Hi, kids!

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

Let’s look at who tried to screw us – and who tried to save us – during the week that was:

Asshole           Volusia County Council

Barker’s First Rule of Citizen Engagement: Never underestimate the arrogance and stupidity of government…

A disturbing groupthink has evolved in government, now involving the misuse of the legislative process to pursue nonsensical laws and ordinances as a means of distraction, diversion, and control, cloaked as a conscience-soothing “look, we’re doing something!” exercise – an empty ego-massage that does nothing to further the public good while Rome burns…

Sound familiar?

It should…

Anyone remember the early days of the Coronavirus, when local elected and appointed powermongers banned their shut-in subjects from visiting Volusia County beaches?

A few of our panic-stricken “leaders” even suggested an expensive fence be erected to physically block us from the shore – ultimately settling on hundreds of ugly plastic markers to keep us an easily enforceable 25-feet apart – limiting our lawful right to assemble to groups of six or less, using drones to monitor our behavior?

Though most craven politicians would prefer We, The Little People forget how we were abused by “the system,” citizens will long remember that it was always about power and control – not public safety – as those we elected to represent our interests used the United States Constitution for toilet paper and flexed their legislative muscle under interminable “emergency declarations.”   

Welcome back to the ‘bad old days,’ folks…

For years, there has been a law on the books in Florida requiring that motorists obey traffic control devices (FSS 316.074) – defined by statute as signs, signals, markings, and other measures that are placed by a public body for the purpose of regulating, warning, or guiding traffic.

The law carries a stiff penalty, with fines now reaching $264.00 per incident, including three points assessed against a violator’s license and increased insurance premiums.

For reasons known only to him, earlier this year, Volusia County Councilman Danny “Draco” Robins – a self-described “limited government Republican” – announced he wanted to rain ‘deterrence and repercussions’ on hapless motorists caught in floodwaters who disregard traffic control measures during a state of emergency.

So, Robins proposed what he dubbed a “Stupid Motorists Law” an asinine ordinance which would force drivers who avoid a barricade or enter a flooded roadway to pay fines of $500, face 60 days in jail, or both…  

Apparently, the ordinance was modeled on an Arizona law that permits government entities to charge motorists who enter floodwaters for the cost of their rescue.

Last Tuesday, the same detached assholes that refuse to address the clear and present danger of stormwater mismanagement, acknowledge the correlation between the change in topography brought by malignant growth and the widespread flooding that has resulted in devastation across Volusia County, and ignore calls for smart growth initiatives to contain runoff, voted unanimously to pass what I call “Danny’s Law” – a redundant cudgel that penalizes you and I – now that streets and thoroughfares that once remained high and dry quickly become impassable during rain events.  

Bullshit.

To shore up his bullying overreach, Robins sent a letter to Sheriff Mike Chitwood and a few area police chiefs asking for support (what else were they going to do, say no?). 

Councilman Robins also directed County Attorney Michael Dyer to include a series of out-of-context photographs and social media posts from area law enforcement in the council agenda package depicting high-water rescues apparently during Hurricane Ian – exploiting the pain of residents caught in floodwaters through no fault of their own.  

In an even more bizarre stretch, At-Large Councilman Jake Johansson said, “Being a whitewater rafter and whatnot, I’ve seen people who’ve tipped their kayaks over and get caught underneath a tree,” he said. “… I don’t want that to happen anyway in Volusia County, so hopefully we can stop the madness.”

Wait.  Kayaks? 

Say what?   

Look, during weather emergencies, sometimes motorists get caught out, stalled in rapidly rising floodwaters, and forced to make tough decisions.  That was a consideration of Chairman Jeff Brower, who wondered if the ordinance would apply to homeowners who live on flood prone streets?  (And we all live on flood prone streets now.)   

Of course it will. 

Because this unnecessary “law” is specifically designed to punish – despite the quibbling of a Volusia County Assistant Attorney tasked with wasting valuable time on this hogwash, who said, “…those circumstances would be taken into consideration, and residents of affected streets would be allowed to enter and exit their homes safely.”

My ass.

So, if I understand it (and I am not sure I do), the County Attorney is saying we can ignore a traffic control device if we are trying to get home?

When does this new ordinance apply? 

I’m asking.

In my view, this is just another cheap powerplay to divert our attention away from the core issue of countywide flooding – and Volusia County’s total inaction on determining cause or mitigating the incredibly expensive recurring impacts…  

During my three decades in public service, whenever storm clouds gathered, law enforcement officers and first responders routinely sought to help others – rescuing those in danger, and, more often, simply pushing disabled vehicles out of standing water and escorting stranded occupants to safety.

Even when the driver made a stupid mistake in response to conditions not of their own making…

It’s called serving and protecting.

In my view, fining and imprisoning confused residents during a dynamic emergency is wrong – and this new ordinance has nothing to do with giving law enforcement a beneficial arrow in its quiver – and everything to do with political grandstanding. 

Unfortunately, I don’t think Danny is done with his reign of ‘deterrence and repercussions’ – as he continues pouring over the books, translating existing statutes into county ordinances, ad infinitium – in a never-ending quest to waste more time and resources for his own weird self-aggrandizement. 

Back when I served in government, I once worked for a plainspoken police chief who often got my attention with the terse reminder, “Pull your head out of your ass, Barker.  Focus on what’s important.”

That’s sound advice – especially for policymakers who are humble enough to accept constructive criticism…

With appropriate laws and regulations already in place, why do our officious doctrinaires in DeLand spend so much valuable time devising supercilious ways of squeezing more, more, more out of their already strapped constituents while wholly ignoring the serious civic, environmental, and economic threats we face? 

Madness, indeed.  

Angel               Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce

This week, the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to the Volusia County Council lending its powerful voice in support of an innovative Dog-Friendly Beach pilot program that District 4 Councilman Troy Kent proposed earlier this year.

With dogs currently limited to two small areas of Ponce Inlet and New Smyrna Beach – Mr. Kent hopes to establish a more convenient area to accommodate dogs on a leash in Ormond Beach.     

In March, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service nixed the idea of a trial program near Bicentennial Park in Ormond-by-the-Sea, citing concerns about dogs in a designated natural beach management area, which required the Council consider a location farther south.   

As often happens when someone dares to challenge the stagnant status quo, Councilmen Danny “Draco” Robins and Matt Reinhart voted to quash Councilman Kent’s proposal. 

Why? 

I assume because Mr. Robins abhors anything that might be enjoyable for residents – and Mr. Reinhart hasn’t had an original thought since he took his seat in January – apparently finding it easier to simply follow his buddy’s lead…

Unbelievably, the idea was first proposed by Mr. Kent in January – and the rusty wheels of bureaucratic procrastination continue to grind ever so slowly.

In my view, this is a perfect example of county government taking a simple suggestion – the establishment of a small area on our 47-miles of beach to accommodate pets – and making it so onerous, complicated, and expensive that it takes the fun out of the concept, paints any elected official who supports it as a spendthrift, and exasperates supporters until they simply give up and go away.

Even with a generous donation of $100,000 in start-up funds offered by Ormond Beach philanthropists Nancy and Lowell Lohman – we were told if the project were approved – it would be at least November before the proposed trial period would begin.

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

“The Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce supports a one-year pilot program in Ormond Beach, its board of directors wrote in a June 26 letter to County Council Chair Jeff Brower.

“We believe implementing a Dog-Friendly Beach pilot program in Ormond Beach would enhance our community’s livability and attractiveness as a tourist destination,” the letter states. “It aligns with the values of inclusivity and responsible pet ownership while fostering a stronger sense of community among residents.”

A year, the chamber stated, would give the county enough time to evaluate the program’s effectiveness and address concerns to determine its long-term viability and impact on beachgoers.

“We believe implementing a Dog-Friendly Beach pilot program in Ormond Beach would enhance our community’s livability and attractiveness as a tourist destination,” the letter states. “It aligns with the values of inclusivity and responsible pet ownership while fostering a stronger sense of community among residents.”

I agree.

According to the report, at a recent meeting, the Ormond Beach City Commission began to waffle – getting weak in the knees after Commissioner Harold Briley received “several emails” from residents of a “condo-hotel” located south of the Rockefeller beach approach “expressing concerns.” 

That discussion prompted Mr. Briley to inquire if his “colleagues” wanted to pull the old Ormond Beach Flippity-Floppity and pull their initial support for the proposal?  

Like the good political crawfish he is, Mayor Bill Partington mewled, “It’s a strange situation that instead of picking the most logical, commonsense spot for it, they chose (a location) in front of people’s homes,” Partington said. “I don’t think it’s the correct place for it.”

Whatever.

Apparently, Mayor Partington doesn’t bother staying abreast of issues facing his constituents (unless, of course, their concerns are written on the back of a campaign check), so he is clearly unaware that moving the location of the pilot was necessitated by eleventh-hour environmental concerns brought by the USFWS, who hold Volusia County’s Incidental Take Permit which protects shorebirds, sea turtles, and other threatened species.

Now, the usual fear-mongers are telling flashlight-under-the-chin scary stories that a dog-friendly beach could potentially violate the permit and end our century-old tradition of beach driving…

Bullshit.

The Volusia County Council will take another look at Mr. Kent’s proposal on July 11.

Don’t hold your breath… 

Anything inventive or enjoyable rarely comes to fruition here on the “Not-So-Fun Coast.” 

Something tells me the all-powerful bureaucratic machine is working overtime in the bowels of the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Building to puff-up costs, erect hurdles, and ensure that Mr. Kent’s suggestion ends up in the same fetid shit-trench that every one of Chairman Jeff Brower’s campaign promises landed in…

Look, we may disagree, and there are a lot of legitimate NIMBY arguments to be made – but I agree with the Ormond Beach Chamber – establishing a dog-friendly test site for responsible pet owners north of Ponce Inlet is a good idea.

In my view, well-maintained dog beaches are a fun and proven amenity in other areas of Florida – and we desperately need new and innovative programs that enhance our area’s ‘livability and attractiveness’ for residents and visitors. 

Angel               Daytona Beach City Commissioner Ken Strickland

“It’s easy to stand with the crowd. It takes courage to stand alone.” 

–Mahatma Gandhi

When watching the sausage being made, or perusing what passes for the news of the day, I am always intrigued by those lopsided votes of local councils and commissions that set public policy – or authorize the zoning changes that usher in another development – and I find it interesting to examine the machinations that result in the “yeas and nays” that shape our lives and livelihoods.

I’m not talking about those lockstep voting blocs of likeminded stooges, each indebted to the same wealthy insiders and desperately committed to preserving the status quo – that’s as dull and uninspiring as the compromised politicians who engage in it…   

But I have immense respect for elected servant-leaders who stand defiantly alone and vote their conscience – representing the needs of his or her constituents with courage – fighting against political expediency, taking the unpopular position, and doing that which is right.

From the most pressing issues of our time to the mundane matters of governance, there are many reasons why political courage is so rare, yet dissent and debate is essential to our democracy.       

Earlier this week, we learned that Encompass Health Corporation, the largest owner and operator of rehabilitation hospitals in the nation, is the latest beneficiary of the Halifax area’s unique brand of corporate welfare – a recurrent shim-sham that showers tax breaks and other “economic incentives” on massive corporations for little (if anything) in return – beyond the hollow promise of ‘high-paying jobs.’ 

In the private sector, success requires understanding the art of negotiation – when to give and when to take – the ability to think strategically, avoid potential pitfalls, leverage advantages, craft mutually beneficial outcomes, and most important, spend money only when there is an identified return on investment. 

Unfortunately, that dynamic is different in the public sector, where playing fast and loose with other people’s money does not require a lot of thought – like spending millions of tax dollars by placing appropriations on an uncontested “consent agenda,” or picking winners and losers by skewing the marketplace with publicly funded props. 

With the Halifax area experiencing explosive population growth – the region is increasingly attractive to businesses and service providers seeking to take advantage of this rapidly expanding market. 

Rather than capitalize on this unique point in our history, our ‘powers that be’ seem pathologically stuck on stupid – unable to escape the “that’s the way we’ve always done it” mindset – refusing to seize the initiative and negotiate from this fleeting position of strength.   

For instance, rather than demand concessions from Amazon – the largest e-commerce retailer in the known universe – Daytona Beach officials allowed them to build a fulfillment center at the desirable nexus of I-4 and I-95 immediately adjacent to an airport, then dutifully handed over $4 million in economic incentives, despite the anticipated impacts on our already overstressed streets, roadways, and claustrophobic residents.

In exchange, area residents were promised $15 an hour scutwork…

Now, in an informative article by Eileen Zaffiro-Kean writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, we learn that Encompass Health – who plans to construct a 50-bed inpatient rehabilitation center at the increasingly crowded intersection of Williamson Boulevard and Strickland Range Road – will “…receive city property tax breaks of up to $300,000 per year during its first five years of operation,” for a total of $1.5 million in relief. 

What’s the ROI?  

Well, it appears Encompass Health simply agreed to staff the place…

If you live here on Florida’s “Fun Coast” you may find this hard to believe – but there are places in this country who know their worth.

In counties and municipalities across the nation that value their quality of life and civic aesthetics, those who are elected to represent the interests of their neighbor’s demand concessions from industry and commerce seeking to relocate to their community.

The result is a healthy competition of civic enhancements beyond a promise of jobs (those are a given) – a mitigating investment by those corporations seeking to take advantage of things like location, a quality workforce, location, stable governance, location, successful schools, location, civic amenities, and location.    

This includes negotiating transportation and utilities improvements beyond the bare minimum required by proportionate-share agreements, parks, and recreational amenities, providing workforce housing opportunities, offering naming rights for athletic and civic facilities, philanthropic investment in the arts, and other true public/private partnerships that enrich the culture of a community.

Most important, by putting local taxpayers over out-of-state corporations, communities who know their inherent worth establish a level playing field, get government out of the marketplace, and treat all businesses – large and small – with fairness. 

According to the News-Journal report on Encompass Health, “The average annual salary for the (ultimately 98) full-time employees must also remain at or above $65,000.

If all of those goals are met, Encompass will get 100% of its city property taxes reimbursed in the first and second years, 75% in the third and fourth years, and 50% in the fifth year.

Construction is expected to start in about four or five months, and it’s required to be complete by Dec. 31, 2025. It’s anticipated the first city property tax grant will be paid in 2027.”

For the record, the annual basic cost of living for a family of four in Volusia County is $56,040…

During the meeting, the intrepid civic activist Anne Ruby asked Daytona Beach officials to consider the planned median income of Encompass employees as the inflated salaries of a few top earners can “…mask low wages among many workers on the bottom of the company pay scale when an average is used.”

Of course, “Jeff Brown, the city’s director of Economic and Strategic Opportunities, told commissioners that even if the company’s top two earners were removed from the calculation, the average would still be above $65,000 for the remaining employees. He said the majority of workers would also earn more than $65,000 per year.”

It appears that Ms. Ruby’s sound logic rang true with Daytona Beach City Commissioner Ken Strickland, who, in an abundance of caution, asked his colleagues to consider continuing the matter until salary figures could be better analyzed to make sure taxpayers are getting the most for their sizeable investment. 

Nah. 

The majority of the City Commission wanted to press forward.  Independent thought or further review be damned…  

Ultimately, Commissioner Strickland stood alone for that which he thought was right and cast the lone “No” vote.   

Good for him.

Quote of the Week

“When Tomoka Oaks was built 60 years ago, the quiet roads were not built for 300 more homes, but we are to believe that this short road measuring 450 feet leading out of Tomoka Oaks will handle approximately 600 more cars.

Escondido Condos’ residents also exit onto this short road to travel the short distance to get to Nova Road. They will be hard-pressed to work their way onto the road if residential development is allowed in the middle of Tomoka Oaks.

Residents in Tomoka Oaks North Condos and Talaquah will find it more difficult to directly pull out onto Nova.

The Trails will have many more cars coming through their development that do not want to wait in line on a 450-foot road to get onto Nova. The Trails has peaceful winding roads that were not meant for additional traffic.

The mayor speaks of finding “ways to implement innovative traffic management technologies.”

Who needs experts? Anyone living in one of the five developments that will be affected by 2,774 additional daily car trips can tell you. The quality of life, depreciation of properties, threat to the species of animals living on the land, challenge for emergency vehicles to enter and exit Tomoka Oaks and Escondido Condos, burden on hospitals and impact on the Tomoka River — which is currently on the impaired water list — are only a handful of reasons why this proposed residential development in the middle of a development is a preposterous and unviable idea.”

–Darla Widnall, Ormond Beach, Letters to the Editor, The Ormond Beach Observer, “Don’t approve the Tomoka Oaks golf course development,” Monday, June 26, 2023

And Another Thing!

“Two development proposals located just outside of the DeLand city limits are moving forward despite public concerns following recent Volusia County Council votes.

The developments required two rezonings and a Comprehensive Plan change.”

–Journalist Sheldon Gardner, writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “County Council approves 2 new developments in West Volusia despite pushback,” Monday, June 26, 2023

In the not-too-distant future, this headline – and the scores like it that routinely appear in now neutered “newspapers” across Florida – will serve as the sad epitaph for the Sunshine State.

“Despite public concerns…”

In my view, this political gaslighting – and resultant loss of public confidence in our ability to influence local governance – is the foul curse of sleazebag politicians who have sold their political souls to the highest bidder, wealthy insiders who learned early the power of Florida’s legal quid pro quo campaign finance system.

This “arrangement” is something many fed-up Floridians have dubbed “corruption in plain sight” – a sleazy pact marked by massive campaign contributions from multiple corporate entities owned by the same person, elaborate “gifts,” private jet travel, underwriting luncheons and “galas,” and funding the many perquisites of high office that come with an expected (and lucrative) return on investment.

Invariably, this Faustian bargain provides another bite at the apple for those elected officials who play the game – something not limited to one political party or the other…

Trust me.  Neither the compromised politicians, nor the well-heeled insiders who own them, give two-shits about your perspective – or the public’s perception of morality and ethics.

After what we read in the Washington Post this week – overdue revelations that our High Panjandrum of Political Power, Mori Hosseini, swings a lot of weight on this sandy spit of land – it is now clear those quaint notions of honor and decency in public service no longer matter here in the biggest whorehouse in the world…

In my view, nothing has a more deleterious effect on the public trust than the sinister disease of cronyism, insider access, and the ensuing backroom deals that are routinely sprung – ambush-style – on an unsuspecting constituency.

All while what passes for “public participation” in government is increasingly pushed off-the-agenda – out of sight, and out of mind.  Now, you and I have no influence on public policy, zoning changes, or expenditures – as our serious concerns are frustratingly ignored in favor of paying customers…

In turn, We, The Little People are shocked as our elected officials point fingers at each other and insinuate criminal allegations or spew gossipy accusations in scintillating snippets (devoid of substantive facts) from the dais, fueling more speculation and political turbidity.  

Sound familiar Deltona?

I believe in the adage, ‘where there’s smoke, there’s fire’ – and Volusia County is beginning to look like a conflagration of biblical proportions.   

In my view, it is time for concerned residents to demand that anyone – inside government or out – who believes they have credible evidence of unethical or illegal behavior to report their suspicions to those state and federal agencies charged with protecting the public trust.

Then, it is incumbent on law enforcement and ethics officials to aggressively investigate credible allegations of official misconduct, sweetheart deals, and quid pro quo arrangements to ensure the integrity and basic fairness of our system of governance. 

The health of our democracy demands it.

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 newsmakers of the day – the winners and losers – who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life, or detracted from it, in some significant way.

Let’s look at who tried to screw us – and who tried to save us – during the week that was:

Asshole           Deltona City Commission

Last week, Deltona taxpayers learned the sobering news that the patented “Deltona Severance Enhancement” is being employed once again. 

For the uninitiated, it’s a lucrative strategy employed by senior administrators who have been stiffed, forced out, retaliated against, faced discrimination, or just see an easy mark in a city with no identifiable legal representation – who file lawsuits on their way out of the revolving door… 

For instance, you may remember the destructive saga of former City Manager Jane Shang, whose tyrannical reign ended following a long overdue vote of no confidence by the City Commission?

On her way out, Shang pulled the ripcord on a $286,881 Golden Parachute and left Deltona in flames…

In May 2022, the Deltona City Commission settled a lawsuit by former interim manager Marc-Antonie Cooper, who claimed racial discrimination after he was passed over for promotion in favor of yet another “interim” manager in Public Works Director-turned-Interim City Manager John Peters III.   

Mr. Cooper walked with $45,000.

Interestingly, at that same meeting, the elected officials added a 20-week severance package to Peters’ contract, which amounted to approximately $63,000 if he were to be fired without cause.

In September 2022, the City of Deltona paid former Human Resources Director Richard Adams $225,000, to settle a suit claiming retaliatory termination after Adams investigated Mr. Peters for “inappropriate and discriminatory” comments…

Remember? 

Last week, an informative article by The Daytona Beach News-Journal’s Wild West Volusia reporter Katie Kustura confirmed what long-suffering Deltona residents had been dreading:

“Deltona’s former acting city manager and the former deputy city manager are suing their ex-employer.

John Peters III filed a breach of contract lawsuit regarding his employment as acting city manager, and Stacey Kifolo filed a lawsuit under Florida’s Public Sector Whistleblower Act.

Each is seeking in excess of $50,000 in damages, according to court records.”

The facts spelled out in the respective actions are shocking – and provide a unique window into the dark dysfunction and gross mismanagement at play inside the cloistered walls of Deltona City Hall.   

Not surprisingly, among Mr. Peters’ claims is the fact that, although he was summarily forced out during a shambolic meeting in September 2022, the city has yet to pay the $63,416 in severance they promised.

The Kifolo case is something entirely different – and calls into question the City Attorney’s veracity and continued viability…

According to the report, “Kifolo was hired by Peters in August 2021 as deputy city manager. She said her work environment became more hostile when Peters left and Marsha Segal-George, one of the city attorneys, stepped into the role of interim manager.

Kifolo said she was retaliated against by Segal-George and a few of the sitting commissioners for raising concerns over the goings-on in Deltona including questions about the city pension plan, emergency services, and collective bargaining issues with the city firefighter’s union.” 

Although Segal-George’s odd term as interim manager ended on October 3, 2022 – with no official extension of her appointment by the City Commission – on October 5, 2022, Segal-George unilaterally suspended Kifolo, mysteriously accusing her of insubordination, but without explanation – after Kifolo filed a formal complaint with Human Resources the day before…

According to reports, Kifolo was later told by an outside labor attorney that Segal-George had accused her of failing to share an email regarding the firefighter’s contract – something Kifolo’s suit describes as “knowingly false.”

Shortly thereafter, like Frankenstein’s monster – Jim “The Chiseler” Chisholm was reanimated from retirement and brought in as the city’s umpteenth interim manager – confirmed in a shim-sham that bore no relation to a professional vetting process. 

Within days of his appointment, Chisholm further muddied the water when he “…told the commission Kifolo had not been suspended but placed on administrative leave without any disciplinary action, according to the lawsuit.”

“On Oct. 13, 2022, Kifolo submitted a follow-up complaint to HR detailing the hostile work environment and retaliation she’d experienced, the lawsuit states. She was fired on Nov. 16, 2022.”

In another strange twist, the controversial Marsha Segal-George – a former partner in the Orlando law firm that was terminated by the City of Deltona earlier this year – was (I think) reappointed to the City Attorney role with an hourly rate of $150.00.

I say, ‘I think,’ because, although most assume Segal-George is Deltona’s attorney, no one is sure a contract exists. 

I mean, Ms. Segal-George has all the earmarks of a city attorney – she sits next to Chisholm during meetings, shuffles papers, grunts, and nods at all the right times – but no one outside the inner sanctum in City Hall (including the elected officials) has seen her rumored employment agreement…    

Unfortunately, massive lawsuits, unchecked stormwater, increasing fees, obfuscating city managers, and dubious legal representation are the least of Deltona’s mounting problems.

During the regular City Commission meeting on Monday evening (which are increasingly rare, with meetings unilaterally cancelled by the Interim City Manager – and certain elected officials showing up only when they feel like it – a classic element of The Chiseler’s patented strategy of orchestrating the public’s business behind closed doors), things quickly dissolved into contretemps, criminal allegations, and wild histrionics from the dais.

In other words, it was a typical Deltona City Commission meeting…  

To her credit, the intrepid Commissioner Dana McCool did her level best to represent Deltona taxpayers with logic and a level head – fighting valiantly to reduce the fiscal and traffic impact of increased development in the proposed Deltona Village BPUD (she was overridden in the attempt) – pressed the tough questions regarding service levels during the debate of fee increases and demanded transparency during the upcoming budget process (please don’t hold your breath, Ms. McCool).      

Then, things got interesting…

During his final comments, Commissioner Jody Lee (a/k/a Jody Lee Storozuk?) recounted a cryptic tale of a recent behind-the-scenes meeting between unnamed developers, Mr. Chisholm, and a mystery sitting commissioner to discuss electing “likeminded” candidates who could help facilitate future development projects. 

Yeah.  You read that right.

According to Commissioner Lee, City Manager Chisholm “didn’t like the conversation” and walked out of the meeting…    

In exposing these “shenanigans” (his descriptor, not mine), Commissioner Lee went on to decry the “good old boy” system in Deltona and encouraged his “colleagues” not to “get in bed” with developers.

Damn.  If true, that’s disturbing.

In my view, Commissioner Lee owes his constituents the facts in support of these spurious allegations, rather than allow more instability and speculation. 

Then, things took a more ominous turn when Mayor Santiago Avila leveled credible allegations against Commissioner Tom Burbank citing systemic violations of Florida’s Sunshine Law as, despite repeated warnings, he continues to disseminate emails to his fellow elected officials discussing issues which could foreseeably come before them for action.

The very definition of a Sunshine Law violation.

More disturbingly, Mayor Avila stated that Commissioner Burbank thumbed his nose at State Attorney R. J. Larizza – apparently making fun of Mr. Larizza’s office for not acting on previously alleged Sunshine Law violations. 

In turn, Mayor Avila insinuated that Burbank – who was previously censured by his “colleagues” for publishing hateful slurs against a Deltona resident – was misusing his position by engaging in the political persecution of outspoken citizens and critics.   

Things ended with Mayor Avila angrily asking, “If R. J. Larizza is listening, maybe he should look into it,” before abruptly gaveling the contentious shit-show to a close…

Wow. 

I don’t know if Mayor Avila’s entreaty to Mr. Larizza was a challenge – or a cry for help? 

Look, by any metric, Deltona is a city in crisis.

In my view, it is high time for outside intervention from state and federal authorities responsible for protecting the public trust and ensuring the proper stewardship of public assets, funds, and services.

From the vantagepoint of over thirty years in local government, this madness should not be permitted in a modern municipality – and the good citizens of Deltona have been victimized long enough.

Asshole           Team Volusia Economic Development Corporation

Those high-flying globetrotters over at TVEDC – that redundant public/private scam that throws our hard-earned money around to bring all those “high paying jobs” you hear so much about (but never materialize) home to the “Fun Coast” – recently accompanied Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry on a junket to Budapest.

That’s right.  Budapest…

According to media reports, Team Volusia’s President and CEO for Life Keith Norden led a group to the Hungarian Summit 2023 earlier this month – ostensibly an economic/cultural/educational confab “…bridging the gap between the two countries in business and higher education.”

A similar “summit” was held in Daytona Beach last year, sponsored by something called HungarianHub, a not-for-profit operated by Piros Pazaurek, a local resident who claims the title “Honorary Consul of Hungary in Central Florida.” 

Which makes sense, I guess.   

I am certainly no expert on international business affairs – so, perhaps there is a Hungarian logistics company looking to cram an industrial warehouse offering $15 an hour scutwork at the increasingly crowded interface of zero-lot-line subdivisions and gridlocked thoroughfares in Daytona Beach?

Because that seems to be TVEDC’s stock in trade…

This week, our jetsetters over at Team Volusia are enjoying the sights and sounds of Paris in Spring at the International Paris Air Show…

How fun! 

How’s by you?  Yeah, I know…

Now, I have no idea what Norden and Company hope to lure here from Le Gai Paris! – but under the current process, we could be vying for a massive distribution center, a modern manufacturing operation, or a toxic waste incinerator – because any endeavor will be cloaked under a secret squirrel code name requiring our elected officials vote in the blind to authorize a lucrative publicly funded incentive package. 

In this political environment, where oversight is abhorred – anything is possible…

As a result, in Volusia County, our “economic development” efforts have become a bad “Let’s Make a Deal” episode – where elected officials are asked to give away our money on dubious corporate welfare schemes with little, if any, prior knowledge of what is behind door number three.

That’s wrong.  But nobody who should seems to give two-shits.

According to the excellent reportage of Charles Guarria in Hometown News Volusia, perhaps some public good may inadvertently come from Mayor Henry’s jaunt to Budapest:   

“The mayor referred to the cleanliness of Budapest. He noted how trash is hardly seen when moving about the city. Mayor Henry intended to speak to Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony to gain an understanding of how they keep the city clean. He will share his findings upon his return.

Mayor Henry also was part of a group that toured an Audi manufacturing plant, a university and a public school. Daytona Beach was gifted a statue by representatives of the Hungary government. The statute will be on display at a yet-to-be-determined location. Mayor Henry said the Hungarian Summit “has been great.”

Great…

Angel               First Step Shelter Board

In March, The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported that the First Step Shelter Board was considering an aggressive idea hatched by Director Victoria Fahlberg that would have established “on-site rental housing” to warehouse clients who require on-going support and cannot be placed in permanent housing.

According to the report:

“The concept being explored involves locating a dozen mobile home-like structures on the open land about five miles west of Interstate 95 and in a corner of the shelter parking lot.

The 12 trailers would be subdivided, and there would be space for a total of 33 tenants.

The people who live in the trailers would enter a lease agreement with First Step. Their rent would be based on what they can afford, and they would still be able to use the shelter’s meal program, transportation service, medical clinic, and washers and dryers.”

At the time, the First Step Shelter estimated the cost to renovate and reconfigure surplus portable classrooms no longer needed by Volusia County District Schools at $100,000 each…

To their credit, last week, the First Step Shelter Board made it clear they are not interested in establishing rental housing at the site. 

Smart move.

In my view, expanding services just when the program is beginning to show signs of progress has a feeling of too much, too soon – an overly ambitious move – given that the shelter has yet to stand on its own financially…  

Fortunately, things appear to be looking up in the hinterlands off US-92. 

According to the News-Journal, of the 960 people served by First Step over the past four years, a respectable half of those have gotten off the streets and into permanent housing, with 90% of those still having a roof over their heads. 

In addition, the First Step program recently grew from helping about 40 people at a time to 60. 

Although that remains far below the one hundred active clients we were promised, it shows improvement. 

Earlier this year, the News-Journal reported that First Step now has a whopping annual operating budget of $1.46 million, most of which is still annually subsidized by Volusia County and Daytona Beach taxpayers ($400,000 each).   

Look, from the inception of the First Step Shelter – the arithmetic never made sense. 

Hell, nothing about this enigmatic program was ever made clear to the average Volusia County taxpayer.  We were originally sold on a 24/7 come-as-you-are homeless shelter – but got an incredibly expensive “shelter in name only” instead.   

In February, a Mardi Gras themed black-tie soirée billed as “The Mayor’s Gala” was held in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort – complete with a juggler, magician, and stilt-walker. 

The “gala” generated just $272,797 in private funding, which netted $234,319 after the lavish party expenses of $38,478 were settled – which, according to my math, means the First Step Shelter fell short of its original $250,000 fundraising goal. 

Yet, when the idea of permanent rental units was floated earlier this year, Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry, who also serves as president of the First Step Shelter Board, was “…confident that $400,000 could be raised to renovate the first set of trailers.”

How?

Many in the community were not so confident that a rental program could be sustained with private donations alone…

Fortunately, it appears Mayor Henry has cooled to the notion of permanent rental housing at First Step. 

According to a recent article by Eileen Zaffiro-Kean writing in the News-Journal:

“I’m not in a rush to construct out there. There’s a lot of different models that could work.”  Henry said he wants to stay focused on the shelter’s main commitment to help people get into housing in other parts of Daytona Beach.

“I don’t want to be in a place where we become something new,” Henry said. “I want to be even greater for our central mission.”

In my view, board member and former Ormond Beach City Commissioner Dwight Selby was more to the point, “…this is a great idea someone should do,” but not First Step Shelter.”

“This is mission creep,” Selby said. “We’re not engaged in permanent supportive housing.”

In my view, the First Step Shelter Board should realize that it is going to take more than jugglers and magicians to raise desperately needed private support – especially for a complex program that remains a mystery to many taxpayers.

The fact is, building public confidence will require transparency – less bashing of critics and belittling those with questions – and more community outreach, education, and explanation.    

That begins by sharing a broader understanding of First Step’s core mission, a strategic plan for meeting its expanding needs, and clarification on why the reasonable goal of assisting one hundred clients remains so elusive?   

Asshole           Volusia County Council

I had a rather animated conversation this week with a young man of immense potential who is considering a 2024 run for local political office. 

Because I consider him a friend, I did my best to talk him out of it…

When the potential candidate persisted in asking for advice, I suggested that he and his wife sit down somewhere quiet, take out a sheet of paper, and write a single sentence across the top summarizing why he wanted to put his family through the meatgrinder of what passes for a “Fun Coast” political campaign.

I told him the justification could be anything from “I want to create a better community for my children,” “I want to help my rich friends in the development community get richer by building more apartments,” “I like it when important people laugh at my jokes,” or “I’m concerned about our environment and drinking water” – all of which are tried and true reasons to run for office.   

Then, I asked him to list all the things he was willing to sacrifice – reputation, time with family, financial and personal privacy, friendships – including walking the slippery slope of bending one’s personal ethics in an era that demands absolute fealty to those who fuel political campaigns with massive contributions while expecting a return on investment…

Our discussion turned to how elected officials, even those who enter politics for all the right reasons, quickly become everything they hated – taken in by the constantly expanding “system” – ultimately becoming indentured servants of the bureaucracy.

In time, the people who elected them (and pay the bills) are slowly perceived as a necessary nuisance – a noisy hindrance to be suppressed and ignored – all while the bloated bureaucracy continues to metastasize like a malignant tumor…

And that was when one man’s noble desire to serve collided with one of the most insurmountable conundrums of our time – one that has been made virtually impossible for even the most altruistic elected official to change – especially when square pegs of independent thought are quickly pounded into the round hole of conformity.

There is no denying, in Volusia County, bureaucratic expansion has become parasitic – no longer rational, functional, or governable – slowly exsanguinating its host – and our elected officials are unable or unwilling to control it, especially now that they are beholden to the senior ranks for access and information.

A disturbing example of Parkinson’s “Law of Multiplication of Subordinates” occurred this week when County Manager George “The Wreck” Recktenwald announced the appointment of Joseph DeMore, the former warden of Butler County Prison in Pennsylvania, as our new Corrections Director effective July 13. 

What?  You didn’t know there was a “nationwide” search underway to recruit a new Corrections Director?

Me neither…

Regardless, Director DeMore was approved by unanimous vote of the Volusia County Council on Tuesday – now that the ugliness that necessitated his hiring is comfortably out of sight and out of mind…

According to reports, he will be paid $148,000 to start, and – as self-described “beach people” – DeMore and his wife will realize their decade-long dream of moving to the area. 

I don’t know Director DeMore – I’m sure he is an experienced professional – well equipped to manage and oversee the Corrections Division.

But so was “interim” Corrections Director Steven Smith…

As I understand it, Smith will return to his role as Volusia County Jail Warden, and will now report to DeMore, who will report to Public Protection Director Mark Swanson, who will report to Deputy County Manager Suzanne Konchan, who (I think) reports to The Wreck, whew…

Yeah.  I know. 

Although the mere thought of crippling nausea prohibited me from watching the meeting (which ended just shy of 3:00am) – I’ll just bet that during Tuesday’s welcoming ceremony no one on the dais bothered to ask The Wreck why Volusia County could not promote a middle manager from within?

Or inquired of Director DeMore, as a seasoned penologist, to publicly explain his thoughts on placing inmates in four-point restraints in the nude – a disturbing practice reminiscent of Abu Ghraib – that The Wreck cited as one reason for the controversial termination of former Corrections Director Mark Fowler. 

Look, none of this is Director DeMore’s fault – hell, he just got here – and no one wants to upset the pageantry and backslapping that accompanies welcoming a new senior administrator to the fold with uncomfortable questions from our elected representatives, eh?   

But a cursory check of govsalaries.com for 2021 (the latest year available) requires you go 122 employees deep before you reach someone making below $100,000 – not including benefits… 

As we begin the “budget process,” it is time for our elected officials (each of whom bills themself as a “fiscal conservative,” yet prove, time-and-again, they wouldn’t know a real fiscal conservative if one jumped up and bit them on the ass) to start the process of “right sizing” this out-of-control bureaucracy in an environment where Volusia County taxpayers still earn far below the state and national average. 

In my view, it is unsustainable and immortal for our elected officials to permit this top-heavy monstrosity to continue hemorrhaging more of our hard-earned tax dollars funding redundant positions.

Quote of the Week

“New District 5 Councilman David Santiago has missed four of the 11 regular Volusia County Council meetings that have occurred since he joined the governing body this year while his six fellow council members have had near-perfect attendance.

This has not gone unnoticed. Deltona City Commissioner Dana McCool, who lives in Santiago’s district, recently raised the issue on “The Smoking Truth” podcast, which she cohosts.

“I want to understand, when is it ethically and responsibly wrong for an elected official to miss meetings that they were elected for?” she asked. “And I love this person but I want it answered to the constituents because I deserve better in District 5.

Santiago says he has had good reasons for missing those meetings and said he doesn’t plan to miss any more. He also noted the council’s job goes beyond the dais, including serving on committees.

“There’s countless discussions and meetings and conference calls and constituent services that happen throughout the week,” he said in a phone interview.”

–Journalist Sheldon Gardner, writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Councilman Santiago has missed 4 of 11 regular meetings; county has no policy on absences,” Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Hey, Volusia County taxpayers, guess what?

We deserve better for our $51,292 a year…   

And Another Thing!

“Daytona Beach City Commissioner Stacy Cantu said she would like to see a grocery store at Daytona Entrada because it would benefit those who live along ISB, west of I-95. That includes the future residents of the planned 1,600-home Waypoint community south of the intersection of ISB and Tomoka Farms Road.

“It could help divert traffic from LPGA Boulevard (to the north) as well as Beville Road (to the south),” she said.”

–Daytona Beach Commissioner Stacy Cantu, as quoted by business editor Clayton Park, writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “A huge project is being planned at Daytona’s ‘gateway.’ Here’s what we know about it,” Friday, June 16, 2023

I’m sorry.  But that doesn’t make sense to me… 

How about you? 

What do the claustrophobic residents of the Halifax area think? 

Do you believe the proposed “Daytona Entrada” – a massive 121-acre development that promises to shoehorn another 208 rent-to-own townhomes, 359 apartment units, and nearly 115,000 square feet of commercial space on already overcrowded LPGA Boulevard west of that two-lane Monument to Mediocrity at the Tomoka River pinch point – will “divert” traffic from LPGA Boulevard and Beville Road, or add to it? 

I’m asking. (Because no one in a policymaking role cares what you think…) 

I find it interesting that whenever I speak to our new neighbors in places like Margaritaville and Mosaic – or the frustrated residents of the LPGA community – they’re scared shitless about what the future holds as their elected officials commiserate with them – then continue to rubberstamp more, more, more development in this asinine shove ten-pounds of shit in a five-pound bag growth management strategy. 

According to the News-Journal, the Daytona Entrada project could include a “large anchor tenant” (even as many of our current “anchor tenants” are rapidly closing their doors in established shopping centers along ISB), along with more fast-food restaurants, and “shops.” 

I found it interesting that when the developer was asked why they selected the area at LPGA Boulevard and West ISB, they cited pie-on-the-sky plans by FDOT and Volusia County to “eventually” widen LPGA – now that explosive growth has been allowed to outpace transportation infrastructure:

“It’s really the entry point to Daytona,” said (Jawaad) Khanani (of Elevation Development, LLC) of the site. “It’s already got a lighted intersection and we feel the growth there is definitely advantageous for our project.”

“We also really like the planned infrastructure improvements,” he added, referring to plans by the Florida Department of Transportation and Volusia County to eventually widen LPGA Boulevard west of I-95 from two to four lanes.

There is no telling when those road improvements will actually happen.

Funding has yet to be secured for the road-widening project, which would include a new interchange where I-95 and LPGA Boulevard connect as well as a new four-lane Tomoka River Bridge.”

Again, I’m not an expert – but I am skeptical that adding more development along a two-lane roadway already described as “critical” by both public and private transportation experts will help alleviate the growing problems on LPGA Boulevard.

In fact, Maryam Ghyabi-White, Central Florida’s preeminent traffic engineer, who has been working hard to find solutions on LPGA Boulevard, said in a prophetic 2021 interview with The Daytona Beach News-Journal:

“I have moments, really angry moments where I say, ‘This shouldn’t be that way. How can we approve all of these projects knowing we didn’t have the capacity? Who does that?’ But, again, I advise myself not to look back.”

Earlier this year, Ms. Ghyabi-White advised that construction on the LPGA interchange and improvement project was not expected to begin before 2028 – with completion taking an estimated 30-months… 

Good luck, residents of Boomtown Boulevard and beyond.

You’re gonna need it…

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

Hi, kids!

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

Let’s look at who tried to screw us – and who tried to save us – during the week that was:

Angel               Mark Bryson

“Mark Bryson’s last act was a selfless one.

The 42-year-old Lakeland man, having already rescued two children from a hazardous rip current off Daytona Beach, swam out to rescue one more person, a family friend. He didn’t make it.

“What he did is who he was,” said his fiancee, Lori McElligott. “Even if it wasn’t our family, if he saw anybody in danger he wouldn’t have hesitated to go rescue them. You know, he helped everybody.”

–Reporter Sheldon Gardner, The Daytona Beach News-Journal, ‘What he did is who he was’: Man dies off Daytona Beach after rescuing others from ocean – Fiancée says hotels, county officials should post more rip current warnings,’ Friday, June 9, 2023

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends…”

–John 15:13

I didn’t know Mark Bryson; I doubt you did either. 

But he died a hero. 

On June 2, Mr. Bryson and Ms. McElligott were enjoying a day on Daytona Beach with family and friends celebrating their daughter’s seventh birthday.  At approximately 11:00am, as Bryson built a sandcastle with his daughter at the water’s edge, he heard one of his children, a family friend, and her young child screaming for help. 

Without hesitation, Mr. Bryson courageously ran into the ocean and saved both children before heading back out to help the struggling woman.    

Unfortunately, Mr. Bryson died attempting to save the life of his friend. 

Although responding lifeguards performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Bryson was later pronounced dead at Halifax Hospital. 

According to the News-Journal’s report, “The lifeguards rescued the woman and another man who had gone into the ocean to help.”

Tragically, Bryson’s death followed another drowning in Daytona Beach Shores the day before, when a 76-year-old grandfather visiting from Kentucky died after heroically saving his young grandson from a rip current…   

Now, many are questioning why there were no lifeguards on the busy stretch of beach where Mr. Bryson and his family were swimming? 

While Volusia County officials warn beachgoers to swim in front of “staffed lifeguard towers,” the cruel reality is that the lifesaving towers are increasingly few and far between – with beach safety leadership continuing the practice of assigning lifeguards to roam the beach (and Atlantic Avenue) in vehicles – rather than monitoring swimmers from the beach.    

During the Memorial Day weekend, beach safety officials reported hundreds of ocean rescues – so many that some longtime beach activists questioned the numbers – with many saves attributed to the prevalence of dangerous rip currents. 

In fact, on May 30, Beach Safety Captain A. J. Miller said in an interview with WESH-2 news:  

“Anytime you are swimming without a staffed lifeguard tower is risky business.”

Then, on the day of Mr. Bryson’s death, Ocean Rescue Deputy Chief Tammy Malphers was quoted:

“We need people to make sure they come down on the beach and swim in front of a staffed lifeguard tower. If you get down on the beach, there’s not a lifeguard; find one.”

But where? 

Apparently, you need an “app” for that…

In an impassioned open message to clueless members of the Volusia County Council, beach advocate Paul Zimmerman wrote:

“I was on the beach yesterday paddling, again I saw multiple red trucks on the beach, A1A, and Publix etc.  I saw stretches of 2 miles or longer with no red towers. How many tourists must die at 11 AM in the morning in the heart of our tourist district on an unprotected area of our beach?  Isn’t it time to restructure the idiotic model that has county employees, who are trained in lifeguard responsibilities, driving their red trucks around the beachside rather than sitting in towers ON THE BEACH. 

As elected officials and administrators of the beach department when will the obvious along (with) the sad death of this individual motivate you to do your job? I also remind you of the email thread that you all received a couple weeks ago WARNING you of the danger of this model. You did nothing then but make excuses. How many?”

Wow.

Two miles or longer between towers? 

Now, Lori McElligott is seeking answers as to why there was no lifeguard assigned to the crowded section of beach where her fiancée died, and, after some 300 rescues in four days, more wasn’t done to warn visitors of the grave danger of rip currents? 

According to the News-Journal:

“Volusia County Beach Safety did not have a lifeguard on duty at the tower in that section of the beach at the time. County officials urge people to swim in front of manned lifeguard stations.

McElligott said there were no warnings in her hotel about the dangers of rip currents, no one told them about the Volusia County Beaches app, which reports local conditions, and she didn’t see any warnings on the beach. She also said there was no way to tell if a lifeguard was simply taking a break from the tower.”

Look, I complain ad nauseum about what passes for Volusia County’s beach “management” apparatus – a bloated bureaucracy within a bureaucracy that seemingly exists to perpetuate its own existence rather than improve the beachgoing experience – but I have never questioned the incredible courage and dedication of those lifeguards who go into harm’s way to save lives. 

In my view, it is time for County Manager George “The Wreck” Recktenwald to take responsibility for the ongoing mismanagement that allows demonstrably failed practices and policies to remain – and the stagnant status quo to prevail.   

When it comes to these recurring issues on our pole and sign cluttered beach, where does the buck stop?

This problem didn’t happen overnight.   

One year ago, Volusia County officials reported a chronic shortage of lifeguards and announced a $500 bonus for returning staff and new recruits. 

At the time, it was announced that lifeguard pay started at just $13.24 an hour…

Perhaps one day those we elect to represent our interests on the Volusia County Council will understand the inherent risk of failing to objectively evaluate Mr. Recktenwald’s performance each December, the need to prioritize spending on beach issues, and the grave importance of addressing ongoing threats to public safety and our quality of life.

As Mr. Zimmerman warned, “How many”?

Asshole           Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington  

This week, Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington unveiled his laughable “vision” for closing the barndoor now that the swaybacked nag of malignant sprawl has bolted and is stuck in traffic somewhere on Granada Boulevard…

For the past 20-years, Partington – a perennial politician supported by our “Rich & Powerful” with a reputation for “malleability” on development issues – has loitered around Ormond Beach government, now presiding over the most asinine ‘cart before the horse’ period of explosive growth in our history.

In my view, Hizzoner’s mediocre reign has been marked by a complete lack of effective planning, no identifiable growth strategy, an abysmal environmental record that trades old growth forest for convenience stores and unkempt vacant lots, and a reputation for gross political cowardice that has allowed this once quaint community to be surrounded on all fronts and held hostage by insatiable developers who could give two-shits that our only east-west throughfare is nearing gridlock.

Now that the hue and cry of claustrophobic residents feeling the squeeze of more, more, more internal and external development  – including the looming specter of the gargantuan Avalon Park, which will soon begin the slash-and-burn land clearing required for what we are told will be between 3,000 and 10,000 cracker boxes and a ‘city within a city’ one-million square foot commercial footprint – has become too loud to ignore, Mayor Partington has announced his pie-in-the-sky “Grand Plan” for expanding transportation infrastructure.  

Bullshit.

Sadly, Mayor Partington’s laundry list of pathologically unrealistic desires as published in the Ormond Beach Observer – astronomically expensive transportation infrastructure projects that might be considered for funding around the time the Comet Kohoutek returns – is clearly designed to scam worried residents into believing he has a workable plan for getting us out of the quagmire he and his craven colleagues have created by rubberstamping every project that came across the dais…

For instance, the plethora of projects he wants us to “discuss/debate/consider moving forward to improve the conditions on Granada/S.R. 40 and overall east/west traffic flow in the Halifax area,” include:

A Diverging Diamond Interchange at S.R. 40 and I-95, similar to that proposed for U.S. 1 and I-95.

At least one extra lane both ways on S.R. 40 west of I-95 all the way to Airport Road.

A Hand Avenue overpass/extension.

Create frontage road on S.R. 40 to LPGA on the west side of I-95.

Extend Tymber Creek Road from LPGA to Granada Boulevard.

Additional east/west connectors at Fleming Avenue and Calle Grande Street; Williamson Boulevard to U.S. 1.

Commercial property available west of I-95 (i.e. Publix/bank/fast food/dry cleaners/salon.)

Accelerate/decelerate lanes placed at strategic hot spots to maximize flow.

I-95 interchange access at Airport Road overpass.

And a “…bridge over LPGA to beachside A1A to increase east/west mobility and keep trips south of Ormond Beach.”

Say what?

Considering LPGA Boulevard and Riverside Drive is located within the City of Holly Hill – a community that has worked diligently to keep its “Old Florida” charm and small-town identity despite the insanity of the massive overdevelopment embraced by its irresponsible neighbors – maybe Mayor Partington should stay in his lane and cleanup his own damn house before foisting his “visionary ideas” on other communities that are getting it right… 

In my view, Mayor Partington’s abject arrogance was on full display when he suggested a “…social media campaign on “know when to go” that will encourage retirees to use off-peak times for driving needs.”

If this tone-deaf schlub thinks retirees – who make up an increasingly large number of Ormond Beach voters – are an inconvenient constituency who should stay home and make way for the overcrowding his policies have facilitated, something tells me Mayor Partington’s political ambitions are about to land on that fetid ash heap of history where the careers of all obtuse politicians ultimately end when they lose touch with the realities of We, The Little People…   

Hey, Mayor – as an Ormond Beach resident of over 60-years who pays taxes and has suffered the sweeping ineptitude, asinine spending, lack of strategic thought, and craven cowardice that has marked your political tenure – I feel comfortable speaking for my fellow retirees when I say:  Up yours. 

Although Mayor Partington’s announcement in the Ormond Beach Observer contained a steaming pile of flowery hokum and horseshit touting his commitment to “community engagement” (since when?) – the one glaring omission in his proposal is:

How are Ormond Beach taxpayers (and our great-great grandchildren) going to pay for it all?    

Don’t take my word for it, get a load of Partington’s pandering here: https://tinyurl.com/hrmka4dj

In my view, this latest shim-sham is merely more smoke and mirrors designed to prop up Mayor Partington’s run for the Florida House in 2024 – nothing more.

At the end of the day, the only thing he truly cares about is perpetuating more of the same for his well-heeled campaign contributors – and it should now be frighteningly evident to anyone paying attention that, in Mayor Partington’s desperation, he will say anything – with all the faux empathy for our diminishing quality of life a retread politician can muster – to make long-suffering residents believe he gives a damn about fixing the now insurmountable problems his craven acquiescence and incompetence helped create.

Angel               Sons of the Beach

I half-jokingly subscribe to the Groucho Marx adage, “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.” 

But I have never regretted my long association with Sons of the Beach – Florida’s premiere beach driving and access advocacy – a grassroots organization comprised of civically active people dedicated to protecting our most important natural asset and preserving our century-old tradition of beach driving.

Most recently, a reinvigorated Sons of the Beach have been sounding the klaxon on the grave threat of coastal erosion and the disastrous policy of continuing to permit development east of the Coastal Construction Control Line – even as residents in Daytona Beach Shores, Wilber-by-the-Sea, and beyond continue incredibly expensive recovery and mitigation efforts following the devastation brought by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. 

Here in the Real World, most rational beings understand the folly of doing the same thing over and over – putting profit ahead of the public good – while expecting a different outcome.

The very definition of greed-crazed insanity. 

Now, as existing residents struggle to meet rapidly expanding property insurance premiums,  those with the wherewithal to purchase a chip in the game using massive campaign contributions (in a bizarre environment where an individual’s civic intelligence is measured by the size of their bank account) – some out-of-town developers are intent on building more high-rise ‘condotels’ east of A-1-A – blotting out the very sun that brings visitors to our area in the first place.

Fortunately, many concerned residents have come to the logical conclusion that continuing to build on what remains of our protective dune line represents a clear and present danger to public safety, the coastal environment, and our hospitality industry.

Recently, Sons of the Beach marked a victory in the fight against a 27-story condo/hotel project proposed near Silver Beach and A-1-A when members spoke in opposition before the Daytona Beach Planning Board. 

If approved, the planned development would have allowed five-years for permitting and ten-years for “substantial completion” – setting the stage for another interminable “pardon our progress” sign in front of the latest environmental insult on the beachside…   

According to Sons of the Beach, the City of Daytona Beach’s Land Development Code requires that the city take measures to protect the public welfare should a project be located “wholly within or partially within any flood hazard area” – and, according to reports, approximately half of the proposed development is within a flood zone…

“Rich Yost, newly elected President of SONS OF THE BEACH, states “the whole purpose of these policies (per city ordinance) is to safeguard the public health, safety, and general welfare as well as protect against development which may increase flood damage or erosion potential.” 

As it stands, the developer has been granted a two-month continuance…

Many thanks to SOB President Yost and those intrepid members who stood in defense of commonsense and our quality of life in fighting this monstrosity. 

Again, if you haven’t already, I encourage everyone to go to www.sonsofthebeach.org and become a member today.  While donations are appreciated, membership is free, and a great way of joining with friends and neighbors concerned about the future of our coastline. 

Quote of the Week

“Assistant City Manager Annual Salary: $150,936.65”

–City Clerk’s Office, City of Ormond Beach, Florida, Friday, June 9, 2023

Some 13-days after filing a formal public records request through the City of Ormond Beach’s third-party vendor for the Assistant City Manager’s salary and benefits, I received the terse response above – along with an electronic copy of what appeared to be a human resources brochure giving a general overview of employee benefits. 

That’s okay.  The delay gives me another bite at this rotten apple of bureaucratic redundancy.

My request was in response to reports that Assistant City Manager Claire Whitley is representing the city in testy negotiations with the International Union of Police Associations – the Police Department’s collective bargaining agent – who are working hard to obtain reasonable increases in salary and retirement benefits for Ormond Beach police officers in an era where it is extremely difficult to recruit and retain qualified personnel.

In my view, given the increasing demands on law enforcement and first responders – having the superfluous bureaucratic position of “Assistant City Manager” nickel and dime our dedicated officers out of a competitive wage is the height of hypocrisy.

Especially when you consider the starting salary for an Ormond Beach Police Officer is advertised at $46,468… 

For the record, a check of the City of Ormond Beach’s “transparency” portal finds that, last year, the Assistant City Manager received base pay of “$151.11K” – “other pay” of “$8.21K” and an “employer paid amount” of “$32.37K.”

That’s a whopping total of “$191.69K” in 2022 alone. 

For an unnecessary Assistant City Manager?  

Whoa.   

In my view, it is time for Mayor Bill Partington and the Free Spenders to start the process of “rightsizing” exorbitant executive salaries and start paying those at the tip of the spear – the brave souls who put their lives on the line to protect your family and mine – a compensation package that respects their courage, commitment, and dedication. 

And Another Thing!

They call it the old “Bait-and-Switch.” 

A confidence scam employed by old-time grifters like former Daytona Beach City Manager Jim “The Chiseler” Chisholm (who is now practicing his unique brand of “management” in the Lost City of Deltona). 

The ruse is perpetrated when, after several iterations of a controversial development are proposed – and the least-worst of all evils is approved by the elected body – another more onerous project is ultimately substituted after a period of stalling and stagnation.

Sound familiar?  It should.

Does anyone remember the super-secret “Project Delta” – the “brainchild” of the former good old boy’s investment club at Consolidated Tomoka Land Company – a development once billed as a 300-unit apartment complex with grocery store, shops, and an elevated parking garage – proposed on the site of the now demolished First Baptist Church in downtrodden downtown Daytona?   

Me neither…            

Like so many ‘grand reveals’ that make a flash in the pan then fade into the civic ether, Project Delta took on several iterations – including a weird plan floated in the waning days of The Chiseler’s reign that would have declared Daytona Beach City Hall “functionally obsolete” and replaced with a palatial, multi-story municipal complex constructed on the property then owned by CTO Realty Growth, Inc. at International Speedway Boulevard and North Ridgewood Avenue – complete with a five-story parking garage abutting a new “multifamily building” fronting North Palmetto Avenue to the east.

In an August 2020 article by the intrepid Eileen Zaffiro-Kean writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, we learned the real reason Chisholm wanted to comingle public and private funds for the project:

“Chisholm said the new development would evolve in stages, with the parking garage built first and a City Hall built later. The company that owns most of the Ridgewood Avenue block between International Speedway Boulevard and Bay Street, CTO Realty Growth Inc., has a developer under contract to build apartments on the site but could use help with the expense of a parking garage…”

This week, Westplan Investors – d/b/a “Accent Daytona Beach LP” – the Dutch developer who purchased the property in 2021, held a “neighborhood meeting” to unveil their latest plan for what is now referred to as “Project Delta West.”   

According to the News-Journal, “At issue are new plans to build five multi-story luxury apartment buildings instead of one on the downtown Daytona Beach property.”

“New plans”?

Wait, what?

In an informative article by the News-Journal’s business editor Clayton Park this week, we learned:

“The new site plan reveals what Westplan has in mind: five multi-story luxury apartment buildings, instead of one, as previously planned. The rest of the property is earmarked for surface parking with the exception of a small pad for potential commercial development.

No longer included in the plans are a grocery store, parking garage, restaurant, and retail store that CTO officials envisioned when they owned the land.

“We are amending the zoning to reflect the current multifamily layout they’re proposing,” said Cobb Cole land-use attorney Jessica Gow, who represents Westplan. “The zoning would still permit other (potential) retail or grocery uses, but those are not contemplated in their design at this time.”

Damn…

Unfortunately, it appears that the Downtown and Midtown neighborhoods will remain a ‘food desert’ for the foreseeable future. 

Many were looking forward to the long-promised revitalization of the area – including the supermarket, eatery, and new retail shops we were assured were part of the “original” Project Delta. 

Now, it appears our always upbeat downtown development gurus are moving the cheese just a little farther out of reach.

According to Jack White, the patient president of the Jack White Land Company, who, with his wife, former Daytona Beach City Commissioner Kelly White, have held on longer than most to see the revitalization of Downtown Daytona come to fruition – explained in the News-Journal that some 2,000 to 2,500 people will need to move into the area before a grocery store is viable…

“Nobody wants to be first,” said White. “Brown & Brown stepped up and built their new headquarters (which opened in January 2021) and then they created the new (Riverfront Esplanade) park across the street. If you think of it as a clock, those were giant cogs, but one of the cogs we’re still missing is getting more people living downtown.”

So, Brown & Brown wasn’t the panacea we were promised? 

I’m confused.                                                

Because I specifically recall being assured by our ‘powers that be’ that the Brown & Brown headquarters was going to solve every social, civic, and economic problem we face from malignant blight to the heartbreak of psoriasis…

In 2017, just weeks after the carefully orchestrated announcement that we would host the headquarters, both the City of Daytona Beach and the County of Volusia ponied up millions-of-dollars in infrastructure improvements, financial incentives, and property tax abatement – which, we were told, would assist Brown & Brown in obtaining even more tax credits from the State of Florida for the promised 600 “new high-paying jobs” the gleaming glass-and-steel HQ would bring to downtown.

As the News-Journal reported at the time, these lucrative spiffs were championed by “some of the city’s heaviest hitters,” to include former Mayor Glenn Ritchey, past County Chair Frank Bruno, and representatives from Halifax Health, the Regional Chamber of Commerce, Cobb Cole, ad infinitum…

There was heady talk around town – exciting words like “rejuvenation,” “recovery,” and “revitalization” were bandied about – as our “heavy hitters” assured us taxpaying pissants that downtown restaurants, shops, and bars would be brimming with free spending Brown & Brown executives – something that gave strapped area merchants reason to hang on by their splintered fingernails just a little while longer. 

(Until Brown & Brown opened a full-service restaurant inside the new building, that is…)

Remember?  I do.

All us rubes who pay the bills had to do was keep our pieholes shut and accept the massive corporate welfare, tax breaks, and other publicly funded “economic incentives” the longsuffering citizens of Daytona Beach and Volusia County showered on the billion-dollar international insurance intermediary to hedge risk and cover overhead – then, in turn, developers, grocers, and entrepreneurs would be fist fighting each other to locate downtown.     

Now we’re being told this cheap watch we were sold is still missing a “cog”?

Whatever.

Naturally, the Pavlovian response of many weary residents when the “new plan” for Project Delta West was unveiled this week was to speculate what “incentives” our economic development shills will lavish on our new friends at Westplan Investors as we await “…the next big thing”?

Stay tuned, folks. 

Because the one constant here on Florida’s “Fun Coast” is the more things change – the more they stay the same…    

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

Look, when I am wrong, I’m wrong. 

I am the first to admit it. 

But when I say Volusia County doesn’t give a tinker’s damn about citizen input on growth management issues, you can take that to the bank…

Last week, Volusia County Council Chair Jeff Brower posted a notice on social media announcing a mysterious series of “Growth Management Workshops for Residents Input” with meetings scheduled on both sides of the Palmetto Curtain. 

First you’ve heard of it? 

Don’t worry – you aren’t alone.

Turns out, the flyer posted on Facebook was created by a private citizen concerned about the lack of advertising by Volusia County…

“If you have concerns with the way Volusia County is growing please go to your district workshop and express your concerns. Volusia County Planners will be there with historical and current maps to answer your questions, not to make a speech. This is your chance to make your voice heard and your comments will be considered as we move forward to update the comprehensive land management plan.”

As a retiree – out of my prime, and out of my mind – I have lots of spare time to stay abreast of current events.    

Almost masochistically, I read all local “newspapers,” several state and national news aggregators, monitor breaking news feeds from regional network affiliates, watch most council and commission meetings from around the “Fun Coast” (at least until the waves of nausea and bone crushing boredom drive me to the Pepto) and follow most official government social media sites. 

But when it came to the serious matter of growth management, try as I might, I could not find anything of substance about these important citizen input workshops where We, The Little People can provide our thoughts on the most pressing issue of our time.

However, what I did find was a lot of pap and fluff announcing a day at the beach with three members of the Volusia County Council – District 3 Danny Robins, District 2 Matt Reinhart, and District 4 Troy Kent – to be held from 9:00am to noon on Saturday, just north of the Harvard Drive approach in Ormond Beach. 

According to an official release by Volusia County, “The three beachside Volusia County Council members are giving new meaning to government in the sunshine.”   (Excuse me, whew! I just upchucked in my mouth a little…)

“Residents are invited to wear their beach duds and enjoy a morning on the beach. They can also bring a fishing pole if they want to do some surf fishing with the council members.”

How fun!

“Free parking will be available (for now) at Andy Romano Beachfront Park, 839 N. Atlantic Ave., Ormond Beach. Parking is also available on the beach with a beach pass.”

Look, playing beach blanket bingo with three pasty politicians isn’t my idea of fun.

But this shameless self-promotion has already brought some long simmering issues and animosities to the surface for many residents – like the county’s continuing lack of a comprehensive beach management plan, the slow pace of repairs and mitigation efforts in Daytona Beach Shores and beyond, onerous beach tolls for Volusia County taxpayers, allowing new development east of the Coastal Construction Control Line, the inability of disabled persons to access the strand, etc., etc. 

In fact, Florida’s premiere beach driving and access advocacy, Sons of the Beach, has produced a disturbing video on social media depicting the devastation on large swaths of the beach and the unaddressed threat of coastal erosion – and the SOB’s plan to attend – and seek answers to serious questions…   (Find the SOB video here: https://www.facebook.com/VCSOB )

Unfortunately, I wash my beard on Saturdays. 

But under Florida law, this beach party constitutes a public meeting – which means minutes must be taken and “promptly recorded” – so those of us who cannot attend will be able to get a copy by public records request later…

As I read the publicly funded hype and horseshit – complete with an artfully designed advertisement bearing the county seal and depicting the three elected show-boaters in sunglasses – I thought back to the bad old days of 2018, when former District 4 Councilwoman Heather Post was brutally pilloried by her “colleagues” for breaking the Old Guard’s Code of Omerta and hosting a citizen engagement meeting at a public library in her district. 

Whatever. 

The “Good ol’ Boys” are in full control now – and they do what they want…

After a search, I finally found our fleeting opportunity to provide input on future growth management listed in a May 16 “News Release” under the less than descriptive “County schedules planning workshops.”

I also found a May 22 post on the County of Volusia’s official Facebook page which also listed the dates of the workshops:

May 31: Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, first-floor training room, DeLand. 

June 7: Deltona Regional Library, 2150 Eustace Avenue.

June 14: Daytona Beach Regional Library, 105 Jackie Robinson Parkway.

June 28: Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S. Beach Street.

July 5: Volusia County Fairgrounds, Hester Building, 3150 E. New York Ave., DeLand

Unfortunately, if you work for a living, please plan ahead. 

The window to “express your concerns” on Volusia’s growth mismanagement debacle is only open from 4:00pm to 6:00pm – which conveniently gets senior staff home in time for supper – but leaves precious little time for those stuck in traffic after getting off work at 5:00pm…

Good luck, friends.

If you haven’t already, I would like to encourage you to go to www.sonsofthebeach.org and become a member of this important grassroots organization today. 

Although donations are appreciated, membership is free!

In my experience, Sons of the Beach is a great way of coming together with friends and neighbors committed to ensuring public access to our most precious natural asset – while letting our powers that be know that, when it comes to preserving and protecting our beach, there is some shit we won’t eat.   

Hi, kids!

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

Let’s look at who tried to screw us – and who tried to save us – during the week that was:

Asshole           Volusia County School Board

With all deference to the great Alice Cooper, as of today, school’s out for summer in Volusia County.

Unfortunately, the district administration’s fierce dedication to mediocrity and strict adherence to the stagnant status quo continues…

During the May 23 meeting of the Volusia County School Board, parents, students, and staff looked on in sadness as Superintendent Carmen Balgobin announced the transfer of thirteen school principals and sixteen assistant principals from across the district.

This nonsensical upheaval was ordered by Balgobin’s bureaucratic fiat – then blindly blessed by the School Board…   

Amidst the embarrassing distraction of Chief Human Resources Officer Mark West’s cell phone interrupting his presentation to the board – we were told that the retirement of five principals triggered the transfer of 29 school administrators districtwide? 

(For the record, Chief West should not be confused with the district’s Human Resources Director, Professional Standards Manager, Human Resources Coordinator, Employee Performance Coordinator, Employee and Leadership Development Coordinator, Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, or Professional Learning Coordinator…whew.)   

Following Superintendent Balgobin’s diktat – and Mr. West’s tepid explanation – two parents from Orange City Elementary School spoke for many across Volusia County as they begged board members to keep their beloved principal in place. 

In fact, one parent advised that Orange City stakeholders have collected over 500 signatures on a petition to retain Principal Charlie Bynum – who now faces a cross-county transfer to Pine Trail Elementary School in Ormond Beach.   

Another parent openly wept.

Per usual, these emotional entreaties were callously ignored…

The questions – and utter absurdity – did not end there.

In another case, Troy Kent, a veteran assistant principal who currently serves as an elected member of the Volusia County Council, has been transferred from his current position as AP of Sugar Mill Elementary in Port Orange to an “Alternative Education” facility in Deltona that deals exclusively with Exceptional Education Students.   

He resides in Ormond Beach…

As I understand it (and I’m not sure I do), although Mr. Kent has extensive credentials and administrative experience, a search of the Florida Department of Education’s database finds that he does not currently possess an Exceptional Education qualification on his teaching certificate. 

You may recall that in 2021, Volusia County District Schools entered into an agreement with the United States Department of Justice following sustained allegations that ESE students were arbitrarily excluded from programs, while the district failed to implement necessary behavioral supports, and lacked training on how to properly respond to students’ disability-related behavior – to include the trauma of removing children with disabilities from school through improper use of the state’s Baker Act.

I’m no expert – but one might think with an HR bench this deep and the Department of Justice looking over their shoulder – someone in the byzantine hierarchy at Volusia County Schools either knew or should have known that Mr. Kent’s appointment to an ESE post was, at best, inappropriate – and, at worst, setting both him and the school up for failure.

Look, I don’t always agree with Mr. Kent’s politics – but this smells like an old-fashioned screw job to me.  In my view, a 24-year Volusia County educator and administrator deserves better.

I also found it interesting that Dr. Balgobin’s husband – Thomas Soli – who previously served as an assistant principal in Orange County Public Schools before being appointed principal of Riverview Learning Center in Daytona Beach (over several qualified internal candidates), was spared from the transfer list? 

Yeah.  I know… 

In response to the very real concerns expressed by parents – both during the board meeting and on the district’s official Facebook page (criticisms that were summarily censored and hidden from public view by staff) – School Board member Carl “Namby-Pamby” Persis gave his patented “I feel your pain” soliloquy (trust me, he doesn’t), always deferring to the omnipotent bureaucracy, rather than represent the needs of those who elected him. 

Why is that?

I found it telling that at the same meeting in which Superintendent Balgobin announced her administrative musical chairs – the district reported over 700 vacancies in both instructional and support roles – with 97 in the critical area of Exceptional Student Education, and 74 in core teaching assignments.

That should shock the conscience of every taxpayer in Volusia County…

Recently, a self-described “new teacher” in Volusia County Schools reported leaving the district citing a lack of support and mentorship, explaining that many opportunities which had been promised never materialized. 

In most organizations, this critical information would be considered vital to future retention initiatives – yet it was dismissed with a terse, “I wished we could have helped you earlier.  I’m sorry you had this experience,” as if the teacher were sending back an overdone porterhouse at a Golden Corral…

According to an informative report by Jarleene Almenas writing in the Ormond Beach Observer:

“So far, 756 people have separated from VCS, including 106 employees who retired.

A total of 102 reported finding employment outside of education as their reason for separation, while 169 listed personal reasons and 72 listed finding a job in education somewhere else in the state.”

Frighteningly, those in the know expect that number to increase over the summer as more teachers and staff decide to flee this sinking ship…

According to the report, School Board Chair Jamie Haynes (who always sounds completely exasperated to me) said she wants to see the district’s gargantuan Human Resources apparatus reach more potential candidates who are willing to take a ride in the meatgrinder…

“We need more options,” she said. “We need more options, because I don’t see my families in Seville or Pierson — that very well could want to be working at one of those schools — having the ability to get to Deltona. That’s a long way.”

Of course, Chief HR Officer Mark West obsequiously agreed (because, what else is he going to do, tell the unvarnished truth?) and advised Haynes, “those factors are part of the conversation at the district level.” 

Whatever that means…

“Haynes also suggested the district go beyond advertising employment on social media, and spread the word to local chambers of commerce, churches, doctor’s offices and community centers.

“There are people out there that will work,” Haynes said. “We just have to find them.”

What’s next?

Prison work release inmates? 

Ambulatory hoboes? 

Robotic androids? 

Indentured foreign nationals shipped in to teach in Volu…oh, wait…

I’m asking. 

Because whatever it is Volusia County District Schools are doing to retain professional educators isn’t working – and our children are suffering the consequences of this institutional incompetence.

Hey!  I’ve got a few ideas!

How about Superintendent Balgobin, and her throng of bureaucratic sycophants in the Ivory Tower of Power in DeLand, come to the realization that asinine practices like the haphazard transfer of principals and assistant principals – despite the pleas and protestations of students, parents, and staff – moves that in some cases result in onerous cross-county commutes – are counterproductive, ruin any sense of continuity or community, and destroy morale? 

How about listening to the concerns of teachers, paraprofessionals, and staff members then provide them with the support and mentorship they deserve?    

How about getting serious about addressing the raging “behavioral issues” that are turning our schools into a dystopian “Thunder Dome” of violence, bullying, criminality, and chaos?      

How about replacing whatever passes for the senior executive ranks in Deland with professionals who understand the need for responsive, transparent, and participatory leadership that values the contributions and suggestions of those who present the curriculum in the classroom?

That’s a good start.

In my view, it is high time Volusia County District Schools stopped using “Leading with Grace and Respect” as a sick punchline and got serious about righting that foundering ship of fools in Deland. 

I think that process starts at the ballot box…

Angel               City of Ormond Beach Police Officers

You know how they say, “Growth doesn’t pay for itself?” 

Here’s Exhibit A…

Having spent the bulk of my adult life in public service – an uneducated bumpkin who clawed my way to middle management and hung on by my fingernails – I rarely criticize government salaries or the lucrative perquisites that many in the private sector will never know. 

It seems sanctimonious for someone who drug on the public teat for over three-decades to carp about the current salaries of those still in the arena. 

Because it is. 

But as regular readers of these screeds know – my hypocrisy knows no bounds…

In my view, when it comes to the salaries and “Golden Parachutes” enjoyed by some local senior government administrators, we’ve gone from the irrational to the irresponsible, while those who deliver essential services – like law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, water distribution and wastewater treatment personnel, or serve at the interface of the bureaucracy and those it ostensibly exists to serve – continue to work for far less than their contemporaries in other areas of the state.   

That’s a problem. 

Especially when you consider that some municipal and county governments now have more executive levels than a sfogliatelle…

Recently, the Ormond Beach Observer reported on the testy negotiations between the City of Ormond Beach and the International Union of Police Associations, which represents Ormond Beach police officers, who are seeking reasonable increases in salary and retirement benefits in an era where it is increasingly difficult to recruit and retain qualified law enforcement officers.

In fact, in 2021, Governor Ron DeSantis enacted a $13.5 million cash incentive program to attract out-of-state officers to meet Florida’s growing need. 

In my view, if we paid police officers what they are worth in our society – we couldn’t afford them – and given the social and civic upheaval that continues to drive many from the profession, now is not the time for municipal leaders in one of the most affluent communities in Volusia County to cry the Poormouth Blues as they continue to rubber stamp more, more, more development.

According to reports, the city is being represented during the negotiations by Assistant City Manager Claire Whitley – who was recently captured on video making what many mistook for a slight against Ormond Beach police officers at the bargaining table.   

The out-of-context clip made the rounds on social media and rightfully angered residents who saw it, which mistakenly appeared to show Whitley commenting to union representatives, “If you were top officers, you’d go and get the top dollar.”

What Ms. Whitley actually said was, “We all know there’s lots of reasons you work here, we’re not the top paid. You are the best officers. You could go get the top top dollar, right.”

Yeah.  I’m not sure where she was going with that either…

Regardless, I found it absurd that the City of Ormond Beach would have an “Assistant City Manager” – a redundant senior management position that epitomizes Parkinson’s Law of bureaucratic expansion – sitting across the bargaining table facing brave men and women who put themselves in harm’s way, yet make thousands of dollars less than Ms. Whitley commands for polishing a wingback chair at City Hall…

A search of salary information for the top five senior positions in Ormond Beach government finds a combined publicly funded annual nut of $813,740 – not including benefits – which includes Ms. Whitley’s handsome salary of $146,540 (according to govsalaries.com for 2021). 

Really?

For the record, at present, the starting salary of an Ormond Beach Police Officer is advertised at $46,468 – about $100,000 less than Assistant City Manager Whitley commands…

You wouldn’t know it by driving down Granada Boulevard in Ormond Beach (or any other congested thoroughfare in Volusia County) but Florida law dictates “concurrency” – land use regulations that require local governments ensure that new development does not outpace their ability to manage it.

For a development to “meet concurrency” the local government must have enough infrastructure capacity and facilities to serve each proposed development.  These requirements include roads, stormwater drainage, parks, solid waste, potable water, sanitary sewer, and mass transit facilities. 

Commonsense says that those we elect and appoint to represent our interests should also consider our growing public safety needs – especially in this rapidly expanding community that is slowly being pinched from all sides by explosive growth. 

That begins by setting priorities – like determining “must haves” from “nice to haves.”

In my view, community-based police, fire, and emergency medical services are mandatory for any full-service incorporated municipality.  These highly visible, accessible, and responsive essential services provide a sense of place – a true civic identity – that results in deep bonds of loyalty between citizens and those who serve and protect them.   

Those brave souls who are willing to lay their lives down to protect your family and mine deserve our respect – and that begins with a competitive wage and benefits package in the face of unprecedented social, civic, and political challenges – and the malignant sprawl that continues to increase pressure on public infrastructure and emergency services. 

In my view, tone-deaf Ormond Beach “leaders” should stand united in support of our officers – and direct staff to ensure these brave men and women receive the compensation and benefits they deserve – because given the increasing demands on law enforcement and first responders – having a superfluous “Assistant City Manager” and various high-paid labor attorneys nickel and dime our dedicated first responders is the height of hypocrisy. 

Quote of the Week

“A brief history of the proposed Tymber Creek Apartments project: The developer’s initial request was for 299 units, which is the density granted with a PBD (Planned Business Development) waiver. 

Straight zoning would’ve been around 164 units. 

In December 2022, the Planning Board unanimously voted down the newly-proposed 270 units. In March of this year, the Florida Senate Bill 102 “Live Local Act” was signed into law, which basically overrides local decisions regarding rental properties if the property falls within certain “affordable” parameters. The law goes into effect on July 1.

Because of this law, the developer threatened to build even more apartments if the 270-unit project was not approved, claiming he could build over 500 units under the new law. On May 16, the commission approved the 270-unit project with a 4-1 vote. 

On Tuesday, June 6, there will be a second reading before final approval of the Tymber Creek Apartments proposal.

We realize that the state law has put the commission in a tight spot. However, most laws are tested in court before they can be enforced. This law will likely be challenged and therefore we believe the commission should wait before giving in to the developer. 

Even lobbyist Jeff Sharkey, CEO of Capitol Alliance Group, Inc., admitted the law was an “experiment” and that Ormond is likely among the first municipal governments impacted by the law. He also acknowledged there would be pushback because the law “may not work in Community X, but it will in Community Y.”

There’s also a question if the developer’s threat of 500 units would clear the concurrency requirements, anyway. Note that an affordable housing requirement involves nearby public transportation. We all know there is no Votran service west of I-95 in Ormond Beach, and that area will not see bus service for years to come. So technically, under the law, the applicant would not qualify for a higher density granted by the state.

People should write and come out expressing that the commission not approve the project until the law’s been tested. Most of us are aware of the multiple reasons apartments — whether they be 160, 270, or 500 — are wrong for this area.”

–Julie and Ken Sipes, Ormond Beach, Ormond Beach Observer, Letters to the Editor, “Tymber Creek Apartments,” Tuesday, May 30, 2023

And Another Thing!

I’m not one to give unsolicited advice.  Because I don’t take it well myself.     

But sometimes you see a trainwreck looming on the horizon and feel a sense of responsibility to offer a word to the wise…

Take it or leave it.

Let’s face it, most politicians are a different breed.

They possess a weird compulsion to hold themselves out – to fight tooth-and-nail through the gristmill of a modern campaign – putting their reputation on the line, scraping and groveling, selling their political souls to the highest bidder while desperately trying to convince themselves (and us) that they won’t compromise our trust – knowing deep in their hearts the ‘big bucks’ come with an expected return on investment.

Now the money is omnipotent, and rarely does the best man or woman win the day…   

Like Dr. Thompson so eloquently said, “That is the nature of professional politics.  Many are called, but few survive the nut-cutting hour…”

When the majority of their neighbors elevate them to high office, most politicians are quickly taken into “the system” – the once square peg of independent thought we voted for is quickly pounded into the round hole of bureaucratic conformity – and those who refuse to comply are just as quickly marginalized and vilified by their malleable “colleagues.” 

What remains is a neutered wooden figurehead trying desperately to remain relevant – painting themselves as an iconoclastic “everyman” – standing on the outside looking in – hoping they can convince us to give them another bite at the apple so they can “finish the job” when it comes time for reelection.

Sound familiar?

Last Friday, beleaguered Volusia County Chair Jeff Brower stood before a small group of supporters at Common Ground Farm in DeLand to announce he has filed to run for reelection in 2024. 

He joins Port Orange Mayor Don Burnette and car-guy Randy Dye in a race that is sure to attract more hopefuls in the weeks/months to come. 

I like Jeff Brower.  He is a good and decent man.   

Unfortunately, as a politician, his vision, span of attention, and strategies can be, well, shambolic. 

That is not completely his fault.    

When he ran for elective office in 2020, I went well outside my comfort zone to endorse his candidacy and spoke on his behalf at a campaign gathering in West Volusia. 

At the time, I naïvely convinced myself that Mr. Brower could deliver on his much ballyhooed (but never fully explained) “Plan B” – and he truly wanted to be the voice of a silent majority desperate for change.  In my feeble mind, he represented our last/best hope to transform the stagnant status quo – someone willing to fight for our dwindling environment and quality of life in the face of massive overdevelopment.   

Unfortunately, once elected, Volusia’s influential Old Guard crushed his every effort…

Out of frustration, I suppose – during the 2022 elections, Chairman Brower wallowed in the ugly internecine local Republican wars – fielding and openly supporting a slate of likeminded (if unknown) candidates that he hoped would break the voting bloc that had openly shit on his every campaign promise and turned council meetings into chaotic shit shows that often dissolved into little more than timewasting one-upmanship and pettifoggery.   

Rather than get out of the way and allow the grassroots candidates to run their own race – Brower came off like a domineering puppeteer – something that ultimately exuded weakness and desperation. 

When the openly hostile Volusia Republican Executive Committee unanimously rejected Brower’s “Volusia Values” slate – it resulted in Brower and Volusia REC chair Paul Deering publicly locking horns.

It was ‘poor optics,’ as they say, for both sides.

But Mr. Deering had nothing to lose…

Since the “new” Volusia County Council took their seats in January, the open hostility that was the hallmark of the “old” council has given way to a more genteel and polished suppression of Chairman Brower’s initiatives. 

But make no mistake, most of Brower’s “colleagues” will never allow his priorities a chance – at least not if they want Paul Deering and his powerful VREC to pat them on their pointy little heads and offer their endorsement again…

Now, over halfway through his first four-year term – and facing a daunting reelection campaign – Chairman Brower tells us he is now ready to “…take the gloves off.” 

Better late than never, I suppose…

In my view, Mr. Brower began his campaign kickoff last week by saying all the right things, speaking passionately about patriotism, sacrifice, and the purest motivations of public service.  

During his stump speech, Brower asked his supporters to stop looking at developers and their attorneys as “evil” (I guess, like SunRail, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, eh?) – and implored residents to “come together as a community” to collectively solve the problems we face.

Once again, Chairman Brower promised to be “our voice” to reign in the overdevelopment that many believe has contributed to widespread flooding, taxed our insufficient infrastructure, and adversely affected our quality of life.

It was inspiring. 

Then it wasn’t…

As Chairman Brower is inclined to do, the cheese slowly slipped off his cracker, as his speech veered into the weeds of weirdness when he began cryptically hinting at two mysterious companies he is courting to bring those elusive “high paying jobs” we hear so much about to Volusia County.    

Of course, like most “economic development” shim-shams we’ve become leery of – absolute secrecy is paramount – and our Chairman was not at liberty to give us the name of the companies – other than teasing that one magically cleans septic systems – while the other plans to revolutionize energy production using – wait for it – “algae.”

Call me a cynic, and I could be wrong, but it sounded an awful lot like Mr. Brower’s unilateral business recruitment efforts will somehow involve expending county staff time, and, ultimately, our tax dollars?    

According to an article by Sheldon Gardner and Mark Harper in The Daytona Beach News-Journal:

“Brower talked about an effort he’s working on with county staff to bring in a business that he said would change lives and how energy is used.

“I want that company here in Volusia County because it will create hundreds, maybe thousands, of high-tech, high-paying jobs that change the energy consumption of what drives our economy all over the world … using algae,” he said.

He said he’s not ready to reveal the details of the potential project yet.”

There you have it. 

Perhaps his campaign slogan should be, “Brower ’24: From the Sublime to the Ridiculous…you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” 

In my view, Mr. Brower should realize that as we anxiously face the start of the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season, Volusia County residents are not so much concerned about heating our homes with algae farts as we are about hardening and insuring our properties, even as many of our neighbors are still completing repairs from last season – rightfully worried about the threat of more devastating floods – and county government’s unwillingness to determine its cause or mitigate the risk. 

Here’s my sliver of unsolicited advice to Mr. Brower as he throws what’s left of his hat in the ring:

“Keep the crazy to a minimum.” 

Sorry.  But someone had to say what everyone is thinking…

We, The Little People, who pay the exorbitant bills and suffer in silence are seeking substantive answers to the serious issues that affect our lives and livelihoods here on the “Fun Coast,” starting with a Volusia County Council that is capable of building consensus and collaborating with policymakers in the municipalities to develop comprehensive solutions and rebuild public trust.  

If Chairman Brower hopes to regain the respect and confidence of Volusia County residents in 2024, he must demonstrate substantive progress on the serious issues we face.  That will require strong and decisive leadership and a laser focus on finding solutions – not more pie-in-the-sky horseshit, partisan bitchery, and political hoopla…   

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

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Angels & Assholes will be on hiatus next week while your intrepid scribe goes under-the-knife once again to correct the final cataract plaguing my foggy right eye.   

As always, thanks for your understanding and support.

“See” you real soon!

Mark