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:

Building Trust Through Transparency in Daytona Beach

I’m certainly not the sharpest knife in the drawer. 

In fact, I’m an uneducated rube so obtuse and monochromatic that I quickly fade into whatever environment I find myself in.  But I have two things going for me – an incredibly sensitive “bullshit detector” – and the innate ability to learn from touching a hot stove.

Having spent the bulk of my life in municipal government, I’ve seen the incredible devotion and selflessness common to those who are called to public service.  I have also witnessed the strength and frailty of human nature – the ability of some to overcome adversity, develop solutions, change tack, and correct mistakes under extraordinary pressure – while others abdicate responsibility and choose career preservation over accountability.   

With the benefit of age and hard-earned experience I have also learned, as Oscar Wilde suggested, the truth is seldom one-dimensional, “rarely pure and never simple…” Perhaps that’s what makes the search for it – especially in the fetid shitpit of local politics – such an interesting (and infinitely frustrating) pursuit.

Now long removed from the fray, I remain firmly ensconced here in the cheap seats, watching the action from afar and analyzing the mini-moves with the acquired ability to discern both the minute and significant. 

My observations allow insight into the various aspects of a civic issue, determining patterns and personalities, always comparing current events with historical outcomes with the understanding that personal and political motivations rarely change. 

I made my share of mistakes in public service – in fact, I embraced my professional faults, foibles, and missteps and shared them with others.  All part of the learning journey, passing along painful knowledge that others might use to their benefit. 

Humility is a learned trait. 

The first police chief I worked for refused to accept excuses or explanations – only personal acceptance of responsibility – and a clear understanding that the same mistake would not be tolerated twice…   

A valuable lesson for a young police officer.

Now, when I feel the benefit of my three-decades of experiential learning can help, I use this space to offer unsolicited (and terribly annoying) insights to those still ‘in the arena’ who are dealing with an acute civic crisis.

Everyone knows that hectoring and lecturing from a washed-up “has been” can be hard to listen to – so, they can take it or leave it.

But one thing is certain, any government official (elected or appointed) who falls victim to the infallibility of position and comes to believe they know it all, will soon find themselves escorted out of their comfortably appointed office (usually by a former subordinate) and thrown on the moldering ash heap of history where arrogance and dodginess inevitably lead…   

The burgeoning purchasing card catastrophe in the City of Daytona Beach is well into its second week – which means it has taken on a life of its own – and this unfolding bruhaha demonstrates the importance of transparency to building credibility, protecting the “brand,” and maintaining confidence when the chips are down.  

It’s called crisis management, a comprehensive process essential to alleviating the concerns of stakeholders and protecting an organizations reputation.                               

The process of rebuilding internal and external trust begins with proactive communication – putting the cards on the table – providing clear information on what is known, and what is being done to mitigate the situation.

In my experience, it helps to establish trusting relationships with the media then make oneself accessible to reporters, answering community questions, admitting mistakes, and humbling oneself to righteous criticism.                                 

Honesty, openness, and complete transparency in the early hours allow leaders to control the narrative with facts while staying ahead of a building crisis by reducing the inevitable conjecture, gossip, and speculation that can quickly spread like a destructive wildfire.

Issues involving fraud, waste, and abuse of public funds will rightfully (and rapidly) draw public attention.  How leadership responds before the crisis crests will determine the long-term outcome – and ultimately the professional fate of those in positions of responsibility.  

Government executives who maintain proper situational awareness will develop 360-degree relationships up and down the chain – and listen to the advice of others – then use their training, skill, and insight to perceive organizational issues before they fester. That creates time and space to think analytically, develop an effable plan, and work through a problem systematically rather than flailing chaotically.

This fact-based decision-making is important because it defines future options, just like bureaucratic spin, clumsy cover-ups, painting the issue as a meanspirited “narrative,” and wallowing in defensive self-pity limits alternatives. 

That’s why the ‘duck and cover’ response of circling the wagons, retreating into the cloistered environment of the executive suite, employing slant and deflection, and limiting external communication to impersonal canned responses quickly results in an “information vacuum” – an unhealthy environment where speculation grows…

In Daytona Beach, City Manager Deric Feacher maintained an almost hermetic seal on information related to the P-card crisis for over a week.  In the ensuing void, WFTV-9 Volusia County correspondent Demi Johnson – a tenacious investigative journalist with a knack for ferreting out the truth – began pouring over raw purchasing data and extrapolating approved spending from perceived misappropriations.

To counter what Mr. Feacher originally described to city commissioners as “misinformation,” he made the compounding mistake of appearing on a sympathetic radio forum (one paid for by the City of Daytona Beach) where the moderator all but body blocked reporter Johnson when she called the program and attempted to ask hardball questions.

It added to the public perception that Mr. Feacher was dodging the issue…

Then, almost a week after the scandal broke, Demi Johnson reported receiving a ‘calendar invite’ for a meeting with City Manager Feacher scheduled for Monday.  During that meeting, Mr. Feacher essentially explained that while he didn’t see anything “nefarious” in his review of the P-card issue thus far, there is a clear problem with outdated policies and procedures, and he will be taking measures to correct the issues.  

By last Friday, the first positive signs emerged when The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported that city officials have established a “…purchasing card information webpage to give the public a clear, easy-to-understand overview of how city and contract employees use the cards and how they’re monitored.”

Find the website here: https://tinyurl.com/5xcyfxrc (The full-access site will return December 8, 2025)

In addition to a frequently asked questions section, the informative site provides the city’s explanation of several P-card expenditures under review.  In a section entitled “Recent Media: Expanded Context,” a $12,852 payment to Seaworld covered an end-of-year trip for youth in the city’s summer camps, while a $37.72 charge to Krispy Kreme provided refreshments for a Parks & Recreation Advisory Board meeting.

Unfortunately, earlier this week, somehow the city’s Information Technology staff allowed a data breach which resulted in employee social security numbers and birth dates being inadvertently posted to the P-card website compromising their personal identifiers.

Another major gaffe that added to the instability as many onlookers asked, “How could this have happened?”

In addition, some questions arose regarding the city’s explanation for the “Marina Manager’s attendance at the Annual Marina Industries (AMI) Conference and Expo in Fort Lauderdale.”  Apparently, under terms of the city’s contract with F3 Marina, for “Fiscal Year 2024, the City Commission approved $5,000 for Travel and Per Diem and $5,000 for education and training for the marina.”

For a private contractor?

In my view, using tax dollars to pay for a private company’s attendance at industry conferences, fund training for its employees, and cover per diem expenses is counter to the reasons governments contract specialized services in the first place…

On Tuesday, WFTV-9 released an interesting report detailing a recent travel audit conducted by Daytona Beach City Auditor Abinet Belachew. 

In my view, the results prove that Mr. Belachew is a fearless defender of the public purse and an indispensable public asset.

According to the report, the travel audit identified “…multiple areas of concern, including outdated policies, weak internal controls, the use of business-class travel, excessive meal and parking costs, insufficient documentation, and noncompliance with best practices.”

Even with the best controls and oversight honest mistakes can still occur – and it is difficult to hold employees accountable for following lax and horribly outdated spending policies – but I found the lack of cooperation reported by Mr. Belachew disturbing:

“While most staff members we interacted with during this audit were cooperative and professional, there were a few isolated instances of uncooperative behavior and unwarranted defensiveness. Although limited, such occurrences should be addressed promptly to maintain a culture of accountability and transparency.”

Specifically, Mr. Belachew noted that the Chief Financial Officer’s office was less than cooperative during the audit. 

According to the report, “During our audit, we encountered several challenges in obtaining information from the CFO’s Office. Specifically, the team appeared defensive and uncooperative in providing the requested documents in a timely manner, and their approach at times created an atmosphere of hostility…”

That’s troubling.  Given the fact the city’s financial oversight is being questioned on several fronts, this lack of internal cooperation is something Mr. Feacher should rectify immediately.

Now, Mr. Belachew will turn his finely tuned microscope on the purchasing card questions, only – at the urging of Mayor Derrick Henry – the inquiry won’t be a “priority.” 

You read that right…

According to Mayor Henry, “I’m of the mind that rather than allowing our city to just become hostage to some idea that we’ve run amok, I want to let the P-Cards run their course in the way that we have previously because I don’t believe that that’s the case.”

Whatever in the bureaucratic foot-dragging procrastination that means?

In my view, the city’s explanatory website is an excellent step towards answering constituent questions, perhaps defusing another distracting controversy at a time when municipal finances are under serious scrutiny. 

In my experience, most people can forgive what they see themselves doing. 

Taxpayers simply require an honest explanation, open communication with decision-makers, and a transparent portal into the bloody abattoir where public policy is made, and their hard-earned dollars are spent…   

A Destructive Delima in Flagler Beach

The death of ‘Old Florida’ has been hard to watch for some of us geriatrics who remember what used to be – pristine beaches and quaint communities, set in a time when our natural amenities were preserved and protected as a big part of our quality of life – not stressed, exploited, and destroyed on the altar of greed.

A time before the onslaught of speculative developers bought every square inch of greenspace (and the loyalty of our state legislators) then set about paving over paradise in favor of thousands of zero lot line wood frame cracker boxes “…starting in the mid-$300’s.”

And how could I forget those ugly and ubiquitous half-empty strip centers that have replaced pristine old-growth forests.

Now, our view of the beach is obscured by a phalanx of concrete and steel “condotels” and overpriced “five star” resorts, built by South Florida entrepreneurs intent on exporting that godawful faux glitz and “SoBe aesthetic” to us yokels in points north. 

For some reason (read: $$$), those members of the community we once elected with a vested interest in maintaining our collective quality of life – the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker – have given way to hand-select marionettes of the development industry, shills who are bought and paid for by those with a mercenary interest in subverting “growth management regulations” and building when, where, and what they want.

To the exclusion of most every other pressing civic issue, it increasingly appears our local councils, commissions, and state legislature are desperately focused on running interference for those greed-hogs who own the paper on their political souls – flooding, environmental destruction, and the exploitation of our finite resources be damned…     

In some cases, encroaching development has forced elected officials to make tough decisions (before those decisions are made for them) compelling small cities to annex adjoining sprawl as a means of keeping the impacts of even more unchecked growth away from their doorstep.

A losing proposition that always results in the loss of the quaint feel and natural amenities that made their community special in the first place.

Last week, the Flagler Beach City Commission voted 4-1 on first reading to approve the annexation of approximately 545 acres stretching south from State Road 100 along the west side of John Anderson Highway.  Once approved, the annexation will incorporate the proposed “Summertown” development, a part of the expansive Veranda Bay, which is also winding its way through the annexation process in Flagler Beach.

If both subdivisions are approved, the annexations would expand the City of Flagler Beach by nearly 30%, eventually doubling the population of the once quaint beachside hamlet.

To his credit, Flagler Beach City Commissioner Eric Cooley understands the dynamics at play, and said the only way the city will have a say in the development is to annex it.

According to a report by Sierra Williams writing in the Ormond Beach Observer this week, Commissioner Cooley said, “It’s real simple: you don’t annex it, you’re out,” he said. “You have no control over anything. You’re not protecting the city. You’re not protecting anything. You’re turning it over to the universe.”

The majority of the other commissioners and Mayor Patti King agreed with Cooley.

But the projects, both Veranda Bay and Summertown, have left many residents with concerns, even beyond the number of rooftops. Flagler Beach residents urged their commissioners to protect the city’s roadways and water and wastewater infrastructure, as well as Bulow Creek, which abuts the Summertown property.

The developer has committed to multiple concessions in the name of annexing the project: building out a spine road before constructing a certain number of residential units; using 40% of the property, including some directly around Bulow Creek, as open space; applying additional buffers around the property, including a 100-foot natural buffer around Bulow Creek.”

In my view, Commissioner Cooley is right – and it is a damnable shame.   

Since neither the State of Florida, City of Palm Coast, nor Flagler County have the best interests of this small community at heart, it leaves one of the last vestiges of ‘Old Florida’ on the east coast in a terrible dilemma:

The necessity of killing the very civic attributes that make their community special in order to protect it from a worse fate…

Quote of the Week

“The audit identified multiple areas of concern, including outdated policies, weak internal controls, the use of business-class travel, excessive meal and parking costs, insufficient documentation, and noncompliance with best practices.

We would like to note that we provided only a few illustrative examples. However, even a single incident of wasteful spending by City employees is cause for concern. Public funds are held in trust for the benefit of the community, and every dollar must be used prudently and in alignment with the City’s policies and fiscal responsibility standards. Allowing even isolated cases of wasteful or unnecessary spending to go unchecked can set a poor precedent, weaken accountability, and erode public confidence in the City’s stewardship of taxpayer resources. Strong financial controls and ethical standards require that all expenditures, regardless of size or frequency, be fully justified, properly documented, and aligned with a clear public purpose.”

–City of Daytona Beach Internal Auditor Abinet Belachew, as excerpted from the “Summary of Audit Findings, Travel Audit Report,” Wednesday, November 19, 2025

To say that City Auditor Abinet Belachew’s in-depth report detailing the findings of his examination of employee travel for FY 2024 paints a less than flattering picture of the city’s transparency, accountability, and compliance with 26-year-old travel policies is an understatement… 

In my view, the report – and the painstaking efforts it documents – proves Mr. Belachew’s worth to the residents of Daytona Beach and speaks to his commitment to the highest ideals of government accounting, effective internal controls, and adherence to best practices that prevent wasteful or unnecessary spending.

It was eye-opening. 

In the view of many, Mr. Belachew’s description of the lack of cooperation and hostility toward auditors by the Daytona Beach Chief Financial Officer’s team was disturbing…   

That obstinance was especially concerning since the city’s Deputy CFO was identified as “…having used taxpayer funds to purchase a business-class airline ticket for official travel,” while refundable economy fares were available along the same route, without documented justification or pre-approval for the travel.

In addition, the report states that the Deputy CFO “overstated mileage reimbursement by approximately 96.8 miles, resulting in an excess payment using taxpayer funds.”

Disturbing indeed…

Most notably, the internal audit found a glaring lack of oversight and accountability for employee travel – including a failure to set per diem amounts or establish spending limits for meals and lodging, no pre-justification/approval or post travel verifications, weak internal controls, and the CFO’s inability to readily provide supporting documentation and receipts for travel related expenditures.

Now that the problem has been exposed to the healing light of day, the onus is on the Chief Financial Officer, and City Manager Deric Feacher, to ensure that up-to-date policies, procedures, and controls – compliant with modern government accounting standards and best practices – are put in place to ensure “transparency, accountability, and the prudent use of taxpayer funds.”

As Mr. Belachew so eloquently stated, “Working for the City of Daytona Beach is a privilege. All employees share a responsibility to uphold the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and stewardship of public resources, recognizing that we ultimately serve the citizens of Daytona Beach.”

I like that guy…

And Another Thing!

I’m not sure the slack jawed Volusia County Council understood what they were watching during Tuesday’s raucous meeting.

To me, it looked a whole lot like participatory governance in action. 

Look, I don’t care where you stand on the late Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, who was tragically assassinated during an open mic debate with a liberal ‘influencer’ on a Utah college campus in September.  Without question, Mr. Kirk was a galvanizing figure in the contemporary American zeitgeist and an icon of conservative youth.    

Admittedly, national politics isn’t my thing. 

For reasons that should be self-explanatory, I don’t pay more than a passing glance at the raging partisan rhetoric and retribution from both sides of the aisle that spews from the sewer pipe of my television 24/7.  Mostly it is because I have no way of influencing outcomes in Washington (neither do you, but that’s a discussion for another day). 

Prior to that horrific day in Orem, I had not heard of Mr. Kirk.    

In my view, by design, Mr. Kirk’s opinions on contemporary political issues and his views on religion, race, sexual orientation, and foreign/domestic policy were provocative; tailored to ignite debate and stimulate public dialog across the massive political chasms that divide us – something that made him incredibly popular with conservatives – and equally vilified by liberal progressives, particularly on college campuses, once considered bastions of free speech. 

As a charismatic and controversial figure, whether you agreed with Mr. Kirk’s politics and views on contemporary society, or hated everything he stood for, there is enough material, soundbites, and anecdotal “recollections” available online, both with context and terribly exaggerated, to fuel your position. 

(Isn’t that true of everything these days?)

In the aftermath of Mr. Kirk’s murder, Volusia County Council Chair Jeff Brower recently waded into the fray and announced he was planning to seek the approval of his “colleagues” in designating Ormond’s Scenic Loop as “The Charles “Charlie” James Kirk Memorial Highway” citing his “dedication to civic engagement and free speech, while acknowledging the tragedy that occurred.” 

The idea went over like a turd in the proverbial punchbowl with environmentalists and others who rightfully consider “The Loop,” and its historical significance to Volusia County, sacrosanct – a roadway already designated as a scenic byway – something to be preserved and protected. 

Then Chairman Brower shifted his sights to a section of Maytown Road from Oak Drive in Osteen to Gobblers Lodge Road. 

If you know anything about the residents of the unincorporated settlement of Osteen – they are righteously fanatical about being residents of Osteen – and they have strong opinions about preserving their heritage and unique rural lifestyle and would prefer to designate their roadways in honor of those forefathers who had a more direct impact on the tiny community. 

On Tuesday, some Osteen residents joined a parade of their neighbors from across the width and breadth of Volusia County to oppose designating any roadway in honor of Charlie Kirk – citing everything from his lack of a physical connection to Volusia County – to angry accusations of racism, sexism, homophobia, and all points in between… 

While there were a few who supported Mr. Brower’s sentiments, the vast majority of those who made their feelings known with angry hoots, hollers, shouts, and swipes from the gallery, made it abundantly clear they did not want Mr. Kirk’s name on a Volusia County roadway. 

At the end of the day, Councilman David “No Show” Santiago used his patented strategy of legislative procrastination to lead his “colleagues” out of the uncomfortable quagmire…

In order to kick the can out of sight – Mr. Santiago motioned to indefinitely table the matter until senior staff can come back with a policy for memorial designations of roadways and buildings in Volusia County. 

Expect that policy to come back before the council sometime after the return of the Comet Kohoutek… 

Regardless, it did my heart good to see so many residents of Volusia County turn out to a public meeting.  Those on both sides of an issue who courageously stood before their fellow citizens and let their elected officials know where they stood on a matter of community concern. 

It was the essence of participatory governance – the active involvement of citizens in the decision-making process – an exercise that promotes engagement and inclusivity in shaping public policy and stimulates citizen interest and participation in civic affairs.

If inspiring passionate public dialog and fostering the civil discussion of ideas and ideals was truly Charlie Kirk’s calling, he certainly succeeded in strengthening that purely American notion during a seemingly inconsequential county council meeting on Tuesday evening. 

Even with the intractable divisions we face as a nation, the discussion reminded us in the most wonderful way that, at least at the local level, we can remain neighbors and friends, still capable of enthusiastic debate – and peaceful disagreement…   

That’s all for me.  Enjoy the 52nd Annual Daytona Turkey Run, y’all!

Note to Readers:

Dear Members of the Barker’s View Tribe,

I’m taking next week off to enjoy time with family and friends. 

Writing Barker’s View continues to be incredibly cathartic for me during these weird times we find ourselves in. 

This blog continues to be a source of pride that provides a much-needed sense of purpose, and the process of contemplating the issues and expressing my thoughts keeps my Gin-soaked mind limber.

I sincerely appreciate the many wonderful, often unlikely, relationships this blog has built.  The effort has supported my long-held belief that we all want to be heard – to have our opinions considered and valued – especially by the decision-makers who establish public policy.

Thank you for listening to mine.

The best part of this forum remains your feedback, discussing differing opinions, and good-naturedly arguing the fine points.  In my view, that drives a larger discussion of the myriad problems we face in our community.

Sometimes you agree with me – other times you vehemently disagree – but we can remain friends.  Through our dialog, we gain a better perspective of the issues we collectively face, and how to solve them.

I can’t think of anything more purely American than that.

May God bless each of you, and our brave men and women in uniform, at home and abroad – our heroic military members and first responders – those who willingly go into harm’s way to protect us. 

Godspeed.

From the Barker Family to yours – have a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!