In my view, the miserable existence of Travis Archer should forever be defined by the brutal beating death of a 9-month-old Labrador retriever named Ponce – an innocent dog, who, according to records, suffered “…extensive trauma to three sides of his head, six fractured teeth, a fractured lower jaw, two broken ribs and other injuries. . .”

I will always look upon Mr. Archer, and those like him, with disgust – something best held at a distance – a golem formed of excrement, a monster beyond redemption.   

And I hope this grisly stigma follows anyone who would maliciously torture, abuse, and kill animals – so that those who commit these atrocious crimes never become accepted members of a civil and just society. 

After serving in law enforcement most of my life, I have developed a burning hatred for those who cause harm to the vulnerable – children, the mentally challenged, elderly persons, defenseless animals – sentient beings who cannot protect themselves from victimization and exploitation. 

‘Hate’ is a strong word, but I accept these feelings as a natural psychological reaction after more than three-decades observing man’s brutal inhumanity to the helpless – years when I was forced to approach these horrific cases with a cold, unemotional professionalism – physically suppressing the normal feeling of human outrage.

I have come to realize that, over time, attempting to overpower and compartmentalize one’s instinctive emotions takes a toll.  I suppose that is why this blog has proven so cathartic.          

As an “advanced” culture, we rely on the rule of law as a means of seeking what passes for justice, and, in the case of Travis Archer, the law in place at the time of the crime worked – sort of.

From the start, Mr. Archer received incredibly competent and aggressive representation from his lawyer, Aaron Delgado – one of the best in that difficult business – who fulfilled his role, and lawful duty to the system, by using every legal means available to present a vigorous defense and ensure his client’s rights were protected.   

According to reports, following Archer’s no contest plea to felony animal cruelty, Circuit Court Judge Sandra Upchurch levied appropriate sanctions, fines, and fees, then reasonably ordered that he never again be permitted to own an animal. 

Sounds fair, right? 

After all, the courts typically rule that those who use technology and the internet to steal from or exploit others cannot have access to computers – nor should they.

It’s a viable means of limiting access to future victims.

Unfortunately, in a split decision, the Fifth District Court of Appeals recently ruled that Judge Upchurch exceeded the scope of her jurisdiction, ruling that Archer could not be barred from owning animals for the rest of his life – only for the duration of his three-year probation.

Fortunately, that should never happen again. 

Thanks to the intrepid animal rights activist Debbie Darino – whose legendary fight for what would become known as Ponce’s Law – added enhanced penalties for those who would abuse defenseless animals, including a new provision of the law that permits judges to order a lifetime ban on animal ownership for those convicted of these heinous crimes.   

Obviously, those protections were not in place at the time of Ponce’s death. 

Now, Ms. Darino is continuing her compassionate crusade to ensure adequate protections for vulnerable animals by fighting hard for anti-tethering and adequate shelter ordinances in all cities in Volusia County – and she is working hard with State Rep. Elizabeth Fetterhoff of DeLand to introduce legislation in the 2021 session which will clarify the animal cruelty statute and ensure that offenders are properly charged with a felony crime.

I hope you will join me in supporting Ms. Darino’s inspiring efforts to seek protections – and justice – for defenseless animals who cannot speak for themselves. 

Thank you for your outstanding work – and for your humanity, Ms. Darino.

You are one of Volusia County’s true Christmas Angels!    

Hi, kids!

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

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

Angel               Volusia County Council

This week marked what (I hope) is a bold new beginning for governance in Volusia County.

After the calamity that was the last four years, the good people of this salty piece of land we call home deserve it. . .   

The legendary Henry Ford said that “Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently,” and with such great possibilities on our horizon, there is no time to wallow in the past – or waste any more of our lives pondering ‘what could’ve been,’ or ‘what should’ve been.” 

As one would expect, the last meeting of this iteration of the Volusia County Council was weird – and, as a loyal watcher of this bimonthly shit show, I would have been disappointed with anything less.  

It was the final act of the Théâtre de L’absurde – a performance which reached its dramatic crescendo when Councilwoman Billie Wheeler mysteriously wailed – “We are not corrupt! We are not corrupt! Not a one of us has stepped over the line!” – a strange, almost unconscious parapraxis that seemed to expose a paranoid streak in Ms. Wheeler we had not seen before. . .

Weird, indeed.

I admit, a dark part of me is going to miss these parliamentary train wrecks. 

This final meeting was like watching the circus pack up and trundle away from the fairgrounds, leaving only the stench of elephant dung and horse manure lingering in the air.      

Several people have told me that former Volusia County Chair Ed Kelley is a nice guy. 

I am sorry I never saw that side of him.   

And, when you cut through her self-important aura, outgoing Councilwoman Deb Denys is gifted with a natural cunning and Machiavellian guile that allowed her to play smash-mouth politics with the best of them – truly a formidable force.

But none of that maudlin crap matters now. 

I am giddy with a high sense of anticipation – the thrill of ‘what comes next’ – and a feeling of liberation after helplessly watching taxpayers openly marginalized, abused, and ignored by an oligarchical system that ensures an open faucet of public funds for all the right last names with a chip in the game.      

This week marked the swan song for much of what remains of Volusia’s Old Guard – the Stalwarts of the Status Quo – at least for those holding positions of “official” power in DeLand.   

After years of dedicated service to entrenched insiders – these two perennial politicians who so unashamedly served the wants and whims of their uber-wealthy cronies and benefactors – are no longer relevant to the architectural design of Volusia County’s future.

Trust me.  That is something to celebrate.   

Following the obligatory Deification & Adulation Ceremony, our doddering fool of a County Chair, and the always arrogant Councilwoman Deb Denys, finally shuffled off the dais of power into the dustbin of history.

(I’m not crying, you’re crying. . .)

Unfortunately, the end did not come soon enough, as Chairman Kelley had the opportunity to lord over one more public farce – the “annual evaluation” of County Manager George “The Wreck” Rectenwald and County Attorney Mike Dyer – a hollow exercise which serves as a laughable formality before the pair receive an end-of-year salary increase. 

True to form, the council member’s verbal reviews of their only direct reports dissolved into a meeting of The Mutual Admiration Society – replete with glowing accolades, saccharine compliments, and a brown-nosing fealty that showed how incredibly loyal our elected officials have become to the bloated bureaucracy. 

Look, I like George Recktenwald. 

I think he does a damn fine job under difficult circumstances, with an unflappable style, adroitly answering to seven loopy bosses, while managing to keep their leaky vessel afloat.

That’s a hard dollar. 

I am going to reserve judgement on Mr. Dyer’s work product – our “new” county attorney whose salary already exceeds $200,000 a year – you know, like those we have elected to steward our tax dollars should have?   

Whatever. 

In my view, we have a lot to look forward to.

Following a hotly contested election, a hand-to-hand contest which so brutally exposed the true character (or lack thereof) of many of our area’s ‘movers & shakers,’ we will soon have a core group of elected officials who have made a clear and solemn promise to Volusia County residents:

To return a county government of, by, and for the people – a place where those who pay the bills have an equal, honest, and influential say in the direction of our tax dollars, and our future. 

During Tuesday’s meeting, I thought incoming Chair Jeff Brower showed incredible magnanimity as he stood in the well and formally congratulated Kelley and Denys as they took their painfully slow leave.   

I admire that. 

If I had been bludgeoned like Mr. Brower was during the campaign, I am not sure I could be that high-minded in victory.   

(That’s just one reason I do not run for elective office – because the sight of me swilling cheap champagne from the bottle, while drunkenly screaming, “Don’t let the door hit ya in the ass on the way out!” at my defeated opponent would only lower the bar and sully the decorum. . .)

In addition, Chairman-elect Brower took a bold stand this week in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, vowing to make our century old heritage of beach driving and access a priority after decades of having the venerated tradition used as a cheap inducement for speculative developers.

That’s encouraging. 

Clearly, Mr. Brower realizes the importance of our greatest natural resource to the economic vitality of Volusia County, and, more important, he understands the damage that has resulted from years of mismanagement by a bureaucracy that seems totally out of touch – physically incapable of the quantum change necessary for the revitalization of the Halifax area and beyond.

Councilman Daniel Robins, Councilwoman Heather Post, and Chairman Brower will join a group of experienced elected officials that – I hope – are equally committed to moving forward with a renewed passion for protecting, preserving, and enhancing those things that make Volusia County such a special place.

I add Heather Post to the list of incoming freshmen because, unfortunately, she was never given the opportunity to fully participate in any meaningful way during her first term, as her every effort was belittled, bullied, and marginalized under what passed for Old Ed’s “leadership.”

Clearly, all the important tools are now in the box.    

For instance, Councilman Ben Johnson is a veteran public servant who has proven his commitment to making Volusia County a better place – a true leader, tested in the furnace of law enforcement, with the demonstrated ability to listen to opposing opinions with an open mind and make decisions based upon facts – not politics.   

By any metric, Councilwoman Barbara Girtman is the intellectual superior on the dais – an incredibly bright and thoughtful elected official with a sharp, strategic mind – someone whose refined sense of service originates in the heart – as she remains sensitive to the needs of our underrepresented citizens who are so often overlooked.

In my estimation, the only unknowns are Councilwoman Billie Wheeler and The Reverend Fred Lowrey. 

However, both have proven smart enough to sense the prevailing winds, and they possess the political savvy to know what is possible, and what is not. 

Given the mix of authentic enthusiasm and experience, this has the making of a great team. 

Time will tell.     

Like Mr. Ford said, times of transition always present opportunities, and this is clearly an exciting time for all of us. 

Quote of the Week

“Just to set the record straight, River Bend owes property taxes because a private company leases public land to make a profit. The 1997 court order referenced in The News-Journal article was entered based upon a statute that was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2001. The Supreme Court confirmed that public land cannot be used for private purposes (to make a profit), without also paying property taxes.

If Norwood’s company merely managed River Bend on behalf of the city, there would be no property tax liability. The cities of Daytona Beach and Port Orange both run golf courses for the enjoyment of their citizens.

I would be willing, personally, to pay more property taxes in order to keep River Bend open. I hope the Ormond Beach City Commission is willing to consider taking over the operation and maintenance of such a wonderful part of the Ormond Beach way of life. No future county property taxes would be owed by the Ormond Beach city government if they kept River Bend open by running it themselves.”

–Volusia County Property Appraiser Larry Bartlett, writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Letters to the Editor, “River Bend golf course can be saved,” Tuesday, December 15, 2020

I respect Mr. Bartlett’s cogent explanation of the terrible (and avoidable) circumstances that have conspired to see the demise of the beautiful River Bend Golf Course. 

In fact, it is difficult to watch.

Many years ago, following my father’s death, a plaque was placed on a fairway at River Bend to commemorate his contributions when the course was being built. 

At that time, my dad – an avid golfer and longtime friend of PGA Professional Lawson Mitchell, who was instrumental in the origination of the course – volunteered to assist in the compassionate relocation of endangered tortoises from areas under construction.

My fear is that once River Bend goes to seed – some well-placed speculative developer will be champing at the bit to churn that prime public riverfront property into another godawful gated community. . . 

Why else would ostensibly smart public officials believe that collecting property taxes on a public amenity – one built on publicly owned property – outweigh the detrimental effect of an overgrown shithole, a civic eyesore, another abandoned golf course, reeking of failure, positioned immediately adjacent to the city’s municipal airport?   

No, once the City of Ormond Beach unloads this prime real estate to the right last name – the property will not sit idle for long. . .   

I could be wrong.  Hide and watch. 

Regardless of Mr. Bartlett’s good thoughts, please do not expect the Ormond Beach City Commission to do the right thing and provide for the operation and maintenance of this outstanding recreational amenity. 

In my jaded view, after tens of thousands in developer dollars were thrown around during the last election, I suspect none of Ormond’s elite elected officials will want to stand in the way of “progress.”    

And Another Thing!

Last week, I expressed my fears about the insidious censorship being practiced by social media monopolies, and some individual sites, which illegitimately purport to serve as community “forums” for the discussion and debate of diverse ideas on the important issues of the day. 

I have a standing policy on this blogsite that all opinions are welcome – especially those that are contrary to my own (because that’s how I learn) – and I have only blocked a small handful of comments that sought to incite violence, used base racial, ethnic, or religious epithets, or made patently untrue personal allegations against others with no supporting facts.   

If you want those types of discussions, the internet is rife with them, but you will not find that vile content here. 

That said, there are some outstanding social media sites that provide an avenue for citizen input on the issues that affect our lives and livelihoods here on Florida’s Fun Coast. 

Never one to shy away from controversial issues, civic activist Greg Gimbert hosts the wildly popular Facebook forum Volusia Issues – a rollicking, no-holds-barred, public soapbox which welcomes a wide variety of opinions, encourages free thought – and always calls the balls and strikes with a real sensitivity for preserving uninhibited debate.

In addition, Mr. Gimbert administrates the Facebook-based Volusia County School Parents Forum – which encourages those interested in our quirky local educational system to, “Post your events, challenges, and victories. Post your suggestions in the areas of curriculum, budget, and staffing. It is time to move past party lines and towards better schools for all of our kids. This forum is the place to gather with good neighbors to do so.”

I like that. 

In my view, we live in a time and place where, for far too long, citizen input in governmental affairs has been limited by small-minded politicians and appointed officials in the halls of power – despotic martinets who prefer to issue diktats from on high – rather than deliberate competing ideas or accept the suggestions of us bumpkins who pay the bills. 

I understand better than most – we do not have to agree. 

Unlike some in positions of elected and appointed power, I never learn anything in an echo chamber of like-minded people agreeing with one another while cementing their haughty sense of infallibility. 

Sound familiar?      

I encourage everyone to take a stand against this sinister erosion of our God-given right to free and open expression – which forms the very foundation of a robust civic debate – and I ask that you make good use of those open-minded public forums where our First Amendment rights are respected – and protected. 

That’s all for me. 

Angels & Assholes will take a short pause next week while we enjoy this most joyous season.

Thanks to each of you – the loyal members of the Barker’s View Tribe – this has been a banner year for our little experiment in alternative opinion blogging – the most annual activity since we began five-years ago!

I appreciate you riding the river with me. 

Your encouragement and support mean more than you know. 

Have a great weekend, y’all!

For the first time in the life of this alternative opinion blog, the content of something I wrote was censored.   

On Friday, a Barker’s View Angels & Assholes piece regarding the controversy surrounding Volusia School Superintendent Carmen Balgobin was unilaterally purged by the administrator of a local social media site ostensibly dedicated to our local school system.     

“Your post was removed by admin.”

The reason?  Language. 

Bullshit. 

Now, I’m not sure the overseer of the site that touts itself as a “forum” – something classically defined as a public place for the free and open exchange, discussion, and debate of competing ideas – understands the concept, because just prior to deleting my post from her site, the administrator labeled it a “Monday morning quarterback” piece (which it was) before removing it from the site altogether in an apparent pique after I described Balgobin’s administration as a “shit show.” 

Is there a better descriptor? 

That bothered me.

Because it wasn’t the language, but the criticism, that offended.

I posted the piece on the site because it addressed a topical, and highly contentious, issue in Volusia County schools – and because the “forum” claimed that “Considerate and thoughtful discussion of ideas, thoughts, and concerns, regarding our schools, is welcome.”

Clearly critical thought isn’t welcome – but I’m not surprised.

After all, it’s hard to remain objective about the state of Volusia County Schools. . .    

Suppression of free expression under the slippery, seductive, politically correct ruse that we be subjectively “kind and courteous” in thought and word is nothing more than velvet glove censorship – and it allows those in positions of appointed or elected power to run roughshod – as anyone who dares criticize them are marginalized and silenced by their shills.      

So, I removed myself from what passes for an education “forum” in this foul year 2020, because I know there are competing ideas out there that will not be permitted to see the light of day – and that leaves only half the story being told.

In her 1906 biography The Friends of Voltaire, Evelyn Beatrice Hall summarized the French philosopher’s beliefs with the line, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

That infamously misapplied quote is returning to favor as those engaged in our current “cancel culture” seek to suppress free and open speech by limiting the exchange of views to only those messages which comport with their own. 

Add to that the dangerous practice of social media monopolies attempting to bring censorship into the mainstream by sentencing those who engage in speech deemed offensive by some nameless/faceless “community standards team” to social media “jail” – blocking their ability to engage with others in an anti-discourse policy that essentially banishes anyone with a dissenting opinion to a purgatory of silence – an insidious suppression that, in my view, is slowly desensitizing the American people to the erosion of our God-given right to free speech.  

In today’s world, if someone ventures an opinion that is counter to our own, rather than engage in the competition of spirited debate, we simply “report” that which we find offensive to those self-appointed persecutors who “monitor” content – or remove it from our so-called “forum” completely – so that others are not similarly butt-hurt by a contrary opinion.

As a result, the nation’s social, civic, and ideological rift widens – and, more disturbing, we begin shaping our thoughts to comport with those who hold the authority to affect our lives and livelihoods.  

Those of us who vociferously exercise our right to be heard on the important issues of the day, slowly begin to reign ourselves in – adapting and modulating our voice – to avoid suppression or reprisal by those dictatorial martinets who police the thoughts and opinions of others.   

This summer, a diverse group of academics, authors, and civic activists issued an open letter in Harper’s magazine espousing that “a new set of moral attitudes and political commitments” are “[weakening] norms of open debate and toleration of differences in favor of ideological conformity”.

“This stifling atmosphere will ultimately harm the most vital causes of our time. The restriction of debate, whether by a repressive government or an intolerant society, invariably hurts those who lack power and makes everyone less capable of democratic participation. The way to defeat bad ideas is by exposure, argument, and persuasion, not by trying to silence or wish them away.”

Look, I don’t expect everyone to agree with these hypercritical screeds. 

They are not for everyone.

Because provoking higher thought can take people outside their comfort zone, you know, where real and lasting change begins. 

My sincere hope is that these carping, critical, and faultfinding diatribes of mine help incite a larger discussion of the issues we collectively face here on Florida’s Fun Coast – a place where, for far too long, the influence of those with a chip in the game outweigh that of long-suffering taxpayers who are asked to pay the bills and suffer in silence. 

Keep the light of free expression burning bright.

Read, write, comment, debate, let your voice be heard.

It’s important. 

Hi, kids!

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

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

Asshole                Chairman Ed Kelley and Councilwoman Deb Denys

During a 1962 press conference following his loss to Pat Brown in the California gubernatorial race, an embittered Richard Nixon glumly said, “You don’t have Nixon to kick around anymore.” 

I think I know how the assembled members of the media must have felt. . .

Tuesday’s Volusia County Council meeting marks the last hurrah for our doddering fool of a lame duck County Chair Ed Kelley and his protégé, and ofttimes ventriloquist, the always arrogant Councilwoman Deb Denys. 

To honor the political demise of these two Stalwarts of the Status Quo, The Reverend Fred Lowry has sponsored proclamations which will be presented during next Tuesday’s meeting, formally deifying the two perennial politicians, and designating December 15, 2020 as “Ed Kelley and Deb Denys Day.”  

(Sorry.  I just upchucked in my mouth a little.  Damn agita. . .) 

Part of me wants to stay in bed on Tuesday and sob into my pillow over the lack of substantive progress and gross civic stagnation we have endured these last four years – another wants to attend the ceremony in person, because, like that old movie said:

“I don’t want to hear Ed Kelley gone. . . .I want to see Ed Kelley gone.” 

Hey, all good things come to an end, right? 

The fact is, it has been a full-time job pointing out Old Ed’s every goof and gaffe – decrying the abject buffoonery surrounding any meeting he mumbled and fumbled through – and screaming like a scalded banshee every time Deb Denys puffed up like a toad and lied through her teeth in a treacherous attempt to get reelected while trying desperately to destroy her opponent’s reputation in the process. 

So, as Old Ed and Dishonest Deb are ushered out the back door and walk hand-in-hand to the ash heap of history, I thought it only fitting to issue an exalted Barker’s View Proclamation paying homage to these two petty political hacks who have worked so diligently to further the goals of the oligarchical system they served so well:

To All Whom These Presents shall come or whom the same may in any way concern,

A Barker’s View Proclamation!

To Members of Our Loyal Tribe and all others whom these Presents may concern are hereby required to take notice and to govern themselves accordingly:

Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!

Whereas, Ed Kelley and Deb Denys have a collective 1,000 years of elective “service” to the uber-wealthy puppeteers who control everything but the ebb and flow of the Atlantic tides on this salty piece of land known as Volusia County – lording over their vassals like a Monarchial tag team – totally ignoring the real economic, social, and civic needs of their long-suffering constituents, and

Whereas, during their ignominious tenure, Old Ed and Dishonest Deb facilitated the wholesale giveaway of 410’ feet of beach driving as a cheap spiff for speculative developers – in direct contradiction of Ms. Denys fervent campaign promise that she would never vote to destroy even more of our century old tradition of beach driving and access; and 

Whereas, Ed Kelley and Deb Denys led the charge at the behest of their political benefactors at the omnipotent Camera Stellata, known colloquially as the Volusia CEO Business Alliance, to levy a half-cent sales tax on every man, woman, and child in the realm – using flashlight-under-the-chin scary stories and “No Plan B” threats – culminating in a wildly expensive “special election” which saw their money grubbing scheme go down in flames when 55% of voters told their dejected elected officials:  We Don’t Trust You; and

Whereas, their constituents watched in utter horror as internal and external whistleblowers were pilloried, ignored, and marginalized – including the startling revelation that a $50,000 2016 taxpayer-funded study calling for higher impact fees was never presented to the public – along with a scathing assessment by Volusia County’s former federal advocate and lobbyist who valiantly attempted to expose the county’s dysfunctional culture, lack of transparency, and the corrosive impact of “years of infighting, pettiness and bad headlines,” only to have those valid concerns boorishly dismissed as “sour grapes” by the befuddled Chairman Kelley; and

Whereas, when any taxpaying citizen – the commoners who Kelley and Denys viewed as servile members of a lower caste – dared approach the dais of power for the redress of grievances, they were treated with open distain, their futile pleas limited to a few short minutes, all while being strategically distracted by the Chairman’s importune babbling – much like the treatment received by Councilwoman Heather Post – who was routinely subject to Kelley and Denys shabby histrionics, eye-rolling, bullying, hectoring cruelty, and blatant assholery as they stood, shoulder-to-shoulder, guarding the crumbling ramparts of the status quo, NOW THEREFORE,

WE, THE LITTLE PEOPLE OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA, do hereby proclaim December 15, 2020 as:

“GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD RUBBISH DAY”

And urge all our fellow citizens to remember the damage and stagnation that can result when we stop paying attention.

Out with the old, in with the new. . .

Angel                    Volusia County Constitutional Officers

Kudos to Sheriff Mike Chitwood, Clerk of the Circuit Court Laura Roth, Supervisor of Elections Lisa Lewis, Property Appraiser Larry Bartlett, and Tax Collector Will Roberts for helping meet the needs of homeless students in Volusia County.

In the Spirit of the Season, and a shining example of true leadership, during a recent meeting of Volusia County’s now independent constitutional officers, Ms. Roth suggested the influential group form a charity drive to support the needs of homeless youth in Volusia County. 

According to reports, as of October, the number of homeless students in Volusia County was shocking:

84 living in cars, campgrounds, and parks; 176 living in emergency shelters and transitional housing; 178 homeless unaccompanied youth; 351 in hotels or motels; and 1,396 “living with others/doubled up,” according to information provided to Ms. Roth by the Volusia County School District.

My God.

That represents over 2,100 vulnerable children, living in challenging and often dangerous conditions, subject to exploitation and victimization, while trying hard to receive an education in Volusia County schools. 

During my previous life in law enforcement, I saw up-close and personal the horrific conditions endured by children forced to live in the squalor of fleabag motels and worse – literally one step from the mean streets – with little food, belongings, or hope of escaping the cycle of poverty. 

In a video announcing this worthwhile program, Ms. Roth said:

“So please join our cause by supporting our homeless students for the holidays. Donate food or gas-gift card or a gift card for a stay at a hotel at one of our many locations. Our staff is standing by to accept your generous gifts. The deadline to donate is December 14, 2020. Together we can make a difference for our students in need. Our goal is to help as many as we can before the holidays.”

Donations may also be made online at the Volusia Sheriff’s Youth Foundation website at www.vsyf.org

Angel                    Raquel Levy

Collectors have a special attachment to the items they enjoy, often spending years and thousands of dollars building and maintaining their collections.  Over time, they naturally develop a sentimental connection to the things they value, making them extremely difficult to part with. 

That was on my mind when I read of the kindhearted generosity of Holly Hill attorney Raquel Levy of Atlantic Law Center, who last Saturday joined her two daughters in hosting a giveaway of her lifelong collection of Barbie dolls to children in need. 

This wonderful expression of kindness was held at Holly Hill’s Sunrise Park and saw some 75 Barbies from Ms. Levy’s collection offered to those less fortunate. 

According to an excellent piece by Frank Fernandez in The Daytona Beach News-Journal:

“My collection got really big,” Levy said. “But as much as I loved them, I also felt kind of shallow and I just came up with the conclusion that it’s completely senseless to possess, you know, this beautiful doll collection when there are children that are actually in need of toys to play with.”

In my view, Ms. Levy’s selfless giveback exemplifies the true meaning of this joyous season. 

I do not know Ms. Levy personally – we are friends on social media – but her beautiful story and amazing generosity has brought much happiness to many children in our community who otherwise would have had a very bleak Christmas and Hanukkah this year.

Thank you, Ms. Levy. 

Your exceptional kindness touched my crusty old heart and restored my faith in the inherent goodness of so many in our community. 

Asshole                Volusia County School Board

Earlier this week I wrote down my thoughts on Volusia County School Superintendent Carmen Balgobin’s decision to hire former School Board Chairwoman Ida Wright just one month after she was trounced in the general election. 

To complicate matters, Wright’s unilateral hiring to the unannounced position in the district’s Human Resources department came after she and the other board members voted in November to gift Balgobin a massive pay raise, which we are now told amounts to a $29,000 increase over her normal salary as deputy superintendent, for the seven months she has served in the interim role.

Like many shocked taxpayers, parents, and teachers I questioned whether Wright’s appointment to a clearly fabricated, unadvertised, and non-competitive “equity and diversity” position with the district represented what one anonymous teacher aptly described as a “kickback.”

According to a report by News-Journal education reporter Cassidy Alexander, Wright is assuming “…a new role meant to help the Human Resources department develop better practices for diversity and equity in the district.” 

Interesting.

Considering there is no job description available for review – and the district either cannot or will not release a job application from Ms. Wright – reporter Alexander has done yeoman’s work putting the pieces of a very intricate puzzle together. 

Yet, questions remain.

For instance, the district’s website currently lists Anne Marie Wrenn – a credentialed Human Resources professional – as the Equity & Compliance Officer for the Office of Professional Standards.

So why do we need to duplicate that role at a rate of $35 an hour paid from Title II grant funds? 

Among other things, Ms. Wrenn is responsible for developing and recommending policies and practices related to the prevention of discrimination and prohibited conduct in our schools and in the workplace, analyzing and monitoring practices to ensure compliance is maintained with the District’s non-discrimination policy, disseminating the District’s non-discrimination policy and grievance appeal procedures, informing employees and others associated with the District of its non-discrimination policies and procedures, and providing civil rights and diversity training.

Sounds an awful lot like what Ms. Wright was just hired to oversee, doesn’t it? 

Also, many have questioned why Ms. Wright would be a contender for a job designed to promote equity and diversity when she failed to do anything about this continuing problem during her years as a powerful elected member of the school board? 

And, as the Superintendent recently announced, if the disparity gap truly is increasing in Volusia County schools, why is she limiting the search for a solution to a part-time/temporary position working less than 20-hours a week?

These are legitimate questions, born of a growing distrust of the district’s failed administration, a lack of transparency, ineffective communication, and ping-pong policies that continue to baffle students, teachers, taxpayers, and staff. 

As usual, none of it makes sense. . .

During Tuesday’s School Board meeting, Ms. Balgobin launched into a melodramatic, self-promoting soliloquy that lasted about 10-minutes (a performance the News-Journal noted was “likely the longest address she’s made all year”) during which she quibbled the nature of her pay increase while glossing over the most pressing issues facing her administration.

According to Balgobin’s pompous lecture, she never requested the additional compensation granted by the board – and has not taken a “dime of it” during stalled union negotiations – a raise she churched-up by referring to it as “…a prorated amount that the board has approved for seven months of servicing in a brand-new role.”  (Which, I think, is a pay raise dressed up in a suit and tie. . .) 

So, if Ms. Balgobin didn’t request an out-of-class bump – who did? 

And why?

Most important, given the contentious nature of the off-the-agenda vote that gifted the substantial increase that she apparently never asked for, can we count on Superintendent Balgobin to show true leadership and demand that the pay raise be formally rescinded by those drunken sailors on the school board?

Yeah, right. . . 

In my experience, good leaders do not roll out their résumé every time their decisions are questioned or the going gets tough – and they certainly do not indulge themselves with stagey Academy Award winning monologues before their bosses as a means of insulating themselves from further scrutiny.  

In a district rife with labor discord, at a time when teachers are rightfully demanding a living wage while the upper echelon in the Ivory Tower of Power are surprised with enormous “prorated amounts for servicing in a brand-new role,” the craven acts designed to muzzle teachers and staff who speak out on social media, international headlines detailing yet another school scandal, internal warnings of a pending “financial crisis,” and qualified teachers and staff fleeing the district in droves – in my view, what we are witnessing under the Balgobin administration bears no resemblance to the “good leadership” she so passionately described.   

In fact, it’s a shit show of epic proportions. 

Look, this foul year of 2020 hasn’t been easy – for any of us – but many Volusia County taxpayers are tired of hearing excuses – or watching another elected school board member stand before the cameras, staring at their shoes, as they sheepishly attempt to explain away yet another questionable decision or controversy.   

In my view, it is high time for Superintendent Balgobin to live up to her self-inflated hype – or get the hell out – and make way for someone who can lead our district away from this all-encompassing quagmire. 

My sincere hope is that one of these days those dullards on the Volusia County School Board will pull their heads out of their backsides and come to the realization that the superintendent – interim or otherwise – works for them. 

As such, they can no longer dodge the fact that the acts and omissions of the senior administrator are their direct responsibility. 

Unless and until they find the collective fortitude to put a stop to the continuing madness that has cost them the trust of the people, in my eyes, those we have elected will remain complicit – willing accomplices to the Cult of Mediocrity that pervades the upper reaches of Volusia County schools.     

Quote of the Week

“Beach driving advocate Paul Zimmerman, a frequent critic of the project, said that he was disappointed by news of the latest extension, but not surprised.  “Any excuse will do in the city of Daytona Beach,” Zimmerman said. “That would be all I have to say about that. I don’t think any of us watching it had any confidence they were going to meet their deadline.”

–Paul Zimmerman, President of Sons of the Beach, as quoted in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Deadline for Protogroup project extended again,” by Jim Abbot, Wednesday, December 9, 2020

And Another Thing!

Sons of the Beach, Florida’s premiere beach driving and access advocacy, will be hosting a fundraiser and celebration tomorrow – Saturday, December 12, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm – at Crabby Joe’s on the Sunglow Pier, 3701 South Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach!   

Come out and enjoy a delicious lunch and cold drinks served by our friend Luke and the outstanding Crabby Joe’s staff in a beautiful setting overlooking our beach.    

In addition, you will have an opportunity to meet our new County Council Chair Jeff Brower and Council Members Billie Wheeler, Heather Post, and Danny Robins!

In my experience, Sons of the Beach is a wonderful organization doing great work in our community. 

Most important, it provides an opportunity to get involved, and become acquainted with likeminded civic advocates who are working hard to preserve our unique heritage of beach driving.

If you cannot attend, please consider a donation to Sons of the Beach at www.sonsofthebeach.org   

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

During my law enforcement career, a wise old mentor impressed upon me the importance of avoiding even the appearance of impropriety – because the public’s perception quickly becomes their reality – as interpretation, impressions, and understanding materially influence how they look at situations.

When you are responsible to the community, the stakes are high, and excuses are cheap. 

In time, no one believes the official explanations and justifications when what we see and hear with our own senses no longer comport with what we are being told from on high.

As the old idiom says, “Actions speak louder than words.”

Now, the Volusia County School Board is being rightfully perceived by wary constituents as a cheapjack facilitator for backhanded paybacks – exacerbating a malignant distrust by taxpayers and teachers alike.   

You do not have to be a paranoiac like me to be suspicious of the machinations of government and power structures that have proven – time and again – that once the “system” reaches a certain size and configuration, it exists only to serve itself and those in its upper echelon, like a weird perpetual motion machine. 

On Saturday (?), it was quietly announced that Volusia County School Superintendent Carmen Balgobin – a grossly inept fill-in administrator who is single-handedly destroying public confidence in an education system with a bloated budget approaching One-Billion dollars – executed an oh-so-cozy arrangement with former School Board Chair Ida Wright – a weird scheme that creates a dubious paid position, apparently crafted exclusively for Wright, which focuses on “diversity and equity” under the Human Resources Department.    

This strange move comes after Ms. Wright voted in favor of a massive pay increase for Balgobin – and just one month following Ms. Wright’s unceremonious loss to newcomer Anita Burnette, who won the seat in the general election with nearly 60% of the vote.

According to reports, “Wright will be paid $35 an hour and work 20 hours or less per week…”

You read that right.

And, like Randolph said, it stinks like rotten mackerel in the moonlight.  

Perhaps more disturbing, flabbergasted taxpayers are now being told that the position Balgobin apparently created out of whole cloth – which, to my knowledge, was neither authorized, nor publicly approved, by the School Board – directs federal dollars obtained by the district under a Title II grant to compensate former Chairwoman Wright for her services. 

According to a report by Daytona Beach News-Journal education reporter Cassidy Alexander, the Title II grant represents “…federal money that is intended, in part, to provide low-income and minority students greater access to effective teachers, principals, and other school leaders.”

Last month, the School Board received the district’s annual “equity report” which, once again, “…spotlighted an under-representation of Black and Hispanic students in advanced academic courses, of female students in sports, and of Black and Hispanic employees, particularly in leadership positions. The same issues have been reported year after year.”

So, rather than immediately terminate the employment of Human Resources Director Rachel Hazel – and our current “Equity and Compliance Officer” in something laughingly called the Office of Professional Standards – those highly compensated do-nothings in the Ivory Tower of Power who have consistently (“year after year”) failed to recruit and retain even a modicum of diversity in district “leadership positions” – Blundering Balgobin unilaterally decides to exploit this abject failure by using it as an excuse to gift her generous benefactor a place at the bureaucratic teat? 

My God.

Perhaps more disturbing, when this unvarnished quid pro quo was exposed for what it is – and long-suffering taxpayers pushed back against what one Volusia County teacher aptly described as a “kickback” – we were openly gaslighted by Director Hazel in an official communication which labeled our well-founded suspicions as “categorically untrue.”

“We will continue to communicate facts and hope that the public will be open to listening to those facts,” Hazel said. “If anyone has any questions we welcome those and we’ll answer them as completely as we can.”

Bullshit.

According to the News-Journal, the district cannot produce a job description – or employment application – for Ms. Wright’s new role, and it is increasingly apparent that the position was neither advertised nor competitive.    

I find that strange. 

I’ll bet federal grant administrators will too.     

At a time when Volusia County teachers and staff are locked in a pitched battle with the district – fighting admirably for an equitable pay increase and parity for veteran educators, you know, a living wage that will attract and keep highly diverse and qualified teachers in Volusia County classrooms – the School Board, then led by Ida Wright, showered Balgobin with a 34% raise. . .

According to Volusia United Educators President Elizabeth Albert, “We all understand that there is a desire to work on diversity within the ranks of Volusia County schools, but why now? Why in this moment when there’s no money for teachers, for support professionals. If in fact the funding is already in place, why not talk about it? Why keep everybody in the dark?” Albert asked. “The appearance that something is awry, that’s what is the most off-putting.”

I agree.

Those we elected to represent our interests lavished an obscene pay increase on Carmen Balgobin – a ghostlike failed senior administrator – and now those who pay the bills are expected to stand idle while the recipient of their largesse shunts scarce federal grant dollars – which are earmarked for programs that improve student achievement and provide low-income and minority students greater access to effective educators – to a former elected official who helped facilitate her enormous raise less than a month ago? 

My ass.   

In my view, it is past time for federal authorities to step in and ensure the integrity of the process, and preserve the public’s trust in our educational system, by protecting grant funds from diversion to a position which supplants an already existing equity and diversity compliance position as apparent payback for a very lucrative favor.    

Our last/best hope lies in newly elected Anita Burnette, who trounced the entrenched Wright on the strength of her promise to “change district culture by improving communication and making sure educators feel valued; prioritizing spending on classroom needs and tightening spending in administrative budgets; and closing the achievement gap for minority students.”

Now is the time for Ms. Burnette to make good on her pledge by demanding answers for how and why this disgusting greasy-palm culture can continue in the senior ranks of Volusia County Schools. 

Hi, kids!

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

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

Angel              Pat Northey and Clay Henderson

Last month, former Volusia County Council members Pat Northey and Clay Henderson co-authored an excellent piece for The Daytona Beach News-Journal’s weekly Your Turn column detailing the steps required for the successful and transparent continuation of the Volusia ECHO and Volusia Forever programs. 

On election day, both tax supported initiatives were renewed by over 70% of voters, signaling a clear mandate for increased focus on the protection of sensitive environmental areas while enhancing cultural, historic, and outdoor recreation opportunities for Volusia County residents.

Rather than shrink into the woodwork following their elective service, both Northey and Henderson have worked tirelessly to contribute to the public good outside the political confines of the council chamber.   

Clay Henderson has given the bulk of his life to preserving Florida’s threatened ecology. 

According to his bio, during his storied career, Mr. Henderson “…co-authored most of the natural resource protection provisions in the Florida Constitution including Amendment 1, the largest voter approved conservation funding initiative in our nation’s history, and creation of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.” 

An environmental lawyer by trade, before his retirement, Mr. Henderson served as the Executive Director for Stetson University’s Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience.  

It’s no secret that Pat Northey and I rarely agree on anything political – but she is infinitely smarter than I am – so I listen to what she has to say.

That’s how I learn. 

During an outstanding political career which spanned some 20-years – including two stints as Volusia County Council Chair – Ms. Northey served in a variety of leadership positions in various civic and environmental organizations, including service on the St. John’s River Alliance executive board. 

The thing I admire most about Ms. Northey is her ability to work across political ideology or personal motivations – and use accountability to build trust and consensus on the issues that matter to our collective future.

From her continuing advocacy for multiuse trails to her active support for ECHO and Forever, Ms. Northey continues to be an incredibly relevant voice in Volusia County issues through her frequent contributions to regional discussions both in print and on radio public affairs programs. 

In short, Pat Northey gets things done – and she does it without the sharp elbows and vapid “look at me” self-promotion that has become the modus operandi of many elected officials.

In their excellent piece, Northey and Henderson had some strong recommendations for Volusia County government:

“…commit again to full transparency, an annual audit, and listening sessions with the public. The new County Council should appoint an oversight committee to include members with experience in ecology, water quality, real estate and planning, and people otherwise experienced with and committed to the Volusia Forever program. It will be up to them to recommend both final procedures and properties to acquire. These programs are so important that they should be housed in the County Manager’s office.

I wholeheartedly agree. 

The creation of a citizen oversight board – not a typical Volusia County political insulation committee composed of sycophantic toadies and political insiders with a profit motive – and “listening sessions” (you know, where policymakers actually consider their constituents input?) is critical to regaining the public’s trust and alleviating the lingering questions surrounding previous management of the programs.

In addition, Northey and Henderson suggest meaningful partnerships with established environmental organizations to develop programmatic best practices for evaluating and ranking properties for potential purchase – and the use of “conservation easements” to limit overdevelopment – using independent appraisers to ensure offers do not exceed the appraised value.

“The county should be sensitive to concerns about transparency. All projects for funding should be reviewed by the ECHO Oversight Committee prior to approval by the County Council. All projects should be considered or approved by the County Council only after they are fully documented with notice to the public and placed on the regular agenda. We also support the plan to review match requirements for small projects that can have a big community impact.”

That’s refreshing. 

Imagine an era where we are no longer subject to public policy by ambush?

A time of honesty and openness, when important decisions that impact our lives and livelihoods are placed on a public agenda, with all supporting documentation necessary for a layman to understand the intricacies, and with sufficient time for public input.

Wow.     

The older I get, the more concerned I become about leaving a little greenspace, clean water, and outdoor recreation opportunities for my grandchildren to enjoy – not a legacy of half-empty strip centers, guacamole rivers, asphalt parking lots, and godawful “theme” communities blanketing our aquifer recharge areas and destroying sensitive wildlife habitat. 

I agree with Ms. Northey and Mr. Henderson – the enthusiastic renewal of Forever and ECHO is well worth celebrating.

However, these important programs can only be successful if proper safeguards are put in place that ensure their focus remains true. 

Asshole           Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington

Why is Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington such a sore winner?

As the majority of the community’s voters inconceivably returned Mr. Partington to the dais of power; in victory, he always finds a way to piss-off his supporters and detractors alike. 

How? 

By acting like a king-hell asshole toward anyone who bucks the entrenched “pro-development” system, that’s how. . .   

For instance, two-years ago, on election night 2018, our tone-deaf Mayor and several of his fellow commissioners (each of whom were handily reelected last month), posed for a picture during their collective victory party on the dance floor of the Rockin’ Ranch – epitomizing the back-slappin’ good ol’ boy network they represent – holding a filthy push broom to signify their unanimous “clean sweep.”

To add insult to injury, the most vocal of the growth at all cost bunch – Commissioner Troy Kent – who long-ago became the mouthpiece and chief apologist for speculative developers that feed freely here – was costumed, cap-a-pie, in a ten-gallon cowboy hat and western boots – personifying the chummy Old South crony politics many of us who lived it have worked hard to escape.

No word where our perpetual politicians held their celebratory hootenanny this year.

Clearly, Ormond Beach voters have a short memory. . . 

Now, following yet another Big Win, Mayor Partington issued a weird editorial in the Ormond Beach Observer – openly shitting on the efforts of those working hard to protect what’s left of Ormond’s historic “Loop” – and belittling the serious concerns of some 61,000 area residents who signed a petition in support of preserving the scenic drive. 

In his strange diatribe, Mayor Partington wrote, in part:

“Save Ferris” is the mantra that shows up everywhere in the movie “Ferris Bueller‘s Day Off.”  You see it displayed on the scoreboard at the ball field, sprawled across the town’s water tower, and written on a student’s notebook at the end of the movie.  It’s a tilted nod to just how much Ferris means to the fictional town of Shermer.  I see the same ideals showcased in the “Save the Loop” mantra that has been seen online again recently. It was included in a misleading post that suggests somehow the loop is set to be bulldozed but the heart behind it is the same feeling that the town of Shermer shows for Ferris.  They innocently want to “Save Ferris,” who as moviegoers, we all know is in no real danger or in need of saving, just because they are good people with good hearts from a small town who want to support a good thing. Similarly, Ormond Beach wants to “Save the Loop” because of course we want to protect our Loop, but just like in the movie the intent is wonderful but, like Ferris, it’s not really in danger.”

Say what?

Look, nobody consistently spews more pure gibberish than me – but I have no idea what Mayor Partington is trying to say. . .

Do you?

I think Hizzoner should understand that this is not some fictitious cinematic burb, but a community of nearly 40,000 living, breathing residents, who – despite their odd propensity for believing glossy mailers and the campaign promises of perennial politicians – are beginning to feel the very real threat of overdevelopment to the north, south, and west.  

I know.  I’m one of them. . .

While Mayor Partington would have us believe that The Loop is “not really in danger,” it doesn’t take an environmental engineer to see the massive development that continues its malignant creep along large sections of the threatened byway – including retention ponds, clear-cutting, homes just beyond a thin veneer of trees, access roads adding to traffic, etc. – all changing the topography of the land and destroying the areas natural beauty.   

Earlier this month, those intrepid environmentalists Suzanne Scheiber and Natalie Pilipczak made a clearly unwanted presentation to the Ormond Beach City Commission, suggesting public funds be allocated for the purchase of 76 lots at the Plantation Oaks subdivision to provide a protective buffer. 

Unfortunately, their noble efforts at an alternative solution fell on deaf ears. 

For their trouble, Mayor Partington verbally backhanded Scheiber and Pilipczak, opining that even the mere suggestion The Loop “needs saving” somehow denigrates the work of other volunteer organizations (?).

Of course, that is before he attempted to sidestep responsibility by suggesting a pass-the-buck strategy for preserving the historic canopied lane, claiming it is Volusia County’s responsibility – and after he spoke out in favor of annexing Plantation Oaks into Ormond Beach in September while denigrating county services. . .

“I think it’ll be beneficial for those residents to be a part of the city and enjoy, not only police and fire, but our public works and leisure services,” Partington said. “All those services the city provides at a better level than what the county does.”

Except protecting what is left of our scenic greenspace, I guess. 

As former Ormond Beach Commission Candidate Tim Grigsby recently said in a social media post on the topic, “The mayor is trying to pull the wool over our eyes. The Loop is not saved, and the developers keep winning, therefore we must keep fighting harder than ever.”

Amen.

Angel               City of Holly Hill

In my view, innovation deserves recognition – especially in government – where advanced thinking, visionary projects and state-of-the-art methods come around about as often as the Comet Kohoutek. 

Fortunately, there is one small community in our area that is setting a high bar for how public places and spaces are planned, designed, built, used, and maintained.

This week, Holly Hill Mayor Chris Via proudly announced that in addition to beautiful Sunrise Park being nominated for the “Outstanding Sustainability Initiative Award” by the Florida Planning and Zoning Association – the community is now the recipient of the “Outstanding Public/Private Partnership Award” for Pictona at Holly Hill!

This prestigious award is granted by the FPZA for the most effective collaboration between the public and private sector in the field of planning or development – and recognizes the incredible collaboration between the City of Holly Hill and visionary private investors to enhance our collective quality of life here on the Fun Coast.   

In my view, the pickleball courts and fitness complex is one of the most electrifying additions to the Halifax area in decades – and we owe a debt of gratitude to area residents Rainer and Julie Martens, who made a multi-million-dollar personal investment to see the project become a reality.

This is an outstanding example of what a true public/private partnership should be, as the Martens’ investment was supported with a $1.2 million contribution from the City of Holly Hill – bolstered by a $400,000 ECHO grant from Volusia County and $50,000 in sponsorships and private donations.

Congratulations to the wonderful citizens, staff, and officials of the City of Holly Hill for this well-deserved recognition!

Quote of the Week

“In the middle of the bargaining sessions between Volusia United Educators (VUE) and the School Board, as the union is fighting to raise veteran teacher salaries, as the district’s CFO Debra Muller claims they’re flat broke, they find a treasure chest with $50,000 for the acting superintendent.

There seems to be, as VUE president Elizabeth Albert called it, a “cadre of elites who are entitled to competitive salaries.”

Teaching is not about the money. If it was, we would all pick different careers. But money tells a story, too. While the acting superintendent gets $50,000, teachers are getting a $500 stipend for hybrid-teaching during the pandemic. The district is telling a juicy story: the acting superintendent is doing the work of 100 teachers. She must be a goddess. Is this one of those supernatural stories?”

— Stefano Cagnato, DeLand, a teacher at T. Dewitt Taylor Middle-High School, writing in the Guest Column section of The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “The age-old story: We’re out of money,” Sunday, November 29, 2020

And Another Thing!

The Christmas Season is a time of great joy. 

A time of spiritual reflection, and a renewed willingness to give of ourselves, and see that others receive a share of the bountiful gifts we have been blessed with in keeping with the spiritual teaching:

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Giving material gifts or monetary donations to assist the lives of others is important – but when we give of our time and talents – is when we are truly at our best. 

There are many unmet needs in our community, some of which shine brightest during this time of year, and leave us wondering how we can help bring comfort to those in need – a sense of compassion that renews our belief that all life is precious and worthy of our efforts to improve it.    

Recently, Volusia County Councilwoman Heather Post announced a need for volunteers to make a difference in the lives of defenseless animals:

“Are you an animal lover looking to volunteer your time and serve your community?

Volusia County Animal Services has what you’re looking for!

Animal Services is seeking volunteers to assist with a variety of functions – everything from lending a hand in the animal clinic and at public events to helping at pet shelters during declared emergencies to administrative services, as well as the return to field program for community cats.

Duties run the gamut, so don’t be afraid to reach out and learn more. Give them a call at 386-248-1790!”

If you can help, I hope you will consider volunteering for this compassionate effort to provide for the needs of homeless, sick, and abused animals in our community.

It’s God’s work.   

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

“Compassion is the basis of morality.”

–Arthur Schopenhauer, On The Basis of Morality, 1840

It turned cold this week. 

Not that I would have noticed. 

I have a roof over my head, central heating, well-fitting coats, and a warm bed to sleep in – all the comforts of home.

Truly blessed. 

But if you have ever been cold – I mean truly hypothermic – where the biting chill and wind are inescapable, leaving you feeling almost claustrophobic, then you know what a mental and physical toll the cold can extract – even in Florida, where the humidity, or something else, always seem to make it feel even colder.

That’s why for those living on the mean streets who are at the mercy of the elements – taking shelter from extreme cold weather is not a matter of comfort – it is the difference between life and death.

As Mark Geallis, former director of First Step Shelter and one of the most compassionate people I know, asked the tough question earlier this week:  “Where will the hundreds of people in east Volusia County living in the misery of homelessness escape the cold this week and will there be enough “Room at the Inn” for all in need?”

According to Mr. Geallis:

“Somehow, we as a community with many new and innovative programs for the homeless have missed the opportunity to provide shelter from the cold, to help suffering people and show them a night of hope and compassion that can sometimes lead to a permanent path out of homelessness. We have missed an opportunity to save tax dollars by not having our jails and ER become the place where many escape the cold.”

With the faith-based organizations that normally provide a warm place for the homeless to shelter closed due to the coronavirus, things look increasingly dire as the winter winds begin to blow.  

While The Bridge, a 7,152-square-foot come-as-you-are community shelter in DeLand rapidly made room for 20 people from the west side of the county, our own First Step Shelter, a 15,000-square-foot heated facility, apparently couldn’t be bothered. . . 

After much deliberation, First Step officials agreed to put heaters in what is called the “safe zone,” essentially a 1,200-sqare-foot pole barn with a concrete pad, sleeping pallets, and chain-link “walls.”

So long as those seeking “shelter” met a Votran bus at the appointed time on North Street in Daytona Beach, they were granted the opportunity to weather the frosty night outside the First Step building. 

The First Step’s outdoor “shelter” was limited to just 24 people. 

No word on what became of the 25^th in line. . .   

I’m not sure an extreme weather facility is what the “safe zone” was intended for – but I know it is not what taxpayers were promised when this debacle was in its infancy. 

What seems like a lifetime ago – way back in January of this foul year 2020 – local businesswoman and First Step Shelter board member Rose Ann Tornatore went into her own pocket to do what the City of Daytona Beach would not do, and personally funded the construction of a “safe zone” for homeless persons who are more interested in a temporary refuge than participating in First Step’s convoluted residential self-improvement program.

At that time, I was proud to recognize Ms. Tornatore as a true community angel, someone with a philanthropic spirit, good heart, and clear civic vision, who saw a pressing need in our community and willingly used her personal resources to meet it.

Well deserved. 

Now that the outdoor space has come to fruition, it seems everyone wants to take parasitic credit for Ms. Tornatore’s initiative. 

According to a recent report in The Daytona Beach News-Journal,  “It’s a day we’ve long awaited,” said Mayor Derrick Henry, who’s been a major force behind last December’s opening of First Step Shelter and today’s opening of the safe zone located in front of the shelter building. “We’ve certainly worked hard to bring it to fruition,” said Henry, who serves as president of the First Step Shelter Board. “I’m just excited about it.”

Bullshit. 

As usual, Mayor Henry is full of it.

Without Ms. Tornatore’s generosity, there is no way the safe zone would have come to fruition, and he damn well knows it. 

The commonsense safe zone concept had become a political football – with Daytona Beach balking at the price – and the mercenary Catholic Charities offering to run the proposed outdoor shelter for a whopping $150,000 annually – along with a continuing debate over placement, construction options, and who would be responsible for this or that, etc.

And, once again, we watched in horror as Mayor Henry lorded over another shit show of epic proportions. . .

Now that the space is operational, the “safe zone” is anything but a low-barrier, come-as-you-are respite from the mean streets.

In fact, you would have a better chance of waltzing into Area 51 than entering the “safe zone” to seek “shelter” from the elements.  

According to the News-Journal report:

“Only homeless people escorted by an officer will be accepted into the safe zone. Those wanting to use the facility won’t be allowed to just show up. It’s the same policy that’s used for the shelter, which only accepts people referred from local nonprofits, treatment facilities such as Stewart-Marchman Act, hospitals, houses of worship, law enforcement and the county jail.”

Once a properly referred homeless person is on-site, “Shelter security guards will be the final gatekeepers for who gets into the safe zone.”

Then, the all-powerful guards will “collect information” on those seeking shelter. 

How welcoming, eh? 

In my experience, the first time a law enforcement officer takes time out of his or her busy night  to transport a homeless person all the way out to the hinterlands – only to be turned away by an officious security guard – it will be the last time any police officer in Volusia County darkens First Step’s door.   

According to reports, once Zuul the Gatekeeper of Gozer grants a vetted and police escorted homeless person admittance to the inner sanctum, they will be required to follow rules posted on signs that prohibit fighting, loud or disruptive behavior, alcohol, or drug use inside the safe zone – because, as we all know, those types of behaviors in mentally unstable ambulatory alcoholics are best controlled by the use of signage. . . 

While the safe zone will be open “around the clock seven days a week” admittance is solely limited to those brought in by law enforcement.  

“At 9:00 a.m., all homeless people will have to exit the safe zone and leave the First Step Shelter property. They’ll be offered bus passes to return to the city they came from. There’s a Votran bus stop a short distance east of the shelter.”

And the cycle repeats. . .  

Considering that the “shelter” only housed about 10 people a month this year citing coronavirus concerns, with a monthly nut now over $100,000 – the bulk of it in salaries – does anyone else get the sickening feeling First Step is no longer about serving our growing homeless population?

Like everything else associated with First Step, the long-delayed safe zone is convoluted, complicated, needlessly difficult, and horribly expensive.

As usual, the First Step Board of Directors – who have shamelessly been led around like a bull with a ring in its nose by Daytona Beach City Manager Jim Chisholm – seem incapable of providing those who pay the bills what we were promised. 

In my view, this decade-old fiasco exemplifies all the reasons Mayor Derrick Henry should resign from the First Step board – immediately – and make room for someone with the competence, vision, and leadership skills to get long-suffering taxpayers out of this bottomless quagmire.  

After all this time and money, it is the moral and ethical thing to do.

In a very cogent September editorial, “Daytona Beach’s First Step Shelter for the homeless needs to step it up,” News-Journal editor Pat Rice wrote of the $1.09 million in CARES Act funding that the Volusia County Council recently gifted to First Step:

“Maybe that will lead to First Step Shelter serving more homeless people. It better. The public’s patience has worn thin. Housing just 10 people at a cost of $113,000 a month isn’t helping.”

Amen.

Now that the bizarre Circus of the Absurd that passes for our local and national elections is over, it is time for newly elected politicians to put their words into action, and finally live up to the haughty promises that flowed so freely during the thrust and parry of the campaign season.   

To assist that goal, there are several freshmen politicians who are busy assembling their coterie of informal advisors – often known as a ‘kitchen cabinet’ – a trusted ingroup of counselors, guides, and advice-givers to help them navigate the perilous nexus of politics and governance.

Those who can help them determine what is possible, and, more importantly, what is not. 

I know this, because a few of our well-meaning chosen ones have invited me to enter their inner circle and offer my less-than-Solomonic wisdom on the issues of the day.     

No thanks. 

Not my style. 

Not my role. 

I sincerely appreciate their confidence – and understand the trepidation that must come with entering the slit trench of a council or commission chamber, weighed down with campaign promises and political baggage, then being asked to perform on the high-wire without a net.

I get it.

But I simply have no desire to influence the process by whispering obsequies in the ears of dewy-eyed political naïfs – while jockeying for position among the politician’s ever-increasing circle of “friends” and cronies. 

Look, it is certainly not a bad idea for fledgling politicians – who are easy targets for self-serving consiglieri with ulterior motives – to seek close counsel. 

After all, the political hacks they are replacing did not listen to anyone, beyond the powerbrokers who control everything but the ebb and flow of the Atlantic tide on this salty piece of land through the liberal use of personal and corporate campaign contributions. . .   

Besides, I did not start down this weird path as an alternative editorialist because I wanted to rub elbows with our ‘powers that be’ – or get chummy with the Halifax area’s uber-wealthy social and civic elite. 

As I see it, my role is to observe from the cheap seats – an unwelcome voyeur watching the sausage being made – then jot down my often-outlandish opinions and pass them around for others to consider or reject. 

It is what it is.  Nothing more.  

My gin-soaked thoughts on the news and newsmakers of the day are a glimpse at how many in our community are thinking – diatribes which, I hope, serve to let those who have ascended to political power know that someone is peering through the knothole – stimulating a broader discussion of the myriad issues we face. 

If that makes our ‘movers-and-shakers’ uncomfortable – so be it – and I can assure our fresh baked politicians that they will soon come to loathe me, just as much as their scarred and hardened colleagues, the first time I take them to task for one gaffe or another.

Because I understand the one unwavering constant of government: The faces change – the “system” never does. . .  

I am certainly not a journalist, and I long ago shrugged off any semblance of objectivity, but I have seen what happens when media-types (usually through a thinly veiled surrogate) take sides and meddle in the political process.

Anyone paying attention can see right through that – and we never look at the reporter, or their news outlet, the same way again. . .    

In my view, if I were to succumb to the heady, and incredibly powerful, role of advising those on the dais of power, assuming the role of backroom insider, an influencer with no political accountability – lobbying for one policy or project over another, or, god forbid, swaying the flow of public funds to private interests – I would rightfully lose the trust of my readership, my Tribe.  

Sadly, in my experience, some of those we recently elected to high office will slowly become everything they hated when they got into politics – infatuated with the trappings and perquisites, distracted by the sense of infallibility that is the natural byproduct of ego-massage – compromised by the exciting promise of political support from some ‘very important people,’ who wouldn’t have given them the time-of-day before they rose to high office.

So, perhaps our newly minted representatives can consider me their Dutch uncle – someone without a chip in the game who offers blunt, even scathing criticism to educate and admonish – a swift kick in the pants to get them back on the straight and narrow when they need it most. 

If I have learned anything on this rocky path to enlightenment, it is that once the public’s trust is lost – it is impossible to regain.  

And that is the best advice I could give any elected official. . .

To the Loyal Members of the Barker’s View Tribe:

Five years on, this crude experiment in expressing an alternative opinion on the news and newsmakers here on Florida’s fabled “Fun Coast” continues to exceed my wildest expectations.

Thanks to your amazing support, I have so much to be grateful for.    

Since its humble beginning, Barker’s View now draws thousands of views each month from across the street and around the globe (over a half-million since its inception) – providing what, I hope, is a unique take on the issues of the day beyond the government soundbites and spin – a watchful eye that holds those in positions of high responsibility accountable.

A lone voice in the dark and tangled wilderness that lets our ‘powers that be’ know the great unwashed masses are paying attention.

I believe we are making a difference, too – all thanks to your loyal readership, civic activism, and participation in our sacred democratic processes. 

And, we have some fun along the way. . .

As a life-long civil servant, writing these posts is incredibly cathartic for me, and it continues to be a source of pride, one that has returned a much-needed sense of purpose to my life – while the process of pondering the issues and composing my thoughts keeps my feeble mind limber.

I also give thanks for the many wonderful relationships this blog has allowed me to cultivate in the community.  Barker’s View has confirmed my long-held belief that we all want to be heard – and to have our opinions considered and valued by those who establish public policy.

Thank you for listening to mine.

I also want to extend my sincere appreciation to the elected and appointed officials whose political assholery provides such rich fodder for these diatribes. 

Seriously – Thank you for having the courage to stand for high office. 

It’s a hard dollar.  But on those days when you get it right, your work makes a true difference in our collective success and quality of life.

To those of you who hold positions of great responsibility in our community and the members of our social, civic, and economic elite – those precious few who ‘get it’ and have the self-confidence and common sense to accept withering criticism and use it to your advantage – I enjoy the continuing repartee and thank you for providing me your valuable insight on the important issues.

To the social media site administrators who allow Barker’s View on their pages – thank you for promoting a higher understanding of current events and providing a forum for open dialog.

And, to Big John, who hosts me each month on his local public affairs forum GovStuff Live! – your friendship, and tireless support of grassroot initiatives in our community, is an inspiration. 

Your efforts are important to the life of our community.

For me, the best part of this forum is hearing your feedback, discussing differing opinions, and arguing the fine points, because that drives a larger discussion of the problems we collectively face – interaction that can bring us closer to the solutions we seek – a real connection that lets us know we all have an equal and important voice. 

Whenever someone tells me, “You said exactly what I was thinking, but could not say,” or a perfect stranger stops me to talk about the issues in their neighborhood – it gives value to the effort – a sense that the writing, such as it is, has meaning. 

Sometimes you agree with me – other times we vehemently differ – but we can remain friends and perhaps gain a better perspective through the heated competition of ideas.

I cannot think of anything more purely American than that.

On this Thanksgiving 2020, please accept my sincere thanks and deep appreciation for taking time out of your busy day to read, think, exercise your freedoms, and form your own opinion on the issues of the day.

That’s important.

May God bless each of you, your families, and our men and women in uniform at home and abroad – our brave military, law enforcement, and first responders – who go in harm’s way to protect us every day.

I’ll be back next week with more hypercritical insight on the news and newsmakers, and, “…perhaps that glimpse of truth for which you have forgotten to ask.” 

I hope you will join me.

From the Barker family to yours – Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!

PLEASE BUY LOCAL!

I recently saw a guy on television who carries around a bull alligator like a toddler, attending to his needs as one would a beloved dog, and, for the most part, they seem to be the best of friends – an odd little man and his domesticated reptile keeping each other company.   

That is an illusion, of course, because the relationship is not reciprocal. 

So long as the man feeds the alligator – he will postpone eating the man for another day – and that is the only thing the gator brings to the “friendship.”

An alligator – like many politicians – have very primitive brains. 

As an apex predator, the alligator processes only the instinctual impulses of eating and making little alligators, while politicians focus solely on obsequiously scrambling for the campaign donations that will help them get reelected. 

Oh, and it helps if they look marginally effective to their constituents. . . 

That’s where their relationship with the city or county manager comes into play – and it is important that elected officials understand the nature of that unique association upfront.

I’ve mentioned this before, regardless of jurisdiction, the one constant in local governance is that city and county managers enjoy an incredible level of professional protections that those in the private sector will never know – even when their decisions and behavior are far from professional.

From the vantage point of over 30-years in municipal government, I know a little bit about the perils of political instability.

I have seen good managers demonized and pilloried for trying to do the right thing despite the prevailing political winds – left with no alternative but to resign and ply their often-itinerant trade elsewhere.

Conversely, I have seen some of the most quisling, totally inept assholes ever to worm their way into public management, thrive – at least for a while – as they insulate themselves with the internal and external political protections that come with facilitating the flow of public funds to the private, for-profit interests of well-heeled campaign donors and political insiders.

In a Council/Manager form of government, the manager is given extraordinary powers over every aspect of government services.  For instance, the executive has complete autonomy to hire and fire employees, set internal policies, personally direct the operations of all departments, and administrate the budgetary processes.

The manager also sets the agenda, briefs the elected officials in advance of public meetings, and controls the flow of information and organizational effort that can make or break public policy – and facilitates the individual projects and collective requests of council members or commissioners.   

In turn, We, The People elect the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker to serve on a representative body that appoints a manager with (hopefully) strong, ethical, managerial and organizational skills to oversee the day-to-day operations of the government, make public policy recommendations, and assist the legislative function.

Most do an exceptional job – serving multiple masters while bringing economic and civic progress to their communities.

Others, not so much. . . 

Several communities in Volusia County are preparing for the incredibly difficult and destabilizing task of finding a new chief executive, to include Lake Helen, Port Orange, Deltona, and Daytona Beach.

Did I miss anyone?

In Lake Helen, City Administrator Becky Witte has announced her resignation following a deteriorating relationship with Mayor Daisy Raisler, a near-constant beatdown that left Witte feeling like a “political volleyball.” 

The mess in the quaint community reached its nadir in September when the City Commission agreed to hire a private detective who insinuated himself in the process after reading about the internal strife. 

After meeting with Raisler and Witte, the investigator reported, “there were some technical violations of the city charter and some actions of questionable judgement,” but stopped short of claiming any criminal conduct, or that either party acted in bad faith. 

According to a report in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, the good citizens of Lake Helen paid the private investigator some $950 “…for additional services including: preparing an analysis of charter violations and errors in judgment, outlining steps to correct managerial issues and preparing “recommendations that will ensure a good working relationship between the legislative branch of government (the Commission) and the executive branch (City Administrator).”

I am clearly doing it wrong – because that sounds an awful lot like what I do on these pages for free. . .

Whatever.

Last week, the most recent iteration of the Deltona City Commission unceremoniously demoted Interim City Manager Dr. Marc-Antonie Cooper – who took the helm of that leaky vessel when the disastrous reign of Jane Shang compassionately came to an end last January. 

With a trained eye, one could tell all was not well at City Hall – and no one seemed interested in exposing the wounds left by Shang to the cleansing light of day – allowing time for the community to heal in the aftermath of a very contentious period in the city’s relatively short history. 

In March, Cooper asked for a whopping $175,000 annually to provide interim managerial services – an amount which matched what Shang was commanding when she oversaw the shit show that is Deltona governance.   

Instead, the elected officials agreed on $150,000 – with a clause in the contract that provides Cooper a bump to $135,000 should he return to his enviable position as Deputy City Manager. . .

Your guess is as good as mine how that will work out, now that Dr. Cooper has been relieved of duty for performance issues.

Last spring, during a weird telephone interview with the intrepid Wild West Volusia News-Journal reporter, Katie Kustura, “Cooper said he hasn’t yet decided whether or not he’ll apply for the city manager position.”

I found that odd, especially at a time when the long-suffering community was begging for stability – and was willing to pay Cooper $150,000 a year to make it happen. . . 

In short, Cooper blew it.

Hell, Genghis Khan would have been embraced as a positive change-agent by the good people of Deltona in the wreckage of the Shang Dictatorship – and all he really had to do was right the ship and be approachable and responsive to the needs of his bosses on the dais of power.

In my view, if a city manager doesn’t have a burning desire to fill the role, lead boldly, enhance service delivery, be part of the solution and move the community that employs him or her forward with a strong personal commitment – a drive that extends beyond the mercenary goal of self-enrichment and advantageous employment agreements – then, perhaps the Deltona City Commission knew all they needed to know about Mr. Cooper’s motivations in March.   

In my view, the future of the Halifax area is dependent upon who the Daytona Beach City Commission selects to replace retiring City Manager Jim Chisholm early next year.

Like it or not, Mr. Chisholm is the embodiment of near-autonomous political power as he ramrods the wants and whims of King J. Hyatt Brown and other shadowy players – while enjoying the political insulation those powerful forces provide – for a cool $307,000 a year with perks, an annual salary that outpaces any sitting governor in the United States. . .    

I suspect our oligarchical insiders will be working overtime to find a suitable replacement – a real card mechanic with just the right amount of malleability, and the peripheral vision to see which projects are important to the future of the community – and which are best allowed to wither and die. 

Times they are a changing. 

Trust me – the next chief executives in Port Orange, Deltona and Daytona Beach will have more of an impact on our quality of life than anyone we have elected to represent our interests.

In my view, every citizen and business owner has a vested interest in ensuing that their elected officials demand a trustworthy, ethical, and respectful city manager – one who possesses the vision, critical thinking, and proven planning skills necessary for true civic transformation – not another cheap facilitator for the wants and whims of special interests.