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               The Great Claire Metz

Over the course of an incredible 39-year career in broadcast journalism, the great Claire Metz of WESH-2 became a household name and a trusted source of information on the most important stories of our time.

She is one of us.  Our beloved Claire.    

Whenever news broke in Volusia County – from the emergent to the mundane – the incomparable duo of Claire Metz, and her longtime photojournalist Hutch Breneman, were there to educate and inform – and when rumors spread through the community at digital speed, the immediate response from anxious residents on social media became “Ask Claire.”

I had the unique pleasure of working with Claire during the entirety of my career in public service, and I came to rely on Claire and Hutch to push critical information to the community.  Her assistance in helping develop leads in criminal cases, reassuring residents during threatening weather, and the ability to tell complex stories in a clear, calm, and cogent way made her an invaluable partner with area law enforcement, emergency management, and public safety organizations. 

Over time, we developed a trusted friendship and in retirement one of the things I miss most about my working life are those daily phone calls with Claire to catch up on developing issues. 

This week, WESH-2 paid tribute to Claire’s indelible contributions to her profession and our community: 

“Claire Metz’s retirement marks the end of an era in Central Florida journalism. Throughout her career, she has been a source of inspiration, education, and comfort for viewers. Her unwavering commitment to journalistic integrity and deep connection with the Central Florida community has made her a beloved figure.

Hail and Farewell, dear Claire.

Congratulations on the culmination of your incredible career of service.

You have set the Gold Standard for all who come after, and it is my pleasure to join your legion of loyal viewers, colleagues, and friends in wishing you all the best in your well-earned retirement! 

Thanks, Claire.  For everything. 

We’re glad you passed our way. 

Angel               Holly Hill Police Officer Andrew Barrett   

Few things give me more pleasure than seeing exceptional law enforcement officers recognized for their difficult and often dangerous work.

Especially so when those brave souls serve with my beloved Holly Hill Police Department.   

I had the pleasure of meeting Inv. Andrew Barrett while assisting a group of Holly Hill officers obtain their FAA remote pilot certificates as the department integrated drone technology to assist with public safety operations.    

In my experience, Inv. Barrett is a shining example of the new generation of law enforcement officers who have so admirably devoted themselves to serving and protecting others.

Recently, Inv. Barrett was honored by Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida as the 2023 recipient of the coveted Spirit of Law Enforcement Award – a special recognition presented by the Crime Stoppers Board of Directors to those who have distinguished themselves through exceptional heroism or extraordinary achievement. 

In my view, Inv. Barrett sets the bar in both categories.   

According to the award citation:

“On January 12, 2023, the New York State Police requested the assistance of the Holly Hill Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division with an ongoing investigation involving the disturbing case of a 13-year-old victim who was exploited by a sexual trafficking ring.

Although these despicable acts are alleged to have taken place in the State of New York, the primary suspect in the case recently relocated to the City of Holly Hill, and the investigation was assigned to Investigator Andrew Barrett.

The results of Investigator Barrett’s interview were extremely influential in the State of New York obtaining a felony indictment leading to the suspect’s arrest.

In total, eighteen additional suspects have been arrested in connection with the trafficking ring in the State of New York.

We’re proud of Investigator Barrett, the nominees, each Officer of the Year that was selected by the Crime Stoppers Board, and all of the law enforcement officers throughout the State of Florida, and the United States.”

I can think of no greater calling – or urgency – than protecting children from violence and sexual exploitation.  Inv. Barrett’s extraordinary work is a stellar example of how interstate cooperation between law enforcement agencies casts a wide net to ensure these monsters have no place to hide. 

In addition, Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida presented awards to exceptional officers from throughout the region – a fitting tribute for their tireless service. 

Kudos to Inv. Barrett – and all law enforcement officers, emergency telecommunicators, and support staff whose heroism and self-sacrifice all too often go unrecognized.

Well done. 

Asshole           Sen. Terrible Tommy Wright

The older I get, the less I care about the haughty self-promotion and time-wasting endeavors of the governmental upper crust or the inane chattering from our ‘movers & shakers’ that others find important. 

For instance, on Monday, The Exalted Roundtable of Volusia County Elected Officials – a political insulation committee comprised of politicians from each of Volusia’s cities, county government, the school district (and their overseers from that camera stellata over at the CEO Business Alliance) who meet every other month during the day (when you can’t be there) to jabber amongst themselves while the bulldozers roar and Rome burns…

They have performed this purposeless kabuki every other month for the past eight-years.  Is your life appreciably better for the effort? 

Me neither.

But doing the same thing over-and-over (with the same do-nothing politicians in the wheelhouse) while expecting a different result is the “Volusia Way.”

Increasingly, what I worry about are the basic underpinnings of our system of governance – the moral imperatives of honor, integrity, transparency, and accountability – and the foul legacy of irresponsibility, narcissistic “leadership,” and institutionalized mediocrity we are leaving for my grandchildren and yours.

One shining example of how off-the-rails things have gotten is the escalating scandal surrounding Sen. “Terrible Tommy” Wright – a stroppy asshole with the ungentlemanly instincts of a broke-back snake – whose videotaped browbeating of a female employee of The Beacon Center in the presence of displaced domestic violence survivors and their traumatized children was covered in back-to-back articles by both The Daytona Beach News-Journal and Orlando Sentinel last week.

Wow.  We didn’t know the half of it…  

Now it appears that Wright’s previous behavior at the center was apparently worse than anyone knew – and his constituents are beginning to ask why those in Tallahassee charged with protecting the integrity of the Florida Senate are mysteriously silent on Wright’s boorish behavior at The Beacon Center?

Call me cynical – but I’m not surprised…

We live in a time and place when holding one’s political peers accountable for their loutish behavior is anathema in the hallowed Halls of Power – now that powerful elected officials practice transactional politics, money is the only thing that matters, political campaigns are a blood sport, and the rules are for the “little people.”

According to the Orlando Sentinel’s report, this was not the first time Sen. Wright’s weird behavior at The Beacon Center raised the eyebrows of administrators:

“The Beacon Center is the state-designated, community-based center for victims of domestic abuse in Volusia County, which has one of the highest rates in a state that has a domestic violence crisis. Its location is undisclosed and clients’ identities are protected.

Wright’s behavior is especially concerning given that he was once a member of the center’s board of directors, and he should know the state and federal rules prohibiting interaction with staff and residents, (former CEO Angie) Pye said.

He also is a member of the Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs, which hears and votes on legislation dealing with child welfare and domestic abuse issues.

Wright filed a complaint with the Department of Children and Families two years ago claiming that the center was involved in drugs, prostitution and human trafficking that all proved to be unfounded, Pye said. He also interfered with the organization’s private fundraising efforts, Pye said.

It got to the point that six of the center’s board members resigned over the summer, followed by Pye and her program manager two weeks ago, just before Wright’s latest visit.

“Anybody in their right mind would leave us alone,” said Cynthia Perez, a domestic violence survivor who has used the center’s services. “These women are already stressed out, and the last thing they need is this guy coming over and stressing out the staff, who are holding the center together.

Pye, a 25-year veteran of what she calls “hardcore advocacy” for battered women, came on board the Beacon Center as CEO in 2016, when it was still called the Domestic Abuse Council. Wright was a volunteer at the time, which has the capacity to house up to 80 women and their children, she said.

“He had free rein” of the place, Pye said.

She said she told him that his presence could result in the confidentiality of the women at the shelter being endangered, which would violate the federal Violence Against Women Act.

Pye also said she witnessed him flirting with a survivor.  “To many people, it would have not raised a flag, but given what I do for a living, I was not comfortable with it,” she said.

She said she suggested he join the board of directors so he would no longer have contact with the survivors. Wright agreed but only showed up for one board meeting in October 2016, Pye said.

Two months later, he invited her to a Christmas party at his home. She said she couldn’t attend, telling him that staff couldn’t interact with board members.

He showed up at the shelter the next day to announce that he had made arrangements to feed the residents and have Santa Claus visit the children. When he was told he couldn’t do that, he berated a staffer and threatened to withdraw the money he’d donated and give it to some other organization, Pye said.

Pye said she and the board made several attempts to meet with Wright to talk things over, but he refused. At one point, he screamed at another staff person, at Pye and at the board chair.

“I knew it was not appropriate to have him around there, and I was happy he disappeared,” Pye said.”

Read the sordid details for yourself here: https://tinyurl.com/4df24yuf

In a follow-up, the Orlando Sentinel reported what Interim CEO Jessica Rivers – a domestic violence survivor herself – experienced (literally) at the hands of Sen. Wright. 

According to the report, Rivers’ recollection of the event was supported by Linda Parker, CEO of Women in Distress in Broward County, who has a contract with the state Department of Children and Families to provide shelters in distress with support services:

“Things didn’t heat up until after the residents were loaded onto just one bus and Wright stepped onto it to talk to the driver, he told police later. Rivers stopped him, telling him it was against the law to talk to be on the bus with the abuse survivors.

That’s when things got physical, Rivers said.

Fearing he was going to strike her, she said loudly enough for the women on the bus to hear, “Do not put your hands on me!”

Hearing her yell, an employee of Parker’s stepped in between Rivers and Wright to intervene, she said.

“What Sen. Wright did was not appropriate,” Parker said. “That is not behavior we want to see from any sitting senator. No one should ever have to feel threatened by anyone.”

A video of the confrontation provided by Daytona Beach Police shows Wright, who stands a good head and shoulders above Rivers, touching her shoulder and yelling.

At that point, he started to walk away shouting something about “thanks for looking after them,” Rivers said.

She responded by saying that state and federal laws prevented him from having contact with survivors in order to protect their identities.

“He came back at me shouting, ‘Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!’” Rivers said.

He walked away from Rivers to confer with (Beacon Board Chair Carmen) Ruiz and the DCF officials present.

The tour apparently was requested because Wright planned to provide funding to the Beacon Center, Rivers said. Whether it was his own money or state money, she wasn’t sure.

“I’ve handled donations for the six, seven years I’ve been at the Beacon Center and I have not seen a single dollar come from him,” Rivers said.

Wright got his tour, and Rivers was confined to a part of the building he was not inspecting.

At that point, she called police and reported what happened, and officers showed up as the tour was winding down.”

Whoa. 

Sadly, “The day after that confrontation on Sept. 2, the Beacon Center Board of Directors held an emergency meeting to demote Rivers, who’d only been interim CEO for three days after long-term CEO Angie Pye stepped down earlier that week.

Rivers said she “resigned under duress due to an extremely hostile work environment” a few days later after the stress of the attack and aftermath put her in the hospital.”

Read the incredibly ugly details here: https://tinyurl.com/55rt7ues

Then, things deteriorated from bad to worse…

On Thursday, The Daytona Beach News-Journal, who originally broke the story on September 2, published a shocking piece describing Sen. Wright’s creepy come-on to a 20-year-old domestic violence survivor, in the presence of her baby, while she was evacuating the Beacon Center ahead of a hurricane:

“Six years ago this month, Shelby Dunlap and her baby were aboard a short bus fleeing Hurricane Irma from the domestic violence shelter where they had sought refuge.

A local philanthropist was also on board, amid a small group of women from the Beacon Center, Volusia County’s only shelter for survivors of domestic violence, she recalled.

“I think he paid for the trip,” Dunlap said.

And he was flirtatious, she added, talking about prostitutes in Cuba, topless women on a boat, and offering to fly her to Las Vegas.

Nothing happened. She didn’t go to Las Vegas, but the conversation still causes her discomfort.

“It’s kind of embarrassing to say, but whenever you’re going through that, especially I was only, like, 20 years old, but you feel like, OK, there’s this rich guy, like, that could help me out of my problems,” she said. “But now I realize, you know, he was a creep.”

The philanthropist, she said, was Tom Wright. A year later, he became Florida State Sen. Tom Wright.”

My God…

Cuban prostitutes? 

Topless women?

Offering to jet off to Sin City with a vulnerable victim of domestic violence? 

In the company of children?

Really?

Trust me.  You’re going to want to read the despicable details here: https://tinyurl.com/wec5ds5z

Unfortunately, it appears the only one to be held responsible for Sen. Wright’s abusive behavior was his victims…

Although Sen. Wright is still refusing to answer growing questions from the media and his outraged constituents, according to the News-Journal, it appears failed Volusia County School Board candidate Kim Short – who is now employed by the district as something called a “Community Involvement Specialist” (?) – is Sen. Wright’s Facebook fixer:

“But according to a recent Facebook post, Wright did discuss the Beacon Center with a local club, the United Patriots of Volusia County.

“Senator Tom Wright gave a detailed update on what is going on at the Beacon Center, and also answered questions from our attendees,” Kim Short the group’s education chair posted on Sept. 8. “Much more on this situation exists and details, with evidence, will be revealed over the coming weeks.”

Oh, I’ll just bet there are a lot more “revelations” to come from this sleazy Pandora’s box…

Considering the salacious revelations by Ms. Dunlap, and Ms. Short’s obvious ambitions – as a tax-supported public employee – she might want to distance herself from Sen. Wright’s constricting circle of support as these things have a way of tainting the political futures of everyone involved…    

In my view, it is now time for Senate President Kathleen Passidomo to do her sworn duty and commission a formal investigation into these scandalous assertions to determine if Sen. Wright has abused the power of his high office, acted inappropriately with vulnerable domestic violence survivors and Beacon employees, used his status to file false allegations against administrators of The Beacon Center who challenged him, and physically menaced a female employee who attempted to protect the confidentiality of survivors. 

Based upon the reporting of both The Daytona Beach News-Journal and the Orlando Sentinel – the integrity of the Florida Senate is now in question – and it is time for President Passidomo and Governor Ron DeSantis to act decisively to enforce the rules of the senate and give concerned residents answers as these shocking allegations continue to emerge.   

Angel               Daytona Beach Police Officer Jason Raynor  

“As police officers, we know that our job comes with inherent risks to our safety and we know that there is a chance that we could lose our lives in service,” Young wrote. “Although we accept the fact that the unthinkable could occur, we expect that those responsible would be held accountable and that justice would be served. Today’s verdict contradicts that expectation.”

–Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young, as quoted by The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Daytona Beach police chief says manslaughter verdict for Raynor’s killer is an injustice,” Saturday, September 16, 2023

I am incredibly proud to call Chief Jakari Young a friend and former colleague.   

He is a gentleman of great intellect, skill, and poise who epitomizes what it means to be a professional public servant. 

In the aftermath of Saturday’s inexplicable verdict in the case of State of Florida v. Othal Wallace, my heart breaks for Chief Young and the brave men and women of the Daytona Beach Police Department, my brothers and sisters in Volusia County law enforcement, our great State Attorney R. J. Larizza, and his dedicated prosecutors, investigators, and staff who worked so diligently to seek justice for Officer Raynor. 

When the lesser Manslaughter verdict was returned for the brutal murder of Officer Raynor, like many in our community, I was filled with rage, and my thoughts remain with his family, friends, and colleagues as they grapple with an incomprehensible outcome that many view as a miscarriage of justice that cheapens the lives of law enforcement officers everywhere.

As Sheriff Mike Chitwood so aptly stated, “The message I take away from this jury is that it’s open season on law enforcement.  A lesser charge of Manslaughter for the MURDER of Daytona Beach Police Officer Jason Raynor is a slap in the face of everyone who puts on a uniform.”

He’s right.

In addition, the Coastal Florida Police Benevolent Association expressed their disappointment in a statement, “The cold-blooded murder of a police officer is not and never will be ‘manslaughter.’ Justice was not served today for our departed colleague, member, and friend Jason Raynor or his beloved family. We join the entire law enforcement community in mourning for Jason while urging our heroes everywhere to remain vigilant and prepared now more than ever.”

Well said.

If you have ever worn a badge – or come from a law enforcement family – you understand early the inherent risks of an often-thankless pursuit made more dangerous by a societal shift that vilifies the sheepdog and mollycoddles the predator.  

You also learn that good does not always prevail over evil…

Make no mistake.  There is a war on law enforcement in this nation.   

When “social activists” scream death threats in the streets of America, openly calling for the wholesale murder of law enforcement, then we see officers dying in increasingly frequent violent attacks – only a fool would deny the direct and menacing correlation – now culminating in a Clay County jury’s senseless decision in a case where Officer Raynor’s coldblooded murder by an avowed cop hater was captured in its bloody entirety on his body worn camera…

My God.

Where is the United States Department of Justice? 

Why isn’t Attorney General Merrick Garland swooping in from on high to appropriately charge Othal Wallace with a federal civil rights violation for his blatant hate crime against Officer Raynor?

Yeah, right…

In my view, as our community grieves the tragic loss of Officer Jason Raynor – and officers across the nation continue to die with horrific regularity – it is time We, The People take a stand in support of the brave men and women of law enforcement.

They damn well deserve it.

Quote of the Week

“The city of Ormond Beach is saying no to Belvedere Terminals. No utilities. No annexation.

“Not no, but heck no,” Mayor Bill Partington said at the City Commission meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 20. “This city will not provide utilities for a project that is so adverse to our residents’ quality of life.”

The commission unanimously approved two motions at its meeting stating that the city has no desire or intention to provide utilities and annexation to Belvedere Terminals, which is pursuing the construction of a 16-tank fuel storage terminal at 874 Hull Road.

“I don’t know if that will stop the project, but I think it’s important that this company knows that we’re going to battle them at every level, at every angle, at every possible time and opportunity to make sure that this project never happens, and we’ll drag it out for years and spend as much money as you have to spend,” Partington said.”

–Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington, as quoted by the Ormond Beach Observer, “Ormond Beach won’t provide utilities — or annexation — to Belvedere Terminals’ proposed fuel farm,” Thursday, September 21, 2023

According to a press release issued by the City of Ormond Beach:

“City Attorney Randy Hayes, who rigorously examined the situation, remarked, “After assessing all the available options and considering the potential repercussions to our community, it became clear that we possess the discretion to deny utilities to the proposed project. Exercising this discretion in favor of our community’s safety and well-being is, in our view, the most prudent course of action. The City Commission demonstrated that, unwavering in the commitment to protect Ormond Beach and its residents from any potential harm.”

In line with this stance, the City of Ormond Beach has been proactive in its opposition to the project. It has dispatched letters of objection to Belvedere Terminals and solicited the backing of key figures, including the Volusia County Legislative Delegation, Governor DeSantis, Congressman Waltz, and FDEP.

The City reaffirms its dedication to working collaboratively with Volusia County, supporting any of its legal endeavors to halt the project and explore alternative, more suitable locations. This collaborative effort underscores the City’s commitment to finding resolutions that best serve its residents’ interests.”

Stay tuned, folks – and do not let your guard down.

In my cynical view, it is too early to tell if Mayor Partington’s saber-rattling – or the symbolic motions adopted by the Ormond Beach City Commission this week – truly represent a “commitment to protect Ormond Beach and its residents from potential harm,” or are just a time buying strategy ahead of the 2024 campaign season… 

Again, time will tell…

And Another Thing!

For years, concerned residents who try desperately to peer through the smoke and mirrors of Volusia County government have complained about the abysmal quality of the audio/visual capabilities in the gilded Council Chamber – which, in a bloated bureaucracy with a budget now well exceeding $1 Billion annually – seems to strategically malfunction whenever contentious issues heat things up between angry constituents and their cowardly elected officials.

I have likened the rickety audio system in the chamber to an early model of Bell’s Harmonic Telegraph (although, acoustically, it sounds more akin to two rusty soup cans connected by a taught waxed string in the style of Antonio Meucci’s Teletrofono) – the difference being that one can decipher what is being said by either of those early means of voice-communications.

And Volusia County taxpayers still do not warrant a public access television channel – which means unless you want to navigate the County’s web feed or YouTube – We, The Little People who cannot attend the meetings in person are SOL… 

On Tuesday evening, during the public comment portion of the Volusia County Council meeting – at a time when frightened residents are demanding answers to mounting questions surrounding the proposed placement of a 20-million-gallon bulk fuel terminal in Ormond Beach – the audio portion of the video mysteriously went mute.

For almost two-hours… 

Apparently, no one who should give’s two-shits in the Ivory Tower of Power in DeLand. . .

Why? 

Because it is now unmistakably evident that our so-called “elected representatives” do not want us to hear (or see) the sausage being made – or they would damn well do something about it…

Now that questions outweigh answers – and testy exchanges are increasing between opponents of the Belvedere Terminal and elected officials who claim to have been caught flatfooted – some officials are now blaming citizen activists for spreading misinformation in Volusia County’s patented ‘circle the wagons’ approach to crisis management.

In typical fashion, Councilman Danny Robins transmogrified in front of our eyes – shapeshifting from an elected official responsible to his constituents into a hand-wringing policy wonk – using his long-winded pettifoggery to silence and marginalize Chairman Jeff Brower for actually engaging with residents during public participation and trying to pry information out of County Manager George “The Wreck” Recktenwald, who continues to quibble the “who knew what, and when” question. 

Ugly. 

In my view, if Mr. Robins and the others were sincere in their lip service opposition to the Belvedere terminal, they would encourage the civic engagement of concerned residents, demand accountability from the bureaucracy, and work diligently to ensure a thorough investigation into how something of this magnitude – that could ultimately impact the lives, property values, and physical safety of thousands of residents – could have escaped the attention of senior management?   

More importantly, the Volusia County Council should demand answers from Mr. Recktenwald on exactly what steps are being taken to ensure this never happens again. 

They won’t – because accountability in the senior ranks of County government is considered corrosive to the status quo.

However, in an unusual move, Councilman Troy Kent of Ormond Beach took the extraordinary step of calling for formal evaluations of both County Manager Recktenwald and County Attorney Michael Dyer. 

In my view, the two most monstrously overpaid hacks in all the realm…

Rather than continue with the traditional practice of merely gifting The Wreck and Dyer massive pay increases each December as a foregone conclusion, Kent is suggesting an objective written assessment, based upon established metrics, such as competency, leadership, problem solving ability, management style, interpersonal relationships, planning and organization, fiscal management and reporting, and team building skills.

Look for this interesting development to be brought back for discussion next month…    

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