Tuesday, April 29th, 2008
Dan Harshaw To Be Appointed TO CRA Board?
Rumor has it that Dan Harshaw will be appointed to the Downtown-Ballough Road CRA Board.  You remember Dan, past President of Save Our Neighborhoods, current President of the Downtown Partnership and son of the owner of Jessup’s pawn shop.  How can Dan turn away from supporting our neighborhoods to supporting unregulated spending of our tax dollars for development through CRA’s?  Guess he got tired of being on the losing side and wants to help his buddy’s on Beach Street get some  of the financial gift the city’s giving to everyone except those who need it.  Guess this really shows how little power and influence all those community groups really have.  As the song from the group Queen goes, ‘Another one bites the dust.’

Monday, April 28th, 2008
Mayor Ritchie’s Road Show A Hoot!
In an ‘effort to encourage open government’ Mayor Ritchie and some city staff had a resident question and answer ‘Road Show’ at Dickerson Center on Monday night.  Judging by the type of questions asked, there weren’t any ‘rocket scientists’ in the audience. Channel 2's Clair Metz was the moderator.
Questions about potholes, street lights and emailed utility bills were the norm.  When asked what happened to the Main Street Pier City Manager Chislom answered, “Were attempting to buy back the pier for $3.4 million.”  (Great concept Jimbo, when in debt just spend your way out.)  When asked why Daytona Beach is the only city in the area providing services to the homeless, Police Chief Chitwood divided homeless people into three catagories.  He then stated he was frustrated we’re spending so much on the war but not helping the homeless.  Then he said one third of the homeless were criminals and Daytona PD is ‘on it,’ which left the audience confused. Perhaps Chitwood would be better off just not talking and maybe supervising the police car pool a bit more.
This ‘Road Show’ is nothing more than a veiled attempt for city management to try and divert the public relations nightmare they’ve created.  City employees going fishing using city vehicles, cops driving 200 miles to interview for a new job using a city car, the police chief not showing up to a deposition, some city commissioners and the city manager wanted to take back beach operations from the city to protect their personal businesses their, ignoring a CRA audit showing hundreds of thousands in illegal spending. The Chamber of Commerce planning a huge homeless center in the heart of our city and the list goes on and on.

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008
Daytona Chamber Of Commerce Is Really Only A Political Action Committee...
Our Chamber of Commerce used to be a supporter of real business development in our community.
They’ve now become a negative political action committee, only representing developers and a small handful of the 1,400 businesses that pay dues to belong.
Current Chamber President Larry McKinney and Incoming President Ted Serbousek (Vice President of John Hall Chevrolet) developed a ten year homeless plan which is required for the 19 ‘social service providers’ like the Salvation Army to get funding.  Unfortunately the best the Chamber could come up with is to invite the homeless population from Volusia and Flagler counties to a new ‘homeless hub’ on North Ridgewood Ave (US1).  This new ‘hub’ will only be able to provide social services to 15% of the homeless currently here.  Over the next several years the growth in available services will only increase to 20%.  Lets also remember that Lake and Putnam Counties offer no facilities for the homeless, so they’ll ship their street people to us too.  End result, 85% of the homeless that come to Volusia County will end up in Daytona Beach and not receive any services.  Our homeless population is expected to increase five times it’s current rate if funding for this ‘hub’ is approved.  Why aren’t other cities in Volusia County being asked to assist?  Who’s going to pay the costs for the increased life safety and police needed?  Why is the Daytona Chamber pushing this plan?  To deflate uptown property values so their developer buddies can buy the land at severely deflated rates after the homeless drive out current Daytona homeowners.
Rather than just herd the homeless to one location in Daytona Beach with no real job opportunities, why not place them in small satellite centers in Deland, Port Orange, Ormond Beach, Edgewater and New Smyrna Beach where there’s work?  Because only 3 of the 21 Chamber Homeless Plan Committee Members live in Daytona Beach.  The rest certainly don’t want a homeless center in the community they live in.  In fact Chamber President McKinney and Incoming President Serbousek live in Port Orange.  Call Mr. McKinney at 255-0981 and Mr. Serbousek at 255-4444 and tell them you don’t want a new homeless center in Daytona Beach.

Thursday, April 17, 2008
Who’s Paying For Rick Shivers County Council Campaign?...
Campaign finance reports are a lot of fun to read.  Daytona Beach City Commissioner and wannabe County Councilman Rick Shiver is already getting contributions for his campaign.  Just who wants Rick to be on the County Council?  Influence Peddler number 1, Brown & Brown Insurance.  They do a bunch of business with Volusia county government and want to make sure Shiver’s paid off handsomely so he’ll vote their way.  Influence Peddler number 2, Beach Concession owners.  They don’t want the County Council making the rules on the beach so they’ll buy Shiver to vote their way.
Last but not least Influence Peddler #3, The Daytona Beach Firefighters union.  They’re the highest paid firefighters in the county , trying to make sure Shiver protects their jobs and raises in case city firefighters get consolidated into the County. 
The thing all these campaign contributors don’t realize Daytona residents remember that Shiver sold his house to the city for $180,000 more than it was worth. He’s also voted for every property tax and spending increase ever proposed by city management, doubling the city budget by over $100,000 million dollars during his watch..  We’ll continue reminding everyone about that all the way to the 2008 election.  If you want to promote incompetence and uncontrolled spending in county government elect Rick Shiver for Volusia County Council!

Thursday, April 17th, 2008
Bellair Community Group Chairman Steve Koenig A Sellout...
Relator Steve Koenig is so busy trying not to fracture the Bellair Community Group he’s become a sellout to the people he represents.  Jim Cameron from the Daytona Beach Chamber of Commerce showed up to speak about the Homeless Shelter plan.  So many people showed up that Koenig let the meeting run long deliberately so Cameron wouldn’t have to answer questions.  Koenig refused to let anyone ask questions and ‘coward’ Cameron ran off the stage ignoring residents and left the building when he was done speaking. Koenig has again let himself be used as a ‘shill’ for developers and the city’s power brokers.  What he doesn’t understand is they all call him Captain Ahab behind his back and label him the fool. They say the only difference between Koenig and Frank Heckman is Steve’s “ugly wife”. Koenig needs to wise up and realize they’re all playing him.  It’s time he truly represented the residents needs rather than city power brokers.

Wednesday, April16th, 2008
Naomi Weiss To Be Appointed To Rick Shiver’s City Commission Seat...
City Commissioner Rick Shiver will appoint Naomi Weiss, current Director of the Downtown Partnership, to fill his position. He’ll begin campaigning for a Volusia County Counsel seat shortly.  For months Shiver told everyone he was going to retire, then decided the opportunity to double Voulsia County’s spending and taxes was just too good to pass up.  Who is Naomi Weiss you ask?  She’s a 20 something beautiful blond who wastes our CRA money on Beach Street business parties, while our neighborhoods continue to decline.  Her salary has been paid for by a state CRA grant the Florida Auditor General found to be illegal. She should fit right in with the rest of the criminals.  Her support  for Daytona’s special interest groups shouldn’t be surprising.  Let’s not forget Weiss has no experience with and little involvement in local government. This means she’s the perfect puppet for influence peddling and city management.  Looks like she’s earned this position the old fashioned way, on her knees.

Tuesday, April 15th, 2008
Daytona City Manager and Commissioners Want To Take Back Beach Management To Protect Their Personal Businesses...
City Manager Chisolm and Commissioner Rick Shiver want to take beach management back from Volusia County to protect beach concession businesses they both own.  Volusia County Council Chair Frank Bruno stated that a few days ago in the News-Journal.
Seems the uproar started when the County Council suggested they hire a consultant to determine if all the beach businesses should be held by one major vending company.  Shiver and Chislom immediately supported the city taking back beach management, which the county has been doing since 1998 at a loss of $9 million annually.  You would think the last thing Daytona residents need is to take over another losing business, but Chisolm and Shiver don’t care.  It’s only money, they’ll just tax us some more.
As we’ve said before it’s very interesting that Shiver buys a beach concession after being paid $180,000 more for his home than it was worth by the city commission.  Then Chisolm fires our old garbage company, hires a new one and suddenly has the money to buy a beach concession too.  Something stinks in Daytona and it’s not the county’s operation of the beach.
While we don’t like a lot of what is prohibited on the beach we do like the fact that the $9 million in losses is spread out around the county and not just paid by Daytona residents.  Looks like City Manager Chisolm and Rick Shiver hope to change that for their personal gain, leaving taxpayers to pick up the pieces yet again.  Business as usual in the ‘Red-Neck Riviera’.  Yee-Haa!

Monday, April 14th, 2008
International Speedway Corporation Get Yet Another Taxpayer Funded Gift...
Buying a City Commission, the gift that keeps on giving.  In late summer of 2007 the City of Daytona Beach declared a 10,000 square foot piece of city owned property, parcel 5214-01-00-0030 ‘surplus’.  This particular parcel happened to be a very valuable corner in the middle of ISC’s new retail development.  It was sold just a few days ago for $80,000 to...you guessed it....ISC.  No public auction, no public discussion by city officials and no coverage in the News-Journal.  ISC paid only $8 dollars per square foot for prime real estate one block off of International Speedway Boulevard-what a deal and definitely illegal. ‘Surplus’ public property is to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, not sold for cents on the dollar to the highest campaign contributor. 
Daytona city management ane elected officials continue to cry poor but still manage to give away taxpayer assets to influence peddling businesses like ISC.  While Daytona residents try to make ends meet during a recession the France family continues to pick their pocket.  They should be ashamed of itself for continuing to take advantage of taxpayers.  Just how much money is enough for greedy scumbags?  But, have no expectations of local government and ISC and we’ll get no disappointments in the Red-Neck Riviera.  Yee Haa!

Monday, April 14th, 2008
Daytona City Employees Ignore Rules, Waste Money...
Much like their boss Jimbo Chisolm, most city employees just don’t care about following the rules.
City employee and meter reader Larry Toby took a city vehicle to his favorite New Smyrna Beach fishing hole while working late last week.  He told News Center 13 that he was on-call and had his bosses approval.  His boss said otherwise.  While the rest of us would have been fired from a regular employer, city employees are special.  Toby’s boss is deciding if he gets suspended or no disciplinary action at all.
http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2008/4/12/daytona_beach_worker_goes_fishing_in_city_vehicle.html
This is just another example in a long line of incidents city management continues to ignore.  City employees get a minor reprimand and then continue the same rule breaking behavior while residents continue to pay for it.
Just a few days ago a Daytona police captain drove a city vehicle to south Florida for an interview and ran into a dear on the way back.  His supervisor said, “What’s the big deal?”  A few weeks before that a Daytona police officer was seen in his Chevy Tahoe K-9 unit at a Palm Coast Publix, going grocery shopping with his family which is a direct violation of city policy.
City employees are costing taxpayers a fortune in fuel, mileage and lost time, being paid for working when they’re not.  If city management actually followed and enforced the rules they’d save taxpayers millions. But apparently that’s not their job.  Yee Haa!

Thursday, April 10th, 2008
Deltona Cuts Millions From It’s City Budget...
The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported yesterday the Deltona city commission will cut $2 million out of it’s budget this year and use $1.7 million of reserves to cover the shortfall.  They’ve also hired and efficiency expert that believes another $7.5 million can be cut next year.  On top of that Mayor Dennis Mulder has a plan to eliminate city property taxes on homesteaded properties, over the next few years.
Meanwhile, back at the ‘Red-Neck’ Riviera City Manager Chisolm and the International Speedway (City) Commission buries it’s head in the sand while city spending increases geometrically.  Now ‘Jimbo’ Chislom wants to bond every new capital project so our children’s children can pay the cost for developers.
Deltona has 18,000 more people than DB and spends millions less per year to run.  They plan to cut almost $9 million out of their budget in the next two years.  Daytona’s city management and elected officials only plan to increase spending and property taxes before attending the next six-figure Halifax Hospital party, at taxpayers expense of course!  Yee Haa!

Tuesday, April 8th, 2008
Chisolm Only Wants Another $3 Million To Buy Back The BoardWalk...
City Manager Chisolm is at it again.  Now he wants to at least $3 million to buy out the pier lease and bring back the ‘ambiance and mystique’ of Daytona Beach for family tourists.  City management and elected officials cited the lack of progress from developer Diland Coproation to build an ‘amusement pier’ as promised.  As part of the initial lease, taxpayers were forced to spend $6.5 million to pay for Breaker’s Oceanfront Park.  As usual the developer did nothing and now gets out of the agreement, profiting handsomely.  We again question the type of contract written by city management that allows a developer to not build anything and profit while doing so, yet taxpayers are on the hook for millions.
City Commissioners Sheila McKay and Pam Woods showed some backbone stating they wouldn’t support spending any public money until the contracts and process were much better explained and disclosed.  If City Manager Chisolm is allowed to continue his uncontrolled spending, we’ll continue to have vacant ocean front lots, a few nice looking publically financed projects, the highest property taxes in the state and no business or person will be able to afford to live here.  This guy needs to be fired and a fiscally responsible person hired in his place.

Friday, April 5th, 2008
Rich Party At Halifax Hospital Ground Breaking, Taxpayers Foot The Bill...
Halifax Hospital celebrated it’s initial ground breaking for a ten story patient tower expansion in grand fashion.  Some guests received Waterford crystal vases and dined on $58,000 worth of Sushi while surrounded with $15,000 of floral arrangement, at the taxpayers expense of course.  When challenged by the media the hospital’s attorney stated, ‘the established procurement process was not followed.’  ‘These items should have been procured through the bid process.’
Halifax hospital critic John Byers is looking into whether the hospital violated state ethics laws by giving public gifts valued at more than $100.  Byers has also spoken with a State Senator and representative from the Governor’s office about the party and possible ethics violations.
Byers was even more concerned about the hospital board of directors total lack of empathy and accountability.  Noting $2 million in expenses for a recent television advertising campaign and $15 million paid for LPGA property they won’t be using as examples.  Byers contends the hospital board  should be elected and not appointed by the Governor.  We should also mention that Daytona Beach Mayor Glen Ritchie is on the hospital board which may partially explain why spending is out of control, just like it is in the city of Daytona Beach. The final tally for party costs were $355,784 including $134,620 for graphic designs, $16,500 for invitations, $16,500 for Waterford Crystal vases, $67,000 for caps, T- shirts and hand tags, $4,800 for 79 personalized polo shirts and $14,545 floral arrangements. Halifax spokesman John Gonda stated, “As a public, tax supported entity, all of us at Halifax Health understand the importance of being fiscally responsible.”  Yeah, right!

Thursday, April 4th, 2008
Police Captain Ignores Travel Rules-Wrecks City Vehicle...
In a continuing demonstration of city employee arrogance Daytona police Captain Matt Doughney drove his city vehicle to a job interview at Avon Park in south Florida.  On the way back he ran into a deer and wrecked his car.  Deputy Police Chief Ben Walton initially lied to the Daytona Beach News-Journal by stating Doughney was, ‘On official police business.’  He also ‘What’s the big deal?’ when asked about Doughney’s unauthorized trip and accident stating police chiefs and captains are allowed to take their city vehicles all over the state.
Police Chief Chitwood stated Doughney violated the departments take home vehicle policy because he wasn’t on official police business.  Doughney will have to pay $3,000 out of his own money to for damages sustained to the city vehicle he was driving.  Chitwood also stated he’s reviewing whether to discipline Doughney even though he already he admitted he was wrong to use the city vehicle.
If Doughney worked for a private corporation he would have been fired on the spot.  But, city employees are hardly ever forced to take responsibility for their poor decisions, waste and fraud. Perhaps Chief Chitwood should investigate and clean up the ‘scumbags’ in his own department before continuing to label and pass judgement on residents.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Lisa Kennedy France Leaving ISC For Extended Time Period...
A source inside International Speedway Corporation told Real Daytona, Lisa Kennedy France is taking a two year sabbatical away from the business.  With the recent death of her husband Bruce and Father we truly understand her need to get away and be with her children.  We’ve said before that Bruce Kennedy was an exceptional physician and person in our community and will be missed.
Looks like Brian France will have to put down the wine glass and actually pay attention to what’s going on now.  Jim France has done well for a person in a position he never wanted.  He’s reluctantly taken the reins of ISC and kept them on track with Lisa’s help.  Hopefully the France family will consider doing more for the community that’s made them what they are, as the years progress but we wouldn’t bet on it.

Friday, March 28th, 2008
City Management Sued By Resident For Beach Street Condo. Deal...
Daytona Beach resident Henry Dowd filed a lawsuit against Daytona Beach today, for lack of affordable housing related to the financial fraud they participated in on the Beach Street Condominium Project.   Summons were issued to former city planners Steve Spraker and Daniel Reed, city redevelopment project director Jason Jeffries, city attorney Robert Brown, Mayor Glenn Ritchey, Boca Developers Inc and their attorney Robert Merrill.
Dowd’s lawsuit contends Spraker and Reed fraudulently altered a report from the Redevelopment Board to make the project appear more appropriate.  In addition, Boca Developers was allowed to use only one payment of $1.5 million for both the initial and density increased projects.  City management also allowed Boca Developers to not pay $800,000 in affordable housing charges demanded by city ordinance, for the density increase (more condo units) they received.
Dowd said it all comes down to how you define fraud. 
Dowd claimed the most damning evidence is a document showing Spraker received a three day suspension for a ‘staff report which was not reviewed by the Planning Board’ to the city commission.
Spraker left his Daytona position for ‘personal reasons’ and took a job with Ormond Beach.
As usual, city officials denied any wrongdoing.
Previously a civil rights attorney, Dowd said he was disbarred in 2004 for fraud following a case in which he sued the Florida Department of Children and Families.  (Please see Daytona Beach Hometown for more in-depth information)

Monday, March 31st, 2008
Daytona Developers In Big Financial Trouble...
Looks like all the land use changes and special deals our city management gave Developers in Daytona Beach was for nothing.  Brey & Gillespie filed multiple lawsuits against each other for almost two million dollars in missing money late last week.  Their Chief Financial Officer discovered the missing money in an audit and reported it to the owners.  The owners then blamed, fired and sued him.  He countersued. They’ve been trying to borrow money for months to keep afloat, but no one will lend to them.  They won’t be building anything soon in our City.
Our friends at Boca Developers have a similar problem.  An inside source and Wachovia Bank told Real Daytona Boca has missed months of payments on mortgages.  Wachovia is going to foreclose on their mortgages Wednesday, effectively putting Boca Developers out of business.  No Beach Street Condominium Project will happen in Daytona now.  You may remember reading of a civil lawsuit filed against Daytona city management and Boca Developers last week regarding the financial fraud that occurred during this project. Looks like city officials will have no deep pockets to hide behind now.
Even when city officials violate land development codes, commit fraud and lie to taxpayers, they still can’t get real development in our city.  Maybe they should just try to do it legally.  It might actually work that way/

Wednesday, March 19th, 2008
Daytona Vision Plan Scam Continues!
We’ve maintained the Daytona Vision Plan is being assembled primarily to avoid County and State over site when city management and elected officials want to change the land development codes for their buddies.  The first Vision Plan was soundly rejected by residents when they realized a multifamily apartment building could be built next to any of them. We paid a consultant $500,000 for that waste of time.  Then city management decided to let residents participate in the new Vision Plan, sort of.  They spent hundreds of hours with city employers and developers coming up with ideas.  In the middle of the project they were told by City Attorney Bob Brown, they could no longer vote on project issues, though he had said initially they could.  Residents ideas were slowly removed until the second Vision Plan became much like the first.  To make certain nobody really understood how well the Daytona Chamber of Commerce and attorneys from Cobb-Cole modified the Vision Plan and screwed residents, Mayor Ritchey (the great communicator) refused to let any residents speak at the City Commission meeting tonight.  This is arguably the most important legislation our city is attempting to pass in years.  State law mandates we get a lot of input in this process.  But city management and politicians only follow the law when it suits their purpose.  The city commission will vote to adopt the Vision Plan during it’s next reading and attempt to force residents to accept what developers want to do to our city.  We guess it’s hard for them to have a real ‘Vision’ for Daytona when they have their noses buried in the ass of developers, attorneys and the Chamber of Commerce.  We’ve heard a group of residents will be challenging the Vision Plan at the State DCA level.  Good luck to them.

Thursday, March 20th, 2008
Let’s Hire Another Consultant!
City Manager Chisolm won’t take no for an answer and our City Commission doesn’t have the guts or the brains to force him to.  Remember the hundreds of thousands of dollars city management was charged with misspending from the CRA funds by the State Auditor General?  After one year of ‘we didn’t do anything wrong’ they agreed to hire another five-figure consultant to insure they’re following state CRA guidelines.  Funny but we thought that’s what Chisolm and the Finance Director were paid $175,000 each to do.   How many city employees does it take to do the work?  Almost twice as many as other Florida city’s plus $3 million dollars worth of consultants on top of that.  As we’ve said before why not permanently higher the consultants and fire the city management that apparently can’t do the job.  No guts from the city commission equals more money out of residents pockets.

Tuesday, March 18th, 2008
Daytona City Manager Continues To Spend, Spend, Spend...
City Manager Chisolm can’t seem to stop spending  His newest financial shell game is a $39 million dollar budget amendment up for second reading on March 19th.  This amendment involves changing the way the city pays for some capital projects.  Instead of paying cash as first proposed, now Chislom wants to borrow the money through city bonds.
Instead of looking to slow his outrageous overspending he continues to find creative ways to spend even more.  We hear our city has no money but there’s absolutely no savings to taxpayers in this $39 million transfer.
Chisolm now plans to bond construction of the Derbyshire Community Center which has never been discussed at any City Commission meeting.  No one knows what the project will cost or even what it looks like.  Chisolm told commissioner McKay the project was passed in the budget two years ago.  He also stated there are many way to get a project passed.
Chisolm with Mayor Ritchie’s support purchased 19 new ‘unbudgeted’ vehicles for use in various parts of the Police Department. Guess we have to have new pretty cars to go with the Taj Mahal police station currently under construction and millions over budget.  We wonder if any of the vehicles were Fords or did Mayor Ritchie’s company supply Chevy’s at a nice profit for him?
Failed city commission candidate Carl Lenz was appointed to the Economic Advisory Board by City Manager Chisolm.  The interesting thing is Chisolm admitted that he didn’t have the time to look at any other applications.  He said he went by the Boards recommendation but there’s no meeting minutes nor any report about the criteria they used to decide this choice.  Why is the City Manager even involved in choosing citizen boards?  Why is there no report as to how it was decided who was chosen?  Because Chisolm is appointing who the ‘Five Families’ of major campaign contributing want on these Boards.
No ECHO grants were given to the city this year because they were late or not even submitted at all.  How can these grants be late when our city has 400 more employees than others our size, to do the work.  Because city management just doesn’t care.  Why apply for a grant when you can just increase property taxes to cover the cost!  Tax, spend and spend some more.  That’s politics in the Red-Neck Riviera! Yee Haa!

Tuesday, March, 11th, 2008
Daytona City Manager Continues CRA Spending Spree...
Daytona Beach City Manager Chisolm never met a dollar he couldn’t spend, then borrow another so he can spend some more.  His most recent waste of our CRA tax dollars comes from the Main street CRA.
The city bought the property at 137 Wild Olive for $120,000 then paid to demolish the house on it. 
Now they’re looking for a contractor to build a new house on the property.  Here’s a quote from the project outline.  ‘The CRA will donate for all or part of the costs associated with acquisition, clearance, maintenance and professional fees as an incentive necessary to provide a project that is economically feasible and of the highest quality.  Additionally the CRA will provide incentives to encourage and assist occupancy as a homesteaded property.
 How is it economically feasible for the city to buy  property, demolish the building on it, rebuild and not break even in the process.  It’s not unless you use our redevelopment (CRA) tax dollars to do it.  Residents and business owners have been told there’s no CRA money available for facade or citizen grants to rehab existing properties. Yet, Chisolm can spend hundreds of thousands of our CRA dollars on one house he’s going to sell at a loss.  Maybe City Commissioner Rick Shiver needs a larger house than the last one residents bought him in 2005 and Chisolm’s going to give him this one!
I guess it’s no surprise that Chisolm and our city commission continue to ignore the State Auditor General’s report regarding the illegal spending of our CRA money and their fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers. It’s been over a year since the report and Chisolm continues to successfully ignore what the State Auditor recommended.  We never thought our city commission could get worse than when Scarlett-Golden was Mayor, guess we were wrong.

Monday, March 10th, 2008
Commissioners Shiver & Taylor Plan To Stop Voters From Selecting Their Replacements...
Looks like the previous appointment of Glen Ritchie to Mayor after Scarlett-Golden died has set a precedent for the rest of our elected officials.  Commissioners Shiver and Taylor plan to resign their positions to run for county and state positions, prior to one years’ ‘service’ so they can appoint a replacement rather than let voters select one in an election.
It’s their final ‘screw the voter’ gift on top of the huge property tax and spending increases they voted for every year while in office.  Guess we shouldn’t be surprised.  Shiver was to busy buying a home in Costa Rica, part of beach concession and hunt club from the $180,000 in over payments he accepted when the city commission bought his house, so he couldn’t bother to deal with taxes and spending.  Taylor was too busy lobbying to close the Daytona YMCA and get a new, costly rec. center with his name on it to help us.
This appointment rule is ludicrous and just another way the ‘Five Families’ of Daytona Beach control who gets elected.  They won’t even have to spend any money on campaigns to buy the election for these two zones this time.  What a deal.
In a related story rumor has it that Carl Lenz, will be relocating to Zone 1 and appointed to take over Shiver’s city commission seat.  Looks like if you can’t win you move to a new zone and get appointed.
Maybe we should just save the money and not have an election all together.  Just let International Speedway Corporation, Brown & Brown Insurance, Bray & Gillespie, Doan Properties and the Mayor’s car companies select the city commission for us.  It would be the only thing they would do that actually lowers spending of our tax dollars.  Yee Haa!  The saga continues.

Thursday, March 6th, 2008...
Strip Club Manager Guilty...Yeah!  Right!
Daytona Beach is a city of corruption and conspiracy. If you believe the State’s Attorney, they took a major crime boss of the street today.  Lollipops Gentlemen’s Club Manager Sean Bishop was found guilty of violating campaign contribution laws and sentenced to 180 days in jail.  Bishop allegedly ‘gave’ $1,500 to three people to support City Commission candidates Sheila McKay and Paul Zimmerman.
During Bishop’s sentencing hearing on Friday Zimmerman even stated, “You’ve got the wrong guy.”
That didn’t stop Judge Walsh for going well beyond the six month probation state sentencing guidelines recommended and placing Bishop in jail, with no bond or appeal. It’s good Walsh is an elected judge.
Bishop has so many friends locally, it shouldn’t be hard to get this weak minded fool un-elected.
The State Attorney’s office spent over three years and $800,000 to get Bishop.  They also violated Federal election laws by releasing information of the ‘ongoing criminal investigation’ which influenced the election in favor of Mike Shallow, Sheila McKay and Paul Zimmerman for a time.  We neglected to mention that ‘Tallywacker’ Shallow was also a past contributor to State’s Attorney Tanner’s campaign.Tanner’s office also violated the civil rights of at least 12 campaign contributors including Bishop by seizing contributions made to candidates they thought might be tainted but had no proof.
Since Tanner and city attorney Marie Hartman are so strongly dedicated to honesty in the election process, we can only assume other arrests and trials of major Daytona Beach campaign contributors will begin shortly.  Yeah  ! Right!
Meanwhile the ‘Five Families’ of Daytona Beach, International Speedway Corporation, Brown & Brown Insurance, Bray & Gillespie, Glen Ritchey, and Theresa Doan, protected by State’s Attorney Tanner, will continue buying and rigging elections with law enforcement’s blessing.  ‘Red-Neck Riviera’ politics at it’s best-The rich get richer and taxpayers foot the bill.  Yee-Haa!

Wednesday, March 5, 2008
THE BEST GOVERNMENT MONEY CAN BUY...
                        The Five Families of Daytona Beach-Part 5
                                                                      The Ritchey Empire
Glen Ritchey is a relatively recent addition to the five families. Glen and his ‘family’” stepped up to the plate for the France team in the Scarlet Golden era.  They gave huge campaign donations, helping rig two elections before Glen was appointed mayor to fill Golden’s term after her death.
In the car business the DEAL is everything. If you’re around a group of used car salesman talking you’ll  hear the word DEAL used a dozen times a minute. Glen Ritchey is no exception.  Like any other car salesman he’s always looking for that next deal.  From country and western musician to car salesman to mega car dealer he’s made some great DEALS along the way but none slicker than his rise in politics. It’s a hell of a DEAL for him.  Glen’s put himself and his dealerships in play for the big time. How big is the DEAL and how does it work? Well read on and be amazed at still another chapter in the incestuous world of Daytona Beach politics.
Glen’s deal is all about greed.  Car dealers are always trying to find a better way to buy cars new, used or whatever, so they can make more money. Just imagine if you had a friend who knows the manufacturer and could get you a great DEAL on lots of cars so you could make lots of MONEY! Glen’s friend is International Speedway Coprporation, whose contacts in the automotive business are legendary.  They made the offer of a lifetime to Glen when Golden died. “Just take the job of mayor, make sure everything stays the same for four years and we’ll make sure our ‘friends’ in the auto industry send those special ‘program’ cars your way at a ridiculously low cost.  WHAT A DEAL!
It’s a great deal for Glen and International Speedway Corporation.  Everyone’s happy! Everyone except the residents of Daytona Beach of course.  They just got stuck with the short end of that DEAL. For the next four years local government will do nothing for the taxpayers while continuing to favor the ‘Five Families’ that control local government in our community. None of our problems will be addressed. In the end Glen will get his picture on the wall with a great big smile, in the Gallery at city hall.  In the ‘Red-Neck Riviera’ it’s always been the rich getting richer and residents getting screwed.  Why change now?!  Yee Haa!

Monday, March 3rd, 2008
Best Bike Week T-Shirt-‘FREE SEAN BISHOP!’
There’s been a lot of tasteless ‘Bike Week’ T-Shirts but the best one we’ve seen this year has to do with the scam performed by the State Attorney and Judge Walsh to Sean Bishop of Lollipops Gentlemen’s Club.  It says: FREE SEAN BISHOP!  YOU SPENT $800,000 TO NAIL A STRIP CLUB OWNER BUT YOU CAN’T EVEN CATCH A SERIEL KILLER! 
Under direction from the City Manager, City Attorney and City Commission Police Chief ‘Taser’ Chitwood is spending big overtime bucks on having undercover cops ‘patrolling’ the strip clubs protecting our city from an illicit nipple or butt crack that might escape a dancer’s bikini.  They’ve arrested dancers and managers at Club Topic and Molly Brown’s adult clubs but no one at Lollipop’s or the Pink Pony.  It seems they’re in compliance with local nudity laws.
While it makes much more sense to spend our tax dollars pursuing a seriel killer rather than a stripper flashing a little booty, that might be dangerous to cops.  So, residents are paying $45 per overtime hour for local cops to drink bear and look at scantily clad women.  As usual Daytona’s priorities are totally reverse of what they should be. 

Thursday, February 23rd, 2008
Daytona Beach Chamber Of Commerce Against Residents...
To most people the local Chamber of Commerce is a benevolent group that helps educate businesses considering a move to Daytona Beach.  That couldn’t be further from the truth.  Chamber President Larry McKinney and President-Elect Ted Serbousek are heavily involved in local politics and are constantly working behind the scenes to screw taxpayers.
McKinney and Serbousek recently assisted in gutting Daytona’s Visioning Plan by introducing dozens of last minute changes that eliminated almost every residential protection on height limits, density controls, water preservation and condominium construction in old neighborhoods, previously included by the land use committee.
They backed creation of a centralized hub for the homeless of eastern Volusia County at Ridgewood and North Aveneue in Daytona.  This will ruin any chance of redevelopment in the Uptown/Downtown area and bring hundreds of additional homeless people to our city.
They stopped the Salvation Army from relocating to LPGA and Jimmy Ann Blvd. so Tomoka- Consolidated Inc. wouldn’t have to deal with homeless people near their LPGA development.
Most recently they’ve announced they’ll sponsor a petition revocation drive against six Daytona Beach city charter amendments proposed by the political action committee STAND.
McKinney and Serbousek represent the special interests of Daytona’s business ‘elite’ while ignoring everyone else including the residents who pay for it all.  Most of the Chamber’s business members aren’t even aware of management’s political involvement and the potential harm it may bring to their business.  Maybe residents should stop doing business with Daytona Beach Chamber of Commerce members. Perhaps losing some money will get their attention. 
We neglected to mention Ted Serbousek is the Director of Finance for John-Hall Chevrolet.  We urge you to send the Mayor and Chamber President-elect Serbousek a message, by purchasing your next car from a dealership that Ritchey doesn’t own.

Wednesday, February 22nd
Waste Pro Garbage Hauler Stinks!
Four black Daytona Waste Pro employees attempting to organize a union effort were fired this week.  Company executives stated it was due to a slow down in local construction. The employees believe it’s because they’re black and attempting to unionize.  The terminated employees filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board.  The Daytona Beach city commission is reviewing the five year contract with Waste Pro to determine if laying off employees is a violation.
Special thanks to Daytona Beach City Manager Jim Chisolm for firing the previous waste hauler, even though residents liked them and hiring Waste Pro.  He raised our garbage rates by 40% and lowered the quality of service.  You know Chisolm’s philosophy, “If it’s not broke, break it, charge twice as much to fix it and throw a kick-back his way.”
In a related story, Palm Coast residents filed complaints against Waste Pro for dumping their recycle items in with the garbage.  The city of Palm Coast receives an average of almost 30 complaints per month against Waste Pro.
Between Waste Pro’s union busting tactics and the recent announcement that International Speedway Corporation was working with a New York company linked to organized crime, we’re expecting Tony Soprano to buy a nice winter home here shortly.

February 22, 2008
Business As Usual In Daytona Beach...
The black community is getting beat up as usual in our city.  First elected officials allow a Walmart to be built on the old Father Lopez school property, in the middle of a black neighborhood.  Now they decide to close Bonner Elementary school near the Kingston neighborhood.  Our city commission gives lip service to wanting neighborhood stability and increased home ownership in Daytona, then consistently undermines any possibility of that happening.  If they really wanted to save Bonner elementary they could demand the Volusia County School Board stop bussing the black neighborhood kids to Port Orange and Ormond Beach schools.  Kids could then walk or ride their bikes to school.  The city could refuse to change school zoning which would prevent the school board from selling the land for any other use.  The small neighborhood schools don’t take anywhere near the percentage of taxes the large mega-schools do and are better for the kids.  Closing Bonner Elementary will result in $100,000 a year savings.  They could save a lot more than that by just not bussing the kids to other schools.
So why isn’t city management and our city commission doing anything about this?  Because once they destroy the black neighborhoods they’ll be little chance for any unity between black and white residents. Then, they can finally try the same thing in the white neighborhoods.  Ortona and Longstreet Elementary schools are sitting on way too valuable beachside land (in developers’ opinions).  Removal of those schools, will  further depress property values, making it easier for developers to buy,  make campaign donations, get land use changes and build condominiums in the heart of old neighborhoods.
If Daytona is ever going to prosper, both black and white communities need to trust each other and  vote against our corrupt politicians and city staff. Issues like these are too important for just seven elected officials to decide especially since they’re accepting influence peddling.  These issues need to be on the ballot for all of us to vote on.  STAND’s Land Use and Density Control charter amendment will let voters decide how their city changes, not developers or corrupt politicians on the take. The ‘players’ are sweating these amendments.  Consolidated Tomoka just rushed re-zoning of 400 acres of woods to heavy industrial.  The Daytona Beach Chamber of Commerce and Homebuilders Association are pledging $50,000 each to stop STAND’s charter amendments.  You have the opportunity to change Daytona’s ‘business as usual.’  Sign a STAND petition and vote for change.

February 21, 2008
City Commissioner Rick Shiver’s...
Rick Shiver put on a great show last night during the Daytona Beach City Commission meeting.
Commissioner McKay asked if they were ever going to discuss the STAND charter amendment petition drive and Shriver lost his mind.  He ranted STAND’s Chairman Ron Bynum owned Lollipops and was just trying to harass city management.  (Bynum actually owns the building Lollipops leases, not the adult club.)  We think Shiver’s been in office too long and believes his own egotistical bullshit.  STAND’s petition drive is much bigger than adult entertainment or any conflict Shiver has with Bynum.  It’s about Daytona Beach’s survival.
Shiver’s angry because Bynum filed four criminal complaints against Daytona city management including one against him for the city buying his home for $180,000 more than it’s appraised value after a sewage back flow accident.
When we spoke with Lollipops owner Miles Weiss he stated, “Shiver had no problem accepting help from Lollipops when he ran for his first term.”  “He lied to us stating he had no objections to adult entertainment and our employees went door to door campaigning for him.” “Shiver happily accepted legal campaign donations from our friends and customers made through the fire department union.”  “We even bought most of the motorcycle raffle tickets the union was selling to pay off Shiver’s legal fees.”  “After Shiver was elected, he voted against us every time, stating it was just politics.”  “That convinced me to not waste any more time or money on Daytona Beach politics.”
When we spoke with STAND Chairman Ron Bynum he said, “City management and the Commission have used adult entertainment to change the subject and shift blame away from their fiscal irresponsibility for years.”  “Shiver’s trying to change the subject again ignoring the issues listed in my criminal complaints and STAND’s charter amendments.”  “8,000 registered voters have placed 48,000 signatures on our city charter amendment petitions because they want changes in their local government.”  “Since the majority of our city commission refuses to investigate or address the issues  concerning voters we’ll continue this process to it’s end.”   “I believe our elected officials will have little chance to get re-elected for any city, county or state position if they continue ignoring voters concerns in Daytona Beach.”

Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Hey, It’s Only Money In Daytona Beach...
Guess we’re supposed to be happy and impressed city management is cleaning, repairing and upgrading some parts of our city but at what cost to us. They put a fine new $140,000 tile roof on the Beach Street Fire station. This is the Fire Station that was too small, inefficient and was to be sold because it’s sitting on valuable river front property. Then ‘dope smoking’ whiney bitch commissioner and past firefighter Rick Shiver said we didn’t need a new Fire Station. Probably the first time Shiver ever chose not to spend our tax money. So instead of a new station which would free up river front property to sell or use, we spent over $100 grand the old one. Hey, it’s only money...
Halifax Harbor Yacht Club got a nice new $130,000 stop light with a pedestrian walk button that actually works. Of course it’s only half a block from another stop light. But hey, the high rollers at the yacht club shouldn’t have to walk a whole half a block when we can give a $100 grand to to make their lives easier. Hey, it’s only money...
Since we’re speaking of Halifax Harbor, there’s a new restaurant named Aquarium going in where the Stock Exchange used to be. During the tear out and re-construction phase it was discovered the city doesn’t have any ‘as built’ plans for the old restaurant. In fact, there were numerous code violations like pipes dumping waste right into the river rather than a sewer. This is unusual because the city actually owns this property and did the initial construction, obviously violating city and state building codes in the process. There’s four city trucks sitting in the parking lot everyday, doing nothing. Since building tenants are responsible for their own maintenance and construction, city employees aren’t working with them. They’re not working for the time share company that rents space there. So what are they doing? Nobody knows and nobody sees them but were certain they show up on the city payroll. Business and politics in the ‘Red Neck Riviera’, Hey it’s only money...

Tuesday, February 19, 2008
THE BEST DAYTONA BEACH GOVERNMENT MONEY
CAN BUY
‘The Five Families-Part 4’
Theresa Doan
Theresa Doan’s been a good little soldier in the election rigging scam of Daytona Beach and has received many rewards for helping the France family control local politics. When recruited, she had all the requirements of a co-conspirator for this election farce. This included a number of businesses to write checks from and favors she needed from her newly elected friends in local government.
Doan’s been all too happy to participate starting with Scarlett Golden’s campaigns for mayor with generous donations to the tune of almost $10,000.00. She’s been able to funnel these donations into campaigns through businesses like the Bank and Blues Club, Dirty Harry’s, The Full Moon Saloon and that all too interesting Special Events Lot LLC on Main Street.
Now lets talk about the special favors she’s been able to get in return for her campaign contributions (influence peddling). Doan’s companies own or manage a number of properties on Main Street that have received special zoning considerations. ‘The Special Event Lot LLC’ as it’s named, is one of the most interesting. It’s just an empty lot with pavers and palm trees which she rents to Special Events vendors for the two motorcycle events each year. Doan purchased the first Main Street lot and was able to get a zoning change that doesn’t exist anywhere else in Daytona Beach (with the exception of the Speedway of course). Taking even greater advantage of her campaign donations (influence peddling) Doan purchased the adjoining property, obtain changes in zoning, demolished the building on it and quickly installed brick pavers so no one noticed the expansion of her ‘Special Events Lot’.
While city management harasses most Main Street vendors to renovate their properties and be open the entire year Theresa Doan was given special zoning changes, allowed to demolish a building and only use the property three weeks out of the year to rent to itinerant vendors.
We admire Theresa. While most people think she’s just been looking for Mr. Goodbar after husband died, they didn’t realize she’d managed to become a ‘player’ and bypass all of the Main Street redevelopment rules for just a few thousand in campaign donations. It helps to have friends in low places!

Thursday, February 14th, 2008
THE BEST GOVERNMENT THAT MONEY CAN BUY
‘Five Families’ Of Daytona Beach
Part 3-Brown & Brown Inc.
After the Hurricanes of 2004, Floridians learned insurance companies should be thought of in the same way as used car salesmen and attorneys. ‘Scumbags’ one and all. Brown & Brown Inc., an insurance company headed by (PREMIUM BOY) Hyatt Brown is no exception. For those of you who have yet to feel the sting of an insurance claim rejection let’s sum it up for you; wealthy insurance companies collect premiums from their insured and then devise policies, exclusions and exceptions to avoid paying claims.
Now that you know Brown & Brown Inc. is a large multi-state insurance company ,you might wonder why they take such an active interest in Daytona Beach politics? After all, Hyatt Brown lives in Ormond Beach. Why would Nancy Brown of Brown & Brown in Winter Park or Brown & Brown of Ft. Lauderdale want to help elect Glen Ritchey mayor? For that matter, why would 24 individuals and companies having a direct or indirect insurance business relationship with Brown & Brown donate a total of $12,000 to Glen Ritchey’s campaign? What do they want so badly from our politicians? Why would they go through all this trouble? Because one of Brown & Brown’s biggest customers is (you guessed it) International Speedway Corporation. So Hyatt Brown and his ‘do-boy’ Charlie Lydecker will do anything ISC asks including rigging an election through large multi-state campaign contributions or shaking down taxpayers for $500,000 to give to the London Symphony Orchestra.
A little history for you. Hyatt Brown is a past Speaker of the House in Florida State government. (Insurance sales plus politician=double scumbag). He’s heavily connected. Charlie Lydecker was appointed to the State Ethics Commission at Brown’s urging. Of course Lydecker has few ethics. He was Yvonne Scarlet-Golden’s campaign finance manager the last time she ran. When ethics violations were filed against her for taking fee plane rides from ISC, rather than recuse himself from voting because of the conflict of interest, Lydecker did everything possible to stop the complaints from going forward.
Brown and Lydecker are such ‘do-boys’ for ISC that they’d suck the poop out of the portable infield toilets at the Speedway with a shop vac to demonstrate their loyalty. Kind of like kissing the mafia bosses ring.
These are the Real politics of our incestuous city. Brown & Brown’s participation is little more that a back door method of ISC funneling more money to control Daytona Beach elections.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008
THE BEST GOVERNMENT THAT MONEY CAN BUY
The ‘Five’ Families-Part 2
Joining the election rigging party with bundles of cash is the real estate development firm of Bray and Gillespie (or as we refer to them PAY AND GIVE-ME). Stepping up to the plate to bat second for the Speedway team and helping to stamp out free elections in Daytona Beach, the boys at Bray & Gillespie contributed an estimated $10,000.00 in donations to Mayor Glen Ritchey, or subtracting the mayors own contributions, about 10% of all monies raised in his campaign.
What did they get for their $10,000? Imagine that you could send a city commissioner or the mayor a hundred dollars and he or she would push through zoning changes for your property (home) that would enable you to sell it for two or three times it’s value. Well that’s what Bray and Gillespie are all about. Buying land on the cheap, getting zoning and land use changes and project approvals from their elected ‘friends’ they made campaign contributions to in Daytona Beach government..
Sweet deal for Bray & Gillespie, bad deal for residents who’ll be paying the cost of infrastructure to support these projects for years to come. That’s if the projects are ever built. Bray & Gillespie are all about ‘flipping’ or reselling properties they get zoning and land use changes on, for millions in profit. So when you see the pretty drawings of the new condominium developments they promise they’ll build if we just give them a few land use changes, remember it’s all a scam. They’ve built nothing in Daytona Beach and won’t as long as they can resell their property with zoning and land use changes, for more than they paid for it.
In the meantime Bray and Gillespie will be sipping margaritas on some tropical island while counting their cash. So the next time you drive down A1A and see those white fences with the palm trees in front of them, thank Bray & Gillespie and our elected officials who all profited in the Quest for Daytona Beach gold, at taxpayers expense of course.

Tuesday, February 12th, 2008
The Simple Fact Is That Floridians Are Being Overtaxed
The following are Portions of an editorial from Adam Guillette, former Director of the Americans For Prosperity (www.americansforprosperity.org) in Ponte Verde, Florida, from a News-Journal editorial today. ‘The simple fact is that Floridians are being overtaxed. Government is growing at rates that are not sustainable, especially at the local level.’ ‘What did (local governments) do with all the excess revenue they received over the past few years? Rather than saving for a rainy day, they spent it.’ ‘Many of these government officials are like kids in a candy store, but the problem is that their purchases are made with our money.’ ‘Most local governments do not have a sufficient level of responsibility to handle a bust (downturn in the economy).’ ‘A bear market combined with tax increases is hardly a recipe for prosperity.’ ‘A taxpayer protection amendment is the best method of smoothing over the business cycle.’ ‘It would require politicians to get voter approval over any new tax increase, tying the increase of government revenue to inflation and population growth.’ ‘This would force fiscal responsibility on all levels of government and creation of a rainy day fund, to manage services in the time of revenue decline.’

Tuesday, February 12th, 2008
Chief ‘Taser’ Chitwood, Busting Kids &Violating Civil Rights
We used to like Police Chief ‘Taster’ Chitwood. For the first time in years we had a Chief that got off his butt and participated in law enforcement. But after being praised for a few months ‘Taser’s’ ego’s beginning to get the best of him. He backs his officers even when it’s obvious they made a mistake, such as when a female customer at Best Buy was tased by Daytona PD for strongly voicing her opinion on whether her credit card was hers or not. Can you say major lawsuit?
Now ‘Taser’ wants a curfew for minors out after 11:00pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends. He claims that a 25% increase in violent crimes by teens is the reason we need the curfew, but how much of that increase took place after 11:00pm isn’t clear. According to the FBI, peak violent crime hours for juvenile crimes committed after 11:00pm is less than 5% of all juvenile crime. But why let facts get in the way of grabbing headlines? Soon Chitwood will say he needs more tax dollars to hire more cops to enforce this nifty new law.
Forget the fact that it isn’t against the law to walk around town without ID and Daytona is a vacation city with minors and families visiting constantly. Creating the ability for police to accost and question anyone who looks younger than eighteen just because they’re out and about, is a violation of our civil rights, pure and simple. Guess we shouldn’t be surprised. This is from a guy that believes everyone’s a ‘scumbag’ until proven innocent and wants DNA from all of us to build up his ‘scumbag’ database.
Daytona’s City Commission should take the batteries away from ‘Taser’ and tell him no youth curfew.
But common sense never prevails in our city government. They’ll pass this law, get sued by some tourist and lose, costing taxpayers even more money in the end. Guess a bad law is better than no law at all. Let’s all go scoop some DNA out of the toilet and mail it to ‘Taser’ to show him our opinion.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Local Groups Line-Up Against STAND Charter Amendments
The Daytona Beach Chamber of Commerce and the local Homebuilders Association are rumored to be organizing against the charter amendment petition drive being conducted by Striving Towards A New Daytona (STAND). It’s been alleged they plan to spend over $100,000 to defeat them. The Homebuilders Association is understandable. They’ve been profiting from our governments land use changes and tax giveaways for years. The Chamber is a bit more puzzling. They’re suppose to represent all business in Daytona Beach. Tax and spending cuts are always good for business so you’d think the Chamber would be in favor of these charter amendments. Guess we’ll have to wait and see who really does come out against them. It’ll be fun to watch. If STAND is successful in obtaining 10,000 signatures, they’ll have almost as many voters backing the amendments, that voted in the last election. That’s a pretty large group of residents to anger. Might be fun to see how the Chamber and Homebuilders Association react with 10,000 voters screaming for their heads! It’s red-neck Riviera politics at it’s best. Yee-Haa!


Friday, February 8th, 2008
City Commissioner Pam Woods Is Doty ‘Lite’
The Daytona business community is breathing a sigh of relief. They were really worried Pam Woods would be more like Sheila McKay than the rest of the zombies on the City Commission. They gave a lot of money to Carl Lenz to run against Pam and he still lost. Carl’s biggest problem was listening to his campaign manager Tom Blond. Blond is President of the political action committee Civic Pride. Blond is many things, especially arrogant but definitely not much of a campaign manager. Civic Pride is supported by Daytona’s larger businesses and the Chamber of Commerce. You know, the people that support residents getting screwed by their government while businesses that make campaign contributions profit. With Frank (I like little boys) Heckman as their Vice President Civic Pride qualifies as your typical right wing republican group. Conservative, (except with government spending) law abiding (for everyone else but themselves) and against all sexuality (unless it’s gay in nature, preferably in a public place like a restroom at Sears).
But we digress. It hard to believe but Pam Woods is actually less effective than her predecessor (Do Nothing) Doty. Woods promised changes, to ask questions, demand answers and make our government more open and accountable. Yet, she’s done absolutely nothing, zero, zilch. She’s neutral on every issue so she doesn’t make anyone angry. She already seems to believe everything she’s told by Chisolm and seems overwhelmed with the job. Just how Chislom likes ‘em. What a disappointment she is to all the people that supported here.

Wednesday, February 6th, 2008
Campaign Finance in Daytona Beach Part 2-‘The Five Families’
The France Family
The France family has manipulated the electoral process in Daytona Beach to their advantage for many years, through campaign donations made by International Speedway Corporation, NASCAR and various employees and ‘shell’ companies throughout the United States. Some of the benefits of the best government their money can buy have been:
The elimination of competition through the blackout of temporary permitted activities during race weeks. (No one else on ISB gets a permit to sell racing merchandise outside at race time)
Controlling appointments to the Daytona Beach Racing and Recreational Commission resulting in a sweetheart lease of the track for the next fifty years.
Repeated and wholesale violations of the Daytona Beach land development code that have occurred every year without prosecution, since the track was open. (Parking on the grass).
Land grants and zoning changes resulting in millions of dollars in profits for ISC.
Tens of millions in city infrastructure support each year for traffic control, police and fire services that are provided to support speedway events and paid for by residents. (Police and fire departments in this city would be considerably less expensive without the speedway events.)
$2 million of taxpayers dollars for an elevated pedestrian walkway.
And the list goes on and on....
QUID PRO QUO? (Do something for me and I’ll do something for you)
IN THE LAST ELECTION ALMOST $60,000 DOLLARS WAS CONTRIBUTED TO GLEN RITCHEY’S CAMPAIGN FROM INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CORPORATION, ASSOCIATED INDIVIDUALS AND RELATED ‘SHELL’ COMPANIES!
It’s no surprise Ritchey supports what ever ISC wants. He makes a bunch of money in just the new ‘program’ cars they give to his dealership after Race Week.
Our next story will cover Brey and Gillespie or as we call them ‘PAY and GIMME !’

Tuesday, February 5th, 2008
Elections Trial in Daytona Beach a Farce-Mayor’s Race ‘Rigged!’
The trial of Adult Club Manager Sean Bishop for election law violations is a farce. Daytona Beach elections including the last mayor’s race have been ‘rigged’ by the rich and powerful for years. The five families don’t want a strip club or voters for that matter, involved in politics so they called they called their lap dogs in the State Attorney’s office to trump a few charges.
The cowards at the News Journal have described this trial as exposing the way campaigns are financed in Daytona Beach. Bullshit! Here’s the Real story-read on.
In the last mayor’s race Glen Richey raised more than $169,000 for a primary race that was nothing more than a well financed manipulation of the electoral process, which has been going on for some time. Here are the facts for you:Glen Richey’s treasure chest:Total Raised $169.000Total number of Donations 450Total Number of Donations from outside the city 216Total number of 500.00 donations 190=$95,000
Last but not least the largest majority of these donations came from what I like to refer to as Daytona Beach’s five ruling families. (Almost sounds like the mafia doesn’t it?) Donations came from post office boxes in Las Vegas and addresses in Colorado Springs. If campaign financing is above board in Daytona Beach then why are well known corporate contributors hiding behind shell companies in other cities?
Interested? Want to know more? Read on tomorrow when I’ll be exposing Daytona’s five families and some of the Quid Pro Quo they’ve been receiving for their generous donations over the years.

Thursday, January 31st, 2008
International Speedway Corporation Stock Loses 28% Of Its Value in One Year!
ISCA stock has plummeted in the last year from a high of $54.75 to its current price of $39.86. City planners and elected officials of Daytona Beach would be well advised to unhitch our cities future from this falling star.
It’s time the city commission focused on the long term viability of other non- speedway connected businesses and promote true economic development. This will better diversify our local economic base making us less dependant on an industry that relies totally on discretionary spending.
Truth be told this community has spent way to much of its valuable tax resources for too long on a single business which has failed to bring or share any economic prosperity with its residents.
The time is past for the Speedway to get most of the city commission’s attention because of huge campaign contributions. Having the best government Speedway money could buy has done little for Daytona’s economic development.
To our bought and paid for City Commission, even rats are smart enough to jump off a sinking ship. Are You?

Thursday, January 31st, 2008
Presidential Primary Yields Stunning Results for STAND
Daytona Beach Voters Rally for Change
In an incredible turn of events, the January 29th presidential primary has bolstered the efforts of the STAND group to change the Daytona Beach city charter through petition. STAND amendments place controls on city spending, decrease utility bills, lower the number of city employees, prohibit campaign contributions by unions and corporations and eliminate the city attorney’s office.
According to sources close to STAND, 2,887of voters in yesterday’s primary signed all six charter amendments. 48% of all voters at the Schnebly Center signed petitions. STAND’s unofficial signature totals are now just above 8,000! They need a minimum of 9,115 which is 20% of Daytona’s registered voters.
During the day voters could be seen lined up at the tables often three deep, waiting to sign petitions. One of the local student volunteers said she was very excited to see so many parents signing petitions. “It’s great that people care about our future” said another student.
In a dark spot in an other wise sunny day for STAND, one of its (African American) volunteers reported he was harassed by both Daytona Beach Code Enforcement personal and Daytona Beach Police who visited the Schnebly Recreation Center five times during the day. (Maybe the City is reinstating the old law that requires that all African Americans must be off the beachside by sundown!).
City Attorney Bob Brown showed up at the Schnebly Center to vote during the afternoon. Afterward, he leaned against the basketball court fence for at least a half-hour, watching STAND volunteers work. A great example of why Brown needs to be gone. He goes to vote during working hours then hangs our afterwards in an attempt to intimidate petition volunteers all while on the taxpayers ‘dime.’ We wish STAND continued success!

Saturday, January 26th, 2008
FDLE to Investigate Daytona’s Misuse Of CRA Funds
A Real Daytona contributor was just advised by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement they will be investigating allegations of CRA funds misuse made in a criminal malfeasance complaint he filed against city management in December of 2007. He cited the Florida Auditor Generals report as the key source of information and city managements refusal to repay hundreds of thousands of tax dollars used in violation of state CRA statutes. He also cited the recent purchase of a Grandview apartment building for $200,000 above the appraised value using CRA funds. City management was previously advised to not purchase property without appraisals or above the appraised value a number of months ago in the Auditor Generals report. They apparently chose to ignore the audit and continue business as usual.

Friday, January 25th, 2008
City Commissioner Shiver Pays Panhandlers With Tax Dollars
Daytona Beach City Commissioner Rick (Tax & Spend More) Shiver is behind a new program to waste even more of residents money. He wants to pay transient ‘panhandlers’ to clean up our city.
In his opinion this will help them back on their way to becoming productive citizens and getting real jobs. How stupid can city management really be? What better way to encourage more transients to move here than offering them employment.
Now instead of having to beg for money they’ll get it virtually free from us. It’ll be just enough to buy the booze or drugs they need, no real work will get accomplished, the city gets to hire even more unqualified people to be paid by residents. What about the city employees already do this job? Are we going to lay them off so we can hire the ‘panhandlers?’ Of course not!
We have nothing against ‘panhandlers’ but they shouldn’t be paid to break the law. This is the way Daytona always reacts. Rather than truly solving a problem they either ignore it or make a bad choice later wasting more tax dollars trying to fix it. (Remember the city fireboat, LPGA Tennis Club, or misuse of CRA funds just to name a few?)
Why doesn’t Commissioner Shiver use some of the $180,000 in overpayment he received when residents bought his house because he got some poop in his basement, to pay panhandlers. They could all hang out at his house and groom his lawn. It shouldn’t be a problem for him since he’s always in Costa Rica at the surfing house he bought with the ‘extra’ money he received when we bought his house for him.

Thursday, January 24th, 2008
More Daytona Vision Plan Lies...
A number of ‘stakeholders’ and group leaders involved in creation of Daytona’s most recent Vision Plan have stated their objections to the most recent re-write to Real Daytona.
One board member wrote-
“The Jan. 08 Vision Plan rewrite version is a lie beginning on page one. It says ‘first draft’ and is 23 pages long. In reality this is the ‘second draft.’ The first draft was 87 pages long and was released 9/10/07. Why do you think the Executive Committee is holding this rewritten second draft out as the first? Because they’re trying to bury citizens input, especially the work of the Land Use action team! Another wrote:” You may have heard Edith ‘Shell Game’ Shelly on Big's show earlier last week. She had every opportunity to come clean with the public and refused to, when faced with direct questioning. To that end I ask - Would you guys consider doing a segment about what new financial giveaways and land use change powers city staff and commissioners get when they finally get their vision passed by the City Commission and validated by the state DCA? No one else seems to think these new powers are important, but the city will no longer have to go to the state for approval of any land use change if the
Vision Plan is passed.
Another wrote to Visioning Chairperson Edith Shelley-I have read the draft of the so called "vision" plan. It appears to be a total waste of time and money, not only to me, but to everyone I talk to that has paid any attention to it. Now, I understand, even some of the people who worked on it see it as a misrepresentation of their work. The ramifications of passing this seriously flawed plan will be long lasting, not unlike the many, many failures we are now paying for that occurred during your (Edith Shelley’s) tenure on the Planning Board. I had hoped you would use your position as chair of the visioning committee to make amends for your failures on the Planning Board, but it appears to be business as usual. For the record, my suggestion is scrap this plan.
These residents were just a few of the’ stakeholders’ and group leaders in the Visioning process stating it needs to be scrapped. We’re certain city management won’t listen to them, but it’s interesting to note the anger and betrayal these people feel towards Edith Shelley and city management.

Thursday, January 24th, 2008
City Hires More Consultants To Do Their Job...
Daytona Beach City Management has spent over $200,000 in 2007 with Ivey Group Consultants for Land Development Code changes. They recently hired them to do all the city’s comprehensive land use changes as well as Land Development Code changes.
This types of work is the responsibility of city Planning and Development department employees whom are guided by the Planning Board. Now the Planning Board will be expected to rubber stamp whatever Ivey recommends, while city employees get paid to let a consultant do their work while they do nothing.
The city has more staff at higher wages than ever before. Why can’t they get this work done like they used to? Other city’s around us don’t use consultants, they use thire city employees paid to do the work. When questioned city management stated there’s too much work to get done by staff, but the construction industry is at a standstill and no beachside developers are building anything. How can their be too much work to get done?
City Commission Gilliland said it would be ‘cost prohibitive to have internal execution.’ If that’s the case then we should outsource the entire process to Ivey and eliminate the positions of the city employees that used to do it, so we can save hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. It’s just another example of city employees wasting our tax dollars and doing less work while demanding more money.
How many Daytona city employees does it take to change a light bulb? Let’s find out. First we have to hire an engineering consultant, then a land use consultant, then an environmental consultant, get the fire and police unions buy in, raise property taxes to cover the cost........................................................

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008
Daytona Police Scamming The System & Costing Taxpayer...
While shopping at the Palm Coast Publix last week, I noticed a nice new Chevy Tahoe SUV with Daytona police markings pull up and park. It was a K-9 unit. A man, his wife and kids got out to go grocery shopping.
It appeared a Daytona police officer lives in Palm Coast and uses our city vehicle for his personal errands. Since when is this allowed to happen? Upon further investigation I discovered that officers are allowed to take their vehicles home but they’re not supposed to use them on personal business. Looks like that rule is totally ignored. Daytona residents are paying the gas and insurance for this cop to commute 50 miles every day, costing taxpayers a fortune and is totally ridiculous. Don’t believe me, we’re paying at least $100 dollars per week in gas for this one cop to commute to work. That’s $5,000 a year. Multiply that times 200 cops and you’ve got $1 million dollars. That doesn’t even include the insurance costs or the cost of the ‘wear and tear’ on the vehicle.
While Chief ‘Taser’ Chitwood will argue cops having police cars at home gives them faster response time if they’re called in during a crime, it’s really just another way to fleece the taxpayer and take advantage of the system. Years ago cops were issued a shotgun, riot gear and a hand held radio which they kept in their personal vehicle, plus a little blue dashboard light. If they were off duty and called in to a crime scene they brought their gear with them, in their personal vehicle.
Over 80% of Daytona’s cops don’t live in our city and commute to work using our tax dollars to pay the cost. The $1 million in gas cost could be better spent by putting ten additional cops on the street.
Next time Chitwood, City Manager Chisolm or the City Commission say we need more money for cops, tell them to stop wasting the money we give them first.

Tuesday, January 22rd, 2008
Daytona Housing Authority Audit Shows Yet Another Financial Problem...
Channel 9 News reported yet another financial management problem in our city late last week. The Daytona Beach Housing Authority is, “Spending money so freely, it may collapse.” The money is supposed to help the city’s needy from becoming homeless. However, the US Department of Housings’ audit found nine critical errors that actually put the program and the city’s low income housing at risk. Critical finding range from not having tenants pay enough rent to handing out money meant for housing as bonuses to department employees. Then there’s Housing Authority Director Peter Gambles contract, laden with incentives and clauses which auditor’s say will have a devastating effect on the Housing Authority’s shrinking funds. Auditors suggested Gamble have the Florida Attorney General review his contract, but he refused stating legal counsel told him it wasn’t mandatory.
In November of 2007 Gamble requested and received even more contract incentives, a $200 week raise in his car allowance and up to a 15% increase in his salary. His comment when questioned about these excessive ‘perks’ was, “It won’t affect the bottom line,” and “My Board (of Directors) are the ones that review my contract, performance and raises.” The only change the Housing Authority Board has made is to require tenants to perform community service. something HUD had ordered back in 2003.
It’s obvious that financial abuse and malfeasance continue unabated in our city. Perhaps the Housing Authority would have more money if city officials actually collected the $8 million in affordable housing credit from Boca Developers, for the 97 extra units they received from their density bonus request. But why do that when you can just raise property taxes, city fees and hire a few more employees to cover everything up.

Monday, January 21st, 2008
Audit, Audit, Another Bad Audit For Daytona Beach...
Bad financial audits seem to be the rule for Daytona Beach. The city’s Utility Fund just got a D minus grade from independent auditor Brent Millikan and Co. of New Smyrna Beach.. In fact, Millikan stated the city audit was only 1% away from receiving an unfavorable rating.
The Utility Fund has had increasing cumulative operating losses of $4.6 million in 2006, $1.9 million in 2005, $5.2 million in 2004 and $5.2 million in 2003. There’s also $6.6 million in borrowed funds to finance long term debt. One of the biggest problems is the transfer of millions of dollars out of the Utility Fund to other poor performing projects and division like the Municipal Golf course.
Milikan suggested the city stop using money from the Utility Fund to subsidize new water and sewer lines for housing that hasn’t been built yet and instead, use bond issues. The current method penalizes residents who live here rather than making developers and residents that move here absorb some of the costs.
City management doesn’t want to do that. They know residents won’t vote for bond issues for housing that hasn’t even been built yet. Bond issues would also will make it harder for their developer ‘friends’ to get all the special considerations they currently receive from their influence peddling and campaign contributions.
Millikan also noted cost for the city’s self insured program skyrocketed as well as a $2.2 million jump in employee benefit cost, directly related to the new pharmaceutical program the City Commission approved for city employees last year. As we’ve previously said, Daytona city employees have better health insurance than 90% of the residents and we’re paying for it. The city’s insurance cost have went up due primarily to bad management decisions and legal settlements which is another reason why we need to get rid of much of current senior city management. They continue to refuse to change and adopt a more conservative financial program for our city.
Millikan suggested the city due a comprehensive review of it’s insurance and medical benefits funds and find cheaper alternatives rather than what they’re have now. He also stated strongly that the city needs to find ways to just spend less, especially in the capital projects area.
We’ve been saying for years Daytona city management has been spending our money like drunken sailors on shore leave. How many bad audits is it going to take before elected officials get rid of City Manager Chisolm and Finance Director Ricardo Kisner? Ohhh, we forgot they work for Chisolm, as least that’s the way it seems.

January 18, 2008
Daytona’s Visioning Scam Continues...
Paul Zimmerman, past City Commission candidate and Chairman of the Visioning Environment Action Team, recently forwarded a letter to the Visioning Executive Committee, Mayor and City Commissioners critical of the Executive Committee’s rewrite of the Land Use category, after it was agreed upon by the 18 residents that wrote it. He claimed a number of exclusions, change and misrepresentations were made which weren’t included by his committee. They are:
Continuing to negotiate height restrictions on a case by case basis rather than using the city limits that currently exist.
Instead of limiting special designations for PCD, PUD and PR projects, you encourage them and don’t require defined and tangible benefits like parks and public housing.
Instead of keeping zoning density at the same level, you deleted density requirements totally.
Instead of limiting development to the amount of water (CUP limit), that the St. John’s River Water Management allows you changed it to state, “Ensure...infrastructure and water needs are considered.” Zimmerman wrote, “I believe these examples exhibit a disregard for the input of citizens who worked and gave their time to express their vision of Daytona Beach.” “Trust in local government is not at an all time high and the actions of the Executive Committee reflect on how citizens view their government.” “I hope the Executive Committee corrects their draft to accurately reflect citizen’s input.” “Serious consideration for citizen input is not only required by the State’s Vision law, but it’s the right thing to do.”
We salute Mr. Zimmerman for pointing out the changes the Executive Committee made but believe it means little. City management and elected officials want to continue to accept the influence peddling they receive from developers. There’s no way residents are going to get any real input into Daytona’s ‘Vision,’ that’s reserved for the businesses that pay to elect our city commission.

January 11th, 2008
City Manager Chisolm Punishes Bellair Neighborhood Group For Supporting Pam Woods!
Bellair Neighborhood Group Chairman Steve Koenig had scheduled a city code enforcement officer to speak to the group tonight, printed up 200 flyers and distributed them for the meeting tonight weeks ago. Koenig was told two days before the meeting that the code enforcement officer couldn’t come because he was required to attend the Beachside Neighborhood Watch meeting, Chaired by Frank Heckman.
After a number of email complaints to Chisolm and Mayor Ritchie, Ritchie sent an email later in the day stating the code enforcement officer would attend the Bellair meeting. Then Chisolm, who was still pissed-off at the Bellair Neighborhood Group for supporting Pam Woods, ‘punked’ Mayor Ritchey and made the code enforcement officer attend the Beachside Neighborhood Watch meeting instead.
Then adding insult to injury Chisolm, convinced Bellair’s other speaker Bob Davis, President of the Hotel/Motel Association, to cancel as well. Davis said he was sick but was seen at a number of meetings during the week.
We’re not surprised at Chisolm’s vindictiveness. After he totally ignoring the City Commission’s request to pay back misspent CRA funds a few weeks ago, we realized his arrogance has no limits.
He’s the main reason our city finances are such a mess. He continues to spend our money like a drunken sailor, lying cheating and stealing while ignoring his boss, the City Commission. We wonder how much of our $238 million budget went to he and his wife’s purchase of their new beach concession business!

Friday, January 4th, 2008
Wal-Mart and Daytona Beach City Management Team Up Against STAND Petition Gathers...
City management doesn’t like anyone getting in ‘their’ money which is exactly what members of the political action committee STAND are doing. They’re gathering signatures on six city charter amendment petitions to change and control how and what Daytona city management can spend. In what appears to be retaliation, Daytona police officers arrested STAND petition gatherer Joseph Carter, who was at the Beville Road Wal-Mart gathering signatures Saturday morning.
While in the police car Carter noticed a memo from Daytona City Attorney Anthony Jackson ordering the police department to arrest any petition gatherers they can, when found on private property. Jackson is one of the city employees who’s job would be eliminated if the STAND charter amendments are passed into law by voters.
While a new Florida law does allow private property owners to ask petition gatherers to leave the property, it certainly doesn’t give the same status to quasi-public property owners such as a Wal-mart. A Florida appeals court issued a decision in 1993 that state trespass laws can’t be used to exclude peaceful political activity at these