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:

Earlier this week, someone on social media opined that reading Barker’s View is like watching Fox News – “Angry, twisted versions of facts that are always spun negative.”

Guilty as charged.

To show that I’m not a complete Debbie Downer, I thought we would start this week’s segment with a little game I like to call, “Guess Where?”

The rules are simple – study the photograph below and take a wild-ass guess if the thing depicted is in Kabul, Port-au-Prince, Juarez or the Daytona Beach Resort Area?

Come on.  Play along.

Our friends at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Beachside Redevelopment Committee and the Regional Chamber of Commerce are welcome to join in!

It’ll be Wide.  Open.  Fun!

Asshole:          City of Deltona

It’s clear to anyone paying attention – Florida has its issues.

But something the beleaguered residents of the Sunshine State have going for us is a robust public records law – one that ensures the people’s right to know what our government is doing with our money, and why.

In fact, under the law, public officials are required to interpret record requests in the broadest possible way – that means not quibbling over non-existent technical exemptions.

Last week, we learned that the City of Deltona’s event manager, Chris O’Donnell, resigned his post just one month after the city’s $9 million community center opened.

It’s important, because Mr. O’Donnell was a major salesman for the tax funded project – including providing decision-makers with dubious projections that the center would bring in some $970,700 annually – a figure significantly higher than what similar public facilities realize.

With a few weddings, a birthday party and a smattering of civic events under its belt, is it possible that Mr. O’Donnell came to the sobering realization that Deltona’s highly touted new center wouldn’t come close to his initial earning predictions?

Or, are there internal or political conditions inside City Hall that made it impossible for him to continue?

The suspense was exacerbated by Mr. O’Donnell’s cryptic comment in the newspaper that he would never work in city government again.  That’s strange, because wild horses couldn’t pull most bureaucrats out of their cushy offices – highly sought-after jobs with important titles, regular pay and awesome benefits (I know, I was one of them. . .)     

What gives?  

Unfortunately, the details of exactly why Mr. O’Donnell left the public service remain open to speculation – but when it comes to Deltona government – it seems conjecture and guesswork are typically all we have to go on.

Why is that? 

As I understand it – Deltona’s uber-weird City Manager, Jane Shang, has unilaterally exempted O’Donnell’s letter of resignation under the terms of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act – a federal law designed to protect the privacy of medical records and healthcare information.

I also find it interesting that O’Donnell recently told the Daytona Beach News-Journal he is prohibited from discussing the terms of his departure due to a “non-disclosure” agreement he signed with Deltona.

That’s odd.

Why would a local events manager be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement?

I mean, literally everything about the facility – from the budget to fees to bookings – are open for public scrutiny.

Once again, the City of Deltona has succeeded in turning some routine human resources matter into a Hardy Boy’s mystery – and it is completely unnecessary.

In my view, Jane Shang and other senior administrators have worked overtime to keep the public’s prying eyes out of city business.  This includes the imposition of onerous fees and other hoops designed to frost the windows at City Hall and hide the machinations of this wholly dysfunctional government.

Again, why?     

I sincerely hope that the Daytona Beach News-Journal doesn’t take this bullshit lying down.

In my opinion, any news organization worth its salt owes it to their consumers to dig deep and challenge pseudo-exemptions to our cherished open records law by government pencil pushers with a paranoia disorder – even on issues that don’t seem that important on their face.

Angel:             Commissioner Rob Littleton, Ormond Beach

In an open letter to the editor of the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Ormond Beach District 4 City Commissioner Rob Littleton put into words what many of us have been thinking.

As our elected officials in both municipal and county government are ramping-up an intensive “re-education” campaign designed to sell We, The People on their latest money grab – a one-half cent sales tax increase, ostensibly to fund transportation infrastructure improvements in Volusia County – Mr. Littleton is a voice of reason.

In his letter, Commissioner Littleton explained that he has a real problem with three aspects of the plan that is being foisted on us by the powerbrokers.  These include the potential for using tax dollars generated by the increase for other than transportation needs, disparities in funding distributions, and the use of public money (and staff time) to sell the tax hike with this “vaguely defined” education campaign.

Mr. Littleton asked, “Do they (constituents) want their property tax dollars used to sell this to the voters?” 

According to a dubious private study, bought and paid for by that Star Chamber of uber-wealthy elitists over at the Volusia CEO Business Alliance, voters will most likely support the half-cent measure – but it will require a “disciplined, well-funded, and well-executed campaign plus strong and nearly universal support from the local governments through the county.”

Well, it appears Mr. Littleton is one servant-leader who is not in lock-step with the crowd.

It takes political courage for a lone public official to stand up, speak the truth, and ask the hard questions – especially when certain last names are involved.

The fact is, given the abysmal track record of Volusia County’s current administration – and the very real fear that any tax increase will ultimately be hijacked and diverted for things other than the original selling point – Mr. Littleton is right to be skeptical of the motivations of those who stand to benefit most.

In my view, we need more like Rob Littleton in public office.

He has demonstrated the strength of character and fortitude to stand against a very strong flow and logically consider the best interests of his constituents – rather than blindly push the self-serving notions of a few political insiders with a profit motive.

Angel:             City of Daytona Beach & First Step Shelter Board

 There is a memorable quote from a long-forgotten movie starring Danny Devito – “All I know is, the choices we make dictate the life we lead.”

I’m a strong believer in personal responsibility, and the importance of good decision-making to a happy and healthy life.  My father taught me that.

My life experience proved to me that sometimes things conspire against the best of us – and when you’re living on the ragged edge of sanity, addiction, or complete financial ruin, it doesn’t take much to end up in a living hell.

Sometimes people slip through the societal cracks.  In the Halifax area, we drive past them every day, tourists walk around them at beachside parks and they live and die in the shadows.

And we shake our heads in pity – or cuss them for what they represent in a resort area already struggling with blight.

But the question remains, do we, as a society, have a moral obligation to provide for those who cannot adequately care for themselves?  That small, but very visible, segment of our local population who – for myriad reasons – can no longer meet what Maslow described as the basic physiological needs of food, water, clothing or shelter.

Well, that is the age-old conundrum – and I certainly don’t have the answer.

What I do know is that the City of Daytona Beach – and those who dutifully serve on the First Step Shelter Board – continue to work tirelessly to find a compassionate solution to the problem of chronic homelessness and the deleterious economic and social impact it is having on the Halifax area.

Even when they don’t agree – they never stop trying.

I admire that.

This week, city officials took their case to the First Step Board, explaining that conditions at the “safe zone” near Clyde Morris Boulevard and Bellevue Avenue are becoming untenable.

The solution proposed by Daytona Beach was relocating the encampment to a patch of scrub near Derbyshire Road – a location which would put the safe zone near the “Boomtown Boulevard” of the LPGA corridor.

For good reason, the board rejected that idea – but allowing a growing tent city in the middle of a major commercial corridor, literally on the doorstep of Embry-Riddle, isn’t the best option either.

It’s a tough problem, but that doesn’t mean we should stop thinking about alternative solutions.

The City of Daytona Beach has borne more than their fair share of this difficult burden, now it is time for Volusia County and other area municipalities to step up to the plate.

In my view, the Volusia County Council has – like always – simply thrown money at the problem without taking a whit of responsibility for finding workable answers.

Unless someone with the strength of personality and political clout of Mrs. Forough Hossieni takes the lead and ramrods a project (like Hope Place) to fruition, our county officials are seemingly blind to the catastrophe unfolding on our streets.

Chronic homelessness is a countywide problem that will ultimately require a countywide solution.

And with the First Step Shelter still over a year out – we desperately need workable options to the current safe zone – solutions that will require strong leadership and creativity.

Unfortunately, as usual, the Volusia County Council is out-to-lunch when it comes time for the heavy lifting.

In my view, it is high time for Ed Kelley and those dullards sitting on the dais of power in DeLand to stop sitting on their laurels – smugly content that throwing around copious amounts of our money is the sole extent of their obligation – and begin working collaboratively with Daytona Beach to develop alternatives.

Look, I take a lot of cheap shots at Daytona Beach city officials – but I have been incredibly impressed with their efforts to find a compassionate answer to an incredibly difficult problem.

Clearly, the City of Daytona Beach should not be expected to bear the full impact of this growing humanitarian crisis alone.

Trust me – with “Speed Weeks” just days away, I suspect we will see some movement on this issue very soon.  I only hope the very real needs of those we are trying to serve aren’t forgotten in the shuffle.

Asshole:          B-CU Board of Trustees

Just before this forum published last week we learned the grim facts of Bethune-Cookman University’s involvement in a weird luxury apartment development in Daytona’s struggling Midtown neighborhood – a project that was so secret apparently not one of the university’s trustees – or anyone in city government – was aware of it.

Now, Canadian developer Heron Group has been left holding the bag after B-CU abruptly backed out of the deal – and there will be hell to pay.

It is apparent that the Heron Group, unlike the B-CU board of trustees, does not hesitate to protect its interests.

A blistering lawsuit recently filed by the Heron Group’s able attorney charges – among other sins – that Bethune-Cookman engaged in fraudulent misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment and breach of contract.

The suit is seeking calamitous damages against the university totaling in the tens-of-millions.

As the ramparts built by the university’s disgraced former president Dr. Edison O. Jackson continue to crumble, we are left with a very bleak picture of a terribly compromised institution – one with absolutely no substantive oversight and an immoral lack of accountability by senior administrators and trustees.

Look, I’m just a smartass with a thesaurus – but these are truly smart people – and it defies logic to say that board members and senior staff with extremely close ties to the university, and the community, simply didn’t know what was going on.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first-time intelligent people ignored their best instincts – or their responsibilities.

For instance, Bethune-Cookman University’s At Large Trustees include luminaries such as the Halifax areas own Dr. Kent Sharples.  Excuse me?

I mean, how many more local institutions of higher learning are we going to allow ol’ Kent to involve himself with?

I’m just asking.

Only in Volusia County can you go from the American Music Festival disaster to the boardroom of the CEO Business Alliance and Bethune-Cookman University. . .

In most industries, senior administrators are given one bite at that apple before they are exposed as jacklegs and cashiered out of the service – but not in academia – or economic development organizations, I suppose.

Is it possible everyone was too busy accepting honorary doctorates, bickering over commencement speakers and bullying whistleblowers to notice that Dr. Bethune’s beloved institution was being looted by some of the very administrators charged with protecting and promoting it – or was something even more nefarious afoot?

I mean, how could the Board of Trustee’s not have known?

The answers to these increasingly difficult questions will ultimately be revealed – and this sordid mess won’t end well for those who feebly attempt to sweep things under the rug and clean up the evils of the past.

This growing scandal is too big to contain now – and the very fate of a once great university hangs in the balance.  It is time for those with direct personal involvement to step aside and allow professionals to investigate, formulate the appropriate charges and begin the process of bringing those responsible to justice.

It is going to be expensive – and it is going to take time.

I say again – in my view, this difficult period should rightfully begin with the immediate resignation of the Board of Trustees.

It is time for complete transparency, and anything less is counter to the goal of exposing the truth and rehabilitating the reputation of this important institution.

Quote of the Week:

 “Do residents believe government employees should take time and effort away from serving the citizens in order to promote this new sales tax?  Do they want their property tax dollars being used to sell this to the voters?  Of course they don’t, and neither do I.”

 –Ormond Beach City Commissioner Rob Littleton, writing in the Daytona Beach News-Journal, regarding the proposed half-cent sales tax increase.

 News & Notes:

Near the end of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the title character reckons it’s time to light out for the territory, lest Aunt Sally “sivilize” him – “I can’t stand it.”  Huck said, “I been there before. . .”

I know how he felt.

Now and then you must throw off the yoke, spit the bit and go a little crazy.  It is the only effective preventative I know for the curse of complete insanity – a condition I stagger closer to everyday.

It’s time to recharge and relax.

This week, the Ancient and Honorable secret order known as “The Fun Pigs” will launch on another great adventure, seeking wanton fun and shameless debauchery in a place that holds great significance for my wife Patti and I (more on that later).

Yep!  We’ve iced down some cold beer in the Yeti, laid in a supply of fine spirits, and fueled up with a full tank of freedom as we set out on another infamous road trip.

During this brief hiatus from the roil and churn of local political shenanigans, I’ll be posting a few “Best of Barker’s View” segments – and adding some goofy quips and commentary describing our escapades on social media as well.  (If you’re not already following BV on Facebook and Twitter, now would be a great time to get off your arse and join the fun!)     

As always, thanks so much for reading.

I am proud to report that January 2018 was one of the best months in the history of this experiment in alternative opinion blogging – and I sincerely appreciate your continued interest.

Please know that I’ll be back tilting at the windmills of life here on Florida’s Fun Coast on Monday, February 12^th, when Barker’s View will join Big John on “the fastest two-hours in radio” – GovStuff Live! – beginning at 4:00pm.

Find us at 1380am or online at www.govstuff.org (listen live button)!

We are also in the planning stage for a possible “Barker’s View Readers Party” – a good, old-fashioned kegger – sometime this spring, with all donations going to support those intrepid souls at Sons of the Beach in their fight to protect our heritage of beach driving and access!

Stay tuned!

Have great weekend, y’all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The problem with doing someone a favor is eventually they come to expect it from you.

Just ask the City of Daytona Beach.

This week, city staff let the First Step Shelter Board know that conditions at the homeless “safe zone” near Clyde Morris Boulevard and Bellevue Avenue have become untenable.

In fact, the place has taken on the appearance of Toussaint’s leper colony in French Guiana, and anyone who has driven by the burgeoning tent city can see that something must change.

It’s also clear that city officials are getting pressure from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and other strong forces, to move the camp out of a major commercial corridor – a location which is literally in the side-yard of Daytona International Airport.

I understand their concern.

After thoughtful discussion, board members rejected the city’s request to spend $585,555 to develop an alternative site in the scrub west of Derbyshire Road.  The idea of moving the encampment to the “Boomtown Boulevard” area of the LPGA corridor is counter to the thriving, multi-use gateway many are working and spending to achieve.

I understand that decision as well.

The fact is, the City of Daytona Beach has done their level best to find a compassionate solution to this growing issue while other elected bodies, namely the Volusia County Council, have sat on their ass and done nothing – except take convenient credit for the good work of others.

On Wednesday, Chief of Police Craig Capri, speaking in the Daytona Beach News-Journal, didn’t mince words, “The current situation is not working.  Why does Daytona Beach always have to take the brunt of it?”

He’s right.

From the moment city officials took the reins and intervened in the Great Homeless Standoff of 2016, partnering with the Salvation Army to move entrenched street people from the front of the Volusia County Administration Center on Beach Street, Daytona Beach has demonstrated a true hands-on willingness to help.

Now, it is time for Volusia County government to become an active part of the solution, you know, like our doddering fool of a County Chair, Ed Kelley, said they were during his haughty State of the County Address.

By any measure, the economic and social impact of chronic homelessness is a countywide problem – which deserves a countywide solution.

Regardless of which side of the issue you fall on – we are facing a true humanitarian crisis that simply cannot be ignored while we wait on a more permanent answer – and save the bullshit tough-talk and “let ’em starve” rhetoric for someone else.

Look, I’m no Mother Teresa, but I find that flippant attitude immoral.

We have a warm and dry facility to house and nourish stray dogs – and we should probably have something similar to provide basic, temporary shelter from the elements for our fellow human beings who cannot care for themselves.

Why?  Because its the right thing to do.  That’s why.

With the First Step Shelter more than a year from completion (?), it is imperative that local governments find a way to work collaboratively to develop an effective alternative.  After all, that’s what it means to serve in the public interest – and while that concept is foreign to many area politicians – sometimes you gotta bite the bullet and make things happen. . .

Perhaps Daytona Beach City Manager Jim Chisholm’s idea of each municipality identifying its own safe zone is a fair and equitable (albeit temporary) solution to the Halifax areas current quagmire.

I mean, if the mosaic of east Volusia municipalities each want their own fiefdom, then you have to take the good with the bad.  But in universal issues that effect all of us, County government has an obligation to find comprehensive answers.

Good luck with that.

In my view, rather than demonstrate strong leadership on this important issue (or anything else for that matter), Volusia County has – in typical fashion – turned its back on the citizens of Daytona Beach, choosing to simply throw our money around, rather than roll up their sleeves and help with the heavy lifting.

As President Theodore Roosevelt once said, it’s easy to criticize how the doer of deeds could have done them better – God knows, I do it all the time.  But I truly commend the City of Daytona Beach for bearing the full impact of this difficult problem, all while working diligently to find an effective and benevolent way forward.

Now, it’s time for Volusia County – and other area municipalities – to step up and do the right thing.

Bullshit!

Please excuse the expletive – but there simply is no other way to express my outrage at the back-handed, bait-and-switch machinations of those ethically bankrupt assholes who have seized control of Volusia County government.

As a long-time area resident who served in municipal government for over three-decades, suffice it to say I’ve seen some “things” in my day.  But the level of open treachery to which our doddering fool of a County Chair, Ed Kelley – and that pack of dullards we elected to represent our interests – will stoop to erase our heritage of beach driving has reached its nadir.

Under the terms of a 2015 ordinance – conveniently amended in 2017 – the languishing Hard Rock Daytona (a “theme resort” reanimated on the skeleton of the haunted Desert Inn – once known as “America’s Dirtiest Hotel,” in more ways than one) was required to meet a laundry list of performance standards (right down to a “Gourmet Sundries Shop” and “Lobby Barista”) and be open for business no later than February 28, 2018, or the “traffic-free zone” would not be implemented.

Fair enough, right?

Now, as evidence mounts that Summit Hospitality can’t possibly meet the conditions established by ordinance in the next 30-days – County Attorney Dan Eckert is beginning his patented quibbling and hogwash designed to convince us rubes that the performance standards set by the County Council aren’t really that important after all.

Unfortunately, Dan is being assisted in pulling the rug out from under area residents by our doddering fool of a County Chair, Ed Kelley, who was recently quoted in the newspaper essentially saying, ‘fuck the performance guarantees.’

So long as the property receives a certificate of occupancy – Old Ed is happy.

But that’s not what they promised us in April.

Trust me – Volusia County will remove beach driving from the strand behind the Desert Inn/Westin/Hard Rock on February 28^th regardless of the project’s condition.

In my view, based upon my personal observations of construction activities, and photographs on social media showing serious concrete spalling and structural fractures compromising the hotel’s seawall, the Hard Rock project is nowhere near ready to open.

Look, you don’t have to be that surly little bald guy from “Hotel Impossible” to know when a luxury, “4-Diamond” property is prepared to welcome guests – and, in my estimation, the Hard Rock Daytona could use a few more months to finalize some important details and complete the high-end, luxurious amenities they promised (like a swimming pool. . .)

Instead, Dan Eckert and Ed Kelley run cover –  tap dancing and blowing dust in the air – while the developer pull’s some slapdash cover moves in a last-ditch effort to meet their agreed upon obligations to the citizens of Volusia County and open by the end of February.

Who do our county officials work for?

In my view, Dan Eckert should check his pay stub.

He might discover that he accepts public funds and actually serves the interests of We, The People of Volusia County – not the marketing needs of Summit Hospitality Group.

How typical.  How tragic.

If anyone with two synapses still firing needs evidence of the ugly “Us vs. Them” mentality of Volusia County government, hide and watch as “our” County Attorney and his team begin the process of changing the rules mid-game.

I realize what a shock to the system it is when one comes to the sudden realization that their elected officials are bald-ass sneak-cheats and liars – but the evidence is clear – and mounting.

If Hard Rock International wants to build “buy-in” and develop an important partnership with area residents (all of whom wish them nothing but success), they can start by admitting the property remains under construction, take their time moving forward, and embrace and incorporate beach driving for the unique area tradition it is.

Folks, when you’ve had enough of this flimflammery, join Florida’s premier beach advocacy organization, Sons of the Beach, and help fight for our heritage of open access and driving on the World’s Most Famous Beach.   

Find your friends and neighbors here: https://www.sonsofthebeach.org/

And remember – as we enter the 2018 election cycle – any candidate or issue these incumbent assholes support is immediately suspect.

They simply can no longer be trusted.

 

Photo Credit:  Paul Zimmerman, January 24, 2018

Hi, Kids!

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

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

Asshole:          Chairman Ed Kelley & the Volusia County Council

On Monday, the annual political bacchanalia known as the “State of the County Address” was held at the languishing Ocean Center – a beautiful county-owned facility with a 42,000-square foot arena, and seating for over 9,000, that has been reduced from staging Elton John and Bob Dylan concerts to hosting quilting bees.

Everyone (who is anyone) dutifully gathered for this spectacle of vanity run amok – an orchestrated opportunity for our elected officials to showcase dubious “accomplishments and achievements” – slap some backs, and take credit for the work of others during the past year.

According to News-Journal reporter Dustin Wyatt, (who relegated their coverage of the soiree to page C-1), the theme of the event was “Accelerating to new heights.” 

It beats “Going to hell in a handbasket,” I suppose.

This year, just like every year, our delusional elected officials in DeLand aptly took credit for their true role in the Dinneen regime – facilitating “local financial support” (read: corporate welfare) for all the right last names – to include gifting millions of dollars in public funds to Brown & Brown, the billionaire international insurance intermediary, for a new headquarters building.

Oh, Old Ed threw in a few zingers – like claiming responsibility for a couple of public parks and nature trails – and grabbed the glory for “opening” beach ramps that were arbitrarily and inexplicably closed years ago.

 (I’m not sure giving back something we already had can be considered an “accomplishment” – but here in the Twilight Zone, anything is possible.)

Of course, our High Panjandrums of Political Power took time to grovel for their handlers, and gush appreciation for their “sponsors” – comprised almost exclusively of county contractors or political insiders – who ponied-up the estimated $30,000 so our movers & shakers could enjoy a “free lunch.”

Free lunch.  Yeah, right. . .

I noticed Mr. Kelley didn’t take credit for the strategic neglect that has left county-owned facilities throughout Volusia County in a state of utter dilapidation – to include prime real estate held off municipal tax roles as potential “off beach parking” – deplorable conditions that contribute to blight in Ormond Beach and elsewhere – or the recurring gaffs and mistakes, open theft of our heritage of beach driving, off-the-agenda sleight-of-hand, tax addiction, lack of infrastructure planning, astronomical fee increases, or the pathological secrecy that shrouds everything this administration does or says.

And I’m sure Ed didn’t mention the bizarre “public policy by ambush” strategy that has become Mr. Dinneen’s modus operandi, a Machiavellian scheme that continues to seriously undermine public trust in Volusia County government.

Perhaps most mindboggling was Mr. Kelley’s warm embrace of recent hard-won homeless initiatives as a county “achievement.”

My ass.

For years, Volusia County fought tooth-and-nail to obstruct any reasonable solution to the homeless problem; that is until the City of Daytona Beach, Mrs. Forough Hossieni and other local leaders took the reins and developed workable solutions to this pervasive countywide problem, one that continues to hamper real “economic development” and adds to the overall sense of hopelessness that pervades many areas of east Volusia.

Shameless.

When this snoozefest was resurrected last year, I wrote:

“Note to Chairman Kelley: The benefits of a lavish State of the County address are lost on us uncultivated rubes who gaze in amazement at the cringe-worthy state of affairs in DeLand – where our Sheriff has rightfully and openly exposed our County Manager as a “lying sack of shit” on the front page of the newspaper – and we keep rehashing corporate welfare projects and an increasingly artificial economy as “progress.”  Frankly, given our current imbroglios – it really is poor optics – either pure arrogance or utter denial. 

What’s changed?

Asshole:          Bethune-Cookman University Board of Trustees

Now, it is undeniable.

The disturbing pattern of corruption, intrigue and outright ineptitude is threatening the very future of Bethune-Cookman University – and it happened right under the nose of those charged with protecting and promoting the institution.

From the ugliness of last year’s dormitory debacle – a still brewing scandal which may ultimately expose the university to $306 million in crippling debt – to the latest revelation of the Heron Group’s super-secret partnership with former B-CU executives in an unrealized development known as the “MLK Lofts” – a weird project that was initially billed as luxurious high-end apartments positioned in Daytona’s horribly blighted Midtown.

(I wrote about it here: https://barkersview.org/2017/02/08/volusia-politics-smarter-than-the-average-bear/ )

As often happens when our worst fears are realized, the layers of this tragic disaster are being revealed slowly – like peeling a rotten onion – and now those responsible are being exposed as well.

With each new revelation, we see with greater clarity what happens when the frantic cries of the whistleblower are ignored – and unbridled arrogance and power form a malignant cancer on an institution – a hubristic disease which is allowed to metastasize by the complicity, and acquiescence, of those charged with providing oversight and accountability.

Like you, I’m still digesting things, but there is enough blame to go around.

There are a lot of unanswered questions, too.

Like, who knew what – and when.

Like, did Daytona Beach Redevelopment Director Reed Berger – or anyone else – perform even cursory due diligence before the city authorized some $3.6 million in tax abatement for the MLK Lofts project?

(I’m no expert, but even a rube like me knows there is a huge difference between a college dormitory and a posh, upmarket apartment complex.)

And why didn’t Deputy City Manager Jim Morris bring his insider knowledge of the deal to the attention of his boss, City Manager Jim Chisholm, when he became a public servant?

I’m not making accusations – I’m asking.

These are serious questions, that deserve serious answers.

I know Hubert Grimes to be an exceptional man of high integrity and great intellect, and I have every confidence in his ability to right a ship that is in grave danger of foundering – but that correction will require complete transparency, even when it gets uncomfortable.

In my view, the ultimate blame resides where it always does – at the top – squarely on the shoulders of the one individual who accepted the high mantle of responsibility as Chairman of the Bethune-Cookman University Board of Trustees – Mr. Joe Petrock.

Chairman Petrock – you didn’t know?

Really?

As B-CU alum and current Daytona Beach City Commissioner Paula Reed so eloquently stated in the Daytona Beach News-Journal, “This could bankrupt us,” said Reed, the only city commissioner who voted against the MLK Lofts project. “Where were the gatekeepers, the Board of Trustees, when this was taking place? To say you didn’t know is a poor excuse. The Board of Trustees are the supervisor of the president.”

Indeed.  Where in hell were the gatekeepers?

(Inexplicably, Mr. Petrock appears to have been out-to-lunch when the university he oversaw was being looted from within – yet, he still found time to accept the J. Saxon Lloyd Lifetime Achievement Award from the Halifax Civic League last week. Talk about shameless. . .) 

I suspect that when all is said-and-done, someone is going to jail – at least they should – and many others will be exposed as the frauds they are.

Now, Bethune-Cookman University is in real jeopardy – and we are left with the knowledge that those who were personally, ethically and morally responsible for protecting the institution – and Dr. Bethune’s esteemed legacy of “faith, scholarship and service” – failed in their sacred duties.

That is inexcusable.

In my view, it is past the time for former Chairman Petrock to resign – and for Interim President Grimes to request a federal investigation into the increasingly obvious financial crimes that have brought this venerated and historic university to its knees.

Angel:             Dr. Marie Herrmann, Volusia Medical Examiner

Barker’s View extends hearty congratulations and a sincere “thank you” for a job well done to Dr. Marie Herrmann, who recently announced her well-deserved retirement after over ten-years at the helm of the Volusia County Medical Examiner’s Office.

I don’t want to cloud Dr. Herrmann’s good work with the stench of politics – so I’ll just say that she did more, with less, than perhaps any other senior executive in Volusia County.

In all my professional dealings with Dr. Herrmann, I found her to be a quiet professional – intently focused on “getting it right.”  She served her various constituencies, to include law enforcement, the judicial system and bereaved families, extremely well.

Best wishes for all future endeavors, Dr. Herrmann.

Thank you for your outstanding service and dedication to the citizens of Volusia County.

We’re glad you came our way.

Asshole:          Lake Helen City Commission

There’s an old Chinese proverb the starstruck elected and appointed officials of Lake Helen who recently approved the I-4 Auto Mall development should become familiar with:

“Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true.”   

Angel:             Tim Curtis & L. Gale Lemerand

In the transient environment of the Halifax area – things come, and they go.

There is very little feeling of permanency – those places where we can come together, have common experiences and build a sense of community.

The original Houligan’s in Ormond Beach is one of those venues.

It was recently announced that area restaurateurs Tim Curtis and Gale Lemerand are bringing “our” Houligan’s back to life later this month after the building sustained extensive damage during Hurricane Matthew.

As a long-time area resident, I was a regular at Houligan’s predecessor – Scooters – a small sports bar in the South Forty Shopping Center where I passed many long nights playing shuffleboard, shooting pool and having copious libations with friends.

When Tim and his late father, Wally, opened Houligan’s in 1990, it was a natural sync – and a huge success.  It became the place we celebrated family events, enjoyed an after-work beer and met friends to catch up on the local gossip.

I’ve often said that Tim Curtis and Gale Lemerand do more for our community behind-the-scenes than any two people I know.  Their brand of discreet philanthropy, always focusing on real needs while remaining out of the limelight, sets the example for community-based problem solving and personal generosity.

Congratulations to Mr. Curtis and Mr. Lemerand for investing their incredible talents in finding a way to return this iconic Ormond Beach eatery to those of us who love it – who need it.

Angel:             Volusia Property Appraiser Larry Bartlett

Kudos to Property Appraiser Larry Bartlett for doing what his predecessor wouldn’t and putting some much-needed teeth in local code enforcement efforts.

Look, I know this idea isn’t popular with everyone – nor should it be.  But, in my view, the time has come to try something new.

Just before I retired from municipal service in 2014, the City of Holly Hill threatened a lawsuit against former Property Appraiser Morgan Gilreath, when he refused the city’s request to place code liens as a non-ad valorem assessment on tax bills.

When I took up the rocking chair, I lost track of how things ultimately shook out.

I thought it was a good idea then, and I still do.

Let’s face facts – we continue to suffer the long-term consequences of lax or non-existent code enforcement in municipalities throughout Volusia County – and some unincorporated areas are in worse shape yet.

In some cases, it is the result of political cowardice – many elected officials simply can’t fade the political heat that comes with holding constituents accountable – and sometimes it’s just good old-timey incompetence.

In cities where decades of blight and dilapidation have become the norm, there is a real sense by enforcement officials that the task at hand is simply too great to accomplish.

They feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the beast.

When you couple that frustration with the fact code enforcement efforts historically haven’t been supported by administrators and elected officials (“complaint-driven” response, limitations on proactive enforcement, political meddling, etc.) and literally nothing is accomplished – and no one really cares.

When this cycle repeats itself for years – communities end up where we find ourselves today.

Is there a potential for abuse?  Sure.  But most modern code compliance ordinances have ample due process requirements, rules of evidence, and the opportunity for an outside, unbiased review by a special magistrate or the judicial system.

For example, one need look no further than the outstanding work of Daytona Beach Special Master David Vukelja for reassurance.

Under Mr. Bartlett’s plan, long-term violators – those who simply will not comply with traditional compliance efforts – face the very real possibility of financial sanctions that cannot be ignored or deferred.

It’s a good start.

Let’s try something different for a change.

Now, I hope Bartlett will “crackdown” on phony agricultural exemptions by large corporate landowners in Volusia County.  In my view, if our elected officials keep planning these perennial tax increases – its high time everyone pays their fair share.

Angel:             Jeff Feasel, CEO, Halifax Health

The Halifax Health Board of Commissioners took some heat on the street this week after authorizing a compensation and benefits increase for Chief Executive Officer Jeff Feasel.

According to reports, the move brought Mr. Feasel’s base salary to $586,500 – which (believe it or not) still places him among the lowest paid administrators in the industry.

Look, regular readers of my twaddle know that I’m the first to call bullshit on the over-the-top salaries commanded by a few of our do-nothing anointed ones – but I happen to have a personal connection to Mr. Feasel’s leadership.

Several years ago, two incredibly talented surgeons – Dr. Joel Sebastien and Dr. Harry Black – removed my sigmoid colon in a six-hour operation at Halifax Hospital.  The procedure required a few days stay in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit and nearly a week recuperating in the France Tower.

The experience gave me a broad overview of the staff and services provided by Halifax Health.

From the moment I walked in the front door until my discharge, the quality and consistency of customer service rivaled that of Disney World.

Perhaps most important, the professionalism of the nursing and medical staff was second-to-none.

The nurses and technicians who treated me provided a quality of care that transcend what one would expect from a public hospital – or a private setting, for that matter.  These men and women were true angels of mercy, and their healing skills were based upon real human compassion and the highest standards of modern medicine.

Kindhearted, attentive, sympathetic, caring and technically proficient.  These caregivers remain my personal heroes.

Whenever I have the opportunity, I tell people about my wonderful, life-changing experience at Halifax Health.  We are truly blessed to have this incredible, technologically advanced facility in service to our community.

I don’t know Mr. Feasel personally, but I recognize talent and leadership when I experience it.

In my view, if his management style and personal commitment to excellence in healthcare have contributed to this outstanding culture of care and professionalism – then he deserves ample compensation for his incredible contribution to our community.

Quote of the Week:

“The main purpose of One Daytona is to supplement the Speedway.”

 –Jeff Boerger, ISC Vice President for Corporate Development, speaking in the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

And that, in a nutshell, explains why our local elected officials handed over $40 million of our hard-earned tax dollars to subsidize a little family enterprise located just across the street.

A place where shoppers are required to pay a one-percent “Enhanced Amenity Fee” on retail purchases at the publicly underwritten One Daytona complex.

In 2015, the France Family was listed at #53 on Forbes magazine’s list of the Richest Families in America with an estimated net worth over time of $5.7 Billion dollars.

News & Notes:  Our friend Anne Ruby – a tireless civic activist who has worked diligently to foster positive change and improve our quality of life in Volusia County – is launching a refreshing new public affairs blog, bringing her unique insight to the often-thorny issues facing us here on the Fun Coast.  It’s good stuff.

Find it here:  www.annotations4today.com

Have a great weekend, y’all.

I must admit – I didn’t think much of New Smyrna City Manager Pam Brangaccio.

Her exchange with a local homeless advocate in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Irma put me off.  In a pique, I took Ms. Brangaccio to the woodshed on this forum – even after she publicly apologized for a transgression born of mental and physical exhaustion.

I was wrong – I often am.

And I apologize.

There is no denying the fact that Ms. Brangaccio has a true talent for civic management, and she is actively helping transform New Smyrna into one of the most desirable communities in Central Florida.

The contributions and stewardship of Mayor Jim Hathaway and the City Commission have added to the sense of political stability and cohesiveness evident in everything the city does.

And now, the citizens of this beautiful beachside community can also take credit for fostering real progress.

Last week, New Smyrna officials hosted the first of many community meetings specifically designed to bring the input and creativity of area residents into the decision-making process.  Over 250 citizens gathered at the Brannon Center to discuss ways to ensure New Smyrna remains a strong and resilient community.

I am pretty sure that’s the way things are supposed to work in a representative democracy – but it’s been so long I’m beginning to doubt my instincts.

Can you imagine – in your wildest wet dreams – a scenario in which Volusia County government would solicit feedback from We, The People on anything – let alone our actual needs and priorities?

My God.

Public input and transparency is anathema to the uber-reticent administration of County Manager Jim Dinneen.  In fact, the efforts taken to hide the county’s true agenda has left Mr. Dinneen and County Chair Ed Kelley looking like Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole.

After all, if you include citizens in the planning process, value outside participation and solicit “buy-in” – then you lose the all-important “surprise factor” that well-executed ambushes require.

In Jim Dinneen’s world, it just muddies the water when you discuss options and possibilities with your constituents.  For Little Jimmy, it’s so much easier to buy an opinion from a consultant, knowing you have the complete acquiescence of the elected representatives.

He would rather spring a massive $260-million construction debt on an unsuspecting public, surprise us with off-the-agenda legislation, or file a lawsuit against grassroots organizations to prohibit their participation in shaping public policy.

When you compare this tragic, ham-fisted bungling that passes for governance in the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center with the innovative and civically inclusive processes in successful communities – the glaring differences are shocking – and perfectly exemplify why no one trusts county government anymore.

Unfortunately, the insular sense of political superiority that shuns outside ideas in favor of focusing exclusively on the needs of a few well-connected insiders, isn’t limited to the Volusia County Council.

Municipalities throughout Volusia County – especially the mosaic of communities on the east-side – should parrot the management and leadership traits so evident in places like New Smyrna Beach and DeLand.

These communities are doing it right – in partnership with all stakeholders.

By including those who ultimately pay the bills in the planning process – and truly valuing their contributions – everyone involved can experience the pride of success as they work cooperatively to build a strong, sustainable city together.

Good work, Ms. Brangaccio – and the citizens of New Smyrna.  Thank you.

Hi, Kids!

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

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

Asshole:          Rep. Randy Fine (R) Palm Bay & Sen. Jeff Brandes (R) St. Petersburg 

 I don’t agree with much that Florida’s redundant “Tourism Officials” do or say.

In fact, I think the idea of “marketing” a beautiful beach – or an ecological paradise like the State of Florida – is an unnecessary waste of time and money.   

For example, take the recent debacle surrounding the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s goofy “Wide. Open. Fun.” campaign – an incredibly expensive and nonsensical promotion that many believe is counter to our decades-long effort to rehabilitate our tarnished image from what Penthouse magazine once dubbed the “Sleaze summit of the United States” to a desirable family destination.

Last week, the Florida legislature took up bills filed by Rep. Randy Fine and Sen. Jeff Brandes which would permit local government access to millions in local tourist development (“bed”) taxes for infrastructure and other subjective “tourist-related” projects.

Look, perhaps some bed tax dollars should be allocated to improve the “product,” but I simply do not trust this oligarchical kleptocracy that passes for governance here on the Fun Coast with one more dime.

Do you?

In Volusia County – our elected and appointed officials have an insatiable tax-and-spend appetite – and this measure would provide a whole new source of green cash for even more corporate giveaways and panacea projects.

Like I said, I happen to believe that attractive, safe and accessible beaches sell themselves – but without the “bed tax,” our “tourism officials” wouldn’t be pulling down six-figures annually, now would they?

Ultimately, who benefits?

In my view, if we are to have a tourist development tax, it should be spent as it was originally intended –  to rehabilitate, promote and market the destination to the visitors who sustain it – not divert funds to the wants of our compromised elected officials and the greedy self-interests of their handlers who have proven, time and again, that enough is never enough.

This is specifically why I instinctively oppose any new tax initiatives.

Invariably, the funds are ultimately hijacked, perverted – and diverted.

Remember this when you are being inundated by the half-cent sales tax promotion this summer.

Angel:             Fran Gordon, Mid-Florida Housing Partnership

In my view, if there is one person who truly deserves Angel Status, it’s the irrepressible Fran Gordon, executive director of Mid-Florida Housing Partnership.

From her early work with domestic violence victims to her current efforts to secure safe housing for low income families, Fran has become the Patron Saint of Lost Causes in the Halifax Area.

Despite the odds, Fran Gordon never gives up.

Last week, she laid bare the grim facts of Volusia’s affordable housing crisis for the Chamber of Commerce crowd.

According to Fran, the living options for low wage – even moderate income – workers in what I describe as Volusia’s artificial service economy are limited or priced out of reach.  With area rents on one-bedroom apartments reaching $1,000 per month, Gordon estimates it takes an hourly wage of $20 to keep rent in line with other monthly living expenses.

Unfortunately, lawmakers have diverted state housing funds, which are derived from a fee on all real estate transactions in participating counties, to other uses (sound familiar?).  As a result, these funds, which are provided to local governments to assist worthy families acquire their slice of the American Dream, have dwindled in Volusia County from a high of $1.4 million to just $350,000 annually.

In my view, the abject greed that has resulted in tens-of-millions in tax dollars pissed away on corporate welfare incentives for Forbes-listed billionaires and international corporations – and helped create a subsidized economy that has skewed the local marketplace – is finally painting all of us into a corner.

In fact, Volusia County has become widely known as a place with low wages and no hope for advancement – or opportunities to succeed.  It’s why our children leave for college and never return – and its why wealthy political insiders always use the empty promise of “jobs” whenever they seek a return to the public tit.

We are rapidly becoming a fetid Banana Republic – a place fractured by those who have, and those who don’t – where the wealthy confine themselves in gated subdivisions, complete with fake ambiance, and try hard to avoid the overwhelming sense of instability, inequality and hopelessness just beyond the walls of their “lifestyle community.”

I was encouraged by the fact Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry has set affordable housing as the city’s top priority for 2018.

At a recent City Commission meeting, Mayor Henry said:

“We do have to figure out ways we can encourage more it in our community.  I’m recognizing how dire the situation for housing is for many people in our community.  We can’t simply say there’s nothing we can do.” 

Now, I hope Mayor Henry and his fellow elected officials will demonstrate the strength of leadership necessary to improve affordable housing options for the thousands of families in Daytona Beach and beyond who are struggling mightily to make a life here on Florida’s Fun Coast.

Angel:             Political Analyst Mike Scudiero

I know, its blasphemous to speak ill of the fabulous One Daytona, with its “symbiotic” relationship with the “all new” Daytona International Speedway.  But earlier this week, I did it anyway.

I get it – One Daytona is a great place to watch an overpriced movie from a Barcalounger – and we’ve become so starved for culture in the Halifax area that a P. F. Chang’s is now considered exotic dining.

By all accounts, it’s a great addition to the area – and after all, we helped pay for it.

But when is enough, enough? 

Last week, an old friend, the distinguished political analyst Mike Scudiero, sent me a disturbing photograph of a placard near the point-of-sale at a One Daytona establishment announcing something called an “Enhanced Amenity Fee.”

“Notice of EAF – All retail purchases at One Daytona are subject to an Enhanced Amenity Fee (EAF).”

“The EAF is an additional one percent added to the total amount due before sales tax.”

“The EAF will not exceed $350 for any applicable purchase.”

“The EAF will be reinvested to continually enhance the center, including its public space, mobile technology, entertainment options and public art program.”

“Thank you for your patronage of One Daytona.”

My ass.

I have a fundamental problem with these dubious surcharges that seem de rigueur at shopping centers from Tanger Outlets to the Port Orange Pavilion.

Proponents of these bullshit “convenience fees” claim that we need these new developments in town – along with the dining options, entertainment and jobs that come with them – and they don’t mind paying extra for the privilege of an up-scale experience.

They also claim that the consumer is going to pay for maintenance of the property one way or another – so why not put it out there that the cost is being passed on to the shopper, rather than hide it in the retail price?

Given the fact that goods and services at One Daytona businesses cost essentially the same, if not slightly more, than other retailers in the area tells me that overhead has already been figured in the purchase price – this EAF is gravy.

The fact is, One Daytona took $40 million in public funds up-front for tax abatement, infrastructure improvements and other “incentives” clearly designed to maximize corporate profits on the back of every taxpayer in Volusia County and Daytona Beach – and now they gouge us again with a surprise “Enhanced Amenity Fee” at the very place we helped subsidize?

When does a “public/private” partnership turn into a usurious victimization – a parasitic exsanguination of the very people who were previously tapped to fund a private project with their hard-earned tax dollars?

Look, you can call this turd whatever you want – but this sales-related “fee” is nothing more than a money-grubbing tax by any other name.

The positive – if there is one – is that payment of this tax is purely voluntary.

You can simply choose not to shop at One Daytona.

I, for one, will never patronize a One Daytona business so long as this usurious assessment is involuntarily shackled to purchases – and I will encourage everyone within my sphere of influence to do the same.

For instance, earlier this week I chose to shop at The Fishing Hole – a long-established bait and tackle shop in Downtown Daytona – rather than make the trip to Bass Pro Shop at One Daytona.

What a wonderful, personalized experience, and it felt good to support a local small business.

I realize my one-man boycott won’t make a difference – after all, One Daytona is the “next big thing” and everyone wants to be a part of it.  But I’m known for tilting against the windmills of modern life, just on principle alone.

The fact is, my money spends anywhere, and so does yours.

Thanks for looking out for us, Mike.

Asshole:          Volusia County Council

Save the posturing, Deb.

Everyone – and I mean everyone – knows that Volusia County government will never ask developers to pay their fair share for necessary infrastructure expansion through appropriate impact fees.

Never gonna happen.

At this weeks Volusia County Council meeting, Deb Deny’s (who is up for re-election) was allowed to play to the crowd and float the idea.

“I think it’s time that we revisit impact fees. If we are going to ask the taxpayers, the citizens, to agree with us on some of these increased costs, we need those who are making the direct impact to be part of it too.”

Please.  Stop the tacky campaigning-from-the-dais drama.

It’s poor form.

Of course, our doddering fool of a Council Chairman, Ed Kelley, telegraphed how our elected officials really feel about holding their major campaign contributors accountable for massive profits on unchecked growth through impact fees – which are among the lowest in the region.

They don’t like it at all.

Why?  Because their handlers don’t like it.  That’s why.

With huge residential and commercial developments planned from Farmton to the Flagler County line – please don’t look for our complicit elected officials to do anything that would offend the right last names.

No, they would rather stiff every man, woman and child in Volusia County with a sales tax increase rather than hold those who stand to benefit accountable.

Angel:             DeLand Citizens for Conservation & Responsible Growth

The incredibly sharp legal minds at Cobb Cole know that there’s more than one way to get an Auto Mall built – or anything else for that matter – just go for the point of least resistance, dangle the carrot – and polish the small town rubes with a fine chamois cloth until you get your way.

After a few relatively quiet months, the Hurley I-4 Auto Mall is back on the front burner – and this time, they want to be a good corporate citizen of the small hamlet of Lake Helen, Florida.

I guess they figure its infinitely easier to “deal” with small town elected officials.

They’re probably right.

After all, the development would more than double the city’s tax base – and with the interstate serving as an asphalt buffer – the development will have far less impact on quaint Lake Helen than it will ultimately have on the beleaguered residents of DeLand’s Victoria Park neighborhood.

For the uninitiated, DeLand car dealer Brendan Hurley has been trying for over a year to figure out a way to pull an end run on his vocal opponents and build a multi-dealership “Auto Mall” on property directly abutting the established Victoria Park subdivision.

As I’ve previously reported, when Victoria Park was developed and marketed, the adjoining zoning did not permit auto sales.

Of course not, who in their right mind would have bought a home there if the original plan included the amenity of listening to an amplified loudspeaker screaming, “Service, Line two!” – fourteen hours a day.  Everyday.

My hat’s off to those brave souls who make up the “Stop the I-4 Auto Mall” brigade – a subsidiary of DeLand Citizens for Conservation & Responsible Growth, Inc.  – good people who are invested in the future of West Volusia and are standing firm in their belief that quality of life is infinitely more important to their community than massive, unchecked growth on the I-4 frontage road.

This dedicated group needs the moral – and financial – support of all Volusia County residents who value self-determination and community activism. They can be found at www.stopi4automall.com

 Quote of the Week:

“Tourists and residents don’t exist in a vacuum.  Residents will build a community where tourists can be excited about being here.”

 –Amy Pyle, Candidate for the Daytona Beach City Commission, speaking to the Halifax Area Advertising Authority, just before they unanimously authorized $732,500 for the year-long, three-word marketing campaign:  Wide. Open. Fun.

Screw it.  They get what they want – and you and I are just along for the ride.

I hope these insufferable Big Shots enjoy it while it lasts, because I’m beginning to sense a quantum shift in the political wind here in Volusia County. . .  How ’bout you?

Have a great weekend, y’all.

 

 

 

 

Yeah, I know.

The fabulous One Daytona, with its “symbiotic” relationship with the “all new” Daytona International Speedway, is a great place to watch an overpriced movie from a Barcalounger – and we’ve become so starved for culture in the Halifax area that a P. F. Chang’s is now considered exotic dining.

But when is enough, enough? 

Last week, an old friend and one of our preeminent political analysts, Mike Scudiero, sent me a disturbing photograph of a placard near the point-of-sale at a One Daytona establishment announcing something called an “Enhanced Amenity Fee.”

“Notice of EAF – All retail purchases at One Daytona are subject to an Enhanced Amenity Fee (EAF).”

“The EAF is an additional one percent added to the total amount due before sales tax.”

“The EAF will not exceed $350 for any applicable purchase.”

“The EAF will be reinvested to continually enhance the center, including its public space, mobile technology, entertainment options and public art program.”

“Thank you for your patronage of One Daytona.”

My ass.

“ACHTUNG!  You hapless piss ants – It’s not enough that we extracted $40-million dollars in public funds, tax abatement, infrastructure improvements and other “incentives” from you star-crossed fools to reduce our financial exposure and enhance our languishing motorsports business – now, we are going to wring an additional 1% from your skinny little wallet every fucking time you dare to shop here!”

Oh, you don’t want to support our entertainment options and public art program?

Tough shit.  Not an option.

You want to patronize the shopping center you rubes subsidized?  Pay-up at the register, asshole.

When does a “public/private” partnership turn into a usurious victimization – a parasitic exsanguination of the very people who were previously tapped to fund a private project with their hard-earned tax dollars?

As I understand it, the One Daytona Community Development District – the governing body which manages “community development services in the area” –  does not have the authority to levy an additional sales tax – but the board can charge dubious “assessments” which are tied to properties within the District’s boundaries.

Look, you can call this turd whatever you want – but this sales-related “fee” is nothing more than a money-grubbing tax by any other name.

My God, when will we ever finish paying for this thing?

I consider myself relatively well-informed on current local issues – but I’ll be dipped if I saw or heard any formal announcement relative to the implementation of this “EAF.”

The positive – if there is one – is that payment of this tax is purely and exclusively voluntary!

You can simply choose not to shop at One Daytona.

I, for one, will never patronize a One Daytona business so long as this usurious assessment is involuntarily shackled to purchases – and I will encourage everyone within my sphere of influence to do the same.

Not that it will make a difference – it won’t – after all, One Daytona is the “next big thing” and everyone wants to rub up against it.

But in my view – Screw these greedy bastards.

My money spends anywhere, and yours does too.

 

Photo Credit: The Daytona Beach News-Journal

 

“O wad some Power the giftie gie us, to see oursels as ithers see us!”

–Robert Burns, “To a Louse”

The very next line of ol’ Rabbie’s poem has been translated as, “It would save us from many mistakes and foolish thoughts.”

Sometimes to truly understand the character of a place it takes an outsiders unvarnished view of things to bring honest perspective.  After all, no one wants to acknowledge their own faults and foibles – admit weakness or willingly expose shortcomings – and our vanity and pretensions rarely allow us to see our own imperfections.

But others can.

I recently read an excellent piece by Jim Abbott writing in the Daytona Beach News-Journal touting the almost ready for prime-time Desert Inn/Westin/Hard Rock property.

The piece entitled “Daytona Gets Its Groove” received a prominent spot on the front page of Sunday’s paper, and rolled out the soundtrack for the languishing project – 90-minutes of music selected by Hard Rock International’s music and memorabilia historian, Jeff Nolan.

The playlist – described as a mix of “vintage surf to sophisticated ultra lounge music” – has been released on Spotify as “Daytona Getaway!”

Given the Halifax areas rich contributions to the music industry and culture of the 60’s and 70’s – from The Nightcrawlers, Allman Brothers and the incomparable Floyd Miles – to our outstanding current crop of musician/songwriters such as Rueben Morgan and bluesman Mark Hodgson – I’m surprised Hard Rock corporate failed to solicit local input, and in doing so, missed a great opportunity to build community support for a property that really needs local buy-in.

Whatever.  Not my job.

Given the fact that many residents are still sore over the Volusia County Council’s retroactive legislation which pushed back their promise to remove beach driving from the strand behind the Desert Inn/Westin/Hard Rock – a deadline of February 28, 2018 that is rapidly approaching – one would think Hard Rock International would want all the local goodwill they can muster.

What I found most telling was Mr. Nolan’s unique thoughts on his impressions of the Daytona Beach Resort Area.  Speaking in the News-Journal, Nolan said, “Daytona Beach is such an unusual place.  There’s a little bit of a John Waters-y vibe here.” 

He quickly recovered by adding, “. . .which is one of its big strengths.”     

Indeed.

For the uninitiated, John Waters is an eccentric film director, screenwriter, author and journalist who has elevated bad taste to an art form.

He is known as The Sultan of Sleaze, The People’s Pervert, The Baron of Bad Taste and the Pope of Trash among other monikers that even a degenerate like me finds too distasteful for print.

To fully understand Mr. Nolan’s spot-on analogy, it helps to have a basic perspective of John Waters’ absurdist view of the world around him.

In his cult classic Pink Flamingos, Waters cast the late drag queen Divine as ‘Babs Johnson,’ an on-the-run criminal who is dubbed by a tabloid “The filthiest person alive.”  Babs lives in a trailer park with her ne’er-do-well son, Crackers, and their “traveling” companion, Cotton.

Ultimately, Divine is harassed by the Marbles, a couple of low-life crooks who run a black market “adoption clinic” and are openly envious of her title.

The film progresses with what one critic described as, “…every kind of cruelty, obscenity and freak show behavior you can imagine, notoriously including unsimulated coprophagy and chickens killed during sex.”

However, there was one pivotal scene in the film that perfectly correlates with Mr. Nolan’s weird assessment of our hometown.

During one take, Divine holds a kangaroo court after having charged the Marbles with, “first-degree stupidity” and “assholism.”

Suffice it to say, it doesn’t end well in the movie – but does anyone else see the glaring connection between the offenses charged and our own elected and appointed officials in Volusia County?

Let’s face it, if First-Degree Stupidity and Assholism were truly crimes against the community, I know a few on the dais of power that would be thrown in the mythical Bud Light Pit of Misery for a long time to come. . .

Dilly Dilly.