“The administration of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) steered $92 million last year in leftover federal coronavirus stimulus money to a controversial highway interchange project that directly benefits a top political donor, according to state records.
The decision by the Florida Transportation Department to use money from the 2021 American Rescue Plan for the I-95 interchange at Pioneer Trail Road near Daytona Beach fulfilled a years-long effort by Mori Hosseini, a politically connected housing developer who owns two large tracts of largely forested land abutting the planned interchange. The funding through the DeSantis administration, approved shortly after the governor’s reelection, expedited the project by more than a decade, according to state documents.”
–The Washington Post, “DeSantis agency sent $92 million in covid relief funds to donor-backed project: Mori Hosseini, who donated a golf simulator to the governor’s mansion, championed a new exchange on Interstate 95 that feeds into his housing and shopping center project,” Thursday, June 29, 2023
In my best impression of Casablanca’s cynically astonished Captain Renault, “I’m shocked, shocked to find well-heeled insiders get whatever they want in this pay-to-play system…”
Truthfully, what I find shocking is that it took so long for the bright national spotlight to swing toward the “Sunshine State” and our legal quid pro quo campaign finance scheme – something many fed-up Floridians have dubbed, “corruption in the plain sight.”
In 2018, I authored a blog entitled “The Faustian Bargain,” a disturbing corollary between Volusia County politics and the legendary bluesman, Robert Johnson, who grew up in abject poverty in the Mississippi Delta.
According to legend, one dark night, Johnson stood at the crossroads of Highway 61 and US 49 and sold his very soul to the devil in exchange for mastery of the guitar and the incredible success, and ultimate escape, it would bring.
It’s a tale as old as time, really.
Throughout history – from St. Theophilus of Adana to Doctor Faustus – cautionary yarns have been spun of ambitious people who, in a misguided pursuit of personal riches and power, fall victim to temptation and sell who and what they are, for what they desperately hope to become.
But what happens when folklore becomes reality?
Like many of you, for years, I have been wrestling with the ethical questions surrounding Florida’s normalization of transactional politics – and which side of this strategic assignation is more culpable – the “John” or the hooker?
In my view, Volusia County – like the rest of our state – has become a despicable example of just how pernicious crony capitalism, facilitated by the corruption of the campaign finance system, can be when uber-wealthy individuals and their corporate entities repeatedly secure a political quid pro quo from elected officials.
In fact, it represents a legal return on investment in a system that permits a privileged few to develop financial relationships with office holders, then obtain direct access to the public purse in the form of preferential tax breaks, “corporate welfare,” infrastructure, and even direct subsidies for their private projects.
Of course, the weak defense of sitting elected officials is that “No one has ever asked me for anything!”
That may be true – but a few of our oligarchical overseers make it damn difficult for any perceptive politician to say “No.”
By all appearances, in exchange for the all-important financial resources and political clout local candidates receive as an anointing from Volusia’s “Rich & Powerful,” our elected officials are expected to perform their role like the bought-and-paid-for chattel they are whenever an issue directly involving the self-interests and profit motives of their campaign benefactors presents itself before the dais of power.
In Volusia County, Mr. Hosseini stands at the top of a small clique of influential insiders whose mere presence in a council or commission chamber changes the temperature of the room as their elected livestock sit up a little straighter and become hyperattentive.
Invariably, the issue or project these heavy-hitters support or oppose is settled to their complete satisfaction.
Every. Damn. Time…
That attentiveness to the wants of their masters is not lost on We, The Little People, whose voices and needs are routinely ignored by our malleable ‘powers that be.’
The result has been a slow erosion of the public’s trust in the legitimacy of government – and the Washington Post’s scandalous report hit weary residents hard…
It’s no secret that our High Panjandrum of Political Power, Mortenza “Mori” Hosseini – the powerful CEO of ICI Homes, Chairman (and de facto president) of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Board of Trustees, Chairman of the University of Florida’s Board of Trustees, and the undisputed titan of political powerbrokers in Florida and beyond – swings a lot of weight in local, state, and federal political circles.
Residents of these parts have known that for years…
In my view, what makes this so brazen is the bright connection between Mr. Hosseini’s campaign largesse, use of his private jet, the “loan” of an elaborate golf simulator to the Governor’s mansion, and other “gifts” to high-powered politicians – and the historical return on that investment, such as funding for the long-sought Pioneer Trail/1-95 interchange to service ICI’s Woodhaven development – or the $20 million Embry-Riddle was gifted this year in the state budget after an appropriation request by first-year State Representative Chase Tramont – apparently to fund and equip a mysterious “Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility” at ERAU’s research park…
In the aftermath of the damning Washington Post exposé, Mr. Hosseini spoke to News-Journal reporter Mark Harper and denied seeking favoritism from Governor Ron DeSantis for the Pioneer Trail interchange.
“I have never, ever in my life gone to any governor and asked for anything. Not a governor, not a speaker of the house, not a Senate president, nothing about me. Nothing about my projects,” Hosseini said.
Hosseini said he has solicited help for institutions he supports, including the University of Florida, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Daytona State College.
“I take care of my community and my students of this state,” he said.
Jeremy Redfern, the governor’s press secretary, tweeted several attacks against the Post and its reporter, Michael Scherer, including a digitally enhanced photo of Scherer dressed as a circus clown. He called the story a “nothing burger.”
Guess it’s all a matter of perspective, eh?
Except, here in Florida – the biggest whorehouse in the world – no one in a position of political power gives two-shits about your viewpoint – or our perception of honor and ethics in public service – unless you articulate it on the back of a campaign check…
The unfortunate reality is that this “system” of ours did not develop overnight – and had it not been for Governor DeSantis’ presidential run – none of this would have mattered to anyone north of Tallahassee.
With the national spotlight now on the Sunshine State’s pernicious pay to play system – and even Governor DeSantis’ staunchest supporters looking on in disappointed silence – in my view, he owes his constituents an explanation beyond clown memes and flippant dismissals.
Now those responsible for protecting the integrity of our system of governance must launch an aggressive investigation into the glaring connections and behind-the-scenes machinations exposed by the Washington Post and area environmentalists working hard to protect the Spruce Creek watershed.
In my view, the process of restoring the public confidence should begin by shifting the $92 million earmarked for Pioneer Trail to far more pressing transportation needs – like expediting the LPGA Boulevard interchange, including replacement of the two-lane Monument to Mediocrity over the threatened Tomoka River – as the bulldozers continue to roar west of I-95…
The stench of insider access in a pay-to-play environment undermines the foundational principles of our democracy.
Business as usual cannot continue.
Barker's View 
Amen to everything stated…..anyone that trusts Mori’s intentions is a fool! Everythinh he does is for his financial benefit, not the “average guy” that can no longer buy an occasional steak!
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Spot on!again
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Unfortunately this corruption appears in every state and city in this country.We can start at the top with 20 to 40 million deals with Hunter and the big man to Daytona and all the money we give builders like a One Daytona and Nascar or Amazon with money and tax breaks.Lots of tailors across Florida making pants pockets bigger .Bethune Cookman lost 300 million and almost closed and lost accredidation and screwing their students and loans they took out.Anyone arrested or just more new people to see what they can make?..Happy 4th of July .This conversation will never end .Take NYC please.Close the borders.
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Let us not forget the millions that will go to BCU, and other HBCUs, because of the bill Trump signed and touted.
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I’ve never agreed with a column more. The first question is why would this money be spent in Volusia in the first place when even the county council chair was opposed? The further outrage is that we are expected to believe that extra access was granted from the interchange to the development in the final version without being asked? That’s not the way FDOT works – they won’t do it for Bucees, for example. (To be cute it seems obvious someone else asked and were magically listened to.) And the icing on the cake: the Tomoka River bridge (which FDOT considers part of the LPGA interchange) remains “unfunded,” affecting thousands of people ALREADY HERE every single day.
Water has also been carried assuring the hiring of the state surgeon general for an even better paying position at UF, so the connections are sordid and multifaceted. Situation Normal All F’d Up.
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> In the aftermath of the damning Washington Post exposé, Mr. Hosseini spoke to News-Journal reporter Mark Harper and denied seeking favoritism
hit dogs holler 😏
hopefully he’s not going to be able to gaslight this away
> begin by shifting the $92 million earmarked for Pioneer Trail to far more pressing transportation needs – like expediting the LPGA Boulevard interchange, including replacement of the two-lane Monument to Mediocrity over the threatened Tomoka River
Splendid idea! How convenient that *his sister* 😒 is not pushing for it…
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“Business as usual cannot continue!” You crack me up, Mark. Of course business as usual will continue, as long as money and lawyers control politics. The people in control of the purse strings and the laws arranged to keep them safe from legal prosecution are protected from anything other than a vocal chastizing by the “little people” who continue to dance on their strings, controlled by their emotions as directed by the 24 hr. no-news cycle and the idiocy of the internet.
As Mori supposedly told a framer I knew many years ago when he asked for more money on a model that no one could make money on; “you know ____, we don’t make money on these houses, we just build them as a public service to provide jobs!”
Yeah, great Mori. Wish a little of that altruism would break off to support the way of life that you (and the other big developers) are so rapidly destroying in your quest to wring the last fleck of gold out of the goose before you cast it away to rot.
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We let Mori and his sister get away with this crap for years.I live in an ICI house but we could go on for a year on corruption with builders and all politicians down to our mayors..Gary 100% correct the media only tells you what they want and the internet is corrupt too.Last but not least why do we have a change of venue from Daytona to Clay County for the pig that shot the Daytona cop dead in the head? ..We are now the most divided country since I was born 75 years ago.Go to a family occasion and you have to watch what you say now and ignore politics if at all possible.I pay $15.000 a month for chemo meds.Do you not think big pharma is corrupt?
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Pass this on
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Mark– I continue to follow the money in Volusia County Court judicial elections. Specific county court judges hearing PIP insurance suits have been the recipients of a large number of $1,000 contributions from lawyers and contributors related to those lawyers (by blood or business). In the last election, Judge Robert Sanders received more than 1/3 of the total money contributed to his campaign ($8,000 total, out of $22,600 contributed to the judge) from a PIP lawyer, her family members in Mississippi, and her law partner and spouse. Each check for $1,000. The lawyer now has THOUSANDS of cases which have been assigned to Judge Sanders, each case requesting an attorney fee award. If any other politician received more than a third of his/her campaign funds from a particular group of interested backers, we all would be alarmed. Several county judges are up for re-election next cycle. I’ll help you keep score.
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*light bulb goes on*
I bet that’s what was behind the mind-boggling recent court ruling on a deed fraud case. Somebody forged a newly-deceased guy’s name, “sold” his property to themselves, then flipped it. The end-buyer investor was understandably upset about being out the money—but the judge ordered the dead guy’s family/estate (read: THEFT VICTIMS) to partially compensate the investor!
If that were you or I, the judge would be like “*womp womp*, you shoulda had title insurance.”
If your car gets stolen, do they expect you to pay the guy who was caught driving it? NO!
Now I gotta wonder if the investor was also a campaign donor to the judge (or became one, for an instant 100%+ return on investment).
Pro tip: Sign up for the free record monitoring on the property appraiser’s web site, folks. Monitor your family’s names, too. Catch this crap before it gets too far along. I’ve had one false alarm already (you’ll get those if you have a common name) before the online ownership record was even updated. Chasing down a dud from time to time is a hell of a lot better than getting into court and being forced to buy back something that was stolen from you!
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Has been going on for decades – Mori funding campaigns with max dollars and from dozens of different corporations that he is the sole owner. He is not telling the truth – actions speak way louder then words.
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I wrote a long comment and upon logging in it said I already posted a similar comment when I had not.
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Only when everyone understands the political whirlwind created by humongous developer donations, nothing will change. We will be unable to protect wetlands from concrete, thus assuring massive flooding as just seen three times in recent years. Until developers are forced to pay impact fees covering roads, police, fire, water, sewer, schools, etc. and until the bought-and-paid-for elected officials insist developers pay these fees, residents of Volusia County will pick up the bill for at least part, if not all, of the costs.
No developers or associated PACs, engineers, lawyers, services and such give money to a candidate or elected official without expectation of quid pro quo. Council members, as in Volusia County, are often requested to increase density, ignore the Comprehensive Plan put in place to avoid overdevelopment or grant variances. Here’s how they do it. Land zoned for 100 homes is brought before Council with requests for 300 homes. They “argue” back and forth and settle on 150 homes. Impact fees might be adjusted or waived entirely. Taxpayers pay the price.
We have had some terrific people step up to defend Volusia County residents but they couldn’t put $49K in donations from residents and small businesses up against $192K in developer and related industries funds.
Votes matter and until everyone shows up at the ballot box, nothing will change.
Sally Gillies
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Couldn’t agree more
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Waiting to see who Hosseini will have as his chosen one for the County Chair seat that is coming up in 2024. Current County Chair Jeff Brower has pushed back hard against Hosseini and his shenanigans so we know it will not be him. Will Randy Dye or will Port Orange Mayor Don Burnette, who are both running for the County Chair’s Seat, be Hosseini’s next boot licker? Or will it be someone else? Some of the current members of the Volusia County Council should be doing some soul searching. Hosseini and DeSantis just both happen to be Republicans (RINOS) but there are MANY who claim to be members of the Democrat cult who are just as bad to include ol Joe Biden. Trump, DeSantis, Biden, Harris, and most of the rest of the members of the two main political parties (AKA Cults) need to go!. They are nothing more than a bunch of dirty parasites. And WE the people need to stop falling for the same BS time and time again and WE need to stop pretending these loudmouth a-holes we keep electing are going to save us.
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My family went on the Florida voters website and now the family of 25 in the state are all unifilliated with any party .Everyone here complained about the skumbag builders but Randi Weingartner who heads the teachers union at 750k a year takes all teachers dues and the donation part goes 95% to the dem party no matter what party you belong too. as she just bought a charter school her unions enemy and put it in a public school building.Thought teachers did not have to join a union.So much corruption in this country this Mori shit is just a fart in the wind.This state will be wall to wall concrete block.We all feel free again like 50 years ago.No party
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So, it’s okay for the State to use the money anything it wants to?
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Everyone has a price, Mori could afford Ron’s!
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we are sick of it all.
day in, day out. year in, year out.
the entire political charade.
national-state-local
all totally f—-d
the whole diseased temple needs to be taken down.
not skillfully, but with prejudice.
in the meantime, have a great day.
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