Barker’s View for March 14, 2025

Posted on March 13, 2025 by barkersview

Hi, kids!

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

Tomoka State Park – Adding Insult to Injury

Like many of you, I find it infinitely frustrating – and perversely fascinating – to watch the decision-making process play out among government agencies. A practice completely devoid of accountability or common sense, where highly compensated senior bureaucrats find problems to fit expensive solutions, then spend our hard-earned tax dollars on things that have no relationship to our actual needs.

Sound familiar?

Earlier this week, I received a disturbing note from the avid environmentalist and founder of Dream Green Volusia, Suzanne Scheiber, who reported that an ill-conceived project to pave roads inside Tomoka State Park along the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail is now underway – a gross insult to a place of great historical and archeological significance – something that now involves the destruction of historic oaks that have majestically graced the landscape and delighted visitors for more than 80-years.

The sad fact is nobody wanted this…

For years, volunteers have been doing their best to meet ongoing needs and expenses at the park, including repairing pavilions, benches, and picnic tables; even replacing the transmission on the park ranger’s truck. Repair and replacement expenses the state should have allocated have been augmented from the pockets of unpaid (and largely unappreciated) helpers and environmentalists.

So why isn’t anyone who accepts public funds to serve in the public interest listening to them when it comes to actual needs in the park?

Last year, residents and park volunteers learned that the Florida Department of Environmental Destruction (the same dullards who brought us the disastrous “Great Outdoors Initiative” to develop hotels, cabins, and 18-hole golf courses in state parks…) was finalizing plans to pave 1.5 miles of roads inside Tomoka State Park at a cost of $1.5 million.

In an article in the Ormond Beach Observer last September, we learned that the paving project is part of a “Unit Management Plan for Tomoka State Park” – a plan based on a FDEP led “public workshop” and “advisory group” meeting.

Those meetings took place in 2012…

According to the Observer’s 2024 report, “The Tomoka Basin State Park Unit Management Plan was due to be updated in 2022. This was not completed.”

Regardless, nowhere in the now outdated “plan” does it call for the removal of trees to facilitate road paving – a project with the potential to disturb an important site on the National Register of Historic Places – a significant change to the character of the park many believe will spoil the natural experience one seeks when visiting.

But when did it matter what We, The Little People want in Tallahassee?

Unfortunately, the damage is done.

Earlier this week, a contractor removed several oaks and palms to prepare the once quaint dirt trails for asphalt – an important habitat now forever changed – with old growth hardwoods now reduced to sawdust and stumps.

Bullshit.

I don’t care what the “official” narrative will be in the aftermath of this nonsensical destruction, but what happened to those historic trees and wildlife habitat was wrong.

In my view, the Florida Department of Environmental Destruction once again failed in their tax funded mission to protect and preserve our natural places – especially state park lands. Instead, we are forced to stand in silent witness while stately oaks are split into splinters to make way for a detached and ossified bureaucracy’s notion of progress…

First Step Shelter – A Time for Change

One of the things I enjoy most about this blog is the broader discussion of the issues it fosters in the community.

That includes the good, bad, and ugly messages I receive from thoughtful readers who take me to task, set me straight with their own opinions on a topic, and a few that actually agree with my jaded views on the collective issues we face.

This week, several engaged citizens shared their thoughts on the First Step Shelter – to include the pros and cons of its executive director Victoria Fahlberg – and the continuing marginalization of those who seek answers from a board of directors with the fiduciary responsibility to steward public funds.

One thing is certain, the topic stirs deep emotions on all sides of the debate – from those who support Director Fahlberg – to others who seek a different direction for this essential social service.

While I appreciate the different perspectives, count me in the “It’s time for change” camp…

Here on Florida’s “Fun Coast” the idea of transitioning our sizeable homeless population to safe and sustainable housing should be something residents can rally around. An outreach we can universally celebrate, something with positive civic, economic, and social benefits across our mosaic of communities in Volusia County.

Instead, that enigmatic transitional housing program known as First Step “Shelter” has become a lightning rod of controversy. A serial melodrama full of suspicion, intrigue, and perceived coverups that now pits concerned taxpayers against those charged with stewarding our public funds and ensuring oversight of something that has never been adequately explained.

Unfortunately, the First Step Shelter was born of controversy and there it remains – considered something unavoidable – no closer to standing on its own than it was when the City of Daytona Beach and Volusia County made massive funding commitments to standup the program.

Then, things took an ominous turn last year when three whistleblowers came forward with allegations of fraud, fiduciary malfeasance, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, admission policy violations, and resident safety violations.

For reasons never fully explored, the First Step board made certain that a formal inquiry into the accusations never went beyond a few cursory interviews. Then, certain directors acting in their official capacity set about publicly destroying the personal and professional reputations of those who came forward, something that is now the subject of two active lawsuits naming both First Step and the City of Daytona Beach.

Add to that the board’s persecution of any taxpayer who dares question their motivations – or the leadership and direction of the shelter – and you begin to understand why many in the community have growing concerns about the effectiveness of the program, the veracity of numbers coming out of First Step, and how our tax dollars are being spent.

For instance, this week the First Step website, which has numbers flipping like a weird slot machine, shows a consistent 1,540 “people sheltered” and 741 “people housed.”

Then, in a social media post last week, Mr. Panaggio announced, “Since December 2019, your First Step Shelter has housed 1,779 people,” and “Nearly 50% of those sheltered (873 people) have successfully transitioned into housing.”

So, which is correct?

Is a ballpark figure of +/- 132 souls close enough for government supported work?

While we’re on the subject, what happened to those who weren’t “successfully transitioned to housing”?

And where were those who received housing actually placed – and at what cost?

Regrettably, anyone who asks pointed questions is repeatedly gaslighted by Mr. Panaggio – accused of making assumptions, having a “warped perspective and destructive agenda,” a “vendetta” (against a homeless shelter?), “harming the cause,” even accusing The Daytona Beach News-Journal of printing untruths, all because we seek answers to mounting questions about Director Fahlberg’s management and oversight.

Arrogant insinuations, counteraccusations, and deflection in emails and on social media while the board adamantly refuses to commission an independent investigation into the serious allegations that continue to erode the public trust in First Step Shelter.

Why is that?

As I mentioned last week, rather than move beyond the distraction and drama, the First Step board is now considering a three-year contract affording additional benefits and protections for Victoria Fahlberg – including a 20-week lump sum golden parachute – and indemnification against virtually any legal claim arising from acts or omissions in the performance of her duties.

That direct threat to publicly and privately donated funds may have been a step too far for those elected officials with the ultimate financial (and political) liability for the continuing controversies at First Step.

Last week, Daytona Beach City Commissioner Monica Paris said what many are thinking when she suggested it is time for City Attorney Ben Gross to pull back from his dual (and clearly conflicting) role as contracted legal counsel for the First Step board of directors.

Commissioner Ken Strickland echoed Ms. Paris’ concerns.

It appeared that both Paris and Strickland are justifiably concerned about Gross’ potential conflict of interest given that the whistleblower’s lawsuits name both First Step and the City of Daytona Beach…

For reasons I don’t completely understand, Director Fahlberg has some influential supporters in the community who seem willing to overlook the mounting questions at First Step, and ignore the concept of accountability, to keep her ensconced in a role commanding $133,000 annually.

In my view, that needs to change.

In my view, it is time for board president Mayor Derrick Henry and the Daytona Beach City Commission to begin the hard discussion of reorganizing the First Step board of directors, an unelected, uncontrolled, and unaccountable group that continues to alienate concerned citizens, publicly embarrass the community on social media, and put the needs of its controversial executive director over their fiduciary responsibility to Volusia County taxpayers.

Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris – A Cautionary Tale in the Making

“Calling the current state of construction in the city a “Ponzi scheme for more development,” Palm Coast mayor Mike Norris said he will not support a utility rate increase — unless a moratorium on development is put in place.

“When I propose it, I’m going to say to a date uncertain,” Norris said during a special workshop on Friday, March 7. “Now, I know I’m going to get pushback because, ‘We can’t stop building, we can’t stop building.’ Well, if we don’t stop building, we’re going to be broke and we’re going to force lifetime residents of Florida and Flagler County to flee their homes because they cannot afford to live in the state anymore, plain and simple.”

Palm Coast is at an inflection point, he said. The city is over $155 million in debt from the original purchase of the wastewater and water treatment facilities, which require $701 million in upgrades and maintenance through 2029 to be able to serve its current population.

–Associate Editor Jarleene Almenas, writing in the Palm Coast Observer, “’We’re going to be broke’: Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris to propose moratorium as development puts pressure on city infrastructure,” Friday, March 7, 2025

Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris got a quick lesson in what happens when you attempt to upset the status quo and take emergency measures in the face of the largest utilities rate hike in the city’s history, as officials seek to finance a shocking $615 million capital improvement plan to upgrade utilities, just to keep pace with current needs.

Within minutes of Mayor Norris saying the “M” word aloud last week, developer shills began circling the wagons, telling flashlight-under-the-chin scary stories about the apocalyptic ramifications of even suggesting a building moratorium in the face of hundreds-of-millions in utilities infrastructure shortfalls.

(Sound familiar, Volusia County?)

According to a report in FlaglerLive!:

“Annamaria Long, executive officer of the Flagler County Home Builders Association, had no idea of this morning’s development until she started getting texts alerting her. “It’s not only the worst outcome for my industry, it’s the worst outcome for every citizen in Palm Coast, for every resident,” Long said of a moratorium. She said the utility rate study that preceded the proposal the city voted on Tuesday is predicated on coming impact fees and growth, which means new housing. “That’s about one-third of the formula,” Long said. Removing it from the equation will increase utility bills “exponentially.”

Then, Ms. Long turned the tables on Mayor Norris, who rightfully claimed “developers have been taking advantage of this city far too long.”

According to Ms. Long, “If you ask the developers, I believe the developers would say they’re regularly taken advantage of by the city in terms of regulatory fees, timelines that drag out their process, extensive review fees” forcing them to pay thousands of dollars for each plan review.”

During the meeting, beleaguered existing residents also learned that there are currently 19,000 housing units that have been permitted but not yet built in Palm Coast…

You read that right.

Developers, who have hauled untold millions out of sensitive pine scrub, churning our natural places into a denuded black muck, scarring the land, paving over recharge areas, and forever changing both the topography and character of existing communities, feel “taken advantage of” because their projects required a modicum of review before being rubber stamped?

Really?

According to the report, Mayor Norris’ proposal to pause approvals for new residential development in the face of needed utilities upgrades “…drew sharp resistance from Council members Charles Gambaro and Ty Miller…”

Just four days later, things got interesting for Mayor Mike Norris when the appointed ‘developer’s darling’ Councilman Gambaro turned the tables…

According to a report in the Palm Coast Observer this week, late Tuesday evening “The Palm Coast City Council agreed to begin an investigation into the actions of Mayor Mike Norris, after he was accused of attempting to fire Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston and Chief of Staff Jason DeLorenzo behind closed doors — a violation of city charter.

Councilman Charles Gambaro reported the accusation during his closing comments of the March 11 City Council meeting.

I have a concern that was brought forward to me yesterday,” he said via phone, as he was absent physically from the workshop. “It has to do with your request for the resignation of our staff. I think it could be a major, major ethics violation.

“And it’s my understanding,” Gambaro continued, “that it’s not the first time that you’ve tried to directly intimidate, or tried to force the city manger, to fire not only the chief of staff but other members of our senior staff.”

Under examination by Gambaro playing the role of Perry Mason, Johnston confirmed from the dais that Norris had asked for the resignations of senior staff with one word: “Yes.”

(Cue the “Law and Order” theme – “Da-Dum!”)

According to reports, when Mayor Norris was finally given the opportunity to defend himself:

“Norris said: “There’s three people that were in that room that we had our conversation yesterday, and — how can I put this — I said I was going to discuss with the council, you know, about this. And it’s a little bit of frustration, but we are under a lot of pressure, here. Me and Lauren, we had a good conversation today. … But I certainly didn’t do what’s being said.”

Now what remains of the Palm Coast City Commission will cross the Rubicon and hire an outside law firm to “investigate” what Mayor Norris may or may not have meant when he expressed his growing frustration to senior staff. Another timewasting distraction in the face of withering debt heaped on the backs of existing residents to pay for more, more, more growth and a Florida Department of Environmental Destruction consent decree mandating improvements to the city’s overwhelmed wastewater system no later than 2028.

In addition, this latest bureaucratic bruhaha comes when the City of Palm Coast is trying to recruit a new city manager. Considering the often-tumultuous elected body has seen seven resignations, four mayors, 22 councilmembers, and four managers or interims in the last decade or so – I suspect any candidate worth their salt will likely give Palm Coast a wide berth…

As Palm Coast goes, so go other areas in Volusia and Flagler Counties that continue to see massive overdevelopment and the resultant infrastructure shortfalls that naturally result, and this one bears watching.

In my view, Mayor Norris is about to experience what happens when an elected official suggests pausing malignant growth until infrastructure requirements can catch up to current needs – a concept that makes those who stand to benefit extremely nervous…

Quote of the Week

“Today I come before you with a heavy heart and an overwhelming sense of responsibility. As you may be aware, I was recently arrested for driving under the influence.

I want to begin by expressing my sincerest apologies for my actions and for the consequences they have brought upon myself and those around me. First and foremost, I owe an apology to the Port Orange Police Department.

I understand that by putting myself in this situation, I not only broke the law, but I also showed a lack of respect for the very people who work tirelessly to keep our community safe. I am deeply sorry for any disrespect that transpired during this incident. You deserve better from me, and I take full responsibility for my actions.

–Port Orange Councilman Lance Green, as excerpted from his formal apology before his constituents and colleagues at the Port Orange City Council meeting, Tuesday, March 4, 2025

“And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good…”

–John Steinbeck, East of Eden

Last year, I took newly elected Port Orange City Councilman Lance Green to the woodshed following his well-publicized arrest on charges of driving under the influence after quibbling with investigating officers following a minor traffic accident.

It wasn’t because I like wallowing in the salacious mud or kicking powerful politicians when they’re down.

Trust me, I’m no better or worse than Mr. Green.

After 64 years of hard living, I realize that none of us are perfect – but as an elected official holding a position of solemn public trust – I thought Councilman Green’s neighbors deserved better…

Now, the charges have been resolved according to law, and Councilman Green has made amends by courageously admitting his mistake – formally apologizing to the Port Orange Police Department, his family, colleagues, and constituents – accepting personal responsibility for his error in judgement in front of friends, family, fellow elected officials, and political rivals:

“…to the great citizens of Port Orange, I want to express my deepest apologies. I never intended to bring this negativity to the city I have called home for over sixty years. This community means everything to me, and I understand that my actions have cast a shadow on our shared values and pride.

I am truly sorry for any embarrassment or concern I have caused. I am only human, and I made a careless mistake that has cost me dearly in many ways. I want to assure you that moving forward, I am dedicated to becoming a better man. A better person. A better husband, father, and grandfather.

I am committed to learning from this experience and using it as a catalyst for positive change in my life. I promise you all that I will take proactive steps to ensure this never happens again. I have and will continue seeking help and engage in programs that promote responsible behavior. I owe it to myself, to my family, and to this wonderful community.”

Well said, Councilman Green.

One man’s difficult recognition of his human faults, and an important reminder to all of the positive power of forgiveness.

In my view, that makes Lance Green’s leadership by example deserving of our collective understanding and respect.

Now, go do good things, sir.

And Another Thing!

After individually approving unchecked sprawl from Deering Park to the Flagler County line, the Volusia County Knights of the Round Table – a weird political insulation committee comprised of city and county elected and appointed officials – met this week to brood over the obvious, show faux concern for waterlogged residents, and discuss “mitigation efforts” for the development-induced flooding that many believe is a direct result of their numerous zoning amendments and the malignant growth that followed.

Feel better?

Me neither…

Apparently content to sit through more inane babbling from those who got us into this mess in the first place, fifty members of the Knights of the Round Table sat attentively as Volusia County Engineer Tadd Kasbeer blamed regional flooding on everything from storm intensity and high water tables to soil conditions – anything but the overdevelopment everyone knows is responsible – while Volusia County Public Works Director Benjamin Bartlett backed him up with pithy comments like, “We know storm water knows no municipal boundary.”

At the end of the day, it all came down to another colossal waste of time, just as Volusia County officials intended.

According to a disturbing article by Eileen Zaffiro-Kean writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “There were no grand declarations or new developments announced at the meeting. There are 30 flooding studies underway among the local governments, four being led by the county and the remaining 26 going on in the cities.

The studies, including one the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting for Daytona Beach, will take time, so solutions will not be immediate.”

More expensive “studies” that will take months to complete before collecting dust in some dead records morgue in the bowels of the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Building…

Frankly, had the fifty elected and appointed officials in attendance simply got off their numb asses and dug a drainage swale in Edgewater, they would have accomplished more toward mitigating flooding than sitting still for more of Volusia County’s “strategic procrastination.”

To add macabre insult, Bartlett went as far as to blame the limited environmental protections that remain on the books for delays, noting “…that once projects are in motion they take time to get through the necessary engineering work, permitting, bidding processes and efforts to determine if bald eagles or gopher tortoises are impacted.”

So, instead of demanding that developers take immediate steps to incorporate low-impact strategies in future fill-and-build projects – or consider the possibility of a temporary moratorium on more growth until solutions to flooding and infrastructure issues can be implemented – our elected dullards, upon recommendation of Volusia’s Growth and Resource Mismanagement shills – are implementing something called a “voluntary ordinance” which provides incentives (including density increases?) for builders who opt to do the right thing…

According to the News-Journal’s report, “Incentives offered to developers could be flexible lot sizes, flexible building setbacks, additional density, increased floor area ratio, increased maximum building height, off-street parking flexibility, reduction in tree placement requirements, and reduced building permit and land development fees.”

What good does it do to make low-impact development techniques optional, especially if the “incentives” could have the cumulative effect of increasing flood risks?

I’m asking.

Because none of this make sense to anxious residents counting the days before it rains…

Perhaps that’s the plan of influential developers and their chattel on the dais of power in Volusia County who could give two-shits if your house and mine flood – rather than enact commonsense measures to require low-impact best practices for all future growth.

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

Barker’s View for March 7, 2025

Posted on March 6, 2025 by barkersview

Hi, kids!

Florida Senator “Terrible Tommy” Wright

Florida’s Legislative Session began this week (gird your loins…) and we recently learned details of what our own Sen. “Terrible Tommy” Wright has in store for gridlocked Floridians this year:

Permitting the use of “Utility Terrain Vehicles” (UTVs) on already congested public roadways…

Ignoring the recommendations of manufacturers, industry advocates, emergency physicians, and safety professionals – and in spite of mounting deaths both locally and across the nation – Sen. Wright wants to allow retrofitted and registered buggies on city and county streets, even some state roadways that have speed limits of less than 55 mph, and he’s filed a bill to make it happen.

According to a recent report by Mark Harper writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “A Florida Legislature bill would allow owners of UTVs to drive them on public roads, a practice safety experts and even the manufacturers themselves say is unsafe.

Sen. Tom Wright, R-New Smyrna Beach, the bill’s sponsor, represents a district that covers much of Volusia County and the northern part of Brevard County, both of which have off-road areas where UTVs — also called utility terrain vehicles or side-by-sides — are becoming more common.

Wright’s district was also the site of a one-vehicle rollover crash less than two months ago, when a 14-year-old UTV passenger was killed. A Yamaha Rhino 660 carrying four girls, all aged 13 or 14, left the roadway near a bend on Rasley Road, a paved, two-lane, country road near New Smyrna Beach, and rolled, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report that redacted the girl’s name. The driver and one passenger were uninjured, while a third passenger suffered minor injuries.

Wright’s Senate Bill 88, has a companion, House Bill 221, filed by Rep. Richard Gentry, R-Astor.”

An analysis conducted by the legislature in 2024 found that 20 states around the nation currently allow UTVs on roadways with certain modifications. Some Florida residents have skirted the law by registering their carts in states that allow it and bringing them home with a license plate.

According to industry experts, even with additional add-ons to make the machines technically “street legal,” the practice is inherently unsafe as UTVs are not designed to be operated on improved roadways.

Simply put, the vehicles are specifically built for off-highway use, and the handling characteristics aren’t conducive to paved roads, putting operators and passengers at increased danger of loss of control accidents.

The News-Journal report explained that a lobbyist for the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association spoke against a similar bill Wright filed last year, which included input from the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, a nonprofit safety group.

Even UTV manufactures – those who earn their bread and butter designing, building, and selling these off-road vehicles – have opposed Wright’s bill on the grounds UTVs aren’t properly crash-tested like passenger vehicles, the tire pressures are inappropriate for travel on asphalt, along with concerns about “…a mixed message to the public: Despite warning labels and placards, plus dealer instruction at the time of sale that these vehicles are not intended for street use, legalizing their use on roadways suggests otherwise.”

Florida already permits modified golf carts on streets with a posted limit of 30 or less, so you already know the frustration of sharing the road with them – usually operated by a child far too young to be a licensed driver – trundling along with at least five additional unbelted souls onboard…

So, why is “Terrible Tommy” intent on wasting valuable legislative time to put these things on traffic-clogged Florida roadways?

Hell if I know…

And I’m not sure Sen. Wright knows, either.

According to the News-Journal, “Wright, who did not return messages seeking comment, has compared UTVs to “mini-trucks.”

That’s not surprising.

In my view, the arrogant Sen. Wright answers to no one – and he damn sure does not see the need to communicate the intent of his proposed law to those most affected – just as he has never explained his past boorish, bullying, and downright creepy behavior to anyone…

You can read all about that ugliness here: https://tinyurl.com/4v4bxub8 and here: https://tinyurl.com/cv736sr3

Whatever.

Look, I realize most hardworking Volusia County taxpayers are too busy eking out a living, educating their children in the abject shitshow that passes for public education, and sitting at their dining room table self-engineering flood control measures to protect their homes, to worry about Sen. Wright’s foolishness in Tallahassee.

That said, perhaps the question is: Why doesn’t “Terrible Tommy” and his enabling “colleagues” in the Florida legislature stop dawdling and find solutions to the issues important to the lives and livelihoods of their constituents?

The “Truth” According to Volusia County Councilman David “No Show” Santiago

Because they have yet to legislate a legal way to suppress political dissent and free speech on social media, our elected and appointed officials increasingly seek to “control the narrative” by attractively packaging their version of “public information,” then use trusted shills to push it across the various platforms.

Small and midsize communities that represent the most assessable and responsive level of government have long been known for openness and transparency. Places where elected officials were willing to act on the concerns of their neighbors, rather than the backroom winks and nods of their political benefactors.

Not anymore.

Now, many local governments find increasingly dictatorial ways to suppress citizen participation – ignoring those who speak at public meetings like stone-faced gargoyles based on some contrived rules of decorum.

On rare occasion an elected official sensitive to the needs of their constituents will throw off the yoke of conformism and speak to the media, hold a “town hall,” or otherwise communicate with taxpayers, riling the tightlipped bureaucracy who manufactures the message to avoid any possibility of criticism.

Those who dare speak to residents face-to-face receive a public beatdown – during which their “colleagues” force the offending representative into the round hole of conformity – publicly castigating them for not “following protocol” and treating citizens like mushrooms: Keep them in the dark and feed them bullshit…

Don’t take my word for it, ask Ormond Beach Mayor Jason Leslie what happens when you give the media a tour of your community’s amenities without first begging permission from some middle manager in the Public Information office.

Barker’s View for February 21, 2025

Posted on February 20, 2025February 20, 2025 by barkersview

Hi, kids!

Trader Joes – “Well, We’re Movin’ on Up!”

Come on everybody! Clap along with me!

“Fish don’t fry in the kitchen;

Beans don’t burn on the grill.

Took a whole lotta tryin’

Just to get up that hill.

Now we’re up in the big leagues

Gettin’ our turn at bat.

As long as we live, it’s you and me baby

There ain’t nothin wrong with that… Well, we’re movin’ on up!”

–“The Jeffersons” Theme

Slap my ass and call me Sally!

Just days after I made a snarky remark in The Daytona Beach News-Journal about a passel of celebrities opening an extravagant “Five Star” hotel in Daytona Beach – a place we were told doesn’t have the “demographics” to support a Trader Joe’s, let alone a South Beach luxury resort – old Barker ended up with free range, pasture-raised, organic egg on his funny face!

Yep!

After years of speculation, and the mysterious cloak-and-dagger intrigue that is now de rigueur for any business opening a location here, this week we learned that our chaunts and prayers to the Grocery God’s have finally been answered.

It took some crack investigative work by both the News-Journal and Hometown News Volusia, but all indications suggests that a Trader Joe’s will one day grace the Tomoka Town Center off Boomtown Boulevard in Daytona Beach.

According to reporter Charles Guarria writing in Hometown News, “At this time, I can share that we have plans to open a store in Daytona Beach,” Nakia Rohde, public relations manager for Trader Joe’s, replied via email. She continued, “However, I do not have a location or timeline to confirm.”

In addition, News-Journal Business editor Clayton Park confirmed:

“The City of Daytona Beach on Jan. 31 issued a building permit for a two-store retail project at Tomoka Town Center that will include a Trader Joe’s.

Construction plans for the project submitted to the city included several references to Trader Joe’s, confirmed city spokeswoman Susan Cerbone, who added other than that, “I have no insider knowledge of them coming.”

The website for real estate developer North American Development Group shows several planned new additions to its Tomoka Town Center retail complex in Daytona Beach.

While Trader Joe’s is not listed among the coming tenants, an updated site map and rendering of the shopping center include two side-by-side future stores between Dave & Buster’s and Academy Sports. The larger of the two future stores is labeled as a planned HomeSense home furnishings/decor store, while the smaller end-cap unit is not identified.

Plans submitted to the city show that the 13,432-square-foot end-cap unit will be a Trader Joe’s store.”

A tip o’ the cap to Detectives Park and Guarria for donning their deerstalkers and digging past the denials, obfuscation, and cryptograms that shroud the identities of everything from lemonade stands to Amazon fulfillment centers here on the “Fun Coast” and finally crack the case.

According to the Hometown News, they got the Sergeant Shultz treatment from just about everyone associated with the place: “Cobb Cole, the legal representative listed on paperwork filed with the City of Daytona Beach, offered no comment when asked to confirm Trader Joe’s would open in Tomoka Town Center. Attempts to reach the developer of Tomoka Town Center, North America Development Group, were unsuccessful.

Members of the Daytona Beach City Commission, including Dannette Henry, whose district the shopping center is in, have not heard which boutique grocer is opening at the location. When Mayor Derrick Henry was asked if he heard that Trader Joe’s was the tenant, he replied, “I have never been told that.”

No word yet if ol’ Trader Joe is holding out for some lucrative spiffs from the City of Daytona Beach and Volusia County before tipping his hand…

Wouldn’t be the first time.

I remember back in those heady days a decade ago when our economic gurus over at Team Volusia where crowing about bringing a Trader Joe’s distribution center to Daytona Beach.

At the time, the chain added to our civic identity crisis when a spokesperson explained that – while we have the workforce to schlep goods and groceries around a commercial warehouse – the Halifax area didn’t have the “demographics” to support one of the tony “boutique” grocery stores.

So, rather than request concessions (like locating a store here), our city and county “leaders” rolled over and peed all over themselves like an incontinent cur – gifting the company millions in tax breaks to locate their distribution center at the very nexus of I-95 and I-4 – with direct access to ports at Tampa, Jacksonville, Canaveral, Everglades, and Miami, and a Class II regional railroad providing intermodal service to the eastern seaboard and immediately adjacent to an “international” airport capable of heavy cargo operations with room to expand in the fastest growing region in the universe…

I guess times they are a-changin,’ eh?

A January 2025 article in the online magazine Fast Company, which bills itself as the “…world’s leading progressive business media brand, with a unique editorial focus on innovation in technology, leadership, and design,” described the Trader Joe “demographic” as:

“The average Trader Joe’s shopper is a white married college graduate between 25 and 44 who earns $80,000 a year, “over-indexes” on social media use, and considers themselves to be early adopters of new trends.”

You can find the rest of the story here: https://tinyurl.com/2p8tbv9f

As I reflect back on how far we’ve come, I recall way back in 2017 – when that glass-and-steel panacea known as the Brown & Brown headquarters heralded the “game-changing transformation” of Downtown Daytona – the News-Journal reported, “Local land investor and developer Mori Hosseini said Volusia County has been known as “a loser county,” but will soon be considered “progressive.”

Well, our High Panjandrum of Political Power was right after all.

I mean, what says “we’ve arrived” like a Trader Joe’s sitting next to a Dave & Busters?

Welcome to the top, y’all…

The Lost City of Deltona and the Sad Saga of Mayor Santiago-Avila Jr.

“Ignorance of the law is no excuse in any country. If it were, the laws would lose their effect, because it can always be pretended.”

–Thomas Jefferson

In George Orwell’s eerily prophetic novella, Animal Farm, the allegorical quote “All animals are equal. Some animals are more equal than others,” speaks to the hypocrisy of those within systems of governance who rise to power then exploit their position for personal gain.

Petty politicians who hold themselves out as ‘of and for’ the residents of a community, then, upon elevation to public office, suddenly view government as a monarchical hierarchy rather than a sacred public service – now above the reach of rules – entitled, dictatorial, answering to no one.

Openly violating policies and regulations without consequence while ensuring We, The Little People understand that the rule of law controls us, not the governing elite.

In my view, Orwell’s grim metaphor is embodied in Mayor Santiago-Avila Jr. of the Lost City of Deltona – a raging dumpster fire with the persistence and intensity of the Centralia coal mine blaze – a Kubrickian Overlook Hotel, haunted by external forces and driven by personal agendas that seems to corrupt anyone and anything who enters its “service” – and a continuing civic embarrassment to the mosaic of municipalities in Volusia County.

Now, Deltona will also be known as a place where the basic legal concept of “Ignorance of the law excuses no one” not only forgives the elected elite for blatant violations of rules governing public expenditures – but now establishes the “Santiago-Avila Jr. Rule” – a ludicrous self-serving defense which allows politicians to escape blame merely by saying they were unaware of the existence of an accountability policy used in virtually every public and private organization on the face of the planet…

On Monday evening, the erosion of the public trust continued during a ridiculous ‘quasi-judicial’ hearing ostensibly to allow Mayor Santiago-Avila Jr. the opportunity to explain why he and his wife used taxpayer dollars to travel to Washington D.C. in January to attend a series of elegant political soirees in tuxedo and gown.

Laissez-les manger du gâteau…

According to testimony provided during the quackery earlier this week, Mayor Santiago-Avila Jr. claimed he also attended the U. S. Conference of Mayors while in Washington – not as a paid attendee – but as the “guest” of a mysterious unidentified benefactor…

Really?

The mayor’s trip was thought to be in direct contradiction to the city’s established travel policy for elected officials which requires advanced approval by majority vote of the City Commission.

Because it was.

Many Deltona taxpayers rightfully viewed it as Santiago-Avila Jr.’s attempt to use the “seek forgiveness not permission” strategy to obtain public funds for what appeared to be a purely political junket.

Inconceivably, the Mayor’s only defense – as presented by his expensive mouthpiece, perennial politician, and attorney Anthony Sabatini – was “Huh. Who knew the city had a travel policy?”

Now, some are questioning how Hizzoner could afford a heavy hitter like Sabatini, or are taxpayers covering the cost of his defense as well?

I’m asking. Because by his own admission (and court records), Mayor Santiago-Avila Jr. has serious personal financial issues that have become a topic of civic concern in Deltona…

During the farcical Kangaroo Kourt that ensued, Mayor Santiago-Avila Jr. stated he was unaware the municipal government had a written policy to approve official travel in advance of the expenditure.

In my view, watching Santiago-Avila Jr. quibble, split hairs, and mewl “I don’t recall” while still retaining the gavel of power – arrogantly demanding silent obedience from residents in the audience (“No more outbursts from the public!”) – while under direct examination for his flagrant disregard for city policy, epitomized all that is wrong with what passes for public accountability in Deltona.

Even an attempt to hold an elected official responsible for circumventing established policy for publicly funded out-of-state travel turned into a non-sensical exercise that stretched the limits of commonsense and credibility – and ultimately failed to secure accountability, or proper sanction, after the 4-3 vote failed the supermajority requirement.

In the end, Mayor Santiago-Avila Jr. and his patented “Who knew?” defense won the day by one vote – his own…

To show whose boss in Deltona, after being acquitted by the technicality, Mayor Santiago-Avila Jr. lorded over the room, directing Sheriff’s deputies expel a frustrated taxpayer from the chamber when he boisterously condemned the sham.

Once again, the long-suffering taxpayers of the Lost City of Deltona lost to the self-serving forces of mediocrity that continue to plague this beleaguered community…

Quote of the Week

The ordinance proposal came after three commissioners, including (Commissioner Kristin) Deaton, voiced concerns from the dais regarding recent comments made by the mayor in recent news coverage. Deaton said she received multiple calls regarding a Channel 6 news broadcast where Leslie took reporters on a tour of the city to showcase the city’s “best-kept secrets.”

In the 4-minute broadcast, Leslie is seen taking reporters to the Magic Forest Playground at Rainbow Park — which he said would reopen in 2-4 weeks, but city staff Tuesday reported renovations would take longer — as well as Andy Romano Beachfront Park, Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center, the proposed Belvedere Terminals fuel farm site, the airport and the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.

Deaton said that to her knowledge, city staff, including the public information officer, were not informed ahead of time about the news crew’s arrival.

“It is protocol for the commission and the mayor to contact the city PIO if approached by the media, and I want to ensure that is upheld,” Deaton said.”

–Managing Editor Jarleene Almenas, writing in the Ormond Beach Observer, “Ormond Beach officials condemn Mayor Jason Leslie’s representation of city in recent news reports,” Wednesday, February 19, 2025

As often happens among petty and ego-maniacal politicians, someone’s feewings got hurt this week on the Ormond Beach City Commission – and our right to independent representation will suffer because of it…

During a recent segment of WKMG’s “Hit the Road,” the City of Ormond Beach was highlighted as “…a city filled with charm, history, and surprises.” The piece included a driving tour of the community hosted by newly-elected mayor, Jason Leslie.

To his credit, Mayor Leslie escorted the reporter to several prominent civic, commercial, and recreational amenities, explaining planned improvements and restoration efforts for some of the city’s “best kept secrets.” In addition, the mayor provided viewers with a brief update on controversial plans for the Belvedere Fuel Terminal (which has been kept out of sight and out of mind for months…).

Watch the segment for yourself here: https://tinyurl.com/2nnfa2s2

In my view, it was a flattering exposé of this beautiful community – my hometown – appropriately presented by the city’s mayor, and his pride in place was clearly evident. In addition, WKMG’s morning news team originated from Ormond Beach’s Grind Gastropub & Kona Tiki Bar this week, following up with a three-hour broadcast to further accentuate the community’s many attributes.

According to the Observer’s report, Mayor Leslie recently spearheaded an effort to seek authorization from Governor Ron DeSantis that flags be flown at half-mast in honor of former local resident Capt. Jonathan Campos, who lost his life in the tragic plane crash in Washington D.C.

For his efforts to present the community in a favorable light, Mayor Leslie was taken to the woodshed by Zone Three Commissioner Kristin Deaton, who has proposed a cockamamie ordinance to ensure the mayor – and any other elected official who dares exercise independence of thought in service to their constituents – will be pounded into the round hole of conformity with the force of law…

Piling on was Commissioner Lori Tolland – who complained Mayor Leslie gave “inaccurate information” during the WKMG segment and a recent interview with the Observer – along with Commissioner Travis Sargent, who made a not-so-veiled insinuation that “…someone on the dais,” (alluding to Leslie) was trying to get City Manager Joyce Shanahan fired.”

“That kills morale — kills employees’ morale and how they work, and it’s just uncalled for,” Sargent said. “If you have a problem, call that person, sit down with them or discuss it up here. Don’t do it behind closed doors and think something’s going to happen. It’s very unprofessional.”

According to the Observer, “Leslie said he never voiced any intent to fire Shanahan, saying he has a “great working relationship” with her.”

Most shocking, Commissioner Tolland lectured “…it was essential that they work together as a body “to uphold the principles of our commission, rather than acting independently in ways that do not reflect our collective governance.”

Say what?

“Collective governance?”

In my view, Commissioners Deaton, Tolland, and Sargent should rethink their roles – or join a country club if they need constant validation from their peers…

The City of Ormond Beach operates under the Commission/Manager form of government – a representative democracy where We, The Little People elect representatives to set public policy, taxation, allocations, and establish ordinances as the city’s legislative body – civic responsibilities that require independence, public input from an informed constituency, and the honest debate of ideas.

Not lockstep conformity using the “If we’re all thinking alike, who can criticize us?” political insulation strategy…

In my view, this is what happens when elected officials stay too long at the party and get taken into the maw of the bureaucracy; more concerned about protecting the tenure of senior officials and ensuring any information that escapes from City Hall is sanitized and spun by an internal mouthpiece.

Over time, some politicians develop the mindset that the elected body should be a clubbish, homogenized, and well-choreographed echo chamber, where senior staff create public policy behind closed doors, and the role of elected officials is merely to rubberstamp it.

To enforce compliance, the compromised majority begin passing rules and ordinances to silence dissent on both sides of the dais (See: The Volusia County Council of Cowards), and strictly enforced conformism ensures the outcome of votes when everyone starts thinking alike…

In his defense, Mayor Leslie explained:

“I respect the feedback from my fellow commissioners, and I want to emphasize that I’m still relatively new to this role,” Leslie said. “I value open communication and believe that collaboration is key to serving our community effectively. I recognize that at times, my eagerness to provide information quickly may have come across as speaking off the cuff. Moving forward, I am committed to working more closely with our city staff to ensure that the information I share is accurate and fully aligned with the City’s official stance.”

Bullshit. Stand firm, Mr. Mayor.

Here’s hoping Mayor Leslie maintains his independence and refuses to go to “staff” with his hat in hand to obtain the “official line” before releasing information to his constituents – or accept the bureaucracy’s myopic take on the issues of the day as gospel.

That’s why Ormond Beach taxpayers elected him.

In my view, Mayor Leslie’s willingness to speak his mind, and his obvious pride in the City of Ormond Beach, are attributes that will ensure fair, free, and competitive decision-making on the dais of power.

And Another Thing!

I’ve always been curious about those political “clubs” and “civic leagues” you read about.

Not dull partisan cliques where like-types meet to reinforce each other’s views, but those “discussion groups” where people much smarter (and wealthier) than me pay annual dues to have lunch – listen to congressmen, ambassadors and other “movers & shakers” bloviate on the issues of the day – then debate “public affairs” over linen tablecloths.

Somehow, I don’t think I’d fit in – and I’m sure I don’t have the $500 to find out…

Instead, I get my take on our local political climate from a barstool.

I have a favorite watering hole where I talk politics over shots and beers with an eclectic group who actually experience the effects of public policy decisions up close and personal.

Working folks, tradesmen, and retirees who feel every dime of tax increases and growing insurance premiums; claustrophobic longtime residents who experience the effect of unchecked growth, fear for the quantity and quality of their drinking water, worry about the fate of their small businesses, and lament the fact that elected officials ignore their concerns while catering to the “Rich & Powerful,” whose wants and whims bear no resemblance to their own.

I don’t know what the consensus is around those fancy luncheons of our local Bilderberg – but by my barroom barometer – those of us here in the “Real World” are ready for Volusia County government to meet taxpayers halfway and tighten its belt as well…

We currently have seven self-described “staunch conservative Republicans” occupying every seat on the nonpartisan Volusia County Council.

Trust me. They don’t know the meaning of the word.

As I see it, our elected dullards in DeLand have confused the tenets of conservatism – limited government, fiscal responsibility, and free markets – with the clique of partisan politics.

They call themselves “Republicans” because it is the politically expedient thing to do, while ignoring the traditional values upon which the Grand Old Party once stood.

(And don’t get me started on what passes for the foundering Democratic party, now wholly controlled by the lunatic fringe, and moderate minds need not apply…)

Is there another explanation?

According to Councilman Danny “Gaslight” Robins, speaking at a “Special Meeting” earlier this month, each of our current representatives ran on a commitment to “smaller government,” which everyone knows is more backhanded bullshit to camouflage why he opposed mandatory low-impact development regulations that could have helped prevent future widespread flooding that has devastated so many of his constituents.

So, when is Gaslight Robins and his fellow “conservatives” going to live up to their campaign promise and begin whittling down the size and reach of Volusia County government?

In my view, independent reviews, and outside financial audits of essential (and not-so-essential) services is a necessity, especially in local, state, and federal government organizations that have forgotten where the money they spend originates. And why.

Earlier this month, the Volusia County Council – that bastion of “small government” conservatism – listened to the same crushingly dull staff presentation regarding the formulation of a voluntary low-impact development “ordinance” that I did.

The difference was that my jaw hit the floor when Environmental Middle Management Director Ginger Adair explained that the provisions of the proposed ordinance had been reviewed by 16 different divisions of county government before coming to the council.

Unfortunately, those we elected to represent our interests were either wholly disinterested or rendered comatose by the droning PowerPoint, because they seemed completely unfazed by Ms. Adair’s shocking glimpse inside the inner workings of this bloated bureaucracy.

In my experience, it is physically impossible for the average taxpayer to navigate the labyrinth of warrens that worm through Volusia County government with the complexity of a red ant mound.

For instance, I recently counted some fifty departments and divisions (excluding law enforcement and public protection) and was still unable to account for all the various subdivisions, offices, and agencies – or the myriad directors, assistant directors, managers, coordinators, specialists, etc., etc., that populate the various managerial and supervisory roles…

In a 2022 glossy brochure produced by Volusia County, the behemoth described itself as “Similar to a large company, Volusia County government consists of more than 40 different, distinct parts, and interfaces…” with a compliment of “approximately” 2,000 employees.

“Approximately”?

Except, unlike any “large company” with a fiduciary responsibility to stockholders, Volusia County has an unlimited supply of cash and remains accountable to no one…

When you break down the unknown number of personnel, senior staff, ancillary operations, and public assets large and small – it now takes a record $1.6 Billion annually (you read that right) to slop that insatiable hog. And given the innumerable issues and infrastructure requirements we face, it’s only going up, up, up from here…

In attempting to defend the indefensible, Volusia County is quick to tell us they are everything to everyone.

Yet, when the bureaucracy finds itself between a rock and a hard place – like when angry villagers turn out with pitchforks and torches demanding answers to recurrent flooding – senior bureaucrats revert to the dodge “We are only responsible for unincorporated areas and some infrastructure in the cities…not my yob, man.”

While simultaneously cashing everyone’s annual ad velorem tax checks like clockwork…

If you haven’t noticed, the concept of “government efficiency” has been making the news of late.

Which got me to thinking, “When are those champions of “small government” on the Volusia County Council going to prove their fiscal responsibility to taxpayers and begin the process of “right sizing” county government like Gaslight Robins said they would?”

Hacking the thick rind of fat off this bloated hog and ensuring maximum efficiencies, reducing the number of executive level positions, consolidating services where applicable, limiting spending, cutting red tape, demanding accountability, and identifying areas where taxpayers are being painted as the villain (as Chairman Brower recently divulged) then terminating anyone involved in the practice.

For instance, if the word “Resilience” appears in more than one department or divisional name – one of them is redundant – especially in an age where environmental best practices are considered voluntary…

It’s one thing for these posers to jump on the “small government” bandwagon when it is politically expedient to do so – it’s quite another to roll up their sleeves and begin the process of returning this ravenous monstrosity to something taxpayers can recognize – and trust.

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

Note to Readers:

Barker’s View will be on hiatus next week – a short ‘pause for the cause’ – as Patti and I celebrate our 30^th Wedding Anniversary (we’re nothing if not stubborn…) During the break, please feel free to enjoy some past asides from the BV achieves at the bottom of this page. It’s fun to take a look back with the clarity of hindsight and see what has changed, and what remains the same, here on Florida’s “Fun Coast.”

See you next month!

Barker’s View for February 14, 2025

Posted on February 13, 2025February 13, 2025 by barkersview

Hi, kids!

Volusia County Council of Cowards

Best Practices

“A procedure that has been shown by research and experience to produce optimal results and that is established or proposed as a standard suitable for widespread adoption.”

Industry Standards

“A set of criteria within an industry relating to the standard functioning and carrying out of operations in their respective fields of production. In other words, it is the generally accepted requirements followed by the members of an industry. It provides an orderly and systematic formulation, adoption, or application of standards used in a particular industry or sector of the economy.”

Best Management Practices (BMP)

“Best management practices are methods that have been determined to be the most effective and practical means of preventing or reducing non-point source pollution to help achieve water quality goals.”

Political Prostitute

“Elected officials who accept campaign contributions and endorsements from special interest groups, corporations, and the wealthy individuals who control them in exchange for favorable legislation or policies that increase profit margins for the few to the detriment of many.”

For good or ill, my gift/curse remains the preternatural ability to unravel the inconsistencies and paradoxes that frequently occur in local governance and politics. Those contradictory riddles of logic that challenge our conventional understanding of the “truth” – that we can see with our own eyes versus the bureaucratic artifice which seeks to deflect our attention.

That said, I must admit, sometimes the abject absurdity of it all still baffles me…

For instance, after reviewing the Volusia County Council’s agenda for Tuesday’s “Special Meeting” – the first in what will be a long series of tortuous memorandums and agonizingly boring PowerPoints, narrated in monotone by senior staff and played out over months, a strategy that will eventually crush the enthusiasm of even the most ardent supporter of flood control measures – something about a ludicrous plan to “incentivize” a voluntary low-impact development ordinance didn’t smell right.

By definition, an “Ordinance” is a law established by governmental authority, an official decree, an authoritative order. It isn’t a mere suggestion, or an invitation to do the right thing – and it typically doesn’t come with financial inducements for following the rules…

To ensure I understood the contradictory concept of ‘voluntary best practices’ in the context of the council’s choreographed discussion, I took a minute to review the above definitions.

The first three come from the United States Government, an organization not traditionally known for its clarity.

The last one I made up.

Just seemed appropriate under the circumstances…

Then I pondered the obvious: “If best practices are shown by research and experience to produce optimal results, and industry standards are generally accepted as integral to the optimal functioning and conduct of operations – why in the hell would our ‘powers that be’ not demand those basic standards from the local building industry – or take steps to ensure development practices in Volusia County conform to industry norms?”

Look, it doesn’t take the deductive reasoning of Lieutenant Columbo to see that the opposite of standards and practices is an intentional deviation from accepted principles, a complete disregard for established rules, ignoring potential risk, and creating unintended consequences for others who may be harmed by negligent or nonconforming practices.

Sound familiar?

It should.

Especially if you are one of the thousands of Volusia County property owners suffering the devastating effects of development-induced flooding – repeat victims who are demanding substantive action from our elected officials on the Volusia County Council of Cowards.

Inconceivably, in the face of unprecedented suffering, this week the foremost minds in the Ivory Tower of Power in DeLand concluded that not only should Volusia County government make industry standards and best practices voluntary – they should provide “…incentives for developers and design professionals to implement these best management practices during the design phase of a project.”

You read that right.

Somewhere along the dusty political trail, local governments were sold on the idea that with the right application of public funds – or other lucrative “incentives,” tax breaks, and infrastructure improvements – they could compel impactful businesses and industries to ‘do the right thing’ by the taxpayers who supply the spiffs.

Several years ago, a business presented under a mysterious cryptogram that everyone knew was spelled “Amazon” – the most successful ecommerce company in the known universe – yet Daytona Beach granted millions in inducements to locate a robotic fulfillment center at the very nexus of I-4 and I-95…

One can only imagine the uproarious guffaws in Amazon’s site development offices when it was announced, “Not only are we getting the warehouse at the most advantageous access point to all of Central Florida – but rather than make us pay for the privilege – those rubes are going to give us $4 million!”

I don’t make this shit up, folks.

Now, using the bureaucratic legerdemain they are famous for, the Volusia County Council has reached into their well-worn top hat and pulled out a way to appease and enrich their political benefactors in the development industry by incentivizing what should be mandatory practices while making it appear they are accomplishing something of substance to reduce (emphasis on “future”) regional flooding, using empty promises of revisiting the ordinance to ensure current victims won’t notice they are being cut adrift…

Abracadabra.

Just like that, on Tuesday evening, during a clearly orchestrated farce, our elected dullards voted 6-1, with Chairman Jeff Brower dissenting (and Councilman David “No Show” Santiago literally phoning it in) to implement a series of toothless measures permitting developers to voluntarily incorporate low-impact best management practices into “conservation developments” within the Urban land use designation, or not.

If they choose to follow what should be mandatory LID best practices, developers will be eligible for a smorgasbord of lucrative “incentives,” to include increased density, increased building height, reduction in tree replacement requirements, and reduced building permit and land use development fees.

Bullshit.

I got a chuckle when Councilman Danny “Gaslight” Robins once again mewled his hollow denials, quibbling that – despite the fact Low-impact development has been discussed in Volusia County government for decades – he’s heard no “measurable data” that LID practices reduce flooding (?) – while laughably painting himself and his fellow shills as “small government” advocates:

“Seven out of seven of us ran on less government, and making government larger by adopting mandatory regulations that still no one has been able to provide no measurable data to say that it will stop or prevent flooding to the people that we hear about — that’s the pickle I’m in,” Robins said.

In actuality, the “pickle” Mr. Robins finds himself in is that his neighbors are being financially ruined by repeat flooding – and instead of taking definitive measures to help them – he sold his political soul to development interests with a chip in a very lucrative game…

Then, as evidence of the senseless mindset that has resulted in Volusia becoming the most flood prone county in Florida – seventh in the nation – Councilman Don Dempsey, who represents inundated areas of West Volusia, explained his daffy rationale to waterlogged constituents:

“We all want to see low impact development tested out and try to see if it works, but the mandate — all we may do with mandates is drive developers out of the county. They may just pack up and say, ‘Heck with this, we’re going to go to Lake County and do a subdivision.'”

Yeah. That would be a terrible thing.

I mean, where would the $1,000 campaign contributions come from if speculative developers picked up and left Volusia County rather than adopt ethical practices to prevent the destruction of neighboring homes?

City of Daytona Beach – Communication is Key

“The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.”

–Peter Drucker

I recently had an interesting discussion with a resident concerned about last week’s tempest in a teapot at Daytona Beach City Hall when Commissioner Stacy Cantu took exception to a proposed internal policy that would grant City Manager Deric Feacher and the city’s Information Technology director the authority to pull the plug on elected officials electronics if they violate cybersecurity protocols.

Last week, in an informative article by Eileen Zaffiro-Kean writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal entitled “Daytona Beach city commissioner worried cybersecurity policy violates city charter,” we learned:

“Imagine a state government employee telling Gov. Ron DeSantis he wanted the power to remove the governor’s access to the state’s information technology network if he ever thought DeSantis violated state cybersecurity policy, or he didn’t think DeSantis was following cybersecurity best practices.

That’s how Daytona Beach City Commissioner Stacy Cantu sees a proposal to give City Manager Deric Feacher and the city’s information technology staff that kind of power over the six city commissioners and mayor if they violate a 77-point policy outlining requirements for use of the city’s information technology network.”

She’s right.

To her credit, the ever-vigilant Ms. Cantu believes the policy would upend the critical balance of power at City Hall which states the city manager works exclusively for the city commission, not the other way around.

As City Manager, Mr. Feacher is granted extraordinary powers by city charter to fulfill his myriad responsibilities. He denied the policy represents a “power grab,” explaining “It’s not a matter of me asserting any authority,” he said. “It’s me protecting the integrity of the system and the city’s $390 million budget.”

Mr. Feacher is also right.

Observers looking on from the outside can often see situations more three-dimensionally than those at the point of conflict. It is the result of the natural loss of situational awareness that comes when well-meaning people become so caught up in conflict, they can no longer see the precipitating issue objectively.

Perspective dictates our response to situations and limits our view of the details.

This is especially true during a “Clash of the Titans” – when senior leadership at the top of a public or private organization allow disputes to transcend the honest debate of competing views that makes for good policy, begin circling the wagons, and protecting their turf.

More often than not, this results from poor communication.

In the Council/Manager form of government, where the manager is permitted broad powers and permitted to perform their duties free of interference from individual elected officials, on occasion, there will be friction.

Therein lies the headache for city/county managers who must keep five to seven big personalities informed and engaged – while overseeing the day-to-day operations of an organization with a lot of moving parts – or risk being tossed out on their ass by majority vote of the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker…

It’s a hard dollar, and in my view, Mr. Feacher does an excellent job for the residents of Daytona Beach.

That’s what makes this unfortunate miscommunication so disappointing.

According to the News-Journal’s report, “After a back and forth debate Wednesday night between Cantu and Feacher, and input from other commissioners and the city’s head of information technology, it appeared Cantu was mostly alone in her protest. By the end of the discussion, most commissioners seemed to see the proposed cyber policies as necessary protection for the city’s online systems.

City Attorney Ben Gross’ comments appeared to calm most worries that the cyber policy for the elected officials would violate the city charter.

“This would be a legal delegation of authority under our charter,” Gross said. “I’m not aware of any impediments that would prevent you from authorizing the manager to implement this. … You would not be violating the city charter.”

In my experience, when it becomes necessary for a governmental organization to place limits on those with the responsibility (and political liability) for its funding and oversight, it is important that everyone – including those in the cheap seats who pay the bills – understand the operational necessities for the action, and the checks-and-balances in place to prevent abuse.

Far too often, elected bodies fall victim to the “tail wagging the dog” syndrome, a reversal of the power dynamic, where the bureaucracy controls duly elected representatives and sets public policy by proxy.

This is often accomplished using arbitrary rules and subjective edicts that neuter an elected officials sworn responsibilities to their constituents.

Don’t take my word for it, ask Volusia County Council Chair Jeff Brower what happens to those in his political fishing camp who dare to think independently and refuse to be beaten into the round hole of conformity…

To her credit, Commissioner Cantu has been sensitive to maintaining the elected body’s oversight authority – and her independent research and due diligence has uncovered potential problems and pitfalls before it was too late – most recently exposing serious issues with an asbestos-laden Beach Street building the city was considering for purchase.

Unfortunately, for having the courage to ask the tough questions, Ms. Cantu is often accused of having sharp elbows, and her strained relationship with Mr. Feacher is well known to her colleagues and constituents.

Let’s hope they can find common ground, and mutual respect.

Effective internal and external communication between the elected officials, administrators, and those they exist to serve begins with trust – and a sensitivity to the roles and responsibilities established by charter that allow for the effective and efficient functions of government.

In my view, it is a win-win for the City of Daytona Beach to have an effective watchdog looking out for potential threats to its IT infrastructure – and an elected representative with the strength and independence to ensure the safeguards established by the Commission’s oversight authority continue to protect tax dollars, ensure transparency, and promote accountability.

Quote of the Week

“The Palm Coast City Council is moving toward a plan to raise water and sewer rates 28 percent over the next four years and borrow $456 million over the next two years to finance some of the $700 million in repairs, expansions and new construction of a water and sewer infrastructure under strain from age and rapid growth.

The two bond issues would dwarf all previous city bond issues and its existing total debt, which stands at $134 million. The rate increases would, for a household using 4,000 gallons of water a month, result in bill increases of $40 a month by October 1, 2028, or an annual increase of nearly $500–more for households consuming more water.

Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris and Council member Ty Miller, over Council member Theresa Pontieri’s dissent, gave the administration direction to draft an ordinance that would sum up that approach and go before the council and the public at two public hearings, on March 4 and March 18, for approval. The hearings are likely to draw large and possibly angry crowds. If the council’s history is any guide, that kind of response may change the council’s direction, though Norris and Miller repeated a half dozen times Tuesday evening the metaphor of the can having been kicked down the road for too long. They are not willing to kick on.”

–Pierre Tristam of FlaglerLive, as excerpted from “Palm Coast Plans to Sharply Raise Water-Sewer Rates and Borrow $456 Million to Finance Needs, Dwarfing Previous Debt,” Wednesday, February 12, 2025

According to stressed Stormwater and Engineering officials in Palm Coast, the city has already tightened its belt to the breaking point to meet rapidly growing needs in its overcapacity wastewater utility – now, they’re down to boiling that belt and eating it…

That means existing residents will pay for Palm Coast’s exponential growth the development community said would pay for itself when they were clearcutting pine scrub to shoehorn more subdivisions.

Now, city officials are up to their hips in shit (literally), under the yoke of a state consent decree, and prepared to take on massive debt to expand capacity while somehow funding mounting repair and replacement costs.

This phenomenon isn’t limited to Flagler County.

Now, at our time of need – when those of us who have lived on the “Fun Coast” for years are suffering the devastating impacts of overdevelopment – state officials who gifted developer’s carte blanche to build whenever and wherever they want under threat of crippling lawsuits – have indicated they are less inclined to return our tax dollars to fund utilities projects for individual cities going forward.

So, what’s the ultimate cost if the City of Palm Coast decides to kick the can even further down the political trail and violate the consent decree?

According to FlaglerLive:

“Miller asked about consequences if the city does not satisfy the consent decree. He only got half an answer: the city would face fines if it does not comply with the order by 2028 or complete projects that would invalidate the fines. The fines are not burdensome: What he wasn’t told is that if the city violates its consent order, bond-rating agencies would punish the city with a downgrade, which would substantially increase the city’s cost of borrowing and financing its needed capital improvements. Those cost increases would be measured in the millions, compared to the thousands, in fines from the Department of Environmental Protection. “Generally, the higher the credit rating assigned to the bonds, the lower the interest rate on the bonds due to a lower risk,” Hamilton said.

In the end, it’s not entirely the council members who are voting, but the bond-holders.”

I think they call that an “inescapable position” – with existing residents bent over and paralyzed, left without viable options – while out-of-state developers continue to haul untold millions out of the pine scrub as the bulldozers continue to roar…

And Another Thing!

“Basin studies can take 6-18 months depending on the size, Bartlett estimated. Getting stormwater projects done could take years.

“Unfortunately stormwater projects are some of the slowest moving projects there are,” Bartlett said.

The projects are complex and require careful planning and work. The process begins with studying how an area responds to storm events and looking for possible solutions. After officials decide on a project, it has to go through design and permitting. That can involve multiple agencies.

“Once all permits are obtained, the design is finalized, and land acquisition is complete, the project can proceed to construction. The entire process, from initial analysis to project completion, can take anywhere from 4 to 10 years, depending on the scope and complexity of the project,” according to county officials.”

–Volusia County Public Works Director Ben Bartlett, as excerpted from his interview with reporter Sheldon Gardner of The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Does development cause flooding? It depends on where you live, Volusia official says,” Monday, February 10, 2025

Having read Director Bartlett’s interview twice, I’m still not sure if it was an explanation, or a confession…

The Q&A began with the typical detached bureaucratic empathy for repeat victims, “If you get water in your house, that is a catastrophic event, and I completely understand why the reaction is what it is. … And I completely understand it is a devastating experience,” he said.”

When asked “Is development the cause of flooding in Volusia County?” Bartlett immediately reverted to the vague generalities that form the “talking points” senior bureaucrats use when avoiding specifics:

“Bartlett said flooding issues in Volusia County are multifaceted.

“You have to look at each individual location, and each area that floods is different. It floods for a different reason. It might flood for multiple reasons,” Bartlett said.

The county is seeing issues with older subdivisions with limited infrastructure, he said.

An example that Bartlett pointed to is Daytona Park Estates in DeLand, an area with a history of flooding issues.

Road construction likely began in that area in the 1950s, according to an email to The News-Journal from county officials. Most were first built as dirt roads before modern stormwater regulations “and rely on shallow swales for drainage.”

Except, the recurring inundation is no longer limited to established subdivisions and low-lying areas with a history of flooding.

Since our visionless ‘powers that be’ began ignoring density and concurrency requirements to facilitate the profit motives of their political benefactors in the development industry, the problem is now regional and spreading – affecting suburban and rural areas alike – recurrent devastation that has left many Volusia taxpayers financially destroyed and demanding solutions.

In response to the now undeniable problem of development induced flooding, Volusia County officials explained:

“These swales have limited capacity and can become overwhelmed during heavy rainfall,” according to the county. “Additionally, many older homes were built before the current finished floor elevation requirements, making them lower in elevation than newer homes constructed to modern standards. When a new home is built at a higher elevation on an adjacent lot, it can potentially create drainage challenges for older properties.”

So, during the recent period of explosive growth, none of the pseudo-experts in Volusia County government were aware that massive sprawl, filling wetlands in a “help here/hurt there” mitigation strategy, and utilizing fill-and-build construction techniques would result in stormwater runoff destroying adjacent homes and properties?

Really?

In acknowledging the problem (sort of) Director Bartlett quibbled, “Large developments if they follow the rules generally should not impact offsite (nearby properties). That’s not 100% guaranteed, but that’s why those rules are in place,” Bartlett said.

The county has seen other issues with developments, such as pond failures during storms, Bartlett said.”

According to the report, Volusia County would prefer we place the blame on Mother Nature for contributing to the problem with more “major rainfall events” that quickly overwhelm stormwater systems, which has prompted more time-consuming “studies” in “top-priority” areas:

“Right now, four watershed studies are being developed: for Spruce Creek, Little Haw Creek, Deep Creek and DeLand Ridge. The county is also contributing funding to the city of Edgewater’s study because there are county assets there.

“We’re trying to focus on the areas where we’ve experienced issues and there’s infrastructure or development or folks that might be impacted by flooding,” Bartlett said.

Those studies will look at ways to protect properties from flooding in major storms and recommend possible solutions. The studies will also involve input from the public.

“The truth might be, ‘Hey, this structure in an 11-inch rain event, it’s OK. But in a 15-18 inch rain event, it’s going to flood.’ And then the question becomes, ‘What do we do? … Do we acquire that home and demolish it? Do we elevate it? Do we come up with a project that might fix it?’ That’s why these studies are important,” Bartlett said.”

Which brings us full circle…

According to Bartlett, “studies” are time-consuming endeavors, taking between 6 and 14 months if everything goes as planned.

He’s right.

Once the findings are analyzed, solutions discussed, consultants hired, and preferred contractors selected and properly greased – it can take years to get a single stormwater, traffic infrastructure, or public utilities project shovel ready – and even longer to complete.

When you add to that the constant procrastination and strategic foot-dragging that has been the modus operandi of the Volusia County Council of Cowards – allowing more time and distance between mandatory low-impact development regulations and additional growth – you begin to see the enormity of the problem our highly paid faux-experts should have seen coming a decade ago…

Now, homes are being washed out by recurrent floodwater as the rhetoric turns from “100-year” storms to “500-year” storms (that come twice a year now) while the emphasis remains on how best to facilitate the destruction of more, more, more natural areas to accommodate more zero lot line cookie cutter subdivisions and half empty strip centers.

Greed-crazed madness…

In my view, this continued collusion, postponement, and abject negligence by those who accept public funds to serve in the public interest should be criminal.

That’s all for me. Happy Valentines Day! Have a great Daytona 500 weekend, y’all!

Barker’s View for February 7, 2025

Posted on February 6, 2025 by barkersview

Hi, kids!

Editorial Note:

Recently some readers have asked why I publish this blog on Thursday, when traditionally it comes out on Friday, and the unvarnished explanation is – I drink heavily on Thursday evenings (like most other days that end in “Y”) – and as I not-so-gracefully age, it gets harder to haul my slovenly ass out of bed early enough to get Barker’s View out on time.

Truth.

You asked, I answered. And now inquiring minds know the “Rest of the Story.”

Enjoy…a day early.

The Lost City of Deltona – Another Public Embarrassment

In October 2023, during a meeting of Volusia County’s Legislative Delegation – a time when local officials genuflect before state officials and grovel for funds – Rep. Tom Leek, then the powerful House appropriations chair, issued a stern warning for the City of Daytona Beach:

“This pains me because I have such respect for you and I know that the needs of the city of Daytona are so great. But I hear tales that the city is spending some taxpayer dollars on what is thinly veiled political events.”

“I’m the one who these requests come to, so when I say that the request for state dollars must be used for legitimate purposes, I mean that. And I would hope that the city would not be using tax dollars on thinly veiled political events, which I understand is happening now.”

Last month, when reviewing Daytona’s multimillion dollar request during the delegation’s 2025 meeting, now Senator Tom Leek reiterated his concerns to Daytona’s government relations administrator Hardy Smith.

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

“Why is your city manager not here?”

Smith said he could not answer.

Leek said he was asking because he said it’s important “the public become acutely aware of what’s going on,” then asked whether the city took COVID relief funds and allotted each city commissioner $500,000 and the mayor $750,000 to spend as they saw fit within their districts.

“There was a mix of how that allocation, if you will, of those funds was done and any expenditures of those funds whether it be from the city or individual commission member initiatives were in accordance to the guidelines, rules and policies of the program,” Smith responded.

“You’re coming to us and asking for money,” Leek said. “When each of the city commissioners, the mayor has control over this pot of money that they’re not using to spend on the very things that you’re asking the state to spend money. So how is it appropriate to ask the state to in essence prop up these, for lack of a better term, slush funds?”

He also called the provision of city dollars to each commissioner to spend “a remarkably bad process.”

A tip ‘o the cap to Sen. Leek for saying the quiet part out loud. Let’s hope someone listens.

In the same vein, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently rolled out his 2025-26 state budget under the tag “Focus on Fiscal Responsibility” (because everything in politics needs a nickname these days…) Whether or not that sentiment is more than a catchy phrase in Tallahassee remains to be seen.

In my view, Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila, Jr. should have considered Sen. Leek’s admonition to a sister city – and the Governor’s theme of fiduciary responsibility – before embarking on an ill-advised and publicly funded political junket to Washington D.C. last month.

You read that right.

According to a report by Mark Harper writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal – along with several Deltona residents who reached out to let me know they are righteously pissed off – last month Mayor Avila and his wife attended events surrounding the presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C.

The problem is Mayor Avila failed to seek Commission approval before being given use of a city owned vehicle and gas reimbursement to get there…

According to receipts, the taxpayers of Deltona also covered Mayor Avila and his wife’s hotel bill at the Hyatt Place hotel for $1,687.30.

Having spent my life in municipal government, I can attest that official travel is often necessary for local government officials. In my experience, there are internal policies to ensure trips are made in the public interest – along with proper procedures to account for authorized expenditures.

But in the Lost City of Deltona, it’s nice to be king…

During their stay in the nation’s capital, the Avilas attended the black tie “Florida Sunshine Ball,” the Latino Inaugural Ball, and an inaugural reception hosted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which (of course) provided the opportunity for D List politicians to rub shoulders with B List politicos, and have their picture taken doing it.

Mayor Avila chronicled the trip on social media, including photos of the couple attending the formal soirées in tuxedo and gown. Given the enormity of the challenges faced by Mayor Avila and the City of Deltona, the excursion rightfully angered some Deltona residents even before anyone realized they paid for the trip…

Look, if Mayor Avila and his wife want to trip the light fantastic in Washington, more power to them – just so they go into their own pocket for the privilege – and therein lies the “appearance” problem for Hizzoner.

Now that the party’s over, many see the trip for what it was, a taxpayer-financed vacation that served the Avilas’ needs rather than those of the longsuffering citizens of Deltona.

More disturbing, last week, the irrepressible gadfly and resourceful Deltona taxpayer Richard Bellach made his neighbors aware on social media that Mayor Avila is currently the subject a lawsuit filed by a bill collector apparently seeking payment of credit debt in the amount of $1,452.35.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time Mayor Avila has been dunned for a bad debt through Volusia County courts…

In a disturbing follow up by Mark Harper in the News-Journal detailing Avila’s “troubled financial history,” we learned Avila’s past includes a 2012 bankruptcy, a misdemeanor worthless check charge, and a near-eviction in 2020.

In October 2023, the Mayor’s personal finances became an issue when he announced to local media outlets that he was struggling to find a rental home in Deltona priced within his means. At the time, Avila said, “The mayor here of Deltona can’t afford to live in the city he’s the mayor of,” he said, “I have some interviews lined up already so I’m going to get myself another job and work multiple jobs.”

The Mayor used his situation to stress the need for more affordable housing in Deltona.

Three months later, Mayor Avila’s financial situation again raised alarms when then Deltona Vice Mayor Jody Lee Storozuk alleged the Mayor “…got a special deal on a rental home.” In response, Avila questioned Storozuk’s motivations in the News-Journal, resulting in more bickering and bitchery from the dais.

Ultimately, nothing came of any of it, except another ugly embarrassment for the beleaguered community…

In last Sunday’s News-Journal article headlined “Residents question Deltona mayor’s attendance at Trump inauguration on city’s dime,” former Commissioner Storozuk (who this week announced his candidacy for mayor) was quoted:

“Jody Lee Storozuk, the city’s former vice mayor who has tangled with Avila previously, said in a text message that while he was in office, until last November, commissioners were allowed one trip outside the state and three trips in the state per year for “city business.”

“If this was a trip that might turn into benefits for the city, then there would be no problem, but I do not believe that is the case,” Storozuk texted.”

Other concerned citizens rightfully questioned how the Avilas’ trip served the City of Deltona.

“Longtime resident Elbert Bryan, a registered Republican who has regularly attended City Commission meetings for about 10 years, said because the Hyatt invoice has Avila’s name and the address of City Hall on it, he believes the mayor has a city credit card. Also, Avila’s use of a city vehicle suggests he’s on the city’s insurance policy.

“If not, that’s one heck of a liability the manager is taking,” Bryan said in a message.

“Does any of that help the city or does it only help his political career? In my personal opinion I believe that the trip was nothing more than a way for him to try and be a part of the political landscape for his own agenda,” Bryan said, adding: “I believe the citizens need a full financial disclosure of this trip and an explanation of what the mayor actually thinks the benefits of the trip was other than political posturing.”

I agree.

In a weak defense this week, Mayor Avila told tall tales in the West Volusia Beacon that would have his constituents believe his trip to Washington was to single-handedly ensure a federal allocation for the City of Deltona: “We were able to secure $44 million in the House. I wanted to make sure that we have the support from Sen. [Rick] Scott to pass the Senate,” Avila told The Beacon.

“When we get the money from Cory Mills, I don’t expect any of those who attacked me to come and take photos of the check.” (Because that’s the most important part of any state/federal allocation, right?)

On Wednesday, Mayor Avila doubled down in a press release written in the third person which explained “Mayor Avila met with U.S. Senator Rick Scott and his staff regarding the crucial $44 million expenditure that passed the U.S. House last year for the benefit of the City of Deltona, in order to ensure his continued support when it arises this year in the U.S. Senate.”

Say what?

If I understand it (and I’m not sure I do), Mayor Avila is taking credit for the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, which includes $31.2 million for expanding wastewater systems in Deltona. According to reports, the biennial and bipartisan WRDA “…will pave the way for expanding commercial development, especially along busier roads, and promise a brighter future for the city’s overall development.”

Mayor Avilas high-level “meeting” with Sen. Scott?

I guess Mayor Avila was unaware that the WRDA passed the U.S. Senate on December 18, 2024 – which would account for the strange looks he no doubt received when attempting to lobby Sen. Scott for a vote he had already cast…

Whatever.

To her credit, on Monday, Deltona Commissioner Dori Howington sought reimbursement of all public funds provided to Mayor Avila and his wife for their jaunt to Washington, D.C. The move came after Howington reviewed the city’s travel policy which requires elected officials receive advance approval for out-of-state travel by majority vote of the City Commission.

Conveniently, Mayor Avila couldn’t be bothered to attend this week’s meeting of the Deltona City Commission as he had bigger fish to fry in Tallahassee – no doubt stopping speeding locomotives and bulldogging the Florida Legislature into submission – as confirmed by his travel agent, City Manager Dale “Doc” Dougherty, who explained “I believe he had a list of meetings today with senior elected officials,” Dougherty told the commission.”

What’s up, Doc? Seriously, what the hell is going on over there?

According to reports, the City of Deltona already pays a lobbying firm $45,000 annually to influence things in Tallahassee – professionals who know what they are doing. One would think a municipality the size and complexity of Deltona would have representation in Washington as well.

(Here’s an idea! Maybe Avila should consult with his “colleague” Volusia County Councilman David “No Show” Santiago. Because No Show knows something about the practice of lobbying after elected service, and it appears Mayor Avila can use all the sources of income he can get…)

Regardless of his intentions, the remainder of the Deltona City Commission opted to clip Mayor Avila’s wings and took the T-Bird away.

According to an article in the West Volusia Beacon this week, “The City Commission also voted 4-1 in favor of a motion to take away from Avila the use of a city vehicle and to restrict his use of credit cards belonging to the city. Commissioner Emma Santiago dissented (?). Commissioner Nick Lulli was also absent from the meeting.”

A motion to publicly censor Mayor Avila with a vote of “No Confidence” has been moved to a “quasi-judicial” hearing on February 17…

Perhaps Mayor Santiago Avila, Jr. should consider whether now is the best time to undertake the demands of public service, put his political ambitions on hold, and focus his efforts on establishing a solid financial future for his family.

In my view, public service should be about building trust with constituents – We, The Little People who pay the bills and are all too frequently silenced by the very system that exists to serve them – and most people can forgive what they see themselves doing.

This isn’t one of them…

Publicly funded political junkets are always hard to justify – especially in an environment where the residents of Deltona are facing serious civic and financial issues on numerous fronts – and Mayor Avila is sending the wrong message with this blatant political (and ethical) faux pas.

At best its poor optics.

At worst, Mayor Avila was indulging his hubris – and underwriting his political aspirations – on the backs of strapped taxpayers…

The good citizens of the Lost City of Deltona deserve better.

Commonsense Prevails in New Smyrna Beach

Last week, as proof a temporary moratorium on new construction won’t result in a tear in the space-time continuum, the New Smyrna Beach City Commission voted for a second extension of the pause on development in Venetian Bay.

No apocalyptic plague of toe fungus. No reversal of the geomagnetic poles. No cataclysmic collapse of civilization.

Just a tap of the brakes on the issuance of new building permits until the Venetian Bay Homeowners Association can address recurrent flooding issues.

Like many areas of Volusia County, last year, Venetian Bay residents had their fill of destructive flooding and began discussing a temporary moratorium to prevent additional development that could further overwhelm the community’s stormwater system.

The move came last year after field studies by the St. Johns River Water Management District found the stormwater system is not functioning as originally designed and permitted.

Last spring, to prevent additional strain on the system, the New Smyrna Beach City Commission rightfully approved a moratorium on new development in parts of Venetian Bay. The initial freeze on new building was extended in June 2024 and will now be effective until June 22, 2025.

The pause can be terminated by SJRWM permit compliance or extended by additional legislative action.

Unfortunately, in January, the majority of the Volusia County Council got weak in the knees when Chairman Jeff Brower suggested a workshop to merely discuss a temporary halt on new construction at a time when Volusia is now listed as the most flood prone county in the state and seventh in the nation.

Instead, those compromised cowards in DeLand opted to kick the can down the political trail…

Rather than allow time for solutions, protect their constituents, and mitigate further damage – as the clock ticks and the bulldozers roar – our elected dullards on the Volusia County Council continue to drag their heels; considering simplistic measures that should already be in place like “Stop building on wetlands,” “Discuss retention ponds,” and “Start cleaning canals.”

Inconceivably, his baldfaced procrastination was hailed as a “huge step in the right direction” by the majority of those finger-puppets who long-ago sold their political souls to the real estate development industry…

Now, the fervent hopes and prayers of thousands of inundated residents rest in the hands of Councilman Jake Johannson and his time-wasting “resilience subcommittee” – an arm of that political insulation committee at the Volusia County Elected Officials Roundtable – whose motto should be, “If everyone is thinking in lockstep conformity, who can criticize us!”

Sadly, it has become obvious that no one who accepts public funds to serve in the public interest has a clue about how to solve the problem in our region.

In my view, these same inept administrators, pseudo “experts,” and senior staff who got us into this godforsaken mess should not be allowed to sop up more publicly funded salary and benefits while they stumble and fumble their way through “solutions” to the problems they helped create.

Quote of the Week

“Among the list of legislative proposals that the Hillsborough County Commission is asking their state lawmakers to enact this year is a request from one board member to eliminate sunshine laws for county commissioners.

Donna Cameron Cepeda, a Republican first elected in 2022, says her proposal is not about reducing transparency in local government, but instead is intended to improve the “functionality of the decision-making process for commissioners and specific boards.”

“Discussions under the current Sunshine law can hinder effective communication, particularly [for the] Commission on Human Trafficking where sensitive information needs to be handled cautiously,” Cameron Cepeda told the Phoenix in an email message.

“As a dedicated public servant, I value transparency, accountability, and the public’s trust in government operations. Florida’s Sunshine Law has been instrumental in ensuring openness and preventing corruption. However, certain circumstances call for thoughtful updates to improve efficiency and effectiveness while maintaining the integrity of the public process.”

–Mitch Perry, writing in the Florida Phoenix, “Hillsborough Commissioner wants Legislature to eliminate Sunshine law for county commissioners,” Thursday, January 30, 2025

Bullshit.

If you don’t think there is a determined effort by petty elected officials’ intent on removing the “people’s business” from public view, think again…

Even though the efficacy of Florida’s Sunshine Law has been eroded by spotty enforcement – which has resulted in some elected scofflaws thumbing their nose at it – the protections, access, and visibility afforded by open meeting and public records statutes has served our state well.

Increasingly, elected officials in Volusia County and elsewhere are seeking a return to the “bad old days” – when public policy, to include the allocation of our hard-earned tax dollars, was conducted behind closed doors and on midnight telephone calls – with decisions resulting from cloakroom collusions that quietly ensured all the right palms were greased with a choreographed vote…

Why is that?

In this latest attempt to end-run our ability to watch the sausage getting made, Hillsborough County Commissioner Donna Cameron Cepeda seeks to close the curtain on county government transparency across the state so her local human trafficking committee (which meets six times a year) can more “effectively communicate.”

About what?

A check of the November 2024 meeting agenda found the most pressing issue was discussion of a mural project and membership update – not exactly the in-depth analysis of sources, methods, and actionable intelligence, directing active investigations of human trafficking, or a confidential review of investigative techniques and procedures – all of which are already exempt from Florida’s Sunshine Law…

(Maybe Hillsborough County should consider constructing a SCIF so Cameron Cepeda and her committee can discuss classified bake sale receipts in effective darkness?)

Trust me. Taking legislative decision-making out of public view isn’t necessary to protect the integrity of human trafficking investigations, but it serves as a plausible excuse for dull tools like Donna Cameron Cepeda as she does the bidding of others who prefer to remain in the background.

According to the Florida Phoenix, “Ben Wilcox is research director for Integrity Florida, a government watchdog group. He says that, since its inception, there have been attempts to weaken Florida sunshine laws by public officials who would like to operate more in the shadows than in the sunshine.

“More often than not, these public officials try to argue that allowing officials to discuss issues out of public scrutiny would ‘improve the functionality of the decision-making process,’” Wilcox said.

“This is code for actually saying, ‘Making deals would be easier if we didn’t have to do it at a public meeting.’”

If you believe as I do that all governmental power is vested in and derived from the will of the people, then I encourage you to stand against these incessant incursions on the concept of transparency, our right to be informed, and participate in official actions and deliberations that directly impact our lives and livelihoods.

This one’s important.

And Another Thing!

Admittedly, I’m no David Patrick Columbia.

I prefer faded jeans and a denim shirt over Armani, and I’m more at home on a barstool in my favorite watering hole than rubbing tuxedoed elbows at some high-society fête.

That said – and I hate to beat a dead horse (that’s not true, I relish it…) – but in an era when many non-profits are ditching the stodgy black tie evening in favor of events that more closely tie donors to the broader mission of the organization while conserving scarce funds for programmatic needs, I question the practice of First Step Shelter’s annual cocktail reception, elegant dinner, and entertainment, all held in a rented Grand Ballroom with “…a human ice sculpture, an aerialist, and a pixel poi performance!”

Whatever the hell that is…

While a formal soiree may be perfect for a state dinner or corporate gala, it may not be appropriate for a community fundraiser supporting a publicly funded “transitional housing” program whose participants are, at the very hour of the party, essentially without a permanent roof over their heads or the ability to feed themselves.

In my view, gathering in one’s finery to feast on rubber chicken while being entertained by lavish performances and musical interludes reeks of a “let them eat cake” insensitivity to scarce funds and the unresolved issues in our region that contribute to homelessness.

While guests assemble at these “thinly veiled” political events known as “The Mayor’s Gala,” apparently in recognition of Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry’s role as titular head of the horribly challenged First Step Board of Directors, whose lack of oversight and outrageous conduct toward whistleblowers has resulted in massive lawsuits and left many potential donors leery about throwing good money after bad…

Tomorrow evening, potential benefactors will gather at the Hilton Oceanside for a $125 per plate banquet to help underwrite this enigmatic program – currently listed as a “two star” rated charity (2023) by the online donor advocate Charity Navigator – due to “Accountability & Finance” issues.

According to the site, the metrics “…provides an assessment of a charity’s financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.”

For a breakdown of First Step’s financial position, please review the shelter’s IRS filing for 2021 (the last year available) here: https://tinyurl.com/bdfa68fx

The site noted that First Step failed to list a “conflict of interest” policy or a “whistleblower” policy on the IRS Form 990 (2023) as an “accountability and transparency” measure in keeping with Charity Navigator’s criteria.

In my view, it appears the First Step’s official “whistleblower” policy consists of deny, attack, reverse blame, and refuse to adequately investigate, while simultaneously destroying the personal and professional reputation of anyone who dares come forward with serious allegations of fraud, fiduciary malfeasance, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, admission policy violations, resident safety violations and allowing abusive residents to remain enrolled in the housing program…

Is there another policy I’m not aware of?

My hope is that the “Mayor’s Gala” is a rousing success, and that Victoria Fahlberg, Ph.D. and her shameless enablers on the First Step Board of Directors are able to maintain the façade just a little longer in order to gain much needed private donations to offset the increasing need for public funds.

With luck (and private support) in time this mysterious “program” will become reasonably self-sufficient, and the long-suffering taxpayers of Daytona Beach and Volusia County might finally be off the hook…

Hey, stop laughing. Let this feeble old rube have my foolish dreams…

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

Barker’s View for January 31, 2025

Posted on January 30, 2025January 30, 2025 by barkersview

Hi, kids!

First Step Shelter – More Disturbing Questions. Few Answers.

Before I begin, let me reiterate to anyone joining us late that I am, in fact, an uneducated rube – a provincial bumpkin, totally devoid of any formal education, degrees, or academic credentials – a hillbilly Diogenes with a Mittyesque imagination, always tilting at windmills, real and perceived.

But I can read, and I’m reasonably coherent (at least until my afternoon forays to the liquor cabinet), and I know a few things they don’t teach in school…

As a lifelong experiential learner, I graduated summa cum laude from the prestigious L’école des Coups Durs – the most expensive education in the world – a painful process of acquiring knowledge that has left more than a few scars.

As a result, I have a horseshit detector seared into my prefrontal cortex – a finely tuned ability to spot petty machinations of from a mile away…

Like many, last week I was shocked when the majority of the Volusia County Council ignored the unanswered allegations against First Step Shelter’s Executive Director Victoria Fahlberg, Ph.D. overlooked the resultant lawsuits brought by two former employees of the enigmatic program, disregarded the ensuing shitstorm, and agreed to continue underwriting the program on a 4-3 vote using unbudgeted public funds doled out in decreasing increments over the next five years…

It was ill-advised, an odd precedent that will have negative consequences far beyond the First Step Shelter, a program that will now burn through more of our hard-earned tax dollars doing whatever it does until another infusion of public funds becomes necessary.

To his credit, only Volusia County Chair Jeff Brower called for Fahlberg to be replaced before throwing good money after bad…

Of course, his idea was ignored.

In my view, by disregarding the unresolved issues, the Volusia County Council sent a stark message to recipients of public funds that anyone who dares expose evidence of fraud, corruption, dysfunction, or mismanagement in tax supported services does so at great peril to their career and reputation.

What I found chilling were comments Dr. Fahlberg made during an interview with The Daytona Beach News-Journal following the January 21 meeting, arrogantly lecturing Chairman Jeff Brower to stop listening to “gossip” – clearly an intentional slight against the whistleblower’s allegations – adding that Brower should simply trust the horribly compromised First Step board to “do the right thing.”

In my view, those aren’t the reasonable and rational comments of a professional administrator seeking to limit liability and bring stability to an organization.

That’s when my fabled horseshit detector went into overdrive…

Earlier this week, I reviewed a January 2025 legal filing by Assistant Public Defender Kayla Grey, who represented former First Step housing director Pamela Alexander in a criminal prosecution for Petit Theft from First Step – reported by Victoria Fahlberg on or about June 25, 2024, two-weeks after the whistleblower allegations were brought.

According to the defense motion, “On or about June 6, 2024, Pamela Alexander, along with others, provided whistleblower information alleging fraud, fiduciary malfeasance, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, admission policy violations, and resident safety violations to First Step Shelter Board Members, to Victoria Fahlberg, the Executive Director of the shelter, and to the City of Daytona Beach.”

“Shortly thereafter, Ms. Alexander was accused by the First Step Shelter of stealing 3 boxes of breakfast sandwiches from shelter (on or about June 16, 2024) and she was thereafter fired from her employment.”

Director Fahlberg reported the misdemeanor charge against Ms. Alexander to police on June 25, 2024. On December 9, 2024, Ms. Alexander and another whistleblower filed a lawsuit against First Step Shelter and the City of Daytona Beach seeking a jury trial and in excess of $50,000 in damages.

According to the defense motion, in a disturbing twist, “On December 12, 2024, Assistant State Attorney Vanessa Lee informed the undersigned attorney (Grey) on a phone call that Victoria Fahlberg, the Executive Director of the First Step Shelter, had told her that she (as a representative of the shelter) would be willing to dismiss the criminal charges against Ms. Alexander if Ms. Alexander would drop her whistleblower lawsuit against the First Step Shelter and would agree not to speak any further publicly about the allegations underlying the whistleblower and wrongful termination case.”

When the undersigned Assistant Public Defender asked if this was a formal “offer” that needed to be conveyed to Ms. Alexander, Assistant State Attorney Lee paused for several seconds and then said, “No, I’m not comfortable doing that.”

Whoa…

On Wednesday, Ms. Alexander was found Not Guilty of the misdemeanor charge following an all-day jury trial in Daytona Beach.

Now, those of us who pay the bulk of the bills at First Step are left with more disturbing questions…

When did the First Step Shelter Board authorize Executive Director Fahlberg to use what, in my view, appeared to be a strongarm tactic to muzzle Ms. Alexander – offering to drop a life altering criminal prosecution in exchange for abandoning an active lawsuit and keeping her mouth shut about serious issues at FSS?

In light of these unresolved questions, why would the majority of the Volusia County Council – an elected body with a fiduciary responsibility for the allocation, expenditure, and protection of our tax dollars – simply accept data provided by First Step without independent corroboration before handing over $1.3 million in unbudgeted funds over the next five years?

And why would a highly educated administrator with experience managing non-profit agencies use such barefaced coercion to pressure a whistleblower into silence?

More disturbing, why would anyone in a leadership role make light of these serious allegations in the newspaper? Especially regarding accusations that are now the subject of an active lawsuit by two former employees seeking in excess of $50,000 each…

That didn’t make sense to me.

So, at the risk of going down a rabbit hole, I went to the First Step Shelter’s website (https://firststepshelter.org/staff/ ) and took a look at Dr. Fahlberg’s impressive credentials and background.

According to the official site, “Dr. Fahlberg has a PhD in Clinical Psychology and a Master of Public Health in Population and International Health from Harvard.”

Well, that’s sorta accurate…

In actuality, a review of Dr. Fahlberg’s resume provided at the time of hire shows a “Master of Public Health in Population and International Health” from the prestigious “Harvard School of Public Health,” and a “Doctor of Philosophy, Psychology,” from the now defunct Union Institute and University of Cincinnati, Ohio…

No dates were provided for Dr. Fahlberg’s academic degrees, and the First Step website is not the only place Dr. Fahlberg’s educational accomplishments appear online sans clarification that her Ph.D. is actually from the shuttered Union Institute and University.

In my view, the wording of Dr. Fahlberg’s First Step bio leaves anyone visiting the site to speculate if this represents a grammatical error – or an intentional omission to add Harvard’s “Ivy League” imprimatur to her Doctorate?

So, which is it?

Look, I’m certainly not a Harvard educated Doctor of Philosophy, but if I were, I would want that unfortunate oversight corrected. Immediately.

As Einstein taught, in all matters, including curricula vitae, “Anyone who doesn’t take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either…”

In my view, given the accusations of serious dysfunction and mismanagement brought by three former employees – allegations the First Step Board of Directors mysteriously refuse to fully investigate – the Volusia County Council now has a duty to ensure the accuracy of the facts and figures used by FSS administrators to prove the program’s “success” before incumbering even more public funds to support the beleaguered shelter…

Given her education and experience, Dr. Fahlberg should possess the situational awareness and emotional intelligence to understand that her continued association with First Step has become a glaring distraction – one detrimental to the public’s continued trust – and the program’s viability.

It is time for the First Step Board of Directors to do the right thing for the taxpayers of Daytona Beach and Volusia County.

“Five-Star” Beachfront Development? Happy Days are Here Again. Again…

On occasion, I come upon something in the news or on social media that makes me instinctively laugh out loud.

A cockamamie story so completely absurd that it takes me by surprise – safe in the knowledge there is no way something so ridiculous, illogical, or incongruous with hard lessons learned could possibly be true – like a bad Three Stooges episode, watching a yokel touch a hot stove again, and again, and again until it goes from shocking to wacky slapstick…

For instance, I recently came upon a story in The Daytona Beach News-Journal announcing one of those ominous “developer-initiated neighborhood meetings” – an opportunity for some out of town developer with little, if any, institutional knowledge of our area or market conditions to tell long-suffering beachside residents how another umpteen-story “condo-hotel” casting a deep shadow across the blighted peninsula is going to improve their lives immeasurably.

I chortled. Then did an involuntary spit-take…

According to the informative report by News-Journal Business Editor Clayton Park, “Two years ago, the Daytona Beach City Commission approved a South Florida developer’s controversial plan to build a 25-story oceanfront condo-hotel at the east end of Silver Beach Avenue.

Now a second South Florida developer has stepped forward with plans for another oceanfront high-rise, just two doors over.

Miami developer Pablos Andres Penuela, doing business locally as “Daytona Beach 1299 LLC,” will hold a neighborhood meeting Monday night Jan. 27 to discuss his proposed 24-story, 260-room Pearl Beach Club hotel.

Penuela is seeking approval from the city that would allow him to build the project on the 2.2-acre vacant lot at 1299 S. Atlantic Ave.”

According to reports, the developer-initiated meeting was staged at the Daytona Grande Oceanfront Hotel, where the developer’s team explained to a handful of “civil and subdued” locals how the next pearl in the sow’s ear will dramatically improve their lives.

You read that right.

I don’t know about you, but I found it odd that the developer would host a meeting to sell a 25-story monstrosity to the masses on the site of what has become a cautionary tale for coastal high-rise construction in the Daytona Beach Resort Area?

Which leads me to believe our new friends from South Florida haven’t completely finished their homework…

For instance, when asked by the News-Journal why build in Daytona Beach, “Penuela said he bought the property for his Pearl Beach Club hotel because he believes the city has a bright future.

“Looking at the numbers of tourists Daytona brings per year, I believe it has a lot of potential. It’s the beachfront for Orlando. It also has a lot to offer and a lot of culture and character and history,” he said.”

(Really? I thought our draw was “Bikes, Beer, and Boobs”? “Beach On,” y’all!)

The News-Journal reports the Pearl Beach Club “..would also offer multiple pools including a large pool and a separate kids’ pool at the ground floor level, a pool at the eighth floor level, and one of the roof. It would also offer a kids playground and an outdoor restaurant and separate outdoor bar.

The building setbacks would be 25 feet in front (facing A1A), 25 feet on the north side, 60 feet on the south side, and 75 feet on the rear (facing the ocean).

Penuela said the hotel’s restaurant will be open to the public, “as long as they’re paying customers.”

Emphasis on the paying customers.

Gotta keep those ‘cultured characters’ who frequently haunt the Halifax area out of the ‘amenities’ I suppose…

In a follow-up article in the News-Journal this week, we learned that talks are underway with several “top-tier” hotel chains to flag the hotel – with non-disclosure agreements apparently inked with two unnamed luxury brands – which would make the Pearl Beach Club our first “Five Star” hotel in the Daytona Beach Resort Area.

According to the report, “The project’s architects designed two newly completed five-star Four Seasons hotels in South Florida: one in Surfside, the other in Fort Lauderdale.

“This (the Pearl Beach Club Hotel) at 260 keys (rooms and suites) is what we think, in speaking with the Four Seasons, that’s what they’re looking for volume-wise to be able to come here (to Daytona Beach),” said Mathieu Picard of Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design of Miami.

“It’s a mixture of the room count, the room sizes which are very important to be at the five-star level, and also all the facilities — the amount of restaurants (two), the pools, the pool bar, event spaces, and the gym. It’s really about providing the amenities … to get the level of service that makes it a five-star.”

Just for shits-n-giggles I checked nightly room rates for the Four Seasons in Orlando (Disney World) and Surfside, Florida.

Rooms ranged from $1,840 to $4,280+ per night…

I’m not a real estate marketing expert – but Monsieur Picard might want to take a drive down the road of bones paved with the fiscal remains of developers who sought Palm Beach prices in a Hooterville market before getting his (and our) hopes up for a Four Seasons…

As usual, the hype sounds nice, but what is yet to be explained is why anyone in their right mind would consider more construction east of the Coastal Construction Control Line – especially along a section of compromised shoreline that was listed in an August 2024 report by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as a “critically eroded beach.”

According to the FDEP report, “A 16.6-mile segment of beach (R51 – R143) along Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Wilbur By The Sea and the Town of Ponce Inlet is critically eroded, threatening development and recreational interests, as well as sea turtle nesting areas where the dry sand beach has become very narrow.”

Unfortunately, none of that seems to matter.

South Florida developers who know nothing of the true “culture, character, and history” of the Halifax area seem intent on exploiting the cheapest beachfront real estate in the known universe and there’s not a whole hell of a lot you and I can do about it.

Especially when our elected representatives repeatedly assure us their hands are tied due to legislative diktats – lopsided property rights that claim even clean water and flood prevention are “inordinate burdens” on speculative developers – in an environment where anything is possible with the right application of money and influence.

So, developers in expensive suits go through the formality of neighborhood meetings to tell people who have lived here for decades how the next monstrous high-rise obliterating the sun and shoreline will be the panacea for all our problems – knowing well that our input will be ignored – and slowly but surely their next “controversial plan” will become a reality along the crumbling “Fun Coast.”

Here’s a little unsolicited advice for our newest and bestest friends from Miami:

We’ve heard it all before.

You will find that the citizens of Volusia County are grizzled veterans of the game. Folks who have been screwed so many times by real estate developers, carpet-bagging thieves, and outright pirates that we walk with a collective limp.

We’ve been bullshitted by the best in the business – for years – so please don’t insult us with more happy talk of pie-in-the-sky “five-star” resorts and how a beachfront high-rise will make us “safer.” Just work through the formalities on the city/county checklist leading to the inevitable permit and save the horseshit “amenities” speech for our powers that be who need the political insulation…

Circuit Court Judge A. Christian Miller

In an incredibly fortunate decision for the citizens of the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, Volusia County Judge Christian Miller was recently promoted by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the Circuit Court seat vacated by the retirement of Judge Terrence Perkins.

In my view, Judge Miller embodies the best attributes of a professional jurist – smart, impartial, courteous, respectful of all parties, a humble man of great dignity and compassion who possesses an expert grasp of the law and procedures.

His elevation is a true win-win for our region.

In my experience, Volusia County and the Seventh Circuit is blessed with excellent judges serving our civil and criminal courts – including Judge Miller’s wife, Volusia County Judge Katherine H. Miller, who currently presides over civil matters in Daytona Beach – outstanding professionals who play an important role upholding the rule of law, maintaining order, and ensuring that justice is served firmly but fairly.

Congratulations to Judge Miller on this latest accomplishment in his impressive career of exceptional service to justice and our community.

Quote of the Week

“The Palm Coast City Council on Tuesday approved the final plat for the 182-home subdivision known as the Enclave at Seminole Palms, on 70 acres north of the Citation Boulevard extension, between Belle Terre Boulevard and Seminole Woods Boulevard, and just south of the county airport property. Platting is a legally required final regulatory step in a development, mapping out individual property boundaries, easements, roads and other infrastructure features.

In an indication of this new council’s leeriness regarding anything that could associate it with new development, Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris wanted the public to be absolutely clear he and the council had nothing, or almost nothing, to do with the Enclave. “As one former council member used to say, for prosperity,” Norris said, referring to former Council member Nick Klufas (he meant to say “posterity”), “let it be noted that we’re just closing out this plat, and it was already in the work years and years ago.”

–Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris, as quoted in the FlaglerLive! article “Palm Coast Council Approves 182-House Development’s Final Step Near Airport in Seminole Woods, With a Disclaimer,” Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Earlier this month, the Volusia County Council put the kibosh on even the suggestion of a temporary moratorium on new development until stormwater changes and sustainable building practices can be implemented.

Trust me, it was never going to happen. Not so long as influential insiders in the real estate development industry own the paper on our elected officials’ political souls…

Last week, the Palm Coast City Council proved that, at this point, it appears nothing can stop the aggressive malignancy of sprawl across Volusia and Flagler Counties.

While existing residents were coming to terms with the early symptoms of overdevelopment, previous iterations of city and county councils (and the perennial senior staff who facilitate growth) had already approved massive developments that now lie dormant like latent cancer cells, waiting until conditions are right to begin multiplying.

Unfortunately, since the most prolific boom in our history began, developers have purchased property and began the process of amending zoning and density requirements, establishing “Planned Unit Developments” and “Developments of Regional Impact,” ramrodding projects past “planning” boards, ignoring environmental impacts, and obtaining final approvals at such a precipitous pace there was no way the average citizen was ever going to keep up with it all.

Besides, in the cloistered Halls of Power in local governments where the sausage gets made, the less We, The Little People know (or are allowed to participate), the better.

As a result, we watch helplessly while the tumors appear across the spine of Volusia and Flagler Counties…

According to FlaglerLive!, “…the (Enclave) subdivision’s development has never been reported until now, because its previous regulatory steps were crossed either administratively or at the city’s planning board, drawing little attention. The planning board approved the development’s master plan in March 2023, and administration planners approved the preliminary plat last March, issuing a development permit for the site last May. Since then, 80 percent of the subdivision’s infrastructure has been built.”

Our elected officials know that silence is always the operative ethic at the nexus of growth management and the profit motives of their political benefactors…

Now, we’re left to wonder how many more “Enclaves” are waiting to ulcerate while current councils and commissions shrug their shoulders and hide behind the dodge, “Nuttin’ we can do about it, y’all. Just closin’ it out – been in the works for years…”?

And Another Thing!

I recently read an article which referenced a little-known Office of Strategic Services manual from World War II entitled the Simple Sabotage Field Manual. A “how-to” for using plausibly deniable measures to harass, wear down, and demoralize an enemy during time of war.

Over time, subtle acts of sabotage undermine effectiveness, discourages progress, subvert efficient operations, and, in the case of government administrators, interfere with the implementation of public policy in furtherance of a strategic goal, especially when used to effectively alienate and embarrasses an opponent.

The measures outlined sounded eerily familiar in the context of the Volusia County Council’s near-constant foot-dragging on solutions to development-induced flooding, smart growth initiatives, concurrency, and the idea of tapping the brakes on growth in the face of serious infrastructure issues – not to mention the “Old Guard’s” persistent attempts to marginalize Chairman Jeff Brower’s every initiative.

The OSS manual’s suggestions for simple sabotage include:

“Insist on doing everything through “channels.” Never permit short-cuts to be taken in order to expedite decisions.”

“Make “speeches,” talk as frequently as possible and at great length. Illustrate your “points” by long anecdotes and accounts of personal experiences. Never hesitate to make a few appropriate “patriotic” comments.”

“When possible, refer all matters to committees, for “further study and consideration.” Attempt to make the committees as large as possible – never less than five.”

“Bring up irrelevant issues as frequently as possible.”

“Haggle over precise wordings of communications, minutes, resolutions.”

“Refer back to matters decided upon at the last meeting and attempt to re-open the question of the advisability of that decision.”

“Advocate “caution.” Be unreasonable and urge your fellow-conferees to be “reasonable” and avoid haste which might result in embarrassments or difficulties later on.”

Eerily familiar, indeed…

According to psychologists, “Gaslighting” is loosely defined as a form of psychological manipulation in which a person or a group sows seeds of doubt in a targeted individual or group, making them question their own reality or judgment, maintaining power through invalidation and disparagement.

In politics, this insidious form of domination and control is often facilitated by repeatedly presenting a skewed narrative, limiting the ability of those affected to have substantive input in the decision-making process, limiting criticism and dissent, then attacking the character and reputation of those who speak the truth and demonstrate the courage to think for themselves.

That should sound familiar too…

Trust me. It shouldn’t be this way.

In my view, political sabotage, gaslighting, and hidden motives should not be the defining character of an elected body.

With candidates beginning to announce their intentions for the 2026 general election, now is the time for Volusia County voters to begin encouraging those with a fire in their belly for positive change and a rejection of the stagnant status quo.

If enough like-minded citizens hold firm to the basic belief that we can control our destiny by electing strong, ethical, and visionary members of our community to high office, strong grassroots candidates not beholden to special interests and well-heeled donors, we can turn the balance political power and restore transparency, fairness, and the spirit of democracy in Volusia County government.

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

Barker’s View for January 24, 2025

Posted on January 23, 2025 by barkersview

Hi, kids!

First Step Shelter – No Transparency. No Confidence. More Money.

Last summer, apparently after a few too many Tullamore Dews, I woke up in the middle of the night with a case of agita and came to the mistaken revelation that I should change the name of this weekly blog from “Angels & Assholes” to something more genteel – allowing the reader to consider my jumbled thoughts and form their own opinions about the machinations of those we elect to spend our hard-earned tax dollars.

This week’s Volusia County Council meeting reminded why I increasingly regret that decision…

On Tuesday, our elected dullards in DeLand engaged in a shambolic and confusing “discussion” of continued funding for the enigmatic First Step Shelter, a program embroiled in controversy that (we’re told) exists to provide permanent housing solutions for Volusia’s homeless population.

As usual, it didn’t end well for longsuffering Volusia County taxpayers when the agenda item – camouflaged as a “presentation” – resulted in a disastrous expenditure of unbudgeted public funds without adequate public advertisement or input…

In 2017, as part of an interlocal agreement with the City of Daytona Beach, Volusia County contributed a onetime $2.5 million to underwrite construction of the facility on city owned land off US-92, and another $2 million for initial operations, paid in installments of $400,000 annually over five years.

That agreement expired in September 2024, and no provision was made in Volusia County’s 2024-25 budget to continue funding.

The advertised “presentation” for additional funding occurred amidst the shitstorm surrounding numerous allegations brought by three former senior staff members turned whistleblowers of fraudulent practices, financial irregularities, rule violations that created a dangerous environment for staff and clients, discrimination, and workplace harassment at First Step Shelter.

Rather than properly investigate these serious allegations of potential misconduct, the First Step’s Board of Directors engaged in a blatant coverup, voting to end a cursory inquiry before it produced anything of substance, leaving Volusia County taxpayers to question what those with a fiduciary responsibility for the expenditure of public funds are trying to hide?

Adding insult, the First Step board engaged in destructive blame deflection, victim shaming, and character assassination before any investigative report was made public (it still hasn’t been released) – an orchestrated defamation that destroyed the reputations of three brave whistleblowers – contemptuous bullying that sent a chilling message to any other First Step employee having knowledge of malfeasance or misconduct who would dare come forward.

Then things went from bad to worse…

In a disturbing December 2024 article in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, reporter Eileen Zaffiro-Kean reported on a massive lawsuit filed against the First Step Shelter and the City of Daytona Beach:

“The suit filed early last week alleges the two former employees, Patrick Smith and Pamela Alexander, were fired in retaliation for their extensive complaints against the shelter, and that they’ve been publicly defamed by the city and shelter.

The city is named as a defendant because it’s intermingled with the shelter. The city owns the shelter building west of Interstate 95, has oversight powers of the shelter board and has contributed $400,000 per year since the shelter opened five years ago. The city also set up the nonprofit agency that became First Step Shelter, Inc.”

Yet, in the midst of lawsuits, turmoil, and lingering questions regarding the validity of the statistics used to prove First Step’s “success” (numbers provided solely by the First Step Shelter’s administration – the very administrator that has been accused of mismanaging financial reports) Councilman Danny “Gaslight” Robins ignored the unresolved allegations and pushed to throw more taxpayer dollars into the First Step pit – while FSS board member Mike Panaggio used his three minutes to tell us all how important he is…

Bizarre.

After some confusing banter on the dais – which never adequately resolved where the unbudgeted money will come from – Councilman Jake Johansson spiked an idea initially setup by Councilman David Santiago and made a clearly orchestrated motion to continue funding the shelter in a graduated five-year scheme paying an extraordinary $400K, $300K, $200K, $200K, $200K annually.

Performance requirements? Nah.

Requiring the release of the investigative report? Nah.

Use of the facility as an actual homeless shelter? Nah.

Ordering a formal investigation into the whistleblower complaints of malfeasance, harassment, financial irregularities, and retaliation? Nah.

Demanding that Executive Director Victoria Fahlberg be replaced? Nah.

Instead, they directed County Manager George “The Wreck” Recktenwald to “find” the cash (from where?) – then dole it out to First Step based upon numbers and assertions that may or may not be factual – no questions asked…

Per usual, Chairman Jeff Brower was ignored when he called for Fahlberg to be replaced before considering underwriting First Step for another five-years. He then voted against Johansson’s cockamamie motion, along with District 1 Councilman Don Dempsey and District 4 Councilman Troy Kent.

During an interview with Sheldon Gardner of The Daytona Beach News-Journal following the meeting, Director Fahlberg arrogantly lectured Chairman Brower while taking a final swipe at the whistleblower’s allegations, heaping even more liability on the First Step and the City of Daytona Beach:

“I think that Chairman Brower should stop listening to gossip,” she said.

She added that Brower should trust the shelter’s board to do the right thing.

Fahlberg said she “was very grateful” for the council’s decision on Tuesday.”

I’ll bet she was.

Because any board of directors or elected body concerned with maintaining the public’s trust in this important service would have shown Fahlberg the door months ago…

In my view, this assholery represents another disastrous failure of Volusia’s stagnant “Old Guard” – another asinine decision that evidences their inability to think independently, demand transparency, or exercise their sworn fiduciary responsibility in the public interest – and best exemplifies why the obstructionist “RINO Faction” of Johansson, Robins, Reinhart, and Santiago should never be elected to any position of public responsibility again…

Volusia School Board Chair Jamie Haynes – Part Trois

There is one constant in Volusia County governance, regardless of the elected body – our influential insiders who control the rods and strings of public policy prefer a Gumby-like malleability, lockstep conformity, a wobbly moral compass, and an unshakable loyalty to protecting the status quo – from those they underwrite for public office.

Independent thinkers who rely on their own experience, judgement, and perceptions to make decisions, eschew the near constant cheerleading that mask entrenched problems, and demand more from those who accept funds to serve in the public interest than mediocrity and repeat mistakes are not welcome here…

Why is that?

Last week, the distracting saga of embattled former Volusia County School Board Chair Jessie “Whackadoodle” Thompson continued amidst calls for her resignation from the board by Jenifer Kelly, chair of the Volusia chapter of Moms for Liberty.

Unfortunately, Ms. Thompson once again demonstrated her complete lack of shame – apparently buoyed by the support of some unnamed heavy-hitters in “Fun Coast” politics – and vowed to remain ensconced on the board despite her egregious conduct during a Moms for Liberty conference in Washington D.C. last year.

Many were shocked to see Thompson on video making disparaging comments about students, belittling other board members, and her disturbing open admission that she lied to her colleagues and presented false information to manipulate a contract with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

According to an informative report by Mark Harper writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal:

“Thompson suggested in a text message to The News-Journal that there are others in her corner.

“Her call for my resignation has been overshadowed by an outpouring of support from people both in Volusia and the state of Florida,” Thompson said. “There is still work to be done, and I’ve promised teachers, parents and students that I will stay and continue to work to make VCS a beacon of education.”

Trust me, there are some serious politics playing out behind the scenes. But even a self-absorbed dullard like Thompson should have the situational awareness to understand that she’s damaged goods – because stakeholders and taxpayers can never trust her again – despite what her handful of influential “supporters” may be telling her.

During the board’s recent organizational meeting, Superintendent Carmen Balgobin fumbled and stumbled her way through a clumsy vote to fill the vacancy. With little discussion, newly seated member Krista Goodrich immediately nominated Jamie Haynes for her third chairmanship in as many years (?).

To her credit, recently elected board member Donna Brosemer rightfully challenged the nomination, citing Haynes mysterious negotiations that brought Balgobin a lucrative new three-year contract last month, something Ms. Brosemer described as “grossly unethical.”

Because it was…

In explaining that she was a “hard no” on Haynes assuming the leadership for a third consecutive term, Brosemer asked if Haynes could tell her when public notice was given to the board that the Superintendent’s contract was being considered for renegotiation?

Haynes’ silence was deafening – which resulted in Balgobin abruptly cutting off further discussion before the 4-1 vote ensured the status quo.

Then, member Ruben Colón – whose ethnicity was used by Thompson as a crude joke during her tirade – nominated himself for Vice Chair. The move was seconded by Brosemer and squeaked by on a 3-2 vote with Goodrich and Thompson voting against Mr. Colón…

For her part, during public comment, Moms for Liberty Chair Jenifer Kelly put Thompson on notice, as reported by the News-Journal:

“She lied to all of you because you are all too lazy to read contracts,” Kelly told the board. “She fed you all false information because she didn’t like you and wanted to get under your skin in an attempt to make magical changes for safety and security with the contract with the sheriff’s department. Did we ever find out what that lie was?”

Kelly then called for Thompson to quit or face removal.

“If you choose not to do the right thing for the students in Volusia County and step down, there are other ways to have your removed. One, by the governor. Two, by recall.”

The criteria for either method of removal include malfeasance and misfeasance, which Kelly said “definitely” apply to Thompson.”

In addition to Ms. Kelly, there is a growing number of inquiring minds throughout Volusia County who want to know if/when a state or federal law enforcement agency charged with protecting the public’s trust in the school board’s contracting and procurement function will launch an investigation into Thompson’s admitted misconduct and determine exactly what she lied about – and why…

Ormond Beach City Commission – An Example for Commonsense Growth

Earlier this week, the Ormond Beach City Commission took another bold step in the fight against malignant overdevelopment when they denied a rezoning request, development order, and amendment to the Hunter’s Ridge Development of Regional Impact that would have resulted in construction of a 31-home subdivision on a 50-acre tract near already congested West Granada Boulevard (SR-40).

The Little Tomoka Village would have included a church and community center and came before the Commission with a 4-2 vote to approve by the city’s planning board. According to reports, most of the planning board members favored the concept over the 50-multifamily units permitted under the DRI and existing zoning.

According to a report by Associate Editor Jarleene Almenas in the Ormond Beach Observer this week, “…commissioners felt that, though the project was proposing to reserve the majority of the 15 acres of wetlands onsite, the risk to nearby homes — which are already seeing some flooding — was too great.

“I just feel like when we pave this with the parking lot, when we put these lots raised up, because it’s going to need a lot of fill, that we’re going to have potential flooding issues because it’s going to flood into the wetland area and it’s going to flood into the neighborhood behind it,” Commissioner Travis Sargent said.”

As evidence of what could happen if thirty homes and other structures were allowed, Art Loguidice, a longtime resident of the area, produced photographs of flooding after storms claiming that a creek that normally drains the property isn’t being maintained.

According to the report, Mark Watts, the very capable land use attorney representing the developer offered the time-honored Chico and the Man legal defense – that’s “Not my yob, man” – claiming the issues brought by three residents of the area were “…outside of the boundaries of his client’s property.”

During discussion, the Commissioners spoke of the importance of doing their part to address stormwater issues that many in Volusia County believe has led to development-induced flooding due to fill-and-build construction practices.

Commissioner Kristin Deaton was quoted by the Observer explaining the “development didn’t make sense.”

“I ran my campaign on a ‘Make it make sense’ mentality when it comes to development,” Deaton said. “This doesn’t make sense to me.”

Thanks, Commissioner Keaton. I know some other elected officials who should employ your commonsense metric for future development…

Kudos to the Ormond Beach City Commission for using logic, compassion, and strategic vision to stop the hemorrhage while finding solutions to the most pressing issue of our time.

Bethune-Cookman University – A Leader Takes His Leave

In recent years, Bethune-Cookman University was slowly continuing to distance itself from the abject disasters of the 20-teens, when a raging financial and academic conflagration resulted in crippling lawsuits and claims of corruption against former B-CU president Dr. Edison O. Jackson – a horrific period of failed leadership and abject greed that saw this historical community asset brought to the brink of extinction.

It was a time when some familiar names fled the Board of Trustees – claiming they were not given “all the information” regarding the University’s near fatal condition – while others saw the handwriting on the wall and made a dash for the door. The list of our area ‘movers-n-shakers’ who failed to maintain a fiduciary overwatch on the University’s finances is long and distinguished.

For a time, there was concern that the University’s accreditation was in danger – something that would have resulted in the sad demise of Dr. Bethune’s dream…

Last week, those long simmering tensions boiled over after the Board of Trustees split on hiring current interim president William Berry, despite the fact the University’s presidential search committee recommended his appointment. In September 2024, the committee voted 11-5 to name Berry the sole finalist before the Board of Trustees deadlocked during a vote taken several weeks later.

Late last week, News-Journal reporter Mark Harper gave insight into the resultant student protests and sit-ins organized by the Student Government Association demanding the resignation of five board members.

“This has had some students unhappy that the board was unwilling to hire Berry, a figure who has become beloved by students.

“The students are going to continue to stand firm in what our demands are, for those five (trustees) to resign, and Dr. Berry to be named,” said Eternity Bradshaw, student body president.

The five trustees are four who voted against Berry plus Pete Gamble, who abstained from voting.

Bradshaw made reference to one of the reasons a board member had given as to why Berry was not the choice.

“I heard he didn’t have the balls to run the university. I heard that you guys like him as a person but not to give him the keys to the university. If I’m wrong, please let me know,” Bradshaw said.

Trustee Jennifer Adams – another of the no votes – questioned where Bradshaw heard that comment.

Board Chair Belvin Perry, Jr., said he had heard Gamble say Berry “didn’t have the balls” to run the university.

“That is a true statement,” Perry said. “I heard that with my own ears.”

Gamble responded: “I did make that statement. … And I told Dr. Berry that I was neutral, and I didn’t hear you say that I abstained from voting.”

On Friday, in a bold statement, Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. resigned as President of the Board of Trustees after agreeing with the concerns of students, and expressed his belief that the recent turmoil will reverse the gains made in recruiting students and faculty.

“If you have no students you have no university and they have totally ignored and marginalized these students,” Perry said.

To his credit, Perry will stay as a member of the board.

I agree with Judge Perry, the Board of Trustees is “anti-student,” and it is high time for change on Dr. Bethune’s venerated campus.

After four years without a sitting president at B-CU, it has become clear to anyone paying attention that the various iterations of the board have been more interested in installing a puppet who will allow their meddling – rather than a strong leader who understands the role – and the challenges faced by this important institution.

Thank you for your leadership on this issue, Judge Perry – and for your support of students who are rightfully demanding better.

Quote of the Week

“City staff brought a contract to city commissioners on July 3 to buy 230 N. Beach St., but the mayor and a few commissioners were uncomfortable with the agreement and delayed a decision.

City staff has said there could be up to $3 million worth of renovation work if the city acquires the building. That $3 million, and another $4.4 million to buy the structure, would come from excess permits and licensing funds the city has to spend down to comply with state regulations.

When City Commissioner Stacy Cantu checked out the property in July, she saw work being done inside and both Dumpsters and trash cans jammed full with building materials she suspected contained asbestos.

She grew concerned for the workers hauling out the debris who weren’t wearing protective gear, and the waste removal workers who would be hauling away what was put in trash cans.

In early July she filed a formal complaint with the DEP that sparked the investigation. Once DEP investigators got inside the building, they say they found enough disturbed areas to trigger a close look.”

–Journalist Eileen Zaffiro-Kean, as excerpted from her report in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Florida DEP finds riverfront Daytona Beach building had multiple asbestos violations,” Friday, January 17, 2025

Kudos to Daytona Beach City Commissioner Stacy Cantu for her diligence and oversight in reporting a hazardous situation to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and courageously defending the best interests of Daytona Beach taxpayers, Beach Street merchants, and visitors.

For her trouble, Commissioner Cantu took some heat last year when she stood firm and challenged the city’s consideration of the 63-year-old, 32,000 square foot, multistory office building at 230 North Beach Street ostensibly to house just 28 employees of the city’s permits and licensing department.

In Eileen Zaffiro-Keans’ excellent report, we learned a DEP investigation uncovered seven asbestos violations, resulting in a consent order including abatement measures, massive fines, and civil penalties for apparent mishandling of the deadly substance.

Even if the building’s owner complies with the consent order, “…within 60 days he would need to pay the DEP $186,440 to settle the regulation violations. That fine includes $180,000 for civil penalties, $3,940 for economic benefit, and $2,500 for costs and expenses the DEP incurred during the investigation…”

According to the report, under the agreement the owner has the option to “…have 45% of the $180,000 civil penalty offset by implementing a pollution prevention project that would have to be approved by the DEP. The project would have to reduce pollution or waste beyond what is required by federal, state or local law to be eligible for the civil penalty offset.”

I’ve said this before, in my view, Daytona Beach taxpayers have no greater advocate than Stacy Cantu.

It is clear Ms. Cantu will not have her voice or enthusiasm for service suppressed by anyone – nor should she. While some may find her sharp elbows uncomfortable (including me, on occasion) in this case, her efforts averted a potential financial and environmental disaster for taxpayers.

As an elected official, Ms. Cantu understands that her role is to remain vigilant, and she does an outstanding job of keeping watch, always fiercely independent and attentive to the concerns of her constituents.

Well done, Commissioner Cantu.

We need more leaders willing to stand tall and ensure that local governments are looking out for the best interests of their constituents here on the “Fun Coast.”

And Another Thing!

“As Mayor Santiago Avila Jr. bills it as “a city of destiny,” Deltona continues to solidify its reputation as the most interesting city in East Central Florida.

“We need change, … and take away the nasty remarks that have been made,” freshman Commissioner Emma Santiago said at the City Commission’s Jan. 6 meeting. “We will no longer endure any nastiness and bullying.”

Sensing Deltona’s public image is largely formed by the discordant and often raucous ways in which its elected leaders and their constituents conduct themselves at official meetings, City Manager Dale “Doc” Dougherty drafted a set of standards to remake the way the government of the largest city in Volusia County appears and behaves. The meetings, often replete with vulgar and coarse language, are livestreamed and can be playbacked via the city’s website. The potential audience extends well beyond Deltona.

The latest move affecting the public-comment time at commission meetings comes a few months after city officials stopped streaming and televising that opening half-hour segment of the regular meetings. Critics have complained that that action amounts to a suppression of free speech and that it deprives Deltonans of the opportunity to become better informed about what is happening in their city.”

–Reporter Al Everson, West Volusia Beacon, as excerpted from “Public discourse in Deltona: The best free show — if you can see it,” Tuesday, January 14, 2025

I prattle on, ad nauseam, about the importance of freedom of speech. Those inalienable protections that allow us to express ourselves, form an opinion, articulate our viewpoint, question those in power, criticize our government, and engage in the spirited debate of civic issues and peaceful dissent.

Because, for now, I still can…

By definition, the great George Orwell, author of the eerily prophetic novels Animal Farm and 1984, said, “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”

Especially those who hold power over our lives and livelihoods.

According to reports, Deltona City Manager Dale “Doc” Dougherty – who desperately wants to change Deltona’s raucous image – recently proposed a series of controversial “rules” and over-the-top diktats (such as allowing Mayor Santiago Avila, Jr. to sanction anyone deemed to have “excessive body odor”?) under a subjective policy titled “Disorderly Conduct at Meetings Prohibited” including a “DECORUM POLICY.”

Sound familiar?

Unfortunately, when one thinks of the two most dysfunctional and inaccessible local governments in the region, the Volusia County Council and the Lost City of Deltona rank right at the top.

One thing both entities have in common is repeatedly attacking the public’s right to address their elected officials. On Tuesday, several of our “representatives” on the Volusia County Council let us know in no uncertain terms that these are their “business meetings” – and they would prefer if We, The Little People kept our cake holes shut, email any piddly-ass problems we may have, and stop the timewasting grandstanding at the podium.

(Seriously. Councilman Jake Johansson believes the only reason Volusia County taxpayers seek to participate in person is because “…it’s the only time you can communicate on the podium in front of the TV so you can go watch yourself later…”)

Don’t take my jaded word for it, watch Item 6 here: https://tinyurl.com/my537vc2 The fun begins at 2:04:46…

Look, I don’t live in Deltona – but if you care about good governance in your own backyard, you should care about good governance everywhere – and as a large and influential municipality in Volusia County what happens in that troubled community ripples across the region.

For instance, when potential entrepreneurial investors consider relocating job-producing enterprises here, they use government stability and accessibility as an important metric.

Unfortunately, Deltona continues to struggle with the concept of meaningful public participation and the ability of citizens in a free society to express themselves, provide substantive input, seek redress of grievances, disagree, and voice their opposition.

What are they afraid of?

Now, it appears Commissioner Emma Santiago, the wife of development shill and Volusia County Councilman David “No Show” Santiago (who has repeatedly attempted to stifle public participation in County Council meetings) only wants to hear from those who appear before the Monarchy with hat in hand and genuflect before the elected elite – and anyone she perceives as engaging in “nastiness and bullying” will be silenced.

In other words, under her benevolent dictatorship, Commissioner Santiago wants to suppress your point of view unless it involves happy talk, cotton candy clouds, and big rock candy mountains…

Bullshit.

Where is the legitimate and compelling government interest in refusing to broadcast taxpayers voicing their concerns during the public participation period on Deltona TV, a publicly funded channel billed as the “communication and information channel for the City of Deltona”?

In the view of many, it is time for thin-skinned Deltona officials to stop the suppression of public participation to hide dissent and embrace the constitutional protections that allow citizens to voice their opinion, criticize decisions that affect their lives and livelihoods, and provide essential input on public policy.

Earlier this week, Mayor Avila posted copious pictures of himself on Facebook – dressed in his expensive finery and rubbing elbows with other tuxedoed politicos at elegant soirees during an official visit to Washington D.C. – while railing against the suppression of free speech by social media platforms:

“I don’t usually post about world politics here, but this one can’t go without comment. It’s quite rich for China to critique the United States over TikTok bans and claim it’s a violation of 1st Amendment rights. This comes from a country where citizens can’t freely practice their religion, criticize their government, or enjoy true free commerce—just to name a few examples. The hypocrisy is truly sickening. #FreedomMatters #StandForLiberty”

I agree.

Take a look in the mirror, Mr. Mayor. Your hypocrisy truly is sickening…

That’s all for me. Have a great Rolex 24 weekend, y’all!

Barker’s View for January 17, 2025

Posted on January 16, 2025January 16, 2025 by barkersview

Hi, kids!

Volusia County Council – A Confederacy of Cowards

“Self-interest lies behind all that men do, forming the important motive for all their actions; this rule has never deceived me…”

–Marquis de Sade

Once again, that tormented degenerate was proven right…

On Tuesday, when Volusia officials were faced with a critical decision on the most galvanizing issue of our time – ultimately, their own self-interests prevailed.

And future generations lost…

I didn’t think it possible, but this week our elected officials did what they do best and kicked an issue that has now labeled the “Fun Coast” as the most flood-prone region in the state (seventh in the nation) even further down the dusty political trail when they did absolutely nothing of substance to address development-induced inundation across the width and breadth of Volusia County.

From political insulation committees and additional costly (and useless) studies to Jake Johansson’s condescending lectures, Troy Kent’s exhausting overexuberance, and David Santiagos political mini-moves – the special meeting to discuss a tap of the brakes on the malignant sprawl that is destroying the quality of life of taxpayers devolved into another exercise in strategic procrastination.

That farce proved that, in Volusia County, you get what you pay for…

During this week’s well-choreographed waste of time, Councilman Kent was right when he described the positions on the dais of power as “rented seats” – because it is now painfully clear that the loyalties of those who occupy them have been bought and paid for by influential insiders – and a building moratorium was dead on arrival.

It was frustrating watching anguished residents approach the podium and plead for their very lives before that phalanx of deaf ears – those stone-faced gargoyles who ignore their constituents while relying on a demonstrably incompetent senior staff to tell them what they want to hear – using bureaucratese and double-talk to explain all the reasons why the elected body can’t protect existing residents from flooding.

So, we get more of the same.

More studies equal paralysis by analysis – taking existing studies and combining the separate pieces into one, then taking the comprehensive study and breaking it down into separate pieces – establishing impressive sounding “Czars” and do-nothing “subcommittees” that spread the political liability.

It’s a proven strategy for buying time.

Maybe next month someone will suggest another “Blue Ribbon Committee” – little more than a stationary bicycle that politicians use to burn the energy and enthusiasm out of engaged citizens working for change – anything that will put distance between Tuesday and the next “100 year” rain event…

There was talk of cleaning canals (they don’t already do that?), purchasing the perennially flooded homes and properties of their repeat victims, “collaborating with the cities,” quibbling the definition of “wetlands,” yapping about more retention ponds, and “beginning a discussion” about the impacts of those massive sticks-and-glue apartment units that now blanket many areas of Volusia County in some sick post factum navel-gazing exercise.

There was hot air generated over the importance of establishing “relationships” with the St. Johns River Water Management District – a discredited “regulatory” agency that for years was operated like a Turkish bazaar by a former chairman – a cheap fixer who destroyed the public’s trust in the organization for a hundred years, facilitated the destruction of wetlands and wildlife habitat that were churned into muck, and permitted those who paid to play to turn natural places into moonscapes in an atmosphere where the fox ran the henhouse, ends justified the means, and the almighty dollar reigned supreme…

Bullshit.

At the end of the day, Chairman Jeff Brower was the only one who supported a moratorium – a temporary means of limiting further harm by asking developers to stop shoving ten pounds of shit into a five-pound bag until already identified (but long-shelved) solutions could be implemented.

That’s right, they’ve known about these “exciting solutions” for years. In truth, various iterations of the Volusia County Council and their senior staff have been putting off Low Impact Development regulations for decades.

For instance, here’s a “Low Impact Development” dog and pony show Volusia’s Director of Growth and Resource Mismanagement Clay Ervin wasted our time with in 2018 https://tinyurl.com/482t2err remember?

Sure you do, it contained this knee-slapper from 13-years ago:

“Now, more than ever, it is important to balance environmental and economic considerations in our daily operations. A sustainable future for Volusia County, and our entire region, will be based on solutions that include environmental, economic and social considerations.”

–Volusia County Council, 2012

(Sorry, I always get a hoot out of that one! “Balance.” That’s funny.)

I expect we’ll see this gem dusted off and trotted out again next month…

For his trouble, Brower was (once again) publicly neutered by his cowardly and self-serving “colleagues” who clearly got marching orders from their overlords ahead of any discussion of the “M” word.

I thought it was magnanimous of Councilman Kent to “thank” Chairman Brower for taking his latest beatdown on the seminal issue of his campaign and accepting the ultimate outcome without an awkward fuss when he said, “Thanks for bringing this to the forefront because now there’s action and change, and a huge part of it is because of what you did.”

My God.

As Churchill said, “Tact is the ability to tell someone to shove that stupid idea up their ass in such a way that they look forward to the experience” or something like that…

The final humiliation of Brower and his supporters came when the tag team of Jake the Snake Johansson and David “No Show” Santiago made certain that any suggestion Brower may have had (to end fill-and-build development) was lost to mere lip service – ensuring that substantive solutions to development-induced flooding will languish in the bureaucratic ether for years…

Now, we’re all victims.

In my view, Volusia County voters owe it to our grandchildren – who will ultimately suffer from the spinelessness we witnessed on Tuesday – to disrupt this cycle of pernicious procrastination in the face of crisis, and elect those with the courage to place the suffering and financial devastation of many over the greed-crazed motives of a few…

Priorities?

One of the things I enjoy about this blog site is helping readers (my neighbors) navigate the byzantine maze of (insert local government here), finding answers to often benign questions that their elected official or city/county manager could have explained in two-minutes but won’t.

Sometimes I just commiserate with those at their wits end.

One day I might set myself up a kiosk outside the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Building in DeLand, or at various City Halls, put out two rocking chairs, and just listen to people vent.

Hearing the similarity of issues faced by residents causes me to question how those who grovel for our vote each election season can so easily shed their skin and become someone completely different when taking their seat on the dais of power.

A lycanthropic transformation from a civically engaged neighbor with a fire in the belly, to a malleable finger-puppet with goals and priorities that suddenly don’t align with those of their longsuffering constituents…

A symptom of that conversion is when an elected body collectively decides they no longer need the input or participation of those who pay the bills. Enacting ludicrous “rules” limiting public comment with arbitrary diktats, claiming the “efficiency” of meetings is more important that citizen involvement in the policymaking process, then setting nonsensical and redundant urgencies that have nothing to do with community needs.

Case in point, recently the City of Daytona Beach floated the idea of developing a $185 million “sports complex” on city owned property near the foundering First Step Shelter – a project billed as the next greatest economic driver since Daytona International Speedway was built 65-years ago…

In an informative article in December 2024, The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported “If the facility does come to be, the hope is Daytona Beach would become home to more than 100 sports tournaments each year – everything from basketball to gymnastics to baseball. Concerts could even be held on the property.”

Not to be outdone, last week, the Volusia County Council kicked around the idea of putting its own $39 million sports complex on county owned land off Veteran’s Memorial Parkway in Orange City.

Some members of the County Council said they want their complex to be an “economic driver” too…

By saturating the market with publicly funded venues?

According to reports, the proposed facility in Wild West Volusia would include eight multipurpose artificial turf fields, four rectangular natural fields, five restroom buildings, an 800-space parking lot, and the possibility of a BMX track and dog park.

Per usual, no funding source has been identified for either proposal (which should send a shudder through the lower bowels of Volusia County taxpayers) with both Daytona Beach and Volusia County suggesting a “public-private partnership,” which around these parts historically means using tax dollars to eliminate risk and underwrite the profit motives of a well-connected private entity…

When you add the still simmering suggestion brought by Volusia County Councilman Don Dempsey to build a “state of the art” motocross track on yet to be determined county property – a project the county’s consultant estimated will cost $10.2 million in 2024 dollars – you begin to wonder if anyone in local government reads the newspaper, or understands the importance of keeping government the hell out of a free marketplace?

Including the highly competitive sports entertainment industry.

For those keeping score, these pie-in-the-sky projects total a potential cost of $234.2 million for dueling sports complexes and a motocross facility at a time when Volusia County residents are pleading for flood relief, transportation infrastructure, utilities improvements, water quality and environmental protections, and other incredibly expensive upgrades to keep pace with explosive growth.

I find it strange that money never seems to be a concern when it comes to “nice to haves.”

But when elected officials are tasked with tightening their belt and funding needed infrastructure projects, We, The Little People have been conditioned to accept interminable delays, decades-long wait times, and massive cost overruns, while generations of bureaucrat’s slog through design, engineering, right-of-way acquisition, construction, etc., etc. – while the clock ticks and the bulldozers roar…

County Manager George “The Wreck” Recktenwald and County Attorney Mike Dyer

“The Volusia County manager and county attorney each received a 5% percent raise, opposed only by County Chairman Jeff Brower.

The County Council voted 6-1 to approve the raises during the performance review for both people. The council has authority over both the county attorney and the county manager positions.

County Manager George Recktenwald’s salary is increasing from about $259,041 to about $271,993. County Attorney Mike Dyer’s salary is going from about $242,138 to about $254,245.

Recktenwald and Dyer received mostly glowing reviews from the County Council on all counts. Brower offered a few criticisms, though.

Brower said while Dyer focuses on protecting the county from lawsuits, he’d like to see Dyer be more aggressive on protecting the property rights of constituents. He also said it feels like Dyer works against him sometimes.

“I would like to see you work as hard with me on items that I personally place on the agenda as chair as you do for any other item,” Brower said.”

–Reporter Sheldon Gardner, writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Friday, January 10, 2025

As Volusia County stumbles into a new year some things never change.

Namely the continued protection and proliferation of an ineffectual and grotesquely bloated bureaucracy facilitated by complicit senior administrators who have dedicated their lackluster careers to preserving the status quo.

In exchange for controlling the narrative and ensuring the public teat remains patent for all the right last names – those we have elected to represent our interests reward senior administrators with bizarre accolades – while stuffing even more of our hard-earned money into their already deep pockets.

Don’t take my word for it.

Despite a massive influx of federal relief funds – and the widespread protest of anxious residents whose lives have been repeatedly upended by development-induced flooding and the disastrous impacts of malignant sprawl – point your finger at one substantive thing County Manager George “The Wreck” Recktenwald or County Attorney Mike Dyer have accomplished in the public interest since their last pay increase a year ago?

I’ll wait…

Regardless, with the exception of their punching bag Chairman Jeff Brower, like clockwork, last week the majority of the Volusia County Council ignored the myriad issues facing their constituents (and many county employees) and gifted both Recktenwald and Dyer another 5% pay increase without any performance metrics, suggestions for improvement, or admonishment for the visionless stagnation by senior department heads that got us into this intractable mess in the first place.

Most disturbing, during his legitimate criticism of Recktenwald and Dyer (the best attorney real estate and fuel terminal developers have ever had), Chairman Brower divulged that “…he’s noticed a culture among some staff “where the victims of our flooding have become the enemies.” He said he hears things said about people that are out of line.

He said people need to be treated with respect and care.

“I’m detecting that sometimes that’s not happening, and they’re actually being blamed,” Brower said.”

You read that right.

In my view, this best illustrates the “Us vs. Them” philosophy that permeates the Ivory Tower of Power in DeLand – a place where those who accept public funds to serve in the public interest instead flippantly mock, blame, and disrespect citizens who suffer because of their ineptitude.

With this disturbing behind-the-scenes insight now public, if Recktenwald refuses to clean house and start over, engaging senior officials who won’t demonize flood victims, then he must resign without severance.

Add to that a County Attorney who has ingratiated himself with Volusia’s “Old Guard” by interpreting the law in a manner that thwarts every initiative put forth by Chairman Brower – heartless marionettes who would rather see your property and mine flood than admit Brower is right – and you see how desperate things have gotten under Recktenwald’s laissez-faire administration.

Perhaps the most tone-deaf moment of the well-choreographed meeting was when At-large Councilman Jake Johansson, an announced candidate for Florida Senate, “…pointed out that Recktenwald makes less than Daytona Beach City Manager Deric Feacher ― a difference of about $32,863.

“It amazes me that Daytona Beach’s city manager makes that much more than our county manager does … Boy, that’s a lot of money for Daytona Beach. They do a lot, I understand. But it’s interesting to me.”

Wow.

What I find “interesting” is how Mr. Johannson prioritizes the allocation of our tax dollars…

In his backhanded swipe at the City of Daytona Beach, Jake the Snake exposed himself for who and what he represents – a haughty commitment to the arrogance of size and status that would have him pay a foot-dragging sluggard more than he is worth – simply to outpace another local government.

In my view, that misplaced loyalty is not what we need representing Volusia County in Tallahassee…

Quote of the Week

“Citing “aggressive and inappropriate” behavior with staff, the City of Palm Coast fired its utility director, Amanda Rees, in November, after just five months on the job. In a Dec. 4, 2024, letter, Rees defended herself to the City Council, saying the real reason for being fired is that she was bringing too many uncomfortable truths — about the wastewater treatment plants being overcapacity and growth’s failure to pay for itself — to city leadership.

The city, which has a standard six-month probationary period for new employees and so could fire Rees without cause if desired, responded this way: “While we understand that job separations can be emotional, it’s not uncommon for individuals to express their frustration in ways that paint a negative picture. The claims made in the letter are either untrue or misrepresented and do not accurately reflect the City’s operations or values. The City is committed to professionalism, fairness, and transparency in all employment matters.”

Rees indicated in her letter that city leadership suppressed her plans to correct the consequences of overdevelopment.

Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston told the Observer that staff does have a plan. In the coming weeks, city staff will present a Utility Action Plan to the City Council in response to the consent decree issued by the Florida Department Environmental Protection.

The city is in the final stages of expanding capacity at Wastewater Treatment Plant 2 from 2 million gallons per day to 4 million. That will enable the city to divert .5 million gallons per day to Plant 2 from Wastewater Treatment Plant 1, which is frequently near 100% capacity. The plan will give some relief to the system — but not enough relief yet to satisfy the state. To fully comply, the City Council will need to figure out how to fund more than $200 million for Wastewater Treatment Plant 3 — and build it by 2028.”

–Publisher Brian McMillan, Palm Coast Observer, “Fired director tells Palm Coast City Council that city ‘overpromised’ to developers,” Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Something stinks in Palm Coast. Probably an overloaded wastewater plant…

Last month, in a shocking letter to the Palm Coast City Council, now terminated utilities director Amanda Rees said the quiet part aloud: The city’s growth rate is quickly surpassing its water and sewer capacity – and the administration’s fear-fueled mantra “Growth pays for Growth” – is a damnable lie…

Apparently, speaking truth to power is frowned upon at Palm Coast City Hall, where Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston prefers to paint a rosier picture of growth mismanagement, even after the Florida Department of Environmental Protection slapped the municipality with a consent decree requiring the expansion of its stressed wastewater utility – a project estimated to cost $200 million (most of that coming from rate increases for existing residents) – while the city continues to push full steam ahead with its asinine “westward expansion.”

In her November 23, 2024, letter to City Council members, Ms. Rees explained her reticence to sign the order:

“When we received the Consent Decree from FDEP, I reviewed the document. I had concerns about signing two clauses in the document because it threatened my imprisonment for what I could understand was stating that the City of Palm Coast did not in the past or would not in the duration of the consent decree use sewer rates to pay for any other projects that were not capacity related. Since I had been made aware in budget meetings that the council had approved a loan that transferred money from the Utility Enterprise fund to the General fund to pay for a road, I was concerned about signing the document.”

Can’t say I blame her.

I wouldn’t want to go to jail for how mercenary elected officials shuffle money around during a period of hyperaggressive growth either…

In my experience, a consent order would normally be signed by either the Mayor or Acting City Manager, so why would a department head (read: scapegoat) be asked to enter an agreement between the City of Palm Coast and FDEP involving hundreds-of-millions in capacity-related upgrades?

(That said, I do think from this point forward – all allocations of public funds or legislative actions should come with a similar imprisonment clause. One that ensures any Florida elected official who lies or quibbles the facts with constituents will be placed in stocks in the town square and given the Bastinado treatment…)

In addition, Ms. Rees wrote that when she explained a plan to Councilwoman Theresa Pontieri that would have developers pay for Pretreatment Effluent Pumping systems for new homes – something Rees believed would save the City of Palm Coast $30 million over the next five years – she received pushback from senior staff who apparently disagreed with her proposal (?).

According to former director Rees, “This was one of my ideas to help the City with the rapid growth they were experiencing. After this meeting, my boss, Lauren Johnston, Acting City Manager, told me they had worked very hard to gain Councilwoman Theresa Pontieri’s trust over the years and implied that I was threatening it, by proposing solution to problems. This idea was quickly silenced, and we never discussed it again.”

Whoa.

Find Ms. Rees’ letter here: https://tinyurl.com/bdee5xhx

According to a January 8 report by FlaglerLive!, we learned of Palm Coast’s response to Ms. Rees’ serious allegations:

“The city consequently downplayed the letter’s claims in a statement issued today. “While we understand that job separations can be emotional, it’s not uncommon for individuals to express their frustration in ways that paint a negative picture,” the statement reads.

“The claims made in the letter are either untrue or misrepresented and do not accurately reflect the City’s operations or values. The City is committed to professionalism, fairness, and transparency in all employment matters. This letter reflects one person’s perspective and does not represent the dedication and integrity of our team or the work we do for the community.”

Nevertheless the statement downplays the city’s own response to the letter, which it has taken seriously, according to City Council member Theresa Pontieri–the only council member Reese singled out–even if not as a whistleblower action. “We’re looking into everything and taking seriously everything she put into her letter,” Pontieri said today.”

Every taxpayer of Palm Coast should find this disturbing.

Time will tell how “seriously” the city’s elected watchdogs take the information provided by a former senior director with nothing else to lose…

Here on Florida’s “Fun Coast,” far too often those with the courage to speak out and blow the whistle on mismanagement and maladministration in government and publicly funded services are quickly maligned as misfits and malcontents, a level of insulation that works to protect the status quo and those who benefit from it.

Let’s hope the Palm Coast City Council takes a deep dive into Ms. Rees’ unique insights into the true cost of overdevelopment and current/future capacity issues – and her compelling allegations of retaliation for challenging the motives of those in power.

And Another Thing!

Whenever government officials are caught with their thumbs in their backsides during a crisis, the universal dodge is, “Now is not the time for finger pointing…”

Yes, it is.

In my view, as residents demand action on the growing disaster of development-induced flooding, it is time for senior officials in Volusia County government and elsewhere to own their failures on growth management, to look their waterlogged constituents in the eye and begin the difficult conversations, establish responsibility going forward, and find the right talent and experience to retroactively deal with our manmade stormwater emergency.

Allowing those who have been polishing the same wingback chairs in government offices for decades – so-called “professionals” who either knew or should have known the consequences of explosive growth without adequate infrastructure or engineering – to have any role going forward is the very definition of insanity.

Yet that is exactly what the Volusia County Council did on Tuesday…

This week proved to be an eyeopener for many Volusia County residents who hadn’t realized just how dreadful things have gotten for many of their neighbors whose homes have been repeatedly inundated with development-induced flooding – and how indebted some of their elected officials are to those influential insiders who control the rods and strings of government here on the “Fun Coast.”

In short, we learned what (and who) is important, and what is not.

The one thing that came through loud and clear following the special meeting to discuss a temporary building moratorium until a commonsense stormwater management plan and smart growth initiatives can be implemented, was who influences the outcome when development interests come up against the needs of existing Volusia County residents.

In my view, the fact we find ourselves in this incredibly expensive predicament is a testament to the abject lack of vision and strategic growth management measures by Volusia County and some municipalities that have allowed greed-crazed fill-and-build growth to spread like wildfire.

Call it negligence, gross incompetence, or a willingness to look the other way in a legalized quid pro quo scheme that exchanges campaign cash for a development rubber stamp – but the damage is done.

The only thing I know with certainty is how we find our way out of this dangerous quandary cannot be left to the same dullards who got us into it into the mess in the first place.

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

Barker’s View for January 10, 2025

Posted on January 9, 2025January 9, 2025 by barkersview

Hi, kids!

City of Edgewater Building Moratorium – A Bold Step in the Fight Against Flooding

On Monday evening the Edgewater City Council did the honorable thing in approving a 12-month building moratorium to protect residents whose homes have been repeatedly inundated with development-induced floodwater.

The measure took the form of two ordinances, one placing a temporary halt on annexations, rezonings, planned-unit development amendments, comprehensive plan amendments, site plans, preliminary plats, and final plats, including development applications.

The ordinance passed on a 3-1 vote with Councilwoman Debbie Dolbow voting against…

The other passed by unanimous vote and adopts a temporary moratorium on the issuance of building permits “…that would increase impervious surface area such as, but not limited to, new single family homes, additions, attached garages, detached garages, sheds, pools, driveways, patios on any parcel within the Florida Shores Drainage Basin…”

The moratorium does not limit commercial or industrial development in properly zoned areas of the city. In addition, reports indicate that some 4,000 residential units already entitled to development will be “eligible to proceed.”

According to an article by Sheldon Gardner writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Councilwoman Debbie Dolbow opposed the measure, raising questions about how tax revenue would be affected by the pause, where revenue would come from to fix stormwater problems, and the potential need to raise taxes down the road, among other things.”

On Wednesday, Ms. Dolbow posted on social media that she felt a permanent city manager should be “part of this process,” and the moratorium should not have been enacted until the stormwater masterplan is complete, explaining “The moratorium I was opposed to was the City Wide moratorium that delt with annexations, rezoning, etc. I felt these critical, much needed changes to our current Land Development Code and Comp Plan could have been accomplished without “shutting down” for a year.”

Many believe the pause represents a commonsense approach that will stop the hemorrhaging until a comprehensive solution to the widespread flooding can be found, and consider it a victory for threatened property owners, some of whom have spent multiple times their homes value on repairs.

On January 14, the Volusia County Council will also have the opportunity to do the right thing and begin the process of implementing a temporary moratorium on new development in unincorporated areas until comprehensive growth management, stormwater, and smart building regulations can be put into place.

Chairman Jeff Brower suggested the temporary halt to new construction during the 2024 election. Unfortunately, even the mere whisper of the “M” word has sent tremors through the powerful development community, and their sock puppets on the Volusia County Council are already working overtime to protect the interests of those who own the paper on their political souls…

For instance, during a contentious Volusia County Council meeting last November, frustrated flood victims gave nearly three-hours of emotional testimony ahead of the scheduled discussion of a temporary moratorium.

Undeterred by the suffering of his constituents, Councilman David “No Show” Santiago moved to strategically postpone the discussion of countywide flooding – now considered the most serious threat to the public’s health and safety of our time – giving his handlers in the real estate development industry sixty additional days to ramrod fill-and-build development…

That didn’t sit well with soggy flood victims fed up with the bureaucratic runaround.

I’ve said this before, but the Volusia County Council’s persistent lack of definitive solutions and near-constant reluctance to do anything of substance is becoming a huge concern to anxious taxpayers.

Now that development-induced flooding is too widespread to ignore – with Volusia County considered the most flood-prone location in Florida – it is time for residents to demand substantive action from their elected representatives, including a temporary moratorium to mitigate further damage, protect our property values, and restore our dwindling quality of life.

The special meeting of the Volusia County Council will start at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14, in the Council chambers at the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Avenue in DeLand.

Volusia County School Board – A Question of Character

Accepting responsibility for ones acts and omissions is a key leadership trait.

In fact, holding ourselves accountable, admitting blame, and accepting consequences is the highest mark of character, emotional intelligence, and personal courage. It means taking ownership of our errors and shortcomings – never shifting fault to others, quibbling facts, or making excuses.

History has proven that in the public realm constituents cannot have confidence in elected and appointed leaders who feel they are beyond accountability.

According to reports, earlier this month, embattled former Volusia County School Board Chair Jessie “Whackadoodle” Thompson, sent an email to Superintendent Carmen Balgobin (?) announcing her intent to step down as School Board Chair after she disparaged Deltona High School students, referred to fellow board member Ruben Colón as a “tan gentleman,” and openly admitted to intentionally providing members with false information in order to pass certain items coming before the board.

Her meanspirited rant during a Moms for Liberty conference in Washington divulged that Thompson “…worked with our sheriff’s department to get something put into that contract, and then they voted to pass it without reading it through. It was magical.

It wasn’t “magical.” It was a lie.

In my view, Ms. Thompson’s fellow board members – and Volusia County taxpayers – have a right to expect their elected officials won’t use blatant falsehoods to push public policy or personal agendas…

In December 2024, Thompson issued a lukewarm apology for her off-the-wall comments – which included describing her relationship with colleagues as “I’m hated by the rest of my board, and I can deal with that emotionally. They’re not nice people,” and offering her weird assessment of the motivation of newly elected board members Donna Brosemer and Krista Goodrich.

In her weak mea culpa, Thompson described her words as “poorly chosen,” claiming “I am sorry to the board that I sit with that my words caused you sadness and anger,” in other words, “Sorry I triggered you snowflakes…”

Unfortunately, Thompson only resigned her leadership role and will retain her seat on the board.

No word yet if any law enforcement agency charged with public integrity investigations have opened an inquiry to determine the extent to which Ms. Thompson’s admitted artifice may have corrupted the district’s contracting and procurement system…

Why not?

This week, Victoria Encarcion of Daytona Beach, in an open letter published in the West Volusia Beacon, wrote in part:

“I believe Chair Thompson’s actions warrant an ethics investigation. There are serious questions surrounding her actions and whether they adhere to the ethical standards expected of a school board member. There are questions about the validity of information presented to the board, specifically regarding agenda items and the sheriff’s contract. There are concerns about what information was withheld or misrepresented.

This requires a thorough and independent investigation to determine the facts and ensure transparency and accountability. The public deserves to know the truth about these matters.”

In my view, the absence of an independent investigation sends a terrible message to other elected officials that “feeding false data” to colleagues and constituents to influence the allocation of public funds is just ‘bidness as usual’ in Volusia County…

In addition, Ms. Thompson forgot who she works for (and why) when she directed her resignation to Superintendent Balgobin. What she didn’t forget was to deflect blame for her own abhorrent personal and professional conduct by claiming there are unnamed people “who seek to make me their focus and detract from the real work that needs to be done.”

Well, so much for that whole ‘leadership by personal example, moral responsibility, and accepting blame’ horseshit, eh?

In my view, Jessie Thompson is a talentless actress playing a difficult role; crafting and perpetuating an image and persona of what she thinks a “conservative” school board member should be – brash, controversial, a sharp-elbowed change agent – yet she lacks the political, interpersonal, and negotiation skills to effectively legislate public education policies without creating a false narrative.

It’s okay to be a good mimic of those you admire, but it requires the perception and intellect to decern the reasons behind the politics, ideology, and actions you parrot.

Unfortunately, it appears Ms. Thompson has assumed an artificial identity she is intellectually ill-equipped for – and the resultant drama and divisiveness has nothing to do with the furthering the interests of Volusia County students, parents, teachers, and staff…

This travesty has been a distraction, another embarrassing blackeye, and on January 14, Ms. Thompson should do the right thing for Volusia County and take her leave.

First Step Shelter – How much more can we afford?

Back in the 1970’s there was a commercial for an oil filter company with the hook, “You can pay me now, or pay me later…” – meaning you can bite the bullet upfront and purchase quality protection or pay for catastrophic damage after going with an inferior alternative.

I was reminded of that classic spot last month when it was reported that two former employees of the First Step Shelter who blew the whistle on possible financial irregularities and mismanagement filed a lawsuit against both First Step and the City of Daytona Beach alleging that they were retaliated against and publicly defamed after coming forward with their allegations.

Because they were.

In a disturbing December 2024 article in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, reporter Eileen Zaffiro-Kean continued her excellent coverage of this colossal shitshow:

The city’s embroglios with the enigmatic “shelter” go far deeper than that – all the way back to its obscenely expensive beginnings in the inner-sanctum of former City Manager Jim “The Chisler” Chisholm – someone not known for transparency.

Now it looks like things are about to get even more costly for Daytona Beach taxpayers as the whistleblowers seek a jury trial and damages in excess of $50,000…

In my view, compounding the problem (and the liability) – rather than defend these whistleblowers after what passed for an inconclusive “investigation” by an outside attorney (an inquiry that amounted to little more than a few interviews) – some board members set about protecting Executive Director Victoria Fahlberg by publicly destroying the personal and professional reputations of the former employees, questioning their motivations, and shielding Fahlberg from serious questions regarding her management and oversight of the program.

In a mind-bogglingly negligent action, the board allowed members to unleash their collective bile on the former employees in an open public meeting and on social media, calling their willingness to come forward with concerns “appalling and ridiculous,” a “scam,” and a “charade” – ensuring that no other First Step employee would ever dare come forward again.

Would you?

Then, for reasons that have never been released or explained to those of us who pay the bills, the cowardly First Step Shelter Board voted unanimously to accept an incomplete investigation and stop any further inquiry into the serious allegations of fraudulent practices, rule violations that created a dangerous environment for staff and clients, discrimination, and workplace harassment.

In my view, perpetrating a coverup in plain sight.

In the aftermath, concerned taxpayers have questioned why the First Step Board engaged in such blatant deflection and victim shaming before the investigative report was made public?

To his credit, Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry, who serves as the First Step board’s president, has said publicly what anxious taxpayers have been thinking all along:

“There are things at the shelter that rise to a deep level of concern,” Henry said. “The situation we’re in is because of leadership.”

In my experience, when an appointed board member and the executive director of a publicly funded social service have goals and opinions that are counter to the interests of the governing/funding organization – in this case the City of Daytona Beach – then it is time for them to do the honorable thing and resign or be terminated.

Don’t look for either of those commonsense measures to be taken in this bizarre case…

Now, the City of Daytona Beach is facing a massive lawsuit – and the Volusia County Council is rightfully withholding the bulk of the shelter’s annual funding until they can be assured taxpayers (and employees) are being protected from retaliation and financial mismanagement.

It’s the right thing to do.

I’ve said this before, now is the time to mitigate further damage (and liability) by purging these heels from the First Step Board of Directors and allow space for those with the personal and fiduciary responsibility to begin the arduous process of restoring the public’s trust in the First Step Shelter before one more public dime is spent.

Quote of the Week

“A section of Atlantic Avenue in Ormond Beach may be a dead zone for resorts, restaurants and other businesses.

Some prefer the word cursed while others use jinxed to describe locations and sections of streets that seemed destined for one business after another to fail.

No matter the descriptor of choice, the recent closings of Dalmare Italian Chophouse, The Wave Sports Bar & Grill, Makai Beach Lodge and the temporary shutdown of The Maverick Resort raised the specter the area isn’t particularly hospital to businesses.

Those four businesses are on a bit more than a one mile stretch of A1A, falling between Rockefeller Drive to the north and Howard Drive to the south, and join many others that have failed over the years.

“Every town has got those areas that just never seem to click,” said an employee of a business located along this corridor.

The employee asked for anonymity before referring to the two restaurant locations occupied by Dalmare Italian Chophouse and The Wave Sports Bar & Grill as hard for any business to stay open for long.

Even establishments that are doing well in the profit and loss columns might get shut down because of a storm, such as Hurricane Milton. It closed the Makai Beach Lodge and temporarily shuttered The Maverick.”

–Journalist Charles Guarria, Hometown News Volusia, “Business success disappears in an Ormond Beach ‘dead zone’,” Thursday, January 2, 2025

I found Charles Guarria’s interesting piece on the perennial “dead zone” that is A-1-A – a/k/a Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway – a commercially challenged stretch extending from Granada Boulevard south to be thought provoking, which is what a well written news article should do.

Perhaps the beachside is cursed by some ethereal witchery…

Or is it something else?

Like old-fashioned neglect and a lack of strategic vision by those who accept public funds to serve in the public interest…

In 2018, when “The Grippa Group” – a blue ribbon “beachside redevelopment” committee comprised of Volusia County’s best and brightest – issued their bureaucratically neutered final report listing ways our core tourist area could be revitalized, I wrote:

“Perhaps the Grippa Report can bookend the 2011 tourism study wherein the Volusia County Council paid $100,000 to an out-of-state consultant to conduct a review which concluded that our beachside “tourism product” was a serious impediment to attracting visitors and economic development, “…there is no “plan” for who is leading the effort and how these challenges can be improved.”

Now, fourteen-years later, there still isn’t.

For a better perspective, I encourage everyone to take a drive down Atlantic Avenue and absorb the “feel” of the area like a visitor might – sense that ‘down at the heels’ vibe, the remnants of our once famous “Boardwalk,” and the unwelcoming appearance that greets residents and those tourists we spend heavily to attract year, after year, after year…

In order for entrepreneurial investment to be attractive and financially practical on the Halifax area’s blighted beachside, investors must be free of the bureaucratic formalities, exorbitant fees, mind-numbing applications, timewasting processes, and the repetitive hurdles that continue to force investors to walk away, small businesses to close, or relocate to more “business friendly” areas.

Sadly, rather than call our publicly funded (and horribly redundant) “Economic Development” types on the carpet and demand an explanation for where an estimated $120 million that was ostensibly spent in the area between Oakridge Boulevard and International Speedway Boulevard went, neglected residents and business owners have been ignored for so long they have come to accept the fatalistic view of those who should be working for positive change.

For instance, in 2019, Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Nancy Keefer admitted during a walking tour of our blighted core tourist area that it may take “30-40 years” to turn things around.

As members of the Daytona Regional Chamber prepare to don their finery and throw its annual soirée (this year’s theme “Let Us Entertain You!”) – a time for everyone who is anyone in Halifax area high society to exchange plaques and accolades while Rome burns – perhaps the Chamber’s incoming Board Chair, Mike Sznapstajler, a land-use attorney with Cobb Cole Law Firm, can expedite “turning things around” beachside?

Because, in my view, throwing your hands up and acquiescing to the stagnant status quo, rather than ‘rock the political boat’ isn’t a good look for a Chamber of Commerce, and it damn sure does nothing to encourage struggling beachside businesses who continue to fight a losing battle in the absence of any comprehensive revitalization plan.

Am I wrong? Probably…

Slowly but surely, many are coming to the realization that the Halifax area (like much of Volusia County) lacks the talent and vision to turn things around in our core tourist area and elsewhere. In my view, it is now time to bring in outside experts – a firm that specializes in urban planning, architectural and landscape design, and ‘placemaking’ that employs high-performance economic development professionals with a proven history of revitalization – then get the hell out of their way.

Yes, that will require eliminating the lucrative “positions” of some current do-nothings – including the ‘good old boys travel club’ over at “Team Volusia” – but its now, or never…

Fortunately, there are bright spots.

Small businesses are lighting up Main Street, drawing crowds, and changing the character of the street – sparks of inspiration that continue to flicker amidst the darkness of economic futility –and give hope for the future of the Main Street Redevelopment Area and beyond.

I’m not talking about the artificial “New Daytona” over on Boomtown Boulevard or some contrived “theme” subdivision. I’m describing a “real” beach town, and one of the most downtrodden tourist destinations on the Eastern Seaboard, a place that for reasons yet to be explained has been allowed to wither and die while areas west receive the attention, and money.

By now it should be painfully clear to anyone paying attention that those who pass for “economic development” gurus in the Halifax area have grown tired and visionless, content to use a gross form of corporate welfare cloaked in secrecy to attract the low hanging fruit of warehouse scutwork and untested aviation adventures – while ensuring all the right last names have their for-profit ventures underwritten with public funds – rather than work to foster a free, open, and level marketplace that supports the private investment we so desperately need.

And Another Thing!

As George R. R. Martin said in A Clash of Kings, “When you tear out a man’s tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you’re only telling the world that you fear what he might say.”

It’s a thinly veiled secret that the Lost City of Deltona is facing serious internal and external issues, real impediments to civic progress and good governance. Unfortunately, given the sins of the past, more internecine turmoil is the last thing longsuffering residents need right now.

In my view, now is the time when those at the top of the municipal government should embrace transparency and encourage community involvement and input. That said, why did city officials resurrect ways to silence those who pay the bills and stifle dissention during the City Commission’s first public meeting of 2025?

On Monday, many Deltona observers were left wondering what in the hell City Manager Dale “Doc” Dougherty and Mayor Santiago Avila, Jr. were thinking when they posted an agenda item proposing adoption of a host of subjective rules for public meetings?

For the record, this isn’t the first time this horribly challenged municipality has gone down the rabbit hole of political insulation, but history always seems to repeat itself around these parts…

For instance, during the tumultuous reign of former City Manager Jane Shang, it became glaringly apparent that Deltona’s elected and appointed officials had simply given up on the concept of truth, transparency, and honor in public service in favor of some shambolic shitshow that bore no resemblance to a functioning municipal government – a weird pastiche of Three Stooges slapstick wrapped in a gut-wrenching Greek tragedy.

Following one particularly raucous meeting in 2019, The Daytona Beach News-Journal did an excellent job of describing the chaotic scene:

“Explicit language from residents at the lectern addressing city commissioners was frequent, though sometimes hard to hear over occasional chants of ‘lock her up’ and other similar demands. There was even a profanity-laced tirade by phone from someone out of state made during the raucous proceedings for which at least one child was present.”

Strange times.

Admittedly, due to resignations and recent elections, things have taken a distinctly more civil and businesslike tone since those wild and wooly days of yore. But I still hear rumors and rumblings about the intrigues and influences worming around behind closed doors at City Hall…

So, during this unusual period of relative stability on the dais, why poke the sleeping bear of citizen dissent?

Why add to the very real suspicions of taxpayers by freezing them out of public meetings, relegating their participation to a fleeting two-minute audience before the elected Monarchy, restraining them with one-sided rules that allow the often moody Mayor to shut them down, and demanding they jump through the ridiculous hoop of “requesting to speak” in writing before exercising their inalienable right to free speech?

On Monday evening, the Deltona City Commission voted 6-1 to table and ultimately workshop the controversial agenda item amending “operating guidelines,” rules, and procedures ostensibly designed to “…clean up and streamline” the conduct of public meetings.

When I saw that newly elected Commissioner Nick Lulli cast the lone “No” vote – an elected official who has championed First Amendment issues after being brutally attacked for speaking his mind on civic issues – some residents felt he may have supported the measure – so, I asked him about it.

Not surprisingly, Commissioner Lulli explained he knew that many in the community were opposed to the proposed rules – and he wanted to vote the matter down outright, rather than resurrect it for discussion at a workshop – time Mr. Lulli feels could better be spent finding solutions to excessive water rates and other critical issues facing Deltona.

Good idea.

In my view, the right of those who pay the bills to speak freely at public meetings forms the foundation of a representative democracy. A constitutionally protected freedom that ensures our ability to voice a differing viewpoint, criticize government without fear of retribution, and express our thoughts on the administration of public policy and the allocation of tax dollars by meaningful participation in governmental actions that should not occur in a vacuum.

Sometimes that participation arouses the full range of human emotions, the spirited debate of ideas, a confrontation of philosophies, and righteous criticism – the necessary interface of free citizens and their duly elected representatives – often referred to as the “brutality of accountability” in a democracy.

In my view, anything less is un-American – and ministerially self-serving for those who accept public funds to serve in the public interest.

Unfortunately, far too often, those who hold themselves out for public office discover after the backslapping of the victory party that it’s a whole different ball game the first time they come bad breath-to-bad breath with an angry constituent.

That’s when they learn not everyone is their friend – and even constructive criticism can sting.

Unfortunately, efforts to armor their sensitive egos often result in ludicrous “civility ordinances,” and “Rules of Decorum,” asinine vanity regulations designed to pull the reins on vigorous debate and shield senior officials from the discomfiture of open criticism during public meetings.

Bullshit.

During my lengthy career in municipal government, I learned that constituents would accept honest mistakes, fee increases, and tax hikes if properly explained. They’ll even put up with aggressive code enforcement – for a while anyway…

What they will not tolerate is having their rights to free speech and self-expression trampled for the convenience of the bureaucracy.

Nor should they.

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

Barker’s View for January 3, 2025

Posted on January 2, 2025January 2, 2025 by barkersview

Hi, kids!

As we exit 2024 and look forward to the possibilities of the new year, everyone is talking about overdevelopment and its impacts on our quality of life. Let’s get into it:

‘No Vacancy’ – A Time for Commonsense Solutions

“Even though we’ve added thousands of new homes and apartments in recent years, demand will continue to increase in the coming years which means more supply will be needed,” said Carl Lentz IV, managing partner of SVN Alliance Commercial Real Estate Advisors in Ormond Beach.

The ongoing surge in new construction comes amid concerns by some residents that overdevelopment is one of the causes for the increase in neighborhood flooding after major storms, such as Hurricane Milton in early October.

Volusia County Council Chair Jeff Brower has called for a temporary moratorium on new residential development until a solution can be found to address the issue of flooding.

“It could be for 12, 24 or 36 months,” he told The News-Journal recently, adding that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2002 that such moratoriums are constitutional. “Thirty-six months is how long Lake Tahoe (Nevada) had it for. I don’t think ours would have to be that long. A moratorium would create the incentive for the county and cities together to formulate a comprehensive stormwater plan. We can’t do it independently anymore. We all have to work together.”

Lentz and local builders maintain that even if the council agrees to impose the moratorium, which is not a certainty, it should not affect projects that have already been approved.

That’s not how Brower sees it. “It should stop everything until we know what to do with the stormwater runoff. This is a very serious problem.”

“The only exceptions, in my view, would be for individual single-family homes on private property and commercial buildings. I don’t see them as the problem,” he said.”

–Business Editor Clayton Park, writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Coming Very Soon, Builders Expect 2025 to be Busy,” Sunday, December 29, 2024

In 2021, when the “M” word was first being bandied about by anxious residents, I wrote down my thoughts explaining the obvious:

When a hotel reaches maximum occupancy, management hangs a temporary “No Vacancy” sign to alert potential lodgers that the property has no available space.

That’s because the alternative – packing guests like cordwood into every nook and cranny, placing bedding in hallways and ballrooms, overburdening recreational amenities, gridlocking parking lots, and overcrowding limited facilities – is unsafe, unsanitary, and unsustainable.

Letting potential customers know there is no room at the inn is a short-term measure that protects from the ravages of excess and overuse, frees staff to meet current needs, ensures existing guests have a quality experience, and allows management time to plan – and improve infrastructure to accommodate more customers within set parameters – ensuring that expansion does not infringe on neighbors, current residents, or detract from the unique character of the place that made it attractive to so many.

Unfortunately, our ‘powers that be’ here on Florida’s “Fun Coast” have failed to grasp (or manage) the myriad issues that occur when one attempts to shove ten pounds of shit into a five-pound sack – my crude metaphor for the malignant growth that has metastasized along the spine of Volusia County from Farmton to the Flagler County line.

With growth and resource management now the principal concern of residents across the region, why do those we have elected and appointed to represent our interests continue to ignore the real experiences and fears of their constituents?

Why do they put the nonsensical argument proffered by real estate developers and brokers that we have an obligation to provide housing stock for potential new residents in a self-fulfilling “build it and they will come” strategy ahead of the needs of existing residents who are crying out for help with the resultant flooding and infrastructure impacts?

In my jaded view, the short answer is money – and Exhibit A is the enormous campaign contributions showered on these malleable finger-puppets each election cycle – artificially large infusions of cash to a hand-select candidate’s war chest that result in a massive return on investment for those with a chip in the game…

On January 14, the Volusia County Council will have another opportunity to do the right thing and begin the process of implementing a temporary moratorium on new development until comprehensive growth management, stormwater, and smart building regulations can be put into place.

I’m not talking about pouring good money after bad into more “studies,” staff paralysis by analysis, spiffs to preferred contractors, or spending limited stormwater improvement funds on neglected repair and replacement of already outpaced infrastructure.

If history repeats (and it always does here in the biggest whorehouse in the world) absolutely nothing of substance will be accomplished now, or in the foreseeable future – because the deck on the dais of power has been stacked – and the claustrophobic Grand Plan for your family’s future and mine has already been set behind closed doors.

At the risk of sounding defeatist, there’s not a damned thing anyone can do about it.

Not now. The fix is in – and our grandchildren will pay the price…

That said, I believe it is our civic duty to ensure that none of the self-serving marionettes currently sitting on the Volusia County Council are ever elected to another position of public trust.

In my view, if they won’t listen to our concerns, or take definitive action to mitigate the identified threats posed by overdevelopment (and the cronyism that perpetuates it), then we have a moral obligation to replace them with those who will at the ballot box.

That starts by cultivating (and supporting) grassroots candidates and collectively guarantee that the foul political careers of those who sold us out to the highest bidder end on the fetid ash heap of history at our earliest opportunity.

Bunnell City Commission

“One person can make a difference and everyone should try,” is sound advice often attributed to John F. Kennedy – and adage that equally applies to governing councils and commissions responsible for preserving their constituent’s quality of life…

The forests and swamps where I enjoyed nature in my youth have all but been paved over – lost to “theme” communities, “Planned-Unit Developments,” and grotesque “Developments of Regional Impact” – once pristine places where speculative developers ground pine scrub and hardwood forests into a black muck, then drained and filled wetlands in an obscene “hurt here, help there” mitigation strategy – leaving the wild places I once hunted, camped, and fished now blanketed with zero-lot-line wood frame cracker boxes from the “low $300’s.”

We, The Little People – hapless rubes who were led to believe the “system” served our interests – watched helplessly as glib real estate attorneys, developers, compromised legislators, powerful insiders, and marketing shills shaped regional growth management strategies and their projects transitioned from gated communities to “Cities within a City.”

My God.

Planning and development in Volusia and Flagler Counties are no longer an exercise in shaping growth – the art and science of planning neighborhoods, revitalizing downtowns, enhancing civic assets, ensuring adequate transportation and utilities infrastructure, making room for cultural and creative space, and preserving our historic places.

Now, the concept of “growth and resource management” has devolved into how quickly we can allow developers to cram more, more, more into increasingly confined spaces – then watch in disgust as our elected “representatives” shrug cluelessly when confronted with massive development-induced flooding…

In an incredibly unusual occurrence for a Florida municipality, last month, the Bunnell City Commission proved that it can be done and held firm to their community’s Land Development Code and upheld the November 2024 decision of the Planning, Zoning, and Appeals Board to deny an application for the developer of the perversely named “Reserve at Haw Creek” that would have reduced the amount of open space in the massive PUD from 60% to 50%.

If built according to plan, the PUD will see some 6,000 to 8,000 new homes which will increase the population of the City of Bunnell exponentially…

According to a recent article by FlaglerLive! we learned:

“Northeast Florida Developers has submitted plans to build the 6,000-to-8,000-home development (up from 5,000 to 6,000 just a few months ago) on 2,800 acres west and south of the urban center of Bunnell. Chad Grimm, who represents the company, argued to the city’s planning board last November that the exception, or variance, was necessary to allow for more single-family homes, which is more profitable. Otherwise, the company would have to make up in height what it lost in spread – meaning that it would have to build more apartments.

The planning board unanimously rejected the request, citing city rules. To win such exceptions, developers have to prove that they would face “hardship” otherwise – itself an objective set of criteria. The developer did not do so in this case. Northeast Florida Developers appealed the decision to the city commission. Monday’s vote upheld the planning board’s decision, denying the appeal.”

Kudos to the majority of the Bunnell City Commission for holding firm to existing land development codes, refusing to bend to the threats and profit motives of those who will forever destroy the culture of their community, and prove the adage that one entity can make a positive difference.

In my view, a quote by Bunnell Commissioner John Rogers should be engraved in stone and distributed to all councils and commissions in the region:

“This just isn’t right for our city. Our responsibility is to ensure this development aligns with the community needs, the infrastructure, the capacity, environmental, sustainability.”

Amen.

Volusia Politics – A Change in Leadership

“Simply put, the Democrats have become the party of the institutions. Meanwhile, the Republicans now exist in a realm somewhere between suspicion of, and outright hostility to, the institutions. I believe this simple litmus test is our most salient political divide.”

–Douglas Ollivant, “Rappahannock Musings,” December 27, 2024

I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat.

I’m an infernal realist.

Someone who recognizes what is politically possible in a given situation – grasps the ugly backstory others pretend doesn’t exist – and see things as they truly are, not the way some self-serving bureaucracy wants us to perceive them.

Power, money, and influence don’t impress me. They never have – and I still cling to the naïve Myth of Fairness:

The old-fashioned notion that good citizens who contribute to our society, struggle to make a living in this artificial economy, pay increasingly onerous taxes, work hard to feed their families, and follow the rules form the backbone of our community – and they deserve better from those bait-and-switch posers we elected to represent our interests.

When it comes to politics, I am a true No Party Affiliate – right of center with moderate, even apolitical, views on most issues – and I rarely involve myself in the terrible divisiveness of the national battle for partisan dominance.

Make no mistake, there is a distinct reason me and 104,942 of my neighbors here in Volusia County are now NPA. That’s 26.51% of all registered voters here on the “Fun Coast” and just 4,347 shy of the current Democratic roll…

Like my father and grandfather before me, I was a lifelong Republican, until it became apparent during the decadeslong war on the traditional values once shared by all Americans, the rise of identity politics, the loss of reason and compassion, the deification of politicians, and the resultant irreconcilable differences that have brought us to a place of lockstep partisanship.

That’s when I realized that neither party represents my views as a moderate conservative.

In local non-partisan elections, candidates fib and call themselves “Republicans” to gain a statistical advantage. Unfortunately, we are invariably left with sitting officials who have no understanding of the classic concepts of conservatism or liberalism. “Republicans” who support the exponential growth and strength of the bureaucracy with perpetual tax increases – while “Democrats” remain absurdly out of touch with the values and priorities of struggling residents.

Last month, the autocratic reign of former Volusia Republican Committee Chair Paul Deering mercifully ended when members had enough of his tyrannical horseshit and elected Maryann Pistilli, a bright and successful Republican operative who led President-elect Donald Trump’s Florida campaign, to steward the influential, if often shambolic, Volusia County Republican Party going forward.

Smart move.

The change was inevitable after Deering’s controversial manipulation of the “Official Republican Voter Guide” during the recent election, along with emerging details of a shocking federal lawsuit alleging gross racial discrimination and internecine bullying by Deering and his toadies…

Across the sandy aisle, following their national thrashing in November, Volusia County Democrats ignored the hard lessons of 2024 and elected the hypereducated South Florida transplant and Margaritaville resident Nick Sakhnovsky as their new Chair last month.

Some might suggest that Mr. Sakhnovsky represents everything that has disenfranchised traditionally Democratic voters – the wealthy eggheaded liberal living comfortably in a gated community spewing lofty rhetoric that no longer resonates with the working class.

Because he does…

In a recent interview, Democratic utility player Rham Emanuel – who many party leaders are favoring for chair of the Democratic National Committee said, (Democrats) “…use language to feel good about ourselves, not to communicate. We all think we’re applying to be adjunct professors at a small liberal arts college. We don’t listen to people. We tell them how to eat their peas.”

I think Chairman Sakhnovsky’s biggest impediment to his stated goal of luring NPAs to his side of the fence is the fact: Democrats have proven time-and-again that they hate independent thought.

In my view, Sakhnovsky – the former librarian and educator with a law degree, who was recently described by The Daytona Beach News-Journal as “…an Ivy League graduate (Dartmouth at age 19) with three graduate degrees” – is probably a nice guy, but his resume (and thought process) reads like the ultimate academic naval-gazing coastal elite that turned so many off in the last election…

When asked by the News-Journal what differences he has observed between politics in South Florida and Volusia, his response spoke volumes…

“It used to be sometimes in Broward County that you’d see people switching parties in order to get elected, let’s say, going from Republican to Democrat… It is interesting to see, at least in the last five years, that I went from an environment that was essentially dominated by Democrats to one that was dominated by Republicans, so that required some attitude adjustment.

Being from Margaritaville, where most people are from outside of Volusia, the way we adjusted initially when I would talk with friends, who all are either relatively new to Florida or Volusia, certainly, was, ‘Wow, there’s a lot of nonpartisan races up here.’ And it’s hard to figure out who to vote for. So we actually started, two and a half years ago, a group of us there, started a political committee, it’s called VOTE!

Where its real purpose was to do voter education and advocate for better leadership, but to do it on a nonpartisan basis. Because I felt that was… I’m of the belief that no matter who is my representative at whatever level there is, I’m still their constituent…

That’s why I thought it was actually useful that the County Council (School Board and municipal offices are) nonpartisan… That’s a big change between Volusia and Broward, because in Broward, we call it a County Commission, but that is on a partisan basis in Broward. Not up here… Most voters want a shorthand, if you will, and a political party label is essentially a shorthand for a relatively amorphous, in many ways, set of values or policies. When it comes down to actual governing, sometimes the reality isn’t the same as what the amorphous sense of that reality is.”

What remains of the Democratic Party in Volusia County and beyond is in its death throes – and they have no one to blame but themselves. In my view, if Mr. Sakhnovsky wants to make a true difference in local politics, he should stick with his grassroots committee VOTE!

By organizing and leveraging the sizeable voting bloc that new subdivisions like Margaritaville, Mosaic, and others represent in nonpartisan local races, he could truly have a positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of his neighbors.

The potential influence of thousands of new residents on local politics – and who will emerge to control the juggernaut (I don’t think it will be traditional party bosses or Volusia’s stagnant insiders) – is something observers have waited for.

I don’t know how things are within the gated confines of his artificial beach community, but Mr. Sakhnovsky should understand the reality the rest of us have lived with for decades:

Here on Florida’s “Fun Coast,” pay-to-play politics are a means to a very lucrative end for those influential few with a chip in the game.

In my jaded view, Volusia County is essentially an oligarchy – ruled by uber-wealthy insiders who control everything but the ebb and flow of the Atlantic tide – where powerbrokers select malleable candidates then fund their campaigns with massive personal and corporate contributions, and political labels are certainly not an indicator of “values and policies.”

In Volusia County, abject greed remains the overriding ethos of those who control our destiny…

As a result, many existing residents have lost confidence in what passes for “governance” – and our fractured relationship with those who hold themselves out for high office, then sell us out to the highest bidder – has resulted in the escalating “trust issue” no one wants to acknowledge in the Ivory Tower of Power.

Instead, they continue to deflect blame – gaslighting constituents with strategic procrastination, denial, and contradiction – delegitimizing anyone who agrees with grassroots concerns while convincing themselves of their own infallibility.

Sound familiar?

Here in Volusia County, “We, The Little People” – regardless of individual party affiliation – rightfully share a growing distrust of those elected and appointed officials who refuse to listen to our concerns, ignore the obvious, and kick the can down the dusty political trail on critical issues of universal concern.

Increasingly, angry residents understand that development-induced flooding, transportation infrastructure, overtaxed public utilities, water quality and quantity, and strapped essential services affect everyone equally, regardless of political persuasion.

In my view, whoever harnesses this growing sentiment will become a true force for change in Volusia County and beyond – one that transcends party politics – a dynamism that is needed now, more than ever, on this salty piece of land we call home.

(By the way, if you’re not reading Doug Ollivant’s excellent blog Rappahannock Musings, a unique and well-formed take on politics, the military, and international affairs by one of our nation’s foremost experts on national security issues, you can find it here: https://douglasollivant.substack.com/ )

Quote of the Week

“As a lifelong resident of DeLand, having called this beautiful town home since February 1970, it pains me deeply to witness the rapid and often reckless development reshaping our city and the surrounding unincorporated areas of West Volusia. While we understand the necessity of growth, the manner in which it is being pursued threatens to destroy the rural charm and close-knit community that make DeLand so special.

I am particularly disheartened by the proliferation of developments featuring 35-foot-wide lots, cramming as many homes as possible into small spaces. Where are the backyards where children can play, families can gather for quiet barbecues, and neighbors can connect? These overcrowded designs sacrifice the very qualities that make neighborhoods livable and enjoyable.

Equally troubling is the County Council’s apparent disregard for the voices of its constituents. Time and again, we’ve made our concerns clear: enough is enough. While it may be difficult to impose a complete moratorium on building, it is entirely within the council’s power to stop rezoning that enables these densely packed developments.”

–Tom Sutherland, DeLand, as excerpted from his editorial, “Protect what make DeLand unique,” The West Volusia Beacon, Tuesday, December 17, 2024

In his well thought essay, Mr. Sutherland hit on two interconnected issues facing Volusia County residents on both sides of what remains of the Palmetto Curtain – rampant overdevelopment and the obstinate refusal of our elected “representatives” on the Volusia County Council to listen to their frightened constituents.

As Mr. Sutherland noted, “The devastating flooding caused by hurricanes Helene and Milton brought another issue into sharp focus. Poor drainage systems and a lack of thoughtful environmental planning exacerbated the destruction, displacing families and overwhelming infrastructure.

These disasters are stark reminders that our current path is unsustainable, and yet the County Council continues to “kick the can down the road.” Council meetings often end with delays and excuses rather than meaningful action to address these pressing concerns.”

In my view, Mr. Sutherland has voiced the frustrations of thousands of anxious Volusia County residents – especially those whose homes are repeatedly inundated with floodwaters now that “100-year Storms” have turned into biannual occurrences – taxpayers who are exasperated by political procrastination and are demanding to be heard on the most pressing issue of our time.

In November 2024, District 5 Councilman David “No Show” Santiago successfully pushed the discussion of a temporary building moratorium as proposed by Chairman Jeff Brower by disingenuously claiming, after years in local and state political office, that he still needed more information on regional flooding before deciding whether to assist threatened homeowners.

Bullshit.

Santiago punctuated (and telegraphed) his thinly veiled motives with more of his timewasting bashing of Brower – doing anything and everything possible to put time and distance between public outcry and the next strategic postponement.

On Christmas Eve, Patricia Gertenbach of Ormond-by-the-Sea, issued a heartfelt entreaty to the Volusia County Council in an editorial published in the Ormond Beach Observer, which read, in part:

“A moratorium is drastic but not as drastic as losing your home, and there are many solutions to the flooding issues in between a moratorium and doing nothing: revitalize older areas with existing infrastructure; buy vacant land for stormwater storage “parks;” managed retreat; and no more building in vulnerable areas, to name a few. I implore the County Council to do what is in the best interest of their constituents.”

Me too…

On Tuesday, January 14, beginning at 4:00pm, in the council chamber at the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Building, 123 West Indiana Avenue, DeLand, the Volusia County Council will discuss a temporary moratorium on development until flood mitigation and sustainable growth management regulations can be formulated.

Trust me. I find it just as odd and conflicting as you that the Volusia County Council would select a date and time conflicting with a previously scheduled School Board meeting, but this is one you should not miss.

Sadly, it appears Volusia’s stodgy “Old Guard” would rather your home flood than admit Jeff Brower is right – about anything – or tighten the reins on the greed-crazed sprawl that has enriched a few powerful insiders at the expense of many…

I fear it will be little more than politics on parade – a good old-fashioned Volusia County kabuki – where the same clueless assholes who got us into this intractable mess will tell us how they plan to get us out of it – with all the gaslighting and scary stories you’ve come to expect from those shameless shills who so willingly traded their integrity, independence, and our quality of life for a pat on the head and a campaign contribution…

Time will tell.

Kudos to Tom Sutherland, Patricia Gertenbach, and so many others who are demanding action on this critical issue.

And Another Thing!

2025 – The Year of the Snake…

“According to the Chinese zodiac, the Jade Emperor invited all the animals to a banquet in heaven, and the order of their arrival would determine their rank in the zodiac. The Snake was clever and cunning, and hid in the hoof of the Horse, who was running fast. When they reached the gate of heaven, the Snake jumped out and startled the Horse, making it fall behind. Thus, the Snake became the sixth animal, while the Horse became the seventh.”

–The Chinese Zodiac

Sounds familiar…

When it comes to what passes for Volusia County politics and governance poisonous, ambitious, and enigmatic snakes abound.

That’s one reason I rarely get my hopes up.

While the faces on the dais occasional change, the ‘system’ remains, and – for good or ill – the limitations of the county charter dovetail precisely with the formal restrictions of the council/manager form of government to make it impossible for one councilmember to affect even a modicum of change.

Even when those of us who pay the bills demand it…

Since it became unfashionable to listen to the concerns of taxpayers, the county bureaucracy largely controls the focus of our elected officials – senior “staff” who invariably limit options by bringing narrowly defined “recommendations” that leave few alternatives.

When forced into a corner on critical issues, Volusia County politicians bolster their haughty sense of infallibility with the support of useful idiots, the giddy “Chamber of Commerce” set, and others beholden to the “system” – each of whom self-servingly do their damndest to add legitimacy to the deception and manipulation.

In turn, a few are thrown the occasional crumb – usually something everyone knows doesn’t have a snowballs chance in hell of coming to fruition, yet they continue to grovel for scraps – while influential insiders with a chip in the game gorge greedily…

Snakes, indeed.

As a result, much of the published agenda is a foregone conclusion, nothing of substance happens, and the stagnant status quo is protected at all costs, with anything of importance decided in off the agenda votes without public input, or opposition.

That’s not going to change.

But recently, things on the street have felt different to me.

For instance, in last year’s election, Chairman Brower once again proved that votes beat money, and despite the machinations of powerful forces working behind the scenes to hamstring his run for reelection, concerned voters saw Brower’s well-funded opposition for what it was.

Increasingly, Volusia County residents are beginning to call out the cheap-jack tactics of compliant waterboys like District 3 Councilman Danny “Gaslight” Robins, the obstructionism of David “No Show” Santiago, and the backhanded sabotage of Chairman Brower’s initiatives by At-Large Councilman Jake “The Snake” Johansson – whose recently announced run for state office is getting a frosty reception from waterlogged voters…

It is apparent that strapped residents are beginning to demand something beyond the exponential expansion of that horribly bloated bureaucracy, exorbitant raises for senior administrators, and ‘more of the same’ for their tax dollars.

That’s all for me. Happy New Year, y’all!

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