Inexplicably, Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington is telling us the encroachment of some 1,500 residential properties on what was once pristine old growth forest – clear cut impacts we can see with our own eyes beyond a thin veneer of spared trees – is a mass “misconception.”

In a recent article in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Developers’ plans spark concern over impact to Ormond Loop,” Partington once again suspended reality when he said, “There’s a misconception out there that a portion of the Loop is being bulldozed.  That’s just completely false.”

We know that, Mayor.

It’s already been bulldozed, you quibbling asshole!  

Now We, The People are worried about the repugnant impacts of increased traffic and toxic runoff that some 1,500 home sites will invariably bring once the Ormond Beach City Commission rubber stamps the zoning change approved by the so-called ‘Planning Board’ next month.

You may remember that this is the same Mayor Partington who gave us his twisted philosophy on over-development back in September when the sprawling Plantation Oaks subdivision was annexed into the City of Ormond Beach: “They (?) say if you’re not growing, you’re dying.”

Well, I don’t give two-shits what “they” say.

Here in the real world, the tens-of-thousands of area residents who are concerned about our quality of life and environment – who can already see the devastating impacts of the Plantation Oaks development – feel like the victims of yet another governmental “bait and switch.”

Way back in 2002, when a horribly misguided Volusia County Council approved a 55+ manufactured home community on a 4-3 vote, we could not have imagined that, 18-years later, the developer would seek a zoning amendment permitting site-built homes – open to families of all ages – a change which will exponentially increase traffic along one of our most precious natural amenities.

In an effort to bring attention to the destruction of The Loop, a concerned area teenager started an online petition seeking protection for “…one of the most beautiful scenic spots in our county” – an entreaty that has garnered some 37,600 signatures (including mine) and galvanized an anxious community.

To show just how deeply the City of Ormond Beach has been infected by the influence of the real estate development community, Planning Board member G. G. Galloway, himself a commercial realtor, said in the newspaper, “The girl who did the petition didn’t do her homework.  They (the developers) have every right to do that (project).”

Of course they do!

In this utterly unbalanced environment – where the massive campaign contributions of builders and real estate speculators dominates, then skews, the political playing field – the little people, those of us who pay the bills and are expected to suffer in silence, are bulldozed like a majestic oak whenever we stand in the way of their obscene idea of “progress.”

In his sickening defense of the indefensible, Galloway goes on – alternately praising the contribution of developers, then claiming the board had “no choice” but to adopt Volusia County’s zoning approvals for Plantation Oaks.

Why is it that whenever citizens seek reasonable environmental protections and limitations on the devastating affects of sprawl, those we have elected and appointed to represent our interests always claim their hands are tied – yet, when a developer seeks changes to comprehensive plans, zoning amendments and other legislative sleight-of-hand designed to undermine safeguards and maximize profits – the process seems like a foregone conclusion?

Anyone who tells you that the deck isn’t stacked against the will of the people is lying.

For instance, earlier this month, the clearly compromised Ormond Beach planning department issued a staff report essentially supporting the Plantation Oaks zoning amendment which concluded:

“The proposed development will not adversely impact environmentally sensitive lands or natural resources.”

Unbelievable.

The fact that a municipal planning staff – individuals who accept public funds to serve in the public interest – could openly engage in the blatant falsehood that the deforestation, paving, development, use of fertilizer, herbicides and insecticides, septic, water and traffic impacts on over 1,000 acres of primordial, canopy forest ecology and wildlife habitat – will not drastically impact sensitive lands and natural resources defies logic.

Because it’s a damnable lie.

According to the News-Journal’s report, “The Ormond Beach City Commission will hold the first of two public hearings on the Plantation Oaks zoning amendment on July 28, starting at 7 p.m. The “socially distanced” meeting will be open to the public and will be held at City Hall.”

I hope you will add your voice to nearly 38,000 of your neighbors and let these developer’s shills on the dais of power in Ormond Beach know exactly how you feel.

Find the online petition here: https://tinyurl.com/yc7h4urv

Tell them you want Plantation Oaks to remain as it was when the developer foisted it upon us nearly two-decades ago – then demand that any vehicular access to Old Dixie Highway be forever blocked to prevent the beautiful Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail from becoming just another over-traveled thoroughfare.

Look, the Plantation Oaks debacle may be a lead-pipe cinch – an inescapable fait accompli for yet another developer intent on cashing in on the exploitation of our last remaining natural places – but we do not have to accept future environmental abominations as a sad fact of life here on the Fun Coast.

In my view, now is the time the silent majority of residents – those who have suffered the indignities of having our intelligence and environment repeatedly insulted by elected marionettes in municipal and county government, and the “staff” members who tell them exactly what they want to hear – begin the purge of these entrenched sellouts and return a sense of fairness, honor, access and accountability to the halls of power in Volusia County.

 

After decades observing the inner-workings of local government, I don’t believe anything I hear and only half of what I see – never more evident than when I mix Kaopectate with three-fingers of strong Irish whiskey and gawp at what passes for a Volusia County Council meeting. . .

Over time, political power – whether elected or appointed – comes to see itself as infallible, unwilling to admit mistakes or accept responsibility for their individual and collective acts and oversights.

As an example, for years, Volusia County residents have warned their elected representatives of the inherent danger of over-development – inadequate transportation infrastructure, utilities, potable water, emergency services and the devastating impacts on our sensitive environment.

We have demanded moratoriums, asked them to stop making willy-nilly changes to comprehensive plans, sought adequate impact fees and a transparent permitting process.

Instead, our elected officials callously ignore our legitimate concerns for the future, and our diminishing quality of life, while flippantly approving any amendment to the rules and regulations that might benefit their campaign contributors in the real estate development industry – giving us the “Hear no evil.  See no evil.  Speak no evil.” treatment as thousands of new homes and commercial properties continue to sprout like weeds.

Then, when the effects can no longer be ignored, our omnipotent elected monarchy arrogantly tell us their idea of unrestrained growth is inevitable – so, get used to it.

Don’t take my word for it.

Examine the impacts of Margaritaville, the faux beach community in the pine scrub west of I-95 that sits directly atop our aquifer recharge area, the sprawling Mosaic, and the proposed Avalon Park Daytona – which plans to develop some 10,000 residential properties and massive commercial space literally on the southwest border of Ormond Beach – or drastic changes to the Plantation Oaks subdivision that threatens to forever alter our precious natural amenity known as The Loop.

When we attempt to provide input to our elected officials, we are marginalized, made to feel unwelcome in the people’s chamber, and curtly reminded of our station – where our remarks must be laser focused on one individual in a crowded room, and time limitations are placed on our ability to participate in government – while those who asked for our sacred vote haughtily ignore our questions, refusing to even acknowledge our presence.

Recently, I was disturbed by the Volusia County Council’s unanimous decision to promote Interim County Attorney Mike Dyer to the permanent position in that patented “tell ‘em one thing, do another” sleight of hand that always keeps their constituents guessing.

Look, I’m certain Mr. Dyer is capable of performing the role – after a lackluster tour at the Volusia County School Board – the lifelong member of Volusia’s good ‘ol boys club was welcomed back  to county government, got his nose firmly up all the right backsides, then embedded himself like a blacklegged tick.

In January, following a politically motivated bloodbath in the County Attorney’s Office, the council placed Dyer in the temporary role.  At that time, we were promised that the full-time position would only be filled following a transparent nationwide search.

To his credit, at the time, Councilman Ben Johnson shared concern that appointing Dyer as interim might give the impression that, if Dyer is eventually chosen as the permanent county attorney, that the decision was a “foregone conclusion.”

Of course, our concerns were assuaged by Councilwoman Deb Denys who assured us the process to select our new county attorney would by transparent – and “discussed publicly.”

She lied.

No search.  No discussion.  No transparency.  A foregone conclusion. 

On Tuesday, Mr. Dyer’s incredibly lucrative and open-ended contract – which was “negotiated” by an outside Orlando-based law firm which does contract legal work for Volusia County (?) – was unanimously approved by the council.

When Councilwoman Heather Post attempted to protect the interests of taxpayers by seeking the mere discussion of a salary cap to ensure that the other foregone conclusion inherent to the position – an automatic annual pay increase – doesn’t get out of control, the silence from her “colleagues” was deafening.

Now, the politicization of the County Attorney’s Office can begin in earnest. . .

Then talk turned to potential charter amendments – one of which could have resulted in a massive pay increase for our part-time elected officials – which I thought was unconscionable to even consider during an unprecedented election year when thousands of their constituents are out of work with businesses closing daily.

Again, to his credit, Councilman Ben Johnson stated unequivocally that he would not support the change – and suggested that any consideration of a pay increase should not benefit current sitting officials – while Ms. Post droned on about how a bump is ultimately necessary to attract “…the type of people willing to put in for these positions.”

What “type of people” is she referring to?

I assume she was referring to other mercenary assholes who are more interested in what an elected position can do for them, as opposed to honoring the sacred privilege of public service?

Ultimately, the motion to move the charter amendment forward died on a weird 4-3 vote – with our doddering fool of a County Chair, Ed Kelley, joining Councilman Fred Lowry and Councilwoman Barb Girtman in voting for the awkward measure that would theoretically see an elected council member hauling in some $361,920 over a four-year term.

In my view, we should not pay council members anything beyond reasonable reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses specifically related to their service – excluding their own shameless self-promotion and goofy junkets.

Let’s make them whole – not rich.

That’s fair.

And you can bet your sweet bippy this idea isn’t going away. . .

During this election season, perhaps it would be prudent for voters to ask incumbent politicians why We, The People, continue to be ignored in matters large and small – then demand an answer.

Attend candidate fundraisers, grip-n-grins, debates, and hobnobs – look them in the eye and ask why.

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of being punished by these wholly compromised dullards who continue to congratulate their own performance, paint themselves as “good stewards” of our hard-earned tax dollars, then lie like a cheap rug when it suits their self-serving agenda.

We deserve better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that my working life is over, I have time to contemplate and analyze my often-turbulent life and times – a life of incredibly good fortune that brought me everything I could have hoped for, personally and professionally.

Through the crystal prism of hindsight, and the bottom of a martini glass, I can see the spectrum of my good times and bad, and, because it is my life, if I chose to exaggerate the positives and accomplishments – and downplay the pain, weaknesses and dysfunction – well, that’s my prerogative.

Admittedly, it hasn’t been all peaches and cream – but what life worth living is?

In many ways, these often-snarky screeds are self-reflective – originating from the vantage point of my own mistakes from over thirty-years in municipal government – and incredibly cathartic.

These essays represent my attempt at a Second Act.

This weird path is nothing I could have imagined when I retired from a lifetime of government service – a dilettante citizen editorialist, a prolific blogger, a bloviating blowhard – an entrenched bureaucrat who found a post-public life voice.

When I review Barker’s View readership statistics each month and see that thousands of you actually took the time to read something I wrote – and consider my goofy alternative opinion on an issue – it massages my enormous ego and makes me feel like a pretentious Big Shot.

I’m not, of course.

But like Walter Mitty, throughout my life I have been gripped by a very active imagination that always seems to paint me as the valiant hero in my contrived contretemps.

You’ll notice that weird concept play out repeatedly in these posts of mine, and perhaps that’s my subliminal remuneration for the time spent – a renewed sense of purpose.

Just like my life in law enforcement, my new calling as a blogger doesn’t pay very well – in fact, like any hobby, it costs me money to pursue – but it fills a very large void in my life, and, I hope, drives a larger discussion of the issues.

Earlier this week, I received a statement from the Social Security Administration which provided an earnings record, a startling chronological tableau of the financial return for my life’s work.

Trust me, I did not enter the police service at age 22 with the goal of getting rich.

In fact, according to social security records, my starting salary in 1983 was just $13,752 annually – and I never made more than $80,470 after 31-years – even though most every police chief in Volusia County earned substantially more than I did.

I never complained.

For me, it wasn’t about the money.

During times of economic stress, I turned down pay increases if my subordinates couldn’t receive one – because that’s the right thing to do – and, given my level of talent and education, I felt fortunate just to have a job in the profession I loved.

Truth be told – and I can be honest now that I’ve secured a pension – I would have paid The City of Holly Hill for the privilege of serving a community that was so appreciative of my efforts, that embraced me, warts and all, and provided the opportunity to give the bulk of my life to work worth doing with people that I loved and respected.

In fact, I never met a true public servant that marked success by the size of their bank account.

Perhaps that is why the recent news that the Volusia County Council hasn’t given up on their cockamamie decision to pursue a change to the charter that would give them a substantial salary increase is so infuriating.

On Tuesday, our elected dullards will openly discuss the proposition of further feathering their own nests.

You may remember that during a “workshop” back in January, we got a disturbing glimpse at the thought process and true motivations of some of our elected officials when they mournfully cried the Poor Mouth Blues – then arbitrarily decided that the charter dictated term “Council” doesn’t carry the same ego-maniacal cachet as “Commission.”

Seriously.  That was their rationalization – and the reason they want to spend public funds to place this horseshit on the ballot this fall.

Then, our vainglorious elected elite had the unmitigated gall to publicly wallow in their own narcissistic angst over how terribly expensive self-promotion has become for politicians in this foul year 2020 – openly mewling about out-of-pocket expenses, a lack of personal assistants (?), the price of gasoline and high cost of automobile insurance – before determining how to best couch ballot language for a pay increase that gullible voters might actually swallow.

Until a recent article on the subject in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, I didn’t know exactly how much we pay our elected officials to sacrifice their valuable time and extraordinary talents for us ungrateful bastards who elected them – and I’ll just bet you didn’t either.

Based upon Volusia’s governing charter, our part-time elected officials are paid at a rate 50% of that paid in other Florida counties, while the county chair receives 60%.

“Council members are paid $45,240 annually and the council chair is paid $54,288 annually. . .”

Wow.

Which means, if we paid them at the rate authorized by state statute, council members (including the chair) would receive $90,480 annually – in a county where some 43% of Volusia households do not earn enough to consistently cover basic monthly living expenses.

Yet, even in these dire times, where small businesses are closing their doors at an alarming rate – and displaced workers are struggling to feed their families on a horribly broken unemployment system – these tone-deaf windbags continue to seek an exorbitant salary, “reimbursement for expenses,” fees for attendance at various self-congratulatory soirees and awards banquets, etc. – not to mention travel, hotel and dining expenses for do-nothing meetings, conferences, hobnobs, grip-n-grins and hot air generators in, Tallahassee, Washington D.C. and beyond.

For attending two meetings a month and schlepping around to a slate of officious time-wasters that never seem to improve our quality of life or lower our already exorbitant tax rate. . .

My God.

If our elected officials are convinced that a pay increase is truly the highest and best use of our hard earned tax dollars during these unprecedented times – then, by all means, they should put that question to the voters this fall.

Something tells me this is not going to bode well for incumbent council members seeking their own undeserved second act – nor should it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 International Speedway

Kudos to the France family, President Chip Wile, and the team at DIS for their innovative idea to host high school graduations at the World Center of Racing!

On May 31, more than 1,000 graduating seniors crossed the physical and metaphorical finish line at the famous trioval when Bunnell’s First Baptist Christian Academy, Flagler-Palm Coast and Matanzas High Schools took part in a unique drive-thru ceremony at the speedway.

According to a release by DIS:

“We’re honored to have the graduates of Matanzas, Flagler-Palm Coast, and First Baptist Christian Academy, along with their families, with us on what will be a very special day at Daytona International Speedway,” said track President Chip Wile. “The France family and track are committed to supporting our community in any way possible, and we’re glad to be able to provide what will be an unforgettable experience for these graduates. Their day is finally here.”

After diplomas were conferred, each graduate’s vehicle took a “Victory Lap” around DIS, then a moving of the tassel and cap toss ceremony took place near pit road.  In addition, the event was simulcast on speedway radio and live streamed on the Flagler County Schools website.

What an incredibly memorable commencement ceremony – and a fitting tribute to the hard work and perseverance of these students.

When area school districts and students were desperate for a fitting venue that would permit proper safety protocols, our community partners at Daytona International Speedway stepped up in a big way to ensure a memorable day for these graduating seniors.

I guarantee it was the most distinctive ceremony in the nation!

While the offer was extended to both Volusia and Flagler County students, inexplicably, only Flagler seized the chance – while Volusia remains torpified, like a deer caught in the headlights. . .

In my view, the France family and everyone at DIS deserve our sincere appreciation for recognizing a community need and immediately offering an unforgettable opportunity.

Thank you!

Asshole           Volusia County School District

To say that Volusia County School Superintendent Dr. Scott Fritz inherited a shit show is an understatement.

Since taking office, he has been faced with the sins of his predecessors, tried to establish a new leadership structure, patched security lapses, assumed the results of historic poor planning, sorted out gross scandals, shouldered a weak and vacillating School Board, been hit with yet another budgetary catastrophe and dealt with the coronavirus pandemic.

It’s a tough job with no easy answers, and, despite the many setbacks of this crazy year, Dr. Fritz appears to be hitting his stride.

This week, we learned the devastating news that in coming days he will begin cancer treatment – and the sincere thoughts, prayers, and best wishes of everyone in Volusia County go with him.

Because that is what we do here – when the chips are down, we put our petty political differences aside, and pull together to help and support those who are going through a rough patch.

The fact is, we need Dr. Fritz’ leadership now, more than ever – because it is patently clear that the entrenched power structure that he was forced to accept upon his arrival continues to fail him.  And us.

Last Friday evening, in an oddly timed social media notification, Volusia County Schools issued an ambiguous statement to the “VCS Family” announcing, “In the Fall of 2020-2021, Volusia County Schools is planning to have all students start on the first day of school.”

Whatever the hell that means in this crazy, mixed-up mess that was the 1999-2020 school year.

Then, late this week, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that he plans to reopen school campuses in August.

Now, I don’t know how your “family” works, but in mine we communicate important information directly, discuss options and alternatives, then collectively agree on a path forward – especially when those decision will have a lasting impact on our lives, livelihoods and household budget.

But not in the Ivory Tower of Power in DeLand.

No, in that den of dysfunction, despite nine reopening committees consisting of over 150 people, decisions are seemingly made in a vacuum, then disseminated to everyone affected via a Facebook page (?) – with teachers, staff, parents and students all receiving the news simultaneously – leaving everyone scrambling for answers.

That’s not communication.  That’s chaos.

To make matters worse, rather than identify a single point of contact for anxious parents, the official release ended with, “Volusia County Schools is responsible for the content of this message. If you have any questions, please direct them to your individual schools.”

Say what?

Naturally, the district’s Facebook page received hundreds of comments and questions.

Here’s a brief sampling of the fallout:

“What does this mean? Starting in person, starting online? Can VCS not compose a release with CLARITY for students, parents, and teachers that goes out through an official means of communication (AKA not Facebook?) I’ll certainly have plenty to say about this at the next meeting and the district can expect an email from me in their inbox on Monday.” 

“I got this email as a mom – I have NOT heard this information as a teacher. Also – only elementary families received this info – this leaves more questions NOT answers. I thought we were going to work on COMMUNICATION… your employees would like to know information BEFORE families.”

“If VCS is Responsible for This message, why then would I direct my questions to the individual school which in all likelihood doesn’t have the answers???”

In light of the disorientation brought by the state’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, the Volusia County School Board and our highly compensated district administrators, have an obligation to restore organizational confidence, end the trepidation many families, teachers and staff are feeling and rebuild the public’s trust in the safety of our schools.

I am not sure you do that with half-baked Facebook posts.

And what about Volusia County’s graduating senior class?

Recently, Michael Walters, a Deltona resident whose daughter is graduating from University High, recently began an online petition hoping to convince the district to hold ceremonies in June – preferably at an outdoor venue which would allow some 4,000 students to graduate with their peers in the presence of family and friends – as it should be.

According to the district’s website, area high school graduations are currently scheduled to begin a month from now – July 9-11 – at the Ocean Center, the same tired and cumbersome venue as before.

“Admission will be $3 per person. Parking will be $5 for ceremonies. . .”

 Guests will be limited to just two.

My God.

It’s not for me to decide if Volusia County students were cheated out of a wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime experience at Daytona International Speedway – an incomparable event that may have served as recompense for their topsy-turvy senior year.

However, I cannot think of a better primer for graduates on the utter dysfunction and incompetence of Volusia’s tax-supported bureaucracies – something that will serve as a foundation for their lifelong distrust of governmental organizations. . .

Congratulations, kids.  And good luck – you’re gonna need it.

Quote of the Week

“There will be a tipping point where we can’t get back,” Rinaman warned. “Now we still have an opportunity to do things right. We are fortunate to have 600,000 acres of conservation land along the St. Johns River. We need to protect that land. We need to protect the headwaters of our tributaries. We need to provide buffers so we can protect wetlands to keep out pollution.”

–St. John’s Riverkeeper Lisa Rinaman, as quoted in Another View – The Florida Times-Union, “St. Johns River faces new challenges,” Sunday, June 7, 2020

An irrefutable fact of environmental conservation is that in order to protect the water – you must protect the land.

Yet, in Volusia County, our ‘powers that be’ continue to find innovative ways to make it easier for speculative developers to build massive residential, commercial and industrial sites along the width and breadth of our shrinking wetlands, estuaries and wildlife habitats.

500 new homes here, 10,000 there – with overlay districts and “compressed” permitting processes set to ramrod development on the tired promise of “high paying jobs” – all while ignoring the poisonous runoff that endangers our rivers and sprawl that increases pressure on the aquifer – the very source of our drinking water.

Now, we’re seeing yet another development threat to our beautiful and wholly unique natural amenity known as The Loop.  

A tipping point indeed.

In my view, our powers that be have moved to satiate the greed-crazed desires of their benefactors in the real estate development community with such rapidity that we’ve become more concerned with transportation infrastructure, utilities and emergency services than the wholesale destruction of our natural places.

Perhaps that was the plan all along?

And Another Thing!

We are entering the quadrennial Season of Caring, that weird period when incumbent elected officials would have us believe they actually give two-shits about the wants, needs and dreams of their long-suffering constituents.

This short, well-defined, period is marked by backslapping and clubby fundraisers, gaggles of sweaty true believers waving signs on street corners, glossy mailers littering our countertop and omnipresent yard signs cluttering our neighborhoods – all reinforced with the smiling visage of perennial politicians set on a televised loop-reel – while, off-screen, they prostrate themselves before those uber-wealthy oligarchs who finance the whole shebang.

We will once again be treated to the velvety underbelly of perennial politicians who, every four-years, undergo this reverse lycanthropy – transitioning from the political werewolves they’ve become back to friends and neighbors seeking to represent our best interests if we’ll be so kind as to give them our vote.

And another bite at the apple.

This chummy familiarity ends abruptly on election day – so, enjoy the soft-soap treatment while you can. . .

If we’ve learned anything here on the Fun Coast, it is that political representation has become an illusion – a chimera where our elected officials on the Volusia County Council and beyond no longer work for us – or care about our civic essentials, even as they embrace every desire of those who control our future with campaign contributions and the influence it buys.

Like watching a magic show (or a horror movie) it is okay to enjoy this brief moment, so long as we are willing to momentarily suspend reality and keep it all in perspective.

Just remember, the next several months are a staged production, expertly choreographed by gifted bullshit artists trying desperately to erase our short-term memory and return incumbent politicians to office.

With qualifying for most state and local races ending today, we may see last-minute candidates jumping into area races, each with various purposes and agendas, not all of whom have our best interests at heart.

Fortunately, we also have some great candidates already qualified for key races.

One of those is Jeff Brower, my choice for Volusia County Chair, who will be holding a sign waving event this afternoon, 4:30pm to 6:00pm, in Ormond-by-the-Sea at 1258 Ocean Shore Boulevard (park in the Publix lot).

Now is the time to do our civic homework, get involved, study the issues that are important to us – and determine which candidates best reflect our core values.

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

A Note to the Barker’s View Tribe:

Barker’s View will be taking a few days off next week and Angels & Assholes will resume on June 26.

Please feel free to peruse over 500 archived posts on this site, each offering my goofy views on the issues that touch our lives and livelihoods here on Florida’s Fun Coast.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

As long-time readers of this blog will remember, I cut my editorial teeth on The Debacle in DeBary, a strange time when – with the help of City Hall – developers made a stealth move on sensitive land known as the Gemini Springs Annex.

It was a clumsy attempt to set the stage for a ‘transportation-oriented’ development near the SunRail station – except the sleazy nature of the city’s behind-the-scenes involvement with a dubious environmental engineer with influence at the St. John’s Water Management District shocked the conscience of many in the small community.

Then, in the worst of small town theater, the former City Manager – in my view, a misogynistic shitheel with the ethics of a broke-back snake – along with several mewling bureaucrats set about unseating a duly elected mayor over a few opinionated Tweets and Facebook posts they claimed violated the malleable municipal charter.

The remainder of the City Council took on the role of judge, jury and executioner – while a few entrenched bureaucrats painted themselves as pseudo-victims during an illegitimate Kangaroo Kourt that ultimately cashiered former Mayor Clint Johnson – and ignored the will of the people who cast their sacred vote – turning what was once a representative democracy into an internal popularity contest.

In my view, this entire debacle was a failure of the unfortunate city attorney, Kurt Ardaman, who has made so many expensive and blatantly stupid mistakes in his representation of the City of DeBary that he should be drummed out for quackery.

It appears his stock in trade remains funneling legal work to outside attorneys under the guise of the latest civic melodrama to grip the community – and he has been the common denominator in every shit-storm to befall the citizens of DeBary.

Shameless.

Now, yet another elected official has fallen victim to DeBary’s weird brand of politics.

According to a report in the West Volusia Beacon, on July 1 the City Council will hold a “hearing” to determine the fate of Councilman Stephen Bacon on charges he violated the charter when he, “…improperly ordered City Clerk Annette Hatch to include some material in the minutes of a recent meeting.”

As I understand it, when Bacon attempted to hand Hatch some papers in her office – his speaking notes from a May meeting – she refused to accept them, saying, “she didn’t need them.”

A brusk interoffice tête-à-tête ensued.

Apparently, that exchange was followed by a spat between Mr. Bacon and the emotionally fragile City Records Manager Erick Frankton (who was a key player in Johnson’s removal) who demanded that a sitting elected official “apologize” to Clerk Hatch, and things went south from there.

In turn, City Manager Carmen Rosamonda “investigated” the incident and naturally supported Hatch’s view of things – then banned the duly elected Bacon from accessing any non-public area of DeBary City Hall.

Really? 

Look, Commissioner Bacon has a history of being something of a sharp-elbowed, acerbic asshole – and this is not the first time he has been accused of overstepping his bounds.

According to reports, in 2018, Finance Director Liz Bauer “…had complained about an unwanted conversation about religion Bacon had initiated with her at City Hall. Frankton related Bacon had asked him to look at or fix a computer that was his personal property, not city-issued equipment.”

That resulted in official censor by his “colleagues,” who ordered Bacon not to give orders to city employees.

As I have said before:

At the end of the day, Stephen Bacon – love him or hate him – is a duly elected representative of the people of the City of DeBary, and, in my view, the will of the people is omnipotent.

Florida law has specific provisions for the formal removal of an elected municipal official.

The statute sets out a precise process that requires the collection of verifiable signatures on a specifically crafted petition, which both names the official and explains the reasons supporting a recall election.

It also provides for due process and judicial review; and the setting of a special election by the chief judge of the judicial circuit in which the recall petition is filed.

The law says nothing about railroading an elected official out-of-office because he hurt the feelings of a couple of mid-level bureaucrats.

Never underestimate the creepy factor in DeBary politics.

I don’t know about you, but this all-to-frequent practice doesn’t smell right to me.

Never has.

Commissioner Bacon might be a pompous politician with a caustic personality – but the people of DeBary elected him to represent their interests – and if they don’t like the manner in which he governs, they can toss his haughty ass onto the ash heap should he stand for reelection.

My hope is the good citizens of DeBary will eventually come to the realization that their sacred vote has become meaningless in an environment where bureaucrats with no political accountability can throw up their hands and theatrically shriek “I cannot work in this environment!” – setting the stage for an equally unaccountable city manager to orchestrate the removal of a sitting elected official who oversees his position.

In my view, if you care about good governance in your own community, you should care about good governance everywhere – and these convenient Tiny Town coup d’états must stop.

 

 

 

Communication experts speak of the importance of “active listening,” which is defined as making a conscious effort to hear not only the words that another person is saying but, more importantly, the totality of the message being communicated.

It requires that one pay attention, stay focused and resist the temptation to form counterarguments while the other person is speaking – because, in interpersonal communication – nothing telegraphs the true motivations, status and advantage dividing the sender and receiver of information like preaching, patronizing and interruption.

One of the most acute symptoms of the dysfunction that permeates our local political system is the pomposity of power – the setting apart of our elected representatives – who seize control through a horribly broken campaign finance system that allows oligarchical players to shunt massive funds to hand-select candidates.

A sordid, yet completely legal, process that leaves many local elections a foregone conclusion – and removes the political competitiveness that gives We, The Little People a chip in the game. . .

The resultant Teflon coating of haughtiness that forms on the anointed ones, who no longer have to worry about developing a relationship with their constituents to ensure reelection, was most evident last week when members of the Volusia County Council missed a golden opportunity to address some of the most pressing civic and social issues of our time.

During Tuesday’s Volusia County Council meeting, several concerned community activists representing the Daytona Beach Black Clergy Alliance, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and other recognized area leaders stood before our elected officials to very eloquently address some of the most pressing social issues of our time.

Unfortunately, with active protests occurring both locally and nationally, their important presentations fell on deaf ears. . .

In keeping with Chairman Ed Kelley’s royal decree that the exalted members of The Monarchy neither physically acknowledge, nor verbally engage, with the servile subjects who come before them – Old Ed warned the DBBCA representative to direct his words only to him – then cutoff NAACP President Cynthia Slater when her “time was up.”

Rather than demonstrate a modicum of respect for the opinions and suggestions of those community leaders who took their time to come to DeLand and provide substantive input in addressing the seemingly intractable differences we face – our elected dullards openly ignored them – sitting in stone silence atop the dais of power – perfectly communicating the fact they could give two-shits about their concerns or input.

When I pointed this out on Friday, the response I received on social media from our doddering fool of a County Chair, Ed Kelley, was most telling:

“The public participation part of the meeting from 9:30-10:00 is for anyone to offer their comments on anything they choose with a 3 minute time frame to follow.  I have asked any and all of the Clergy that spoke to meet anytime for meaningful dialog.  As you can read Council does not comment during this time.”

To make sure I understood my place, he attached a snippet of the county’s “rules” governing a citizen’s right to address their elected officials, the most important being:

“After you are recognized by the County Chair, state your name and address for the record before beginning your comments. You may speak up to three minutes, either during Public Participation or when an agenda item is heard.

The County Council will not answer questions or requests during Public Participation.”

My God.

Pull your head out of your ass, Mr. Chairman.  This one’s important.

Clearly, Old Ed just doesn’t get it. . .never did, never will – and not one of our elected officials broke ranks and told Chairman Kelley he was full of shit and engaged in substantive discussion with the delegation.

Tragic.

Here in the Kingdom of the Damned, I believe the arrogance of ignorance is rooted in the fact our elected officials have lost the capacity to listen to the concerns of anyone other than their uber-wealthy handlers – even as our community begs to be heard.

Look, we all understand that when we enter the halls of power in that Citadel of Self-importance at the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Building, the rules-are-the-rules – and they are inviolate.

Unless, of course, our wholly compromised elected officials want to indulge in their frequent practice of “Public Policy by Ambush” – voting on important issues that directly affect our lives and livelihoods after strategically leaving the details off the printed agenda to prevent even the possibility of contention – or public input.

As always, the rules are different depending upon which side of the dais you are sitting on.

And that breeds frustration, animosity and anger.

Now, more than ever, we need policy-makers who are willing to open their ears, minds and hearts to the wants, needs and dreams of their long-suffering constituents – servant-leaders with the capacity to actively listen to those who are working diligently to return peace to our streets and give voice to those seeking social justice and basic fairness.

My sincere hope is that change will begin at the ballot box this fall.

I say again:

Had these haughty assholes on the dais of power taken the time to engage in purposeful dialog with these influential community leaders, how might that discourse have ameliorated the simmering tensions and brought us all a little closer to middle ground?

Unfortunately, we’ll never know.

Something tells me that after the way these civic leaders were publicly humiliated when they approached the Volusia County Council during what passed for “public participation,” these respected clergymen and community representatives won’t bother to take Chairman Kelley up on his hollow offer of “meaningful dialog” on his terms.

Would you? 

__________________________

Please join Barker’s View this afternoon on GovStuff Live! with Big John as we discuss the issues of the day and take your calls on the fastest two-hours in radio beginning at 4:00pm!

Find us locally at 1380am The Cat – or internationally at www.govstuff.org (Listen Live button).

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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              Sheriff Michael Chitwood and Sheriff Rick Staly

Once again, the editorial board at the horribly biased Daytona Beach News-Journal donned their police hat, pinned on a gold star, climbed atop their high horse and began pontificating about something they know absolutely nothing about.

This week, in an op/ed entitled, “Policing faces a turning point,” the newspaper’s leadership propped their feet on a mahogany desk and lectured, “They (law enforcement) must step up their screening of potential new officers, amplify their training for existing corps and encourage better relations with minority community leaders who can be powerful allies in the cause of peace. Body-worn and dash cameras must document every encounter between police and the public.”

Clearly, the editorial board hasn’t taken the time to read the plethora of credible studies on the subject of contemporary police/community relations and national use of force statistics, spoken to police officers or interviewed criminologists – choosing instead to talk out of their ass on a difficult, dynamic and multifaceted issue that, so long as human beings are involved, has no absolute answer.

In my view, any substantive discussion of this issue must be based upon facts – not rhetoric, editorial speculation or inflamed emotion.

As a small boy, police officers were my heroes.  They still are.

I spent 31-years in law enforcement, more if you count the six-years I spent as a reservist with the United States Army Military Police Corps – where I was highly trained in the art and science of crowd and riot control – an incredibly fulfilling career that gave me the chance to serve my community in a meaningful way.

So, it bothers me when I see dilettantes in the media condemning my beloved profession (from the comfort and safety of an air-conditioned office) as a means of promoting their social agenda – and selling newspapers. . .

Do you think the Daytona Beach News-Journal knows anything about the selection, preparation and screening of new police officers?  Or what their initial, in-service and advanced training consists of?  Or the effectiveness of body worn cameras in reducing violent encounters?  Or the statistics of police use of deadly force in the United States?

I don’t either.

Yet, they have the gall to paint all agencies and officers with the same foul brush – even though they have never effected an arrest, investigated a crime, been shot at, faced down an unruly crowd or placed their personal safety in danger to defend something greater than their own self-interests.

During times of crisis – especially when the controversy surrounds an abhorrent act of a few criminals with a badge who ignored their sacred obligation to the oath and ethics of their profession – the media prefers to incite things by indicting the whole of law enforcement, lumping hundreds of thousands of police officers with a handful of bad actors, then condescendingly suggest reforms to a service that is completely foreign to them.

Perhaps therein lies the problem?

Maybe it’s time for newspaper editors to get out of their gilded offices, put on a ballistic vest, and take to the streets alongside police officers who stand the line between order and chaos – not just a one-time novelty tour to get some dust on the wingtips and say “I’ve been out there” – but a sustained dive into the dangerous realities law enforcement officers face daily.

The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis was an atrocity – the evil act of a depraved and callous mind that employed a reckless and prohibited technique that resulted in the cruel death of Mr. Floyd.

An act that rightfully outraged the conscience of a nation – and galvanized all of us in the pursuit of justice.

The peaceful protests that sought to memorialize George Floyd spoke to our best instincts – the righteous exercise of our first amendment right to free expression and peaceful assembly in the finest traditions of our national character.

Then, inexplicably, these angry yet orderly expressions of grief that honored Mr. Floyd’s life and condemned the manner of his death were hijacked by lawless mobs of anarchists, looters, agent provocateurs and criminal opportunists.

Death and the wholesale destruction of great American cities quickly ensued.

And let us not forget the horrifying number of police officers who have been seriously injured and killed in the line of duty over the past 10-days – and the countless citizens who were indiscriminately set upon, beaten and maimed by criminal mobs – but you won’t read about those acts of violence in the media, because it doesn’t fit the “vilify the cops” narrative. . .

In my view, no substantive discussion between police and the community can begin until the smoke clears and order is restored.

Fortunately, there is also cause for hope.

I would like to commend the herculean efforts of Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly for their exhaustive work to ensure public safety and protect first amendment rights to free expression and assembly – while standing in unison with peaceful protesters to harshly condemn the abominable actions that resulted in the death of George Floyd.

Both of these veteran law enforcement professionals have made clear that the actions of the former Minneapolis police officers responsible for George Floyd’s death “…are inconsistent with the best practices of today’s professional law enforcement officers.”

In a recent opinion piece in the News-Journal, Sheriff Chitwood boldly acknowledged the historic problem of racism in our society – while supporting the good work of his deputies:

“What I know in my heart is that the vast majority of law enforcement officers – just like the majority of the American people – believe in equality, fairness and sanctity of life. I can’t look into the heart of every person who wears a uniform, but I can look at their actions. We’re not perfect, and the nature of our job puts us in a position to have our actions scrutinized, our motivations questioned, our character attacked. We have seen plenty of that. But I believe by and large, the members of the Volusia Sheriff’s Office believe in equality and safety for every person, including those who are under arrest.”

I agree.

In my view, today’s law enforcement officers are the best trained, best equipped and best led police force in the world – men and women of extraordinary courage and skill who place themselves in harm’s way again-and-again – working diligently to protect and serve diverse communities across this great nation for little, if any, thanks or recognition.

Men and women, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers – human beings – of the community and for the community they serve.

It seems no matter how much law enforcement officers sing and line dance like trained bears on social media – or engage in the newest trend of police executives kneeling before riotous mobs while anarchist’s scream “On your knees, pig!” – they can never seem to “humanize” themselves in the eyes of their detractors. . .

I disagree with the emerging tactic across the nation of proud police officers, who have acquitted themselves with honor and integrity in the face of withering provocation, being directed to prostrate themselves before aggressive mobs by their clearly overwhelmed command staff.

However, I strongly support the idea of standing tall, like men and women of courage, alongside protesters – walking shoulder-to-shoulder in solidarity with those committed to bringing positive change and social justice.

In many ways, current officers are paying for the sins of generations who came before – a predominantly white male dominated service, often ill equipped mentally and physically, poorly trained, under supervised, uneducated and unwilling to change a hardened ‘us vs. them’ mentality.

During my long career, I was fortunate to serve with some true-servant leaders who worked hard in collaboration with the community to bring positive change – and I was proud of my agency’s progress in helping change its complexion and culture to better represent the diverse citizenry it served.

When peace and safety are restored, I hope the important discussion of improved police/community relations can move beyond the polarizing notions of politics as we develop a better understanding of the dynamic forces that our protectors face  – and undertake a thorough vetting of the divisive fear, misunderstandings and visceral perceptions on both sides of the badge.

Asshole           Volusia County Council

Hey, guess what y’all?

We got more of those good, “high-paying jobs” coming our way!

Yep.  Time to quit the scullery work at that beachside fleabag – or leave the drudgery of the warehouse – ’cause we’re all gonna be Rocket Scientists, baby!

Just like our political “leadership” on the Volusia County Council!

My ass. . .

Thanks to the always arrogant Councilwoman Deb Denys and her craven ability to put the greed-crazed interests of developers and “economic development” shills above all else, on Tuesday the Volusia County Council unanimously agreed to further endanger our sensitive environment, estuaries and struggling aquifer to accommodate an expedited approval process for aerospace manufacturing concerns with an eye on Southeast Volusia and beyond.

Although there was never a doubt that this dangerous practice of “fast-tracking” industrial permitting wasn’t a foregone conclusion – we were treated to a clearly orchestrated parade of the “Who’s Who” of Volusia County business and industry, all of whom spoke in support – including the usual carnival barkers from the CEO Business Alliance, Daytona Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce, Team Volusia, etc.

Frankly, the group looked eerily like a “host committee” for a Deb Denys fundraiser. . .

Let’s call this charade what it was – another of Ms. Denys poorly camouflaged campaign events choreographed from the dais.

Oh, Councilwoman Heather Post attempted to dig for answers for her worried constituents – but she was quickly bullied and steamrolled by our doddering fool of a County Chair, Ed Kelley (“Move it along, dammit! There’s nothing to see here!”)

Then she was properly educated by the babble of Growth and Resource Management Director Clay Ervin – who serves as the Bureaucratic Bullshit Artist in Residence at the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Building.

My God.

The reason why our elected dullards in DeLand have become the most distrusted “governmental” body in the region is because they no longer work for us – or give two-shits about the wants, needs and dreams of the little people.

In my view, this seething suspicion is the direct result of council members who have developed the unconscionable ability to openly lie to their constituents – blatantly and with confidence – then arrogantly congratulate their own performance.

For instance, just before the all-important lunch break, Chairman Kelley did exactly what we were promised would not happen as he moved up an agenda item so council members could unanimously appoint Interim County Attorney Mike Dyer to the permanent position.

You read that right.

In January, when the council placed Dyer in the temporary role following a bloodletting in the county attorney’s office – we were promised that the full-time position would only be filled following a transparent nationwide search.

Remember?

At the time, an article in The Daytona Beach News-Journal assured us:

“Councilman Ben Johnson initially shared concern that appointing Dyer as interim might give the impression that, if Dyer is eventually chosen as the permanent county attorney, that the decision was a “foregone conclusion.”

Those concerns were shared by Councilwoman Barbara Girtman, who said as long as they conduct the search with transparency, she didn’t see Dyer’s interim appointment as a problem.

“It will be transparent. It will be discussed publicly,” said Councilwoman Deb Denys.”

Bullshit.

No search.  No discussion.  No transparency.  A foregone conclusion.  Anointed before lunch.

Let’s face it, Mr. Dyer meets the criteria:  His parents went to school with Councilman Ben Johnson. . .

In my view, he also embodies the institutionalized mediocrity and malleability to permit the continued politicization of the county attorney’s office – something infinitely important to the “system.”

Look, I get it.

A national search may have found a more experienced, polished and independent county attorney – but I can assure you it would not have produced anyone who is more deeply entrenched in the old-timey Good ol’ Boy network that perpetuates this ongoing shit show.

I hope everyone will remember this insulting “tell ‘em one thing, do the opposite” political sleight-of-hand at the ballot box this fall. . .

Quote of the Week

“We’ve got some move-in ready buildings that add up to more than 300,000 square feet of space,” said Sharples. “It’s one of the upsides to losing a company like Costa.”

–Dr. Kent Sharples, Chairman of the Volusia CEO Business Alliance, as quoted in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Volusia looks to step up recruiting space firms,” Saturday, May 30, 2020

You read that right.  According to Dr. Sharples, vacant buildings are just “one of the upsides” to the loss of a long-time area employer. . .

I wonder what the other positives are?

Unfortunately, I don’t run in those tight local circles that seem to have all the answers – and opportunities.

What I do know is our local “economic development” shills and their parasitic hangers-on use the euphemism “adding to the inventory” to describe the growing number of vacant store fronts in Volusia County as restaurants, small businesses and manufacturing plants continue to die, leaving their empty shells behind.

Here in the real world, most would describe the loss of some 300 jobs at Costa Del Mar  – and the resultant massive vacancies at area business parks – as a true blow to our local economy.

The fact is, there is no “upside” to losing a clean manufacturing operation like Costa Del Mar – unless, of course, some well-heeled insider is looking for cheap investment property. . .

In August 2018, The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported that Dr. Sharples and his wife purchased the former Crane Cams manufacturing plant on Holsonback Drive for a cool $1.4 million.

I’m not suggesting there’s anything wrong with that – except, I wish you and I were privy to the same investment opportunities as the president of a quasi-private “business recruitment” alliance who openly insinuates itself in everything from sales tax increases to lobbying local government for even more growth and sprawl.

(I also wish we could all travel the world, hobnobbing on the public dime like Keith Norden and his “economic development” costermongers over at that “public/private” showboat called Team Volusia, but that’s another screed, for another time. . .)

For the record, Dr. Sharples “…said his personal purchase of the former Crane Cams building was not related to his role with the CEO Business Alliance.”

Well, thank God we cleared that up.

Because it would be one thing to “bring high paying jobs” to Volusia County – and quite another to line your pockets while your doing it, eh?

In my view, that would seem sleazy and wrong and smack of ethical conflict – kind of like many of us felt when they found out a certain segment of insiders knew in advance about the super-secret Amazon fulfillment center in Deltona – while others were kept in the dark. . .

I often wonder if the members of the CEO Business Alliance, and the elected handmaidens some of its members have purchased with massive campaign funds, ever take a hard look around at what their overweening desire for personal enrichment has produced in the City of Daytona Beach and beyond?

Whatever.

Something tells me if Volusia County’s reckless push to attract aerospace manufacturers by neutering and compressing permitting and environmental protections doesn’t pan out – we’re going to have a hell of a lot more “inventory” on our hands for Sharples and the gang to play with.

And Another Thing!

During Tuesday’s Volusia County Council meeting, several concerned community activists representing the Daytona Beach Black Clergy Alliance, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and other recognized and respected area leaders stood before our elected officials to very eloquently address some of the most pressing social issues of our time.

Unfortunately, with active protests occurring both locally and nationally, their extremely well-thought and topical presentations fell on deaf ears. . .

In keeping with Chairman Ed Kelley’s royal decree that the exalted members of The Monarchy neither physically acknowledge, nor verbally engage, with the servile subjects who come before them – Old Ed warned the DBBCA representative to direct his words only to him – then cutoff NAACP President Cynthia Slater when her “time was up.”

(How can you tell if someone is actively listening to you?  They constantly interrupt your presentation to remind you of the “rules” of addressing your elected representatives. . .)

The same admonition was given to another speaker who had the impudence to actually cast her gaze upon the illustrious Councilwoman Billie Wheeler, and rightfully take Deb Denys to the woodshed for her astonishingly tone-deaf suggestion to ban non-Volusia County residents from the beach, clearly as a means of controlling young black visitors.

Shameful. 

Of course, the reception was noticeably more warm, jocular and welcoming when many of their campaign contributors and political supporters approached the dais to support Ms. Denys’ pet project, the Commercial Space Industry Opportunity Overlay District.

It was like a weird Old Home Week in the chambers – a palpable familiarity and deference the community activists did not enjoy. . .

As I watched what passed for “public participation” play out – I thought:

If these elected dullards had a modicum of respect for the opinions and suggestions of those community leaders who took their time to come to DeLand and provide substantive input in addressing the seemingly intractable social issues we face, consider how much progress may have been made that morning? 

Had these haughty assholes on the dais of power taken the time to engage in dialog with influential community leaders, how might that discourse have ameliorated the simmering tensions and brought us all a little closer to middle ground?

Instead, the speakers were subjected to the traditional chirping crickets – as our elected officials ignored a valuable opportunity – and Chairman Kelley dithered about time limits and the importance of directing amplified comments to him alone. . .

God help us.

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

 

 

“Not everybody is comfortable with the idea that politics is a guilty addiction. But it is. They are addicts, and they are guilty and they do lie and cheat and steal — like all junkies. And when they get in a frenzy, they will sacrifice anything and anybody to feed their cruel and stupid habit, and there is no cure for it. That is addictive thinking. That is politics — especially in presidential campaigns. That is when the addicts seize the high ground. They care about nothing else. They are salmon, and they must spawn. They are addicts.”

Hunter S. Thompson, Better Than Sex: Confessions of a Political Junkie

Brace yourselves.

Each year about this time, the Spring Triangle becomes visible in the heavens – a seasonal asterism formed by imaginary lines linking Arcturus in Boötes constellation, Spica in Virgo, and Regulus in Leo – forming a broad triangle in the night sky here in the northern hemisphere.

Normally, the celestial formation brings with it the optimism of positive change, the end of winter doldrums, the beginning of warm summer days, spiritual and environmental rebirth.

However, in an election year, it signals the start of aggressive, incessant, no-holds-barred campaigning by both hardened incumbents and neophyte politicians who are holding themselves out for high office in this foul year 2020.

As an observer of the local political scene, I am always intrigued why ostensibly reasonable people would willingly throw themselves into the meat grinder of modern politics – my hat’s off to them – God knows I don’t have the stomach for it.

Trust me.  It’s not for the squeamish – and those who suddenly find they have a ‘fire in the belly’ should wait and determine if it’s a true call to service, or  just abdominal cramps, before throwing their hat in the ring. . .

First, a declared candidate must cultivate the unnatural ability to suppress any sense of self-respect and grovel for nickels and dimes from family, friends and strangers, or, like many, simply sell their political soul to what The Daytona Beach News-Journal once described as our “Rich and Powerful” – the uber-wealthy oligarchs who throw the real money around and use our dysfunctional campaign finance system as an investment opportunity – a means of controlling their environment.

Next comes the process of buying your way onto the ballot by paying a qualifying fee ($2,171.52 for County Chair – $9,727.02 for Sheriff) and party assessment – or engage in the withering process of collecting thousands of signed petitions in every hog waller and rubber chicken supper in their district.

Then, the hard work begins.

Having spent most of my adult life in municipal government, I’ve had the privilege of serving with many outstanding elected servant-leaders who put their heart, sweat and soul into helping make their community a better place by ensuring more efficient service delivery, stewarding public funds in a responsible way, providing a safe environment, and facilitating inclusive public policies that support the social, civic and economic needs of all constituents.

Unfortunately, I have seen others who entered, or remained, in the “public service” with personal agendas that had nothing to do with the concept of service-above-self – petty assholes who became enamored with the trappings of office – too stupid to understand or care about their important role in preserving the public trust – who ultimately fell victim to the internecine wars and personal foibles that left their political careers in a smoking hole of ego-maniacal destruction.

Unfortunately, in Volusia County, we seem to have our share of uninspired dullards – perennial politicians who glide into high office on a wave of greenbacks supplied by our ‘economic and social elite’ who trade in elected officials each election season like cheap livestock.

A terrible local tradition that emboldens these political posers whose identity and sense of ego-driven power comes from their tinpot position on the dais of power – rather than the will of the people.

These political carbuncles have the singular goal of insinuating themselves into positions of influence where their compromised vote will result in a healthy return on investment for their “friends” and contributors – a system where the mere presence of a wealthy power-broker in the council chamber results in obedient reverence from their obsequious hired hands that comprise the elected body.

Shameful.

This year, in certain key races, the stakes could not be higher.

For instance, this week we learned that the Volusia County Council is preparing to “condense” and “fast-track” (read: neuter) the permitting process for any aerospace manufacturer with a connection to commercial spaceflight who seeks to locate operations in environmentally sensitive Southeast Volusia.

These grossly flawed ‘growth at all cost’ policies are spurred on by those craven “economic development” shills at Team Volusia and the Star Chamber of millionaires at the CEO Business Alliance. 

Don’t take my word for it, read a recent article by News-Journal business reporter Clayton Park, “Volusia looks to step up recruiting space firms,” for a closer look at who is really controlling the direction of Volusia County’s artificial economy going forward.

When you add the increasing limitations on our right to even speak to our elected officials – let alone have substantive input in our local government processes – oppressive measures promulgated and supported by the same clueless incumbents with the temerity to ask us for our sacred vote yet again – you begin to see the continued shift away from a county government of, by and for the people.

Bullshit.

Damn the expensive glossy mailers, television advertisements and fluffy endorsements of arrogant political insiders whose self-serving handiwork has left us with cancerous blight in many areas, given away our hard-earned tax dollars to support private profit motives and left thousands of area families struggling at or below the poverty line.

Disillusionment and frustration are understandable – apathy is not.

I implore you to use this campaign season to research the voting records of incumbents, examine campaign finance reports, look into the political heart of those who seek another bite at the apple and question the motivations and agenda of all candidates seeking higher office.

Now is the time for substantive change.

Vote like our lives and livelihoods depend on it.

 

 

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.

Last night Barker’s View had the distinct privilege of appearing on an upcoming episode of the hugely successful Troubled Men Podcast – hosted over cocktails by the incomparable René Coman, bassist for the band The Iguanas, and my friend Manny “A Troubled Man for Troubled Times” Chevrolet, a brilliant comedic talent and the next Mayor of New Orleans!

Please check out the podcast here: https://troubledmenpodcast.podiant.co/

Proud to be part of the Troubled Nation! 

Well, let’s get this hayride started, shall we:

Angel              Mayor Chris Via and the Holly Hill City Commission

“I believe that government should always be fair and should never choose winners and losers. By allowing restaurants to reopen at 50% capacity and serve alcohol to customers, but not allowing bars to operate whatsoever is patently unfair.”

–Holly Hill Mayor Chris Via, Wednesday, May 27, 2020

What defines a hero? 

According to lexicographers, it characterizes a person who is admired for having done something very brave or having achieved something great, someone willing to risk it all, a bold warrior, a mythological or legendary figure, often of divine descent, who is endowed with great strength, ability and courage.

It also describes a sandwich. . .

In the Barker’s Book of Style: The Use and Abuse of the English language, the common noun ‘hero’ distinguishes anyone who stands tall for that which is right and just and gets my fat ass back atop a barstool at my favorite watering hole after more than nine weeks of desert-like misery and privation.

Bars are non-essential?  My ass. . .

Holly Hill Mayor Chris Via is my hero.

On Tuesday evening, the intrepid members of the Holly Hill City Commission listened to the concerns of their constituents – and felt the pain and financial stress of many small business owners who have been left to wither as bars remain closed by Royal Edict of Governor Ron DeSantis – even as restaurants and other service establishment are allowed to reopen.

In my view, it is immoral and unethical for government – acting under the color of law – to select which families will be allowed to prosper, and which will be doomed to insolvency, failure and deprivation – and, by any metric, stand alone bars have been unduly burdened by this arbitrary and officially sanctioned oppression.

In response, Mayor Chris Via sent an open letter to Governor Ron DeSantis imploring him to stop this capricious practice and allow bars and veteran’s organizations – such as the American Legion, AMVETS, and VFW – to reopen in the State of Florida.

In his heartfelt plea, Mayor Via notes that bars provide a communal gathering place and source of social interaction for many who suffer year-round isolation – and represent thousands of hard-working employees and business owners who have gone months without any way to earn a living for their families – even as others in the service industry are getting back to work.

Kudos to Mayor Chris Via and the Holly Hill City Commission for standing up for all that is right and fair.

It is high time government gets out of the way.

I join with Mayor Via in demanding Governor DeSantis put a stop to these biased and prejudicial practices that are killing many small businesses who have shouldered an inequitable share of the financial burden.

End the shutdown!  Open the bars!  Do it now!    

Asshole           Volusia County Councilwoman Deb Denys

When shameless campaigning from the dais goes wrong. . .

In response to Saturday’s event in Daytona Beach which saw a large influx of African-American visitors (including a passel of troublemakers), this week the always arrogant Volusia County Councilwoman Deb Denys exposed the depth of her civic and social disconnect when she proposed a searingly stupid plan to exclude anyone other than Volusia County residents from our public beach – which, in the view of many, is dog whistle for “We don’t want large numbers of black youth on our beach.”

In her incomprehensible plan, Denys suggested that persons living outside Volusia County – you know, “tourists” – be denied access to public beaches through the use of some tyrannical and openly discriminatory scheme to be concocted by the county’s “legal team.”

Just another example of how horribly politicized the county attorney’s office has become.  They no longer ask for a legal opinion – they demand a defense for their worst impulses.

To complicate matters, persons staying in motels, or renting condominiums, would be somehow excluded from Denys’ unconstitutional and patently unfair proposal.

(I could almost hear Beach Chief Ray Manchester’s sphincter chewing a hole in his seat cushion as he tried to figure out how to cull residents from non-residents. . .)

“I think it’s time to look at unusual applications and I think we’re strong enough, our legal team is strong enough to defend it during this time. . . We’ve got to have this.”

As Denys demanded this completely unenforceable decree – both Councilwoman Billie Wheeler and The Very Reverend Fred Lowery bobbed their heads in agreement like a couple of nodding dashboard dogs.

Bullshit.

To her credit, Councilwoman Barb Girtman – the only African-American elected official on the dais (and, in my view, the sharpest mind) – stood firm for all citizens when she openly and rightfully embarrassed Ms. Denys by calling out her ignorant ploy for what it is – while voicing her utter disappointment at the mere suggestion.

Adding insult to injury, Councilwoman Denys rudely branded Ms. Girtman a liar when she pointed out the financial impact closing the beach to non-residents would have – compounding the already devastating economic damage caused by the coronavirus response – all because of a two-hour event in Daytona Beach on Saturday evening.

“That’s not true,” Denys seethed. . .

Of course it’s true!

Why else would you make this cockamamie suggestion, Ms. Denys!

In response, Ms. Girtman continued to speak the extremely uncomfortable truth:

“Have we had this discussion prior to this weekend?  No, we haven’t.  I just want people to search their own heart for their own fears.”

Ms. Girtman rightfully explained that Volusia County works hard to attract visitors from around the world.

So, now these narrow-minded dullards are willing to authorize legal research to discriminate – and determine how best to exclude certain members of the public from a “public beach”?

My God.

Having felt the heat of Girtman’s righteous indignation – as she is prone to do, Denys immediately attempted to slither out of her political predicament like the cowardly windbag she is – claiming closing beaches to out-of-county visitors has been discussed before (?) – then squirming that she only brought it up at the request of “citizens.”

So, what happened to the whole “We’ve got to have this!” call to action, Deb? 

What a disingenuous asshole. . .

Asshole           First Step Shelter Board

Earlier this week, Volusia County taxpayers learned the disturbing news that Catholic Charities of Central Florida has pulled the plug on their long and often controversial involvement with the First Step Shelter, citing “differences in operating philosophies.”

Who didn’t see that coming?

Catholic Charities was hired to run the day-to-day operations of the beleaguered shelter – the City of Daytona Beach’s homeless assistance center turned personal improvement seminar – then stood by collecting a paycheck as our ‘powers that be’ ham-handedly struggled through the fits and starts of construction.

That’s right.

For the past three-years, Catholic Charities accepted monthly payment for “operating” First Step, even while the massively overpriced facility was still a muddy spot in the hinterlands off West International Speedway Boulevard.

I never understood that, but there is a lot about this convoluted shit show I haven’t gotten my mind around. . .

What was once billed as a reasonably priced “come as you are” low barrier shelter has transmogrified into a mysterious personal development program that, as far as I know, has never been publicly explained in terms of programmatic goals, success in similar shelters or per client operational and ancillary costs.

To complicate matters, the program has always been chained to a weird four-headed master, each with seemingly competing goals – Catholic Charities, the neutered First Step Board of Directors, Executive Director Victoria Fahlberg and, at the top of the order, Daytona Beach City Manager Jim Chisholm.

And abject confusion continues to reign.

Now, we are learning of serious internal disagreements over shelter operations – conflicts so intractable that Catholic Charities has decided to jump ship three years into a lucrative five-year contract.

According to an article by the intrepid Eileen Zaffiro-Kean in The Daytona Beach News-Journal:

“Gary Tester, executive director of Orlando-based Catholic Charities of Central Florida, said if Catholic Charities had stuck around, he was afraid there would be more differences of opinion. Basic disagreements about how to make the shelter a true low-barrier, 24-7 operation were never fully resolved. And Catholic Charities has been uncomfortable with running the safe zone that’s under construction now, something that Tester said was not part of the management agreement or funded for operations.”

It remains to be seen if in-house operations will be more effective and cost efficient – or, as these things normally go, if the First Step budget will place a greater focus on personnel costs and executive perquisites, while programmatic goals are allowed to languish.

This bears watching going forward.  

Angel               Chief Craig Capri and the Daytona Beach Police Department

 A veteran law enforcement commander once told me a story that perfectly described the difference in perspective between police officers and those they serve.

Following his retirement, my friend took a leadership position in the weird world of academia.

His first week on the job, an exasperated assistant came rushing into his office announcing an “emergency,” which prompted a visceral response from the former lawman as he instinctively began formulating an all-hazards strategy in his mind to deal with the clearly urgent catastrophe.

When he asked for a detailed account of the situation – his breathless colleague stammered that an important document had been inadvertently directed to the wrong department – resulting in much consternation in the dean’s office.

After taking a deep breath and physiologically descending from Condition Red, he calmly explained to his exasperated assistant that an “emergency” is when an armed suspect takes hostages and barricades himself in a hospital – while misrouted memorandums are an easily corrected administrative inconvenience. . .

Two totally different views of the same issue.

Unfortunately, rumor, speculation and outright misconceptions continue to circulate over an unfortunate event last Saturday evening when a group of troublemakers marred what should have been an enjoyable day at the beach for thousands of young black visitors who came to the Daytona Beach Resort Area for a quasi-organized party promoted on social media.

Every facet of this event – residents, law enforcement, attendees, visitors, business owners – each have a different perspective on what happened – now with the clarity of 20-20 hindsight.

I suspect that what may have seemed like a riot to some – may not have appeared as bad to seasoned law enforcement commanders who responded and resolved the incident with de-escalation techniques and an eye toward public safety – rather than an “arrest them all, let God sort them out” mentality.

It is called being damned if you do and damned if you don’t – and it comes with the job of every law enforcement officer who ever pinned on a badge.

As the firestorm of criticism continued this week, Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri defended his agency’s response – a strategy that saw massive numbers of holiday visitors, and the resultant heavy traffic, cleared from the peninsula in a little over two-hours with mutual aid assistance from Sheriff Chitwood and his deputies.

Absent the unfortunate fistfights – and a terrible shooting that injured six people – much of the raucous crowd appeared to be having fun – including the hilarious scene of a laughing young lady “twerking” for a clearly uncomfortable Sheriff Mike Chitwood, who seemingly took it with good humor in the spirit of the moment.

It is natural in the aftermath of a chaotic and confusing event that many will question the official narrative – and seek to find fault in the very agencies and individuals who were charged with restoring order and ensuring the public’s safety.

That also comes with the job. . .

Make no mistake, the pockets of lawlessness, brawling and violence on Saturday have no place in our community – and with a video shoot and block party planned for later today – I have every confidence our law enforcement professionals will be monitoring and respond appropriately.

In planning for today’s event, officials have placed crowd control barriers along areas of A-1-A that saw traffic blockage last weekend – and some in the community are now complaining that the barricades are “ugly” and scoffing at their effectiveness.

Whatever.  Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. . .

I have had the pleasure of knowing and serving with Chief Capri for thirty-years.

In that time, I have come to understand the good heart and sharp mind of a dedicated career servant-leader with a true passion for protecting and serving others.

While some disagree with his off-the-cuff straight talk – or find it offensive that he mixes it up with his detractors – I find it refreshing that Chief Capri has the courage to stand before the harsh glare of the cameras and speak directly to his constituents, the citizens of Daytona Beach, getting out front of the serious issues of the day with a brash style and blunt candor.

In a service where an increasing number of police chiefs choose to communicate behind the relative safety of canned press releases and professional mouthpieces – Chief Capri still understands the civic importance of giving residents his real-life take on incidents and community issues in a direct and unvarnished way.

For good or for ill, that level of accessibility and transparency can result in vehement criticism – even “should’a, could’a, would’a” scapegoating – yet, he never lets the incessant blame game create a void between his agency and those it serves.

Knowing Chief Capri as I do, he will use the lessons of Saturday night to improve his agency’s response protocols – and I hope he takes the venting and criticism of the pseudo-experts in stride.

In my view, Chief Capri and his outstanding officers and staff do a difficult job under often dangerous circumstances with incredible valor and selfless dedication to the highest traditions of the police service.

They deserve our support, partnership and respect.

Quote of the Week

“The beauty of Daytona Beach is that it is not Orlando. Let’s strive to maintain that beauty and take much better care of what we already have.”

–Civic activist Anne Ruby, speaking in The Daytona Beach News-Journal’s Letters to the Editor column, “New development plans demand scrutiny,” Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Amen.

And Another Thing!

I recently took News-Journal editor Pat Rice to the woodshed in this space for an op/ed, which, in the view of many, went over-the-top when the newspaper executive referred to those who use social media – everyman’s soapbox – to voice dissenting opinions on the issues we collectively face as “misinformed, uneducated knuckleheads.”

My counterpoint obviously struck a nerve, and many in the community expressed their views on social media – some supporting Mr. Rice’s perspective on the current vote-by-mail debate – while others vehemently disagreed.

An overall healthy, if not unwieldy, discussion of a topical and newsworthy issue – and Mr. Rice took to social media and wallowed around with the rest of us as he confronted his critics in a no-holds-barred way – a tactic that offended some subscribers.

Then, things turned ugly.

According to Mr. Rice, an anonymous coward saw fit to throw eggs at his personal vehicle – a craven act he obviously equated to the heated disagreement surrounding his editorial stance.

By any measure, what happened to Mr. Rice is wrong.

A criminal act designed to instill fear of retaliation for voicing an opinion has no place in the arena of public debate – or our community.

To his credit, even after being violated, Mr. Rice offered to sit down with the unknown vandal and have an honest discussion – something I felt showed incredible grace under the circumstances.

In my book, that is the epitome of good citizenship – and promotes the idea that we should be able to voice competing points-of-view without fear or oppression.

Look, I’ve been on the receiving end of credible threats by small-minded assholes who attempt to stifle the free and open debate of the issues on this blog site, some of which border on the statutory definition of extortion – but I choose to ignore these gutless bastards – and will continue to voice my opinion as a means of driving a larger discussion in the community.

To that end, I refuse to allow comments on this site that promote violence.

So, if you’re one of those “by any means necessary” types who call for armed insurrection over a minor zoning dispute or promote violent rebellion to correct a local policy snafu – there are plenty of places in the bowels of the innerweb that will embrace your sick thoughts – but not here.

We live in an incredibly polarized time in our national history – and we need more tough dialog to strengthen our sense of community, bind wounds and encourage the debate of competing ideas to our collective benefit – not less.

In my view, it is important that everyone who values our sacred right to self-expression and the rule of law condemn the vandalism Mr. Rice experienced – and hold ourselves to the high standards and sense of personal responsibility our sacred freedoms require.

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

 

 

 

There are many perspectives on what happened in our core tourist area and beyond on Saturday – but this was exactly what the Daytona Beach Resort Area didn’t need.

Not now.

With our hospitality industry in shreds and much of our local economy still closed – the coordinated influx of thousands of out-of-town visitors, invited to Daytona Beach by faceless event promoters who use social media to publicize events, then vaporize when things descend into lawlessness and violence – has left another indelible blemish on “the brand.”

Given the inevitable international media coverage that follows these things – with over-hyped headlines like “Blood on the Boardwalk” – our already taxed tourism industry will be forced to further repair an already tattered reputation.

In the aftermath, officials each have their own unique take on the event – law enforcement leaders consider their response a success because crowd and traffic control strategies worked as planned – politicians and social activists are seizing the moment to point fingers and Monday morning quarterback – while residents are left reeling from the sights and sounds of a chaotic fracas that brought fear of widespread violence that was flogged – non-stop – on social media.

We live in a world where information travels at the speed of a keystroke – where anyone with an iPhone camera and a Facebook account can push their physical and social point of view to the masses, literally at the push of a button.

On Saturday night, many of us first learned of the event when social media lit up with snippets of video showing traffic blockages on A-1-A, reports of a mass shooting near Ocean Walk, scenes of Sheriff Chitwood directing this deputies through a haze after a sports car smoked the tires danger close to a mass of onlookers, throngs of people blocking roadways, followed by another unruly commotion when someone distributed cash to the crowd through the sunroof of a surrounded vehicle.

For many residents, the event unfolded in a series of online vignettes and secondhand accounts – then speculation and confusion reigned as people chose to craft a narrative from these scraps and clips – rather than trust official sources.

Then, in the aftermath, fear naturally turned to anger as some questioned why beach authorities allowed large groups of people to openly violate the social distancing rules that hundreds of locals have been warned and cited for in recent weeks – not realizing that de-escalation techniques often require a tightening, or loosening, of enforcement measures to avoid unrest.

Trust me:  These are decisions only those who are actually in the arena can make – often modifying strategies on the fly as circumstances change – and I believe our city and county officials did a commendable job of maintaining order and keeping people safe in a potentially explosive situation.

For instance, in 2018, after the Daytona Truck Meet turned into a scene from Mad Max: Fury Road, law enforcement regained control with the issuance of some 2,100 traffic citations – while city and county officials vowed never to host the event again.

In the United States of America, people of all races, colors, creeds and social pursuits have a right to peaceably assemble for lawful purposes – like gathering to enjoy a weekend at the beach.

In my view, second-guessing law enforcement – or demanding accountability for what was a textbook logistical example of how to move large numbers of people and vehicles out of the area following the shooting incident while returning stability to pockets of disorder – is, at best, misplaced anger, and, at worst, a quick way to place blame.

Yesterday, we were again reminded of the difficult and dangerous work our courageous law enforcement officers face everyday, when a man who had just attempted to carjack a woman in broad daylight turned his rifle on Daytona Beach police officers – who responded decisively to protect themselves and others.

We simply must stop blaming the police for societal failures they cannot control.

The fact is, any group that visits the Worlds Most Famous Beach has an obligation to follow the rules, obey the law, conform to the social mores and community standards that residents embrace as they enjoy our greatest natural amenity in a way that promotes public safety and leaves locals anxiously awaiting their return.

This isn’t about race – at least it shouldn’t be – and anyone who suggests otherwise is taking a very narrow view of the unfortunate events of Saturday.

And it isn’t about Daytona Beach – similar scenes of irresponsible behavior played out in places around the nation this weekend, as people sought relief from weeks of deprivation and isolation.

It is about personal responsibility and the perils of a flash-point mob mentality, when a few bad actors take advantage of a worsening situation and act out, engaging in selfish, violent and irresponsible behavior that diminishes our quality of life, instills fear, consumes civic services and, in the aftermath, irreparably damages the reputation of a community dependent on tourism.

In my view, when the influx of visitors is the result of a quasi-organized event that receives no permit or official authorization – one which places our community’s response behind the curve by requiring our public safety and planning officials guess at everything from the number of participants to adequate traffic patterns, staffing and crowd control strategies – that is unacceptable, and the blames lies squarely with irresponsible promoters who should ultimately be held accountable for their actions.