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…

Volusia County Council: Public Policy by Ambush.  Again.  

In my jaded view, the arrogance of ignorance that permeates the Volusia County Council is rooted in the fact our elected officials refuse to listen to the concerns of anyone other than those entrenched pseudo “experts” on the senior staff – and their uber-wealthy political benefactors – even as our community begs to be heard on the myriad issues facing the “Fun Coast.”

Look, we all understand that when we enter the halls of power at that Citadel of Self-importance that is the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Building, the rules-are-the-rules, and they are inviolate.

For We, The Little People, anyway…

Rather than demonstrate a modicum of respect for the opinions and suggestions of taxpayers who come to DeLand and provide substantive input – our elected dullards openly ignore them – sitting in stone-faced silence atop the dais of power – subliminally communicating they could give two-shits about our concerns – refusing to offer answers, engage, or even acknowledge their constituents’ physical presence in the chamber.  

Them’s the rules, folks…

Of course, the rules change whenever our wholly compromised elected officials want to indulge the frequent ploy of “Public Policy by Ambush” – voting on critical issues and changing established protocols that directly affect our lives and livelihoods on the fly – usually at the end of a meeting when most have left the chamber or video feed, strategically leaving the details off the printed agenda to prevent even the possibility of contention or public input.

As always, these subjective “rules” are different depending upon which side of the dais you’re sitting on – and that breeds frustration, animosity, and anger – perpetuating the persistent “trust issue” that continues to hamstring civic and economic progress in Volusia County.

Last month, we witnessed another contentious meeting with nearly three-hours of emotional testimony from flood victims who gathered in the chamber and an overcapacity holding room to participate in the scheduled discussion of a temporary moratorium on future development until low impact development rules can be set.   

In keeping with the script, Councilman David “No Show” Santiago pulled one of his patented parliamentary mini-moves and acted to postpone a discussion of countywide flooding – the most serious threat to the public’s health and safety in our time – giving his handlers in the real estate development industry sixty more days to ramrod fill-and-build development…  

That didn’t sit well with soggy flood victims fed up with the bureaucratic runaround.   

So, just after midnight on November 20, District 3 Councilman Danny “Gaslight” Robins decided his fellow council members were exhausted after nine-hours of ignoring citizens and rubber stamping a choreographed agenda, and suggested they vote to limit public meetings to just six-hours… 

Do you think his “suggestion” was decided upon in advance – or did Mr. Robins’ just pull that bright idea out of his ass?  

Doing his best hipster impression, Councilman Robins said, “I’m down with nighttime meetings, but sometimes nothing good comes after certain times, like 10,11.”

Although he readily accepts $49,000 of our tax dollars annually, apparently, Mr. Robins isn’t “down” with devoting himself to the people’s business if it takes more than 12-hours a month… 

Bullshit.

According to a recent article in the Ormond Beach Observer announcing the change, Councilman Robins “…added that the council often has to make decisions on agenda items that cost the county millions of dollars, and often times, council members have been up as early as 4 in the morning. Robins also mentioned staff members and the public who have to stay up late with them and go to work early the next morning.”

Awww, poor widdle things… 

For the record, there are law enforcement officers, first responders, and others providing essential services throughout Volusia County who routinely work 12-hour shifts – everyday – physical, dangerous, and mentally taxing work – never once complaining that they are required to get up early or go to bed late in service to their community.  

This legislative shim-sham has nothing to do with “Gaslight” Robins’ bedtime… 

It’s just another tactic the stagnant “Old Guard” can use to further drag their well-worn heels in a paralytic ploy to keep kicking the hard issues down the dusty trail – and prevent Chaiman Brower from bringing laborious problems like, oh, massive development-induced flooding to the agenda.  

No time for that now.

But it wasn’t all about silencing Mr. Brower – “No Show” Santiago targeted those of us pay the bills as well. 

According to the Observer, “County Councilman David Santiago suggested also reducing the time for the public to speak from the customary three minutes for efficiency purposes when the council is discussing topics that bring a lot of public participation.

“I don’t think we should stop anybody from talking, but considering limiting that time a little bit more for efficiency purposes,” Santiago said. “… We do it in the Legislature all the time.”

Guess what, Mr. Santiago? You’re not in Tallahassee anymore (unless you’re still shilling for the insurance industry?)  We, The Little People of Volusia County are demanding you stop the strategic procrastination, roll-up your sleeves, and find answers to the disastrous effects of the malignant overdevelopment you continue to lobby for behind the scenes.   

There you have it. 

Per usual, limiting meetings to six-hours without thinking the issue through resulted in another shambolic meeting on Tuesday as votes were taken to extend the meeting – it was silly and disorganized (just as Danny Robins planned) – and resulted in another opportunity for Councilman Jake Johansson to take a swipe at Chairman Brower, admonishing his failure to “…manage our own frigging meeting.”

Of course, at the end of the day, Johansson got to stage one of his petty melodramas, while important items like the County Manager and County Attorney’s annual performance evaluations were pushed to a date uncertain due to the new time limitation that has now resulted in a backlog of important action items right out of the starting gate. 

On Wednesday we learned that “Jake the Snake” wants to bring his marionette show to the Florida Senate in 2026, announcing his intention to run against former state Rep. Elizabeth Fetterhoff when the reprehensible state Sen. “Terrible” Tommy Wright’s two-term run comes to a long-awaited end…  

How could Jake possibly endure those long and strenuous Senate sessions?

Whatever.

The fact is this Council’s clockwatching mediocrity, persistent lack of definitive solutions, and near-constant reluctance to do anything of substance is becoming a huge concern to weary taxpayers – and with flooding now becoming too widespread to ignore – the pleas of waterlogged victims are quickly becoming a political liability.

So, they try and limit their exposure with an arbitrary stopwatch…  

In my view, what is being perpetrated from the dais of power in DeLand is nothing short of official malfeasance and gross neglect of duty – and limiting meeting times while allowing County Manager Recktenwald and his inept senior coterie to openly bullshit and coddle anxious residents about all the things they are doing to mitigate flooding in the face of massive citizen pushback is Exhibit A.

Do you think that gross deception will be reflected in Mr. Recktenwald’s evaluation?    

Trust me.  History will not be kind to these compromised shysters.  Nor should it.

Volusia County School Board

In September, following a tumultuous period for Volusia County Schools, the former iteration of the School Board left a parting insult to students, teachers, and staff by gifting Superintendent Carmen Balgobin a glowing performance evaluation. 

That set the stage for ‘what comes next.’

Although this information was only recently made available on the School Board’s upcoming agenda, I have it on good authority that in the leadup to the November election, lame duck Board President Jamie Haynes surreptitiously negotiated a new four-year contract with Superintendent Balgobin in preparation for the expiration of her current agreement next summer. 

You read that right.

As I understand it, Balgobin’s new contract will include goodies like a $25,000 increase in her already obscene salary (about the median income of 20% of Volusia County’s strapped population) bringing the Superintendent’s annual haul to $280,000; a $500 monthly medical stipend, unlimited use of her car at our expense, a 20-week severance, etc., etc., etc.  

In my view, with teacher pay increases stagnant at 2-3%, most of the district staff on one-year contracts, the hemorrhage of qualified personnel continuing, teachers displaced, electives cancelled, enrichment programs cut, lack of transparency, not-so-veiled nepotism, the Osceola Elementary debacle that still stings with Ormond Beach officials and residents, the Balgobin administration’s ham-handed failure to plan for the end of Covid relief funds, draconian diktats, etc. – in my view, the board’s grossly padded evaluation (“Proficient”?) and outrageous proposed pay increase represents a swift kick in the teeth to stakeholders and Volusia County taxpayers.

It’s no secret that under Balgobin’s unique brand of “leadership,” the prior School Board lost all credibility with those it exists to serve – just one reason newly elected members Donna Brosemer and Krista Goodrich were tapped by voters to cut the dead wood and affect positive change.

Unfortunately, until our newly elected members can get up to speed, the bloated Balgobin administration will remain a rudderless ship of fools – cluelessly blundering from one high-profile gaffe to another – the tail constantly wagging the dog.

In my view, now is the time for our reconstituted School Board to give Superintendent Balgobin proper notice that her contract is in jeopardy – as required by the terms of her current agreement – set reasonable performance metrics and tie any increase in her salary and benefits to those received by rank-and-file instructional personnel. 

In my view, that is fair, equitable, and grossly generous given the circumstances teachers, students, and staff continue to endure.   

The Volusia County School Board will hold a Workshop/Work Session on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 12:30 p.m., followed by a regular School Board meeting beginning at 4:30 p.m.

This one should be interesting…   

Port Orange Councilman Lance Green

Call me callous, but I never feel sorry for powerful elected officials who get themselves in a trick bag due to their own stupid mistakes and proclivities. 

In times past, the antidote for self-inflicted personal and political humiliation was to quietly apologize then step aside.  Because admitting a mistake, having the moral courage to accept responsibility, and do what is necessary to preserve the dignity of the office is important to restoring the public’s trust in our system of governance.

Not anymore.

On Tuesday evening, Port Orange residents looked on as Mayor Scott Stiltner, Councilman Shawn Goepfert, and Councilman Lance Green, took the solemn Oath of Office to assume their vital role as keepers of the public trust – the normal transition of power following a municipal election.

What made the evening devastatingly abnormal was that Councilman Lance Green is currently under a foul cloud – facing criminal prosecution for driving under the influence, DUI with property damage, and obstructing an officer without violence – following a September traffic crash at Williamson Boulevard and Taylor Road.  

According to a report by Frank Fernandez writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal following then Councilman-elect Green’s arrest, we learned:

“A traffic camera video released after his arrest for DUI appears to show newly elected Port Orange Councilman Lance Green getting out of the driver’s seat of his pickup after it rear-ended another pickup, then walking around and getting in the passenger seat.

Green, who was with his wife, then claimed to police that she was driving.

The crash led to Green’s arrest 10 days after he won a seat on the Port Orange City Council, on which he would begin serving in December.”

Then, things went from bad to embarrassingly worse…

According to reports, while being questioned at the scene, Mrs. Green was captured on an officer’s body worn camera uttering the six words guaranteed to expose any self-important politician/spouse as the egomaniacal heels they are:

“Do you know who we are?”

Yeah.  I know… 

During Tuesday’s meeting, former Port Orange Fire Chief Ken Fustin – a personal hero of mine after he was publicly sacrificed on the altar of political expediency for courageously opposing the bullying and arrogance of Volusia County’s senior Public Protection staff – spoke in support of Councilman Green.

According to a News-Journal report this week, Fustin said, “Lance and his wife, Susie, made an unfortunate mistake that affected their reputation in this community,” Fustin said. “I can honestly and sincerely relate to the humiliation and criticizing they have publicly endured since that episode.”

Fustin pointed to the state statute that allows for a recall vote after 25% of an elected official’s term has expired.

“Personally, I think it will be yesterday’s news one year from now, and the citizens will hopefully be grateful for what Lance brings to the table,” Fustin added.

I disagree with Chief Fustin.

In my view, the good citizens of Port Orange should not have to hold their nose for a year (or more) as newly minted Councilman Green’s criminal charges wind their way through the judicial system – waiting for the other shoe to drop, hoping time and distance dilute the gravity and civic discomfiture of his behavior – while his constituents continue to question the character, veracity, and stability of their newly elected representative now perched on the dais of power. 

The result is a tragic loss of institutional trust – something we are beginning to see reflected everywhere – a time when we naturally expect that our politicians are compromised scoundrels, liars, cheats, or worse – and no personal, professional, or political conduct seems out of bounds.

In retirement, I relish my role as an inveterate drunk and inappropriate asshole – something I consider just deserts after a lifetime in municipal government service – where I tried hard every day to uphold the moral obligation of keeping one’s public and private life unsullied and avoiding even the appearance of impropriety.   

As Chief Fustin knows that is something easier said than done – but the personal responsibility of those who hold positions of trust.

Not anymore.  Apparently, now anything goes…    

I fear that falling expectations and the resultant loss of trust will have irreparable impacts on our system of governance. 

Hell, it already has. 

By accepting the sacred oath while under criminal prosecution for personal misconduct, I believe Councilman Green perpetuated that grim downward spiral.

While I appreciate Chief Fustin’s instinct to stand for a friend, in my view, it is important that we fight hard to ensure Councilman Green’s unfortunate situation remains the exception – not the accepted norm. 

Quote of the Week

“On the county’s east side, Halifax Urban Ministries normally coordinates with churches to get people out of the cold for a few nights. But the churches that normally step up and offer that help were not able to offer space on short notice, Halifax Urban Ministries Executive Director Buck James said Monday.

Providing overnight shelter requires finding volunteers, getting food, and offering blankets and other bedding if possible.

Daytona Beach’s First Step Shelter will move people staying in its outdoor safe zone into the First Step building, but will not be able to accommodate others seeking a warm place for the night.

“We are always a cold weather shelter, but we are limited in what we can do,” said First Step Shelter Executive Director Victoria Fahlberg. “Because we only have one person who will be here overnight, we’ll be limited to having the people in the safe zone inside.”

–Journalist Eileen Zaffiro-Keen, The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “It’s going to be chilly, but shelter for those without places to stay is available,” Monday, December 2, 2024

It’s hard to believe that almost ten-years have passed since a ragtag horde of homeless people moved from the shadows of society and prominently encamped at a former county administration building on Beach Street after the City of Daytona Beach closed restroom facilities and removed benches from Manatee Island Park.

The city’s action was nothing new; however, the well organized and unanticipated response was eye-opening – and has had a lasting impact on the way we view homelessness.

The park closing was just business as usual – the furtherance of a long-term misguided strategy of doing the same thing over-and-over again while expecting different results. 

I know all too well. 

During my productive life I dealt with the mercurial homeless “problem” for years in much the same way.  One mistake compounding another…  

The equal and opposite reaction to law enforcement’s decades-long policy of institutional humiliation as a means of “controlling” the homeless population put the issue front-and-center that cold December of 2015, when ambulatory drunks, psychotic vagrants, the sick, lame, and crazy – unfortunate souls who long-ago fell through the gaping voids in our limited civic and social services – crawled out of the relative obscurity of the palmetto scrub and into the public eye.

That very visible demonstration proved that there is nothing like 80 or 90 homeless people bedding down and relieving themselves on the sidewalk in front of a public building to bring attention to the countless issues that contribute to homelessness – and government’s historic unwillingness to address it…

In the decade since we came face-to-face with the “problem,” you and I still encounter the homeless across the width and breadth of Volusia County daily – all while various programs continue to complete for scarce funding.  

In 2017, Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry sold Volusia County taxpayers on what was then described as a 24-hour 7-day a week come-as-you-are “low barrier” shelter.  That became something of a bait-and-switch letdown as what we were promised transitioned into the enigmatic (and incredibly expensive) program called First Step Shelter – something of a publicly funded invitation only “transitional homeless shelter” constructed on city owned land off International Speedway Boulevard.  

If you ask the First Step’s misguided Board of Directors, they will readily look you in the eye and gush about what a rousing success the program has been – despite the heartbreaking scenes we see outside our windshield – or the swept under the rug ugliness and internal dysfunction we all read about in the funny papers…   

Frankly, with temperatures dipping into the upper 30’s this week, I’m tired of arguing about it.  

While I continue to bitch and moan over whatever First Step Shelter is or isn’t, the day-to-day needs of those who remain unsheltered and on the streets are quietly being met by programs such as Halifax Urban Ministries, The Bridge in DeLand, the Jewish Federation’s Jerry Doliner Food Bank, and other faith based nonprofit organizations dedicated to addressing the urgent necessities of those less fortunate while seeking grassroot solutions to the growing problem of homelessness and food insecurity in Volusia County. 

As some of the coldest weather of the season descended this week, it became clear that the need for warming areas and overnight shelters far outweighed current resources as many social service providers were caught without adequate staff, space, food, or bedding to provide for those exposed to the elements. 

During this season of giving, I hope you will consider one of the many impactful programs working hard to provide for those less fortunate in Volusia County.   

A good place to start is www.halifaxurbanministries.org

Your generosity will make a true difference.

And Another Thing!  

“Sweaty America-Last RINO Randy Fine is a borderline criminal, who has ethics charges currently pending against him, was recently sentenced to “anger management classes” by a respected Florida judge, and is one of the most corrupt and despicable people to ever hold an office in Florida.  He also called Governor DeSantis an “anti-Semite.”

His voting record is worse:  RINO Randy Fine voted for the biggest tax increase in Florida history, the largest gun-control bill in Florida history, filed bills to create more woke “Hate Speech” laws, endorsed AGAINST Trump before flip-flopping, & dozens of other very bad bills.  (He also used to privately trash Donald Trump to me and many others while we were supporting Trump in the Florida Legislature.)

He is sociopath with no integrity—which is why the Florida Commission on Ethics has already found probable cause for current the charges against him.

I’ve heard several names of VERY solid people who are considering getting in the race who I will be happy to help to the utmost of my ability as the Chairman of the Lake County Republican Party, as I know our party will endorse against Fine (he is despised here).  We don’t need more RINOs in Congress.”

–Lake County Commissioner and former Florida Representative Anthony Sabatini (R) writing on X to announce he will not be running to replace Michael Waltz in the April 1 Congressional District 6 special election, Tuesday, November 26, 2024   

As someone who spent the bulk of my adult life as a registered Republican, I understand the savagery of partisan politics and the obligatory public disembowelment of one’s opponent – especially those from the opposing party.   

Just one reason I am now a confirmed No Party Affiliate.    

But the above description of Florida Senator-elect Randy Fine came from Anthony Sabatini – a veteran politician, staunch conservative, and Chair of the Lake County Republican Party…

I suspect President-elect Donald Trump knows Randy Fine about as well as he knows me. 

Because if he did, I can’t believe President Trump would endorse this bombastic buffoon to represent us here in Florida’s 6^th Congressional District.  In my view, after following Fine’s tumultuous political career, the only explanation appears to be that party operatives are playing a high-stake chess game in the weeks before Inauguration Day, and Fine’s well played role as a sycophantic opportunist finally paid off…    

Like many in Central Florida, I agree with Mr. Sabatini. 

In my view, Rep. Fine possesses the political instincts of a broke back snake – and the likeability of a flesh-eating bacterium. 

I typically steer clear of national politics in this space, but two years ago, a despicable story oozed out of Brevard County that reminded me of all the reasons I write this blog – the cathartic nature of venting my pickled spleen by pointing a jaundiced finger at ‘The Shit’ – comforted by the faint hope that my neighbors still believe some behavior should be universally reviled, even in the no-holds-barred slit-trench of modern politics.  

Simply put, citizens who see the importance of preserving the public’s trust in government should not abide bullying or abuse of position by those we elect to serve our interests – mighty politicians who use their vast power and position to intimidate and punish the defenseless – and don’t give two-shits about the collateral damage. 

Unfortunately, Mr. Fine wears those foul traits like a badge of honor.

In 2022, Central Floridians got a disturbing glimpse of his political flexing when the influential Rep. Fine was caught victimizing a Brevard County community after he felt snubbed by, of all things, his failure to receive an engraved invitation to a local fundraiser supporting Special Olympics in West Melbourne.

According to media reports, Rep. Fine got bent out of shape after the West Melbourne Police Department sent a blanket invitation to community leaders – including the Brevard County School Board – seeking participation in a “jail and bail” style fundraiser at an area fast-food restaurant – apparently neglecting to prostrate themselves and humbly beseech Mr. Fine to grace the event with his rotund presence.

What raised Rep. Fine’s wrath was that his long-time political nemesis, former Democratic Brevard School Board member Jennifer Jenkins, had agreed to participate…

Unforgiveable, right?

In a series of texts between Fine and his obsequious toady, West Melbourne City Commissioner John Dittmore – messages later published by media outlets – Rep. Fine threatened to withhold funding for Special Olympics (read that again) and a flood-mitigation project for citizens of West Melbourne… 

Over a perceived snub?

In April 2023, Florida’s neutered ethics apparatus found probable cause that Mr. Fine violated state ethics rules when he clearly appeared to threaten funding to the city of West Melbourne. 

According to a report by Florida Today, “Fine called the nonpartisan commission a “kangaroo court” and claimed its findings were politically motivated because the decision went against the recommendations of its investigator, whose staff recommended no probable cause.”

Most recently, earlier this year, a Brevard County judge held Fine in contempt of court after he was observed making obscene gestures, mouthing curse words, and wearing a campaign T-shirt during a video court hearing last summer.

According to an October 2024 report by Spectrum News 13:

“Screen shots of the hearing — which stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Robert Burns challenging Fine’s inclusion in the race for the Brevard Republican Executive Committee — were included in an order compelling the state representative to explain his actions in court. In the images, Fine can be clearly seen wearing a campaign T-shirt, and multiple screen shots showed him holding up his middle finger in different positions and making an “L” with his fingers on at least three occasions.”

Ultimately, the Judge ordered Fine to complete an eight-hour anger management course.

Of course, this rather benign accountability for his abhorrent behavior during a judicial proceeding sparked the legendary Wrath of Fine – who went on to attack witnesses, made threats to file a complaint with the Florida Bar against the prosecuting attorney, and hurled accusations that the judge engaged in misconduct…

You know, the New Sacred Ethos of the modern politician: Admit nothing.  Deny everything. Make counteraccusations…   

In my view, none of us are without warts – and the partisan fish camps that hand-select malleable candidates and political meatgrinder that awaits potential servant/leaders is why so few otherwise qualified citizens seek elective service – which increasingly leaves us with the Gumby-like dregs who have lost the human capacity for shame… 

Perhaps President-elect Trump’s transition team should revisit the Fine endorsement, vet a capable and competent resident Republican of District 6, and give us long-suffering “Fun Coast” residents something other than another disparaging dilemma at the ballot box as we elect a replacement for the highly respected Mike Waltz in Congress.  

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