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:

“So this is where we part, My Friend,

and you’ll run on, around the bend,

gone from sight, but not from mind,

new pleasures there you’ll surely find.

I will go on, I’ll find the strength,

life measures quality, not its length.

One long embrace before you leave,

share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,

but they be they, and they aren’t you.

And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,

will remember well all you’ve taught.

Your place I’ll hold, you will be missed,

the fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.

And as you journey to your final rest,

take with you this…I loved you best.”

–Jim Willis

Before we begin this week, I hope you will indulge a personal note.

In 2014, when I retired after a 31-year career in law enforcement, I found myself in a very dark and unsettled place.  I had planned for retirement four-years in advance, but when the day came, I still wasn’t ready to leave my beloved profession and the wonderful people I worked with behind.

The change was incredibly difficult for me to navigate as I struggled to transition from the routine, excitement, and sense of purpose I had known my entire adult life to what comes when an active life goes eerily quiet.

After weeks of experiencing a building sense of disorientation and deepening depression, I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue with a way of life I found so foreign…

Then, from the depths of despair, my sweet baby Nola came into our lives as a rescue puppy from the Halifax Humane Society. She immediately gave me a new purpose – a reason to live and love – a bond that transitioned all that I had lost.

She was the wonder dog who saved my life during a difficult time, and we remained inseparable for the next twelve years…

On Saturday afternoon, following a short but intense battle with liver failure, my sweet baby crossed the Rainbow Bridge and went wherever good dogs go when they leave us.

Always far too soon…

With Patti and I holding Nola tight and telling her repeatedly through our tears how much we love her, our beautiful girl slipped away quietly.  Now what’s left of my heart is irretrievably broken and nothing in my life will ever be quite the same.

I want to extend my sincere thanks to Dr. Joseph Reno and the staff at Tomoka Pines in Ormond Beach, and Drs. Jessica Rowell-Brunkan and Amy Long, along with the wonderful staff and technicians at the Veterinary Emergency Center of East Volusia for the love and expert care provided to Nola.

It is truly God’s work.

Here’s a special thanks to everyone who reached out this week to extend kind condolences. Your friendship and true affection for Nola brought comfort during a tough time.

I sincerely appreciate your kindness.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “Legacy” – What Will it Ultimately Cost Floridians?

“Ballot initiatives are invitations to act on emotions: fear, hope, frustration, ambition. A single word can reframe the stakes, making a policy sound necessary or dangerous, and that turns language into a weapon that nudges voters toward “yes” or “no” without them fully understanding the implications.”

–Author Richard Lowe

I’m not one to gloat or pout in the aftermath of an election.

“Magnanimous in victory, gracious in defeat,” yadda, yadda, yadda…

Whether you agree with last week’s outcomes or not, the people have spoken and our democracy worked as well as it can in 2026.  That said, I continue to question the manner and means by which Amendment 3 was foisted on Florida voters – and who ultimately stands to benefit?

Given the ballot language, and the absolute power it grants state bureaucrats over democratically elected local officials, it is rapidly becoming apparent the measure was never meant to ease the burden on Florida homeowners…

In my view, the voter approved constitutional amendment which rapidly increases the homestead exemption beyond the ability of many local governments to adapt – a measure hastily cobbled together by legislators in just 36-hours during a special session, underwritten by realtors and developers, and placed on the ballot as a Catch-22 for Florida homeowners – will have devastating impacts on our quality of life and the continued viability of our hometown.

In fact, the flagrant Tallahassee power grab goes as far as dictating to local elected officials – those closest to the needs of We, The Little People – what they can and cannot spend remaining property tax revenue on.

The authoritarian edict guts Home Rule and openly shits on the concept of local control while effectively defunding police, fire, emergency medical services, and other essential services, setting the stage for a massive tax shift as unchecked growth outpaces necessary services and infrastructure.

The amendment was strongarmed through the special session by Gov. Ron DeSantis who withheld signing the budget until legislators acted to cement what he sees as his lasting political legacy in the Sunshine State ahead of ‘what comes next’ on the national stage…

With one foot out-the-door, Gov. DeSantis is recklessly calling for another special session – just weeks before he leaves office – to rush through implementing legislation without any opportunity to create a comprehensive strategy, allow for citizen input, examine impacts on local essential services, and execute the measure in an organized manner.

Why do you think that is?

In 2024, after seeking the Republican presidential nomination, Gov. DeSantis suspended his campaign following the Iowa caucuses. Although DeSantis denies the rumors, it is increasingly clear that he sees his political stock rising in the aftermath of the mid-term elections and plans to try again in 2028.

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of having my quality of life irreparably altered, our threatened environment sold to the highest bidder, and important legislation chaotically ramrodded simply to feed the voracious aspirations of an impetuous politician and the for-profit motives of their benefactors.

In my view, now that voters have approved Amendment 3, Gov. DeSantis should stop running interference for his deep-pocketed donors and allow Governor-elect Byron Donalds and the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission the courtesy of implementing the changes after public hearings, citizen input, and due diligence.

In fact, after asking their constituents to approve an amendment they knew was bad for Florida, our state legislators should demand it.

They should also remember that the districts they were elected to represent are comprised of unique communities – with residents who deserve real tax and spending reforms – not an impulsive three-day rewrite of Florida’s tax system.

In my view, if Gov. DeSantis is truly considering a 2028 presidential bid – he should be solely focused on sorting out the myriad “likeability” issues that doomed his previous run for the White House.

Despite his popularity in Florida, the fact is, Ron DeSantis does not present well on the national stage.

From wearing “lifts” in his cowboy boots and sweating profusely during appearances, his penchant for funneling millions in public funds to campaign donors using no-bid contracts and a dubious land purchase ($83.3 million for four acres of land in the panhandle – ten-times what the owner/doner paid for it?), strange personal habits, and a reputation for political disloyalty in his own party, DeSantis gives off a skeevy vibe that consistently turned voters off across the nation.

This time, he must confront the lingering stench of the Hope Florida misappropriation…

Now, Gov. DeSantis is attempting to reinvent himself, appearing tough on taxes by exsanguinating Florida communities with no plan to adequately fund essential services, and positioning himself as the rising savior of the national Republican party.

But at what cost to those he leaves in his wake?

Despite the nervous pshaws of realtors and developers who bankrolled the effort (and will face generational damage to their profession’s reputation in the aftermath) and Gov. DeSantis’ tough talk, the fact is, our civic amenities, senior centers, youth programs, libraries, parks, recreation, public works, humane animal services, water quality projects, etc., and the unique community identities Floridian’s have come to treasure are going away.

For example, the preliminary effects of Amendment 3 were felt in Ormond Beach last week when the city put the purchase of the former Osceola Elementary property on hold citing worries about looming budget impacts.

The property had been slated to become a beachside park.

Who do you think will step in and purchase the 11.6-acre site?

I fear residents of Ormond’s established Seminole neighborhood should plan to welcome a lot of new neighbors…

In Flagler County, Sheriff Rick Staly announced this week that his agency has implemented a hiring freeze, cancelled an order for new patrol vehicles, and is considering a citizen advisory board to help direct the deep cuts in services that will be necessary to meet a loss of $15.5 million in next year’s budget (23.3%), a deficit that may increase to $27.8 million (41.6%) in 2028.

What does that mean for the future of law enforcement and emergency services in one of the fastest growing counties in the state?

I believe the immeasurable damage that will ultimately result from this rushed and shambolic dismantling of Florida’s tax system in the absence of a realistic plan will remain the lasting legacy of man who cares only about his political aspirations, and the special interests who underwrite it…

Sen. “Terrible” Tommy Wright Strikes Again…

This week a video made the rounds on social media showing former state Sen. “Terrible” Tom Wright at a Veteran’s Day celebration telling a 100% medically retired disabled combat veteran who received the Purple Heart for wounds received in Ramadi, Iraq, to “go fuck yourself.”

You read that right.

According to a Facebook post by Doug Meeker, during a Veteran’s Day celebration at the Daytona Beach Veteran’s Memorial Plaza on Wednesday, he discovered that there were no speakers representing Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

According to Meeker, when he asked an organizer if he could have “two-minutes” to address those assembled on behalf of his brothers and sisters from the Global War on Terror, he described being dismissed in a brusque tone, and denied the opportunity to speak due to lack of time during the ceremony.

When Mr. Meeker attempted to explain to Sen. Wright why he was angry (using admittedly offensive language) – and how the recognition ceremony fell short – the video shows Wright listening for a few moments before angrily shaking his fist in Meeker’s face and telling him to “shut the fuck up,” before taking a woman by the wrist and walking away.

Find Mr. Meeker’s video here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1461070022665015

When Mr. Meeker explained to Wright that he recorded the encounter on video, Sen. Wright threatened, “I hope you share it, cause all of our friends will come after your ass.”

Inconceivably, as Meeker attempted to explain “We’re asking to represent our generation,” Sen. Wright turned and said, “Go fuck yourself.”

In my view, it’s a good thing Mr. Meeker wasn’t a woman, or Terrible Tommy may well have gone hands-on like he did during an angry 2023 confrontation with a female employee of Volusia County’s only domestic violence shelter.

Remember? I do.

Frankly, it’s hard to forget.

In September 2023, several of Wright’s obsequious apologists took me to the proverbial woodshed for instinctively reacting in this space to something I saw with my own eyes on an incriminating video depicting the Senator intimidating a female employee at the Beacon Center domestic violence shelter.

The disturbing story was originally told by reporter Mark Harper in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Senator angrily confronts domestic violence worker after shelter leadership resignations,” when we learned that Sen. Wright put his hand on a female employee of The Beacon Center – then launched a bullying verbal barrage that left his victim reeling – during a heated confrontation outside a busload of Beacon Center residents.

According to the News-Journal’s report, “State Sen. Tom Wright put his hand on a worker outside Volusia County’s only domestic violence shelter Saturday in an angry confrontation that later involved Daytona Beach police, witnesses said.

Wright has been at the center of an implosion of the Domestic Abuse Council of Volusia County Inc., which oversees the operation and programs at the Beacon Center. Approximately 26 women and children were living there last month in an effort to escape dangerous situations at home and rebuild their lives.”

The damning video showed the powerful Sen. Wright boarding a bus occupied by domestic violence survivors and their children (who were uprooted while Wright “toured” the facility with Department of Children and Families officials) in contravention of state privacy laws.

When a Beacon Center employee attempted to stop him, Wright could be seen reaching out and touching the female against her will.

After briefly turning away, Wright returned in a rage – screaming in the employee’s face – placing his hands behind his back, aggressively leaning forward, bearing down, and advancing on the employee as she recoiled from the Senator’s tirade as another female courageously attempted to put herself between Wright and the target of his wrath…

Ugly.

Then things got worse…

In the days following the incident at the Beacon Center, the News-Journal published another shocking piece describing Sen. Wright’s creepy come-on to a 20-year-old domestic violence survivor, in the presence of her baby, while she was evacuating the Beacon Center ahead of a hurricane:

“Six years ago this month, Shelby Dunlap and her baby were aboard a short bus fleeing Hurricane Irma from the domestic violence shelter where they had sought refuge.

A local philanthropist was also on board, amid a small group of women from the Beacon Center, Volusia County’s only shelter for survivors of domestic violence, she recalled.

“I think he paid for the trip,” Dunlap said.

And he was flirtatious, she added, talking about prostitutes in Cuba, topless women on a boat, and offering to fly her to Las Vegas.

Nothing happened. She didn’t go to Las Vegas, but the conversation still causes her discomfort.

“It’s kind of embarrassing to say, but whenever you’re going through that, especially I was only, like, 20 years old, but you feel like, OK, there’s this rich guy, like, that could help me out of my problems,” she said. “But now I realize, you know, he was a creep.”

The philanthropist, she said, was Tom Wright. A year later, he became Florida State Sen. Tom Wright.”

My God…

Cuban prostitutes?

Topless women?

Offering to jet off to Sin City with a vulnerable 20-year-old victim of domestic violence?

In the company of children?

The only reason I rehash the boorish wrath of Sen. Terrible Tommy Wright as he leaves office is because rumors are swirling that he plans to make a run for the Volusia County Council in 2028.

Shameless…

In my view, after impugning the integrity of the Florida Senate, squeaking past heinous allegations of inappropriate conduct while holding high office, and verbally attacking a disabled American hero, perhaps Sen. Wright will take his own advice and “shut the f*ck up,” then do the right thing and put his egomaniacal political aspirations to rest and stop imposing himself (literally) on the good people of Volusia County.

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