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 Schools – Cause for Concern

“Volusia County Schools is now an A district for the first time since the 2008-2009 school year. What were some of the strategies that the district implemented to help achieve this?

There is still a disconnect between our proficiency rates and our graduation rates.

I know that the teachers work very hard to get their kids over the finish line. There are other strategies that the district uses that are a little harder to explain, and that includes transferring out the lower performing students who they know are not likely to graduate, so that they are in either online school or alternative schools or charter schools, and they don’t count against their assigned school’s graduation rate.  

I’m still trying to find out exactly how that works and see what we can do to make our numbers between proficiency and graduation come closer together.”

–As excerpted from the Ormond Beach Observer, “Policies for proficiency: Q+A with Volusia County School Board member Donna Brosemer,” Wednesday, July 16, 2025

I admire Volusia County School Board member Donna Brosemer. 

In an atmosphere where toxic positivity conceals the ugly truth, it takes courage to say the quiet part out loud, and speak truth to powerful appointed bureaucrats with no political liability and little external oversight…   

As a longtime observer of Volusia County politics, I knew from the moment Ms. Brosmer challenged the entrenched Carl Persis for the District 4 seat her road ahead would be craggy and fraught with impediments to progress.

For the first time in a long time, Volusia County District Schools was getting a true conservative voice – not another obsequious bobble-head doing the bidding of influential insiders or a whackadoodle comedienne still haunted by her oddball performance at an out-of-town confab – but a thoughtful leader with strategic vision in service to stakeholders.    

In my view, Ms. Brosemer brings a refreshing competence to a board in desperate need of independent thought, openness, and a sense that those elected to represent the interest of taxpayers should do just that.

Last week, Ms. Brosemer sat for an interview with the Ormond Beach Observer – an exchange which provided insight into her priorities for Volusia County schools – and a shocking revelation that seemed to mirror the manipulation of student enrollments in other districts around the state as a means of artificially bolstering graduation rates…

Most notably, in June, Fox 35 Orlando reported that a Florida Office of Inspector General investigation found credible evidence of misconduct by the former superintendent and assistant superintendent of Sumpter County Schools.  The investigation determined the administration, “…engaged in systemic falsification of student data by establishing so-called “shell schools” at various campuses across the county dating back to 2016.”

According to Fox 35, the OIA found that low-performing students were withdrawn from their assigned schools and enrolled — without their knowledge or parental consent — in a district-run virtual school under a separate school code to inflate “performance metrics.”

Sounds eerily familiar to what Ms. Brosemer described at Volusia County Schools…

Earlier this month, Superintendent Balgobin said in a press release published in the Observer:

“This A is more than a measure of academic success; it is a reflection of a district and a community that chose to come together — with purpose and with heart — to ignite a passion for learning in all students. When our School Board, families, staff, and community partners stand together and work hard, our students and community excel.” 

In a video address, Dr. Balgobin described the districts success as a “special moment more than 15 years in the making.”

“An achievement of this magnitude didn’t happen by accident,” she said. “It truly happened by design. It took a lot of heart, hard work, intentionality and a strong belief in our mission of igniting a passion for learning in all students.”

According to Balgobin’s gushing “July News Bites,” 100% of Volusia County schools scored an A, B, or C – “No Ds or Fs,” the 94% graduation rate is the second highest in Central Florida, with all high schools rated A or B “for the first time in district history.”

Excuse my skepticism…

In my view, the reign of Superintendent Carmen Balgobin and her top-heavy administration has been marked by a lack of transparency.  A pathological need to sugarcoat and keep what happens in the Ivory Tower of Power in DeLand a secret from both the School Board and those of us who pay the bills.

Time, and time, and time again…

When you add the School Board’s standard practice of allowing the tail to wag the dog – serving as a virtual rubber stamp for the administration rather than our elected oversight – in my view, the environment is ripe for abuse and manipulation.

If you have children still enrolled in Volusia County public schools or pay taxes to support them, this revelation is truly cause for concern.

If this magical transformation is less “purpose and heart” and more systemic manipulation to skew graduation rates as described, then it will be incumbent upon the Inspector General – and the Volusia County School Board – to take swift action to preserve the public trust and save students, teachers, and staff from the lasting stigma of manufactured “success.”  

City of Daytona Beach – A New “Watchdog” at City Hall 

“For decades, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been unaccountable to taxpayers as it funnels massive sums of money to the ridiculous — and, in many cases, malicious — pet projects of entrenched bureaucrats, with next-to-no oversight.”

–The White House, February 3, 2025  

“At their Wednesday July 16 meeting, (Daytona Beach) commissioners voted to hire Abinet Belachew, a seasoned auditing and financial management professional with over two decades of experience, to be their new city auditor.

Belachew has most recently served as director of the Office of Financial Management for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In his role, which is being eliminated as part of federal government cuts under the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, he managed a $1.2 billion budget and led a team responsible for financial reporting, internal controls and compliance in high-risk international environments…”

–Reporter Eileen Zaffiro-Kean, The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Daytona Beach’s new internal auditor will keep a close eye on tax dollars,” Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Earlier this week, the City of Daytona Beach hired Abinet Belachew to serve as its new internal auditor. Reporting directly to the City Commission, Mr. Belachew will be responsible for “…financial, fiscal compliance, financial procedure, legal and administrative audits of all city departments, offices, agencies and programs.”

The position was authorized by voters in 2014 and placed in the City Charter. 

According to the report, Mr. Belachew’s ancillary duties will include establishing an annual oversight plan prior to the start of each fiscal year, conducting “special audits and investigations” as directed by the commission, performing quarterly payroll audits, unannounced cash counts in all departments, and verifying pension and payroll data.

One would assume those measures were already being undertaken by the city’s Chief Financial Officer, but adding an additional set of eyes with a sole focus on ensuring fiscal accountability is a good thing – especially in a governmental organization with a budget now reaching $350 million – that continues to expand into commercial real estate, the restaurant industry, and retail grocery business…   

In my view, if the Daytona Beach City Commission sicced Mr. Belachew on ferreting out how $120+ million in public funds from the Main Street Redevelopment Area evaporated over the last 30-years – or finally determine exactly what is going on out at that enigma wrapped in a conundrum that is the First Step Shelter – he will more than earn his $163,271 annual salary… 

According to the News-Journal article, Mr. Belachew clearly has the credentials and experience for this important job; including an impressive career as director of internal audit for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, controller at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, controller for the Washington, D.C., government, and senior manager with two public accounting firms.

Unfortunately, his previous employer, USAID, where Mr. Belachew served from 2013 until the international aid organization was unceremoniously dismantled by the Trump administration earlier this year, is now widely associated with gross government waste, fraud, abuse, and a complete lack of fiscal accountability.

Having your organizations ‘financial irregularities’ spread across the front page of every newspaper in the world isn’t exactly a ‘key attribute’ for the old résumé, eh?

Oh, well. I’ll bet there is little in the way of fiscal shenanigans Mr. Belachew hasn’t seen.

Some would say having served as director of the Office of Financial Management of an agency once described as a “black hole” of taxpayer dollars – now identified with reckless spending, rewarding failure, throwing away good money after bad, funding corruption, etc. – will be a hard association for Mr. Belachew to overcome.

Others would say that it is the best preparation he could possibly have had for his new role in a municipal government in Volusia County…

Protect Volusia – A Grassroots Advocacy We Need Now, More Than Ever

Margaret Mead was right. 

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Last week, three committed citizens – Elena Krafft, Robin Magleora and Britney Álamo – announced the formation of the nonprofit (and non-partisan) Protect Volusia.  The goal of the organization is advocating “…for responsible growth, government transparency and environmental preservation” throughout Volusia County. 

The notion is not lost on me that while it is one thing to mawkishly complain about problems (I do it religiously), it is quite another to put one’s time, talents, and effort into finding fundamental solutions to the seemingly intractable problems we collectively face here on Florida’s “Fun Coast.”

According to a report by Jarleene Almenas writing in the Ormond Beach Observer this week, the tree founders of Protect Volusia began their journey in civic advocacy by fighting the proposed Belvedere Fuel Terminal, an environmental and public safety abomination, that was once (and perhaps still) slated for the most inappropriate spot on the Eastern Seaboard near the Ormond Beach Municipal Airport and sports facility. 

“With the fuel terminal, we all came together to try to protect our community,” Krafft said. “We got to meet such wonderful people. I couldn’t believe the amount of people that were just, absolutely ready to fight, ready to protect the place.”

Throughout the course of the next two years, they developed a good relationship with others in the community — and that stayed with them, Krafft said. It organically grew into advocating for other issues people were facing, like flooding, development concerns and feeling unheard by their elected officials.”

In my view, the group’s well-thought mission statement is a primer for good citizenship and community advocacy:

“Our mission is to protect the health, safety, and quality of life of Volusia County residents by advocating for responsible growth, government transparency, and environmental preservation. We amplify community voices, demand accountability from elected officials, and stand up for the values that make Volusia a place worth protecting.”

That’s something we can all get behind.

Kudos to Elena Krafft, Robin Magleora and Britney Álamo – and all the environmental, growth management, and government watchdogs, activists, and advocacies in Volusia and Flagler Counties – for having the courage to stand tall and protect the wonderful attributes that make this such a special place. 

For more information, please find the Protect Volusia website at: https://protectvolusia.org/

Quote of the Week

“At the July 16 Wednesday night meeting, Mayor Derrick Henry and city commissioners Monica Paris and Quanita May didn’t share their opinions about beach driving. Henry did indicate he’d probably be fine with dogs on the beach from Seabreeze Boulevard to Williams Avenue, which is just south of Bellair Plaza.

But the mayor said beach driving is “another matter.”

“We have to talk about it,” Henry said, referring to beach driving. “It’s not quite that cut and dry for me.”

The county is hoping for a resolution of support from the city saying it wants beach driving in the stretch that includes the Main Street and Boardwalk area. But it’s not clear yet if there will be at least four commission votes to make that happen.

One solid yes vote will come from City Commissioner Stacy Cantu.

“I grew up here. I remember driving on the beach even at nighttime,” Cantu said. “I’m in total support of beach driving.”

“So am I,” said City Commissioner Paula Reed, who also grew up in Daytona Beach. “That’s what makes us the world’s most famous beach.”

City Commissioner Ken Strickland said he supports beach driving “wholeheartedly.”

The city manager said he’ll have commissioners vote on the beach driving expansion at a future meeting.

Cantu, Reed, Strickland and Henry all said they’re OK with allowing dogs on the 1.73-mile stretch from Seabreeze Boulevard to Williams Avenue.

City and county attorneys will talk now and decide how to proceed.”

–Reporter Eileen Zaffiro-Kean, writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Daytona Beach considering beach driving from International Speedway Blvd. to Ocean Center,” Thursday, July 17, 2025

The beleaguered Main Street Merchants Association, along with what remains of Boardwalk businesses, have suffered mightily from the devastating economic impacts of removing beach driving between East International Speedway Boulevard and Auditorium Boulevard.

Last year, they approached Volusia County Council Chair Jeff Brower for help.  

According to estimates, Main Street businesses suffered a 50% decrease in revenue in 2000, the first summer cars were taken off the beach. 

Because the matter was brought forward by Chairman Brower, the ossified “Old Guard” on the Volusia County Council hemmed and hawed, doing everything possible to postpone and procrastinate on the issue.

Then, in an incredibly smart parliamentary chess move, Councilman Troy Kent was able to get the all-but-dead issue resurrected.  

Trust me, our ‘powers that be’ – both on the dais and those puppeteers who manipulate the rods and strings behind the scenes – aren’t accustomed to changing course, even when the results of their self-serving ideas have resulted in civic and fiscal disaster for the rest of us.

Just once, I wish those we elect to represent our interests would try something new. 

Something fun.  Something different.    

A forward-thinking strategy, one different from the stagnant status quo, that would return prosperity to the beachside by improving access to our most important economic asset. 

The return to a time when beach driving set The World’s Most Famous Beach apart, a time of vibrance, prominence, and pride – when Daytona Beach was a nationally recognized destination – before the greed factor saw politicians trade away our traditions as a cheap spiff for the next “game changing” panacea project…

In my view, Commissioners Stacy Cantu, Ken Strickland, and Paula Reed deserve thanks for their staunch support of beleaguered Main Street merchants and those Halifax area residents pushing hard to return beach driving and access.  

Smart people understand that the best way to correct a mistake is to listen to those effected, acknowledge the error, then change tack – return to what was successful – try again with the wisdom of hindsight, and stop blundering down the same path expecting a different result.

In my view, there is no shame in returning to what “worked” by restoring the amenities, draw, and access that once brought people, and prosperity, to our core tourist area.

And Another Thing!

One year ago, those self-described “fiscal conservatives” on the Volusia County Council dipped into voter approved ECHO funds – bureaucratically commandeering approximately $10 million in a scheme known as “direct county expenditures” – to include $3.5 million for Councilman Don Dempsey’s self-indulgent motocross facility to be built on property paid for with Volusia Forever conservation funds… 

You read that right.

This week, without any substantive discussion, explanation (or a second thought), they again dipped into their tax supported slush fund for an additional $5 million to cover nine new projects. 

The vote was unanimous (with Councilman Johansson absent) based on little more than a CYA staff memo and cursory “review” by the ECHO advisory committee.

According to the agenda item, since 2007, Volusia County has taken $37,633,718 through the DCE shim-sham…

Per usual, senior staff justified this sneak thievery through their construal of “ballot language” – along with a 2020 resolution permitting county government to fund projects by “direct county expenditures” – which means they take what they want, when they want in order to fund projects that should be budgeted as recurring repair and replacement expenses for existing facilities. 

For instance, in the latest grab, $400,000 has been allocated to make repairs to the dome, paint bricks, and refinish floors at the Historic Court House in DeLand (?).   

Other expenditures include paving projects in county parks, “lighting, sound equipment and power distribution upgrades” at the Ocean Center (will that place ever support its own existence?), ADA compliance upgrades at restroom facilities, relocating air conditioning units at the Fairgrounds, and other projects one would typically associate with budgeted expenses or those covered (one would hope) by parks and recreation impact fees. 

Public tax dollars allocated with little more than the wave of a wand…

Last year, Volusia County’s internal audit of the ECHO program determined the need for a “written handbook” clarifying the Direct County Expenditure scam. Written protocols and explanations that would “strengthen controls” for DCE projects – to include eligibility and evaluation criteria, the analysis of ongoing costs, and reporting/monitoring requirements – to educate advisory committee members and “stakeholders” (read: We, The Little People).  

It’s now July 2025, and I’ll be dipped in doo-doo if I can find that explanatory “handbook” the audit team suggested on the Volusia County website…   

Unfortunately, the idea of acquiring and preserving environmental, cultural, historic, and outdoor recreation amenities through competitive application, committee review, eligibility evaluation, scoring, and the myriad other hoops required during the award process is only for non-profits, municipal governments and us peons, piss-ants, and little people who pay the bills.

Not County government. 

It is that arrogance and sense of entitlement that perpetuates the malignant “trust issue” that continues to erode public confidence.  A greed factor that will forever cloud any tax-supported initiative Volusia County government can get their fingers in.

In my view, most responsible government entities (without a tax supported piggybank at their disposal) properly budget for capital asset repair, replacement, and upgrade obligations each year.

That is accomplished by prioritizing needs, following protocols for the allocation of public funds, and living within their means.

They don’t quibble resolutions, interpret ballot language, and stretch programmatic intent to shoehorn anything and everything – including the pet personal projects of sitting politicians – into a slimy slush fund where our tax dollars are regularly looted to cover the ongoing mismanagement of preventive maintenance, repair, and replacement of existing public assets. 

In a disturbing development, the discussion of how to proceed with Dempsey’s Folly – the publicly funded motorcross training facility ramrodded through the ECHO and Forever funding process for the oxymoronic purpose of “conservation and outdoor motorized recreation” – has been pushed to August 5, 2025.

At present, the three possible scenarios being considered include forcing Volusia County taxpayers into the motorsports industry with a county built and operated facility that you and I would equip, maintain, staff, and manage. 

(What?  You don’t know squat about the motorcross industry? Or how to perform a peg-standing cliff hanger off a whoop-de-doo, or the first thing about operating a racetrack?  That’s okay.  Neither does Volusia County government, but Mr. Dempsey gets what Mr. Dempsey wants.)

The second suggests that you and I (read: Volusia County taxpayers) build the facility, underwrite the cost of construction, giftwrap it in cash, then hand it over to a private entity that would operate and maintain the track, then pay the county a portion of their “profits.”

The final suggestion includes requesting proposals from independent contractors who would construct, maintain, assume liability, and operate the motorcross facility – with you and I sweetening the pot by funding “…site readiness improvements to make the parcel more attractive to a private developer.”

According to the agenda item, one of the problems with the third option is the same idea has already been unsuccessfully tried in other areas of the state, and there is a “high probability of not receiving bids.” 

So why are we considering spending public funds on a demonstrably failed idea?

You may disagree with me (most do) – but I’m not a fan of any of the staff suggestions offered.

In my view, if a private motorcross operator wants to purchase property and construct a state-of-the-art facility in Volusia County, they should do so on a fair and level playing field, based on due diligence, getting government (and public funds) out of the mix, instead of putting an expensive nice-to-have on the shoulders of already strapped taxpayers.   

Most Volusia County taxpayers would agree – we were led to believe that the ECHO and Forever programs were designed to secure passive outdoor recreation and conservation opportunities for the widest possible public use – not underwrite expensive playgrounds for elected officials’ intent on using public funds to further their private interests.

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