show gig doesn’t smell right.

According to the report, “When informed of Uthmeier’s $100,000 adjunct salary, state Rep. Alex Andrade, a Pensacola Republican who encouraged prosecutors in Leon County to pursue their Hope Florida case, responded with a 10-second laugh.

Andrade, who once taught as an adjunct law instructor for about $2,500 per course at the University of West Florida, noted that UF is effectively paying Uthmeier about $50,000 per class. An alumnus of UF’s law school, Andrade also bristled at the notion of Uthmeier lecturing students about executive overreach.

“He’s an expert in executive overreach,” Andrade quipped.”

In my view, considering the ongoing revelations of massive overspending on various fronts, no-bid contracts to campaign contributors, fraudulent practices in the Florida State Guard that have cost millions in public funds, and other suspicious routing of funds by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration – this backhanded payoff by the University of Florida’s Board of Trustees – under the command of our own High Panjandrum of Political Power and DeSantis mega-donor Mori Hosseini – has a whiff of the shit about it.

One hell of an ‘eye opener,’ indeed.

Whatever.  I’m sure it’s just another “nothingburger” as Mr. Uthmeir likes to say…

Perhaps Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia and his Department of Government Efficiency can explain this latest revelation to his increasingly chary constituents as he tours the state publicly garroting counties and municipalities for so-called “waste, fraud, and abuse,” all while touting how state government sets the Gold Standard for financial accountability? 

And Another Thing!

“There was money to be made giving all these people what they thought they wanted…”

–Economist George A. Akerlof

Last week I penned my jumbled thoughts on the state’s push to eliminate your hometown and mine as they promote the shortsighted idea that bigger is always better and consolidating established communities with already bloated neighboring bureaucracies is the most fiscally efficient path forward.

It set a lot of people to thinking about why they live where they do, their quality of life, the essential services they receive from their local government, and why those who provide those services are so important to their community.

After considering my views, an incredibly smart friend of mine reminded me of the “economies of scale” argument that essentially says when small cities merge with larger governments or amalgamate similar functions, services can be provided with greater cost savings. 

That is the sterile rationalization we’re about to be force-fed ahead of the state’s “efficiency” push, a veiled power play to put a stranglehold on municipal governments, consolidate power, eliminate local environmental regulations, planning, and permitting in one fell swoop.

The benefit of size may look good at the end of a mathematical formulation – and sound even better when rolling off the forked tongue of a compromised politician with marching orders to trade our quality of life for a real estate developers profit motive.

I believe the intrinsic value of civic identity, pride in place, personalized services, and self-determination are worth far more to most Floridians.  

In my experience, as the bureaucracy develops a thick rind of fat (which is the nature of large lethargic bureaucracies), the inherent inefficiencies, organizational rigidity, red tape, regulations, internal/external communication breakdowns, insular decision-making, abuse, waste, and the need for more complex (read: expensive) facilities, consultants, and management structures quickly erase any economic benefit as the demand for services/oversight increases.  

In the end, displaced citizens are left with a bloated and unresponsive behemoth that bears little resemblance to their once responsive small to mid-size government with the flexibility to tailor essential services to community needs and preferences.

By necessity, most small communities live within their means, practice preventive maintenance to ensure serviceable facilities, piggyback expenses, recycle materials, wear a variety of hats, focus on customer service, develop business-friendly practices, and protect the natural amenities that make their city a place where people want to live and locate their business.  

As the state’s push for their skewed notion of “government efficiency” evolves, We, The Little People are reminded of the Florida legislature’s unfunded mandates and aggressive preemptions of local authority – even in the face of massive flooding – in their clear effort to eliminate any regulatory impediment to the malignant growth that is destroying all we hold dear and ensure carte blanche access for those campaign donors who own their political souls.

The fact is, we live in a weird age where Volusia County voters find it necessary to fight for prohibitions on the disgusting practice of drinking our own recycled sewage as a means of facilitating more density and sprawl. 

That said, do you think our malleable ‘powers that be’ in Tallahassee give two-shits about the economics of providing essential services in local government?  

Whenever I sit on a barstool and talk to my neighbors about the issues of the day, invariably the topic is not property taxes – but increasing congestion, sprawl, and the waste, fraud, abuse, and pet projects they perceive in county and state government – along with increasing concerns over widespread development-induced flooding that regularly threatens their homes.  

Many are also confused by the monarchical edicts and local preemptions emanating from Tallahassee, foisted on us with little more than a stilted “legislative delegation meeting” and little (if any) input from residents and small-business owners.

Most agree that a more balanced approach to curtailing local government spending, establishing boundaries to salaries and benefits, stopping the construction of Taj Mahal public facilities, demanding better transparency in budgeting and appropriations, getting public funds out of the private sector, and “rightsizing” government, while protecting the unique identities and attributes of those special communities we chose to call home, is a better alternative than the idea bigger is always better.

Here’s an economic formulation for you: Multiply arrogance and inaccessibility to the nth degree, divide it by the increasing returns to special interests who have turned our state capitol into a Joe Louis Puppet Theater, and add astronomical utility and infrastructure costs.

Then subtract our diminishing quality of life, overcrowding, traffic congestion, diminishing water quality and quantity, dwindling greenspace, wildlife habitat, and encroachment on rural areas.

The tragic answer is diminished service delivery, increased administrative costs, excessive alternative taxing, fees, and revenue sources, along with clockwork pay and benefit increases for malleable senior public executives who do as they’re told.

That’s all for me.  Have a great weekend, y’all!

Hi, kids!

It’s time once again to turn a jaundiced eye toward the news and newsmakers of the day who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life or detracted from it in some significant way:

This week, Barker’s View is focused on a single issue that I believe threatens to impact every resident of Florida: The half-baked idea of eliminating or drastically reducing property taxes to exsanguinate small cities and counties, then forcing everyone into the massive bureaucracies that will take their place.

Ineffective and unapproachable centralized governments that concentrate power and are more easily controlled by special interests than a mosaic of unique communities each practicing self-governance under home rule authority.  

Last month, the Florida DOGE Report recommended reducing “wasteful and excessive spending” by the dissolution or consolidation of municipalities – small communities that have historically lived within their means and become comfortable hometowns for families seeking to escape urban sprawl, crime, density, noise, and big city traffic and living expenses.    

Now, Floridian’s face the very real possibility that small and mid-sized communities who attempt to protect their character with strategic planning and growth management regulations – or those who rebel against intrusive carte blanche overdevelopment – will be sacrificed on the altar of greed.  

The term “small” remains subjective and undefined, so just assume your city is in the state’s crosshairs…

Why is our demonstrably compromised state government pushing to eliminate your hometown and mine?

“Do as I Say, Not as I do”: Is the State of Florida is Coming for Your Hometown?

“Florida should review the 411 municipalities for potential opportunities to provide local government services more efficiently through abolition or consolidation, with particular attention paid to small municipalities and highly urbanized counties.

Consideration should be given to creating incentives to encourage the simplification of local government through the consolidation of municipalities.”

–Florida DOGE Report on Local Government Spending, Page 99, “Recommendations for Improved Governance, Fiscal Responsibility, and Streamlined Government Services,” January 2026

For the bulk of my adult life, I was a staunch Republican.   

Like my father and grandfather before me, I was drawn to the tenets of a party that (I thought) stressed the values of fiscal conservatism, reasonable taxation to fund efficient essential services, free market capitalism, a strong national defense, and holding sacrosanct the concept of law and order balanced with the personal freedoms and inalienable rights enshrined in the United States Constitution for all Americans.

A party that once embraced a concept President Ronald Reagan described as a ‘social safety net’ for those who, through no fault of their own, are truly unable to care for themselves.

I was particularly fond of the GOP’s concept of small, responsive, and accessible government, legislating local regulations with the input of those affected, and protecting the unique character of communities through the concept of self-government.

Over a decade ago, I sent a letter to the Republican Party of Florida voicing a concern on the direction of the party.  I assume that when a staffer in Tallahassee opened the envelope and a check didn’t fall out my note was expeditiously sent to the round file… 

Regardless, I never received a response. 

But they did…

The next day, I went to the Volusia County Supervisor of Elections and changed my registration to No Party Affiliation. 

I’ve never looked back.

Apparently, I am not alone in my distain for the two major political parties, factions that seem intent on dividing us along every social and civic fault line while tearing our nation apart from the inside out, as some 102,000 (26%) Volusia County registered voters now list themselves as No Party Affiliate…

Now, I have the ability to analyze the issues we collectively face from a vantage point uncluttered by the incendiary chaff spewed from both sides of the aisle.  The partisan rhetoric, political arm-twisting, and demands for lockstep loyalty to the decisions of party insiders on both sides who hand select malleable candidates and do the bidding of mysterious behind-the-scenes financial backers with a profit motive. 

Trust me, when you take the partisan blinders off, the clarity can be shocking…

I recently had the opportunity to review the much anticipated “Report on Local Government Spending” – a/k/a “The Florida DOGE Report” – the results of oddly conducted “audits” of some local governments around the state and billed as an effort to root out “egregious” waste, fraud, and abuse that has reportedly befallen Florida cities and counties.   

(Read it for yourself here: https://tinyurl.com/6rxupvm7 )

Except the state’s investigation didn’t find any fraud.

Instead, the report accused thirteen of the state’s largest local governments of squandering taxpayer dollars on various things like subsidies for public radio stations, “Barely used bicycle lanes,” “costly-to-operate and low-ridership transit systems,” spending on “the homeless,” pay increases for executives and staff, new office acquisition, and anything remotely associated with “Art,” etc.– essentially any local spending those political spinmeisters in the CFO’s office in Tallahassee could paint as “wasteful.”

Unfortunately, the report lost me after the executive summary, which laughably held out the State of Florida as the perfect example of fiscal stewardship and accountability: “The example of the State illustrates that this level of fiscal responsibility is attainable.”

Later in the report, the Orwellian denialism got so deep I needed stilts to stay above it:

“State government has shown that disciplined budgeting, transparency, and good faith reviews can be done without weakening public safety or core services. If the state can operate under these standards, there is no credible reason local governments cannot.”

Does anything about that statement ring true?

For instance, while reviewing the “government efficiency” report, I found no mention of the “Hope Florida” scandal – frightening allegations of money laundering and wire fraud that reached the highest levels of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration. 

The debacle centered on questions surrounding $10 million reportedly diverted from a state Medicaid settlement to the Hope Florida Foundation, an organization associated with First Lady Casey DeSantis and ultimately funneled through a labyrinth of political committees to Gov. DeSantis’ campaign to stop a recreational marijuana referendum.  

Last week, Florida news outlets reported that the United States Department of Justice reviewed the matter and found “…no predicate to open up an intake on this, and no further action is anticipated.”

I know this comes as a shocker, but scuttlebutt around Tallahassee says no state criminal charges will be forthcoming either…

Now, Gov. DeSantis claims the entire bruhaha was a “hoax” and a “witch hunt,” with Attorney General James Uthmeier – now our state’s chief law enforcement officer – using Florida legalese to describe the whole thing a “nothingburger.”

Glad we got we got to the bottom of that ugly mess…

In another example of the state’s idea of “financial stewardship,” does anyone remember when the DeSantis administration used a sentence (authored by a lobbyist working on behalf of a developer) that was wedged into last year’s state budget appropriating $83.3 million in public funds to purchase a sliver of land in Destin (ostensibly for “conservation”) that was majority owned by a real-estate developer and prolific political donor doing business in Florida and Louisiana?

According to reports, the landowner donated some $250,000 to Gov. DeSantis during his first campaign for Florida governor…

In turn, Florida residents paid some $20 million an acre – more than 10 times what the developer and his partners paid for the land less than ten-years ago – a deal that conservationists have branded a “sham” against the citizens of Florida.

In my view, that’s not a bad ROI, eh?

Don’t get me started on the legendary use of “emergency powers” to gift millions in “no-bid” contracts to political donors that many believe reek of quid pro quo corruption.

Here’s a few more examples of our state government’s idea of “disciplined budgeting,” “transparency,” and “fiscal responsibility.” 

Last week, news broke of a growing scandal involving the upper echelons of Gov. DeSantis’ “Florida Guard” – a military force separate from the Florida National Guard with an annual budget in excess of $35 million – that ostensibly stands ready to assist in the event of an emergency.

According to reports, senior members of the Florida Guard – comprised of former military officers to include members of U.S. special operations forces – lived up to their oath and attempted to report the gross waste, fraud, and abuse of public funds and assets by the Guard’s command to the DeSantis administration.   

Internal whistleblowers reported that Florida Guard Director Mark Thieme misused the organization’s aircraft and instructor pilots – apparently racking up $100,000 in flight time and related costs by misusing state resources to train for his private pilot certificate.

In addition, last year, James Ethridge, a retired United States Navy Commander and experienced aviator was hired to “analyze and fix safety issues with the guard’s Aviation Response Squadron.” 

The Ethridge audit uncovered “severe” safety, administrative, compliance, and procedural violations in the Guard’s aviation function, to include mismanagement that saw “millions of dollars wasted.”

For his efforts to keep guard member’s safe and protect our tax dollars, Ethridge was summarily drummed out of the Guard by the DeSantis administration… 

According to a scathing report by Jeffrey Schweers writing in the Orlando Sentinel:

“Three weeks after he was hired and days after sharing his concerns with the guard’s executive director Mark Thieme and then-chief of staff Jay Arnold, Ethridge was fired. Arnold told him by phone that “it just wasn’t working out,” but in his official letter of termination said the cause was “a result of your failure to follow directives, and conduct unbecoming a public employee,” Ethridge said.

The DeSantis administration managed to keep Ethridge’s concerns, and those of other guard employees, under wraps until last week, when the Sentinel broke the news that senior officers, pilots and soldiers were leaving the agency after alleging misuse of taxpayer dollars, unreported sexual harassment claims and poor planning and budgeting by the agency’s top executives.”

On January 14, Command Sergeant Major Michael Pintacura, a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran who helped oversee the Guard’s Special Missions Unit, submitted his resignation citing his “loss of confidence” in Director Thieme’s ability to “exercise sound, informed and accountable judgment.”

According to an earlier report in the Sentinel, “Pintacura said he was most concerned about a “sustained pattern of compromised integrity, lack of accountability in maintaining budget controls and equipment tracking,” retaliating against perceived criticism and detrimental decision-making regarding mission authorization and the use of guard resources.

Pintacura’s resignation comes on the heels of the forced ouster of Lt. Col. Jordan Bowen for refusing to give what he thought was an unlawful command to another guard member, and the resignation of a half-dozen other officers and guard members over disagreements with Thieme and the alleged misspending of state resources.”

As I understand it, when current and former Guard members brought their concerns to Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins and DeSantis Chief of Staff Jason Weida – nothing was done to alleviate the reported waste, fraud, and dysfunction. 

Yeah.  I know…who audits the auditors?

I was reminded of these and other alarming examples of using public funds to facilitate Florida’s infamous pay-to-play system of governance when I came to the end of the Florida DODGE report and the true purpose of this well-choreographed exercise became frighteningly clear. 

In my view, compromised state officials want to dissolve small and mid-size communities – strangulating municipal and county governments by cutting off the supply of tax dollars that fund our local essential services – forcing their absorption by larger neighboring governments (the same ones the state accused of wasteful and excessive spending) as a mean of removing any further local regulatory hurdles to more, more, more malignant development across the state.  

This has nothing to do with government efficiency and everything to do with a major donor’s bottom line…

What? 

Your family likes its small-town way of life? 

One with accessible elected officials and tailored essential services, like police, fire, EMS, city utilities, emergency management, planning, and recreation – overseen by a responsive locally elected body comprised of your neighbors who listen to your concerns, value input in community decisions, and provide an excellent quality of life in a place with a unique civic and historical identity? 

You don’t want to become just another neglected appendage of an irresponsible, inaccessible, and unaccountable massive bureaucracy with a history of overspending, waste and abuse? 

Tough shit, rube… 

The state wants Florida’s municipalities eating out of their hands like baby birds – beholden to Tallahassee for their survival – not likely to make waves for influential political donors with a chip in the game who are tired of navigating local growth management regulations.  

I realize it’s hard to feel sorry for those cities and counties who continue to live beyond their means, using clockwork tax increases to fund massive salary and benefit increases for already overpaid senior executives, construct Taj Mahal facilities, and build bloated bureaucracies in place of manageable, efficient, and effective public services. 

For years I have screamed to anyone who would listen about the importance of maintaining stable, effective, and efficient local governance.

This is different. 

In fact, it threatens everything Floridian’s hold dear. 

Now it is clear why the DeSantis administration is pushing to eliminate property taxes without any viable option – the life blood of Florida counties and municipalities – coupled with a sustained effort by the Florida legislature to strip Home Rule protections and preempt local decision-making to the state.

It has nothing to do with saving us money.  I assure you, the state is going to wring it out of us one way or another…

In my view, this is a well-orchestrated effort to destroy municipalities, eviscerate responsive local services, and remove any further local impediments to the mercenary wants of those special interests who own the soul of the State of Florida. 

Let’s protect our beautiful mosaic of communities that form the backbone of Volusia County and beyond from this pernicious push to destroy our way of life while the state continues to normalize pay-to-play politics.

Florida voters are responsible for the leaders we have chosen. We have the power and responsibility to future generations to elect state legislators who respect the character and independence of our hometowns and the quaint communities our forefathers built, over the mercenary wants of those special interests who own the paper on their political souls.

Elections have consequences.  Real change begins at the ballot box.  

It is time to let those who view Tallahassee as their personal candy store know there is some shit We, The Little People won’t eat…

Hi, kids!

It’s time once again to turn a jaundiced eye toward the news and newsmakers of the day who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life or detracted from it in some significant way:

‘Toilet to Tap’ Prohibitions Advance in Volusia County and Daytona Beach

It’s no secret. 

We live in an age where Florida legislators now pass laws written by and for lobbyists representing some of the nation’s largest residential developers – state statutes that invariably pave the way for more, more, more malignant sprawl – to include expedited building permits, preemption of local growth management regulations, or reasonable protections for wetlands and environmentally sensitive areas, even some of the very budget language used to further enrich uber-wealthy landowners/campaign contributors originates from outside the Capitol.  

That said, it should come as no surprise that state lawmakers – working in concert with their dull tools in places like the Florida Department of Environmental Destruction and “water management” cronies around the state – will go to any length necessary to circumvent any impediment to more growth.

Regardless of how nonsensical new development may seem to claustrophobic Florida families.  

As crazy as this may seem, the State of Florida has been actively pursuing the implementation of potable reuse – using treated sewage to augment our dwindling drinking water supply in the face of massive overdevelopment – a process colloquially known as “toilet to tap” or “flush to faucet.”

Disgusted yet?  Me too. Even more so when you consider the process is being pushed on unsuspecting consumers for the sole purpose of circumventing natural limiters to facilitate the mercenary wants of real estate developers… 

When water quality activists and environmentalists sound the alarm, some compromised politicians claim that the process is akin to Dick Tracy’s two-way wrist communicator – technology years in the future and far from practical implementation – tut-tutting that thinking ahead or taking “proactive” measures is a timewasting exercise in protecting their anxious constituents from a nonexistent threat.  

Bullshit. 

Reuse testing has already been permitted all around us.    

In recent years, experimental reuse programs have been permitted in the City of Daytona Beach (thankfully, the process was never foisted on unsuspecting consumers) and test wells have been allowed by state regulators in Deltona that would permit water from Lake Monroe and reclaimed water to be injected and stored underground (read: in our source aquifer…)

After years of political procrastination, on Tuesday, the Volusia County Council took action to develop both a county ordinance and ballot language for a 2026 charter amendment prohibiting the practice of using treated “blackwater” – defined as sewage from toilets, urinals, kitchen drains, and showers – to augment drinking water or being injected into the aquifer. 

The prohibitions would only apply to Volusia County, and municipal or private utility service providers will need to take individual action to prohibit the practice elsewhere.

Discussion of the Toilet to Tap initiative – pushed to fruition by civic activist Greg Gimbert and his clean water advocacy Let Volusia Vote – prompted a presentation by Dream Green Volusia Founder and environmentalist Suzanne Scheiber regarding the bigger picture of demand reduction strategies and a holistic crisis plan for land/water conservation. 

Per usual, things got heated when Councilman Jake Johansson – a current candidate for Florida State Senate District 8 – attempted to paint the prohibitions as a solution in search of a problem, and Chairman Jeff Brower set him straight.

In an accurate transcript of the Johansson/Brower tête à tête as reported by Sheldon Gardner writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal this week:

“It is here. It’s being done right now. There’s a proposal in Deltona to do it,” he said.

“To do what, sir,” Johansson interjected.

Brower replied, shouting, “To inject treated–“

“Lower,” Johansson urged.

“No, I’m not going to lower my voice,” Brower said. “To inject treated sewage water into our aquifer, which is more harmful.”

Following the discussion, Volusia County Attorney Mike Dyer – never seen as a ball-of-fire when it comes to expediting protections for residents – explained he was otherwise occupied and wouldn’t be able to get ‘around tuit’ until next month.  No doubt hoping the legislature will preempt local water reuse regulations to the state making the entire process moot…   

Time will tell.

Last night, the Daytona Beach City Commission voted 7 to 0 to direct the city attorney to prepare Charter amendment language for this year’s ballot banning toilet to tap for both recharge and direct to consumer applications.

In my view, that’s good news for Daytona Beach residents.

Here’s hoping every municipality in Volusia County will follow the leadership of Volusia County and Daytona Beach, agree to live within the carrying capacity of the land, control growth to preserve our finite resources, and prohibit the disgusting process of toilet to tap across our region.  

For now, I encourage everyone in Volusia County to sign the Let Volusia Vote petition and reinforce our collective opposition to drinking our own reclaimed sewage to extend the limits of our natural water supplies. 

Please find the petition and further instructions here:  https://tinyurl.com/3b2f8cej

A Call for Accountability: The Heat is On in the City of Daytona Beach  

From brief past experience, I can report that serving as a City Manager is a hard dollar. 

On a good day…

Serving the myriad whims, wants, and personal agendas of five to seven highly opinionated elected officials, the demands of angry constituents, keeping bureaucrats focused on established goals, and managing public employees – while remaining vigilant to the thousands of moving parts that make up a functioning municipality – requires the patience of Job, the situational awareness of a plate spinner, and a thick pair of asbestos underwear…   

At best, city management is itinerant labor.  An inherently unstable position, always vulnerable to the kneejerk impulses and self-protective slings-and-arrows of politicians and citizen factions looking for a scapegoat. Because of that political volatility, senior-level public executives are often incredibly well compensated and protected with lucrative “golden parachutes” that cushion their inevitable fall.    

When communities endure the always arduous search for a chief executive, selecting the “right fit” is important. 

What worked for one locality may not work elsewhere.  

As the battered citizens of Deltona can attest, when an unsuspecting community hires an incompetent, malevolent, or ineffectual chief executive – one who systematically destroys citizen confidence and employee morale – it can take years, tears, and millions-of-dollars to recover from the devastating effects.

In my view, Daytona Beach City Manager Derek Feacher is an incredibly nice person who possesses the education, experience, character, and diplomacy required of the role. 

Since coming aboard in 2021, Mr. Feacher has deftly navigated a period of unprecedented growth, while successfully keeping some intractable issues and eyesores that have plagued this slightly down-at-the-heels beachside community for decades at an inconspicuous simmer.  

Eventually, every community will weather their time in the barrel of public scrutiny – those inevitable periods under the microscope when salacious scandals and embarrassing errors that administrators would prefer to remain hidden are suddenly revealed.

I’ve been there, done that, still have what’s left of the t-shirt…  

When investigative journalists or state regulators start poking around, entrenched bureaucrats instinctively circle the wagons and elected officials get nervous.  You can bet it won’t be long until pitchfork wielding villagers start demanding hard answers – and calling for accountability…

In the wake of highly publicized controversies surrounding the city’s oversight of purchasing cards, antiquated travel policies, employees of the city-owned golf course pocketing instructional fees and gifting discounts, allegations of a supervisor/subordinate tryst that may have involved the misuse of public funds, and sidewalks that turned into a slip-n-slide in the Mosaic community, citizens are beginning to point fingers…

Adding to the intense pressure, the City of Daytona Beach is now being used as an example by the Florida legislature after the city banked millions in excess permit fees, then produced a cockamamie list of ways to spend the money, none of which made sense to taxpayers or state representatives.

According to a report by Sierra Williams writing in the Ormond Observer:

“…local state representatives Sen. Tom Leek and Rep. Chase Tramont have both filed legislation that would prohibit local governments from requesting funding from the state until excess building code funds have been spent. The bills would also prevent a local government from receiving state funds for while it is the subject of a legislative committee audit.

Daytona Beach would be subject to both criteria.”  

This shouldn’t come as a surprise. 

Last year, a city delegation – which included Mayor Derrick Henry – was summoned to Tallahassee where they were publicly gibbetted during an awkward appearance before the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee.

That tetchy back-and-forth resulted in the city being subjected to a state sponsored proctological exam for the ages in the form of an external audit…

In a bold response, Daytona Beach City Commissioner Ken Strickland lashed back, accusing the state of meddling in city affairs, taunting “Tallahassee needs to mind their own business.  And I know they’re not. They should be representing us, not trying to ridicule us, make us look bad, make accusations they have no proof of.  And I am just absolutely disgusted with our representation up there.”

That jab didn’t sit well with Senator Leek…

According to the Observer’s report, Sen. Leek recently dropped an administrative MOAB on the City of Daytona Beach – and any other recalcitrant municipality who refuses to toe the line – “Leek said cities are “creatures of the legislature. They’re enacted by the legislature, and every year we dissolve cities.”

“I’m not threatening them with that. I want to be clear,” he said. “But the legislature has the ability to dissolve the city, so the idea that the city gets to do whatever it wants is false.”

Whoa…

It sounds like Sen. Leek is suggesting that legislatively “dissolving” the “World’s Most Famous Beach” is a real possibility if city leaders fail to come to heel?   

At least one concerned Daytona Beach resident isn’t waiting around and find out… 

Last week, beachside resident Rich Yost started a petition on Change.org asking the Daytona Beach City Commission to reject Mr. Feacher’s contract when it comes up for renewal in May and “…initiate a transparent, nationwide search for new executive leadership.”

According to an article by Eileen Zaffiro-Kean in The Daytona Beach News-Journal last week, “The petition page summary goes on to say that “recent events demonstrate repeated failures of oversight, control and administrative discipline at the highest level of city government. These are not isolated incidents – they reflect a persistent pattern of nonfeasance, misfeasance, and malfeasance.”

It appears the clock is ticking for City Manager Feacher. 

In my view, his fate will be determined by how adroitly he can lead the City of Daytona Beach out of this multifront quagmire.  Equally important will be whatever support he can muster from the elected officials, who will soon be considering their own political liability as external pressure continues to mount. 

Quote of the Week

“Citing a report in the online publication The Floridian, (Gov.) DeSantis and a spokesperson for (Attorney General) Uthmeier asserted that the probe into whether the governor’s administration illegally diverted millions of taxpayer dollars to a political campaign in 2024 was a “hoax.”

No federal investigation into the money has ever been confirmed. A separate state grand jury probe in Tallahassee has yet to announce any findings.

“Another hoax bites the dust,” DeSantis wrote on X. “The only difference is this one was manufactured by FL RiNOs working in conjunction with the leftist media.” (RINO is an acronym that stands for “Republican in name only.”)

The Floridian cited an unnamed U.S. Department of Justice official who said federal charges wouldn’t be brought. Spokespeople for the department did not respond to requests for comment to the Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times on Wednesday.

Rumors have circulated in Tallahassee all week that charges would not be brought against DeSantis administration officials and allies over the diversion of $10 million from a Medicaid settlement.

In October, the state attorney’s office in Leon County convened a criminal grand jury to look into allegations related to the money that moved through the Hope Florida Foundation, a state-created charity championed by Florida first lady Casey DeSantis.”

–Tallahassee Bureau Reporter Alexandra Glorioso, writing in the Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times, “DeSantis, citing report with anonymous source, declares victory in Hope Florida scandal,” Wednesday, February 4, 2026

It was all a “Hoax,” folks…

The great Dr. Hunter S. Thompson summed up my feelings on the Hope Florida debacle and the continuing corruption in plain sight in Tallahassee, where the wheels are greased with greenbacks, lawmakers see the legislative process as a pay-to-play bazaar, and criminal statutes are routinely ignored, little more than a tool to control We, The Little People:

“In a closed society where everybody’s guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity…”

Yeah, Doc.  You right…

Nothing to see here, folks…..just another hoax. Keep moving.  Move along, now…

And Another Thing!

“When Volusia County School Board member Donna Brosemer asked for school records, she was hit by a bill from the very District she oversees. Other times, she was ignored completely and left empty-handed, she said.

Meanwhile, some Volusia County Schools employees were required to sign nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) about school business, leading to challenges.

All of those issues sparked new legislation moving through the House Education Administration Subcommittee (HB 1073). The bill would establish a School Board member’s bill of rights, making it clear that School Board members must get records timely and for free. It would also ban requiring school employees to sign NDAs.

The bill led to a spirited debate, with the subcommittee passing the measure with a 15-3 vote.

“For those of you who know me, this is my sixth Session,” said Rep. Traci Koster, a Tampa Republican sponsoring the bill. “I don’t file bills unless I perceive a real, true problem.”

–Reporter Gabrielle Russon writing in Florida Politics, “House subcommittee OKs bill sparked by Volusia County Schools drama,” Thursday, January 29, 2026

Last month, Volusia County Councilman David “No Show” Santiago – a professional snake oil salesman whose legislative forte is serving the whims of special interests while kicking issues of critical concern down the dusty political trail – took me to task on social media in a pique after I called out his brutal bullying of a citizen advisory board member who pointed out perceived issues with the Volusia ECHO strategic plan.

“I’d suggest paying close attention to who Mr. Barker writes positively about and who he consistently attacks. The pattern speaks volumes about his motivations. When you notice the same names always getting favorable treatment while others are relentlessly criticized regardless of the facts that should make you pause and do your own research.”

Considering the source, I’ll wear the criticism of this walking Napoleonic complex as a badge of honor…

As informed readers of Barker’s View have come to understand, the basic tenet of this alternative opinion blog is that I tout the good work and accomplishments of those elected and appointed officials who, in my view, consistently demonstrate their personal commitment to honorable, innovative, and inclusive governance in the best interests of their constituents. 

Conversely, these logorrheic screeds serve to purge my jaundiced craw on our well-established ‘pay-to-play’ system, and the machinations of those craven cowards with an elected honorific who unfailingly serve the mercenary wants of those campaign donors who own the paper on their political souls…  

For instance, one honorable servant/leader I have come to admire is Volusia County School Board member Donna Brosemer. A legitimate conservative with an independent voice and sharp mind who has courageously taken on an entrenched bureaucracy and earned a few political scars in the process.

To her credit, Ms. Brosemer continues to fight like a rabid badger for her constituents – often with one hand bureaucratically tied behind her back – as her “colleagues” (acting in concert with district insiders) marginalize her concerns, block her diligent search for information, and paint her as a contentious loose cannon.

I know a few spineless politicians around these parts who could learn something from Donna Brosemer’s independence, intestinal fortitude, intellect, and willingness to serve the needs of her constituents over her own self-interests. 

Last week, residents and district stakeholders who have supported Ms. Brosemer’s efforts to expose administrative incompetence and fiscal mismanagement at Volusia County Schools were heartened to learn that a proposed bill to grant expanded access and oversight for school board members through a “bill of rights” has passed an important hurdle in Tallahassee.

Recently, Ormond Beach’s Sen. Tom Leek filed a similar bill (SB 1620) which will be winding its way through the legislative labyrinth as the session progresses.

According to Florida Politics, “HB 1073 would codify that local School Board members have the right to freely access records that may be off limits to the public. The bill said those documents could be internal legal opinions, correspondence, memoranda or invoices. Florida also has a broad public records law that also allows journalists and the public to get many school documents if they don’t pertain to private student information.

The bill adds that School Board members have the right to consult the District’s Chief Financial Officer on the budget and spending matters. They “have access, upon request, to any detail or line item in any proposed or approved budget or in any financial transaction by the school district,” the bill says.”

In a shocking revelation of just how guarded things have gotten in that cloistered “Ivory Tower of Power” at Volusia County Schools, Ms. Brosemer said, “Because of this bill, the District’s line-item budget will be made available to us. It is currently not,” Brosemer said, adding that she can’t even find out how much money the District spent on legal fees.”

Read that again: The Volusia County School Board was not provided access to the line-item budget they are required to vote on…

On Tuesday, Sen. Leeks bill was heard by the Senate Committee on Education PreK-12 in Tallahassee. 

During the hearing, the remainder of the Volusia County School Board suddenly appeared en masse – complete with the board attorney and Superintendent Balgobin – to speak in opposition to provisions of a School Board Member Bill of Rights that would level the balance of power between elected oversight and district administration throughout the state.

In my view, the confederated board members attempted to paint Ms. Brosemer as working to undermine the Monarchical rule of Superintendent Balgobin, fueling “personal conflict,” and somehow overstepping her role.  

It was what it was: The cheap personal ambush of a fellow elected official fighting for transparency, accountability, and oversight by the compromised members of a school board more committed to protecting the stagnant status quo than ensuring informed public policy and sound fiscal stewardship.  

The bill passed the education committee 6-0 and now moves to the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

Thanks to Ms. Brosemer’s diligent efforts – and the hard work of Rep. Traci Koster, Sen. Tom Leek, and others – Florida school board members may finally have the tools and information necessary to provide answers (and accountability) for concerned taxpayers, students, teachers, and staff who have been left in the dark for far too long.

That’s all for me.  Enjoy the 12th annual Granada Grand Festival of the Arts in Ormond Beach this Saturday, y’all!

Hi, kids!

It’s time once again to turn a jaundiced eye toward the news and newsmakers of the day who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life or detracted from it in some significant way:

A Lack of Strategic Vision Compounds Perpetual Problems on Daytona’s Beachside

Last week, in a disturbing report from WFTV-9’s investigative journalist Demie Johnson, Daytona Beach residents were shocked to learn of the city’s surreptitious plan to acquire a commercial restaurant and adjacent property at the corner of A-1-A and Main Street. 

The purchase was apparently negotiated without the knowledge of the City Commission or the Community Redevelopment Board…

According to the report, city redevelopment officials planned to use Main Street CRA funds to purchase the building currently housing the Cruisin’ Café and neighboring lots for a reported $4.3 million.  

The “deal” is said to have been two-years in the making…

Unfortunately, it appears the secretive nature of the proposal blindsided the elected officials and CRA advisory board; a humiliating look for a City Commission wracked by lingering questions of the city’s financial stewardship amid various internal audits into potential waste, fraud, and abuse.

During the discussion, commissioners rightfully asked for another appraisal of the property – and more information on the city’s negotiations and future plans for the Main Street CRA – before taking the matter up at a meeting in March. `

As I understand it (and I’m not sure anyone does), the city’s redevelopment staff wants to raze the active restaurant as a means of removing a “blighted property” from the area (in my view, the equivalent of throwing an extremely expensive deck chair off the Queen Mary…)

According to reports, the interim plan is to turn the corner at the epicenter of our core tourist area into a multiuse park, using converted shipping containers to house food, entertainment, and other vendors, including the creation of 100 additional parking spaces in the area.

While listening to the CRA meeting, my underlying concern mirrored that of others who questioned the city’s long-term vision for Main Street and other blighted areas of our beachside.

This isn’t a law enforcement problem.  The Daytona Beach Police Department has worked diligently to target specific problem locations, improve safety, provide high visibility patrols, weave unobtrusive safety and security measures into the streetscape, and enhance quality of life.  

Unfortunately, without something to fill the resulting vacuum, their efforts are akin to pushing back the tide…   

Perhaps now is the time to try something different in the Main Street area?

For years, I have touted the positive change that can only happen when “economic development” types finally admit the patchwork approach isn’t working and stop doing the same thing over, and over again, while expecting a different result.  

Then having the courage to take a different tack.

Positive change occurs when city officials seek outside intervention, using proven urban planning, revitalization, and reinvention experts to establish a comprehensive vision for blighted areas working in collaboration with residents and stakeholders. 

That requires having the courage to stop the hoops, hurdles, and bureaucratic micromanagement then allow artistic urban designers the space and flexibility to create something special.

Whenever my wife and I travel, there are specific attributes in the places where we long to return – vibrant city centers, a distinct sense of place, eclectic eateries, bars, and entertainment venues, creative districts, gardens, and greenspace – well-thought communities with a unique civic spirit that can be felt in places like Charleston, Thomasville, Georgia, Winter Park, Raliegh, and Georgetown, South Carolina. 

Places that have built upon their regional culture and natural attributes, embraced those things that make the community unique, then use creative techniques to plan and build great streets with mixed-use commercial/residential space that complement the focus area, rehabilitate and infill surrounding neighborhoods, emphasize historic preservation, and enhance the local character with placemaking entrances, flowers, greenery, trees, and well landscaped streetscapes.

Rarely do these things happen organically.

They require inclusive strategic visioning, focused planning, and professionally managed implementation by a proven outside firm committed to partnering with residents, entrepreneurs, and creators at each step in the process.  

Just as blight can metastasize, so can urban revitalization and revival. 

With the right set of eyes, our core tourist area can become a sought after beachside village complemented by the revitalization of Main Street, returning the attractions and amenities that once made the World’s Most Famous Beach a global destination, and finally put a stop to the hangdog humiliation, hopelessness, and frustration that has crippled large swathes of the Halifax area for far too long.  

In my view, that doesn’t happen by wasting $4.4 million to eliminate a single eyesore, create a few parking spaces (for what?), while removing a valuable parcel from the tax rolls – especially without a viable plan for “what comes next” – beyond converted shipping containers and more of the same…

It’s Time to Let Volusia Vote on The Future of Clean Water Protections

During a recent discussion regarding the modification or elimination of Volusia’s venerated ECHO and Forever programs, arguments ranged from we may need to put wells on conservation land a hundred years hence, to the hackneyed refrain We, The Little People are too stupid to understand what we were voting for, and fanning fears that the program(s) have become too expensive for families suffering from Florida’s affordability crisis. 

I’m not sure why, but it appears some believe that legislatively prohibiting the practice of ‘toilet to tap’ (the disgusting process of converting reclaimed sewage into drinking water) – to include the strategy of injecting what is colloquially known as “poopy water” into the Floridan aquifer – is somehow mutually exclusive of other conservation programs.

It isn’t. 

In my view, we can (and should) have diverse conservation and protection programs working simultaneously and symbiotically to safeguard what remains of Florida’s fragile ecology in the face of malignant sprawl.

Unfortunately, when you consider the strong emphasis the Florida Department of Environmental Destruction has placed on its “potable reuse” program – a process defined by the state as the augmentation of a drinking water supply with treated wastewater – you can bet the revolting idea of turning treated sink, laundry, shower, drain and sewage waste into a potable water source to accommodate more, more, more growth is a very real option for those compromised shills in Tallahassee. 

Because I regularly bare jaded witness to the chameleon-like qualities of our local politicians – I see where they might perceive a transactional benefit in lending their support to a charter amendment banning ‘toilet to tap’ in exchange for repealing the perpetuity provisions of Volusia Forever.

For reasons I don’t fully understand (except to say strange things happen when an election is looming), earlier this month, several sitting Volusia County Council members and other area politicos – who I wouldn’t describe as “friends of the environment” – have publicly expressed support for the charter amendment banning ‘toilet to tap.’ 

My skeptical belief is our newfound “environmentalists” on the dais are secretly betting the issue will be a moot point the minute the Florida legislature preempts water quality and quantity regulations to the state – or they have inside information on changes to voter-approved conservation programs that will alter the concept of “perpetuity” to allow public infrastructure to be built on “protected” lands (no doubt to ensure concurrency for adjacent growth and density)…

Let’s hope my cynical instincts are wrong.

Regardless of the political motivations of our newly supportive elected officials in Volusia County government and the municipalities, it has been a long and valiant fight by local water quality advocates/environmentalists who see banning the disgusting process as essential to preserving our future health and water supply. 

In October 2022, the topic got so adversarial that a previous council took a formal vote forbidding Chairman Jeff Brower from even mentioning ‘toilet to tap’ at a public meeting… 

His “colleagues” said Chairman Brower was just being “political.”

Sound familiar?

Thanks to a strong push by civic activist Greg Gimbert and his intrepid grassroots advocacy Let Volusia Vote, there is growing community support for prohibiting the reuse of treated wastewater – either as potable water or injecting it into the aquifer – unless the process is voter-approved.

Earlier this month, Chairman Brower said, “There’s very few people that are excited about injecting cleaned-up sewage water into our aquifer,” making it clear that his support for a legislative prohibition on ‘toilet to tap’ hasn’t changed since he was administratively bound-and-gagged on the issue three-years ago…

According to an article by Jarleene Almenas writing in the Ormond Beach Observer last week:

“County Councilmen Troy Kent and Don Dempsey voiced support for a charter amendment, and the council unanimously voted to direct staff to bring back information and a legal analysis on the issue.

“I’m in favor of letting the local people vote, because once they put that stuff in our drinking supply, we’re trusting the government science, and I don’t feel comfortable with that,” Dempsey said.” 

Council members will now wait for more information on what is legally and legislatively possible considering the prevailing winds in Tallahassee – that degenerate house of prostitution – where our “elected representatives” are busy gifting their political benefactors in the real estate development industry carte blanche to build when, where, and what they want by neutering the concept of local governance and Home Rule.

I hope you will lend your support to this worthwhile effort to protect and preserve our water quality, and the health of our children and grandchildren.  For more information on the charter amendment petition, find Let Volusia Vote at https://www.facebook.com/letvolusiavote  

Clean water is the most important legacy we can leave for those who will come after us.  I encourage everyone to sign the petition when it becomes available.

Quote of the Week

“When did it become the school district’s responsibility to decide for the taxpayers which nonprofits it would support and which it wouldn’t? Why are taxpayers in Edgewater or Ormond Beach contributing to a nonprofit in DeLand that will benefit almost exclusively DeLand residents.

If the school board was so anxious to rid itself of this property, why wasn’t it offered to the City of DeLand at some fire-sale price and allow them to arrange PAL use?

And this is not the first time such a donation has been made by the school district. In 2024 the school district donated six lots to nonprofit Homes Bring Hope to build affordable housing for six school districts employees, according to a September 2025 press release. These lots were in Daytona Beach near Bethune-Cookman University and Daytona State.

Would these lots not have been attractive to either university to purchase for future expansion, thereby recovering some taxpayer funds. The press release also begs the question “is our school district paying its employees so poorly that they require affordable housing?” I worked for Volusia County schools for 13 years; no one offered me or any of my colleagues affordable housing.

This (sic) point of this letter is not to question the validity or purpose of the nonprofits, but rather to bring to taxpayer’s attention the carelessness with which the school district, and by virtue of their votes on these donations the elected school board, are handling taxpayer assets.”

–Ormond Beach Resident and Volusia ECHO advisory board member Doug Petit, as excerpted from his editorial “Donating school property,” the Ormond Beach Observer, Monday, January 26, 2026

Call me a sentimental sap, but there was a time when residents could expect that those we elect and appoint to serve our community would steward our hard-earned tax dollars to provide effective and efficient public protection, ensure safe potable water, maintain adequate transportation and utilities infrastructure, educate our children, enact and enforce local ordinances that protect property values, conserve our natural places, and enhance our collective quality of life.

Perhaps naïvely, in my view, we have a right to expect those who accept public funds to serve in the public interest will maintain the integrity and value of publicly owned buildings and facilities and ensure a return on our investment when the asset no longer serves a public need.

Many years ago, local governments patented a technique I call “strategic neglect” – a malicious practice that withholds preventative maintenance and basic upkeep at certain public facilities – allowing them to rot in place until they reach such a deplorable state of dilapidation that demolition and replacement become the only viable option.

Unfortunately, the City of Daytona Beach recently used this unwritten negligence and abandonment policy to inflict irreparable damage on the historic City Island Recreation Center, a building erected in 1943 as a dance hall to entertain American service members during World War II.

That important piece of Halifax area history is never coming back – no doubt to be replaced by another city-owned commercial property that will succumb to the tragic start/fail/start/fail/start/fail cycle that continues to haunt much of Downtown Daytona.

Then, there is the problem of government entities and taxing districts simply adding aging or so-called “superfluous properties” to an arbitrary “surplus list” – which they feel authorizes bureaucrats to randomly decide which publicly-owned assets will be sold (often for pennies on the dollar), which will be given away, and who will be the beneficiary of this governmental largesse…

In November 2025, the unilateral donation of a 75-year-old gymnasium and adjacent property to the Deland Police Athletic League by Volusia County Schools raised the ire of taxpayers who are tired of the gross mismanagement of public assets by those charged with their stewardship.

According to Florida statutes, following an “educational plant survey,” a school board may dispose of property deemed no longer necessary for educational purposes after taking “…diligent measures to dispose of educational property only in the best interests of the public.”

To his credit, Mr. Petit made his thoughts known to the Volusia County School Board earlier this month – explaining that, as a taxpayer, he should decide which non-profits he prefers to donate to – and he doesn’t need the School Board making those decisions for him.

In addition, Petit advised the “…district should refrain from donating our property and make every effort to recover tax dollars whenever possible before they cut a program, an employee or make an appeal for more money.”

According to a recent report by Mark Harper writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “School Board member Donna Brosemer said she had similar questions about donations and had asked the district’s general counsel, Gilbert Evans, to look into establishing a policy on future donations. She questioned whether a school district partner or an organization that doesn’t have a direct relationship to the educational services the district provides would qualify under the law.”

Of course, other board members – like the always exasperated Jamie Haynes – suggests the donation to the Deland PAL is an excellent way of serving the needs of children after the school day ends.

According to the News-Journal, “That organization allows our students to go there after school every day, get tutoring help, also participate in clubs and activities, things they may never have an opportunity to do,” Haynes said. “They do cooking classes, they play sports outside.”

Volusia schools wasn’t putting any money into the old building, leaving PAL in an increasingly worsening condition without the ability to do anything about it. That’s how the plan was hatched to donate the building to the organization, allowing it to repair the gym and improve the grounds, Haynes said.

“I am very disappointed that individuals would think this is not supporting our children,” Haynes said. “This is 100% supporting our children, and every day, I would vote the same way again.”

What Ms. Haynes and some of her “colleagues” fail to understand is – regardless of the potential benefit to area non-profits – this property represents a publicly-owned asset, one bought and paid for with our hard-earned tax dollars.

In my view, the ultimate disposition of these “surplus” properties should not be determined by the arbitrary whims of administrators who subjectively remove our collective land and facilities from the open market and gift them to preferred charities in the absence of clear, fair, and equitable public policy.

And Another Thing!

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”

–George Orwell, 1984

You don’t need the deductive reasoning of Hercule Poirot to deduce the trends and similarities in how local governments are actively working to silence opposition, gaslight constituents, position themselves as the “burning bush” of community information, and fight against what omniscient insiders in the “Ivory Tower of Power” describe as “misinformation.”  

The all-knowing bureaucracy is right, and the ignorant hoi polloi are wrong.

If being gaveled down and escorted out of a public meeting by law enforcement at the command of the chair, or having your social media content “monitored” by the Special Thought Police from some “public information office” doesn’t have a chilling effect on your willingness to speak out, then they will threaten to sue your eyeballs out (using your own tax dollars) if your refuse to cease and desist…

Some local governments are creating a sanitized echo chamber where citizens – from whom all political power derives – are expected to sit quietly while those we have elected to represent our interests engage in verbose oratories, petty bickering, and use parliamentary gymnastics to routinely delay, obfuscate, and procrastinate serious issues of civic concern for waterlogged Volusia County residents. 

Don’t take my word for it. 

Watch what passes for a Deltona City Commission meeting, any Orange City Council meeting conducted by Mayor Kellianne “My Name is MAYOR!” Marks, or an episode of that long-running tragicomedy that is the Volusia County Council and come to your own conclusion if public input is welcomed and considered where you live.   

The pernicious practice of silencing criticism now includes openly berating unpaid citizen advisory board volunteers for speaking their truth to power.  Publicly destroying their character and reputation with defamatory accusations and labeling them a “liar,” as these egotistical tools paint themselves as the heroes in their own counterproductive political theater…

Not so coincidentally, last week, Jason Volez, a candidate for Florida State Senate District 8, received a stern “cease and desist” threat from Deltona City Attorney Gemma Torcivia through her law firm, TG Law. 

As an outspoken critic of the City of Deltona’s perpetually troubled water utility – a problematic treatment, distribution, and billing system that is almost universally panned by its disgusted consumers – Mr. Volez has repeatedly sounded the klaxon on dangerous “forever chemicals” that have been detected in Deltona’s potable water supply.

In addition, Volez stands with the clean water advocacy Let Volusia Vote, and has vehemently opposed the City of Deltona’s plan to inject reclaimed water into the Floridan aquifer.  A practice many believe will result in widespread and permanent contamination of our collective water source.

That strong criticism by a citizen/candidate expressing a view counter to the official storyline didn’t sit well with embarrassed officials at Deltona City Hall…   

So, they used the full might and treasure of the City of Deltona to silence Volez – wielding the city attorney’s office like a cudgel, describing his views as “objectively false, unprivileged, and defamatory” – publicly besmirching his message while sending a chilling warning to any citizen who dares speak out on issues of community concern using follow our edicts and “govern yourself accordingly” intimidation.

I guess even voicing concerns about the very water our children drink is verboten.

If this tactic sounds familiar, it should…

Last fall, during a meeting of the New Smyrna Beach City Commission, thin-skinned Mayor Fred Cleveland openly fumed over social media posts he found offensive, which resulted in City Attorney Carrie Avallone dutifully (if not unconstitutionally) sending a letter on official letterhead to Volusia County Council District 3 candidate Bryon White – an candid opponent of overdevelopment and its effects on our natural places – demanding that he “correct or remove” statements critical of NSB officials from social media.

You read that right…

Perhaps more frightening, during a rambling diatribe against anyone who expresses a viewpoint different from those espoused by city spinmeisters – Mayor Cleveland ominously asked if one of the city’s two Public Information Officers could “monitor” the social media posts of residents and “set the record straight” with anyone who “berates” city officials or tries to “further an agenda.”

Yeah.  I know…

I suspect Mayor Cleveland’s rampant paranoia and willingness to silence critics with the full force of government isn’t an original thought…  

In my view, this increasingly blustery bullying sounds like a well-choreographed effort to push back against dissent, criticism, and citizen participation – probably concocted by one of those mutual admiration societies, leagues, committees, and councils of confederated local governments – typically comprised of elected officials who consider their vanity far more important than our constitutional protections.

Our right to speak our minds on matters of public concern is not subject to the filter of hypersensitive politicians, their highly compensated public mouthpieces, or anyone else – and taxpayers should not be expected to subjugate themselves to some monarchical edict handed down by egomaniacal hacks with a persecution complex.

This election season I urge you to ask questions of candidates.  Determine who they plan to serve – We, The Little People, or their own self-interests – research the records of perennial politicians, educate yourself on issues of local concern, then vote your conscience. 

Elections have consequences…

That’s all for me.  Stay warm this weekend, y’all!

Hi, kids!

It’s time once again to turn a jaundiced eye toward the news and newsmakers of the day who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life or detracted from it in some significant way:

Bait and Switch: Weakening Conservation Protections in Volusia County

Forever

“For all future time; for always.  Permanent, continual, and perpetual.  Endless or indefinite; eternity.  The state or quality of lasting forever.”   

We all know what it means…

Twenty-five years ago, voters initially approved a concept known as Volusia Forever – described on the county website as a tax supported land conservation program that “…finances the acquisition and improvement of environmentally sensitive, water resource protection, and outdoor recreation lands, and the management of these lands as conservation stewards in perpetuity.”

In 2020, a profound 75.6% of voters reauthorized Volusia Forever in an effort to protect and preserve their drinking water, lakes, rivers, coastal waters, springs, woodlands, and greenspace in the face of aggressive development that continues to threaten access to passive outdoor recreation lands, foul the aquifer, and destroy sensitive wildlife habitat.   

Trust me.  75.6% of Volusia County residents can’t agree on whether they like ice cream – but they resoundingly want sensitive areas publicly acquired and conserved in perpetuity. 

Forever.  

For the past quarter-century, Volusia County residents have seen with their own eyes the threats we collectively face in an age of metastatic sprawl – perpetuated by a transactional political scheme – based on the shady concept of quid pro quo, “something for something.”

Now, several of those compromised shills that comprise the Volusia County Council of Cowards wants to arbitrarily change the rules on us.

Earlier this month, during a goal setting workshop Councilman Don Dempsey – who has spent the bulk of his term ramrodding his pet multi-million-dollar motorcross facility on land purchased with Volusia Forever and ECHO funds – said he wants to revisit the concept of “forever” and “perpetuity,” using the nonsensical argument that 75.6% of Volusia voters didn’t understand what we were voting for…

Bullshit.

According to an article by Al Everson writing in the West Volusia Beacon last week:

“Council Member Don Dempsey, for his part, urged his colleagues to consider time limits and the effects of use constraints on land set aside for conservation, and purchased with Volusia Forever dollars, as well as funds from state or federal agencies. Some uses and in-perpetuity clauses, he noted, are written into the covenants of land acquisitions, and such provisions.

“The voters never voted to make it in perpetuity,” Dempsey said. “Imagine 100 years from now we want to do a commercial well. … We’re basically making half of our county off-limits. … Farmers 100 years from now cannot water their crops.”

To borrow a phrase from big Jeffrey Lebowski, What in God’s holy name is he blathering about? 

In my view, there is something inherently deceitful about a self-serving politician – one with a history of working to weaken growth management measures and facilitate more, more, more sprawl – who presumes to tell me what I did or did not vote for when I cast my ballot. 

The condescending tactic raises its ugly head every time an elected official/special interest (the two terms are now interchangeable) decides they want to change a voter approved initiative that now impinges on their ability to get fatter.  

So, they quibble the nuances of ballot language, tell a few scary stories of potential unintended consequences, before finally claiming voters were too stupid to understand what they were voting for…

In my view, Councilman Don Dempsey and his bobble-head cohorts – Councilman Danny “Gaslight” Robins and Councilman David “No Show” Santiago – seek to weaken conservation efforts by questioning the appropriateness of certain parcels, insinuating the potential for abuse by property owners (something that wasn’t a concern when Dempsey’s motorcross acquisition was being considered), and opposing the issuance of bonds to finance the purchase of identified conservation lands.  

Why?  Good question…

According to a December 2025 article in the Ormond Beach Observer:

“In the Volusia Forever ballot initiative, it was stated that the county would borrow money through bonds to purchase land acquisitions, Volusia County Council Chair Jeff Brower said. Staff also explained that the council’s preliminary authorization on bonds would allow the money to be available when a purchase is approved.

Councilman Don Dempsey disagreed with this approach.

“I don’t like the fact that we can borrow into the future to buy more conservation land,” he said. “We’re already number two in the state. It scares me that we’re rushing towards a 50% acquisition rate, that we are going to basically encumber half of the property in the county.”

Robins agreed with Dempsey and Santiago.

“What I don’t want to see is take a good program like this and use it as the easy way out to not put in a development application because people don’t want to go through the squeaky wheels and deal with the development application in unincorporated Volusia,” Robins said. “I’m not saying I’ve seen it happen, but I do have ears and I’ve heard certain things like, ‘Hey, this is an easier way to do it, to get paid and stuff.'”

Per usual, Robins’ logic is clear as nutrient clogged mud in a Volusia County estuary.

What “Gaslight” Robins fails to mention is Volusia Forever has an extensive application process – which includes land evaluation and appraisal – along with a citizen advisory committee and staff reviews that guide the program, determine appropriate acquisitions, and recommend those properties to the Volusia County Council for consideration.

In addition, since the program’s renewal in 2020, Volusia Forever has successfully partnered with various state and federal organization, and the St. Johns Water Management District, to leverage tax dollars resulting in $4.00 from partner match funds for every $1.00 in taxpayer investment.  

Regardless, now that manipulating Volusia Forever is an official “goal” of the Volusia County Council, I’m told the discussion may come before the council in February.  That gives concerned citizens ample time to consider the true motivations of Councilmen Dempsey, Robins, and Santiago, then let their voices be heard.    

Why do you think these dull tools of development interests want to manipulate Volusia County residents into second-guessing why they taxed themselves to protect environmentally sensitive conservation lands from being churned into a muddy miasma to facilitate their greed-crazed ‘growth at all costs’ strategy? 

In my view, this bait-and-switch shim-sham will result in even more loss of the public’s trust – the same suspicion and doubt that resulted in Volusia County voters overwhelmingly nixing a shady sales tax increase ostensibly earmarked for transportation infrastructure…   

Regardless, these political sock puppets have repeatedly demonstrated they do not represent your interests or mine – and it is time to reject their unscrupulous horseshit once again. 

We know what we voted for.    

The people have spoken.  Twice.

Leave Volusia Forever and ECHO alone.    

Replacing Secrecy with Commonsense at Volusia County Schools

“I’m right and you’re wrong, I’m big and you’re small, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

— Narcissistic Headmistress Agatha Trunchbull in Roald Dahl’s Matilda

The operative ethic in the administration of Volusia County Schools is loose lips sink ships – and shady school administrators…

Unguarded discourse outside the confines of a professional spinmeister’s pap and fluff is never tolerated – and no expense will be spared when the district sees the need to defend Superintendent Carmen Balgobin’s subjective edicts from external scrutiny.

In fact, controlling the narrative and silencing contrary opinions has become the overriding focus of Superintendent Balgobin and her dwindling “cabinet” of obsequious drones – a well-crafted and intensely protected storyline (with Balgobin as the heroine) that has captivated the majority of our so-called “independent oversight” on the Volusia County School Board. 

Those sycophantic elected officials who prefer to rubber stamp the administration’s whims and wishes rather than question their purpose, expense, or legality…

For instance, last year, School Board member Donna Brosemer was shocked to learn some 110 non-instructional staff members had been directed to sign a non-disclosure agreement by the Balgobin administration – an overbroad gag order that silenced the release of information specifically made public by Florida’s open records law – something many saw as a means of bureaucratically silencing those who accept public funds to serve in the public interest.

To her credit, Ms. Brosemer didn’t take “shut up and know your role” for an answer – and she wasn’t intimidated by nasty glances and swipes from her “colleagues” – spending her own money to fight for her constituents by personally funding an independent review by outside counsel, all while being billed by the very administration she was elected to oversee to obtain public record requests.

The attorney hired by Ms. Brosemer came to a legal determination that the NDA was most likely “void, illegal and unenforceable under Florida law.”

In turn, the district used taxpayer funds to hire Aaron Wolfe, an attorney with Doran, Foxman, Sims, Wolfe & Yoon of Daytona Beach, to defend Volusia County School’s Attorney Gilbert Evans’ opinion that the Balgobin NDA was somehow legal and constitutional, even when employed by a tax supported entity subject to Florida’s open records law…

Now, after spending untold public funds to defend the controversial (and possibly unconstitutional) non-disclosure agreements, we learn that Volusia County Schools have now dropped Balgobin’s Code of Silence in favor of simply updating standards of conduct for district employees after the NDA’s “sunsetted” in December 2025.

Essentially, the policy requires that employees having access to “sensitive and confidential” information are required to “safeguard such information and must not disclose it outside the scope of their official responsibilities.”  Anyone found to have violated the policy will be subject to disciplinary action, including criminal prosecution.

The policy was last updated in 2002… 

According to a report by Jarleene Almenas writing in the Ormond Beach Observer, “I’m happy to know that, ” said School Board member Donna Brosemer, who was a vocal critic of the NDAs last year. “I had understood also that the purpose of this language was to accommodate the concerns that the NDA was intended to address.”

Of course, there was some quibbling over wording – but it appears that after a costly fight to prove Ms. Brosemer wrong – and, by bureaucratic validation, that Superintendent Balgobin was right – at the end of the day, a commonsense policy tweak was all it took to bring the controversy to a close. 

On January 9, Ormond Beach’s own Senator Tom Leek filed SB 1620, a bill which would provide members of school boards with a Bill of Rights – including the ability to review district documents, seek information from staff without begging the superintendent’s permission, a specific prohibition on nepotism, and a ban on requiring or incentivizing any district employee from signing a non-disclosure agreement.

Sen. Leek’s bill is among the best legislation of this miserable session.

In my view, the bill validates Ms. Brosemer’s concerns.  More important, it protects School Board members who act in good faith to address controversial issues, provide oversight and accountability, and speak the independent truth to their constituents.

With luck, these legislative protections will put an end to the “Balgobin Way” – a terribly expensive and lopsided strategy that employs the full might of a tax supported behemoth to defend her monarchical decrees. 

Quote of the Week

“Councilman Troy Kent posed an interesting question today. He asked why citizens should trust their government.

It’s a fair question—and one a lot of people are asking. Troy meant it rhetorically, but since he raised it, let’s talk about it.

Why should residents trust a county government that is actively working to defund voter-approved conservation programs that passed with nearly 80% support?

Why trust a county government that eliminates all arts funding under the banner of “austerity,” while simultaneously appropriating ten times that amount for a motocross track and other pet projects?

Why trust a county government that cuts lifeguards and other public safety services?

Why trust a county government that silences citizens when it comes to development decisions that directly impact their homes, water, and quality of life?

Why trust a county government that won’t even defend its own home-rule authority—choosing instead to tuck tail rather than stand up to Tallahassee overreach?

On this one point, I actually agree with Councilman Kent: why should we trust them?

Especially when the same officials criticizing government waste are cashing not one—but two—taxpayer-funded paychecks every month.

Three county council seats are up for election this year. Accountability matters.”

–Volusia County Council District 3 Candidate Bryon White, writing in the Facebook forum, “Slow the Growth Volusia,” Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Whether you support Bryon White’s candidacy or not – his social media post was spot-on.

The man ain’t lying…

During Tuesday’s Volusia County Council meeting, the always meanspirited Councilman David “No Show” Santiago clenched his tiny fists and openly threatened a Volusia ECHO advisory board member (read: engaged citizen) who dared to share his perspective regarding a proposed strategic plan for the tax supported program.

According to the member’s communication with the council, he clarified that the Committee only reviewed a preliminary spreadsheet, not the final recommendations of the ECHO Vision 2040 Strategic Plan.  At least one member of the board disagreed and stood before the Council to share her own interpretation of the process, and the lack of objections during previous board meetings.  

In turn, Brad Burbaugh, director of Volusia County’s Community Services Department, which includes the Volusia ECHO program, described the Santiago pushed kerfuffle as a “mischaracterization.”

In my experience, differences of opinion and skewed personal perceptions happen.  In fact, the competition of ideas is what makes advisory committees so important to the legislative process.

Not in Volusia County…

Without due process or formal investigation, speaking from the dais, Councilman Santiago branded the civically involved committee member a “liar” – then threatened to make a motion to remove the citizen volunteer for not sharing something Santiago called the “principles that he believes in.”  (That’s a hoot!  “No Show” Santiago claiming to have “principles,” that’s rich…)

During his diatribe, Santiago spewed his version of what constitutes “misinformation,” i.e., any idea or information that does not originate with those faux “experts” that comprise their incredibly well compensated senior staff – or is first sanitized by those spinmeisters in the “Community Information” office – then threatened to take “drastic measures” to silence the voice of a concerned advisory board member who took a view contrary to county staff’s official line…

Maybe the opposing board member’s view was right – or maybe his perceptions were wrong – but he thought enough of his role and responsibility to buck ‘groupthink’ and write Volusia County Council members to express his view on the process that will shape the direction of a program vitally important to our quality of life.

For his trouble, an advisory volunteer was viciously rebuked, and his character openly besmirched by Santiago – a manipulative shit-heel and self-serving political hack – who crushes dissenting opinions by eliminating opposing voices from his echo chamber. 

After receiving implied pushback from some of his “colleagues,” Santiago relented and withheld banishing the dissenting board member. 

For now… 

In my view, Councilman Kent was right when he said no one trusts government anymore.

For damn good reasons – many well-articulated in Mr. White’s social media post.

In my view, the “trust issue” continues to loom over Volusia County like a multi-headed typhon, and each time residents are gaslighted, voter-approved programs are arbitrarily dismantled, civically engaged citizens are pilloried, pet projects prioritized, and our collective voices ignored while the mercenary whims and wants of their political benefactors take precedence, the public trust is further eroded.   

It’s true.  Accountability matters.

And Another Thing!

“The county makes clear in the agreement that it won’t have financial responsibility for any future operational costs.

“The county never shall be required to make any other payment as a condition for the admittance of any person to the facility,” the agreement states.

The new agreement also specifies that the First Step building will serve as an emergency shelter during disasters, extreme weather conditions such as cold snaps and hurricanes, and other crisis situations.

During those events the shelter will be required to expand capacity, maintain safety for everyone in the building, and provide access to food and water.”

–Reporters Eileen Zaffiro-Kean and Sheldon Gardner, writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Daytona Beach homeless shelter set to get city and county funding for the next five years,” June 30, 2025

This week started downright frigid – dangerously cold – for those unfortunate souls who, for myriad reasons of insanity, infirmity, destitution, and addiction, find themselves without adequate shelter during life-threatening weather events.

In fact, last year, those of us with full bellies and a roof over our heads took comfort knowing that our ‘powers that be’ ensured the misnamed First Step Shelter – as a contractual obligation for extended public funding – would be required to serve as an “emergency shelter” during extreme weather conditions.

Once Volusia County assured us that First Step had been directed help those most at risk during dangerous weather – I didn’t give it much thought.  Then several members of the Barker’s View tribe reached out last week and asked if I knew why First Step Shelter wasn’t listed as a cold weather option for the homeless…

When temperatures fell and the winds increased on Sunday, a public service announcement appeared in The Daytona Beach News-Journal but failed to mention First Step Shelter as a winter weather shelter. 

The PSA explained that in Flagler County, The Sheltering Tree – housed at the Rock Transformation Center in Bunnell – would be open Sunday and Monday nights, with at least six pickup locations identified by address for transportation assistance.   

In Volusia, the options were The Bridge, operated by the Neighborhood Center in DeLand; with Halifax Urban Ministries coordinating East Volusia shelters “…in partnership with local churches and nonprofit organizations.”

According to reports, in Volusia, “When available, transportation assistance may be provided through Votran in coordination with community partners.”

That didn’t sound very reassuring. 

Neither did a disturbing report in FlaglerLive.com earlier this month where we learned of the changing dynamics of poverty in the region:

“Average occupancy at the (Sheltering Tree) shelter last year was 10 to 12 people. When it last opened in late December, it drew 26 people. It’s not your stereotypical homeless population anymore.

“We had two people come in from work the last days we were open, literally leaving work and arriving at 7 o’clock and leaving the next morning and going back to work,” says Martin Collins, vice president of the Sheltering Tree’s board. “Middle class people are finding themselves struggling with working class issues, and working class people are finding themselves struggling with poverty.” Others are living in their cars.”

After reading the News-Journal’s sheltering notice, I went to the First Step Shelter’s website where (not-so-shockingly) there was nothing to indicate they were accepting at-risk people during this week’s winter weather outbreak. 

However, I noticed that the “Mayor’s Gala” was prominently advertised front-and-center… 

The “shelter’s” asinine annual “we’ve got to spend money to make money” formal soiree set for February 7 at the tony Hilton Oceanfront Resort in Daytona Beach.

Unlike homeless persons seeking transportation to a warming room this week, a shuttlebus is being provided to attendees of the “Mayor’s Gala” to ensure everyone’s timely arrival for the cocktail reception beginning at 6pm…

Then, guests are off to dinner in the resort’s ballroom where they will be entertained by a musician amidst the whimsical theme “Under the Sea.” 

Swellegant…  

As questions continue to swirl around First Step’s commitment to emergency shelter operations, perhaps it is time for Volusia County – and the City of Daytona Beach – to ask their respective internal auditors to determine if the “shelter” is living up to the contractual terms and caveats agreed to before our elected officials decided to handover another $400,000 last year, $300,000 this year, and $200,000 annually for the remaining three years? 

Maybe next year, the theme of First Step’s “Mayor’s Gala” should be “Underwater: Struggling to Get Off the Public Teat and Stand on Our Own Two Feet…”

That’s all for me.  Have a great Rolex 24 weekend, y’all!

Hi, kids!

It’s time once again to turn a jaundiced eye toward the news and newsmakers of the day who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life or detracted from it in some significant way:

“A Money Pit”: Councilman Don Dempsey’s Folly Progresses in Volusia County

During the first Volusia County Council meeting of the new year, it was ‘bidness as usual’ when a measure to piss away $195,795 from Volusia ECHO funds to hire a contractor to provide advice to the county bureaucracy in developing a “P-3” – a public-private partnership (read: public funds used to underwrite a private enterprise) – ostensibly for the development and operation of Councilman Don Dempsey’s pet motocross facility.

The controversial and incredibly expensive folly was buried as Item H on the council’s consent agenda…

To his credit, Chairman Jeff Brower released the public information and input vacuum when he pulled the item for discussion. 

What ensued was a classic well-choreographed Volusia County Kabuki, fronted by perhaps the worst presentation by a publicly compensated official I’ve ever witnessed.

Trust me.  I’ve seen a few…

Our new “Assistant County Manager” Gus Zambrano earned his $185,000 salary by reading a PowerPoint, verbatim – its slides embroidered with nonsensical cartoon-like graphics – all to sell the notion of using nearly $200,000 in public funds to hire a private consultant to do the swollen bureaucracy’s work, construct a Request for Proposal, engage with bidders, and help select a private entity to operate the Don Dempsey Motocross and ATV/UTV Trail Riding Facility.

Yep.  Ol’ Gus is going to fit right in over there in the Ivory Tower of Power… 

Given the knowns and unknowns of the state’s push to reduce or eliminate property taxes – along with the council’s faux focus on funding core government responsibilities – Mr. Brower suggested the already purchased land would be an excellent location for a county owned park and supported the idea of opening the site to recreational riding.

It was apparent from the moment Mr. Brower pulled the item for discussion that the outcome had been determined well before the meeting began… 

Per usual, Councilman David “No Show” Santiago attempted to paint Chairman Brower as a liar for daring to question the project – manipulatively mewling about “deception” and “motives” – twisting inference, and claiming that because the project is exploiting Volusia ECHO and not the general fund, residents apparently don’t have a valid reason to oppose the $3.5 million+ expenditure.

Bullshit.

During what passed for public participation, “C.J.,” a citizen who identified himself as the owner of Pax Trax, a Flagler County commercial motorcross facility and a recognized expert in the sport, stood before the council and candidly explained – if Volusia County builds a track it will “shut me down” – claiming that motorcross tracks across the state are closing due to a lack of business, with several of the properties still up for sale.

In fact, the gentleman implored council members to fully understand what they were up committing to in operating a motorcross facility – explaining that if he felt a facility in Volusia was financially viable, he would have purchased the land and opened the business himself.

In an odd departure from the council’s standard practice of staring catatonically into space and refusing to acknowledge citizens who approach the dais, the track owner’s plea resulted in an agitated Don Dempsey doing the unthinkable and actually responding to the private operator’s grim prediction from the dais.

In a weird exchange, Councilman Dempsey challenged the industry expert, “You don’t remember our golf cart ride at Magic Mountain (?) three years ago where we talked about this very project?” 

In exchange, C.J. answered from the gallery, recalling he told Mr. Dempsey the project would be successful as a “night track,” before the exchange was shut down by Councilman Johansson, who knows that no good comes from openly discussing issues with constituents…

It was Councilman Dempsey’s weepy rant – arguing that concerned constituents are using his pet project as a bludgeon because he frequently votes against growth management measures and environmental protections that I found most disingenuous – and offensive to Volusia County taxpayers.

“I know a lot of people are mad at me because I vote against moratoriums and I don’t always vote the way the environmentalists want me to vote, and I can’t help but think, sometimes, that this is just a way of getting even with me.”

Say what?  How in the hell did Don Dempsey become the victim?

Councilman Dempsey’s “everybody’s pickin’ on me” pout turned into a self-serving tirade as he painted his effort as being exclusively “for the kids” – railing that the sport of motorcross is readily accessible to everyone (if you have thousands of dollars for specialty motorcycles, trailers, protective equipment, physical agility, etc., etc., that is…) and that denying the multi-million-dollar public/private facility would prevent eight-year-olds from practicing motorcross at night.

All Mr. Dempsey’s melodramatic diatribe lacked was Sarah McLachlan’s “In the Arms of the Angel” moaning gently in the background to have me bawling like a lachrymose grandmother…  

What a godawful farce. 

Don’t take my word for it. 

Watch it all for yourself here (the fun begins at 1:07:30): https://tinyurl.com/5t3tk4du

There’s something about watching a millionaire politician throw a selfish tantrum on the dais because he’s receiving moderate pushback against having a publicly funded motorcross facility built in his backyard that provides a disturbing insight into how our egomaniacal elected “representatives” think – and spend our money…

Ultimately, the always sanctimonious Councilman Danny “Gaslight” Robins (who last year ignored the $50 million annual impact of cultural events on Volusia County’s economy in his shortsighted charge to eliminate all previously budgeted arts funding) dismissed Chairman Brower’s commonsense argument as “political salad,” before arrogantly calling the vote. 

Like choreographed clockwork, the expenditure was approved 5-1 with Councilman Troy Kent absent due to a family emergency.  Now, having spent +/- $200K to hire someone else to write and administrate a simple RFP, that bloated bureaucracy in DeLand can go back to sitting on its thumbs, concocting their next nonsensical PowerPoint…

My God.

In my view, this farcical charade once again demonstrates just how far these flip-flopping shills will go to repay a cooperative “colleague” for his loyalty in helping smooth out the humps-and-bumps for their common political benefactors who control the rods and strings of government in Volusia County and beyond.

If you live and pay taxes in Volusia County – and believe as I do that the core tenets of Volusia ECHO and Forever programs have been highjacked in a crude effort to ramrod the Dempsey Family Motorcross Facility – I encourage you to vote your conscience, launch these slimy slugs onto the political ash heap, and return a sense of honor, integrity, and sanity to the Volusia County Council.

Policies and Guidelines: Improving Fiscal Oversight in the City of Daytona Beach

To say the initial probes by the City of Daytona Beach’s new internal auditor, Abinet Belachew – a hard-charging watchdog with a penchant for uncovering misspending while upholding standards that ensure the ethical stewardship of public funds – caught his elected bosses and appointed colleagues by surprise is an understatement. 

Dude kicked the proverbial door down – then hung the dirty laundry on the line for all the villagers to see…

Having just scratched the surface, Mr. Belachew has already uncovered potential misuse of city purchasing cards, travel irregularities, a lack of receipts and documentation, outdated or ineffective policies, and most recently, allegations of a scandalous liaison possibly involving a supervisor and subordinate, which may have involved the misappropriation of public funds.

Sadly, after his initial foray, Mr. Belachew reported that his efforts had been met with a disturbing degree of opposition and obstruction by some senior officials – something that often happens when the established status quo is challenged.  When some insiders questioned his audit results it appeared Mr. Belachew clearly felt the veracity of his inquiry was being disputed, which set up some tense public exchanges that made the elected officials visibly uncomfortable…

To their credit, the Daytona Beach City Commission recently agreed upon a set of rules to guide Mr. Belachew’s scope of responsibilities going forward, providing specific guidelines without neutering the purpose and authority of his vital role.

According to an informative report by Eileen Zaffiro-Kean writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal:

“At their Wednesday, Jan. 7 meeting, city commissioners adopted a 10-page governing policy that both Belachew and other city officials will operate under for auditing issues.

The policy will include everything from how long top city employees have to respond to one of Belachew’s audit reports to a detailed explanation of the internal auditor’s mission.

The mission of the city auditor is to provide independent and objective assurance and advisory services that enhance accountability, transparency, and efficiency; and to proactively identify risks, evaluate internal controls, and make practical recommendations that strengthen city operations, safeguard public resources, support effective governance, and prevent potential fraud, waste and abuse.”

Most important, Mr. Belachew will remain independent of senior administrators – reporting to the Mayor and City Commissioners – with established protections from undue influence on the “…audit scope, methodology, findings, conclusions, or timing of the audit.”

In addition, the new audit parameters ensure the City Manager and department heads have the opportunity to review and respond to findings in a timely manner – and provide answers which can be evaluated by the auditor.  Modifications to audit reports can be made based on valid explanations supported by sufficient evidence.

The new policy provides for a dedicated hotline that will allow residents and employees to report fraud, waste, and abuse – and if Mr. Belachew finds the complaint applicable to his office and a formal investigation warranted – he will notify the city commission who will determine how to proceed.

According to the News-Journal’s report, “The city auditor is authorized to conduct investigations of complaints received from city employees relating to acts or suspected acts by city employees or agents of gross mismanagement, malfeasance, misfeasance, gross waste of public funds, or gross neglect of duty related to financial and compliance matters.

When a city employee seeking to invoke the protection of the Whistleblower’s Act discloses information to the city auditor, the auditor is authorized to initiate an investigation.”

To ensure transparency, Mr. Belachew will coordinate with the city’s public information officer to post audit reports to the public website.

In my experience, financial audits and the independent examination of policies, protocols, and managerial practices help guarantee compliance with regulations, ensures best practices, safeguard resources, and establishes a culture of accountability that leads to better governance.    

Kudos to Daytona Beach – and those local governments who employ professional internal auditors – then allow that critical position the freedom and flexibility to publicly report their findings, speak openly to the media and answer constituent questions on matters of concern, and, by their personal and professional example, set exacting standards for the ethical and efficient conduct of the people’s business. 

Quote of the Week

“Since 2017, companies linked to a multibillion-dollar investment manager in New York have spent at least $230 million buying up more than 80,000 acres across north Florida — amassing giant tracts of largely rural land near Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Panama City.

That same investment firm now wants Florida lawmakers to make it much easier to develop that land.

Records obtained by Seeking Rents show that executives at Ruane Cunniff — a Manhattan-based firm that manages hedge funds, mutual funds and other investment vehicles — are behind an obscure entity pushing bills in the Florida Legislature this year that would enable giant landowners to have their properties rezoned for high-intensity development without a local public hearing or vote in the communities where the projects would occur.

The Ruane Cunniff-backed company has hired nearly 20 lobbyists in Tallahassee who have been quietly meeting with lawmakers in support of the legislation — which, if passed, could dramatically boost the value of the vast land holdings the firm has assembled in Florida over the past decade.

That’s not all. Separate records show that another corporate entity controlled by Ruane Cunniff executives recently began showering money on key figures in the Florida Capitol. That entity has made more than $150,000 in campaign contributions in the two months since House Bill 299 and Senate Bill 354 were filed in the Legislature — including $10,000 apiece for each of the bill sponsors.”

–Investigative Journalist Jason Garcia writing in Seeking Rents, a newsletter and podcast focusing on Florida politics, “A New York investment firm with vast land holdings across north Florida wants state lawmakers to greenlight giant developments,” Wednesday, January 7, 2026

If you care about the ongoing destruction of Florida through malignant development and the overweening greed driving it, you’re going to want to down a strong antiemetic and read Mr. Garcia’s shocking expose here: https://tinyurl.com/5buer3jx

On Tuesday, we denizens of the Sunshine State girded our loins as that Turkish bazaar that is the 2026 Florida Legislative Session began in Tallahassee. 

The opening session was marked by palpable tensions among leadership – along with a shocking lack of proposed legislation that would improve the average Floridian’s life and livelihood as our elected representatives work overtime to preempt local growth management regulations and pave the way (literally) for their political overseers in the real estate development industry. 

In my view, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ blatant snubbing of House President Daniel Perez – openly ghosting Perez ahead of the State of the State address, while giving Senate President Ben Albritton a hearty handshake – makes for good political theater, but this year, petty politics is the least of our concerns…  

As Gideon Tucker so eloquently said, “No man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session,” and here in Florida, that truism continues to hit increasingly close to home.

On Tuesday, the Senate Community Affairs Committee agreed to amend SB 180 – a law passed last year that essentially gutted local planning by preempting cities and counties from passing “more restrictive or burdensome” growth management regulations – and gave developers the ability to file suit if their plans were denied.

According to a report this week by Jim Saunders of the News Service of Florida, a recent legislative update from 1000 Friends of Florida explained, “The bill does not repeal SB 180’s (the 2025 law’s) retroactive provisions, instead shortening their duration,” the growth-management organization said. “As a result, communities like Orange County and Manatee County remain stymied on good-faith planning decisions unrelated to storm recovery, undermining voter- and community-driven local planning efforts.”

Not that any of that matters…

In the legislative spirit of ‘give with one hand and take with the other,’ if passed, legislation known as the “Blue Ribbon Projects” bill would cut out public hearings and citizen input to allow large-tract landowners holding at least 10,000 or more contiguous acres to do as they wish – further neutering the ability of local government to control growth and protect the character of their communities. 

Which brings Jason Garcia’s disturbing reportage on out-of-state carpetbaggers buying massive tracts of undeveloped property across the state – then showering Florida lawmakers with equally massive campaign contributions – into clearer focus… 

In addition, Mr. Garcia reports that there is a plethora of proposed legislation that would further preempt local growth regulation – such as one piece of work that would “…force cities and counties to approve any housing development up to 100 acres if half the property borders existing residential areas (Senate Bill 208). The House, meanwhile, is about to begin moving a bill that would essentially forbid local governments from enforcing strict wetland buffers that keep new development away from environmentally sensitive watersheds (House Bill 479).

“Other bills would let lawyers for developers and local government leaders do more negotiating in secret (Senate Bill 332, House Bill 655), make it easier for homebuilders to construct subdivisions on farmland surrounding cities (Senate Bill 686, House Bill 691), and set the stage for the potential elimination of all local urban-service boundaries (House Bill 399).”

According to historians, pirates and privateers began raiding what is now Florida about the time of the first European settlers, prowling the waters, plundering anything of value on land and sea in the name of King – or abject greed – and openly preying on the weak.

They’re still coming… 

Now, their gaudy costumes and sash replaced by thousand-dollar Georgio Armani suits and Gucci loafers, their trusty sword a Montblanc fountain pen – they’re “motley crew” a passel of bright real estate lawyers and brokers who cobble together LLC’s to facilitate enormous land acquisitions – a groaning chest of cash to buy the loyalty of those we elect to represent our interests. 

But what about “We, The Little People”? 

Where is the proposed legislation to ease our burden, protect our thin slice of the pie, stop this quid pro quo insanity in Tallahassee and beyond, and improve to our quality of life here on this salty piece of land we call home?  

Yeah.  We’re screwed.  Get used to it…

And Another Thing!

“After over 20 years of planning, the developers of Ormond Crossings have broken ground on the almost 3,000-acre community.

An event celebrating the recent groundbreaking of the first phase of the development was held on Monday, Jan. 12, at the Security First Insurance headquarters.

Ormond Crossings is a mixed-use project located south of U.S. 1 and along both the east and west sides of I-95, with land in both Volusia and Flagler counties. In addition to building about 2,550 residential units, Ormond Crossings will have a commerce park and a town center with retail, restaurants and outdoor areas. Planning for the development began in 2002 and is the result of a partnership with the City of Ormond Beach, Volusia County and Tomoka Holdings. The property was acquired by the Ford family, of DeLand, in 2016; they then sold it in December 2023 to Bradford Kline and Associates, of Maryland, for $62 million.”

–Reporter Jarleene Almenas, writing in the Ormond Beach Observer, “More than two decades in the making: Ormond Crossings finally breaks ground,” Monday, January 12, 2026

You read that right…

If you thought the once quaint and infinitely desirable jewel that was the City of Ormond Beach couldn’t get any more mundane, run-of-the-mill, or mediocre – guess what? 

You ain’t seen nothing yet…

For decades, forces beyond your control – with the acquiescence of visionless political hacks who infiltrated the Ormond Beach City Commission – have waited until market conditions were optimum to begin developing the community-changing behemoth that will be Ormond Crossings. 

In turn, our clueless ‘powers that be’ have prepared for the impacts of 2,550 new residential units, a two-million-square-foot “commerce park,” and town center with retail space by allowing the Florida Department of Transportation to narrow the main thoroughfare on east/west Granada Boulevard and A-1-A, impeding the flow of increasingly congested traffic with chicanes, bumps, nonsensical medians, and a slalom course of constricted lanes that will soon be overwhelmed by the addition of motorists from (enter name of a “new” or pending cookie-cutter subdivision here).

Twenty-years of so-called “leaders” who were gifted a vibrant palette filled with natural and civic amenities, rich in history, affluence, arts, and culture – features that the visionary private investor Bill Jones used to imagine and create the heart of our community on West Granada Boulevard – inspired placemaking that, unfortunately, did not extend beyond downtown…   

Rather than build on that success, those visionless dullards in City Hall – and developers who are allowed to do as they please – managed to paint a colorless tableau, filled with uninspired strip centers, where old growth forests, specimen hardwoods, and natural buffers are churned into a muddy moonscape to make way for another carwash, convenience store, or storage facility.    

According to the Observer’s report, “At the groundbreaking event, Ormond Beach Mayor Jason Leslie said the occasion marked a “major step forward for the future of our community.”

“Ormond Crossings began with a simple but powerful question back in 2004: What should Ormond Beach look like 20, 30, and even 50 years into the future?” Leslie said.”

Is this uninspired and unoriginal “sameness” something anyone in their right mind would have wanted a beautiful blank canvas like Ormond Beach to “look like” if they had a crystal ball? 

Does Mayor Leslie think now is the right time to greenlight another massive “city-within-a-city” regional development of monumental impact on claustrophobic existing residents, especially at a time when our aging infrastructure and “patchwork” repair and replacement strategy falls short of current carrying capacity, let alone the looming impacts of Ormond Crossings, Avalon Park, Plantation Oaks, pressure from Flagler County, Daytona Beach, etc., etc.?

In my view, this isn’t a “turning point” as Mayor Leslie suggests, given the timing, it is stupid, ill-planned, and inappropriate unless and until the underlying infrastructure issues are addressed – and ‘more of the same’ isn’t “visionary” – its conventional, homogenized, and monotonous.

Of course, none of that matters to those compromised shills who invariably fall for the huckster’s ruse of “high paying jobs” – a subjective marketing term so ubiquitous with artless politicians selling massive projects to their anxious constituents that it has become a sick joke. 

Unfortunately, Ormond Beach Mayor Jason Leslie – a chameleon-like politician who can clearly change his stance depending upon the composition of the room – is clearly no exception… 

According to the Observer, “A lot has changed in the past 20 years, the mayor said, but the vision for Ormond Crossings remains the same: to create a place where people can live, work and play in their community.

Leslie highlighted the economic development opportunities that will come with Ormond Crossings to create high-paying jobs for locals. Security First, he said, is an example.”

Perhaps Mayor Leslie should perform a simple cost/benefit analysis – preferably while he’s sitting through four or more signal cycles on Granada Boulevard and (enter any cross street here) – then determine how much more of our dwindling quality of life he and another out-of-state developer are willing to sacrifice on the altar of greed?

That’s all for me.  Have a great weekend, y’all!  

Note to Readers:

I want to thank multi-media journalist and host Charles I. Guarria for having me as his guest on The Opinion Guy Podcast this week. The eclectic program features a variety of news, arts & culture, sports, food, and local politics.  Please find the episode here: https://tinyurl.com/3m3fhuaz

Hi, kids!

It’s time once again to turn a jaundiced eye toward the news and newsmakers of the day who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life or detracted from it in some significant way:

Local Hero Debbie Darino Forges Another Valuable Tool for Animal Protection

Debbie Darino is my hero. 

She is also a tireless champion for the prevention of animal cruelty – and for enacting laws that hold those subhumans who intentionally hurt or kill a defenseless animal criminally accountable for their despicable actions.

In 2019, thanks to Debbie’s diligent leadership, with the help of members of her animal rights group Justice for Ponce – a nonprofit formed after Ponce, a Labrador Retriever puppy, that was brutally beaten to death by a vile piece of human excrement just after midnight on April 8, 2017 – she successfully spearheaded the effort to pass “Ponce’s Law.” 

God’s work…

This important legislation increased penalties for animal abusers and launched a countywide online registry of people convicted of animal cruelty, ensuring these despicable individuals will never have contact with a defenseless pet again.

Now, Ms. Darino has successfully fought for a statewide database of known animal abusers which went online January 1.  According to reports, she is currently lobbying for a nationwide database of offenders to make certain they never have access to potential victims in the future.

The new registry is part of “Dexter’s Law,” legislation signed into effect in May 2025, memorializing a dog that was adopted from a shelter in Pinellas County, brutally killed, and found dumped in Fort De Soto Park four days later. 

The law also requires a 1.25 multiplier to the punishment of those convicted of aggravated animal cruelty.

In addition to her strong lobbying efforts, Debbie is founder and president of the Ponce Animal Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, that assists with the care of animals in need of medical procedures or emergency treatment. 

To donate to this most worthwhile organization, please go here: https://tinyurl.com/mvu5e4tm

Earlier this year, Governor Ron DeSantis honored Debbie as a “Florida Hero” for her tireless contributions to animal welfare – a most fitting tribute for her unwavering commitment to the protection of animals everywhere.    

Well done, Debbie!   

Florida Legislature Sells Our Future Water Quality to the Highest Bidder

Up yours, Florida residents. 

You will ultimately drink your own recycled sewage – and watch more of our environmentally sensitive waterways fouled and destroyed with runoff and other pollutants to make way for even more sprawl across the width and breadth of our state – and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.

Because bought-and-paid-for Florida legislators said so…    

If Rep. Randy Maggard of Pasco County and Sen. Stan McClain of Ocala (a residential building contractor) have their way (and they will), House Bill 479 and accompanying Senate Bill 718 will prohibit local governments from adopting any ordinances or policies regulating water quality or quantity, pollution control, pollution discharge prevention, or removal, including the delineation of wetlands.   

In my view, the true definition of self-serving was exemplified in a November 2025 report on the proposed bill by Jesse Mendoza writing in Florida Politics:

“Maggard filed a nearly identical bill in 2023 that died in the Water Quality, Supply & Treatment subcommittee. Reporting by Craig Pittman of the Florida Phoenix revealed the bill was filed after Maggard’s nephew removed an eagle nest on his property against regulations, leading to the realization that building plans for the property did not match wetlands mapping.

The 2023 bill also incited outcry among environmental advocacy groups, such as the Friends of the Everglades, that decried a lack of protection for existing local wetlands and water quality protection laws.”

You read that right.

If passed into law, the regulation and management of our drinking water will ultimately be impacted as the source is fouled when all environmental protections for sensitive wetlands, waterways, and estuaries are fully preempted to the state, i.e., a cheap brothel pimped by the development machine that owns the political paper on their elected handmaidens in Tallahassee… 

What?  You don’t want faceless bureaucrats in Tallahassee neutering important regulations that protect our most precious natural resources? 

You prefer that those elected and appointed at the municipal and county level retain home rule authority to preserve the character of our communities, set public policy that protects our homes from flooding, and ensure the quality and quantity of your families drinking water? 

Hard cheese, rube… 

In Florida, you pay to play.  Money talks and bullshit “public input” walks.

Once the law is passed, any local government who dares violate the state’s preemption will be summarily handed over to the Chief Financial Officer of Florida who will withhold any state funds to which the city or county may be entitled. 

Essentially punishing Florida residents by denying an equitable return of our tax dollars – public funds that are repackaged as state “grants” so legislators can come down with one of those giant cardboard checks, stage a silly campaign photo-op, and act like they’re doing us a favor.  

Shameless assholes…   

This should all sound familiar to waterlogged Floridians.

Last year, our craven legislators overwhelmingly passed SB 180 – a law cloaked as an “emergency management” measure to provide probable deniability, then sold as a means of assisting homeowners with expediting rebuilding following a natural disaster.

That was complete bullshit. 

After some twenty Florida cities and counties pushed back with legal action – and citizens besieged their local legislative delegations at town halls – compromised lawmakers finally confessed that the new law went too far in preempting local growth management regulations and have agreed to make a few tweaks to the law in 2026.

Don’t hold your breath… 

So, how do you think our local legislative delegation will couch this new preemptive law gutting water quality regulations to conceal its true purpose?  Legislation clearly designed to pave the way (literally) for more malignant growth by eviscerating local control of water quality and quantity?

For reasons known only to those mysterious puppeteers who keep us squabbling and divided – always expanding the partisan chasm that separates us as a means of controlling our destiny (and the results of elections) – the Florida legislature seems intent on pitting local governments against the state, asserting dominance by eliminating or reducing property taxes that pay for local essential services in favor of (who knows?).

All while abusively preempting local control of environmental protection, growth management, and development regulations to destroy the character of our communities.

In my view, the real reason is clear, and there appears to be no limit to how far these compromised shills in Tallahassee will go to centralize control and ensure the profit motives of those corporations, out-of-state hedge funds, and development interests who manipulate the process with massive campaign contributions and political donations.

If, as James Madison said, “All power is originally vested in, and consequently derived from, the people” still stands as the foundational principle of our American democracy – then it is incumbent upon We, The Little People to reclaim our power – and ensure that our state government is working in the best interests of all of us, not just the mercenary special interests of their political benefactors.

That change comes at the ballot box. 

I say again:  Vote like your lives and livelihoods depend upon it… 

Volusia Residents and Visitors Deserve Answers on Beach Safety

On the day after Christmas, a Canadian visitor tragically drowned in the ocean after becoming caught in a rip current off Ormond Beach.  The sterile facts show that a 44-year-old man from Quebec was found floating face down in the water 150-yards offshore in the 200 block of A-1-A. 

According to The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Lifeguards immediately began CPR, but extremely soft sand made transport to a waiting ambulance at the nearest beach ramp difficult.”

Despite the heroic efforts of lifeguards and EMS personnel, the victim was pronounced dead at a local emergency room.

In a subsequent social media post by the Volusia Waterman’s Association – the bargaining unit representing employees of Volusia County Beach Safety – gave us the rest of this tragic story:

“It should also be noted that due to minimal staffing and secondary tasks, lifeguard patrol units had to be pulled from neighboring zones to assist with this call. At the time of the incident, the closest open lifeguard tower was more than 1.5 miles away. Swim near a lifeguard.”

In May 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law requiring that county sheriff’s assume responsibility for law enforcement in all unincorporated areas of the state, including beaches.  The law also prohibited county governments from maintaining any law enforcement agency not supervised by the county’s elected sheriff.

The law essentially eliminated the Volusia County Beach Patrol, long comprised of triple-certified law enforcement, lifeguards, and emergency medical personnel who patrolled area beaches.  As I recall, reports at the time indicated that not all of the former Beach Patrol members transferred to the Sheriff’s Office. 

In 2023, during a trial run of the county’s new split responsibilities for beach safety, WESH -2 quoted Sheriff Mike Chitwood, “There were a lot of rescues out there, a lot of EMTs out there. That’s what they’re supposed to do, and we’re out there doing the law enforcement. We’re doing what we do best. They’re doing what they do best. It’s a win, win,” Chitwood said.”

By July 2023, there appeared to be cracks developing in one side of the new beach safety equation…

At that time, in a disturbing exposé in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, reporter Sheldon Gardner explained that Volusia County Beach Safety and Ocean Rescue was experiencing a chronic shortage of qualified lifeguards.

By any metric, protecting 47-miles of everchanging coastline is a challenging task. 

That’s why (we’re constantly told) department directors responsible for these things are paid astronomical six-figure salaries to oversee – tactically, logistically, and administratively – the protection of Volusia County residents and visitors.   

During the summer of 2023, reports indicate protection was provided by what Volusia County Beach Safety estimated at 44 full-time lifeguards/EMTs and “about” 190 part-time lifeguards, many of whom operated on a weird “come as you want” work schedule.

Not so prophetically, nearly three-years ago, I ended a rant in this space on the frightening issue of beach safety with the warning:

“I fear if the Volusia County Council continues to do nothing, all beachgoing residents and visitors can do is wait helplessly – hoping their name doesn’t follow the next grim headline, “Another victim dies on Volusia County beaches…”

So, what has been done by Volusia County leaders to ensure adequate beach safety staffing in the nearly three-years since the state mandated split in responsibilities?

I’m asking.

It appears Sheriff Chitwood has lived up to his end of the bargain, providing effective law enforcement services on Volusia County beaches.  However, in the aftermath of the Christmas tragedy in Ormond Beach, and the disturbing remarks of the Volusia Waterman’s Association, many want to know what changes are planned to ensure that the “minimal staffing and secondary tasks” lifeguards face are not a contributing factor in the outcome of beach emergencies going forward.

In the meantime, my advice is to swim near a lifeguard (if they are not otherwise indisposed), and prepare to self-rescue… 

Quote of the Week

“Nicole Crosby, a St. Johns County environmental activist and political marketing consultant, called the “Blue Ribbon Projects” bill the Legislature’s “latest nightmare,” as it will make it easier for developers of large tracts to circumvent city and county growth-management regulations.

“We’ve had an increasing number of laws that are taking away home rule,” Crosby said. “I think that’s derivative of what’s happening locally, where the slow-the-growth movements are gaining control in their county commissions and their city councils. And so the outgrowth of that is these developers going to the state, and trying to grab control that way.”

–Nicole Crosby, St. Johns County, as quoted by Mark Harper writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Fears about overdevelopment likely to drive Florida politics in 2026,” Wednesday, January 7, 2026

In a sign of what’s to come, Sen. Stan McClain of Ocala (the same Stan McClain who wants to usurp our water protections…) and Rep. Lauren Melo (a real estate broker from Naples) have each filed bills establishing “Blue Ribbon” projects, essentially incentivizing largescale developments for landowners who control at least 10,000 or more contiguous acres.

Not many of those “land barons” around, beyond out-of-state development consortiums and hedge funds… 

Ostensibly, the measures would require participating landowners to conserve at least 60% of the property.

Don’t believe a word of it…

In an excellent December 2025 piece in The Florida Phoenix entitled “Florida lawmakers promote ‘Blue Ribbon’ developers at public’s expense,” veteran environmental reporter Craig Pittman summed up the proposed law perfectly:

“No more fighting a wealthy landowner in a packed public hearing, hoping to persuade your elected representatives to vote no. These bills would give an automatic green light to some big, bad projects, as long as they check a few boxes on a form.

“This is a real estate development bill unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” investigative reporter Jason Garcia said on his “Seeking Rents” podcast.

The bills call these big developments “Blue Ribbon” projects. The term implies they would win an award for excellence, like a prize pig at the county fair.

Instead, I think these two bills should win the award for the boldest, most brazen ripoff of the public in the 2026 session. The big landowners would be the ones resembling Porky and Babe, stuffing their snouts in the trough with no one to rein them in.”

(Find Mr. Pittman’s article here: https://tinyurl.com/ywydpkv8 )

As a longtime political voyeur, one thing I’ve learned is when politicians employ the persuasive technique of repeating your own words back to you (the term is called “gaslighting”) the hairs on the back of your neck should start to rise…  

Once approved, the “Blue Ribbon” legislation would require administrative approval by cities and counties if the development meets the hazy requirements of the legislation within just 60-days, essentially removing public participation from the equation.  As I understand it, after the approval period expires, if a development fits the loose confines of the law, the project would be automatically approved for the next 50-years.  

In keeping with the current push at all levels of government to eliminate our ability to voice our concerns and participate in the planning process, the legislation would permit “Blue Ribbon” projects to be rubber stamped by government administrators – not those we elect to represent our interests.

In his incredibly cogent article, Mr. Pittman explained the fallacy of the “conservation” aspect of the bill:

“Florida has been described as a sunny place for shady people. Why that’s not our official state slogan, I don’t know.

But bear that in mind when I tell you that the one part of these two pro-developer bills that sounds attractive is as full of holes as a block of Swiss cheese.

The bills say any landowner who wants to get these development favors must set aside 60% of their property as a “reserve area.” The sponsors have been promoting this as if we’re going to get a lot of free parkland. In fact, I’ve seen it referred to in some publications as a “land conservation bill.”

But it’s not.

The language in the “reserve area” part of the bill is as loose as the wobbly wheels on an old shopping cart. It doesn’t require the landowner to keep that 60% in one contiguous area. It could be scattered here and there across the whole expanse.

Even worse, it doesn’t require keeping the land in its natural state. You could build a power station, a pickleball court, or a retention pond and call it “a reserve area” and you’d be in compliance.

Heck, put in an 18-hole golf course for your big development and call it a “reserve area.” You’ve got to reserve a tee time, right?”

This one bears watching… 

And Another Thing!

It appears another John Grisham novel is taking shape after a suspicious mass exodus of employees over at Brown & Brown…

“(David) Howden and the individual defendants filed a blistering response to the lawsuit on Dec. 26, which said neither the company nor the employees did anything wrong and that Brown & Brown workers were leaving because of a “toxic” corporate climate and pay that was below industry standards.

The 72-page response said the employee exodus happened because employees “were so unhappy with Brown’s terrible management and poor, under-market compensation” that they were prepared to leave without having another job lined up.

“The context of the departures from Brown on December 18 is very different from Brown’s narrative of a pirate raid,” Howden said in the response. “Rather, it was a prison break.”

–Executive Editor John Dunbar, writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Court grants temporary relief to Brown & Brown as ex-workers sound off,” Sunday, January 4, 2026

Please find the rest of the piece here: https://tinyurl.com/5n95tw3z  

Just three years after the Daytona Beach-based insurance intermediary Brown & Brown settled a four-and-a-half-year legal Battle Royale with top talent, some of whom went on to form the phenomenally successful Foundation Risk Partners in Ormond Beach, more drama and intrigue has befallen J. Hyatt Brown in his glass-and-steel monolith that overshadows his realm on Beach Street.

I found the accusations eerily familiar… 

According to a December 2025 News-Journal report, “Brown & Brown Inc. is alleging in a Dec. 22 lawsuit that 29 top former employees hatched a plot with a competitor to execute a “mass employee raid” targeting 200 of the insurance company’s workers from Massachusetts and offices across the country.”

The locally based insurance giant is also suing British-based Howden U.S. Services LLC, which has been accused by at least three other insurers of poaching workers in the past. The suit, filed in Massachusetts Superior Court for Suffolk County, does not say whether any local employees were affected.

The mass resignations took place on Dec. 18. In addition to Massachusetts, the suit says Brown & Brown staff in Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin resigned.”

According to the report, the lawsuit claims many of the alleged “coordinators” of the employee “raid” have “longstanding business and personal relationships” with Jim Hays, who owned Hays Cos., Inc. – a company purchased by Brown & Brown in 2018 for $750 million.

Additionally, the News-Journal reports “In August 2025, Howden announced that Hays would serve as vice chairman.”

Now, Brown & Brown alleges that after profiting from the sale of Hayes Companies to Brown & Brown, Mr. Hayes “…is now assisting Howden to illegally try to steal the business back.”

Look, I don’t presume to understand the nuances of the piratical, cutthroat, and incredibly lucrative nature of the international insurance labyrinth; however, (last I checked) we don’t have indentured servitude in this country. 

In my view, people should be free to pursue their trade – and be compensated for their skill and effort – when and where they want, within the confines of professional ethics and fairly entered contractual obligations.

According to Mr. Dunbar’s report, one of the alleged “masterminds” of the “plot” to lure Brown & Brown employees voiced his displeasure with Brown in Howden’s legal response:

“Donald McGowan, former regional president of Brown & Brown in New England, now with Howden, was dubbed a ringleader of the employee “raid.” He denies it in the Howden response.

“I had been unhappy with Brown, its management, its corporate governance, its stock price, its unwillingness to fairly compensate its employees, all while overcompensating the Brown family, for some time,” he states.”

I guess when your names on the door you can do whatever you want, but this isn’t the first time we’ve heard similar claims oozing out of Brown & Brown HQ…

During the four-years of legal wrangling that finally freed those former Brown executives who went on to form Financial Risk Partners, we heard similar tales of “betrayal” when, in 2009, J. Hyatt appointed his son, Powell Brown, to succeed him as CEO – an apparent reversal on a previous promise to Brown & Brown’s then-vice chairman to elevate him to the position.

In a revealing peak inside, made possible by legal filings and the excellent reportage of the News-Journal’s business editor Clayton Park, we also learned that some executives came to believe J. Hyatt’s kingdom wasn’t the “meritocracy” the organization had long claimed to be. 

According to a November 2018 story by Park writing in the News-Journal:

“Brown & Brown for many years under J. Hyatt Brown’s leadership had hailed itself as a “meritocracy” where employees earned promotions based solely on merit and ability.

“The sudden elevation of the younger Brown to chief executive “created a crisis of confidence in the current and future leadership of (Brown & Brown) that, in one fell swoop, shattered the trust of a workforce who was led to believe in the meritocracy Hyatt had preached,” according to the legal response.

“Right there, for the (Brown & Brown) world to see, merit and loyalty were discarded for nepotism,” the legal response states.

“The executive ranks of the company soon became the Brown family employment center, with Brown family children and relations being elevated to the highest positions in the company regardless of the merit,” the legal response adds.”

Eerily similar, indeed… 

According to the News-Journal, Brown & Brown recently won an initial victory in what will undoubtedly be a long and costly war when, in late December 2025, a Massachusetts Superior Court Judge issued a temporary restraining order against the 28 individual defendants and Howden U.S. Services LLC, prohibiting them from “…recruiting current Brown & Brown employees or soliciting Brown & Brown insurance customers.”

Like me, if you love a good legal thriller – an intricate plot interweaving boardroom intrigue and courtroom maneuvering – laced with some behind-the-scenes drama as billionaires bicker with billionaires, you’ll want to get the popcorn ready for this edge-of-your-seat clash of the titans…

That’s all for me.  Have a great weekend, y’all!