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

“I would like to thank the County Council and County Manager Recktenwald for giving me the opportunity to serve Volusia County,” said Ryan. “I’m honored to join such a creative and dedicated team with a proven track record of effective messaging and a strong foundation of transparent and proactive communication about the many services, programs and amenities Volusia County offers its residents.”

–Volusia County’s Director of Community Information Michael Ryan, Tuesday, July 11, 2023

“We will continue to be your single source of truth … unless you hear it from us it is not the truth.”

–George Orwell ‘1984’

According to Barker’s Paradox:  Once a bureaucracy reaches a certain size and consistency, it exists only to serve, protect, and perpetuate itself.

Externally, it accomplishes that by controlling the narrative, rewriting history, and directing the flow of information in a way that limits criticism and protects those at the top from being openly exposed as incompetent – or worse…

Last week, the Volusia County Council rubber stamped County Manager George “The Wreck” Recktenwald’s new senior director for communications, marketing, and media relations – arguably one of the most important functions of government – whose role is to keep constituents engaged and informed.

Either Mr. Ryan hasn’t been here long enough – or, after 20-years in the trade, he fits the stereotype of the obfuscating government spinmeister perfectly – because his radiant description of the county’s, “…proven track record of effective messaging and a strong foundation of transparent and proactive communication” is complete bullshit…

It’s also a big part of Volusia County’s “trust issue.” 

I would have preferred Director Ryan looked weary Volusia County residents in the eye and said, “We haven’t always been as open and up-front in communicating with our citizens as we should have been.  I’m here to fix that.” 

According to reports, Ryan’s appointment fills the vacancy created when The Wreck transferred his former senior mouthpiece, Kevin Captain, to head the Emergency Medical Services division. 

In my view, if Director Ryan’s conscience allows him to report that Volusia County has a record of transparency and “effective messaging,” then he will have no problem picking up where the equivocating Mr. Captain left off, and will serve the needs of the Recktenwald administration seamlessly… 

As anyone paying attention will recall, it wasn’t so long ago that Volusia County became infamous for “Public Policy by Ambush” – voting on important issues that directly affected our lives and livelihoods after strategically leaving details off the printed agenda to prevent even the possibility of contention or public input.

A weird time and place where a $50,000 publicly funded study recommending massive increases in impact fees for oligarchical developers was willfully suppressed – hidden from policymakers and the public – as the operative ethic became “let sleeping dogs lie” with whispered discussions held, sotto voce, behind closed doors…

How about the blatant lies that were pushed regarding Amendment 10, etc., etc.?

Remember?  I do.

Let’s face it, Volusia County’s communications strategy has historically been the exact opposite of open and transparent – a noxious exercise in rapidly putting copious amounts of smoke in the air and circling the wagons during times of internal crisis – then carefully crafting an opaque message that quibbles the facts and defends the indefensible. 

It’s called ‘polishing a turd’ – and it has become a mainstay of Volusia County’s process of political procrastination – kicking the can down the dusty trail, dragging things out (often through multiple iterations of the county council), and ensuring that nothing disrupts the stagnant status quo. 

The unfortunate result has been a slow erosion of the public’s confidence in their government…

Perhaps once Mr. Ryan gets established in his comfortable office at the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Building and looks through the dusty scrapbook left by his predecessors – he may want to “walk back” (as spin doctors like to say) his initial glowing description before history returns (as it always does in Volusia County) to bite him in the ass… 

During last week’s Council meeting, we also learned that Volusia County will be spending $3.2 million of our money to purchase a former car lot at 1720 Mason Avenue in Daytona Beach to relocate the Emergency Medical Services facility. 

Why?

Because the County’s previous building on Carswell Avenue in Holly Hill has been allowed to strategically rot – suffering from several “major and costly structural issues,” including a “termite infestation” and roof repairs estimated at a whopping $2,000,000. 

You read that right.

According to the July 11 agenda report, “…repairs cannot be undertaken without shutting down and relocating operations for 8 consecutive days in order to fumigate the building.” 

God forbid.

So, our ‘powers that be’ simply went out and bought a new one… 

To my knowledge, there is still no word on who in this byzantine bureaucracy was responsible for allowing the current EMS facility to fall into complete disrepair – so broken-down that a valuable public asset had to be abandoned in place – because accountability is anathema in the Recktenwald administration.   

According to the agenda report, prepared by something called the “Facilities Management Division” – a bureaucratic subsidiary of the “Business Services Department” (who reports to God knows who in the hierarchy) – explained the rationale for the new building: 

In June, a proposal was floated in the five-year capital improvement plan that would have placed taxpayers on the hook for a new EMS facility costing an astronomical $23,000,000.  Now, after renovations to the recently approved building totaling an estimated $4,500,000 – you and I will pay $7,700,000 to replace the ruined facility in Holly Hill…

Wow.  The old Volusia County ‘switcheroo’ – where senior staff tells taxpayer’s they are going to put the shaft to them for a $23 million replacement – then act like they did us a favor at $7.7 million…    

In the private sector, if someone in a position of responsibility fails to perform preventive maintenance and allows a critical asset to become so dilapidated and unserviceable that it requires over $7 million in replacement costs – stockholders would demand the head of anyone who failed to provide adequate oversight and facilities management.

Right? 

Trust me.  This isn’t the first-time senior executives in Volusia County have allowed public facilities to deliberately decay – then ask our elected dullards for permission to dip into that bottomless Pot of Gold we golden geese magically keep brimming with cash – to pay for their gross irresponsibility… 

My ass.

In my view, with a budget now pushing an obscene $1.6 billion – it is high time our elected representatives began the difficult process of holding senior appointed officials accountable for their continuing mismanagement of public assets.

Angel              Flagler Beach City Commission

The old proverb “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” is never truer than in local government – where City and County Managers tend to gather some baggage during their service as itinerant administrators – moving from one place to the next, often leaving under tumultuous circumstances, only to be welcomed by another community just coming off a similarly turbulent period.

Fortunately, sometimes a council or commission goes to the Island of Misfit Toys and finds just the “right fit” for their community – and it appears the Flagler Beach City Commission has found the leadership they desperately need in their new chief executive, Dale Martin – who was recently appointed by unanimous vote. 

Now that Mr. Martin has officially accepted the position, contract negotiations are expected to begin soon. 

According to reports, earlier this year, Mr. Martin was terminated on a 3-2 vote of the Fernandina Beach City Commission following a messy period of political horseshit and internecine upheaval. 

In an odd twist, just two-months later, a Fernandina Beach citizens advisory council assisting with the search for a new manager briefly considered recommending Mr. Martin be rehired – but ultimately decided that door had closed…

According to FlaglerLive!, Mr. Martin was “Born and raised in Michigan, and served four communities there before moving to Connecticut “before learning to love Florida,” where he served until March this year as city manager in Fernandina Beach. “I’ve come to enjoy the Florida coastal life. I think that’s where my skill set is involved,” he said.” 

During a public Q&A last Friday, Martin was asked by Commissioner Rick Belhumeur “What scares you about taking the job in Flagler Beach?”

According to the report, he responded confidently, “Absolutely nothing,” he said. “I was a former military officer. the decisions I can make as a military officer could kill people. The worst we’re going to have here is flooding, drowning or fire and you will be notified the instant I am of any of those instances.”

What I liked most was when Mr. Martin described Flagler Beach as “quirky” – intended “lovingly” – because it is. 

In my view, that proves Mr. Martin understands what is special about one of the last remaining slices of “Old Florida” on the east coast…

Congratulations and best of luck to Dale Martin – and the Flagler Beach City Commission – for coming to unanimous agreement in service to the citizens of this unique community. 

It’s nice to see a sense of hope, enthusiasm, and collegiality return to Flagler Beach!

Asshole           Volusia County School Board  

I recently received this screenshot of a now-deleted social media post by Volusia County Schools Recruitment & Retention – the arm of our school district scrambling to fill the critical shortage of qualified teachers ahead of the 2023-24 school year:

Wow. 

It appears Volusia County District Schools has taken to publishing quotations from the radical Marxist and murderous dictator Vladimir Lenin – father of the Red Terror during which hundreds-of-thousands were imprisoned, tortured, and exterminated between 1917 and 1922, along with countless other atrocities – as a means of inspiring its tepid recruitment efforts.

Of course, as soon as a smart watchdog pointed out the ominous connection for those who have clearly forgotten history at Volusia County Schools – the quotation quickly evaporated from the district’s public social media site…

So much for preserving the public record, eh? 

I don’t make this shit up, folks.

This week, I was reminded of another line once uttered by the district’s communist hero that our elected “representatives” on the Volusia County School Board seem to be rapidly embracing:

“Why should freedom of speech and freedom of press be allowed? Why should a government which is doing what it believes to be right allow itself to be criticized?”

–Vladimir Lenin

Sound familiar? 

Next Tuesday, the School Board will consider draconian changes to the way We, The Little People are permitted to provide input on public policy and interact with those we have elected to represent our interests on the dais of power. 

These proposed amendments to the policy on “Public Participation in School Board Meetings,” include:

Achtung!   

“Citizen’s remarks should be directed to the presiding officer or the Board as a whole and not to individual Board members. Speakers may not address Board members by name, and personal attacks against individual Board members, the Board as a whole, the Superintendent, or District staff are prohibited.”

“Speakers commenting on agenda items shall confine their comments solely to the agenda item being discussed. During the public hearing, speakers must limit their remarks to matters related to business of the District. Unless it is an agenda item, speakers are prohibited from discussing their own pending court cases and filed claims or complaints against the District or District personnel. Similarly, employees are prohibited from discussing any disciplinary matter that affects them individually unless it is an agenda item.”

“Speakers may not use any form of profanity or loud and/or abusive comments Speakers shall not engage in personal attacks, abusive language or other conduct which interferes with conduct of the meeting. The Chair has the right to terminate any speaker’s privilege to address the board if this rule is violated. Members of the audience should be courteous to all speakers and shall refrain from making audible comments or applauding speakers during the meeting.”

“Any action or noise that causes or creates an imminent threat of a disturbance or disruption, including but not limited to, clapping, applauding, heckling, shouting comments from the audience, or verbal outbursts in support or opposition to a speaker or his/her remarks is prohibited. No signs or placards shall be allowed in the Board meeting. Persons exiting the Board meeting shall do so quietly.”

You get the gist – and the list of controls and prohibitions goes on.  Ad nauseum… 

Don’t take my word for it, read the proposed amendments here: https://tinyurl.com/29rrw926

Penalties for any insolent Subject of the Realm who fails to properly genuflect before our Monarchical Clerisy – or is found guilty by imperial edict of the chair of “making impertinent or slanderous remarks” that offend the cognoscenti – will be subject to having their microphone disabled, the meeting recessed so board members can flee the glare of their constituents, or be physically removed from the public building… 

In my experience, self-serving politicians and entrenched bureaucrats always attempt to quash dissent, public participation, and civic activism by cloaking their overweening censorship under subjective “rules of decorum.”

It has become obvious to most that some local government entities would prefer taxpayers simply acquiesce to their symbolic “public meetings” – choreographed façades where predetermined policies and expenditures are rubber-stamped – while the ‘people’s business’ is hammered out behind closed doors, shaped by insider influence, far from the prying eyes of us rubes who are expected to pay the bills and keep our pieholes shut.   

In my experience, expansive rulemaking designed to enforce a one-sided notion of “decorum” is usually the first sign that an elected body is in serious trouble (à la The Lost City of Deltona) – and it’s no secret that the Volusia County School Board has been mired in deep doo-doo for years…

The symptoms of internal dysfunction begin with the discussion of “public participation” as a means of maintaining the “dignity” of the proceedings – which, by their very nature, should be contentious, participative, and filled with the vigorous debate of competing ideas – because the lofty decisions that come from these deliberations directly affect our children’s futures. 

Now, for reasons known only by those who reside in the Ivory Tower of Power in DeLand, the School Board has reconfigured the meeting space, placing physical and subliminal barriers between the board members and those they serve, and now seek to outlaw substantive interaction from the public podium.

They don’t like applause.  They don’t like signs.  They don’t like your opinion. 

And they don’t like you.   (Unless they’re groveling for your vote come election time.)  

Despite what the district may believe based on their fascination with Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov – good citizenship is not silent subservience to an entrenched power structure convinced of its own infallibility – and the process of crafting inclusive public policies should not be at the comfort and convenience of a few hypersensitive prima donnas perched high on the dais of power.

In fact, the Florida Supreme Court has likened public meetings to “…a marketplace of ideas, so that the governmental agency may have sufficient input from the citizens who are going to be affected by the subsequent action of the [public body].”

If citizens cannot make themselves heard before their elected representatives at a public meeting – in a building paid for with their own hard-earned tax dollars – among politicians and senior staff who accept public funds to serve in the public interest – then where can they voice their passion on matters of civic importance?

In my view, it is time for those who hold elective office – especially on the Volusia County School Board – to be reminded that all political power is derived from the consent of the people.

Under our democratic system – that reminder comes at the ballot box…

Angel               Beach Advocate Richard Waters

This week Volusia County lost a tireless warrior for beach driving and access with the sad passing of civic activist Rich Waters. 

As a proud member of Sons of the Beach and a dedicated environmentalist, Rich worked hard to preserve our most precious natural resource, diligently conducting research, checking the facts, advocating for public access, and courageously sounding the klaxon. 

All Volusia County residents and visitors who enjoy our beautiful beaches owe a true debt of gratitude to Richard Waters.  

My sincere condolences to Karen Waters, and all of Richard’s countless friends and colleagues, on his immeasurable loss. 

He will be missed… 

Quote of the Week

“Concerns among the residents ranged from increased traffic and lack of medical infrastructure to support further growth, to the incompatibility of lot sizes and a decrease in quality of life, particularly for the estimated 170 property owners whose homes back up to the golf course.

Residents don’t want cookie-cutter houses, said Tomoka Oaks homeowners Barbara Handsman Doliner. They don’t care if the subdivision is gated or if the developer puts in sidewalks. That’s not the point, she said to the board.

“The point is the shoe doesn’t fit,” Doliner said. “This Cinderella will never have that shoe fit, no matter how many different ways it’s going to be packaged to us.”

–Editor Jarleene Almenas, writing in the Ormond Beach Observer, “Too important to rush through: Planning Board asks developers of Tomoka Oaks golf course to reevaluate plans,” Friday, July 14, 2023

A tip o’ the cap to the Ormond Beach Planning Board and city staff for tapping the brakes and carefully considering the myriad issues surrounding a proposal to shoehorn 276 cracker boxes onto the former Tomoka Oaks Golf Course – a plan many believe will have devastating impacts on existing residents and already fouled traffic on busy Nova Road. 

Look, I’m not ready to go crazy with fawning accolades for Ormond Beach’s planning apparatus – because history proves that, when it comes to development issues, there’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip…

According to the Observer’s report, during a recent public meeting to consider the development agreement, Planning Board Chair Doug Thomas – who lives in Tomoka Oaks – said, “I’ve been on this Planning Board for 33 years, and I’m going to tell you: This is in the top five of the most important issues I’ve ever heard.  And I am not going to go along with forcing this through — If it takes us two months, if it takes us three months.”

Chairman Thomas is right. 

And, if development in Tomoka Oaks is inevitable, then residents – and their elected representatives on the Ormond Beach City Commission – should demand the “highest and best” product to ensure property values and the quality of life of existing residents.

As board member Al Jorczak said:

“We should not be looking at just augmenting what has been done in the past,” Jorczak said. “We should be looking for excellence — what can we do that goes above and beyond what we’ve already done, that helps make Ormond Beach the jewel on the East Coast that people want to come here and live.”

Regardless of where you live in Volusia County, this is one to watch…

And Another Thing!

Visiting Volusia County beaches this summer?

Prepare to self-rescue. 

In a disturbing exposé in The Daytona Beach News-Journal this week, reporter Sheldon Gardner explained that Volusia County Beach Safety and Ocean Rescue is experiencing a chronic shortage of lifeguards.

More troubling, it appears they are also unable to adequately manage the ones they have…

By any metric, protecting 47-miles of coastline is a difficult and essential task – currently covered by what Volusia County Beach Safety estimate at some 44 full-time lifeguards/EMTs and “about” 190 part-time lifeguards currently on the roster.

I guess +/- “190” is close enough for government work, eh? 

According to a News-Journal interview with Beach Safety Director Andy Ethridge, “…about 65 of the part-timers haven’t worked this summer. Some of them are traveling or have other jobs but like to remain on the books so they can return to work for Beach Safety when they want to.

“But if they’re not actively working for me it doesn’t help me. So it sounds bad when I say I have 200 lifeguards but only 120 of them are working,” he said. “That’s not a good look. So we’re trying to find out ways to motivate them and get them in here more often.”

Wait.  Not a good look?  

Back when I was a productive member of society, responsible for providing for the public’s safety – when I scheduled someone to work, they were expected to show up on-time and prepared to perform the task they were being paid for.

Or they didn’t work there anymore… 

In fact, in my former agency, part-time personnel were required to maintain the same training and readiness standards as full-time employees – and worked a mandatory number of hours each month as a condition of keeping their position. 

In my view, if you want to count yourself in a vital public safety role – then you should be willing to serve in that capacity when and where you are needed.  In over three-decades in public service, I have never heard of a situation where part-time employees keep themselves “on the books” and work – or not – at their leisure. 

That ‘do what ‘cha wanna’ policy makes it virtually impossible to adequately schedule qualified personnel, plan for seasonal needs, or maintain good order and discipline in the lifeguard corps. 

As I’m fond of asking, how’s things around your place of business?   

Outside of reasonable accommodation, do you permit employees to dictate when and where they will work, then play a guessing game whether your operation will be adequately staffed day-to-day? 

I didn’t think so.  Because that is the textbook definition of mismanagement…

In my experience, people work to make a life and provide for their family.

In Volusia County – the cost of living is increasing exponentially, while wages remain relatively stagnant – with options increasingly limited to $15 an hour warehouse scutwork at (insert most recent mega-logistics center here). 

Ironically, $15 an hour is the same wage offered to part-time lifeguards – while full-time employees fall into a salary range of $36,691 to $60,029 for this dangerous and demanding role.

So, if Director Ethridge wants to “motivate” his lifeguards – I suggest our ‘powers that be’ in DeLand start prioritizing what is important – and what is not – then pay those brave souls who enter the ocean to save lives what they are worth.

I fear if the Volusia County Council continues to do nothing, all beachgoing residents and visitors can do is wait helplessly – hoping their name doesn’t follow the next grim headline, “Another victim dies after being caught in rip current on Volusia County beach…”

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