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           Sen. Tom Wright

I don’t know about you, but I was ready to move on from the Sen. “Tommy the Terrible” Wright controversy – just chalk it up to the abhorrent conduct of another self-absorbed bully with an elective honorific in front of his name…

However, last week, I was taken to the proverbial woodshed by several of Wright’s apologists for instinctively reacting to something I saw with my own eyes on that incriminating video of the Senator browbeating a female employee of Volusia County’s only certified domestic violence shelter.

Nice try.  But feigned indignation doesn’t fly with me…

In the aftermath, it appears a few of Sen. Wright’s misguided supporters want to defend the indefensible, blaming everything and everyone except the Senator for his abominable behavior in the presence of domestic violence survivors at The Beacon Center. 

Since we are still chitchatting about it, here is a synopsis of how we arrived at the nadir of Sen. Wright’s all-too-weird career:

In a story originally told by reporter Mark Harper in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Senator angrily confronts domestic violence worker after shelter leadership resignations,” we learned that Sen. Wright put his hand on a female employee of The Beacon Center – then launched a verbal barrage that left his victim reeling – during a heated confrontation outside a busload of Beacon Center residents.

According to the News-Journal’s report, “State Sen. Tom Wright put his hand on a worker outside Volusia County’s only domestic violence shelter Saturday in an angry confrontation that later involved Daytona Beach police, witnesses said.

Wright has been at the center of an implosion of the Domestic Abuse Council of Volusia County Inc., which oversees the operation and programs at the Beacon Center. Approximately 26 women and children were living there last month in an effort to escape dangerous situations at home and rebuild their lives.”

The damning video shows the powerful Sen. Wright boarding a bus occupied by domestic violence survivors and their children (who were uprooted while Wright was “touring” the facility with Department of Children and Families officials) in contravention of state privacy laws. 

When a Beacon Center employee attempted to stop him, Wright can be seen reaching out and touching the female against her will.

After briefly turning away, Wright returns in a rage – screaming in the employee’s face – placing his hands behind his back, aggressively leaning forward, bearing down, and advancing on the employee as she recoiled from the Senator’s tirade, while another female courageously attempts to put herself between Wright and the target of his wrath… 

Ugly.

Don’t take my word for it, watch it for yourself here:  https://tinyurl.com/4zsa7xrk

This week, Wright’s defenders have been trying desperately to explain “his side,” blaming the victim, insinuating mismanagement, claiming he was “set up,” and spreading rumors of financial irregularities at the center, maintaining that the Senator will be vindicated once the “rest of the story” emerges…  

Sure.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but even if all those allegations were true – the results of any inquiry will now appear to be what they are – base retaliation by Sen. Wright for his embarrassing tantrum in the presence of traumatized women and children.

Look, nothing can justify physically and verbally menacing a female in the presence of domestic violence survivors and their frightened children in the very place they sought safe haven. 

Nothing.

In my view, Sen. Wright, and those obsequious sycophants who support his repulsive conduct, are clearly playing a vile brand of revenge politics – rewarding apologists and punishing perceived enemies – denying everything, making counteraccusations from the influential bully pulpit, and vilifying anyone who challenges the abuser’s self-justification.  

It is called creating a “diversion” – shaming the victim while shifting attention away from the Senator’s cruel behavior – then controlling the narrative with useful idiots willing to deny the obvious and repeat the message until your adversary is marginalized and silenced.

Except these are not political opponents…

In this “David and Goliath” clash at The Beacon Center, an incredibly powerful multimillionaire Senator’s “opposition” are former administrators of a long struggling non-profit and underpaid social workers trying hard to make life better for women and children who have been traumatized and displaced.

Now, with Sen. Wright currently restrained by a trespass warning for The Beacon Center, his concerned constituents are waiting for those in Tallahassee charged with protecting the public’s confidence in the honor, integrity, and independence of the Florida Senate to condemn his aggression and take decisive action to protect domestic violence survivors, and those who serve them, from the Wrath of Wright.

Angel               Halifax Humane Society Employees and Volunteers

What does it mean to do ‘God’s Work’?

We all have our own definition, I suppose – or can point to a worthy pursuit performed by selfless souls who struggle to make a difference in an indifferent world – doing important work that contributes to the common good, often with little recognition or compensation. 

These altruistic individuals do not seek credit for their contributions – they simply see a need and devote themselves to a cause greater than their own self-interests.

In my experience, those who find it in their heart to serve abused and neglected animals – sentient beings who can give nothing in return – gifting their time and boundless compassion to provide comfort, care, and companionship in the frightening and often heartbreaking environment of a shelter are a truly special breed (pun admiringly intended).

Because these dedicated individuals are willing to give their heart and soul in service – it takes a lot to break their Volunteer Spirit – even when bullied and belittled by toxic “leaders” or demoralized by chaotic circumstances that destroys morale and distracts from the organizations mission. 

Once the commitment and enthusiasm of donors and volunteers is crushed, community confidence is often impossible to recover…

In a disturbing report by Katie Kustura writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal this week, Halifax area animal lovers learned of a tumultuous environment at the Halifax Humane Society.

According to accusations brought by “former staffers, volunteers, and others with knowledge of shelter operations” some insiders believe a senior HHS official demonstrated a bias against the pit bull breed, which may have resulted in potentially adoptable dogs without behavioral issues being euthanized, among other controversial management decisions and internal policies. 

“More than a dozen individuals say Christina Sutherin, the shelter’s current chief operating officer, was responsible for essentially disassembling the dog behavior team which resulted in additional responsibilities for an already stressed and overworked staff and led to low morale, high turnover, and mental health problems.

Some ex-staffers said if management found out someone had voiced concerns about the goings-on at the shelter, they would be terminated, or told to leave sooner if they’d already put in notice.”

The possibility of “breed bias” hit home for me. 

You see, since I was a child, my family has welcomed pit bulls as loving, well-mannered, and intensely loyal family members, which includes our current fur baby Nola – an HHS adoptee – who we love beyond words (and is sleeping at my feet as I write this…)

Unfortunately, it appears the internal workings of the shelter have dissolved into a ‘he said, she said’ distraction, with senior officials refusing to answer the News-Journal’s questions citing “misinformation,” and departures “marked by dissatisfaction.”

However, volunteers and former employees were open and transparent with their criticism of senior management…

For me, one revelation in the News-Journal article was particularly hard to swallow:

“Lindy Knapp joined the shelter last October and put in her notice in May. Knapp, who worked as a vet assistant, echoed the concerns others raised about Sutherin.

She pointed to a group of puppies Sutherin brought down from north Florida around February that had to be euthanized due to canine parvovirus, which has a high mortality rate if not caught early and treated.

“When you don’t have enough room for the animals you have, you don’t go and get more animals,” Knapp said.

Shauna Sewell, who worked in vet services for nearly two years before quitting in March, said having to euthanize sick puppies because of poor decisions by management was a traumatic experience.

“I’ll remember that for the rest of my life,” Sewell said.

Former staffers said when Sutherin again brought in puppies that wound up being ill, then-head veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Green resigned in March.

On April 1, Daytona Beach police received an anonymous tip about the shelter “neglecting the animals due to a high volume of staff quitting their jobs at once” after Green’s resignation.

After a walkthrough of the shelter, the officer said she had concerns about the dirtiness of the adoption kennel area and vet services.

Knapp said her last day was to be June 1; however, after she expressed concerns to human resources and Sutherin about Sutherin failing to follow proper procedures while euthanizing a sick kitten, Knapp said management told her May 17 was her last day.”

Damn.  How sad…  

Fortunately, in May, Adam Leath, the former director of Volusia County Animal Services, joined HHS as chief executive officer.  By all reports, he brings a wealth of experience in shelter operations and management – and the Board of Directors appear confident that he can calm the internal turmoil, demonstrate strong leadership, and restore public confidence in this critical service.

According to a quote by Leath in the News-Journal, “[Animals] deserve us to be intentional and to be purposeful around understanding what their individual needs are,” Leath said. “Cramming more into a building does not mean that you’re providing better welfare, and it doesn’t mean that you’re able to find more positive outcomes, which is why we’d be better off investing in resources in the community.”

In addition, I know that the wonderful HHS Board President Mel Stack, and at-large member Nancy Lohman, are both ardent animal lovers, dedicated activists, and generous philanthropists who have given graciously of their time, money, and talents to address the needs of at-risk animals in our community. 

Given the nature and similarities of the anecdotal reports from former employees and volunteers, in my view, it is critical that the HHS oversight board commission an external investigation into these disturbing claims – then develop a transparent response to calm growing fears in the community – and rebuild confidence in the source of much-needed financial support and critical resources to support the important mission of the Halifax Humane Society. 

Quote of the Week

“As your mayor, I am extremely aware that the residents of Ormond Beach have deep concerns about the adverse effects of the proposed Belvedere fuel terminal. The idea of a fuel terminal so close to our homes is not just about potential environmental, health, and safety concerns; it’s about preserving the quality of life we cherish.

Firstly, the increased truck traffic from the terminal threatens the very essence of our peaceful town. Imagine waking up to the continuous rumble of heavy vehicles instead of the familiar sounds of children playing or birds chirping. The air, thick with exhaust fumes, replacing the fresh air we’ve always taken for granted. Such disruptions are not mere inconveniences; they pose genuine health risks, especially for our children and the elderly with respiratory issues. Not to mention the traffic delays and dangers in the very busy proposed area that does not have the appropriate infrastructure to handle a project of this size and impact.

Think of our local sports complex, the hub of youthful energy and community gatherings. How will these recreational sports and tournaments fare with constant disruptions and the looming shadow of tanker trucks?

Now, picture the vibrant, bustling energy during Bike Week and Biketoberfest. With the proposed traffic, these cherished events could turn from exciting festivities into logistical nightmares. The very thought of 167 tanker trucks navigating our already busy streets from incoming tourists during this timeframe is alarming.

And let’s not forget the I-95/US 1 interchange. Already considered one of the most dangerous intersections in the state of Florida, with additional strain, we might be turning it into a ticking time bomb of potential accidents. The transportation of hazardous materials, such as fuel, always carries inherent risks. Any mishap or leakage could have devastating consequences for our community, including contamination of our water sources, soil, and air. The long-term effects of such incidents on our health and the environment are simply too great to overlook.

The possible depreciation in property values is another wound in the fabric of our community. Many have invested their life savings into their homes here, drawn by Ormond Beach’s charm and promise.

From the action taken at the last Ormond Beach Commission meeting, it is clear that our resident’s concerns are shared by the entire commission and are being taken seriously. We’re not just discussing policies; we’re shaping the future of our town. The health, safety, and very essence of Ormond Beach hangs in the balance, and we have sprung into action to protect our city.

I urge you, each one of you, to lend your voice, share your stories, and remain involved in this process. As I liaise with leaders and officials, we will call on Belvedere authorities to see us not just as a location but as a living, breathing community that will be detrimentally affected by their project. We will continue to ask them to consider alternative locations for the terminal, well away from residential areas and as far as possible from Ormond Beach and Volusia County, to protect the well-being of our community.

Let’s come together, unite our voices, and ensure the spirit of Ormond Beach shines bright, now and always.

–Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington, writing in the Ormond Beach Observer, Guest Opinion, “Mayor Bill Partington says city has sprung into action to oppose fuel farm,” Tuesday, September 5, 2023 

Whew.  I thought I was the only one who could write 500 words and say absolutely nothing of substance…    

We can take a break if anyone needs to down three-fingers of a strong antiemetic. 

I know I do…

There now. 

I grew up in Ormond Beach – over on North Halifax Drive, when it was little more than a two-lane fire trail – just a short walk from what I still consider the best beach in Florida. 

There is much to be proud of in my once quaint hometown, and until recent iterations of our ‘powers that be’ saw fit to sell us out to land rapists and speculative developers, we enjoyed a unique seaside quality of life, rich with history, culture, and ecological wonders (See: What remains of the Ormond Scenic Loop), back when wildlife habitat and old growth forests took precedence over another damn convenience store…

Unfortunately, things are changing quickly in what was once a charming Old Florida community – much of it lost forever in the name of “progress.”

Now, with even former golf courses being targeted by greed crazed developers, those stuck in near gridlocked traffic on Granada Boulevard are left to wonder just how much more ‘progress’ we can stand?        

More to the point, residents are asking where Mayor Partington’s impassioned manifesto was in June 2022?    

In my view, Mayor Bill Partington has proven to be an empty suit.  A shameless opportunist who will use any crisis – even one his gross inaction helped create – to his advantage as he claws his way toward a seat in the state legislature next year. 

Unbelievable.

In what is the worst example of group disorientation on record – Ormond Beach and Volusia County officials claim to have been blindsided by a recent report in The Daytona Beach News-Journal announcing a proposed bulk fuel storage facility on Hull Road – dangerously close to the city’s airport, sports complex, a children’s dance studio, and established residential areas.

In places where good governance is a priority, those elected and appointed to positions of power are expected to maintain a strategic awareness of the civic, social, environmental, and economic factors that may affect the lives of their constituents. 

Rather than lethargically reacting to newspaper articles like a bloated sloth, professionals concentrate on effective monitoring and planning to ensure sufficient infrastructure, appropriate zoning, confirm concurrency, provide adequate housing options, and secure ecological protections that safeguard drinking water and preserve the environment.

By listening to the concerns of their constituents and using that information to their advantage – actively involved civic leaders detect trends and make educated predictions that can be used to anticipate “What comes next” – so that effective strategies can be developed in advance of a potential catastrophe. 

That requires a level of vigilance beyond claiming faux solidarity with outraged voters once a crisis breaks.

Sound familiar? 

According to the News-Journal’s initial reporting on the proposed Belvedere terminal:

“While some have only recently learned about the project, it’s been known to city officials for more than a year, at least ― as well as its potential traffic impacts.

The Ormond Beach Site Plan Review Committee spoke about the project in June of 2022, according to meeting minutes. At the time, officials expected the project to bring about seven trucks an hour and over 160 trucks in a 24-hour period. The truck route was expected to be from Harmony Road to Hull Road, and out to U.S. 1.”

This week, I received some disturbing documentation from a Barker’s View contributor that shows Volusia County officials were well aware of Belvedere’s objectives in June 2022, when company representatives submitted a “Pre-Application Meeting Form” to Volusia’s Growth and Resource Management Department for a proposed “…bulk fuel storage and distribution terminal where petroleum products (gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel) and liquid propane will be received by rail car for bulk storage on site for wholesale distribution to gas stations and other commercial users in the surrounding market area.”

In addition, the application package included a detailed conceptual site plan with clear overlays of the terminal’s location, footprint, nearby residential areas, and roadways – even the facility’s proposed encroachment on existing wetlands. 

They literally drew Volusia’s planning officials’ pictures…

Interestingly, the meeting between six Volusia County development officials and Belvedere representatives occurred on June 9, 2022 – thirteen days before Belvedere’s Zoom meeting with Ormond Beach’s Site Plan Review Committee – and concluded that no rezoning of the property would be necessary to accommodate the fuel farm.

A follow-up memorandum commemorating the meeting explained:

“Based on what the applicants are looking to do they don’t actually need a rezoning as the property is already I-2/A-2 in the airport protection overlay as they are looking at developing a rail freight terminal for distribution of oil, fuel, propane. They had thought because the I-1 permitted uses allowed a rail yard they needed to rezone to that, and didn’t understand that the I-2 zoning allowed the less intense industrial uses as well. They will not be moving forward with a rezoning case.”

Now, one would have thought that the information gleaned in that pre-application confab might have been passed along to County Manager George “The Wreck” Recktenwald so that he could brief our elected representatives on what someone either knew, or should have known, would be an incredibly controversial issue… 

Why didn’t that happen? 

Or did it?

In fact, many residents of Ormond Beach and beyond are beginning to question the who, what, when, and why of things. 

For instance, given the fact Belvedere telegraphed their intentions for the property to government staffers over a year ago – why are our elected and appointed officials acting like this is the first they have heard of it? 

Last week, during a meeting of the Ormond Beach City Commission, residents once again stood before their elected representatives to express their collective outrage over the proposed fuel terminal which, according to a recent News-Journal report, looks like a foregone conclusion from a legal standpoint.    

During the meeting, one resident, identified as Arthur Armstrong, who owns property in two residential locations which will be adversely affected by the fuel terminal, passionately spoke of the political accountability that should rightfully result from this unfolding fiasco.

“Every one of you will not be here next election.  I promise you that.  I promise you.  And you on Zone One (Commissioner Lori Tolland) we don’t hear anything from you.  We’ve got to have meetings at the clubhouse.  I own property in both places, Bear Creek and over in Ormond Lakes.  We don’t see you.  We don’t see you.  You need to be there.  You need to fight for us, not just sit up here and look good…” 

That honest criticism from a clearly frustrated resident resulted in an angry rebuke from Mayor Partington – a scolding from the dais that sharply deviated from the horseshit, pap, and fluff stuffed into his commiserating manifesto in the Ormond Beach Observer…

During his thunderous lecture, Hizzoner roared at Citizen Armstrong – “If you’ll direct your comments to me and I take offense to that because I know how hard she (Tolland) works for this community.  Listen, she works hard.  She’s been working harder than I’ve been working and I’ve been working really hard these last two weeks.”  

My God…  

Another speaker approached her elected “representatives” with another dire warning of the political consequences they now face:

“We are watching your actions.  We are watching your inactions.  We are watching your body language.  We are watching your interactions.  We are watching your moves and how they don’t seem to add up.  We are watching your attitude when you claim you are also in disgust.  Technology is so advanced anyone can do it. 

Search for the information, contact news stations.  We are watching you and all of your conversations.  You were elected to represent us and make the best decisions for our livelihoods.  We are watching you make decisions that are not in any way good. 

Be careful of what you say you did and didn’t do, because in the end, we are all watching you.  Lack of opposition and lack of concern.  These are the same things that may cause us to burn.  We only answer questions pertaining to electricity.  Water and electricity.  We didn’t think you’d be on the team for annexation into the city.

Did you stop to ask what the environmental impacts would have had on our health?” 

Imagine what could have been accomplished if Mayor Partington had put half that passion and effort into protecting our quality of life from the threat of a massive 20-million-gallon fuel farm when there was still time and standing to do something about it? 

Last week, area residents awakened to the disturbing news in an article by News-Journal reporter Sheldon Gardner that our elected officials may now be powerless to prevent the Belvedere Terminal.

According to the report, “If the county tried to change the land regulations to no longer allow the use, the property owner could sue under the Bert J. Harris Act.

“Florida enacted the Bert. J. Harris Act in 1995 to seek to redress government actions considered short of an official ‘taking’ that still negatively affected property owners’ existing rights,” according to a memo from the county attorney’s office.

That could end with the county having to pay up.

The memo includes an example of a 2018 case in Indian River County which lasted several years and led to a judgment against the county of $4.7 million in damages and attorney’s fees, according to the memo. A concrete business sought to build a concrete plant under the county’s regulations and had the right to do so, but county officials changed the zoning to keep that kind of development from happening.

There’s another legal issue with trying to change the land regulations.

Senate Bill 250, signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, limits the county’s ability to add “more restrictive or burdensome” land regulations before Oct. 1, 2024, because the county was within 100 miles of where Hurricanes Ian and Nicole made landfall in 2022.”

Welp!  There you have it, folks. 

The deck was stacked in favor of developers and massive corporations years ago – and in Florida, the Golden Rule remains: Those with the gold, make the rules…

When plans for the Belvedere terminal became known a few weeks ago, the halfhearted initial reaction of the flummoxed Ormond Beach City Commission was to send letters to state lawmakers and regulators stating their opposition to the fuel farm.   

I found the volleying response from Sen. Travis Hutson telling. 

And frightening…

“Volusia County has sent a letter to at least nine elected officials asking for help in getting Belvedere Terminals to voluntarily move the project.

Florida Sen. Travis Hutson, one of the elected officials the county contacted, said he’s willing to be a part of the effort but that local leaders should be at the helm.

“It really needs to be handled at the local level. If they need to come in to ask questions or need help finding a solution, I’d be glad to try,” he said.”

Translation: “We’re screwed…”

In my view, it is time Mayor Partington and his mealymouthed “colleagues” in Ormond Beach, Volusia County, and State government come clean about who knew what, and when – because their ‘Aw shucks, who knew!?’ shoulder shrugs and bullshit naïveté is not going over well with the angry masses…

If this fuel farm is allowed to progress (as many ‘in the know’ believe it will) our clueless ‘powers that be’ can expect serious political repercussions for those elected officials who treated taxpayers like mushrooms – keeping us in the dark and feeding us bullshit – for far too long.

And Another Thing!

“I have not deserved the time of leave that I have been placed on and I certainly do not deserve anything less than the position I currently have as Principal of Bunnell Elementary,” she wrote in her resignation letter.” I have willingly followed the process for investigation and been as quiet as I can during this process so as to preserve that process, believing that the truth and legacy that I have built would result in restoration of my name and a chance to truly show what BES is capable of under my continued leadership. Since this is not the direction that things are going at this time, I am offering up my resignation.”

–Former Bunnell Elementary School Principal Donelle Evensen in her letter of resignation, as quoted by FlaglerLive!, Thursday, September 7, 2023

To save you the time, “I” or “my” appear in this snippet from Ms. Evensen’s resignation eleven times…

Clearly, Ms. Eversen has a high opinion of herself. 

In my view, rather than wallow in self-pity, she could have used this unfortunate experience as a teaching moment for her students, demonstrating by leadership, poise, and deportment the importance of accountability in education – and in life – rather than teaching them to play the victim when poor decisions come home to roost…

As regular readers of these screeds know, I crow – ad nauseum – about the ancient principle of accountability commensurate with responsibility by those who accept public funds and are expected to serve the public interest. 

Unfortunately, it appears that sacred concept is now outdated – exchanged for cheap political expediency – as our compromised elected and appointed “leadership” abdicate their oversight responsibility and accept personal and professional misbehavior – no matter how abhorrent – to protect the status quo. 

In the case of former Principle Evensen, the segregated assemblies that saw so-called “educators” sequestering Black children, telling them they are a “problem,” who would be killed or end up in jail if they failed to achieve on standardized tests – then pitted them against each other in a scholastic competition for fast food – occurred on her watch, and she was rightly suspended pending an investigation initiated by the district’s new Superintendent LaShakia Moore.   

Once parents became aware of the situation at BES, it quickly turned into an international embarrassment for Flagler County Schools – whose board members responded in the most ham-handed example of what not to do during a crisis – to include allegations of multiple Sunshine violations as the elected officials struggled to get their political ducks in order. 

Unfortunately, this crisis of leadership is not limited to Flagler County Schools. 

From local governments to the highest offices in the land, we live in an era of diminishing expectations – a time when nothing our “leaders” say or do shocks our conscience anymore…

I worry about the long-term societal consequences as our children and grandchildren become accepting of narcissistic leaders and the inherent fraud of a pernicious “system” laser focused on the personal enrichment of a few at the expense of the public trust.   

In my view, the time-honored principles of honor, personal responsibility, and accountability should be taught at home – and reinforced by those authority figures who once served as ‘role models’ in schools, the workplace, and government – as we work to turn the grim tide of young people mimicking the dishonesty, division, and chaos they see around them.  

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