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 – Lack of District Transparency Hits Home

“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.“

–James Madison

I always get a chuckle when insiders tell me how this blog is received in the gilded Ivory Tower of Power of local government organizations.

Admittedly, I take perverse pleasure in hearing about the overwhelming angst these screeds evoke in some thin-skinned senior executives – all commanding six-figure salaries, with astronomical benefit packages and golden parachutes to cushion the inevitable fall – who dramatically overreact to the criticism of some guy up in north Ormond sitting around in his boxer shorts banging out his civic frustrations…

Elected officials and appointed administrators are quick to point out that not everything you read on blogs or social media is true – and that’s correct. 

This is just one man’s opinion. Nothing more.

Unfortunately, like repeatedly touching a hot stove, Volusia County taxpayers have learned the hard way that not everything coming out of the bureaucratic spin machine in local governments and taxing authorities is based in fact either. 

That leads to speculation and distrust.   

They can’t have it both ways…

Last week, someone in the know told me that Barker’s View has been blocked on all Volusia County School electronic devices.  A means (I suppose) of ensuring staff and “stakeholders” are prevented from hearing any alternative to the all-encompassing optimism and bureaucratic spin of Superintendent Carmen Balgobin’s tightlipped administration.   

ACHTUNG! The All-Knowing, Benevolent, and Imperial Leader has compassionately saved you from unwitting exposure to the swill of lies and discontent disgorging from that fetid sewer that is Barker’s View!  Return to your toil, Dalits!  Never mind those little people behind the velvet curtain!

I don’t know whether to be angry, amused, or proud of the accomplishment…  

As a horribly uneducated rube, I haven’t studied social studies or comparative government in any formal way since my habitually truant days of high school. So, I found a dogeared textbook and turned to an explanation of authoritarian leadership and consolidation of power through the suppression of dissent:

“The control of information is another crucial lever of power for authoritarian leaders. By monopolizing the media landscape or heavily censoring internet access, regimes can drown out dissent and promote favorable narratives. Media channels under the regime’s thumb are used to propagate ideology, reinforce the leader’s image, and broadcast messages that deter mobilization of anti-regime sentiments. Coupled with this, state authorities often restrict access to independent news sources or block foreign media perceived as hostile.”

That’s when the District’s suppression of alternative opinions all made perfect sense.

Regardless, the censorship thing had a weird feel to it, but what I learned next borders on the pathological.

It recently came to my attention that Superintendent Balgobin is requiring that senior district employees sign non-disclosure agreements, a legally binding document effectively insulating what should be the “public” record by effectively silencing those with direct knowledge of district administrative practices.

At present, no one seems to know how far down the chain of command “Carmen’s Cloak of Secrecy” extends…

I cannot think of anything more corrosive to the idea of government in the sunshine – or more chilling to our sacred right of free speech – than demanding silence (and fealty) from recipients of public funds.   

After reviewing the agreement, it classifies “Confidential Information” as student records, legal matters, IT credentials, security plans, certain personnel information, disabilities, and health records – information already specifically protected by both Florida and Federal law.    

Then, things cross into the realm of persecutory paranoia, delusional mistrust, and a potential violation of Florida’s open records law…

Inconceivably, the NDA specifically prohibits the disclosure of “Information regarding the District’s financial operations, including budgets, funding sources, and allocation of resources,” including “Strategic planning documents and information.”  Further, the confidentiality pact expands to “Non-public communications between and among District personnel, the Department of Education, parents, students, and community stakeholders.” 

So, are all “community stakeholders” equal? 

Or are some more equal than others, authorized to receive “confidential information” from senior staff that lesser “stakeholders” (like me and you) may not be entitled to?

Then, as an all-inclusive (and highly subjective) blanket protection, the Balgobin NDA bars public employees from disclosing “Other information specifically designated as confidential by the District during the Employee’s tenure.”

“That’s Top Secret!” 

“Why?”

“Because I said so, that’s why!”

Frightening… 

Now, the overriding question of silenced employees inside Balgobin’s cloistered clique – and those of us who pay the bills – is why this cult of secrecy exists in a tax supported public entity?   

More disturbing, why are our elected representatives on the School Board allowing it?

Especially when the state of Florida has enacted serious civil and criminal penalties for violations of our venerated Sunshine Law.  Statutory regulations which allow citizens unfettered access to public meetings, the ability to receive and review records, speak truth to power, seek answers, and hold government leaders accountable for their actions.

For example, Florida law governing the fiscal transparency required of school districts specifically speaks to the importance of openness to ensuring the public’s understanding, and trust:

“It is important for school districts to provide budgetary transparency to enable taxpayers, parents, and education advocates to obtain school district budget and related information in a manner that is simply explained and easily understandable. Budgetary transparency leads to more responsible spending, more citizen involvement, and improved accountability. A budget that is not transparent, accessible, and accurate cannot be properly analyzed, its implementation thoroughly monitored, or its outcomes evaluated.”

That said, why would Superintendent Balgobin explicitly suppress the discussion of “Information regarding the District’s financial operations, including budgets?”

On Tuesday, the Volusia County School Board approved the tentative budget for 2025-26 at $1.175 Billion…

Last week in this space I wrote my jumbled thoughts on a shocking revelation by Volusia County School Board member Donna Brosemer that suggests the not-easily-explained manipulation of performance metrics by the Balgobin administration that reclassifies low-performing students to increase school grades and “improve” graduation rates. 

Is this covenant of secrecy designed to insulate District administrators and their “experts” who engage in the strategic pencil whipping of student performance data under the “Other information specifically designated as confidential” clause? 

Is there something more sinister afoot? 

Again, that’s the problem with nonsensical secrecy – it breeds speculation. 

And distrust…  

In my view, Volusia County taxpayers should have the ability to speak with senior school administrators about issues of community concern, seek answers to how our tax dollars are being allocated, and obtain information at its source. 

As a recipient of public funds, Dr. Balgobin should understand that she is duty bound to serve in the public interest – obey Florida’s open records laws – and conform to the ethical standards of her profession.

Here’s an irrefutable fact from up here in the cheap seats: Secrecy and intentional concealment in public organizations always comes with consequences…

Cui Bono?  Who Benefits from Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris’ Downfall?   

I’ve said this before, but trite childishness driven by an overweening need for the spotlight of political drama and turmoil have become the hallmark of the Palm Coast City Council.  An ongoing embarrassment to residents who deserve better, and a testament to how far development interests will go to maintain power and control.

That trait isn’t unique to Palm Coast…

To keep the rancor and roil going, last week, the majority of the Palm Coast City Council (two of whom are unelected appointees) made good on their threat to ask Gov. Ron DeSantis to overturn the will (and sacred vote) of Palm Coast voters by ousting Mayor Mike Norris from his duly elected office.

Why? 

In my view, because “special interests” in the all-powerful real estate development community want Norris’ political head on a pike after he had the temerity to utter the “M” word. 

As you may remember, in March, Mayor Norris called for a moratorium on growth until the city’s already overstressed utilities infrastructure and flooding concerns can be adequately addressed.  At present, the city’s inadequate facilities (currently under a Florida Department of Environmental Destruction consent decree) have resulted in existing Palm Coast residents suffering some of the most onerous water and sewer rates in the state to pay for $512 million in needed upgrades.      

The mere mention of the word resulted in a telling ‘show of force’ as described by FlaglerLive.com:

“Mobilized like an army by the Flagler County Home Builders Association, the dump truck and trailers and semi cabs and pick-ups lined City Place and spilled onto Lake Avenue by City Hall this morning, their crews clustered in groups against the morning chill, a large “SAVE OUR CITY” banner stretched across the flank of a truck, with a red circle-backlash symbol painted over the head of Mayor Mike Norris.”  

The intent of that “demonstration” was clearly not lost of the other four members of the Palm Coast City Council, and Norris’ motion unceremoniously died for lack of a second.

The silence was deafening.

Undeterred by the input of angry residents demanding substantive relief from malignant overdevelopment, those developer shills on the dais of power launched an unrelenting barrage of “investigations,” allegations, insinuation, censures, alienation, and marginalization against Mayor Norris – including a half-baked complaint to the Florida Commission on Ethics…    

The brutality of the attacks wasn’t particularly skillful (or original), a cheap adaptation of the political Meidung employed by pliable elected tools set on destroying the personal and political credibility of independent freethinkers to ensure lockstep conformity in service to their political benefactors.

This week, the Florida Commission on Ethics dismissed the City Commission’s “complaint” against Mayor Norris citing “legal insufficiency.” 

Citing a laundry list of embroidered “outrageous conduct” – including “malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty and incompetence,” along with Norris’ failed lawsuit challenging the appointment of Councilman Charles Gambaro – the remainder of the city’s compromised council members wrote a letter last week asking Gov. DeSantis to use the power of his office to suspend Mayor Norris and appoint a “temporary replacement” to fulfill the duties of mayor.

If Gov. DeSantis acts to remove Mayor Norris, the majority of the Palm Coast City Council would be comprised of unelected appointees sympathetic to development interests…  

How tragic.  How terribly Un-American.

On Monday, Mayor Norris hosted a town hall independent of city government which drew a supportive crowd of 150+ residents. 

According to a report in the Palm Coast Observer, “Many asked him (Norris) how they could help him. One man encouraged others to write to Gov. Ron DeSantis to support Norris and prevent him from being removed from office — and to sign a petition to remove Gambaro.

Norris thanked the crowd.

“It does my heart good to know I’ve got people that support me,” he said. “I’ve been beat down since May, and I’m just trying to do the right thing.”

Where does it end? 

Who ultimately benefits from Mayor Norris’ downfall?

In my view, this is a clear example of how greed-crazed special interests will shit on our freedoms, destroy our quality of life, and use their elected (appointed) shills to manipulate the system – including wholly ignoring the fundamental concepts of a representative democracy – anything to serve the mercenary interests of a few at the expense of many.  

In Volusia County: “Progress” > The “Tree of Life”  

“Commissioner (Brian) Ashley said it is a “really difficult” decision to approve cutting down historic trees, “because these trees are fantastic creatures, and no one likes to see a tree destroyed.

“In the course of the growth of New Smyrna Beach, we are going to run into situation where, for the greater good, a tree has to go, or a couple of trees have to go,” Ashley said. “I love trees, but when we have people who are making a very, very strong effort to preserve whatever they can while providing a community service, I think that’s kind of noble.”

–New Smyrna Beach City Commissioner Brian Ashley, as quoted by reporter Brenno Carillo in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “NSB approves new medical office project on SR 44 at cost of historic trees,” Monday, July 28, 2025

Last weekend, my wife and I had dinner with friends in New Smyrna Beach, a once quaint beach community and the embodiment of the now lost ‘Old Florida’ lifestyle.  A unique vibe many areas of our increasingly claustrophobic state are trying (and spending) desperately to recreate.  

Unfortunately, nothing screams phony quite like a faux-beach town crafted around a contrived Jimmy Buffett lyric…   

Too late for all that now.

Like the rest of those inimitable places that laid their natural amenities and laidback quality of life on the altar of greed – then watched helplessly as some compromised schlubs they elected sold paradise for a false version of “progress” – around the dinner table we all agreed that New Smyrna isn’t what it used to be.

And the specter of Deering Park will sadly be the region’s coup de grâce…

On July 22, the New Smyrna Beach City Commission voted 3-2 to allow the destruction of three historic trees to (literally) pave the way for a two-story medical office and “wellness” complex on State Road 44. 

Mayor Fred Cleveland and Vice Mayor Lisa Martin voted against the removal. 

Once the damage was done, Commissioner Martin held her ground during the subsequent vote to greenlight the project, while Mayor Cleveland figured “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” and the vote was 4-1 to approve the development…

In an eerily similar move, last month, the DeLand City Commission rubber stamped the wholesale destruction of 62 historic trees – mostly beautiful live oaks – which have stood for decades along the community “gateway” that is Cassadaga Road, to accommodate another “combination of warehouse and commercial space.”

At the time, Commissioner Richard Paiva whimpered about the weighty decision that had befallen the elected body, “These types of decisions are a little challenging for us because I get reminded by people who object that we are Tree City USA.”

“This is not easy,” Paiva said, “but in this case, if we say yes to trees, we’re kind of saying no to business and to jobs.”

Bullshit. 

Anyone else sick and tired of the disingenuous puling of complicit elected officials who turn every environmental decision into a handwringing moral conundrum – then invariably vote to facilitate more, more, more development while thousands of square feet of commercial space remain vacant throughout the region?

All at the cost of more trees, greenspace, wetlands, wildlife habitat, etcetera…

I find that sanctimonious horseshit infuriating.   

Year after year, Florida loses thousands of acres of old growth natural forest and tree canopy through the deforestation inherent to destructive slash-and-burn land clearing for residential and commercial development. The malignant sprawl results in habitat loss and fragmentation, threats to biodiversity, increased competition for water, and more stress on our now overwhelmed utilities and infrastructure.  

Our patronizing ‘powers that be’ should understand their constituents are smart enough to see that this rapid erosion of what we hold dear happens one tree at a time…

Quote of the Week

“These officials, including those on the Deltona City Commission, knew there would be issues with any new land development regulations they sought to pass, including the moratorium proposed by the City. Commissioner Howington stated in a letter to the governor that, “SB 180 would restrict municipalities from enacting certain types of ordinances” as she knew it would directly impact her push for a moratorium in Deltona.

Even though SB 180 was likely to be signed by the governor because of the overwhelming legislative support, some commissioners in Deltona doubled down to pass an ordinance that would be in direct defiance of state legislation. On June 30, 2025, after SB 180 had been signed and was in full effect, Deltona passed an ordinance to institute a moratorium in Deltona. Being unable to locate the economic impact report on the city’s website (as required prior to approving a moratorium), it is hard to say what economic impact this moratorium will have on the city and what type of funds will need to be made up by the residents. What is quite clear is that four of Deltona’s commissioners have said that building a new home in a community in Deltona is good for me, but not for thee.”

–Volusia Building Industry Association Executive Director Allison Root, as excerpted from her op/ed in the West Volusia Beacon, “Deltona’s moratorium: a lesson in neglecting the law,” Tuesday, July 22, 2025  

“I find it outrageous that Allison Root, executive officer of the Volusia Building Industry Association and longtime Deltona resident, is standing up for developers instead of her neighbors. Deltona should have a moratorium on development. Our city needs to fix the infrastructure before another major rain event. Allowing development to continue while this problem isn’t addressed is dumb. But, I don’t have a financial interest in allowing development like Allison Root does.

When I cannot get out of Deltona because all the roads are flooded with pumps running 24-7 to get to my job, it costs me money on my paycheck. When Louise Lake is overflowing onto Courtland Boulevard, it is a problem that allowing more development will not fix. Volusia County is currently taking steps to fix the county infrastructure; why shouldn’t Deltona do the same?”

–Deltona Resident Terry Desjardins, as excerpted from the West Volusia Beacon editorial “Deltona needs its development moratorium,” Tuesday, July 29, 2025

The debate between waterlogged residents across the width and breadth of Volusia County and development interests continues – while the bulldozers roar…

And Another Thing!

For years, municipal and county governments in Volusia County have chosen to deal with the “homeless problem” by not dealing with it. 

I know. I helped perpetuate the problem for years.

For good or ill, President Donald Trump just changed all that…

Last Week, President Trump signed an executive order to “…restore order to American cities and remove vagrant individuals from our streets, redirecting federal resources toward programs that tackle substance abuse and returning to the acute necessity of civil commitment.”

That means big changes are coming to the way communities deal with homelessness, and it won’t be pretty to watch…  

The order redirects federal funding to ensure that individuals living on the streets – often people suffering from serious mental illness and addiction – are moved into “treatment centers, assisted outpatient treatment, or other facilities.”

The unfortunate reality is residential treatment centers are few and far between around these parts, and something tells me the idea of the involuntary internment of homeless persons for the “crime” of not having a roof over their heads, won’t be well received by homeless advocacies and service providers at the tip of the spear.      

But one thing is clear, doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result is no longer an option…  

In my view, for too long, Volusia County and its municipalities have put the bulk of scarce homeless assistance funds into that enigmatic housing assistance program misleadingly known as First Step Shelter. 

In turn, the First Step Board of Directors (when not defending the “shelter’s” executive director) run interference for politicians who supply its lifeblood by touting the number of people moved into their definition of “permanent housing.”

That concept was recently explained by a verbose board member on social media as a “complex network of programs including VA vouchers, transitional housing, recovery facilities, private landlords willing to work with case-managed clients, and partnerships with Changing Homelessness.”   

Whatever that means…  

The unfortunate reality is that every community in Volusia County still experience a very noticeable homeless population – the drunk, drugged, lame, and crazy – those who are physically or mentally incapable of maintaining a safe place to live and obviously don’t meet the “criteria” for acceptance onto First Step’s “path to housing.”   

I live in Ormond Beach – a beachside community with an overly high opinion of itself – that currently gifts First Step $82,000 of our tax dollars annually.  Despite the fact many of our elected officials use that money as false evidence they are “doing something,” the visible reality is we have a growing number of homeless people inhabiting commercial areas and neighborhoods.    

For instance, one morning last week, I counted five obviously homeless people – all their worldly belongings in bindles, on bicycles, or stuffed into trash bags – ambling along the tony main thoroughfare of Granada Boulevard between Nova Road and Beach Street.

In a recent editorial in the Ormond Beach Observer, a concerned resident urged city officials to do something to help homeless persons living the area of a proposed Walmart Supercenter expansion on SR-40, citing “…there’s still a big issue with homelessness that won’t just go away.”

Unfortunately, the majority of Ormond Beach elected officials go to great lengths to convince anyone watching that everything’s fine (because what else are they going to say?).

In May, as a means of publicly embarrassing Mayor Jason Leslie for having the temerity to question the effectiveness of Ormond Beach’s sizeable contribution to First Step, the remainder of the City Commission scoffed at him before firing off a nonsensical letter of support to the First Step board…    

For what?

This ‘head in the sand’ approach by elected officials across Volusia County is both heartbreaking and infinitely frustrating – and “success stories” don’t mean shit so long as there is a sizeable population suffering withering heat, desperate cold, thunderstorms, and indignities on the streets without a viable alternative.

Tragically, in other parts of the country, the problem is infinitely worse – with massive homeless encampments encroaching on city streets, bridges and overpasses turned into tent cities, with open drug use, rampant street crime, victimization, and exploitation – an apocalyptic disintegration of good order that has destroyed the economic viability of some of America’s largest cities.

According to President Trump’s directive, shifting homeless persons “into long-term institutional settings for humane treatment is the most proven way to restore public order.”  Rest assured that using law enforcement and involuntary institutionalization to combat a social/health/economic problem is going to receive very vocal pushback from social service providers.

Almost immediately, something called the National Homeless Law Center fired the first salvo saying, in part, “Today’s executive order, combined with MAGA’s budget cuts for housing and healthcare, will increase the number of people forced to live in tents, in their cars, and on the streets. This order does nothing to lower the cost of housing or help people make ends meet. The safest communities are those with the most housing and resources, not those that make it a crime to be poor or sick. Forced treatment is unethical, ineffective, and illegal.”

So, it appears we are going from a hands-off approach to involuntary incarcerating homeless people – without any currently available options for confining or treating those less fortunate in Volusia County – beyond a few underfunded non-profits and an incredibly expensive “housing program” recently put on a short leash by those government entities who pay for it.

Perhaps now Volusia County will finally get the come as you are homeless shelter we were promised in the first place?

In my view, as we face this quantum change in the way we address homelessness, now is the time to determine the when, where, why, and how scarce public funds can be used to serve the largest number of people in need within growing budget and resource constraints.    

We’ll see…

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