At first blush, I really didn’t think I had a dog in this fight.

After all, I don’t own rental property and my experience with short-term rentals is limited to my family’s increasing use of online “sharing” services like Airbnb and VRBO – sites that pair vacationers and business travelers with hosts around the world.

I enjoy the convenience of renting a larger space – such as a private home or condominium – often for less than the cost of a chain hotel.

If you haven’t tried it, I strongly encourage you to consider it.

The more I ruminated on the issue, the more I realized that anyone with a vested interest in the health and future of the Daytona Beach Resort Area should keep an eye on how our ‘powers that be’ ultimately settle the growing battle between the City of Daytona Beach and owners of short-term rental properties – both of which depend on a vibrant tourism industry.

On Monday, Circuit Judge Leah Case found merit in the property owner’s case and the lawsuit will continue.

As I understand it, short-term vacation rentals are currently prohibited in most residential areas of the city by an ordinance dating to 1993, which, among other things, sets rules requiring a minimum rental of six months duration.

Although current regulations permit the practice in certain “tourist zoning districts,” vacation rentals are a no-no in most neighborhoods.

Apparently, the city didn’t begin enforcing the prohibition with any regularity until 2015.

In my view, this expensive and time-consuming fight is unfortunate – and its time that the City of Daytona Beach and other municipalities in the mosaic of communities in east Volusia County awaken to the benefits of this growing segment of the state’s tourism economy.

You don’t have to venture very far into many neighborhoods in Daytona Beach – especially on the languishing beachside – to see the devastation that has resulted from a stagnating service-based economy, decades of neglect, a lack of strategic vision and almost non-existent code enforcement.

In certain areas, malignant blight is so prevalent that it creates a gut-wrenching visual.

The deplorable condition of once vibrant residential and commercial districts is defining our community in the eyes of residents and visitors alike – and that’s not a good thing for the future of tourism on Florida’s Fun Coast.

When investors purchase dilapidated properties and renovate them into a marketable short-term rental – it has a radiating effect in the surrounding area, slows the spread of blight and proves that pride in appearance can be equally contagious.

According to the intrepid Mary Synk, who owns short term rental property in Daytona Beach, these renovations are performed at private expense, without tax abatement or government incentives, and the construction and ongoing maintenance provides jobs, such as landscaping, property management and other trades while increasing sales at local businesses.

In addition, allowing sharing services to collect and remit occupancy taxes on behalf of hosts would contribute to the overall economic health of our community.

In fact, a recent study by Walt Disney World – no slouch when it comes to the art and science of tourism – found that vacationers who use short-term rentals spend five times more money during their stay than those who use traditional hotels.

To help educate the public and lobby for responsible regulation and ownership in this growing industry, Ms. Synk and her group Supporting Affordable Vacations for Everyone has developed an informational website at www.savedaytona.org – I encourage everyone to check it out.

Obviously, local governments must retain the right to enact common-sense rules to alleviate nuisance issues and ensure the health, safety and quality of life for all residents – but property owners should be permitted to market short-term rentals in an open and responsible way without oppressive government regulation.

In my view, many local hotel/motel operators are part of the problem.

For years they have refused to reinvest in their product, squeezed profits while paying shit wages for scullery work and allowed their facilities and amenities to deteriorate.  While some hoteliers have kept up with the times, many others on Atlantic Avenue and beyond have become little more than fleabags which contribute to the seedy sense of hopelessness that continues to plague revitalization efforts.

And those flophouses that dot Ridgewood Avenue from New Smyrna to Ormond Beach are essentially  crime incubators – places that harbor transient drug dealers, prostitution activity and provide an unsafe environment for unfortunate families caught between a week-to-week motel room and homelessness.

In my view, it’s time that our elected and appointed officials come to the realization that we simply must incorporate innovation and alternatives to the status quo.

It is also time for local government to get the hell out of the marketplace.

Why is it so damn difficult for public officials to grasp that when you create an aesthetically pleasing environment with responsible government regulations that encourage entrepreneurial investment and a level playing field, good things happen?

Trust me – the last thing east Volusia cities need to be wasting code enforcement efforts on is vacation rentals. . .

According to John Albright, president and CEO of Consolidated-Tomoka – who’s compensation package demonstrates that he is infinitely smarter than I am – recently said in the Daytona Beach News-Journal, “I think it’s an awesome idea to incentivize people to invest in these properties.” 

He went on to explain that many successful resort areas throughout Florida – all of which compete with the Halifax area – have embraced short-term rentals as part of their comprehensive tourism and marketing strategy.

“If they can have it, why can’t we? We can start with an area and see how it goes. You could go from Main Street to ISB and around the Ocean Center,” he said.

I agree.

If any good came from that wheel-spinning exercise that was the Beachside Redevelopment Commission, it’s that our community leaders are beginning to realize that doing the same thing for decades, while expecting a different result, isn’t working out.

 

 

 

 

 

I frequently receive heartfelt calls and messages from residents of the Halifax area who are increasingly dissatisfied by the direction our local political “leaders” – from New Smyrna to Ormond Beach – are taking us.

Especially in terms of irresponsible development.

In Ormond Beach, many remain horrified by the sight of the shocking scene of the environmental abattoir that now encompasses both sides of Granada Boulevard.

Recently, to make way for a commercial project spearheaded by local developer Paul Holub, a beautiful hardwood hammock populated by majestic old growth oak trees was clear-cut – I mean decimated and churned into sawdust – to make way for another convenience store, a chicken wing drive-thru and a mystery grocery.

An intrusive, noisy, high-traffic and completely inappropriate commercial beehive plopped at the exact interface of a long-established residential neighborhood and the Granada corridor.

Many times, all it takes is one highly visible insult our collective conscience to awaken the sleeping masses to an important civic issue that, under normal circumstances, many would shrug-off as “politics as usual.”

But this is different.  There is a visceral component to the devastation.

What happened to those historic trees and wildlife habitat was wrong.

I recently spoke with a citizen who lives near Mr. Holub’s muddy quagmire on Tomoka Road who, due to his homes proximity to the project, has real concerns about how the radical change in topography will affect flooding issues in his neighborhood and beyond.

The gentleman told me that he called a long-time Ormond Beach city commissioner who – astonishingly – dismissed the citizen’s concerns, then crowed that he had never made a mistake during his over 15-years on the dais of power.

Other neighbors that I’ve spoken to report similar responses to their concerns about the project – and it appears no one on the all-male revue that is the Ormond Beach City Commission seems to see a problem with this wholesale destruction of a natural space that has galvanized our community.

And that, my friends, is the crux of the problem we face.

During my service in municipal government, I learned that all people really want is to be listened to.

They want to know that those who they elect to make decisions that directly effect their lives and livelihoods care enough to hear their concerns – then factor that input into the legislative process.

It really is that simple.

The problem is, in government as in many pursuits where imperfect human beings are granted extraordinary power over others, a mild superiority complex – over time – morphs into unbridled hubris.

This isn’t universally true – I know several long-serving politicians who respect the high office they have ascended to and hold their sacred responsibilities to constituents above their own self-interests.

But it is increasingly rare at all levels of government.

The problem begins when the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker transition from engaged citizen to elected policy maker and begin the slow process of setting themselves apart from their constituents.

Very important people begin to fawn over them, they are invited to social events that they wouldn’t have been allowed to wash dishes at before the election – and the symbiotic relationship based upon, “I need your campaign contribution.  Good, because I need your vote on certain issues. . .” begins to blossom.

Once they sell their souls and compromise their independence – some politicians become everything they hated.

Soon after they assume a position of power, the media takes notice, and our newly minted royals are quoted on the front page of the newspaper, no matter how inane – or untrue – their every utterance may be.

They begin to buy into their own schtick.

Add to that the trappings of the office, and the near-constant kowtowing of the sycophantic lickspittles who often populate low-level government offices and elected officials begin to believe they are “different” from the rest of us – which reinforces an overweening sense of infallibility.

The checks and balances of self-doubt begin to evaporate and the “I’ve never made a mistake” pathology takes root.

In Volusia County, the Donor Class have perfected a political strategy of funneling massive amounts of money into the campaign coffers of their hand-select candidates for local offices early in the process – a tactic which scares away otherwise viable candidates without the financial wherewithal to mount an effective challenge.

In short, the electorate begin to feel that the outcome is a foregone conclusion – they are inundated by glossy mailers touting the bought-and-paid for candidate’s attributes and see professionally produced television advertisements of the wannabe and his perfectly coiffed family frolicking on the beach – and the voters natural instincts are dulled.

After all, if an astronomically successful billionaire believes Joe Schmoe is good for our community – who am I to disagree?

And the cycle continues.

It is heartening to see that from the utter shock of the Holub debacle has grown a grassroots effort in the form of CANDO II – a group of concerned Ormond Beach residents who are committed to environmentally responsible growth and accountability in future land use decisions.

So far, one quality candidate has emerged in Ormond’s Zone 3 race to challenge the status quo – who just happens to be – believe it or not – a woman (I mean, its an elected office – not the Ormond Beach Rotary Club, for Christ sake).

In fact, Sandy Kaufman – a veteran Volusia County Deputy Clerk of the Court – recently announced that preserving our greenspace and ensuring that the devastation seen at the Granada Pointe site never happens again is the very foundation of her candidacy.

Good for you, Ms. Kaufman – we need more like you in the mix.

I hope other citizens with a true desire serve their neighbors make the difficult decision to run as well.

In my view, the only way we can overcome the current political climate that has placed the whims and wants of political insiders over the real needs of residents is the power of the ballot box.

I fear it’s now, or never.

To quote Sheriff Mike Chitwood – Volusia County (and, I would add, many of its municipalities) – needs an enema.

In my view, it is time for voters to return a sense of humility and service-above-self to the Halls of Power in Ormond Beach and beyond.  We can do this by electing servant-leaders who have proven – by their actions, not the size of their campaign account – a willingness to work hard in the best interests of our county and communities.

 

 

Photo Credit:  The Daytona Beach News-Journal

Hi, kids!

Never underestimate the extraordinary stupidity and dysfunction inherent to large bureaucracies in the absence of effective leadership and outside oversight.

What started out as a simple – but incredibly controversial – directive from County Manager Jim Dinneen to his toadies in the Coastal Division to close 410 linear feet of the beach to vehicular traffic behind the Hard Luck Hotel quickly escalated into the damnedest Keystone Kops farce ever foisted on a flabbergasted constituency.

Under the direct supervision of two highly paid senior department heads, a county contractor haphazardly stuck over $4,000 worth of horrendous, chemically-treated wooden utility poles in the sand.

God knows what you and I ultimately paid in installation costs.

Then, a vigilant citizen actually bothered to measure the distance and discovered that the slapdash blockade had been erected 20’ too far apart!

When it appeared on the front page of the Daytona Beach News-Journal, it was clear our dimwitted county council members were once again caught with their proverbial knickers around their knees – sputtering about another of “staffs” colossal howlers (careful not to mention the culpability of the Boss Clown) and gushingly assured us all that Summit Hospitality’s money would make it right again.

So, this week a new crew arrived (I’m sure with the required environmental permits in hand?) and replaced the round wooden poles with, well, square wooden poles.

To add insult, the county added EIGHT MORE POSTS to differentiate an emergency traffic lane cut right through the middle of where beachgoers would normally enjoy their beach.

According to our doddering fool of a County Chair, Ed Kelley – the pillars will be “wrapped” in “something decorative like sea life, sea turtles, or shells, or fish.”

One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish.

You read it right.  The Enchanted Forest of wooden poles that are ruining the natural beauty and ambiance of our beach are about to be festooned with some artificial “decorative wrap.” 

(I promised a local pastor last week I would try my best to refrain from dropping the “F-word,” thus allowing him to share my posts with his flock without being publicly defrocked – but feel free to shoehorn that expletive in wherever you feel appropriate.) 

In my mind’s eye I can almost see Old Ed leading that troop of dunces he heads, pounding their fists and stomping their feet on the dais, gibbering repeatedly, “Square Good!  Round Bad! Square Good! Round Bad!” as bewildered citizens looking on from the gallery bury their faces in their hands. . .

Want to bet our friends at Summit Hospitality are beginning to wonder what in the hell they were thinking when they got in bed with these unctuous morons in Volusia County government?

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:             Bellaire Community Group

There are many things I don’t understand.  That’s obvious.

Among those are Japanese poetry, the mysteries of long division and the byzantine process of reporting Federal Income Tax.

When I was a young man, I dropped off my W-2 at the local H&R Block office, signed a 1040EZ, then cashed a small check a few weeks later.  Now, Patti handles our finances exclusively – God bless her – because I don’t know the difference between an itemized deduction and a hole in the ground.

With “assets” consisting of a high-interest mortgage on a wood frame cracker box and two used cars that we’re upside down on – trust me, we don’t have much to report – yet it now takes two accountants and a tax attorney to figure out what the high-rolling Barker’s owe the gov’ment?

Oh, well.  Like my mom used to say when I couldn’t throw a baseball very far, “You’re good at other things.”

During a long professional life in municipal government, I came to appreciate the inherent benefit in listening to the needs, wants and concerns of those I served.

I also learned about the power of committed citizens who mobilize in a noble cause – everyday people who band together and work cooperatively to bring about positive change in their neighborhood – or simply right a wrong – often against strong forces who seek to protect the status quo.

 Last evening, I had the distinct pleasure of speaking to the Bellaire Community Group – a caucus of civically-conscious neighbors working for the betterment of our lives and livelihoods in the Halifax area.

It was exciting – there was true enthusiasm in the room and a vested interest in the important issues.

In other words, it was completely unlike when I attend any local government meeting, which is like sitting in the wheelhouse of a sinking ghost ship on the Voyage of the Damned.

These aren’t loose cannons like me.  These are solid citizens with a unified interest in building a sense of community and improving our quality of life on the beleaguered beachside and beyond.

After a brisk Q&A covering a wide range of local topics moderated by the very astute Steve Koenig, the group gifted me with a special certificate – which, as promised, will occupy a place of honor here at Barker’s View HQ.

I enjoy being around smart people with good intentions in their heart – that’s how I learn – and I sincerely thank the intrepid members of the Bellaire Community Group for your incredible kindness and hospitality.

Asshole:          Flagler County School Board

In the tragic aftermath of the Parkland school shooting, the Florida legislature did what politicians always do, they had an immediate knee-jerk reaction without considering the means of implementation – or ultimate cost – of their always politically motivated “solution.”

It’s called an “unfunded mandate” – edicts that have long-term consequences for local governments.

In their mind, it is far better to do something – anything – quickly, even sloppily, then face the withering criticism that often comes when taking the time to get it right.

If that means trampling a few privacy rights and moving closer to an Orwellian dystopia with omnipresent government surveillance – where our collective “security” is decided by the powerful at secret meetings held behind locked doors – so be it.

Earlier this week, the Flagler County School Board met in closed session to approve a measure to pay a Vermont company, Social Sentinel, $18,500 annually to monitor social media and online postings for various words, emojis, keywords and hashtags that the security program’s “Artificial Intelligence” deems to be threatening or criminal in nature.

According to the news outlet FlaglerLive.com, last month when district panjandrums first met in secret session to hear a sales pitch from the company, not even Sheriff Rick Staley – the county’s chief law enforcement officer – was permitted to attend.

I find that confusing – and disturbing.

Then, in perhaps the worst case of contradictory political double-speak on record, school board member Andy Dance explained in the Daytona Beach News-Journal that the public was kept in the dark because, “Too much public information could reduce the effectiveness of security measures.” 

He then countered with, “…the district will have to “ensure to the public that this program is transparent and that we are not digging for information that’s not pertinent to school security.”

Wow.  I don’t make this shit up, folks.

I know many will say, “look, Barker – if I have to submit to 24/7 electronic surveillance of my online activity to keep our kids safe, so be it.” 

 The fact is, if I thought for one nanosecond that using a computer program to interpret the meaning of words and phrases on social media would provide a whit of protection I would agree.

But I don’t.

The fact is, law enforcement and security professionals know well what is required to physically secure a school – and they know the harsh reality of what it takes to neutralize an active threat.

Unfortunately, Flagler County school administrators would rather hire an out-of-state Big Brother to monitor the online communications of tens-of-thousands of well-adjusted, law-abiding citizens rather than make the uncomfortable decisions necessary to truly keep our children safe.

The reality is that many in academia – who have no idea what the term “security” means – are adamantly opposed to having trained personnel, outfitted with the life-saving tools to defend life, anywhere near a campus.

Effective physical security protocols are “scary” and “distasteful,” often deliberately inconvenient, so they throw the concept of liberty – and what’s left of “privacy” in 2018 – out the window in favor of technological invigilators that they believe can detect what amounts to thoughtcrimes – or as a Social Sentinel representative phrases it, “the language of harm” – and identify anyone suspected of harboring ideas or opinions which the government finds threatening.

In the immediate aftermath of the Parkland atrocity – everyone associated with that campus – students, parents, teachers and administrators alike – knew the exact identity of the shooter, with many saying within minutes of the bloodshed that they were convinced this homicidal maniac was a ticking time bomb years before his horrific act of violence.

In fact, local, state and federal law enforcement authorities were repeatedly made aware of the growing threat posed by this sick bastard, yet either ignored the warnings, or were hamstrung by a system that coddles juvenile criminals and has no effective mechanism for treating children (or adults, for that matter) who suffer from serious mental illness.

Trust me – over-medicating and desensitizing children with violent video games isn’t working out – and all the social media watchdogs in the world won’t change that.

And don’t get me started on the lack of effective action to curtail bullying in schools – an unchecked malignancy on our educational system that contributes to thousands of aggressive encounters, suicides and increased student dropout rates each year.

Perhaps it’s time we come to the difficult realization that academic policy wonks and eggheads with Ph.D.’s (and no life experience) aren’t necessarily subject matter experts on the physical security of high-population dynamic environments.

Just maybe it’s time school administrators begin listening to the suggestions of law enforcement and private security professionals, even though these effective strategies make sensitive educators queasy.

I think it was old Ben Franklin who said, “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”

Let that one sink in.

Whoever still believes that our Founding Fathers couldn’t have envisioned the physical and intellectual treats to our fundamental rights and freedoms in 2018 are sadly mistaken.

Welcome to 1984, Flagler County.

Asshole:          Volusia County Government

I wrote about this topic earlier in the week, but it bears repeating.

Regular readers of this forum know that there are two recurring issues near to my heart – beach access and government accountability.

Here on Florida’s Fun Coast, so long as public officials continue to haggle away our beach as an “inducement” to private developers, these two subjects will remain interconnected at the molecular level.

I also have a problem with our county government’s insatiable appetite for tax dollars – and the depths to which our elected officials will stoop to squeeze more of them from our wallet – all while allowing political insiders to get snout-deep in the public trough.

In an explosive exposé in Sunday’s Daytona Beach News-Journal, reporter Dustin Wyatt gave specific examples of how We, The People are being openly lied to by our mendacious County Manager Jim Dinneen and his brainwashed tools on the Volusia County Council.

While the municipalities prepare to pay fealty to their masters on the Dais of Power in DeLand – promenading before our elected royalty in a gutless demonstration of their lock-step support of Volusia County’s proposed half-cent money grab – smart people are beginning to question why every man, woman and child is being asked to contribute to transportation infrastructure, while those who stand to benefit most – the developers of these mega-communities – refuse to pay their fair share in impact fees.

And our elected officials refuse to even discuss it – using the insulting excuse that you and I are too damn stupid to understand the concept of making unchecked growth pay for itself.

In Sunday’s piece, our own elected somnambulist, Councilman “Sleepy” Pat Patterson, had the stones to lecture taxpayers on just how “complicated” this bait-and-switch scam really is, “In politics, you make a one-minute statement that requires a one-hour response that would put people to sleep.  And in this case, it’s several inches of print in the newspaper that really takes many, many inches to really get all the facts out. … It’s a lot more complicated than just saying ‘Raise the impact fee.’”

My ass.

While Sleepy Pat is merely a washed-up political hack repeating the party line – the uber-arrogant Councilwoman Deb Denys is either pitifully ignorant of the mechanics of this important issue – or she’s a compulsive liar.

Perhaps both.

According to the obviously ill-informed Ms. Denys, “We have existing impact fees, but developers are paying proportionate share fees on top of impact fees.  This strategy is brilliant.  It really is.”

Yep, it’s a brilliant sham, alright.

The problem is – it’s total bullshit.

In Dumb Deb’s defense, she is only parroting what County Manager Jim Dinneen told her and the rest of those dullards we elected to represent our interests – and trust me, that group isn’t known for doing its own independent research.

The fact is, developers that enter into proportional share agreements – a process designed to ensure that developments have the necessary infrastructure to move forward on schedule – do not pay “prop share” fees on top of impact fees.

Developers who pay into a proportionate share agreement save on the impact fees they owe Volusia County – fees which haven’t been increased in the past 15-years – or they receive “credits” which they can then sell to other developers who can then also save money on impact fees.

In my view, Professor Arthur Nelson of the University of Arizona – who literally authored the book on impact fees – best simplified Volusia’s lopsided deal with speculative developers, “Since 2003, road construction costs have risen 74% or roughly twice the 36% increase in the cost of living.  Road impact fees should be adjusted regularly to account for increases in costs.  If they aren’t?  It may fall further behind because (proportionate share) is based on current (construction) costs, while impact fees are based on older, lower costs.” 

 There now – that wasn’t so hard to understand, was it?

In most civilized areas of the free world, when sitting politicians and appointed officials get caught in bald-faced lies  – especially while trying to force their grubby fingers deeper into the pockets of their overburdened constituents – they do the right thing, resign their lofty positions, and slink off to that dark and slimy place where those who violate the public trust go to hide from the scornful gaze of their neighbors.

But this is Volusia County – the rules are different here.

Quote of the Week:

 “He (Dinneen) told me he was going to under-calculate and make it 408 feet instead, we don’t want to rush on how this is going to look. We want to make sure we do it right.”

 –Volusia County Councilwoman Billie Wheeler, speaking in the Daytona Beach News-Journal, regarding the replacement of the beach blockade after the original poles were placed too far apart.

Don’t want to rush?  Really?

After all the embarrassing slapstick and non-stop gaffes behind this shameless beach grab, a stupid move that has forever embarrassed our elected officials, confounded anyone with the smarts to read a tape measure and shattered the public’s trust in their county government – now this godawful debacle has exposed the fact our $300,000+ autocratic County Manager is intellectually and operationally incapable of simply putting the Tinker Toys in the right place.

Come on!  It’s not rocket surgery, Jim!

Jesus, the ordinance specified 410’ feet – not 408’ – why is that distance so hard to measure?

And since when does Jim Dinneen have the authority to violate the letter of the law by arbitrarily deciding for the rest of us that the blockade will now be two-feet shorter than required?

Questions, questions. . . always with the questions, Barker. . . 

And Another Thing!

Here’s a reminder that your Sons of the Beach – Florida’s premiere beach access advocacy – will hold a fund raiser this Sunday, April 22^nd from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at Oasis Tiki Bar & Grill, 313 South Atlantic Avenue (oceanside of The Fountain Beach Resort).

Enjoy lunch and a cool beverage while listening to the live sounds of Tom Redmond, Buddy Kays and Paul Hart – and don’t forget to support the cause by joining in the 50/50 raffles – and pick up some cool SOB t-shirts, koozies and much more!

All proceeds go to help protect OUR right to beach driving and access.

If you aren’t already a member of SOB – joining is simple:  Just go to www.sonsofthebeach.org and sign up – then print your membership card!

Best of all, it’s free!  However, donations are accepted on the site.

It’s a great opportunity to get educated on the latest legal updates from the hard-working SOB legal team, and our dedicated Head Honcho – Paul Zimmerman – will have information on the planned peaceful protest of Volusia County’s wholesale giveaway of our century-old tradition of beach driving behind the Hard Rock Daytona.

Hope to see you there!

Have a great weekend, kids!

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone has heard the old Aesop fable about the boy who cried wolf – a tale of a mendacious young shepherd who found sport in falsely alarming the villagers that their communal flock was under threat.

You remember, the little bastard would sit up in a tree and scream, “Wolf!  Wolf!, while panic-stricken villagers quickly armed themselves with pitchforks and ran up the hill to protect the herd – only to find the sheep safely grazing nearby – and the boy laughing at them from his perch high atop the tree.

Well, as the story goes, this game went on for a while – until one day a big bad wolf skulked toward the sheep from the wood line – teeth bared and ready to attack.  The boy freaked out, scrambled up his tree and began screaming hysterically, “Wolf!  Wooooolf! Help!

A gentleman walking on the street heard the boy’s cries and asked, “What’s going on up there? 

Several more villagers became concerned about the commotion, but an elder calmed their fears, “Don’t worry, it’s just that asshole shepherd boy messing with us again – pay him no mind. . .”

 You know how the story ends.  It’s a moral as old as time.

But have you heard the old Barker’s parable, “Little Jimmy: The Lying Sack of Shit”? 

To make a very long and sad allegory short, Uncle Mark’s folktale involves an incredibly well-paid farm manager – Little Jimmy – who, over-time, develops a symbiotic relationship with a select few greed-crazed pigs and begins providing them with direct access to the feedtrough.

In turn, as the swine grow stronger, they protect the farmer from the rest of the hungry and increasingly angry animals on the farm.

The pigs know that if they throw a few extra carrots to the seven braying asses – powerful, but dumb beasts who have been tapped by the other animals in the barnyard to pull the cart, tend the fields, allocate the chicken scratch and ensure the welfare of the rest of the livestock – then they will also support Little Jimmy and let him pretend to run the farm.

So, Jimmy praises the not-so-bright asses for their good work, sets them apart from the rest, tells them how special they are and diverts their attention by spinning fantastic yarns about how important the gorging swine are to the farms viability.

As time goes by, the other animals realize they are suffering under a farm hand who now works exclusively for the pigs – pinching more-and-more of their feed to give to the pigs, ignoring the farms basic needs and lavishing the hogs with everything they need – all while the asses they rely on to protect their interests follow Little Jimmy and his pigs blindly, hoping for another carrot and a scratch behind the ear.

Even the swine are embarrassed by Little Jimmy’s cowardice and near-constant lies, but they keep him around to ensure a never-ending stream of fresh slop.

Sadly, the rest of the flock – the chickens, goats and sheep – eventually acquiesce to the fact that the farm now exists merely to supply the pigs with everything they need for a comfortable life, and they continue to work hard and peck for the scraps, all while the barn falls apart, the well is fouled and the pigs continue to prosper in their elaborate gated pens where they live in relative luxury.

Ultimately, the farm goes to seed.

The best and brightest animals try hard to figure out a way to save it, but Little Jimmy’s lapdogs keep yapping incessantly, insinuating themselves into the process and ultimately water down any substantive ideas and insulate Jimmy and the pigs from any responsibility – all while the dazed animals continue to give more-and-more of their hard-earned feed to supply the insatiable appetite of the swine.

Now, even as Jimmy tries desperately to convince them that the pigs are doing their fair share – none of the animals believe anything the farmer says.

They have seen too much.

Again, it’s a message as old as time.

In an explosive exposé in Sunday’s Daytona Beach News-Journal entitled “Fare Share?” reporter Dustin Wyatt gave specific examples of how We, The People are being openly deceived by County Manager Jim Dinneen and our elected officials on the Volusia County Council.

While the municipalities prepare to pay fealty to their masters on the Dais of Power in DeLand and show their lock-step support of Volusia County’s proposed half-cent money grab – smart people are beginning to question why taxpayers are being asked to contribute to transportation infrastructure, while those who stand to benefit most – the developers of these mega-communities – refuse to pay their fair share in impact fees.

Something our elected officials refuse to even discuss – using the insulting excuse that you and I are too stupid to understand the concept of making unchecked growth pay for itself.

In Sunday’s piece, our own elected Rip Van Winkle, Councilman “Sleepy” Pat Patterson, had the stones to lecture taxpayers on just how “complicated” this bait-and-switch scam really is, “In politics, you make a one-minute statement that requires a one-hour response that would put people to sleep.  And in this case, it’s several inches of print in the newspaper that really takes many, many inches to really get all the facts out. … It’s a lot more complicated than just saying ‘Raise the impact fee.’”

My ass.

While Sleepy Pat is merely a tired political hack deftly repeating the party line – the uber-arrogant Councilwoman Deb Denys is either pitifully ignorant of the mechanics of this important issue – or she’s a compulsive liar.

According to the obviously ill-informed Ms. Denys, “We have existing impact fees, but developers are paying proportionate share fees on top of impact fees.  This strategy is brilliant.  It really is.”

 Yep, it’s a brilliant sham, alright.

The problem is – it isn’t true.

In Deb’s defense, she is only parroting what County Manager Jim Dinneen has told her – and the rest of those dullards we elected to represent our interests – and trust me, that group isn’t known for it’s collective intelligence, or for doing its own independent research on the issues of the day. . .

The fact is, developers that enter into proportional share agreements – a process designed to ensure that projects have the necessary infrastructure to move forward on schedule – do not pay “prop share” fees on top of impact fees.

Developers who pay into a proportionate share agreement actually save on impact fees they owe Volusia County – fees which haven’t been increased in the past 15-years – or they receive “credits” which they can then sell to other developers who can also save money on impact fees.

In my view, Professor Arthur Nelson of the University of Arizona – who literally wrote the book on impact fees – best simplified Volusia’s lopsided deal with speculative developers, “Since 2003, road construction costs have risen 74% or roughly twice the 36% increase in the cost of living.  Road impact fees should be adjusted regularly to account for increases in costs.  If they aren’t?  It may fall further behind because (proportionate share) is based on current (construction) costs, while impact fees are based on older, lower costs.” 

Or, I suppose you can just tax the eyeballs out of every man, woman and child to pay for infrastructure improvements, while developers – you know, your campaign sugar daddies who control our system – continue to haul cash to the bank in dump trucks.

Sounds to me like a “complicated” smokescreen to divert our attention as they terrify the masses with horror stories about what our future will look like if we fail to shut up and pay up.

The problem is – given the frequency of the lies and half-truths – how do we trust anything they say at this point?

Sounds kind of like that little dipshit who constantly cried wolf, eh?

In most civilized areas of the free world, when sitting politicians and appointed officials are caught in brazen, bald-faced lies  – especially while trying to force their grubby fingers deeper into the pockets of their constituents – they do the right thing, resign their lofty positions, and slink off to that dark and slimy place where those who violate the public trust go to hide from the scornful gaze of their neighbors.

 

Last Friday, we were graced with mega-developer and High Panjandrum of Political Power, Mori Hosseini’s, smiling visage on the front page of the Daytona Beach News-Journal – beaming with pride as he kicked off ICI Homes’ marketing campaign for his new Mosaic “full life” community.

The 1,200 home development joins Latitudes Margaritaville – the Jimmy Buffett-inspired faux-beach community currently under construction on top of our sensitive water recharge areas – bringing the total number of homes and commercial structures in that area to over 11,000 in next five to six years.

That doesn’t include out-of-control growth which has already been approved along the spine of east Volusia from Farmton to the Flagler County line.

As I like to say, “that’s a lot of Walmart shoppers, kids.”

In announcing the big Mosaic grand opening, News-Journal business writer Clayton Park said, “Another big piece is being added to the white-hot development puzzle already taking shape just west of Interstate 95.”   

Puzzling indeed.

Our own doddering fool of a County Chair, Ed Kelley – a sycophantic bootlicker who didn’t miss a prime chance to kiss Mori’s sizeable ass – was quoted in the article, “It’s going to have a big impact on the area.  The rooftops are going to help support more businesses in the area.”

You bet your bippy it’s going to have a “big impact,” Ed.

And not just on roads and water. . .

So – absent strapping every man, woman and child in Volusia County with a money grubbing half-cent sales tax increase – exactly what are you and the rest of those dullards we elected to represent our interests doing to ensure this massive growth pays for itself?

This summer, we will all be regaled with flashlight-under-the-chin scary stories from our elected and appointed officials warning of the traffic gridlock – and the horror of drinking our own wastewater – if we don’t vote to increase our sales tax, even as they refuse to even discuss impact fees, much less consider a moratorium on unchecked development.

You want to know what frightens me?

In 2016, the Volusia County Professional Firefighters Association, a public employee union representing fire and emergency medical personnel, sent a letter to County Manager Jim Dinneen and the Volusia County Council warning that staffing shortages were limiting their ability to provide ambulance transport service to the nearly 80,000 calls-for-service received each year.

“It has now become normal to be at a patient’s side for 15, 30 and even 40 minutes or more, waiting for an ambulance to arrive,” the letter said. 

When the serious concerns of our first responders were met with deaf ears in Deland, in February, WFTV reporter Mike Springer combed through reams of data and determined that the response times for Volusia County emergency services have been slowly increasing year-over-year.

That’s serious.

In one of the worst displays of arrogance ever captured, when Springer attempted to interview Mr. Dinneen on camera – he became openly hostile, threw up his little hands and refused to answer legitimate questions, or even attempt to explain his administration’s position on perhaps the most serious issue facing Volusia County residents – before stomping off like the petulant shitheel we’ve come to know.

Adding to the incredibly unprofessional scene was a county mouthpiece repeating, “We’re not making any comments, we’re not making any comments” while running interference as Little Jimmy beat his cowardly exit from the hot zone.

Don’t take my word for it, watch it here:  https://www.wftv.com/news/local/union-volusia-county-ems-understaffed-to-point-of-significant-delays-for-emergency-services/698628791

Astounding.

On the afternoon of April 12^th (just two days ago) the emergency services union made an urgent announcement on their social media page warning, “There are currently no available VC EMS aka EVAC ambulances in West Volusia County.” 

You read that right:  On Thursday afternoon there were no ambulances available in West Volusia.

Scary?  You ain’t seen nothing yet.

Within the last hour of this posting, the Volusia County Professional Firefighters Association announced:

*Announcement* Due to no available VC EMS aka EVAC ambulances in west Volusia County, both Rescue Engine 44 (Pierson) and Deltona Firefighters Rescue 61 are currently being used as transport units. RE44 is the transport unit for a medical call in DeLeon Springs.  (Saturday, April 14, 2018, approximately 9:40am)

That’s today – as in, “Right Now.”

What can we do?

Pray and hope for the best, I guess. . .

Or call your county council member and raise primordial hell until something – anything – happens to change this incredibly dangerous situation.

Much of what I write on this blog represents the everyday blunders, mistakes, faults, foibles and fuck-ups of a county government with no real leadership or accountability – and I realize Barker’s View can take on the appearance of a wacky blooper reel exposing one convoluted, almost comical mess after another.

But this is something else.

Ladies and gentlemen – if your family needs emergency medical services this morning, this afternoon, or next week – time is of the essence – and it doesn’t matter how good our local trauma center is if a patient can’t be transported there in time for doctors to make a difference.

We’re talking life-and-death here.

How many people will die before our elected officials come to the realization that another critical county service has gone haywire on Mr. Dinneen’s watch?

I’m asking.  Because the place seems to be on autopilot.

While Mr. Dinneen remains employed by keeping our elected officials laser-focused on approving massive “economic development” incentives, tax breaks and infrastructure improvements to meet the insatiable appetite of their uber-wealthy campaign sugar daddies – council members seem frighteningly paralyzed – or painfully oblivious – when it comes to meeting the serious needs of their constituents.

Like ensuring the effectiveness of emergency medical and ambulance services to over 500,000 people.

My God.  And these do-nothing assholes have the gall to stand for re-election? 

I’m sorry, but how do they look at themselves in a mirror?

I mean, their own families – and ours – depend on this essential service, right? 

In all honesty, if County Manager Jim Dinneen is unwilling or incapable of effectively managing this acute emergency – a problem that our brave first responders are shouting from the rooftops to expose – then he should step down immediately and make way for someone with the administrative and leadership skills to ensure the safety of Volusia County residents.

And – perhaps more important –  if our elected officials don’t have the political guts to ensure these essential life-saving services – it’s high-time they step aside for someone who will.

 

 

Photo Credit: The Daytona Beach News-Journal

 

Hi, kids!

As Barker’s View grows in popularity, I’m often asked by new readers to explain the difference in the colorful monikers I use to describe those who appear in this Friday Fun House I like to call Angels & Assholes.

It’s relatively simple.

Do you ever read the paper or watch the six o’clock news and find yourself mumbling “what an asshole” under your breath?  Well, that’s kind of how I form my goofy opinions on the newsmakers of the day.

“Angel” status is typically bestowed on someone who, in my opinion, has by a selfless good deed contributed to our collective welfare in some exceptional way – those who go ‘above and beyond’ to enhance the lives and livelihoods of us hapless rubes here on Florida’s beleaguered Fun Coast.

It can refer to the good work of an individual or organization – an act that shows great character, accountability, exceptionalism, artistry, sportsmanship or moral courage in the face of a physical, ethical or political challenge.

Those who give comfort to the sick, protect, serve and guard the vulnerable from victimization.

The term refers to those who, as President Theodore Roosevelt described, “…strive valiantly; who know the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spend themselves in a worthy cause; who at best know the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if they fail, fail while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

It is the high-praise reserved for servant-leaders who make the collective interests of those they serve their highest priority – and give the whims of political insiders no more weight than the needs of struggling taxpayers who form the backbone of our economy.

In short, it is people just like you who get up every morning and work hard to improve the lives of your family – and our community – in so many unique and wonderful ways.

The everyday heroes who see a wrong and try to make it right.

Conversely, the term “Asshole” describes something very elemental, yet incredibly complex.

It is best described as the energy which directly opposes an angelic action in the Barker’s View Theory of Balance and Harmony.

The term is fittingly described by Merriam-Webster as “a stupid, annoying, or detestable person” and “the least attractive or desirable part or area – used in phrases like asshole of the world.”

According to Aaron James, an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of California Irvine, “The job of foul language like “asshole” isn’t to describe the world, but simply to express one’s disapproving feelings, in an ejaculatory or cathartic burst facilitated by inherently emotive words.”

Yeah, what he said.

It’s all those things, and so much more.

But in the context of this alternative opinion blog, it describes my cynical view of the acts and omissions of those in our community who have a responsibility to defend our rights – to serve everyone equally, with basic fairness and a sense of social, economic and legal justice with malice towards none but those who wish us harm – yet abdicate those sacred responsibilities in favor of pursuing their own warped self-interests.

It also describes my feelings toward greedy speculative real estate developers – whose appetite knows no bounds – and have no qualms churning what’s left of our natural places into sawdust.

The term aptly defines the motives of astronomically wealthy political insiders who seek physical control of our democratic systems by the infusion of massive amounts of cash into the campaign coffers of hand-select candidates for local office – then command a weird quid pro quo which directs public policy by virtue of their mere presence at a public meeting.

It describes my jaded opinion of those craven politicians who kiss our collective ass at election time – then transmogrify into imperious, egotistical knobs with a haughty view of their own self-importance.

Please don’t confuse either of these apt descriptors with, say, those arrogant bastards who insinuate themselves onto the governing boards of colleges and universities – then engage in distracting drama, name everything from a new cafeteria to a two-hole privy after themselves, then refuse to provide the administrative and fiscal oversight required to protect students and staff – or those shysters masquerading as public servants who continue to push for an obscene half-cent money grab in the face of gross mismanagement and wasteful spending.

I call them, ‘dipshits.’

The conundrum for me – the moderator of this wacky forum – is when someone who is clearly an “asshole” breaks form and does something angelic, even virtuous, in the cause of improving our collective situation (even when their singular positive act has a whiff of self-interest to it.)

So, I choose to take these things as they come – giving credit where credit is due – and calling the balls-and-strikes as I see them.

Just remember: The beauty of this space is that you don’t have to agree with me – and many don’t.  You can form and share your own unique opinion on the issues of the day, and that, my friends, is what allows us to learn something new about our collective experience.

There now, I hope that clears-up any confusion!

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

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

Angel:             Daytona Beach Homeowner Chris Noe

I admire a man who can’t be bought.  That’s rare in today’s day and age.

Kudos to Chris Noe, who owns a historic home located literally in the shadow of what will be the new publicly subsidized headquarters of billionaire insurance intermediary Brown & Brown.

According to a recent article in the Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Historic home complicates Brown & Brown’s Daytona Beach plans,” Mr. Noe has owned the beautiful property on Wisconsin Place for the past seven years – and he has no plans to move anytime soon.

The report states that realtors working for Brown & Brown made an initial offer of $150,000 for the home in December and have since upped the bid to a whopping $375,000.

No dice.

“If I was greedy, I would have just taken the money, but I want to save that house,” Noe said.

Instead of taking the money, Mr. Noe is sticking to his belief that the notable structure should be preserved – and has countered with an offer to have the house moved to a lot on Lexington Drive a few blocks away – a project that is estimated to cost in excess of $500,000.

(Perhaps J. Hyatt would like to open a satellite office up here in north Ormond?  Or maybe he could just use the old Barker house as a tool shed?  Trust me, if he offered me $375K for this cracker box, I’d be gone like a scalded dog.)

After years of strategic rot, Brown & Brown is now purchasing distressed properties in the area surrounding what will be its new campus – a project that everyone who is anyone is convinced will be the catalyst for all good things to come in Daytona’s beleaguered downtown.

In my view, the Halifax area has a dismal record of protecting places with historical significance.

Once they are gone, they are gone forever.

According to the News-Journal, Mr. Noe said, “They are offering me money I don’t need, I have peace and I don’t want to destroy it with the upheaval of moving to a new house.  I just want them to be responsible.  I want them to save the house and pay to move it.  Or I’m not leaving.”

Good for you, sir.  Good for you.

Asshole:          Volusia County Council

Well, here it is Friday the 13th, a spooky day that puts fear in those who are superstitious about such things.

But I’ve got to be honest – nothing scares me more than the weird machinations of what passes for governance here in Volusia County.

There is a disturbing trend afoot in the hallowed ‘Halls of Power’ over at the ivory tower known as the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center in DeLand.

I have a real problem with our factually challenged county manager, Jim Dinneen, openly encouraging our elected officials to take credit for things that, quite frankly, never happened.

Such as spreading the damnable lie that the Volusia County Council has been at the “forefront” of protecting our heritage of beach driving and access.

My ass.

I also take issue with elected officials who privately scold constituents who have the guts to speak out and challenge their self-serving policies and stand up for that which they believe is right.

It’s called good citizenship – and the ability of free men and women to petition their government for redress of grievances – and vehemently criticize the decisions of our elected officials is a fundamental right of all Americans.

In fact, without the right to free expression and peaceful opposition – We, The People become indentured serfs who exist solely to pay the bills and acquiesce to the inherent greed of our bastardized political system.

Recently, the moderator of a social media site dedicated to providing an open forum for residents of Volusia County was taken to the woodshed by an unidentified sitting county council member who apparently didn’t appreciate his “tone” on discussions surrounding the Hard Rock beach blockade debacle.

Really?

As the author of an alternative opinion blog based on the premise that the exercise of our constitutionally protected right to free speech is important to our democracy – I don’t give a tinker’s damn about the sensitivities of those who stand for high office and embrace the power while eschewing the corresponding political accountability.

I suggest that if you occupy an elected or appointed position of influence, it’s probably a good idea to grow some hard bark – and open your mind to the fact not everyone agrees with your sense of infallibility and omnipotence.

And we are sick of being lied to by over-compensated appointed officials, dammit.

In my view, smart politicians can use the slings-and-arrows of civic dissent to their advantage by listening to opposing views, understanding the principal concerns of their constituents, then using that valuable data to gauge public opinion.

Even when that criticism stings.

We are citizens – not sheep – and it’s high-time these hyper-sensitive dunces we elected to represent our interests and steward our tax dollars understand that.

 Angel:             Florida Governor Rick Scott

Look, this goes against every fiber of my being – because by any metric, Slick Rick Scott is high in the running for “Reptilian Asshole of the Year” – but I simply must commend his recent veto of the super-weird ‘toilet-to-tap’ bill – an idiotic measure that would have been disastrous for Florida’s sensitive aquifer by polluting our sole source of drinking water for generations.

Of course, in my view, Governor Scott only took this important action because he’s running for the United States Senate – absent that, I think we all might well be drinking our own ordure. . .

The thing I find most disturbing is that ostensibly smart people – elected officials with a sworn duty to protect the health and welfare of their constituents – felt it was a good idea to permit wastewater utilities to pump sewerage effluent into our fragile drinking water supply as a means of permitting real estate developers to clear, fill and pave even more natural recharge areas of our increasingly thirsty state.

In fact, it boggles my mind that a majority of lawmakers would vote to approve such an astronomically reckless idea.

But they did.

Fortunately, Governor Scott succumbed to a rare instance of common sense (and the political threat of forever being known as “Governor Poopy Water”) when he nixed the controversial measure last Friday.

Look for similar asinine legislation to rear its ugly head in future sessions.

In Florida, bad public policy – like user fees, sales tax increases or shitting in our own nest – never really go away.

Angel:             Interim Chief Gerald Monahan, Jr.

In the immediate aftermath of former Chief Ron Wright’s abrupt departure from the helm of the South Daytona Police Department, I can only imagine the sense of hurt and confusion the officers and staff must be experiencing.

Sudden change always brings uncertainty.

During dark and difficult times, sometimes the right person steps in at just the right time to calm the waters; a trusted hand with the strength and insight to shepherd us through the storm.

I commend the City of South Daytona for selecting retired Port Orange Chief of Police Gerald Monahan to lead the department in an interim status until a permanent replacement can be found.

In my view, Chief Monahan is one of the finest law enforcement executives I had the pleasure of serving with.  He is intelligent, thoughtful and incredibly well-versed on the strategic management of law enforcement operations and emergency management.

He brings a calm, friendly demeanor to a very difficult and dynamic job – and his personal stability and professionalism inspire the confidence of subordinates and peers alike.

This was a solid move – and the good citizens of South Daytona will be well-served by Chief Monahan’s outstanding leadership.

Asshole:          Bethune-Cookman University Board of Trustees

I fear for the future of B-CU.

Last week, we learned of yet another lawsuit against the historic university – this time by Wells-Fargo alleging breach of contract in the convoluted dormitory scheme that may ultimately result in a crippling $306 million exposure.

Reports state that a company which built the dorms, and now rents the structure to B-CU, has not made a mortgage payment since November 2017.  According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, in coming days, back payments owed to Wells-Fargo will total nearly two-million dollars.

If the conflict can’t be resolved, the bank plans to sell the dormitory at auction – a move that could adversely affect some 1,200 current students.

While the strange saga that was the tenure of former B-CU President Edison O. Jackson has ended – what remains firmly ensconced in the cloistered halls of academia is the same bumbling Board of Trustees who sat idle while the college was apparently turned into a private piggy bank for a privileged few.

The very group who had both an ethical and fiduciary responsibility to students and staff to provide effective administrative and fiscal oversight instead turned their backs on those who needed them most.

Regardless of the outcome – can we all agree that local big shots like Joe Petrock, who served as chairman during the tumultuous reign of Dr. Jackson, has enjoyed enough bites at the higher education apple?

I mean, really.

From his adventures on the Daytona State College board – to the B-CU debacle – how many times do ostensibly smart people allow Mr. Petrock – and others like him – to steer a ship that is in serious danger of foundering?

Angel:             Guss Massfeller

I have to hand it to loyal Barker’s View contributor and long-time area activist, Guss Massfeller.

To help our doddering fool of a County Chair, Ed Kelley, visualize the depth and scope of Volusia County’s gross negligence in closing 20’ more of our beach behind the Hard Rock than was specified by ordinance – Guss conveniently gave Old Ed some great examples.

In a recent email to Chairman Kelley, Mr. Massfeller pointed out that twenty-feet is:

1. About as tall as a giraffe
2. About three-fourths as long as a London bus
3. About one-and-a-half times as long as a Volkswagen Beetle
4. About half as tall as a telephone pole

Our Chairman’s madcap response:

“As you are aware the poles were placed at the property lines of the Hard Rock, which is 430’ however the ordinance called for 410.’  A mistake was made and will be corrected at no cost to taxpayers that will be more ascetic (?) than the telephone poles.”

 For the record, “ascetic” means “austere in appearance.”

Conversely, the word our senior elected official was obviously grasping for – “aesthetic” – is defined as “something that is visually appealing.”

Let’s hope this is just another example of Old Ed’s limited vocabulary hamstringing his already challenged communications skills – and that he didn’t actually mean that these hideous utility poles will be replaced by something even more forbidding – like razor wire and gabion barriers.

Honest – I don’t make this shit up, folks. . .

Angel:             Daytona Beach Police Department

Since taking office last year, Chief Craig Capri continues to use technology to enhance how his agency provides important services to the public.

This week, the Daytona Beach Police Department became the first law enforcement agency in Volusia County to develop a mobile app to improve communications in the digital age.

I understand this progressive project was headed by the agency’s talented Public Information Officer Lyda Longa – an outstanding public servant who is working hard to improve the way residents receive important information on topics such as crime trends, emergencies and wanted persons.

Citizens can also use the app to file police reports and communicate anonymous crime tips.

Folks, this is what the future of policing looks like – and DBPD is clearly on the cutting edge.

Congratulations to Chief Capri and the Daytona Beach Police Department on this significant accomplishment.

Angel:             The Jantzen Bathing Beauty

The World’s Most Famous Beach lost another cultural icon this week.

With little fanfare, on Monday the 20-foot fiberglass diving girl in the red swimsuit that graced the front of Stamie’s Swimwear Shop on Ocean Avenue for over 50-years was unceremoniously removed from her decades-old perch and hauled away.

According to those in the know, the glamorous girl who became as much a part of the Daytona Beach Boardwalk as that tireless saltwater taffy machine in the front window of Zeno’s Sweet Shop, was one of only six of the timeless advertising symbols ever made.

In fact, she was so unique that Roadside America – a website that catalogs oddball tourist attractions – listed our bathing beauty as a must-see when visiting Daytona Beach.

Word on the street is that, even after all these years, the old gal remained the property of the Jantzen Company, and they recently decided to stick her in a museum – in Washington state, of all places.

I also understand that the shop’s new owner – a commercial artist – plans to replace our treasured “Jantzen Girl” with another distinctive piece, but somehow it won’t be the same.

Besides, I don’t have another 50-years to fall in love with something “new.”

So long, old friend.  You will be missed.

 Quote of the Week:

“Local leaders, I have one thing to say: Wake up or get voted out. The taxpayers are tired of paying for things we are now too poor to use, thanks to their fine leadership.”

–Ray Shaffer, Jr., Port Orange, writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Volusia: Fees and taxes to death,” April 10, 2018

And Another Thing!

Despite my urgent warnings to reconsider, those intrepid grassroots activists at the Bellaire Community Group have invited me to be their guest and discuss civic issues of mutual concern at their April meeting.

These are good people, working cooperatively to reduce crime, build a sense of community and improve our quality of life in the Halifax area.

The group will meet next Thursday, April 19^th, at the Schnebly Recreation Center, 1101 North Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach.  Doors open at 6:00pm with supper provided for a $4.00 donation.

The program begins at 6:30pm.

Please join us!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

 

I can’t take credit for this – Sheriff Mike Chitwood beat me to the punch – but Volusia County Manager Jim Dinneen is a lying sack of shit.

How can you tell when he’s lying?  His lips are moving. . .

At a recent County Council meeting, Mr. Dinneen told a whopper when he said, “The council needs to stop and remind everybody that when it comes to protecting access to the beach and driving on the beach that repeatedly the county is at the forefront of protecting that.  And we get no credit.  We probably have the most access (on the beach) of anywhere in Florida, and the fact that we try to fight for that – I’m not sure people understand.”

 Jesus.  This guy knows no shame.

At present, Mr. Dinneen and his beach management bureaucrats are wiping egg off their funny faces after being caught in yet another public gaffe when they made the beach blockade behind the Hard Rock some 430 linear feet instead of the 410’ specified by county ordinance.

Not smart.  Really, it’s poor form.

Given that the removal of beach driving has caused an on-going countywide controversy, one would think that the installation of this hotly contested barricade would have been handled with the laser-precision of a surveying instrument – or a frigging Ace Hardware yardstick for that matter.

Instead, it appears the county contractor hired to jet the ugly, chemically-treated wooden utility poles into the sand just eyeballed it – “close enough for government work” as the old saying goes, I guess – while Beach Safety Chief Ray Manchester and Coastal Division director Jessica Winterwerp stood around watching them do it.

This carelessness wouldn’t be acceptable at a Dairy Queen – so why do we tolerate it from highly paid “professionals” on the public payroll?    

I’m asking.  Because for the life of me I can’t understand it – this continuing pattern of negligence is intolerable – and expensive.

This entire exercise to accommodate a semi-private beach for the Hard Rock has been a travesty from the beginning – and has exposed what a supreme embarrassment Jim Dinneen’s lack of effective leadership has become.

The fact is, under the Dinneen administration – with encouragement from the cash-bloated campaign financier and master political puppeteer J. Hyatt Brown and other insiders – our elected officials have done everything in their power to shutdown our century-old heritage of beach driving.

If the calculations of beach driving advocate and county council candidate Jeff Brower are correct, Volusia County has now restricted vehicular access from some 64% of our once free and open beach.

From spending public funds to sue their own constituents and prevent them from having a vote on beach closure issues, to pissing away the tradition as an “inducement” for tacky “theme” hotels, arbitrarily closing beach ramps, increasing fees to price a day at the beach out of reach for many Central Florida families, spending millions of our tax dollars on “off-beach” lots, yet never opening them, suggesting parking meters be installed in parking spaces paid for with public funds and generally dragging their feet on the repair and replacement of storm damaged walkovers – the Volusia County Council’s track record on beach access is abysmal – and getting worse.

In fact, many long-time residents I speak with claim that the worst decision ever made was removing control of our beaches from the municipalities in favor of a “unified policy” under county control.

I agree.

To add insult, our doddering fool of a County Chair, Ed Kelley, who has openly opposed beach driving for years under the guise he supports “beach access” – which means he’s cool with the idea of you schlepping your children, chairs, umbrellas and coolers across four-lanes of heavy traffic from an off-beach parking area, said, “If we hadn’t been diligent and looking after our rights, beach driving could have been swept away completely, this shows that we do care about beach driving and the obligation that is written into the charter.”

If Ed Kelley’s idea of “diligence” is our elected officials sitting around with their thumb wedged in their ass, getting publicly blindsided time-and-time-and-time again by important legislation out of Tallahassee or being caught flatfooted by another of Mr. Dinneen’s “public policy by ambush” surprise announcements – perhaps he should look up the definition of the word – or, better yet, stop squawking about things he knows nothing about.

There is a quote that’s been attributed to everyone from Mark Twain to Abraham Lincoln that would serve Chairman Kelley well in future public communications: “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth a remove all doubt.”

Now, Old Ed is telling constituents that their anger over this colossal waste of tax dollars is unwarranted – given the fact Summit Hospitality has agreed to clean-up Volusia County’s mess and purchase new poles (he’s suggesting “totem poles”?) – and poo-pooing their very real concerns that allowing a private entity to install barricades on a public beach could establish certain ownership rights and jeopardize Volusia County’s customary use ordinance.

(Chairman Kelley, I’ll try to phrase this in terms even you can understand:  We, The People DON’T BELIEVE ANYTHING YOU SAY OR DO.)

Of course, the uber-weird shameless self-promoter Councilwoman Heather Post – who has apparently stopped communicating with her constituents by any means other than a canned social media presence – is blaming the “media,” saying they are working an angle to “cause misinformation” and making things “unclear to some in the public.”

Say what?  Misinformation?  

Hell, Daytona Beach News-Journal Editor Pat Rice even left the office – got a little sand on the ol’ Florsheim Imperials – and measured the damn things himself!

(My God.  Did Weird Heather drink the Kool-Aid or what?)

What I find most chilling – and perhaps the one quirk which best supports Sheriff Chitwood’s spot-on assessment of his character – is Mr. Dinneen’s frightening ability to compulsively lie and quibble facts when the truth would serve him – and the rest of us – far better.

In my view, he can get away with a lot of things – but claiming to be a beach driving advocate isn’t one of them. . .

The debacle that is Summit Hospitality Group’s weird relationship with Volusia County government has baffled beach advocates for months – now, the mismanagement and bureaucratic ineptitude surrounding the Desert Inn/Westin/Hard Rock project can no longer be ignored as it plays out, front page-above the fold, in our newspaper.

For those joining this slapstick comedy already in progress, here’s a chronology of the goofy errors and omissions that have plagued this godforsaken project for years.

From its inception, this poisoned partnership – solely designed to remove beach driving from another 410 linear feet of the shoreline as an “inducement” for Summit to develop an “internationally recognized brand resort” on the skeleton of the spooky Desert Inn – has been like watching a shit-train careen off its tracks in super-slow motion.

Many of us found this “public/private” conspiracy strange from the beginning.

Two organizations with completely different strategic missions – one a local government with a legal responsibility to protect and defend the public’s right to beach access – the other a speculative developer with a profit motive – confederating to restrict access to the people’s most precious natural amenity as an economic incentive?

Didn’t seem right.  Still doesn’t.

Then, with the “encouragement” of campaign sugar daddy and master political puppeteer J. Hyatt Brown – those cheap marionettes we elected to represent our interests on the dais of power in DeLand unanimously agreed to surrender our century-old tradition of beach driving as a bastardized enticement for what we were assured would be two job-producing luxury hotels built of glass, steel and sex appeal.

Originally, the ordinances provided traffic-free areas to accommodate both the “original” Hard Rock project that Canadian developer Henry Wolfond was set to build, as well as the “Four Star” Westin that Summit Hospitality promised us was coming.

In a bold move to protect the interests of Volusia County residents, Florida’s premiere beach advocacy – Sons of the Beach – attempted a strong legal challenge, lawsuits with clear merit which were ultimately squashed by a weaponized county attorney who used our own money to ensure a private entity received a semi-private beach at our expense.

Within months, Wolfond packed up his troubles in his old kit bag and hauled ass back to Canada, but not before calling us all a bunch of obstructionist assholes for challenging his elegant plan which, in addition to the removal of beach driving, called for Palm Beach prices in a Hooterville market.

Then – nothing.

Crickets.

The “Westin” renovation stagnated to the point it looked like the project was being completed by two one-armed handymen working weekends.

Months turned into years as the development languished and it became clear Summit would never meet the ordinance-imposed deadline for completion.

Then, in a clumsy surprise party last year, County Manager Jim Dinneen orchestrated a bizarre off-the-agenda switcheroo at a public meeting, wherein Summit announced it was dumping the Westin brand and acquiring the Hard Rock franchise.

The ambush-style revelation that we were getting a “Hard Rock” resulted in wild applause and fainting swoons from our elected officials who immediately melted into a spineless goo of overacted adulation to appease their masters who were looking on from the gallery.

Just one hiccup – in exchange for planting the Hard Rock flag on Daytona Beach, Summit Hospitality would need more time.

With a completely straight face, Summit’s representatives cited hurricanes and other unavoidable delays – never once mentioning that the development hadn’t seen substantive progress in months.

Of course, the developer was almost immediately granted an extension, pushing the drop-dead completion date to February 28, 2018.

In my view, at that very moment, it became crystal clear our elected officials were once again selling us out to push the horribly failed strategy of political insiders who still believe a single panacea project will serve as an anchor for area-wide revitalization – all while turning their backs on the squalor, blight and economic stagnation that has metastasized across the remainder of the beachside like a malignant tumor.

As the months rolled on – the Hard Rock project continued to sit virtually idle – even as the performance deadline loomed.

Opening dates were announced, then awkwardly called back, again-and-again.

After assuring us that they had no more than a casual interest in the hotel’s progress, it became clear that our ‘powers that be’ in DeLand began to get nervous.

A mysterious closed-door meeting was held between Summit representatives and senior Volusia County officials to discuss, “what needs to be done to bring the Hard Rock Hotel into compliance.”

It then became clear to anyone paying attention that the Hard Rock would meet “brand standards” whether it was completed by February 28^th or not.

To that end, county attorney Dan Eckert began subverting the narrative, while our doddering fool of a County Chair, Ed Kelley, started repeating “It’s gonna be great, It’s gonna be great, It’s gonna be great” like some demented robot.

In coming days, it was apparent construction on the building and external seawall was being rushed using slapdash workmanship and relaxed building standards.

Patch-and-paint camouflage was applied to spalling concrete, the pool deck remained unfinished and Paul Zimmerman, president of Sons of the Beach, obtained photographic evidence that load-bearing structures in the subterranean parking garage appeared to be compromised with the roof supported by a forest of floor jacks.

All of this photographic and anecdotal evidence was provided to government officials – which resulted in sweeping denials and personal attacks on Zimmerman by the private engineering firm hired by the developer.

Then, just days before the deadline – with construction crews still hurrying things to a premature conclusion – Hard Rock International pencil whipped a quibbling certification that “upon opening” the hotel “will meet” brand standards set in the ordinance-imposed performance guarantee.

Like clockwork, days before the busy Easter holiday weekend – Mr. Dinneen gave orders to Beach Safety Chief Ray Manchester to ‘pull the trigger’ on beach driving behind the still-under-construction hotel.

In turn, with Manchester and our bumbling Coastal Division director Jessica Winterwerp looking on – a county contractor began jetting massive, chemically-treated utility poles into the sand – using diverted apparatus from the Volusia County Fire Department to assist in the operation.

The phalanx of ugly poles looked more appropriate to a Russian gulag than a public beach and were described by Councilwoman Billie Wheeler as “ten-foot tall monstrosities.”  She vowed to hold “staff” accountable for this abomination.

Who knows how that exercise in futility worked out for her. . .

Amidst the outcry of horrified residents – the county contractor quickly returned to the sand and in the most blatant violation of safety regulations ever caught on film – a worker balanced precariously in an elevated Bobcat bucket holding a running chainsaw with no personal protective equipment lopped a few feet off the top of the poles.   

And, just like that, the Desert Inn/Westin/Hard Rock debacle came to an unceremonious conclusion.

Not so fast.

To ensure honesty in our demonstrably dishonest county government – the intrepid Paul Zimmerman measured the distance between the county’s crude beach blockade.

Low and behold, he found the distance to be nearly twenty-feet over the 410 linear feet specified by law.

When the measurements were confirmed by The Daytona Beach News-Journal, the faux-outrage by our perpetually embarrassed elected officials began.

“It’s unacceptable” crowed the addle-brained Ed Kelley – a pitiful rube who hasn’t had an original thought since he squirmed his way into office on a tidal wave of insider cash.  “If you build your house 20 feet over the property line, they will make you tear it down.”

 No shit, Ed.

What an astute observation by our senior elected official whose manager has once again been exposed as a bumbling farce when he screwed the pooch on yet another highly controversial issue.

Demonstrating the kind of leadership he’s famous for, Jim Dinneen was apparently dry-heaving in the fetal position under his desk high atop the ivory tower – refusing to take telephone calls from media outlets – and forcing a county mouthpiece to assure the incredulous public that Summit Hospitality will make it all right again.

Sure.

At the end of the day, Hard Rock still has a semi-private beach, and We, The People who pay the bills are stuck with a $4,180 – not counting labor – invoice for yet another of Mr. Dinneen’s colossal fuck ups.

But don’t expect anyone to held accountable.  Not gonna happen.

As I’ve written before, when you consider the continuing pattern of gross mismanagement, mistakes, gaffes, howlers and good old fashioned bloopers under Mr. Dinneen’s administration – blunders that would result in his immediate termination from any legitimate private enterprise – it becomes immediately clear that he is politically insulated from any accountability by those who directly benefit from his control of the public tit – the endless supply of tax dollars that invariably flow into private projects and bolster our artificial economy here on Florida’s Fun Coast.

Is there another explanation?

More important – how long are we, the long-suffering residents of Volusia County, expected to accept it?

 

 

Hi, kids!

It’s Friday once again!  Time to play our favorite Halifax Area pastime: What the Hell?

I would like to cordially invite those dapper gents on the Ormond Beach City Commission to join the fun!

Come on, fellas – play along with us!

As always, the rules are simple – study the photograph below and take a wild-ass guess if the scene depicted is: A. A palm oil plantation in Equatorial Guinea? B. Commercial mining operations on an English peat moor? or C. The next round of clear-cut deforestation on Granada Boulevard?

If you picked developer Paul Holub’s multi-part affront to the environmental sensibilities of virtually every resident of Ormond Beach as he fells massive old growth oak trees and historic hardwoods, then grinds them into a muddy brown pulp, to make way for a new WaWa and a chicken wing drive-thru give yourself a Gold Star!

To avoid the hue and cry of anyone with a working conscience, this time they tried desperately to fool us – hiding their ghastly ecological insult behind a screen of trees strategically left standing along Granada Boulevard.

Remember when our illustrious Deputy Mayor Troy Kent told us that this abomination against nature “does not change the beautiful character of Ormond Beach”?

Well, guess what?  He lied.

Don’t take my word for it, drive by and see for yourself.

As I’ve previously written (yet can’t seem to get out of my mind), maybe when this entire godforsaken state becomes an uninhabitable quagmire – with our sole source of drinking water fouled by our own sewerage to accommodate the insatiable appetite of real estate developers, our greenspace plowed under and filled for another half-empty strip center and our wildlife habitats ground into splinters to make way for the ten-zillionth convenience store – maybe someone will wake up and vote these goddamn greed-crazed assholes out of office and replace them with someone – anyone – who has a modicum of respect for themselves and our natural places.

What a travesty.

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.

Sorry guys, I hate to be a Debbie Downer – but there are no “Angels” in my world this week.

However, the list of flaming assholes is growing exponentially. . .

Asshole:          Former BC-U President Edison Jackson

The super-strange tenure of former Bethune-Cookman University President Edison Jackson continues to peel like a rotten onion, and each layer unveils increasingly weird aspects of his administration – and the role of the Board of Trustees – who were essentially blind to it, or complicit in it, depending upon who you talk with.

With massive lawsuits multiplying like randy rabbits – claims and counter-claims that B-CU was essentially reduced to a private piggy bank for a privileged few – we now learn of a very serious charge levied by former Bethune-Cookman Vice President Michelle Thompson, the ex-wife of athletic director and later vice president of athletics, Lynn Thompson.

According to a suit filed in Circuit Court at Daytona Beach, Ms. Thompson has claimed the university committed serious violations of the Florida Civil Rights Act after her career unraveled simultaneous to her marriage.

The complaint alleges that when Michelle Thompson served as dean of freshmen, and later vice president of student development and academic integration, her career trajectory arced like a lawn dart when she separated from her husband in January 2015.

According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Thompson met with Jackson in July, the suit states.  Jackson allegedly told her “that she needed to consider her future with the university, and . . .to reconcile with her husband.” 

 Apparently, in direct defiance of Dr. Jackson’s marital diktat (normally seen only in the lawless tribal areas of Zomia) – Ms. Jackson filed for divorce in October 2015.

Then, the suit describes a wholly bizarre episode more akin to the final days of the Jonestown compound than a prestigious university, when Ms. Thompson claims she attempted to obtain tickets to an athletic event for herself and a friend, then “was informed by the university that they were not yet ready for (her) to begin dating.”  

Say what? 

Subsequently, the suit claims that Dr. Jackson demoted Ms. Thompson to professor – a position that paid “a mere fraction of her former salary” and ordered her to take an extended sabbatical.

Eleven months later she was summarily fired from the university – by email.

In her suit, Michelle Thompson is asking for a jury trial and damages in excess of $15,000 from the cash-strapped university still reeling from a byzantine series of financial moves that has threatened the continued viability of this historic institution.

All while the same Board of Trustees – people who knew or should have known – stood painfully idle while the school was fiscally exsanguinated by forces under their direct oversight and control.

In my view, the students, faculty and staff of B-CU deserve better.

Asshole:          The Florida Legislature

In another nod to allowing real estate developers carte blanche to pave over every available inch of the Sunshine State, during the 2018 legislative session lawmakers passed what is being called the ‘toilet to tap’ bill which – if signed by Governor Rick Scott – will have Floridian’s drinking their own sewerage in a few short years.

Essentially, this latest relaxation of the state’s environmental regulations allows developers whose projects stress our extremely limited water supply to build even more houses, condominiums and half-empty strip centers by permitting wastewater utilities to simply pump partially treated “gray water” back into our sensitive underground aquifer.

Then – we’ll all wish for the best – hoping against hope we don’t poison our sole source of drinking water for generations to come.

It is the textbook definition of “shitting in our own nest.”

According to Dr. Ron Saff of Physicians for Social Responsibility, writing in the Tallahassee Democrat:

“Much of what we flush down our toilets flows down our sewer lines and into sewage treatment plants. This bill would encourage pumping of the sewage effluent – the technical term for partially treated sewage – back into the drinking water aquifer. Then the partially treated effluent would flow from the aquifer into your drinking water glass when you turn on the tap.” 

In addition to our own shit – the effluent contains pharmaceuticals, such as antibiotics, psychotropic drugs and other medications – along with viruses, heavy metals, biological pathogens and nutrients that could further destroy our springs, waterways and fisheries.

While the water is technically “treated” to federal drinking water standards, experts claim those regulations are completely outdated and far too flexible to ensure consumer safety – and no one knows the long-term effects of defecating in our own drinking water supply, literally at its source.

My God – where does it end?

The abject greed of these speculative pirates knows no reasonable bounds – yet our compromised politicians at all levels of government continue to blindly accept their massive campaign contributions and do their bidding – even to the extreme of forcing every man, woman and child in this unsustainable paradise to drink their own excrement.

Welcome to Margaritaville, folks.  Just another Third-World shithole where you brush your teeth with bottled water and avoid the ice.

Asshole:          Irresponsible Public Officials  

Earlier this week, the Daytona Beach News-Journal published an article detailing Mayor Derrick Henry’s skin-of-the-teeth escape from foreclosure on a Derbyshire-area home he owns by apparently using bankruptcy protections to avoid the sale of the property on the steps of the Volusia County courthouse.

Look, let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

God knows that at various times in my life I have lived beyond my meager means – got upside down on one financial obligation or another – resulting in a drastic curtailment of my Little Lord Fauntleroy lifestyle until the bills were settled and I once again had a few chips to stack.

Without my wife Patti, a penny-pinching tightwad who keeps a miserly lock on our personal finances and curtails my impulse spending with a swift slap to the back of my head when necessary, I may well be calling Mayor Henry for strategic bankruptcy advice.

So, I’m not going to use this space to take a cheap shot at Hizzoner.

What I will do is use the News-Journal’s embarrassing article to remind all sitting politicians and public officials the importance of personal character and public perception in maintaining the people’s trust in their government.

This isn’t a finger-wagging lecture – it’s a solid piece of hard-earned advice from a fellow sinner who’s just a little further down the trail.

As a law enforcement officer of over three-decades, I was governed by a strict code of professional ethics which required that I keep my “public and private life unsullied as an example to all.”

Is that lofty standard even possible in an era where privacy and discretion have become antiquated parts of our past – and everything we do, say and eat ends up on social media at the speed of the internet?

I don’t know.

But I can honestly say that, although I fell short time-and-time again, every day I served my community I tried hard to live up to that high and noble responsibility.

Fortunately, I had good mentors along my journey who stressed the importance of honor and personal integrity.

Earlier this week, a friend and former colleague of many years abruptly resigned from his role as chief of police for a local municipal agency while under the dark cloud of a criminal investigation.

He had 30-years of unblemished service with the department and remains one of the kindest most sincere gentlemen I know.

Regardless of the ultimate outcome, I am angry and heartbroken that an otherwise stellar career ended this way.

Now, I don’t know the details beyond scuttlebutt from the local “retired cop” network – but, in my experience, there is nearly always an identifiable sequence of events that lead to these personal or career catastrophes – a disaster that can usually be avoided by breaking any link in the chain of errors.

What I’m trying to say is – if you serve in a position of high responsibility where your conduct and professionalism reflect on a group, organization or government – or even your own family – pay attention to the small things – the everyday ethical conundrums and seemingly inconsequential moral forks in the road.

Strive to overcome our basic human frailties and be honest in thought and deed – even when the outcome is unpleasant.

Take the high road, and help develop a transparent organizational culture that encourages strong leadership and inspires subordinates to ‘do the right thing’ for the right reasons – always using the difficult template: Is it moral?  Is it ethical?  Is it lawful?  Will my action inspire trust? 

Most important, if the answer to those important questions is ever in doubt – change tack and remember that in matters of public trust, once lost, it is near impossible to regain.

With persistence and example, values-based public service becomes instinctual – it permeates the organization – and allows elected and appointed officials to make ethical decisions, even in the stressful heat of the moment.

Character is how we conduct ourselves when no one is looking.

I realize this concept has gone out of style – especially in the furnace of politics – but those who stand for high office have an obligation to represent the best interests of those they are sworn to serve.

We count on these intrepid souls with a willingness to serve to lead our communities with honor, selflessness and integrity.

That commitment to service above self-interest deserves our respect and admiration – until it doesn’t.

The price public officials pay for maintaining the consent of the governed – from which their moral authority to lead originates – requires keeping their personal lives in good order, staying above the fray, paying attention to civic obligations and responsibilities and always remaining faithful to a sense of fair play.

Most important, the price of service requires that those who take a sacred oath to represent the interests of their fellow citizens have the moral values and strength of character to carry out their duties with honor – and never use their lofty position for private advantage.

Asshole:          Volusia County School Board

The latest gross absurdity in Florida’s never-ending war on common sense is playing out right here in Volusia County.

Go figure.

In Edgewater, a beautiful seven-year old child named Zoe is slowly dying of a rare condition known as Sanfilippo Syndrome, a condition similar to childhood Alzheimer’s disease.

Doctor’s confirm that her life is more than half over.

At the urging of a friend, the child’s parents administered hemp oil as a means of controlling Zoe’s frequent, debilitating seizures to help her rest – a treatment that was almost immediately effective.

In addition, the substance – which is perfectly legal everywhere in the United States as it contains zero THC, the psychoactive substance found in marijuana – has improved Zoe’s sleep, increased her appetite and ability to speak.

Doctor’s confirm that the oil is improving a very sick little girl’s quality of life.

Now, Zoe’s parents want her to receive the medicinal oil during school hours – just like other children who are administered prescription medication during the day.

Naturally, rather than assist in a dying child’s palliative care, Volusia County won’t allow it.

An asinine statement issued by the School Board claims the district follows federal law – not state law.

Say what?

 “CBD hemp oil falls under the definition of “marijuana extract” … and remains listed as a schedule one controlled substance under federal law. The request to bring cannabis oil onto our campuses or the involvement of our staff is prohibited by federal law.”

 So, in its infinite stupidity, the Volusia County School Board is denying Zoe access to this life-enhancing substance – preferring instead to watch her suffer painful seizures – rather than take a bold stand for the rights of seriously disabled students to alternative medications with proven efficacy.

Although not applicable in this case, some 71% of Florida voters approved the use of medical marijuana for the treatment of catastrophic conditions such as Zoe’s – a measure that our legislators and local elected officials have fought tooth-and-nail by blocking dispensaries and enacting other silly roadblocks and edicts.

This is a new low, even by Volusia County standards.

These fucking people should be ashamed of themselves. 

I hope voters will remember young Zoe when you enter the voting booth this November.  I will.

Quote of the Week:

“Governments, and even businesses, can break out their thesauruses and call them whatever they want: taxes, user fees, levies, assessments.  But it doesn’t change the fact that they all accomplish the same thing — they take money out of the public’s pockets.  And no semantical sweetener makes that hard truth any easier to swallow.”

 –The Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial, “Getting taxed at both ends,” Thursday, April 5, 2018

Kudos to reporter Seth Robbins for his outstanding exposé, “Fee Frenzy” which examined the weird practice of developers who seek lucrative public incentives – then screw us to the wall with privately imposed “enhanced amenity fees,” “public user fees” and other sales-based levies – each of which is clearly a tax dressed up with a catchy marketing hook.

Greedy bastards.

Most of us know when we receive an email from a Nigerian Prince looking for help moving money that we’re being scammed – at least I hope you do.

Unfortunately, many shoppers at places like Tanger Outlets and One Daytona – both of which took millions of dollars in public funds, tax abatement’s and infrastructure subsidies – are unaware of these bogus fees until they reach the point-of-sale.

Clearly, the Daytona Beach News-Journal feels the same way most of us do when we suddenly realize we are being taken advantage of by cheap grifters.  I, for one, am proud of the work they have done in educating the public to this increasingly prevalent money grab.

And Another Thing!

 “In February, Volusia County’s 76 percent occupancy was less than the statewide average of 81.1 percent, according to STR, a data and analytics specialist. Likewise, Volusia’s $154.29 average daily rate was less than the statewide average of $171.88; and the county’s revenue per available room of $117.01 was less than the statewide average of $139.40.”

–Statewide comparison of Volusia County hotel occupancy and room rates showing a slight 6% increase in February year-over-year

Response by Evelyn Fine – who has been telling the Daytona Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau what they want to hear for years – as quoted in the Daytona Beach News-Journal:

“I’m encouraged by the fact that we had more visitors,” said Evelyn Fine, president of Mid-Florida Marketing & Research in Ormond Beach. “That’s great news.” The increase in occupancy enabled hoteliers to make more money per available room, despite the decline in average daily rates, Fine said. “The big question in my mind is, ‘Why did the rates go down?’ and I wish I had an answer for that. I’m thinking that maybe because we had some slow months before that (February), that everybody was kind of nervous and let the rates slip a bit.”

 Less than the statewide average by all metrics?  Encouraged?  Great news?

Wait?  What?  Up-is-down, Down-is-up? It’s all so confusing, Evelyn.

Whatever. . .

Have a great weekend, kids!

 

 

As the tortured scribe of an alternative opinion blog, I often receive angry calls and messages from sitting politicians, and others in positions of high power and influence, who take me to task for having come down on the wrong side of one issue or the other – and I admit – I’m certainly not infallible.

But when I’m right – I’m right.

For instance, I harbor a sneaking suspicion that our elected and appointed officials in Volusia County government have dissolved into a weird clown alley of ill-informed lockstep conformists who do exactly what they are told to do – when they are told to do it.

And when they don’t get their way on an issue important to their uber-wealthy campaign donors – or in matters where their ineptitude may be exposed – they lash out like recalcitrant children, using the county attorney’s office as an offensive weapon, or simply becoming obstructionist assholes (a la “Sleepy” Pat Patterson, clenching his little hands, puffing up like a toad, and vowing to vote “no” on every issue coming before the SunRail Commission until his issues get resolved).

The fact is, evidence continues to mount that these dolts we have elected to represent our interests have the situational and political awareness of wallpaper paste.

Unless they are told exactly how to think, and what to do, by County Manager Jim Dinneen or some courtier from the camarilla of “Rich & Powerful” insiders who actually control our lives and livelihoods – our council members sits there like slack-jawed dementia victims fascinated by specks of dust floating in the air.

Clueless doesn’t come close to describing this level of blunted detachment.

For almost two-years, the laser focus of Volusia County government – when they weren’t busy approving “incentives” for speculative developers, closing off beach access or funneling massive amounts of public funds to private interests – has been set on developing a strategy to place a half-cent sales tax increase on the November ballot.

Why?

Like any parasitic worm that burrows itself deep into the public tit – government needs increasing sources of tax revenue to keep the cycle of government spending, insane compensation and benefits packages for senior managers and corporate welfare projects – spinning along without interruption.

Now it appears our ‘powers that be’ became so distracted by the dollar signs dancing in their pointy little heads that they failed to keep an eye on happenings in Tallahassee – or maybe they truly are just a troop of ill-informed buffoons – regardless, they missed some important legislation that just may derail their sleazy money grab.

Back in February, State Representative Matt Caldwell, a Republican from North Fort Meyers, began formulating a plan to block a local option sales tax proposed by the Lee County School Board – a levy Rep. Caldwell vehemently disagreed with.

According to Caldwell, imposing a tax on every man, woman and child in Lee County was “avoidable and unwise,” and he linked the school boards financial difficulties to irresponsible spending and poor strategic planning.

Sound familiar?

So, during the waning days of the 2018 legislative session, Rep. Caldwell filed an amendment requiring county governments and school districts seeking to place a local option sales tax before voters to submit to an outside performance audit, which must be completed and posted for public inspection sixty days before the election.

Governor Rick Scott signed the measure into law on March 23^rd.

Clearly the terms “outside” and “audit” brought peristaltic tremors to our elected and appointed officials in DeLand.

Frankly, I couldn’t be more tickled if I had a feather in my shorts.

Among other provisions, the Caldwell amendment requires that the audit explore alternative methods for providing county services and products, ensures the accuracy of public documents, examines the “structure or design” of the county government to accomplish its objectives and requires compliance with appropriate policies, rules and laws.

In short, the legislation ensures that government has explored all possible alternatives before siphoning even more cash from their tax-strapped constituents by imposing or increasing duties on goods and services.

It’s called basic accountability – and that is anathema to our current administration.

Now do you see why this important legislation – which is clearly designed to protect the public interest – has sent convulsing shivers down the spine of Volusia County government? 

I thought you might.

Clearly, our elected and appointed officials were once again caught totally flatfooted – completely unaware of the Caldwell amendment and its potential ramifications – and now those on the dais of power are falling all over themselves to affix blame to anyone but themselves.

Our doddering fool of a County Chair, Ed Kelley – who suffers from a rare form of selective memory which makes him oblivious to anything other than the personal whims of his wealthy campaign donors – blames Volusia County’s lobbying firm, GrayRobinson, Tallahassee insiders who receive $50,000 of our money annually to, well, keep our council members apprised of legislative happenings.

According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Old Ed said, “I thought our (lobbyist) would have let us know.  My guess is that the lobbyist should have told us that,” he said.  “Someone should have told us before today that that was there.  I’m a little miffed that I wasn’t made aware of this.”

Miffed?

Get your head out of your ass, Ed.

How many times can our senior elected official feign cognitive ignorance?

Anyone remember back in May 2017, when Chairman Kelley and the others we elected to represent our interests got caught with their heads on the desk, snoozing in a pile of their own drool, when the state moved to limit local government’s ability to pass ordinances that impact private property rights, specifically as it relates to customary use of public beaches?

I do.

But in typical fashion – no one is ever held accountable in the Dinneen administration.

Not GrayRobinson, and especially not Mr. Dinneen.

I mean, where exactly does the buck stop in this shitstorm of abject mismanagement and ineptitude?

Certainly not with the hyper-arrogant Councilwoman Deb Denys.

In her typical haughty delivery, Denys deflected any responsibility, fuming with indignant criticism, “It’s bad law (?), bad legislation.  We are regulating empty.  There’s nothing there.” 

You mean, except exposing out-of-control government spending, the open giveaway of public assets and the mysteriously opaque planning and spending policies coming out of the county manager’s office?

My God.

Folks, I may not get it right all the time – but I’m right when I opine that we are being “governed” by the most grossly out-of-touch gaggle of half-bright dimwits in the history of Volusia County.

And given our dismal history, that’s saying something. . .

In my view, there truly is no one awake in the wheelhouse – and this ship of fools is hopelessly adrift.

Based on the evidence at hand – am I wrong?