Hi, kids!

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

Biketoberfest 2024    

A fact of life on Florida’s fabled “Fun Coast,” is that many of our neighbors are dependent on the feast or famine nature of the Halifax Area’s artificial economy – still very much reliant on “Special Events” for their livelihoods – while much of our core tourist area remains mired in blight, dilapidation, and botched opportunities.  

A place where some red-faced store owners still apologize to tourists for the condition of the place… 

Earlier this year in an excellent article by investigative journalist Eileen Zaffiro-Kean writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, entitled “‘We’ve gone to the bottom’: Does Daytona’s party-central image scare off investors?” we learned the tragic reality facing many Beachside small businesses: 

“A good portion of Main Street businesses only come alive for about a week during Biketoberfest in October and two weeks during Bike Week in March. Those businesses can afford to go dark for the rest of the year because they make huge amounts of money during the two biker parties.

Many nearby empty lots used for biker event vendors and parking also sit empty for most of the year and then burst to life during Bike Week and Biketoberfest.

“Main Street has not made any of the leaps we would have hoped,” said Mayor Derrick Henry. “Part of the problem is people make money off the way it is now. We’re not opposed to Bike Week, but I want to see Main Street thrive.”

When?

Earlier this year, the Main Street Merchant’s Association made an impassioned plea to those mute Gargoyles on the Volusia County Council asking that beach driving from International Speedway Boulevard to Auditorium Boulevard be reopened as a means of supporting beleaguered shops, restaurants, and bars in the core tourist district.   

Per usual, the idea of trying something new and innovative was ignored – which brings us back to our interminable reliance on “Special Events.”  Unfortunately, for the financial security of many, these disruptive boom-bust bacchanalias must roll regardless of the condition of our community, infrastructure, or residents…   

As a shiftless retiree, most days, by the time you have finished a grilled cheese and bowl of tomato soup for lunch, I’m already three cocktails deep. 

My one rule is that I never drink and drive, which makes me solely reliant on my long-suffering wife and close friends to haul my inebriated arse from point A to B safely.   

Late last week, I was riding with a friend enroute from Barker’s View HQ to my favorite watering hole – the omnipresent roar of Biketoberfest motorcycles radiating from North Beach Street – when I heard the faint sounds of AC/DC wafting over the drone.

Continuing through my north Ormond neighborhood, the strains of Angus Young’s screaming guitar got louder as we navigated receding water, the massive debris piles from Hurricane Milton still moldering in and out of the roadway – logs, leaves, fencing slats, and rotting vegetative waste stacked high (dangerous eyesores we are now told might not be fully collected before the first of the year?) – with one large mound of brown palm fronds and the remnants of a toppled Oak obscuring motorists’ view of the opposing lane. 

Then…

“IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP IF YOU WANNA ROCK-N-ROLL!”

Out of nowhere, a speeding Harly-Davidson – the bike’s onboard stereo blasting at concert pitch – weaved around the obstructing debris pile, pulling directly into our traffic lane, eyeball-to-bloodshot eyeball, closing so fast I could see the abject horror on the face of the bearded and leather-clad rider.

Whoa!  

Instantaneously, my friend braked hard and deftly swerved right – the now leaning motorcycle threading the needle, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision by a fraction on the left – a hard, fast, and frightening lesson on the perils of inviting tens-of-thousands of motorcyclists to party hardy in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster… 

I get it.  We do what we must to survive. 

In my view, stability and long-term prosperity begins by getting government (at all levels) out of the way and allowing those actually in the arena – entrepreneurial investors who have put their blood, sweat, tears, and money into building a business – to use their experience and expertise to blaze a path forward and turn things around, rather than continue to pour untold millions in public funds into attracting the next panacea project…

Yeah.  I know.

Here’s hoping everyone who feeds their family on the proceeds of Biketoberfest got everything they needed, and that our ‘powers that be’ finally realize that the Daytona Beach Resort Area needs a year-round draw, an inviting atmosphere, and a break from the stagnant status quo if we hope to maintain our important hospitality industry here on the “World’s Most Famous Beach.”     

Aura-Aero

Strike up the Volusia County All-Star Goodtime Band!

Happy Days are Here Again!  Again! 

Last week, everyone who is anyone in Volusia County’s public and private elite were falling all over themselves with the announcement that French hybrid-electric aircraft manufacturer Aura-Aero announced its intention to build a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing and assembly plant at the Daytona Beach International Airport.

Once operational, the manufacturing facility will create more than 1,000 of those “high-paying jobs” we are always promised whenever the next big thing comes to town…   

In an informative article by the News-Journal’s Clayton Park, we learned that Daytona Beach took the prize over Flagler County after the obligatory “economic incentive” cake walk.

“Volusia County offered $500,000 in performance-based incentives the company would receive only if it makes good on its pledge to create 1,000 jobs paying an average of $72,000 a year. Daytona Beach agreed to provide $100,000 in matching funds of that “Grow Volusia” incentive package.

The city sweetened the county’s bid further by offering a break on property taxes over six years worth a total of $3.58 million.

Flagler County offered an even more lucrative incentive package that would have paid Aura Aero $1 million annually for five years in the form of reimbursements on ad valorem taxes collected from the company as well as $650,000 or more a year based on the value of the plant’s equipment.”

And, friends and neighbors, that’s how you and I became investors in the nascent electric aircraft business… 

Now, I hate to be the proverbial turd in the punchbowl, so I’m going to assume our economic development sagamores at Team Volusia and that camara stellata over at the CEO Business Alliance (or any of the half-dozen other redundant “economic opportunity” agencies) did due diligence on our behalf before using our money to add more sugar to Aura-Aero’s cloyingly sweet “incentives” package? 

I’m asking.

Because, to the best of my knowledge, Aura-Aero’s initial prototypes – single-engine aircraft known as the INTEGRAL models – have yet to receive final FAA or EASA flightworthiness certification. 

Tragically, two test pilots lost their lives in the crash of an INTEGRAL R prototype in April 2022, a mishap European safety investigators later disturbingly attributed to “technical, organizational, and human causes…” 

Aura-Aero responded in a statement following the release of the accident report which read, in part:   

“The study of the events that led to the loss of the aircraft and crew results in several recommendations, some of which concern us.  Our own investigations had also led to the same conclusions, already taken into account for the development and production of the INTEGRAL R, INTEGRAL S, and INTEGRAL E aircraft.”

According to reports, flight testing of the INTEGRAL R variant resumed last year, 19 months after the fatal crash, and the company reports FAA certification is in the final stages.  

Although orders for a reported 570 units have already been placed for the company’s larger ERA (Electric Regional Aircraft) in both 19-seat passenger and cargo configurations – I’m not sure a prototype has yet been constructed. 

According to a report earlier this month at the industry site Aerotime, Aura-Aero “…is planning to fly a prototype of the ERA airliner by 2026.”  In my view, that sounds like an incredibly aggressive timeline… 

Look, I’m certainly not an aeronautical engineer, but the dates don’t add up to this uneducated rube, and one would think the “before 2030” estimated delivery date would put serious time constraints on testing and certification of the ERA models before production could begin on orders promised.     

But what do I know, eh? 

I’m sure Volusia County Manager George “The Wreck” Recktenwald and our “economic guru’s” who play fast and loose with our tax dollars have confirmed all of this well in advance of committing us to another multi-million-dollar corporate support package, right?

Sure they did…  

Former Volusia County Councilwoman Joie Alexander 1940-2024

Earlier this month, Joie Alexander, a universally respected paragon of Volusia County governance, volunteerism, and selfless service passed away at her home in Spruce Creek.  She was 84.    

Following a quarter-century of service with Volusia County Schools – including eight years as principal of Samsula Elementary School – Ms. Alexander sought public office, running against the late great Big John in what the Orlando Sentinel described in 2002 as “a two-fisted political brawl” for the ages. 

At the time, Ms. Alexander labeled Big John an “obstructionist,” while he accused Alexander of having been “recruited” by east Volusia developers seeking to oust him from office when he opposed spending millions in tax dollars on oceanfront development in Daytona Beach.

Figurative blows flew back and forth with each accusing the other of accepting campaign contributions from “big-money” interests… 

Funny how the more things change, the more they stay the same, eh?

When the heated contest was over, Ms. Alexander garnered 64 percent of the vote to Big’s 36 percent.  

Ultimately Ms. Alexander served admirably for eight years as the at-large member of the Volusia County Council – seven as vice chair – and two years as the District 3 councilmember, including service as a member of the Florida Association of Counties Board of Directors.

As could happen in times past, Big John and Ms. Alexander later became friends, and their collective efforts to ensure a brighter future for Volusia County remained a constant throughout their remarkable lives.

A moving obituary in The Daytona Beach News-Journal this week recounted Ms. Alexander’s significant leadership and contributions:

“Joie spent her retirement years giving back to the community. Joie’s extensive volunteer service included serving on the board of directors or committees of the following: Crime Stoppers of NE Florida, Florida’s Coast to Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia/Flagler Counties (S.H.I.E.L.D. Award recipient in 2022), Daytona State College Women’s Center (Advisory Board), the United Way Women’s Initiative, the Bethune-Cookman University Mary McLeod-Bethune Status committee and Keep Daytona Beach Beautiful. She was a member of several civic and service-oriented groups such as the Rotary Club of Daytona Beach, the NAACP West Volusia Chapter, the Volusia County Women’s Network, the Civic League of the Halifax Area and the Halifax Health Associates. Many other local organizations also benefited greatly from her involvement.

Of Joie’s service over her decades to Volusia County, she once said, “Volunteering is a greater gift for the giver than the receiver. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to be an active part in improving lives.”

Words to live by from a dedicated servant-leader, gone too soon, whose wisdom and insight is needed now, more than ever.    

Thank you, Ms. Alexander.  We’re glad you passed our way…

Quote of the Week

“The Hand Avenue extension to Avalon Park won’t be used by Ormond Beach residents. Instead, the costly road and bridges will allow Daytona Beach Avalon Park residents to travel to and through Ormond Beach and return home. During the current two-year term, the Ormond Beach City Commission, with three new members, has not heard reports on the proposed Hand Avenue extension or updates on the Avalon Park water and sewer service impasse with Daytona Beach.

The 3,000 acres west of I-95 have a troubled history, and now the Avalon Park mega development will construct 7,878 homes, on lots engineered with truckloads of legal fill and excavations of massive retention ponds.

Funding a $100 million Hand Avenue east-west access for the Avalon Park Daytona homes is now a Volusia County obligation. The county agreements were approved with no estimated project cost, no defined funding from four levels of government, no citizen mandate, and no public input from the Ormond Beach City Commission. Meanwhile, long-neglected streets in unincorporated areas of the county remain in desperate need of repaving.

The $100 million Hand Avenue extension and bridges will waste taxpayer dollars to accommodate growth that will never pay for itself.”

–Former Ormond Beach City Commissioner Jeff Boyle, as excerpted from his op/ed in the Ormond Beach Observer, “My View: Hand Avenue extension bridges are not needed,” Monday, October 21, 2024

The rest of Mr. Boyle’s insightful thoughts on the costs, environmental impacts, and ulterior motivations as Volusia County (read: you and me) agree to pick up the estimated $100 million tab for extending Hand Avenue west from Ormond Beach, with a bridge over eight lanes of Interstate 95 and a second new bridge over the Tomoka River to accommodate Avalon Park can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/58mpx3js

In my view, Mr. Boyle’s cogent commentary tells a disturbing story of how (and why) the dominos were stacked – and the pernicious reasons our elected developer shills continue to perpetuate the myth that the Hand Avenue extension will relieve already crippling traffic congestion on Granada Boulevard/State Road 40 – knowing full well the extension that existing residents will pay for opens even more environmentally sensitive lands between I-95 and the Tomoka River for development.    

I found it interesting that on Wednesday, the Observer published a piece on the Frankensteinian animation of the monstrous Ormond Crossings as the “first amendment” for the massive mixed-use development comes before the Ormond Beach Planning Board next week…

According to the report, “The request also seeks to update the overall conceptual master plan for the residential part of Ormond Crossings, which once built out, could be composed of 2,500 homes.”

Insanity.

In my view, Mr. Boyle’s timely essay is a must-read for anyone concerned about the slow and agonizing death of our environment, sense of place, and quality of life in Ormond Beach and beyond…

And Another Thing!

Last week, as you and were navigating Milton debris still piled high on the shoulder of every side street in town – then grimaced and groaned through three cycles of a traffic signal on hyper-congested West Granada Boulevard – our ‘movers and shakers’ gathered at the exclusive Oceanside County Club to listen to Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington tell the chamber of commerce set how wonderful we all have it… 

In his final State of the City address – “Partners For Prosperity” – clearly a subliminal nod to his friends and campaign contributors in the development community, Hizzoner reminded us:

“This theme embodies the essence of what makes our city thrive, our ability to come together, collaborate and support one another in our shared pursuit of a prosperous future…”

Whatever that means.

During the posh luncheon, the Ormond Beach City Commission’s shining example of success was the proposed redesign of the I-95/US-1 interchange (a project just entering the ‘design phase’) which has, for the entirety of Mr. Partington’s tenure, rivaled East International Speedway Boulevard as the most uninviting, unkempt, and physically unattractive gateway to any community on the Eastern Seaboard from Newark to New Smyrna Beach…   

According to a report in the Ormond Beach Observer, “Once completed, it will significantly enhance the traffic flow and reduce congestion,” Commissioner Susan Persis said.

Construction of the new interchange is expected to begin in 2027, she said.”

Great.  Something to look forward to as a septuagenarian… 

At the risk of seeming unkind, neither Mr. Partington, nor his heir apparent, Susan Persis, are considered deep thinkers by most political watchers.  

In my experience, these perennial politicians aren’t problem solvers – and have proven time and again that they lack the mental capacity to understand multifaceted civic issues or the analytical ability to form complex solutions. 

But they possess the most coveted (and marketable) of political attributes – malleability – the flexibility to bend to the wants and whims of special interests, to go along and get along.   

Unfortunately, Partington and Persis are not alone when it comes to political pliability in Volusia County.

Now, after twenty-one years on the Ormond Beach City Commission, following his speech, Mayor Partington stepped down to complete what I am certain will be a successful run for the Florida House of Representatives District 28 seat. 

For reasons my pea brain can’t quite understand, “Fun Coast” voters have a weird way of rewarding bought-and-paid for political puppets by elevating them to higher office – then complain about why things never change…     

Bizarre. 

In most communities suffering the disastrous effects of our area’s “shove ten-pounds of shit into a five-pound bag” growth management strategy – elected officials who played the distracted referee routine while the out-of-control development that has slashed/burned greenspace, overburdened inadequate transportation infrastructure, outpaced utilities, and flooded homes and businesses – are publicly humiliated at the ballot box and drummed out of what’s left of their claustrophobic communities.   

Not here.

Earlier this week, already distracted residents sloshed through their front yards, collected their newspaper, and read a piece from The Daytona Beach News-Journal’s executive editor John Dunbar, who used his vast editorial talents to clean up Volusia County Chair candidate “Car Guy” Randy Dye’s massive $457,727.47 war chest by shamelessly name dropping a few of his “Rich & Powerful” donors:

“For example, Dye got a personal donation of $1,000 from J. Hyatt Brown, chairman of local insurance giant Brown & Brown Inc. Brown’s wife Cici also gave $1,000 and companies controlled by Brown gave another $3,000. Yes, this is a very wealthy man.”

Then, we got Editor Dunbar’s interpretation of “The rest of the story…”

“But there’s more to the story. Dye is on the board of trustees of the Museum of Arts & Sciences, which, over the years, has benefited greatly from the Browns’ generosity. The Browns recently announced they were giving upward of $150 million to the museum, a transformative gift, as The News-Journal recently reported.

If you are going to be on the Volusia County Council, this is a good man to know.”

By contrast, Mr. Dunbar described incumbent Chairman Jeff Brower this way:  

“As for Brower, he has been focusing lately on flood issues, especially in Edgewater.

His focus has been on slowing new development so it won’t cause flooding in older neighborhoods. And he opposes the construction of the fuel terminal near Ormond Beach. His critics say his heart is in the right place, but they haven’t seen much progress.

He is, however, but one vote on a governing body that has seven members.”

Maybe I’m hypersensitive to the near-constant skewing of the political playing field by those with a chip in the game, but it sounds like Mr. Dunbar is implying that while Dye gives generously of his time and rubs elbows with influential moguls and millionaires – Brower is frittering aimlessly with “flood issues” – or as most waterlogged residents refer it: 

The single most electrifying issue of our time – one that has galvanized Volusia County taxpayers into a growing grassroots movement to protect their homes, lives, and livelihoods from development-induced inundation under the battle cry, “Throw the bums out!”    

Unfortunately, I fear the takeaway for many of our apathetic neighbors will be:

“Oh good, I knew Randy Dye was just another altruistic do-gooder with powerful and incredibly wealthy friends, always giving of his time and talents to serve his fellow Fun Coasters.  Nothing to see here, folks, we can go back to sleep – never mind the roar of those bulldozers…”   

But what about us, “We, The Little People,” who don’t have rich and influential friends in high places?

Who looks out for us in the cloistered Halls of Power in DeLand?

Because it has become frighteningly clear that struggling residents without the wherewithal to purchase a chip in the game with massive campaign contributions have few friends on the Volusia County Council…

Read Mr. Dunbar’s interesting take here and form your own conclusions: https://tinyurl.com/4xy4yx3e

With early voting underway in Volusia County – please vote your conscience. 

This one’s important.

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