Hi, kids!

It’s time once again to turn a jaundiced eye toward the newsmakers of the day – the winners and losers – who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life, or detracted from it, in some significant way.

Let’s look at who tried to screw us – and who tried to save us – during the week that was.

Asshole           The Downtown Daytona Development Cabal

If you want proof positive that our ‘powers that be’ – you know, those uber-wealthy and politically connected few who The Daytona Beach News-Journal once called our “Rich and Powerful” – could give two-shits about the quality of life of Halifax area residents, just reread Eileen Zaffiro-Kean’s March 2019 article, “Daytona Beach looks to clear way for private development on City Island.”

In that informative piece we learned that City “leaders” were, “quietly working behind the scenes” to have long-standing deed restrictions removed on downtown riverfront property “…so they can ink deals with private developers interested in the public land.”

Apparently, the scheme was so quiet that even “plugged-in community leaders” were left in the dark. . . 

The deed restrictions on these beautiful spoil islands are over a century old now and require that the land be held for the exclusive use of the public – forever.

Yeah, right.  

In late 2018, Governor Ron DeSantis and his Cabinet agreed to lift all deed restrictions on 97 acres east of Beach Street – including City Island – so long as the City of Daytona Beach agreed to pony up $8.77 million to the State of Florida.

At the time, state Rep. Elizabeth Fetterhoff and other local legislators vowed to have the public use mandate removed without requiring Daytona Beach to pay anything.

Then, last week we learned that the Florida Cabinet unanimously voted to lift the deed restrictions on a small parcel of publicly owned waterfront land near Halifax Harbor Marina – no strings attached (beyond a paltry $100,000 donation to something called the state’s Internal Improvement Trust Fund.)

Everything else about the change is clear as river mud – and no one who should seems to know anything about the future of the .41-acre slice of heaven on the banks of the Halifax – a parcel which sits just south of the controversial (and highly desired) City Island property which (I think) is still governed by the public use deed restrictions. 

In fact, when the News-Journal questioned members of what I affectionately refer to as The Downtown Daytona Development Cabal – a shadowy confederation of self-serving political insiders with all the right last names and a chip in the game – they collectively sounded like Sergeant Hans Schultz:

“I see nothing!  I hear nothing!  I know nothing!”

Weird. 

“A few people heavily involved with downtown development, including Brown & Brown chairman J. Hyatt Brown, said they’re not aware of any current ideas or active proposals.”

My ass.

It is no secret that the Grand Plan for the private development of City Island and adjacent public lands has been in place for years – so don’t expect anyone to ask for your input in the planning or design – because it’s a done deal. . . 

That became evident way back in 2017 when Jim Chisholm said publicly, “There is a project looking at land around the ball field.  The city owns a lot of land around it. They’re looking at condos, hotels, dining, mixed use. People come in with big ideas all the time.”

“Chisholm said he’s been “in discussions” for seven or eight months on ideas for city-owned City Island property, but there’s “nothing in writing” yet.”

Then, two years later, the News-Journal reported, “…the City Island courthouse site was stirring investor interest, and that Chisholm was talking with county officials about what could become of that courthouse property.”

Apparently, those same “county officials” had no idea what Mr. Chisholm was talking about. . . 

At that time, our hapless elected and appointed officials at Volusia County claimed they were ambushed – kept totally out of the loop by Mr. Chisholm – which prompted a terse letter to Governor DeSantis reminding him that the County of Volusia owns City Island – not the City of Daytona Beach. 

Whatever.

In my view, it is this complete lack of transparency – or any reasonable oversight by the Daytona Beach City Commission – that allows Mr. Chisholm to run roughshod over everyone.    

“Attempts to gather more information about the property on the western bank of the riverfront with phone calls and emails late last week to the city manager, city spokeswoman and city attorney were unsuccessful. None of them responded.”

Wow. 

How can anyone – including Mayor Derrick ‘Il Duce’ Henry and his fellow marionettes on the Daytona Beach City Commission – find this abject arrogance by a recipient of public funds remotely appropriate? 

Within hours of learning that state deed restrictions had been mysteriously lifted by the governor’s cabinet, City Manager Jim Chisholm and his public disinformation staff pulled the shade and locked the door, sequestering themselves in the inner sanctum at City Hall – refusing to return calls and correspondence from the working press – adding to the confusion and speculation. 

This is what happens when a city manager is permitted to give the figurative middle finger to his feckless “bosses” on the dais of power – and ignore taxpaying residents and the local media with no political accountability or external oversight.

Unfortunately, nothing is going to change for the immediate future. 

In my view, this latest revelation adds to the speculation as to why Mr. Chisholm’s services have been retained for another 90-days (at least) as the elected officials continue to drag their clay feet on finding his replacement. 

Angel               Palm Coast City Councilman Eddie Branquinho

To say Palm Coast City Manager Matt Morton’s tenure has been an unmitigated shit show is an understatement.

From rumors of a federal investigation into the loosey-goosey relationship between city government and the private sector – to the very real spectacle of Mr. Morton publicly butchering the careers of any civil servant who raises their head to challenge the status quo – his tyrannical antics continue to erode public trust in City Hall.   

In my view, Mr. Morton has now exposed himself as either a weak-kneed Caspar Milquetoast, afraid of his own shadow, or he is actively exploiting our current social and political discord to further alienate the local government from those it ostensibly exists to serve. 

Throwing the normal prerequisite of a clear and present threat aside, Mr. Morton has unilaterally authorized the allocation of taxpayer funds to place armed guards on the Palm Coast City Hall campus – and order that all citizens pass through a metal detector before conducting their business inside the publicly owned building. 

According to an excellent article in FlaglerLive.com, Mr. Morton mewled, “…the national, political landscape and the climate unfortunately has impacts across the country. We’ve had a few incidents in city hall that seem to have been escalating over the last year, I would call them confrontations. Traditionally we’ve asked staff to de-escalate those confrontations. They’ve gotten to the point where it’s inappropriate for staff to be put in that position of de-escalating. . .”

Say what? 

The January “confrontation” cited by Morton involved a middle-aged man wearing a “Don’t tread on me” t-shirt, who refused to wear a facemask upon entering the building – then stomped around, full of bluster, indignation, and hot air – disobeying a receptionist and bullying a few cowed “supervisors” until two sheriff’s deputies confronted him.

The man was disobedient – not dangerous.

After a brief discussion with the law enforcement officers, he left without incident. 

No arrest.  No trespass warning.  No request for identification. 

He just walked off. 

How would an armed security guard have ended that “confrontation” any differently – with a double-tap to the head? 

Apparently, the dustup – which Morton affectedly called a “situational moment” – occurred just before the start of a Palm Coast City Council meeting – a forum where we have witnessed far worse bullying and bluster. . .

As a result of this chilling act of civil disobedience by some unidentified malcontent with his proverbial knickers in a twist – the good citizens of Palm Coast can now expect their city hall complex to take on all the earmarks of an armed encampment. 

Fortunately, Palm Coast City Councilman Eddie Branquinho, a former Newark, N.J. police officer, sees Morton’s gross overreaction as bad policy, one that “…sends the wrong message to the public at large.”

He’s right. 

According to the FlaglerLive report, Councilman Branquinho “said he recently got a call from a resident asking him “why do we need security at the door of City Hall. I couldn’t answer the question,” he said.”

Rather than have a reasonable safety and security plan in place for City Hall – one that incorporates appropriate physical security postures and response protocols while balancing the rights of citizens trying to conduct business and participate in their government – for the next 90-days, Morton plans to turn the complex  into a super-maximum-security citadel where he and his subordinate bureaucrats can effectively hide behind a phalanx of armed agents, far removed from the pesky annoyance of agitated citizens.

After this three-month “trial,” Morton anticipates the Palm Coast City Council will rubberstamp his expensive and overreaching safety plan – making armed security a permanent part of the city hall experience. . . 

Bullshit.

Kudos to Palm Coast Councilman Eddie Branquinho for having the guts to stand against Mayor Melissa Holland and other acquiescent elected representatives who immediately rolled over for Morton’s draconian measures.

We need more representatives like Mr. Branquinho – men and women who are not afraid to question the oppressive motivations of tin-pot autocrats who use public funds and fearmongering to insulate themselves from legitimate discourse and debate.    

We live in a time when the subjects of the realm are increasingly willing to trade their God-given freedom for a false sense of government supplied “security” – giving over their liberties to the likes of frightened little men like Matt Morton – spineless martinets who exploit political tumult to further drive a wedge between elected and appointed officials and those they serve. 

In the meantime, it appears the tail will continue to wag the dog in Palm Coast. . . 

Quote of the Week

“It is a sad commentary when the only major concession requested was not by our own (Ormond Beach) commission, but rather by the outside citizens group Dream Green Volusia. Such requests could have included enlarging the buffer along the byway, decreased density/increased lot sizes (which would help save trees, reduce traffic, and increase property values, bringing in more city revenue), reduction of the speed limit, and employing Low-Impact Development methods to land not yet cleared. The commission’s inaction in bargaining was a missed opportunity.

Yet — the city still has the option to chip in a percentage of the funds needed to purchase the land. Compared to previous expenditures – such as $730,000 purchase of the Riverside Church, $1.3 million on a floating dock, and $900,000 for a bait shop — a fraction of the total purchase price of $1.3 million purchase price would be nominal.

Preserving the Loop is an overwhelmingly public mandate, and the 36 acres would provide a nice corridor within this very treasured place in Ormond Beach.  Our hope is that the county is able to procure the funds for the land purchase, and we hope the city will seize the opportunity to provide additional assistance.”  

–Ken and Julie Sipes, Ormond Beach, writing in the Ormond Beach Observer, Letters to the Editor, “City has ‘skin in the game,” Monday, February 8, 2021

And Another Thing!

They say one man’s misfortune is another’s opportunity. 

In today’s grim coronavirus-wracked economy, there are a lot of predators and prey out there. . .

This week it was announced that Hard Rock Daytona owner Abbas Abdulhussein recently acquired the beachfront Nautilus Inn for a reported $8 million through his Asante Asset Management, LLC. 

For decades, the Nautilus Inn was owned, operated, and meticulously cared for by the DeNure family of Ontario, Canada, who used the property as a base for their successful touring company.

The hotel served as an excellent example of how a well-maintained oceanfront resort hotel with a sustainable business model can build a loyal clientele, and significantly contribute to our local economy, without expecting publicly funded corporate welfare and other “inducements” that negatively impact the quality of life of area residents.   

According to reports, international border closures associated with the pandemic have had a devastating impact on the DeNure’s travel enterprise, and “…virtually eliminated the influx of Canadian snowbirds to Volusia County. . .” 

Unfortunately, it appears the DeNure’s were forced to get out from under the hotel while the getting was good. . .

It is no secret that Mr. Abdulhussein’s extended transformation of the notorious Desert Inn was not without controversy – primarily surrounding the loss of 410’ of beach driving behind the hotel – a public amenity that was given away by a previous iteration of the Volusia County Council.   

The who and why of that regretful public policy decision remains open to speculation – but the issue was recently resurrected when our new Chairman Jeff Brower met with Mr. Abdulhussein – apparently to discuss returning beach driving and access to the strand behind the Hard Rock Daytona.

During a recent discussion with some long-time locals (none of whom have patronized or recommended the Hard Rock as a form of protest), most told me that if the traffic-ban were repealed they would consider it a gesture of good faith by Mr. Abdulhussein, something that would positively change their attitude toward the hotel. 

In my view, having the support and word-of-mouth endorsement of Halifax area residents in this challenged hospitality market is good for business.

My sincere hope is that with the acquisition of the Nautilus Inn, Mr. Abdulhussein will refrain from returning for another drink at the well as he sets about rebranding the property. 

In the eyes of many Volusia County taxpayers – any attempt to secure additional “inducements” should be met with a vastly different answer from our current county council members.   

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

The unique vantage point that forms my weird opinions on the issues of the day comes from over thirty years surviving and observing the machinations of local bureaucracies – learning the prestidigitations of small-town politics as I clawed my way to middle management and hung on by my fingernails.

I certainly do not have any preternatural insight – I simply know the tricks and illusions of the bureaucratic magician – an art always performed with more misdirection than abracadabra. . .

It is this polished sleight-of-hand that leaves taxpayers (and newly elected politicians) standing outside the fortified portcullis of government – trying in vain to wipe away the grease and grime from the opaque window – desperately clamoring for a glimpse inside. 

The fact is, it is not that hard to figure out the maneuvering and intrigues when you apply the principle of Occam’s razor to any analysis of local government, a scientific problem-solving technique which says the simplest explanation is usually the right one. 

Trust me.  Most government administrators are not that sophisticated – but they have an incredible survival instinct.

Normally, government slugs along at a snail’s pace – not very nimble and with far too many moving parts to spool-up quickly.  Even simple actions can take months of deliberation and study, the hiring of consultants, commissioning studies, forming political insulation committees, and holding meetings to weigh options – buying time until the final “solution” bears no resemblance to the original goal.

In fact, so much of the mechanics of government are just busywork formalities, a bureaucratic corn maze, designed by upper-level shovel leaners and highly paid contractors who speak in acronyms and complicate most issues far beyond acceptable reason.

I was reminded of that strategy last week when I listened to Volusia County Manager George “The Wreck” Rectenwald put the ether to his gullible bosses on the dais of power – lulling them into an almost paralytic stupor on the issue of simply moving a Votran stop to the First Step Shelter following the tragic death of a client who was killed crossing a dark and foggy stretch of International Speedway Boulevard. 

You could tell Recktenwald’s hypnosis prank had the desired effect on his audience when all seven of our elected representatives began figuratively nodding in unison, like a synod of dashboard bobblehead dogs. . .

Then, on Thursday, Mr. Rectenwald chaperoned a meeting between Chairman Jeff Brower and Abbas Abdulhussein, who owns the controversial Hard Rock Daytona, to discuss the traffic-free beach behind the hotel that Mr. Abdulhussein was gifted by Volusia County back in 2015. 

From the beginning of his campaign, Mr. Brower has stated he wants the poles removed and beach driving restored behind the hotel – and it appears he means it.

Clearly, Mr. Rectenwald was not going to let his newest charge get too far afield without adult supervision. 

After all, we cannot have ungoverned progress breaking out, right?

That might disturb the delicate sensibilities of some uber-wealthy political insider with ulterior motivations. . .

Whatever.

In an excellent piece by reporter Jim Abbott writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Mr. Recktenwald was quoted:

“To decide anything would require a public meeting and policy decision of the entire County Council, as well as the state and federal permitting agencies,” he said. “No decision could be made without all that being legislated.”

Nevertheless, Recktenwald said it was important for the hotel’s owner and management to meet the new County Council Chair. He also said that the exchange was productive.

“It’s always productive when people get to meet and get to know each other,” Recktenwald said. “This is the first time they have met, so it’s important to get together.”

Priming the crowd for more hoops, hurdles, and obstructions. . .    

In 2015, the ordinances that allowed a past iteration of the Volusia County Council to giveaway something that did not belong to them were crafted with the full support of the ultimate political insider, King J. Hyatt Brown – who patted his loyal minions on their pointy heads and said, “It is a positive step. It is one that we will never regret, and it is a step that in the future we will look back and say, ‘Good job you all.’”

In keeping with tradition, J. Hyatt’s mere presence in the Council Chamber was all it took and the ordinances passed on a 6-1 vote. . .

Of course, the beach driving ban was couched as an “inducement” for the developer to complete the infamous hotel’s renovation to exacting performance standards by a date certain.

In the eyes of many, that didn’t happen.

But after a series of off-the-agenda ambushes, extensions, and a rush to “completion” everything went swimmingly for Mr. Abdulhussein.

By and large, beach driving supporters believe that progress, and the revitalization of our beleaguered core tourist area, can be enhanced when investors and developers embrace and incorporate this unique aspect of our rich heritage.

Others are on the public record stating that a traffic-free beach is the panacea for all our social and economic woes – and that the removal of beach driving represents the only viable way forward in terms of “economic development.”

The difference being that those who have a direct financial interest in opposing beach driving are infinitely more politically influential than us helot’s whose role in this godforsaken artificial economy is to fill menial service jobs and provide a steady flow of tax dollars.

I don’t often agree with Pat Rice of The Daytona Beach News-Journal, but at least some of his Sunday editorial rang true:

“A variety of issues have led to our beach — and especially Daytona Beach’s core beach side area — being one of the most underdeveloped and least prosperous stretches along the East Coast. It will take a LOT more than adding beach driving or decreasing it to cure what ails our beach’s economy.”

It is abundantly clear that further limiting beach driving and access isn’t the answer.

This lack of civic vision, stagnation, blight, and bureaucratic impediments to entrepreneurial investment simply cannot continue.

To his credit, Chairman Brower seems intent on stopping the effective privatization of our beach and returning the draw of beach driving to the strand – and that transformation can begin the minute he realizes that there is no obligation to toe the line and conform to the existing state of affairs.    

In my view, like most tenderfoot politicians, Mr. Brower must find a way around the bureaucratic flypaper that puts time and distance between pressing civic issues and any substantive progress – always ensuring that a diluted version of the original intent can be crafted so that no one in government can ever be held accountable for any conceivable outcome.

(Anyone remember the results of the Beachside Redevelopment Committee?  Me neither. . .)

Make no mistake, Mr. Recktenwald is a master of the bureaucratic arts – with the unique ability to maintain the status quo regardless of who We, The People may elect to represent our interests. 

Because that is how the system works.

My sincere hope is that Mr. Brower, and his fellow elected officials who reached their seats on a promise of returning power to the citizens of Volusia County, will develop the political savvy to recognize when they are being manipulated and patronized – or when their initiatives are being neutered by the sloth-like nature of a massive bureaucracy that feeds on public funds and excretes inefficiency – one desperately in need of reform. 

Photo Credit: The Daytona Beach News-Journal

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Hi, kids!

It’s time once again to turn a jaundiced eye toward the newsmakers of the day – the winners and losers – who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life, or detracted from it, in some significant way.

Let’s look at who tried to screw us – and who tried to save us – during the week that was.

Angel               Daytona Beach Deputy Police Chief Jennifer Whittet

After three decades in the business, I have developed a theory that you can tell everything you need to know about a law enforcement agency by examining its leadership. 

The character of the leader defines the organization. 

In my view, the Daytona Beach Police Department has been blessed with a series of transformational servant/leaders who have consistently advanced the agency – developing innovative protocols, connecting with the community, selecting a diversity of talent, and adapting advanced technology for more effective and efficient service delivery – always remaining on the cutting edge – never losing focus on the needs of those it serves. 

At just 42 years old, newly appointed Police Chief Jakari Young has proved himself, both operationally and administratively, and has now rightfully reached the pinnacle of a stellar career with the Daytona Beach Police Department.

From my vantagepoint, Chief Young possesses a strategic mind and sharp intellect, honed by a wealth of practical leadership experience, and, most important, he embodies the strength of character and quiet professionalism that instills confidence in those around him. 

Fortunately, Chief Young’s good instincts have elevated Jennifer Whittet to the Deputy Chief position.

A 20-year veteran of the Daytona Beach Police Department, Deputy Chief Whittet has proven herself an outstanding community asset by excelling in positions of increasing trust – gaining knowledge, setting the pace, and earning her way through the ranks.     

Now, the Halifax area is recognizing Deputy Chief Whittet’s wealth of experience, leadership skills, and her inherent willingness to serve others.    

In a wonderful exposé by Eileen Zaffiro-Kean writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, we caught a glimpse of the unique challenges faced by Deputy Chief Whittet during her incredibly successful career – and the depth of love and commitment she has for the citizens of Daytona Beach, her subordinates, and the diverse community she serves. 

I can tell you that no one achieves command responsibility in a large, full-service law enforcement agency like DBPD without standing on their own merit, demonstrating honesty and integrity, earning the confidence of others, and embodying the humility, emotional intelligence, adaptive thinking, and creativity required to move the agency to new heights – and Deputy Chief Whittet can take pride in this important career accomplishment. 

She’s a damn good cop, too.

“In 2003, Whittet appeared on “America’s Most Wanted” for the capture of an armed suspect wanted in connection with bank robberies and other felony charges.

A year earlier, in 2002, Whittet was awarded the Medal of Valor. She was recognized for her response to a horrific car accident in December 2001, less than three months after she began working for the Daytona Beach Police Department.”

Impressive.

Deputy Chief Whittet is married to the legendary Volusia County Sheriff’s Sergeant and waterman Jim Whittet – both consummate professionals whose family legacy of selfless service is inspirational.

It is heartening to know that my beloved police service – and the good citizens of Daytona Beach – are in such skilled and capable hands, well situated to meet the challenges of tomorrow.   

Congratulations to Deputy Chief Whittet on this well-deserved promotion!

Asshole           Volusia County Council & Votran

Talk is cheap.  

That’s abundantly true here on Florida’s Fun Coast.    

And that age-old idiom describes me to a tee.  

If I had the courage of my oh-so-haughty convictions, I would volunteer, donate to a charitable cause, or work for positive change, getting my hands dirty, down in the trenches with those intrepid civic activists who selflessly put their time, money, and effort into improving our quality of life.

I don’t.

Like the sluggish bureaucracies and apathetic politicians that I complain about, my hypocrisy knows no bounds. . .

However, sometimes the callous indifference of government shocks even my limited moral awareness.

On Tuesday, the Volusia County Council failed to demand substantive action on an issue of life and death – choosing instead to play politics with the City of Daytona Beach – while a representative of our public transportation service explained all the reasons why adding or moving a bus stop following the tragic death of a First Step Shelter client was too cumbersome and expensive to accomplish with reasonable speed and efficiency.   

Then, County Manager George “The Wreck” Recktenwald mumbled something about talking to Daytona Beach City Manager Jim Chisholm, the Florida Department of Transportation, and a few First Step board members about “solutions” to “mitigate an unsafe situation” at First Step – of course, he assured the elected officials that everyone is working “diligently.”

Of course they are because time is of the essence, right?

When it came down to getting answers, Mr. Recktenwald felt it would not be “productive” to discuss what those “solutions” were – choosing instead to let these sloth-like bureaucracies develop individual “plans.”

Whatever.   

Then, a manager with Votran, had the unmitigated balls to tell the Volusia County Council that it would cost $10,000 to construct a simple bus stop at FSS. 

Bullshit.

Considering that most Votran stops are little more than a post in the ground with a sign attached, I found that hard to believe – especially when the estimate came from the same public transportation company that once told us it would cost $900,000 to place a stop at Tanger Outlets. . .   

When Chairman Jeff Brower asked what could be done to correct the problem today – his question was met with more gibberish about how much time it takes the molasses-like agility of Votran to get up to speed (on anything) – and why FSS residents might not qualify for their “Gold Service” for disabled persons, blah, blah, blah. 

Jesus.  

After kicking it around with a liberal application of governmentese, it was essentially agreed that it was the First Step Shelter’s problem to resolve. . .

According to a report in The Daytona Beach News-Journal:

“Councilmembers Billie Wheeler and Ben Johnson said working with First Step was the clear answer.

“Daytona chose the site,” Wheeler said. “I don’t think it’s for us to shift Votran around because that’s not going to solve the problem.”

“We just keep throwing money out and we can’t do that. Sometimes people have to solve their own problems,” Johnson said.”

I suppose they are right – the $10,000 Votran estimates it would cost to make a quick stop at FSS far outweighs the price of protecting the flotsam and jetsam of society that find their way to a homeless assistance center. . .

I mean, we have important things to consider, like spending our way deeper into the SunRail debacle and implementing Amendment 10, right? 

Right. . .  

Anyone see a pattern here?

At the end of the day, no one on the dais of power demanded action – and absolutely nothing of substance happened – as our elected representatives sat on their thumbs and lectured the City of Daytona Beach, and the First Step Shelter, on their obligations.

So, until First Step Shelter can get its shit together and find a timely solution to its limited in-house transportation service, residents will be required to dodge four lanes of heavy traffic on dark and foggy mornings to get to the Red John Road bus stop on the opposite side of busy US-92.

Fortunately, program participants are not without options.

They can hike the half-mile east, through the weeds, and rain, and muck on the shoulder of the highway – literally to the middle of nowhere – where the closest Votran stop on the south side of ISB is located.    

And that, gentle readers, is how government and its ancillary “services” use hot air, foot-dragging, and finger pointing to effectively shrug off a rapid response to a compound tragedy.

It is an effective strategy that puts time and distance between controversial issues and the various government entities responsible, deferring conclusive action until no one gives two-shits. 

Do you think anyone other than her grieving 10-year-old daughter will remember the death of Ashly Baker in six-weeks?

How about two-years from now at election time? 

The fact is, Volusia County has coldheartedly sidestepped the issue of homelessness for decades – choosing instead to throw our hard-earned tax dollars at others with the courage to do something to help.

Tragic. 

There is another adage I’m fond of: The more things change, the more they stay the same.  

Asshole           State of Florida/County of Volusia    

When I was a young police officer, I worked for a prickly chief who would restore my bearing by screaming, “Barker, get your head out of your ass!”

I never forgot the message he was trying to convey:

Confusion results from mixed-messages – visual, aural, sensory inputs, and external information that does not line up with expectations – a condition that disorients and degrades our situational awareness, resulting in misperceptions, something that can prove deadly in critical circumstances.

We saw that principle in action on Monday afternoon when Volusia County Councilwoman Heather Post took to social media in an attempt to assist frustrated constituents still competing for an elusive COVID-19 vaccination appointment, encouraging them to use the State of Florida’s new www.myvaccine.fl.gov online preregistration platform. 

Then, on Tuesday, The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported just the opposite – in a front page/above the fold piece entitled, “Volusia not adopting COVID-19 registration system yet.”

The article by reporter Nikki Ross clearly stated that “Volusia County isn’t yet using the state’s new coronavirus vaccine preregistration system, causing tension with residents who used the new system and thought they were finally on the waiting list for the highly coveted vaccine.”

By Wednesday, the News-Journal’s Mary Helen Moore published a front-page explanatory piece under the headline, “Volusia: Start using state site to get vaccine.” 

“Volusia County residents qualifying for the coronavirus vaccine are encouraged to sign up now on the statewide COVID-19 registration system, even though it won’t be used locally for another two weeks.

“You’re in line the moment you complete your application,” Volusia County’s public protection director Joe Pozzo said.

The state of Florida launched the preregistration system Friday, but Volusia County will use Eventbrite for all currently planned vaccination events until it can train staff and get the necessary hardware.”

The article contained a quasi-explanation from some heavy hitters, including Volusia County’s public protection director Joe Pozzo, chief mouthpiece Kevin Captain, and Councilwoman Post.

“They (the state) just posted it,” Post said. “I think it was a surprise to many counties. It is what it is. This is where we’re at.”

Wow. 

Look, I’m sure this will all work out – and I know Councilwoman Post has our best interests at heart (although I am not sure she, or the county’s public information apparatus, has grasped the concept of information coordination during a declared emergency) – but given the abject dysfunction of the vaccine rollout at all levels of government, this latest snafu does not inspire confidence. . .

With tens-of-millions in CARES Act funds being spent on everything under the sun by local governments statewide, one would expect that a few bucks could be allocated to develop and communicate an effective system for registering citizens for this potentially lifesaving vaccine.

Right?

Instead, we have been subjected to recurring misinformation, half-truths, excuses, and official apologies – resulting in quibbling and finger pointing as one level of bureaucracy starts feeling sorry for itself and blames the one above it.

For those seeking the vaccine, that means more frustrating double-talk.

And confusion reigns supreme. . .    

According to Wednesday’s News-Journal report:

“Some of Florida’s 67 counties are already using the system.

“Our understanding was they rolled it out to those counties that had no other method of registration,” according to Randa Matusiak, who coordinates special projects for the county’s public protection department. “They were rolling it out to those smaller counties.”

“We already had something in place, so they went to those counties that have a greater need,” county spokesman Kevin Captain added.”

So, sign up on Florida’s MyVaccine site now, I guess? 

Even though it will not be used by Volusia County for another two-weeks (?) – or something like that? 

For a better explanation, call the Volusia County Citizen Information Center at 866-345-0345 and demand clarification – if you can get anything other than a busy signal. . .   

Whatever. 

For now, it appears the scavenger hunt for appointments continues.

That’s disappointing news for Volusia County’s most vulnerable residents desperate for a chance at life outside lockdown.

Quote of the Week

“I’ve seen some messed up stuff in my 87 years, but trying to get a COVID-19 shot in Florida takes the cake. I’m supposed to head to ball fields, fairgrounds, and heavens knows where else, to wait in the cold for 3-4 hours only to be told there’s no room at the inn. I’m guessing 90% of those over 65 are on Medicare and have a primary physician. Doesn’t it make more sense to provide these physicians the vaccine and have their staff notify their patients in an orderly fashion to make an appointment to come in for their shot?”

–George F. Ritchie, Daytona Beach, writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Letters to the Editor, “Make it easier,” Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Amen, Mr. Ritchie.  Well said.

And Another Thing!

They say cold is the great equalizer.

Hypothermia kills indiscriminately when the human body loses heat faster than it can produce it.

When the temperatures dipped into the 30’s and 40’s this week, my wife and I built a roaring fire, drank hot toddies, and slept comfortably under a pile of warm blankets.

Others in Volusia County were not so fortunate. 

Hundreds of homeless people huddled in the palmetto scrub, the doorways of vacant businesses, and miserable makeshift campsites trying desperately to get out of the biting wind – to escape the merciless cold – fighting hard to retain heat faster than the frigid temperature could take it away. 

Wait a minute, Barker.  Stow that maudlin crap. 

Don’t you remember that area taxpayers spent millions-of-dollars for a homeless assistance center out in the boondocks off International Speedway Boulevard? 

It’s a big deal.  A giant, heated building that could accommodate all comers – you know, if it weren’t for this damn Coronavirus. . .       

Why, just a few weeks back, the multilevel management of the First Step Shelter set up a rudimentary “cold weather option” at its outdoor “safe zone” – complete with portable heaters on loan from Daytona International Speedway so a whopping 24 homeless people wouldn’t suffer the deadly effects of exposure.

What more do you want?

Well, that option did not work out so well this week.

Apparently, Daytona International Speedway examined their priorities and determined that they needed their portable heaters back – I mean, screw the homeless – especially when the baked brie canapés need to be maintained at room temperature for the Taste of the 24 crowd, right? 

Hell, anything less would be, well, gauche.

My God. . .

Look, it is not Daytona International Speedway’s fault – they generously loaned the shelter the heaters – and that comes with the expectation that, at some point, DIS was going to need them back.

Normally, that is where the concept of strategic planning comes into play. 

Which begs the question – with just 38 cold weather beds available countywide this week – why didn’t the First Step Shelter purchase its own portable heaters when it had the buffer?  

You know, take some of that $1.1 million in CARES Act funds they were gifted and spend it on something that would benefit those they exist to serve – couch it as a means of separating potential Coronavirus victims from full-time shelter residents, get creative, its play money, no one cares – just show some consistency and common human compassion when it comes to sheltering and protecting the homeless population. 

Yeah, right. . .

The fact is, First Step Shelter isn’t about serving the needs of those living on the street – it’s as far from a low-barrier, come-as-you-are “shelter” (you know, like we were promised) as one can get. 

On the GovStuf Live! public affairs radio program yesterday, the First Step Shelter Board’s Vice-Chair Dwight Selby spoke of the horrors the facility experienced during the last cold snap when it accepted a bus load of homeless persons into the outdoor “safe zone.”

He said weapons were found in some backpacks during the obligatory search of all who enter – and many were so intoxicated they could not stand – while others urinated and defecated on the concrete pad upon which they slept. 

Where was the tight security we pay for?

Whatever.

I’m not sure what Mr. Selby expected – a group of socialites on an overnight from the Jacqueline Whitmore School of Etiquette?

I didn’t get the impression from the sound of Mr. Selby’s voice that street people would be welcomed back to First Step anytime soon.

What a damnable, and continuing, disservice. 

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

During my productive years, I belonged to a prestigious international organization of police executives. 

Each year, we would gather in some ostentatious ballroom, dressed in our finery, and listen to umpteen boring speeches, all while waiting patiently for the annual Grand Award to be bestowed on someone in the association’s upper strata – a well-deserved accolade, plaque, and applause – that commemorated some important contribution or another. 

Six Martinis deep into the evening, I would invariably wait until the exact second the honoree’s name was called – then theatrically rise from my chair, drawing the attention of everyone in the room, as though a do-nothing like me were receiving the Big Prize – a yearly jape that resulted in the howls of my equally drunk tablemates – and the headshaking annoyance of those who take these things oh-so-seriously.

It never got old.  For me, anyway. . .   

Why would anyone do that?

Because I’m an asshole – and pretentious pomp and circumstance always bore me to tears.      

I share this because the much-anticipated Halifax area “Awards Season” is upon us and, once again, your intrepid scribe failed to make the cut. . . 

Yep.  Snubbed again by the ‘powers that be’ who select the winners and losers in our community. 

I’m joking, of course. 

But at least I am in good company. 

I know many committed civic activists, volunteers, helpers, behind-the-scenes problem solvers and unsung heroes whose good efforts go unnoticed and underappreciated time-and-again – all while the same last names are repeatedly rewarded by their “Rich & Powerful” peers.

I get it.  

And I am not diminishing the philanthropic work of those who continually receive these tributes – without the financial largesse of our local donor class we would truly be in a fix – but just once I would like to see those nameless community servants who give so much of themselves, while expecting nothing in return, receive the recognition they so richly deserve. 

Giving credit where credit is due, this year there were some bright spots on the “virtual” awards circuit (which, I guess, involves getting dressed in an expensive suit, decorating your living room in gaudy drapery, overcooking a frozen Chicken Cordon Bleu, and watching the festivities on Zoom?)    

For instance, I was happy to see that the Daytona Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce bestowed the celebrated “Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler J. Hyatt Brown Enterprise Award” to those healthcare professionals from our region who have so heroically held the line in the fight against COVID-19.

Well-deserved. 

In addition, the Chamber’s “Glenn Ritchey Community Service Award” rightfully went to philanthropist and tireless advocate for our hungry and homeless, Forough Hosseini, Founder and Chair of Food Brings Hope. 

An appropriate recognition for Mrs. Hosseini, whose charitable efforts and leadership helped Hope Place become such a resounding success in service to homeless families in Volusia County. 

Then, things took an unfortunate turn.

This week it was announced that the Community Foundation of Volusia/Flagler has posthumously honored civil rights leader and founder of Bethune-Cookman University Dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune – a most deserving recognition for this inspirational community leader and visionary educator whose foundational work continues to change the lives of others.

Oddly, the Community Foundation – the fundraising arm of the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties – also announced that Dr. Bethune’s beloved memory will share the 29th annual Herbert M. Davidson Memorial Award with Joe Petrock, a local civic dandy who has led the Halifax Health Foundation for two-decades.

Look, I’m not knocking Mr. Petrock’s significant contributions – but, in my view, Dr. Bethune’s legacy stands alone – a heritage of courageous service that demands independent recognition.   

In 2014, Mr. Petrock and his wife bequeathed $1 million to Bethune-Cookman University, apparently for expanded health-related academic programs at the university and expanded services in Daytona’s Midtown community.

The following year, he was appointed Chairman of BC-U’s Board of Trustees. 

I haven’t always been kind to Mr. Petrock in this space – frankly, I was put off by his “I have done nothing wrong” departure from the board amidst a raging financial and academic conflagration that resulted in crippling lawsuits and claims of corruption against former B-CU president Dr. Edison O. Jackson – a horrific period of failed leadership and abject greed that saw this historical community asset brought to its knees.    

“I was just a member of the board. We weren’t given all the information,” Petrock repeatedly explained as he fled the scene.

Trust me.  Mr. Petrock was not alone. 

The list of our area ‘movers-n-shakers’ who failed to maintain a fiduciary overwatch on the University’s finances is long and distinguished. . .  

In my opinion, the Community Foundation has diminished Dr. Bethune’s significant and historic contributions by relegating her memory to “co-recipient” status.  

That doesn’t sit right with me – and it needs to be corrected.

In my view, Dr. Bethune’s monumental legacy is sui generis – it stands alone on the international stage.  

As our state and nation prepare to welcome Dr. Bethune’s sculpture to the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall, memorializing her legendary pursuit of justice, equality, and educational opportunities for all – honoring one woman’s visionary dream that has had such a significant and indelible impact on our nation – I believe she deserves better.   

The Matriarch of our community should not be required to share the spotlight with anyone.  

While the Daytona Beach News-Journal continues to rehash the age-old beach driving debate, Volusia County Council Chair Jeff Brower – who defeated his entrenched opponent by over 40,000 votes on a pro-beach driving platform – is proving to be a man of his word. 

In a Sunday opinion piece entitled, “The chair’s gambit,” the News-Journal’s editorial board teased it will soon release the results of the tired beach driving question recently posed by editor Pat Rice.

Meh.  Asked and answered – a thousand times. 

By all means, let’s kick the issue around one more time, you know, in case there is someone just returning from the dark side of the moon who didn’t realize the influence beach driving had on the last County Chair election. . .   

In fact, if the autopsy of former Councilwoman Deb Denys’ failed campaign for County Chair did not determine that her flip-flop on beach driving was the manner and cause of the demise of her political career – perhaps the News-Journal should exhume the corpse and have another look. . .  

Regardless of the fact beach driving is supported by the overwhelming majority of those who vote in Volusia County, I suspect Mr. Rice will attempt to couch “the flood of reader responses”  as a middle-of-the-road, neither all-in nor all-out analysis, that will perpetuate the age-old debate while supporting the current beach management strategy of using driving and access as a cheap spiff for speculative developers, while still allowing the unique tradition on a precious few miles of the strand. 

From the beginning, Chairman Brower made it abundantly clear that beach driving was a priority, so it came as no surprise when we learned he turned down an opportunity to speak at the Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach – which became the symbolic epicenter of the beach access debate when, after countless delays and a rush to completion, the developer was gifted 410 feet of traffic-free beach by Volusia County.

Despite the hew and cry of angry taxpayers, the wrongful closure behind Hard Rock was marked by crews driving treated wooden poles into the sand – each leeching pesticides and chemicals identified as human carcinogens (on a public beach?) – “poison poles” which added to the pollution of “do this/don’t do that” signage and other obstructions that has ruined the visual aesthetics of our most important natural amenity.   

Trust me.  Had Chairman Brower accepted the invitation to the Hard Rock, those constituents who supported his beach driving stance with their sacred vote would have lambasted the move as the ultimate in hypocrisy. 

Instead, Mr. Brower has created an opportunity to sit down with the owners and management of Hard Rock – a discussion many hope will result in a reversal of the controversial beach driving ban – an olive branch that will result in many locals embracing and supporting the resort property rather than vilifying the hotel as another example of corporate greed.   

In typical fashion, the News-Journal editorial board used the opportunity to question Mr. Brower’s motivations while lavishing the developer with praise – completely rewriting history – with, “First, any discussion of restoring driving to this one small section of beach has to be grounded in the reality that Abdulhussein has done nothing wrong.”

Of course not.

In 2015, at the direction of King J. Hyatt Brown, his handmaidens on the Volusia County Council enacted a series of ordinances which removed beach driving from behind a proposed Hard Rock Hotel – a project that died when the Canadian developer took his football and went home after beach driving advocates filed a lawsuit to preserve this unique aspect of our local heritage.

This dubious “inducement” was then transferred to Abdulhussein’s Summit Hospitality Group when it began the renovation of the infamous Desert Inn – which, after several iterations and off-the-agenda ambushes – transformed into Hard Rock Daytona. 

The beach driving ban specifically required certain performance and amenity standards – drop-dead dates that were repeatedly ignored and extended as the project languished – dragging on interminably – giving the appearance of two guys working on weekends.

Yet, at the end of the day, neither hell nor high water would stop Volusia County from ensuring that the developer was granted the driving ban – and the property was rushed to an almost comical state of “completion” then quickly certified as having crossed the finish line by Hard Rock International and Volusia County officials.

An April 2018 piece by Orlando Weekly summed up the series of events that made a mockery of Volusia County’s “performance” requirements:

“Back in Daytona Beach, the focus has largely been on the beach driving ban. The original timelines the developer was required to meet for the beach driving ban to happen were extended, thanks to Hurricane Matthew.

Part of the issue is around what was exactly required by the hotel. The hotel was required to be certified by the Hard Rock brand by the end of February. That did happen but some residents point to the fact the hotel wasn’t fully open by the date as a potential breach of contract, promising even more legal action.

Even with the potential legal action, Summit Hospitality Management Group moved ahead with their plans to block beach driving behind the new resort. Last week new poles, similar to wooden telephone poles, were installed. The poles block vehicular traffic but still allow pedestrian access.”

Based upon this “kinda/sorta” completion and premature certification – former County Manager Jim Dinneen unilaterally decreed that our century old heritage of beach driving would be permanently (read: forever) removed from the strand behind the hotel.

But at what cost?

In 2018, Sons of the Beach, Florida’s premiere beach driving and access advocacy, filed a lawsuit challenging the removal of cars from the beach behind Hard Rock – citing that the developer failed to meet the intent and spirit of those pesky performance and completion requirements detailed in the 2015 ordinance. 

Then, Volusia County pushed back, claiming that the conditions were met when the property was certified by its corporate headquarters. 

In the end, as in times past, the courts determined that Sons of the Beach lacked “standing” – and Hard Rock’s quasi-private beach remained closed to vehicular traffic.

This open dishonesty of Volusia County government – suing taxpayers with their own money and seemingly confederating with a private developer to remove beach access to appease an oligarchical insider – left a festering wound that has never quite healed. 

As a result, many residents refused to patronize the hotel – a sense of ill will that exists to this day – animosity resulting from a sense that the very tradition that makes our area unique was stripped away in a predetermined and wholly unfair process that left a residual “trust issue” which continues to plague Volusia County government to this day. 

I hope Chairman Brower’s efforts to establish a dialog can change that lingering skepticism by righting a wrong and restoring beach driving and access – a move that will both rebuild the public’s trust in its government – and foster a positive, year-round relationship between long-suffering locals and the Hard Rock Daytona. 

It is more than a political gambit – it’s the right thing to do.    

Hi, kids!

It’s time once again to turn a jaundiced eye toward the newsmakers of the day – the winners and losers – who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life, or detracted from it, in some significant way.

Let’s look at who tried to screw us – and who tried to save us – during the week that was.

Angel               Florida Department of Health in Volusia County

No one has been more hypercritical of the Florida Department of Health’s handling of the Coronavirus pandemic than me.

While numerous logistical problems still exist with the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine – including the five-alarm foul-up that is the Hunger Games-style “appointment” system that has senior citizens and their worried family members entering the online arena in a futile attempt to secure a spot – my point-of-service experience earlier this week was nothing short of flawless.

After several unsuccessful attempts to obtain a place for my 86-year-old mother in the over-the-horizon queue of seniors seeking their first dose, a loyal member of the Barker’s View tribe kindly gifted her an appointment for last Monday’s vaccine distribution event at the Volusia County Fairgrounds. 

We arrived early, onsite by 7:30am, which placed us forth in a growing line for the 9:00am to 10:00am time slot. 

By 8:30am, we were directed to a tent where our appointment was confirmed and a “1” placed on our windshield to denote the number of occupants receiving the vaccine.  Then, we moved a short distance to another location where my mom’s paperwork and residency was reviewed, and a blank vaccination card provided. 

Within minutes we proceeded to one of three drive-thru tents where the shot was quickly administered. 

My mom – who was visibly nervous going in – said she never felt the jab. . . 

After receiving the now completed vaccination record, we were directed to a nearby waiting area where we parked and spoke with a friendly firefighter from the Volusia County Fire Department, who made light conversation while observing my mother for a few minutes.  

We were asked to wait 20-minutes and activate our emergency flashers and sound the horn if my mom experienced an adverse reaction.

From our vantagepoint in the observation area, we saw a long line of vehicles entering the Fairgrounds – all moving along at a steady pace.    

From the moment we approached the gate, everyone we met was incredibly upbeat, professional, and welcoming. 

That sense of order placed us at ease.

During the process, I only saw one vehicle turned away (the truck directly in front of us) and from the one side of the conversation I could hear, the driver arrived without an appointment, which required that the gentleman leave the line.

Now, on February 22 – exactly 28-days from the date of her first inoculation – my mom’s vaccination record will serve as her entry pass for the second dose. 

Kudos to the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County – and the county firefighters, deputies, public protection personnel, and staff members who worked so hard to make this event a success!

After a rocky start, the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County has earned the respect of seniors fortunate enough to win a place in line.

When you receive an appointment for a future vaccination distribution, here are some tips for expediting the process:

Download and complete the required COVID-19 Vaccine Screening and Consent Form which is available at https://tinyurl.com/yy8u7nuy

Arrive early for your appointment. 

I also took the step of printing a copy of the appointment form to accommodate the scanning process – a QR code on the form – and ensured that my mother’s Florida drivers license was out and available for review. 

In my view, if Volusia County can determine a suitable location for an eastside distribution site – one that can accommodate senior citizens who don’t have transportation to DeLand – and determine a better registration system for securing appointments – the process will continue to improve and allow more of our most vulnerable residents access to this potentially lifesaving vaccine.   

Asshole           Volusia County, Daytona Beach, First Step Shelter Board, Votran, etc., etc.

A young woman died early Monday morning. 

She was trying to get to work. 

It would have been her first day at her new job.    

It happened on a dark and foggy stretch of US-92 when she was struck and killed by an eastbound truck, but the contributing factors – the error chain – leading up to this tragic circumstance were years in the making. 

You see, the victim was trying to cobble her life back together, to do that which was necessary to be with her 10-year old daughter again, and she put her faith in the First Step Shelter – a city owned/county funded/committee managed residential homeless assistance program which was built in the hinterlands off International Speedway Boulevard – out near the jail and those creepy motels where the sexual predators live and roam free, out where P$S Paving will be hauling paydirt for years to come, literally in the middle of nowhere – out of sight, out of mind, out of our backyards and away from our gated communities.

Out where no one cares.

On that fateful morning, for no fault of her own, this unfortunate soul fell victim to bureaucratic lethargy and an excuse-based approach government that forced her to cross a busy four-lane highway in the predawn darkness to reach a Votran bus stop.

No crosswalk, no sidewalk, no alternative transportation. 

Now, the finger pointing and “not my yob, man” excuses are flowing from the same elected and appointed officials who ignored the fervent pleas of First Step’s Executive Director Victoria Fahlberg and others who recognized this fatal flaw and tried desperately to seek a solution.   

For instance, in response to this compound tragedy, Volusia County Vice Chair Billie Wheeler mewled in the Daytona Beach News-Journal this week, “Of course from the beginning we knew it would be a logistical problem, but the city of Daytona Beach said they would take care of it.”

How tragic.  How utterly preventable.

Given the asinine nature of the contributing circumstances, it seems no one who should is interested in fixing blame or finding fault.

Inexplicably, Mike Panaggio, who has become the official social media mouthpiece of the FSS Board, took to Facebook this week to scold Volusia County taxpayers on the use of foul language when expressing their abject outrage over this disaster – pat himself on the back for his volunteerism (before saying he doesn’t want a pat on the back) – and publishing a laundry list of commonsense preventive measures that were apparently never considered during what passed for a planning phase.

Whatever.

In the aftermath, I don’t think any of us are ready to hear politicians, transportation officials, and feckless First Step board members yammer about all the things they could’ve, would’ve, should’ve done – or how correcting this long-term negligence has suddenly become a “priority” for those same sloth-like bureaucracies that drug their heels in the years, months, weeks, and days prior to impact.  

Excuses ring hollow now. . .

Remember: We get what we accept.  

Angel               Dr. Charles “Chuck” Duva

After years of decline and decay, it became apparent to anyone paying attention that waiting on local government to “do something” about the abysmal condition of East International Speedway Boulevard – the literal gateway to the “World’s Most Famous Beach” – was an exercise in futility.

As this frustrating eyesore festered – a suppurating carbuncle on our core tourist area – many lost any hope that positive change was possible. 

It took a while to beat the optimism and sense of anticipation out of Halifax are residents – but, over time, our ‘powers that be’ succeeded in crushing our spirit. 

For years, we listened to every incoming Chairman of the Daytona Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce (between giving and receiving fawncy awards and accolades) pontificate on how East ISB was a “priority” – yet the malignant blight continued unabated.

We were shown impressive computer-generated dioramas of what the East ISB corridor could look like if only this, that, or the other could materialize. 

It didn’t.

And residents stopped believing that anyone had a viable vision for the revitalization of our most visible gateway. 

Last February, when civic gatherings were still possible, The Daytona Beach News-Journal held a coffee klatch with area residents and business owners to (once again) discuss the innumerable issues facing East ISB and “Daytona Beach’s core beachside neighborhood.” 

As usual, everyone agreed that the deplorable condition of the area – which the News-Journal described as potentially “…the ugliest entryway to a beach on the entire East Coast of the United States” – was repellant to both tourists and residents alike.   

When the hot air and coffee breath faded – nothing changed.

Then, talk turned to the Florida Department of Transportation’s decision on whether a wholly inappropriate traffic roundabout planned for East ISB and A-1-A would be the death knell for the busiest beach approach in Volusia County. 

Fortunately, FDOT listened to their very vocal constituency and agreed to abandon the potential nightmare of a beachside loop-de-loop – which, for reasons known only to the reigning municipal Monarchy, was originally supported by the City of Daytona Beach against the howls of residents, business owners, and traffic engineers.

Now, it appears Charlie Brown might finally kick that damn football. . . 

According to an informative piece by News-Journal business reporter Clayton Park, local entrepreneur Dr. Chuck Duva – the vision behind the wildfire of commercial expansion along LPGA’s Boomtown Boulevard – is taking affirmative steps to “help spark the revitalization” of the East ISB corridor. 

God, I hope so. . .

According to the report, Dr. Duva recently spent some $1.4 million of his own money to purchase three distressed commercial properties near the intersection of East ISB and South Peninsula Drive – with plans to develop the former Shell gas station into a Key West inspired restaurant and live entertainment venue called “Beaches.” 

The good Doctor isn’t wasting time, either.

“He (Duva) hopes to open Beaches this summer, along with a package store on the corner. His plans also call for refurbishing and reopening the old Shell station self-service car wash on the northwest corner of East International Speedway Boulevard and South Hollywood Avenue. The car wash is a much-needed amenity that is currently lacking on Daytona Beach’s beachside, Duva said.”

I like that.  You should too. 

Look, I don’t know Dr. Duva personally, but he is an impressive guy.

This dude is a homegrown Superman. 

In addition to his investment in East ISB, Dr. Duva is chairman of DuvaSawko, a wildly successful area medical billing and coding company.  He also serves as president of an emergency physicians group called EMPros, and Chair of Team Volusia Economic Development Corporation.

According to reports, Dr. Duva also owns the Gateway Restaurant building on East ISB – an operating eatery and longtime community landmark that “City officials have already begun encouraging” him to demolish. 

Say what?

Suggestions?  From the same Daytona Beach redevelopment officials that have had their heads firmly wedged in their backsides for years?

Jesus. 

Note to the City of Daytona Beach:  Stay the hell out of Dr. Duva’s way as he spends an estimated $3.5 to $4 million on improvements to his recently acquired properties! 

Please – for the love of God – do not “help,” do not “encourage,” do not “suggest,” do not “recommend” – just get out of his way. . .

In a refreshing take on the current state of East ISB and beyond – one which comports with what many area residents have experienced for decades – Dr. Duva was quoted:

“Here’s my problem. East ISB as it is now is an unimpressive gateway to the ‘World’s Most Famous Beach.’ When I bring people in, I’m afraid they will go, ‘Do I really want my family to live here?’,” Duva said. “It shouldn’t be that way. East ISB has the potential to be an outstanding street. I want to be the spark that helps revitalize the area.”

If history proves true, it might take more than a “spark” – the Doc may well need one of those Frankenstein torches to get things going on East ISB – but I wholeheartedly support his good efforts, whatever it takes. 

Thank you for stepping up, Dr. Duva.  Godspeed, sir.

Quote of the Week

“Keeping Chisholm on the job indefinitely will only fuel suspicions that his retirement announcement was just a way of removing the city manager as an issue in the 2020 city primary and election.

More than a few people in the community are impatient for a new city direction and hoping for leadership that is more receptive to the residents’ aspirations and more public in arriving at and setting goals.

The city manager gave the commission a full year to get on with this exercise. If the commission can’t do the job within that ample time, the fault may be less with the quality of the applicant pool and more with the commission’s difficulty in coming to terms with a major management change for the city government.”

–Columnist Mark Lane, writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “No standouts as Daytona Beach seeks a manager,” Wednesday, January 27, 2021

I had some thoughts on this issue earlier in the week.

In my view, for far too long the Daytona Beach City Commission has accepted an institutionalized “averageness” from City Manager Jim Chisholm – someone who the News-Journal has acknowledged will not listen, share information, or focus on areas of the city awash in blight, dilapidation, and economic stagnation – concentrating solely on the needs of well-heeled political insiders in return for political insulation.

It is now February, and the elected body is considering keeping Mr. Chisholm at the helm while they finally get around to selecting his replacement.

Say what?

Isn’t there a deputy manager rattling around City Hall who can step into an interim role until a new chief executive can be found?

Doesn’t the City of Daytona Beach have a continuity of operations plan that would allow Mr. Chisholm to meet his announced March retirement date – or do some of our well-heeled political insiders need him to run interference a bit longer as they make one more grab at the brass ring of tax supported “economic incentives”?

I’m asking.  Because something doesn’t smell right here.

Of the twelve finalists selected by Georgia-based Slavin Management Consultants, newly elected City Commissioner Stacy Cantu said, “I’m not too impressed with the top 12 that we have right now,” explaining that she hopes the firm conducts a thorough background check of the applicants.

Me too. 

This decision should not be rushed.

It shouldn’t take another year either. . . 

In my view, now is the time for the Daytona Beach City Commission to get off their ass and down to the difficult job of finding the “right fit” for their challenged and growing community.

Preferably, that takes the form of an independent dive into the résumés, personal and professional backgrounds, open-source information and media reports, education and experience, management and leadership style, internal communications practices, budgeting priorities, prior accountability (was he/she fired from a previous job, and why?), previous evaluations, and interviews with elected officials, department heads, career civil servants, a diverse cross-section of citizens, and members of the business community in areas where the candidate may have previously served. 

This is the most important decision current city commissioners will make during their term(s) in office – and the stakes could not be higher.    

And Another Thing!

In my view, Daytona Beach Police Captain Scott Lee has been a Godsend to the citizens of Daytona Beach. 

A consummate professional at the tip of the spear in the city’s monumental fight for code compliance and economic revitalization. 

Since assuming command of the community’s Code Enforcement and Problem Oriented Policing function, Captain Lee has been widely praised for his fair, but firm, approach to this incredibly difficult role, receiving almost universal acclaim for his efforts to reduce nuisance crimes, and prevent the blight, dilapidation, and stagnation that has gripped much of the city’s core tourist area and beyond. 

And his good work continues to make headlines as more entrenched drug dealers are removed from the community.

In fact, I have spoken with residents and business owners who credit the efforts of Captain Lee and his officers for breathing new life into historic neighborhoods and commercial districts citywide.

Having served in a similar role in a neighboring community, I understand better than most what Captain Lee and his team are trying to accomplish as he carries out the clear directives of the city’s elected policymakers who establish public policy, legislate ordinances, and set enforcement protocols. 

In my view, when it comes to the issue of short-term vacation rentals, it is apparent the Daytona Beach City Commission has adopted a scorched earth policy that bears no resemblance to merely ensuring code compliance.    

In recent months, the City of Daytona Beach’s Special Magistrate has levied draconian fines under a sketchy “Irreparable or Irreversible” interpretation of what is, in my view, an anti-property rights ordinance prohibiting short term rentals outside certain narrowly defined zoning districts. 

Time and time again, property owners are hauled before Magistrate Robert Riggio, often based solely upon an “anonymous complaint” – or the result of an inspector’s search of online intermediaries like VRBO or Airbnb, services who pair persons seeking to rent space with those who have space for rent.

The testimony is boilerplate – with a “sentence first – verdict afterward” feel that rubs residents wrong.

What has shocked the conscience of many is the fact that, regardless of mitigating testimony or evidence, the City Attorney asks for the maximum penalty, while Mr. Riggio feels comfortable levying crippling fines on otherwise law-abiding taxpayers.

I mean, $15,000?  For a vacation rental?

In some cases, the arbitrary haggling between the City Attorney and Special Magistrate during lien reduction hearings gives the appearance of a Turkish bazaar.   

In my view, these property owners are not creating a nuisance condition or allowing their investments to deteriorate into unsafe and unsanitary eyesores – to the contrary.

In most cases, they are crafting a safe, secure, and visually appealing rental space which increases marketability and enhances the aesthetic appeal of the neighborhood.

Something the beachside is sorely lacking. . .    

Clearly, punishing Daytona Beach property owners who invest in refurbishing homes and revitalizing neighborhoods has become a lucrative cottage industry of the Daytona Beach City Commission.

In 2019, a judge upheld the City of Daytona Beach’s argument that short-term vacation rentals are only allowed in “tourist zoning districts,” certain community redevelopment areas, and established historic districts.

Now, the elected officials are waging war.   

For perspective, it helps to know that this short-term rental prohibition has been vigorously pushed by elements of our local hotel/motel bund – who somehow feel peer-to-peer rentals will adversely impact their businesses – ignoring the fact many beachfront hotels have been allowed to deteriorate into third-rate shitholes. 

In my view, a free and open marketplace begins with creating a demand – a product or service that consumers want – a situation that creates competition leading to innovation and constant improvement in an environment where fair and equitable regulation and management ensures a level playing field.

If the local hotel/motel industry finds they cannot compete in the modern hospitality marketplace – perhaps they should take a long look in the mirror?

I frequently use peer-to-peer rentals whenever I travel. 

I like the experience – feeling part of the community, meeting new people, and seeing an unfamiliar destination like a “local.”

Because of the personal nature of staying in someone’s home – I always strive to be a good guest and leave the property better than I found it.

Most people do.

If properly regulated, managed, and fairly taxed – I believe the peer-to-peer vacation market can play an important role in the revitalization of our lagging tourism economy.

That begins when local government, and their friends in the hotel/motel industry, stop the strong-arm tactics and permit a level playing field for everyone. 

I find it odd that the same City Commission who repeatedly fails to hold developers financially accountable for delays and gross performance violations on major projects has no problem lashing citizens with massive fines simply for renting space to tourists visiting (and spending money) in our area. 

In my view, the City Commission’s bitter money-grubbing is disturbing, especially when you consider that Volusia County and the City of Daytona Beach are now reaping the benefits of bed tax collections remitted on behalf of the very short-term rentals the City Commission is set on destroying.  

What gives?

As I have said before, local governments must retain the right to enact common-sense rules to alleviate nuisance issues and ensure the health, safety, and quality of life for all residents – and a means to ensure short-term rentals are closely monitored and pay applicable taxes is a given – but property owners should be permitted to market their properties in an open and responsible way without oppressive government regulation.

With tourist development tax funds in freefall, why is the Daytona Beach City Commission working so hard to destroy a lucrative market and revenue source that has been so incredibly successful around the world?

The use of heavy-handed fines that crush property owners is not healthy to our local economy – and there is a bright line between ensuring compliance and ruining the lives of law-abiding citizens already strapped by the devastating financial impacts of the pandemic.   

Mindboggling.  

These are zoning violations – not felony crimes.

In my view, it is time for the Florida legislature to act in the interest of property owners, stop this aggressive fee-grabbing by elected officials openly kowtowing to influential insiders in the hotel/motel industry, and level the playing field statewide. 

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

“The general tendency of things throughout the world is to render mediocrity the ascendant power among mankind.”

–John Stuart Mill

In a 2009 essay on the nature and effect of mediocrity, political columnist Gareth van Onselen opined that this infectious disease is fueled by apathy and legitimized by indifference, and, if ignored, it will self-replicate, “…generating and reinforcing the very environment in which it thrives; and, the more it comes to dominate public thought, the harder mediocrity becomes to recognize.”

Sound familiar?

I came up in the police service, spending my entire adult life in a pursuit where my name was at the bottom of my work product – essentially creating a personal “brand” – building a reputation with those who would read and interpret the myriad incident reports, forms, affidavits, investigative notes, and the other documentary and explanatory narratives that I created during my work – including clerks, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, reporters, and the public.   

It was important to me that others viewed me as a professional – comfortable that my reports were terse, factual, accurate and well-crafted – something deserving of my name. 

Anything less would reflect poorly on myself and my agency. 

I was reminded of the importance of professionalism and expectations while reading Daytona Beach News-Journal editor Pat Rice’s column in Sunday’s newspaper entitled, “Qualities Daytona’s next city manager needs.”

Among other attributes, Mr. Rice explained, the City of Daytona Beach should look for “..a really good listener, and not just to the city’s perceived power structure,” in other words, someone who listens to the entire community, not just the oligarchical powerbrokers who rule with an iron fist and an open checkbook come campaign season.

In addition, Mr. Rice feels “The next city manager needs to make City Hall more transparent that it is right now,” citing that City Hall has been in “information lockdown,” an environment where the entrenched City Manager Jim Chisholm controls the flow of information to citizens and the media through gatekeepers like Communications Manager Susan Cerbone.

I agree with that assessment. 

According to Mr. Rice, depending upon the media request, “…it may take hours, or days, or weeks to get the information requested.”

That is unacceptable – and probably illegal under Florida’s public records statutes. 

Most important, Mr. Rice rightfully acknowledged that “The next city manager needs to visibly put just as much energy into the core beach side and Midtown neighborhoods as City Hall currently has to develop downtown and the area around Interstate 95 and LPGA Boulevard.”

Spot on.

In my view, selecting the next municipal chief executive will be the most important decision Daytona Beach city commissioners will make during their tenure – one that will have an enduring effect on the community’s social, civic, and economic future.

So, why have these same elected officials been so willing to accept the malignant spread of mediocrity under Mr. Chisholm for so long?

An institutionalized “averageness” from a manager who will not listen, share information, or focus on areas of the city awash in blight, dilapidation, and economic stagnation – all while exclusively serving the needs of well-heeled political insiders in return for political insulation – ongoing, systemic issues that our local newspaper has only now acknowledged.

I find it strange that just 43 candidates applied for a Florida city manager job currently paying Mr. Chisholm nearly $300,000 (for a city in this condition?) – with many of the applicants having little actual experience in the influential and multifaceted role.

Of the twelve finalists selected by Georgia-based Slavin Management Consultants, newly elected City Commissioner Stacy Cantu said, “I’m not too impressed with the top 12 that we have right now,” explaining that she hopes the firm conducts a thorough background check of the applicants.

Me too.

My sincere hope is that Ms. Cantu and her colleagues won’t be afraid to wipe the slate and start over if necessary – even employing a different headhunter if that’s what it takes to deepen the pool of candidates.   

Unfortunately, this indifference to governmental shoddiness is not limited to Daytona Beach – the problem has made Volusia County a cautionary tale in the eyes of our Central Florida neighbors. 

When is enough, enough?

Mediocrity allows bad things to happen, like placing a city-owned/county funded residential homeless assistance center in the middle of nowhere without any consideration for client transportation beyond forcing them to cross a foggy highway in the predawn hours – no crosswalk, no sidewalk – something that has now resulted in the death of a 30-year-old woman who was working hard in the First Step program to change her life and reunite with her 10-year-old daughter. 

In response to this compound tragedy, Volusia County Vice Chair Billie Wheeler mewled in the Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Of course from the beginning we knew it would be a logistical problem, but the city of Daytona Beach said they would take care of it.”

It is this excuse-based, finger pointing, “not my yob, man” approach to government that is killing us.  Literally and figuratively. 

How tragic.  How utterly preventable.  

Mediocrity also distracts focus from serious issues and reduces expectations. 

It lowers the bar – and allows our elected and appointed officials to appease us with bluster, gibberish, and tall-talk – rather than taking definitive action to resolve the serious issues we face.   

We get what we accept. 

The time to demand positive change is now.

Photo Credit: The Daytona Beach News-Journal

Hi, kids!

It’s time once again to turn a jaundiced eye toward the newsmakers of the day – the winners and losers – who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life, or detracted from it, in some significant way.

Let’s look at who tried to screw us – and who tried to save us – during the week that was.

Angel               Daytona Beach City Commission

My wife Patti and I are longtime devotees of the time-honored traditions of New Orleans Mardi Gras. 

For many years, we have made the annual pilgrimage to The City that Care Forgot to become part of the problem – immersing ourselves in the ribald merriment, music, parades, food, drink, architecture, friends, and electric sense of excitement that pervades New Orleans in the week before the bacchanalia of Mardi Gras Day.

Once you fall in love with New Orleans, its hard to stay away.   

I often say that if you have ever heard the sultry deep voice of a baritone saxophone wafting from Jackson Square, echoing off those ancient walls, the notes floating down Chartres Street on a foggy late night/early morning in the French Quarter, then you understand the love affair we have enjoyed with this special place and time.   

Last year was different. 

In February 2020, the global pandemic was just weeks away from turning New Orleans into Ground Zero for the nation’s first widespread coronavirus outbreak – something many linked to the cheek-to-cheek revelry of Mardi Gras – coupled with a pair of bizarre incidents where two paradegoers were run over and killed by tandem floats during the Krewe of Nyx and Endymion parades, tragedies that cast a pall over all of Carnival.   

What resulted was a lot of finger pointing and political criticism over who allowed Mardi Gras to proceed in the first place. . .  

In the aftermath, New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell cancelled all parades for Mardi Gras 2021 citing COVID-19 concerns. 

However, with Carnival Season here, and merchants demanding a chance at their share of the estimated $1 billion the event brings to the region – the City Council has adopted the “Not cancelled, just different” marketing strategy, which welcomes visitors to the Crescent City while adopting rules and suggestions for a safe celebration. 

I like that.    

In my view, striking a compromise which allows residents and visitors to safely enjoy this iconic tradition while giving merchants and vendors a much-needed economic shot in the arm is smart government.

After all, even if the ‘powers that be’ cancel the “official event” out of an abundance of caution – people will still come – like it or not.    

On Wednesday, the Daytona Beach City Commission did the right thing under difficult circumstances when it gave the go-ahead for the 80^th Anniversary of the world-famous Bike Week celebration in March.

In an excellent article by The Daytona Beach News-Journal’s Eileen Zaffiro-Kean, we learned:

“…city commissioners agreed to issue the permits that allow businesses to temporarily do things outside they normally can’t. But commissioners only agreed to that in exchange for a promise from bars, restaurants and shops to limit their indoor occupancy to 60% during the event that will run from March 5-14.”

As I understand it, those merchants who do not apply for an outside vending permit will be allowed 100% occupancy during the event – and everyone is expected to use cleaning products, masks, hand sanitizers, temperature checks, signage, social distancing, and other common-sense precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

That’s fair.   

In an unusual display of leadership, Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry abandoned his characteristic mandates and sided with strapped business owners and service workers who have borne the brunt of the pandemic’s economic devastation:

“If we deny the permits then they’re going to be packed inside like sardines,” Henry said.  Getting more people outside keeps them safer, and it also allows businesses to make more money, he said.”

(I could almost see the cartoon lightbulb illuminating over the Mayor’s baldpate as he wrestled with the problem. . .) 

Seriously.  Nice work, Mayor Henry. 

Thanks for doing the right thing for those in your struggling business community who really need the help right now.    

Ultimately, the measure passed commission muster on a 6-1 vote with Granny Ruth Trager casting the lone nay after wringing her hands over whether “…bikers will behave and follow the special safety precautions.”

“This has been a very, very difficult decision for me.  I understand the merchants need to get money for employees, yet I have gotten a bunch of phone calls and emails from residents concerned for their health. This variant going around is even more contagious than last year.”

I appreciate the personal and political pressure, but would Granny Ruth rather the event launch as an ass over tea kettle, anything goes, wide open fun, debauch – with no master plan, rules, or regulations in place to mitigate the threat and manage the crowds that will be descending on the Halifax area whether they have been invited or not? 

In my experience, a well-formulated plan is always better than taking ones hands off the wheel and adopting a “hope for the best” strategy.

Kudos to the Daytona Beach City Commission for having the courage to address the very real needs of struggling businesses and entertainment venues – while encouraging common sense precautions to ensure a safe event. 

Not cancelled.  Simply different.  Good government in action.   

Angel               Volusia County Council   

During the Volusia County Council’s discussions surrounding the purchase of a 36-acre tract between Old Dixie Highway and Interstate 95, something many believe is crucial to preserving what remains of Ormond’s historic “Loop,” Council Chair Jeff Brower said that while taking a walk on the property, he could “…almost smell the history.” 

I don’t think that was “history” he was smelling. . .

It was the foul stench of Plantation Oaks developer Parker Mynchenberg forcing our elected official’s hands in the ongoing fight to preserve our environmentally sensitive lands and shrinking wildlife habitat.

After months of negotiation by the intrepid Ormond Beach environmental activists Suzanne Scheiber and Natalie Pilipczak – who obtained more than 63,000 signatures on a petition to “Help Save the Ormond Loop” while pressing the Ormond Beach City Commission to do something, anything, to help save this endangered space – Mynchenberg offered the property to Volusia County for $1,368,000.

The catch?

A “deal” would need to be finalized in just three-days – otherwise, “…he would sign a contract with a homebuilder” at weeks end – paving the way for the clear-cutting and development of the ecologically and archaeologically important parcel. 

The obvious source of funding for the purchase of this critical acreage is the voter-approved Volusia Forever program – but the mad rush imposed by Mynchenberg’s ultimatum caused many to question whether the scramble to identify a funding source violated established criteria and created an unfair double-standard for other projects already in the funding pipeline.  

The deadline rubbed me wrong.

Why?

Because it reeks of looting this important conservation program to fund Volusia County’s pet projects – while other applicants are made to jump through administrative hoops.  

According to an informative report by Mary Helen Moore writing in the News-Journal:

“Pat Northey, a former Volusia County councilwoman who chairs the ECHO Volusia Forever Alliance, said the deal presented to the council on Tuesday was premature.

“We all know and love the Loop,” Northey said. “We would encourage you not to be held hostage by an artificial deadline.”

At the end of the day, Mr. Mynchenberg backed off his extortionate demand (which may well have been little more than a cattle prod to move the issue through the muck and mire of a sloth-like bureaucracy in a timely fashion) and agreed to work with Chairman Brower to give Volusia County a reasonable 90-days to develop a workable funding strategy. 

Let’s keep our fingers crossed. 

A special thanks to Ms. Scheiber and Ms. Pilipczak for their hard work and dedication to the conservation of this incredibly unique scenic byway while protecting the flora, fauna, and old growth forest of the surrounding historic ecosystem. 

And here’s a tip-‘o-the-cap to the Volusia County Council for keeping an open mind and demonstrating the nimbleness to act on a time sensitive opportunity to preserve this important part of our local heritage for generations to come – while respecting established policies and protocols that ensure ECHO and Forever funds are allocated in a fair and equitable way. 

Asshole           Ormond Beach City Commission

Now, let’s look at the other side of the Plantation Oaks issue:

My fervent hope is that my long-suffering neighbors up here in God’s County (seriously, I heard the Big Guy has a place out in Talaquah) will eventually have a belly full of this rudderless ship of fools we repeatedly elect to lord over us on the Ormond Beach City Commission.

In a unanimous vote Tuesday night, our elected dullards approved the rezoning of the Plantation Oaks subdivision – and removed the 55-and-over age restriction which would have limited an increase in traffic on The Loop – an endangered National Scenic Byway.

Originally permitted some two-decades ago, the subdivision is being built literally on fringe of the historically significant stretch of Old Dixie Highway. 

The subdivision was annexed into the City of Ormond Beach in 2019.

You may remember back in December when Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington penned some gibberish in the Ormond Beach Observer openly shitting on the efforts of Suzanne Scheiber and Natalie Pilipczak to protect the Loop – then refused to consider the allocation of municipal funds for the purchase of the protective buffer that is now being considered by Volusia County.  

In yet another slap in the face to the 63,000 people who signed the Save the Loop petition, on Tuesday, the Ormond Beach City Commission hemmed and hawed when Scheiber and Pilipczak asked that a simple letter of support be sent to Volusia County as they wrangle with the funding issue. 

“There are 150 scenic American byways in the United States, and we’re incredibly fortunate to have one in our city,” Scheiber said. “Moving forward, it would benefit all of the City of Ormond Beach, if (the city) would support the project.”

Ultimately, the commissioners agreed to review a “draft” of the letter of support at their first meeting in February.

My God.

In my view, Scheiber and Pilipczak did exactly what Mayor Partington suggested and approached Volusia County to fund the conservation of this sensitive property – then our elected municipal officials drag their heels when asked for a letter of support?

What gives?

As a resident of Ormond Beach, what I took personal exception to was Mayor Partington’s blatant misrepresentations to citizens and fellow commissioners when he stated in a November 2020 email that the cost to purchase the protective 36-acre tract at Plantation Oaks would be “$11 to $16 million” – which, at best, was little more than a wild-assed guess, and, at worst, a damnable lie – one that I’m sure had a chilling effect on many residents.

In truth, Mr. Mynchenberg’s asking price is just over $1.3 million dollars. . .

Who gets away with this shit?

In my view, Mayor Partington’s fairytales and canards might play to the mendacious instincts of his “colleagues” on the dais of power – and they may fool some of the people, some of the time – but these cumulative dishonesties will ultimately result in an irreversible breakdown in the public’s trust of their local government. 

That’s dangerous to the stability of our community. 

In 2019, Ormond voters rejected the notion of four-year terms – and supported term limits 62% to 38%. 

Unfortunately, this much needed change was not instituted because the question was conveniently dependent on the four-year terms. . . 

Perhaps it is time Ormond Beach taxpayers – especially those committed to protecting what is left of our greenspace and wildlife habitats – consider resurrecting the idea of term limits?

In my view, it is well past time to move some of this compromised dead wood off the dais of power and onto that fetid ash heap where political grifters and elected developers’ shills go when their sham is exposed.  

Angel              NBA Official Eric Lewis

From the Barker’s View Sports Desk and Bethune-Cookman Athletics:

“Bethune-Cookman University alum Eric Lewis officiated his 1,000th NBA regular season game Tuesday night in Salt Lake City as the Jazz defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 118-102.

Lewis would have reached the milestone over the weekend in Phoenix, but the Suns’ games with the Indiana Pacers were cancelled due to Covid-19.

The Daytona Beach native is coming off a 2019-20 season that saw him work two games of the Los Angeles Lakers-Miami Heat NBA Finals, his second straight Finals assignment. It capped off a lengthy stay in the NBA’s “bubble,” officiating the conclusion of the regular season and playoffs, most notably the Western Conference Semifinals Game 7 between the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets as well as games in the Boston Celtics-Heat and Lakers-Nuggets matchups in both Conference Finals.

During the regular season, Lewis was assigned the NBA All-Star Game in Chicago after it underwent a format change. It was his call of a Kyle Lowry foul that sent Anthony Davis to the free throw line for the game-winning point in Team LeBron’s 157-155 victory over Team Giannis.

His wife, Vanessa, is the Women’s Head Basketball Coach at Bethune-Cookman and has led the Lady Wildcats to four Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular season championships and a 2019 NCAA Tournament appearance.”

Congratulations Mr. Lewis on your stellar career – and all best wishes for continued success in the rarified air of the National Basketball Association! 

Angel               Yaupon Brothers American Tea Company

Periodically, well-meaning people ask if I accept advertising on this blogsite. 

I don’t.

The fact is these screeds are so hyperpolitical – one man’s critical views on the myriad civic, social, and economic issues we collectively face – that I believe hawking goods and services would both cheapen the message and limit content so as not to damage an associated brand.   

Besides, my writing style is so incoherent that any given screed will find half my readership embracing it – the other half demanding I be thrown in stocks outside the Thomas C. Kelly administration building and given the Falanga treatment. . .  

Besides, any marketing campaign I embraced would be absurd:

“Jock itch?  Chafing?  Rash?  When Barker isn’t busy ripping your city council a new bunghole over a tax increase, he’s using Cruex powder to fight that funky fungus. . .” 

See my point?

The advantage is that when I find a unique local product that stands above the rest, it gives me the freedom to express my unsolicited admiration and offer a good suggestion to BV readers without any sense of favoritism or conflict.

That happened this week when I sampled a unique local beverage. 

Yaupon Brothers American Tea Company was founded in 2015 in Southeast Volusia by two brothers, Bryon and Kyle White, along with former mentor-turned-business-partner, Mark Steele.

This delightful tea comes from the naturally caffeinated leaves of the Yaupon Holly tree found only in the Southeast United States from Texas to Florida, and north through Virginia, and is the only naturally caffeinated plant species that grows in the United States and most of North America.

Yaupon Brothers trees are grown in certified organic “forest farms” right here in Volusia County, where consumption of the leaf began at least 8,000 years ago.

Interestingly, the indigenous Timucua people of Florida called Yaupon Cassina, and believed that it purified the mind and body of those who drank it. The leaf’s natural caffeine and powerful antioxidants also gave Timucua warriors strength and energy before the hunt and battle.

The leaves were roasted, infused in boiling water, and drank hot from elaborately carved whelk shells.

This week, I purchased a box of Yaupon Brothers “American Green” tea – which most closely represents how indigenous tribes would have taken it thousands of years ago.

The product arrived in an attractive and environmentally friendly “eco-tube” containing 16 natural fiber sachets.   

Once prepared, I found the tea to be a naturally sweet organic brew with a rich, grassy fragrance that kept me wanting more.

(On a recent chilly evening I tried it in a Hot Toddy with good bourbon, fine local honey, and fresh lemon – it was superb – and I am told using their Lavender Coconut blend with Palmetto honey and an orange wheel is even better.)   

The complete lack of bitterness and mild nature of Yaupon means you cannot over-steep it – allowing three cups from one sachet by just adding more hot water.   

After I tried Yaupon Brothers, I reached out to Bryon White – a guy who genuinely cares about creating clean and sustainable agriculture jobs while protecting our fragile ecosystem – to complement him on this outstanding local product.

In addition, I admire the fact Yaupon Brothers has a deep social conscience and seeks to do good for others here in Volusia and beyond.

For instance, out of respect for the origins of their tea, Yaupon Brothers donates 5% of every sale to the North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NāTIFS) which promotes education and reclamation of indigenous foodways while addressing the economic and health crises affecting Native communities. 

Each Tuesday until their new factory and shop is finished, Yaupon Brothers will be hosting “Tea Tuesday” at 504 Pullman Road in Edgewater from 8am to 11am.

In addition to their full line of natural teas, Yaupon Brothers has partnered with other area creatives to offer pastries from Dutch Oven Bread Company and coffee from Moose Dog Coffee Company. 

If you would like to try this great local product and support sustainable agriculture and entrepreneurship in Volusia County, Yaupon Brothers has graciously extended a generous 15% discount using the code BARKERSVIEW when ordering from their informative website at www.yauponbrothers.com

“American roots.  A different leaf.  A better tea.”

Good stuff.

Quote of the Week

“What has frustrated us is the efforts we have expended just trying to find out how to get positively on a list that we can rely on to get the shot. We drove up to that mess that was staged in Daytona Beach; it took us longer to get turned around and out of there than it took to drive there. No shot. A friend and his wife got it by staying in a cold car all night with a couple of thousand others.

Today I logged on for the event in DeLand at exactly 9 a.m. and managed to order two tickets through the Eventbrite site and waited 29 minutes until the program told me it was sold out.

I don’t mind telling you that I am a bit frustrated. Why can’t a registry be set up people like me can sign in and be assured that we will in fact be contacted and told where and when we will get the vaccine?

I grew up in a time when polio was rampant in this country. When the vaccine was discovered, the whole town of Waycross, Georgia was organized and immunized – with not a computer in sight. Surely we can do better.”

–84-year-old John B. Henderson, Daytona Beach Shores, writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Letters to the Editor, “Organize Vaccines,” Saturday, January 16, 2021

And Another Thing!

I’m not an emotional guy. 

Maybe it’s the effects of aging – or the fact my three-decades in policing burned away that portion of my cerebral cortex that governs “feelings” – but there is little in my life that stirs the passionate, almost ungovernable emotions of my youth.

But this week, a special person did a kindness for my family that moved me to tears. 

As loyal readers of this blogsite know, on Wednesday, I tried (and failed miserably) to secure a spot for my 86-year-old mom in the over-the-horizon queue to receive a coveted COVID-19 vaccination. 

Beginning before dawn, my wife and I joined friends and family in a frustrating attempt to get one old lady a chance at life outside lockdown by collectively navigating both the Publix Coronavirus registration process – then Volusia County’s weird concert ticketing program-turned-inoculation appointment grab bag. 

It didn’t work out for us. 

In anger, I took to this site and publicly decried the five-alarm foul-up that is Florida’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout – an unmitigated shit show – a first come/first serve online competition for scarce “appointments” that continues to put our most vulnerable residents at risk.

My heart sank further when I learned that a friend called the Volusia County Citizen Information Center 143 times via his cellphone – and 143 times by landline – before finally getting through and securing an appointment. 

That’s a cumulative 286 calls before receiving a chance at this potentially lifesaving vaccine. . .

Then, what can only be described as a heaven-sent miracle happened that left me stunned.    

Just when my family was planning our next strategy for how we might cover all bases and try for another appointment in this godforsaken “system,” a loyal member of the Barker’s View Tribe – the intrepid civic activist Mary Synk – graciously reached out to offer a slot she secured to my mother for Monday’s vaccination event at the Volusia County Fairgrounds. 

Praise be.

I am amazed by Mary’s selflessness and sincere concern for my mom – and I want her to know how much my family appreciates this incredibly generous act of human kindness.

We are thankful beyond measure.

As firm believers in the karmic concept of “Pay it Forward,” my family and I will repay Mary’s compassionate deed to others when and where we can – passing the gift. . .    

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

As of 6:49am on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, I had been “in the queue” to reserve a vaccination for my 86-year-old mother on the Publix Coronavirus website for nearly one hour.

At 7:33am, the screen went blank and the ominous message “An error (500 Internal Server Error) has occurred in response to this request,” which ended my fruitless quest to protect my mom from a potential death sentence – by 7:49am, the site returned with a message that all available appointments had been claimed. . .     

Bullshit.

Two-hours later I jumped on the opportunity to try my luck on Volusia County’s online booking platform for a chance at getting her an appointment at any of the three events scheduled at the Fairgrounds later this week.

With family and friends all trying desperately to give one old lady a fighting chance – my wife was disconnected from the Volusia County Citizen Information Center line – while a friend and I waited in vain to register for one remaining appointment.

Ultimately, after waiting over 30-minutes – the system kicked both of us out with a message that all appointments for the three-day DeLand event were full. . .in minutes. 

Oh, the oxymoronic Volusia County “Citizen Information Center?”  Still a monotonous busy signal. . . 

But it is comforting to know that Volusia County Emergency Management “empathizes with my concerns.”

Stressful.  Frustrating.  And, ultimately, futile. 

And the grim scavenger hunt continues. . . 

It’s all a giant crapshoot – a hopeless exercise – an over-the-horizon logjam of the elderly, sick, and infirm, vulnerable people of all races, colors, and creeds who have been stepped over by cowardly assholes on all sides of the political spectrum, craven politicians and well-connected Big Shots who have waltzed to the front of the line, abusing the privilege of their public positions to receive precious doses in some cockamamie scheme to “encourage others” to get in this endless queue of the unfortunate masses with no political clout.

And all anyone in a position to influence these things can do is feel sorry for themselves and complain about the ineptitude of the next level of bureaucracy above them. . .  

Sickening.  Literally.     

You see, my mom – she doesn’t know anyone important. 

She has no political influence or preferred status (beyond being in the very category of people the CDC placed first on the eligibility list as confirmed by Governor Ron DeSantis’ toothless executive order) and she does not want any special favors – or some bureaucrat’s goddamned empathy. . .   

Like so many other elderly Floridians, my mom simply wants a legitimate opportunity to obtain an appointment – a more permanent reservation – perhaps one that places her on a larger list beyond fighting desperately for a one-hour timeslot on registration systems that continue to crash like clockwork.  

And she wants a legitimate distribution system that stops “medical tourism” – where tourists (even some from outside the United States) descend upon our state solely for the purpose of receiving a vaccination – a fair and legitimate process where players like AdventHealth stop using the federally supplied vaccine as a cheap marketing strategy for their “Medical Group,” and tin-pot politicians and incompetent bureaucrats stop patting themselves on the back for the “great job” they’re doing, etc., etc.

She wants a chance at life beyond lockdown.

What is happening in the State of Florida is a disgusting example of government ineptitude on parade.

To add insult, The Daytona Beach News-Journal glommed onto an oh-so-pompous op/ed from the Palm Beach Post’s painfully obvious column entitled, “Florida is botching the vaccine rollout.”  

No shit.  Is there anyone from Pensacola to the Planet Pluto who doesn’t know that?   

So why in the hell don’t those of you who buy printer’s ink by the barrel do something about it? 

Complaining and pointing fingers is my job. Dammit. 

I don’t need to pay Gannett, or some other massive media conglomerate, to commiserate with me – I need them to get off their ass, stop fanning the political flames, and launch an independent investigation into the who, what, when, and why of how this rollout of the vaccine left the tracks. 

Ferreting out threats to our collective safety is the fundamental job of an investigative journalist (if Gannett still has any on their ever-shrinking payroll) and, in my view, protecting the public welfare is the essential role of the media in a free and open society.

This sham cannot continue. 

We can all agree, the politicization of the most important mass vaccination in the history of mankind is an abomination – something that can no longer be left to those jacklegs at the Florida Department of Health – an agency that should be immediately disbanded as a clear and continuing threat to the public’s health and welfare. 

Volusia County – you suck at your job of protecting vulnerable residents.

State of Florida – you’re worse. 

Now, get your heads out of your ass and develop a system that allows permanent advanced registrations and stop this frustrating scramble for first come/first served luck-of-the-draw “appointments.”

Do it now.  

If I sound pissed-off – that’s because I am.

And you should be too.   

I realize that to the ‘woke’ generation, the concept of respecting and honoring those who have come before is an outdated sentiment that somehow encourages unconditional compliance to the “old ways.”

It doesn’t. But that never stops young and aggressive half-baked climbers intent on clawing their way to the top from ignoring the old maxim of leadership – “You don’t know what you don’t know” – which always leads to unintended consequences.

That’s part of why the Volusia Democratic Party continues to implode in spectacular fashion.

As I have said before, the sordid details of this internecine warfare exemplify all the reasons I exchanged partisan politics for the autonomy and freedom of thought of a no party affiliate – especially now that the fringe elements of both parties have bashed their way into the wheelhouse.

During my professional life, I had the pleasure of serving as the Volusia/Flagler Police Chief’s Association representative to the Volusia Substance Abuse Policy Advisory Board, developing recommendations to the County Council on the allocation of federal grant funds to local non-profits and service organizations.

It was during my appointment to the board that I first came to know the venerated former Volusia County Councilwoman Joyce Cusack.

I found Ms. Cusack to be incredibly well-informed on the issues – someone with a unique combination of institutional knowledge, life experience, and political practicality – who always brought an interesting perspective and quiet confidence to the table. 

When she spoke, Ms. Cusack commanded any rooms attention. 

Regardless of party association, Ms. Cusack is universally respected in Volusia County and beyond. 

From her courage in participating in lunch counter demonstrations during the Civil Rights era – to her elected service in the Florida House of Representatives and Volusia County Council – she is a proven uniter who has worked hard to improve the quality of life for all residents. 

On Sunday, a disturbing article by Mark Harper in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Former Democrat chair challenges election loss,” detailed an objection by the former leadership of the Volusia Democratic Party to the mysterious rise to prominence of 29-year-old political newcomer, Richard Thripp, following a controversial intraparty election last month. 

According to the report, former Chair Jewel Dickson was joined by long-time Democratic leaders Joyce Cusack and Joan Lane in submitting a compelling appeal to state party officials of what some are calling Thripp’s “bloodless coup” of the VDP. 

Normally, I would simply dismiss this intramural bruhaha for what it is – a power grab by an aggressive young regime, hungry for status and change, resulting in local party politics reflecting the abject dysfunction currently destroying both of our major political parties and hampering substantial progress at all levels of government.

However, given my personal admiration for Ms. Cusack, this ongoing havoc caught my attention.

In their challenge, the three former leaders suggest Thripp “…wrongfully dismissed the ballots of 13 committee members in declaring Valerie Duhl winner of the state committeewoman race. Counting those votes would leave Duhl tied with Susanne Raines, who has filed a separate objection.”

(Find my thoughts on the Duhl/Raines feud here: https://tinyurl.com/y4vyac46 )

In addition, the appeal argues that 62 precinct committee members were improperly allowed to vote, claiming that the candidate oath forms they were required to file had been “notarized illegally.”

As deftly stated in Mr. Harper’s article, Thripp’s machinations set up the local Democrat’s own #StopTheSteal moment. . . 

Now, Dickson, Cusack and Lane are asking the Florida Democratic Party’s “Judicial Council” to either retabulate the vote excluding the disputed ballots or hold a second election.

In keeping with Barker’s Number 1 Rule of Politics – which says all politicians, once they have ascended to a position of power, will ultimately become everything they hated when entering the ring – it appears Richard Thripp is emerging as an empire building tin-pot dictator with a “my way or the highway” management style who is shrugging off growing suspicion that the VDP election was unfairly manipulated. 

In the News-Journal report, Mr. Thripp is quoted, “I am going to refrain from commenting on the (appeal). I will say that it has been disappointing — the behavior of the prior Democratic party leadership.”

In my view, given the circumstances, Mr. Thripp’s lecture on behavior is rich. 

The matter is now in the hands of top Florida Democratic Party attorney Mark Herron – in my view, someone who knows the ropes when it comes to building an empire – and gaming an election.    

Look, I don’t have a dog in this fight, but I do hold firm to the concept of respecting the rights and contributions of those who paved the way for a new generation – with leaders ascending the ranks based upon one’s character and experience – rather than their ability to organize a cheap coup d’état.   

That destroys organizational continuity, because no one – friend of foe – ever trusts the usurpers who seize power through questionable means.   

In my view, perhaps its time for VDP Chair Richard Thripp to do the right thing and call for a new internal election which will put aside the challenges, get the internal squabbles of the local Democratic party apparatus off the front page of the newspaper, and show the respect and standing due Ms. Cusack and the others upon whose shoulders he stands.   

In my view, on the day we celebrate the birthday and extraordinary work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – a day of national service and community volunteerism – all citizens should thank courageous servant/leaders like Joyce Cusack for her contributions to the betterment of our state and community. 

And reflect on how far we have come – and how far we still must go – as we honor our nation’s foundational principle that all human beings are created equal and endowed by his or her Creator with the fundamental and inalienable right to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

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