When it comes to the machinations of government, the subtleties speak volumes.
Those clever codes and dog whistles that the bureaucracy uses to signal what is important to the behind-the-scenes string pullers who actually set public policy — and what is not.
Those who determine which issues advance and which wither on the vine.
For instance, in advance of the Volusia County Council meeting Nov. 19, I perused the agenda – specifically, a proposed ordinance that will allow five-lot subdivisions in rural and agricultural areas that meet certain specifications without the need for council approval.
…
I turned to the most critical issue of our time – Item 4.
Chairman Jeff Brower’s request for a mere discussion of a proposed temporary moratorium on future development until flood mitigation and sustainable growth management regulations can be set – an emergency stopgap brought forth during Brower’s recent reelection campaign to address the most galvanizing and destructive issue of our time.
Somehow, Mr. Brower’s request didn’t meet any of the county’s identified strategic goals, including what would appear to be the items intended purpose to “Support a Solution-Oriented Culture.” (Sorry. I just upchucked in my mouth a little…)
To signal the opposition, the planned discussion of the “M word” was summarized as, “Chairman Brower requested this agenda item by the attached email on Saturday, November 9, 2024.”
That’s it.
The only supporting material attached to the agenda was an email sent by Chairman Brower to County Manager George “The Wreck” Recktenwald and County Attorney Michael Dyer, listing a series of “compelling arguments” and legal precedents detailing why Volusia County should consider a temporary moratorium in the face of recurrent widespread flooding:
“The suffering of our constituents and the increased danger to every resident and county property has made this complicated but important responsibility a priority for this council. I believe we can and will accept the challenge put before us by the recent devastating damage and loss of our constituent’s property and future. I thank you for your consideration and I believe the public expects us to act decisively, boldly, and thoughtfully.”
Later in the week, a letter from Chairman Brower seeking cooperation from area municipal governments was attached.
What do you think County Manager Recktenwald ($259,041 annually, not including benefits) and his paralytic senior staff was communicating to decision makers?
That’s why it wasn’t a surprise to anyone paying attention when, on cue, things worked out just as they had been scripted ahead of time.
Before the agenda had been approved, Councilman David “No Show” Santiago set the stage for kicking that rusty can down the dusty political trail — moving to wait for a minimum of “60-days” before even discussing flooding, because “I don’t have enough information to make a decision,” Santiago said.
After Santiago and the other do-nothings on the dais expended a lot of hot air justifying why, after years of flooding and decades of strategic procrastination on adopting low impact development practices, they still need more time to even talk about the most devastating problem of our time?
Callously, the remainder of the Council unanimously agreed on a 6-0 vote (with Councilman Matt Reinhart absent) to a “special meeting” on January 14, 2025…
It was another public castration of Chairman Brower – and a slap in the face to the overflow crowd of soggy residents who jammed both the main gallery and a holding room downstairs — to demand that their elected representatives take action to mitigate flooding in Volusia County.
During citizen participation, the elected officials sat stone-faced while countless constituents gave nearly three-hours of emotional testimony, openly pleading for action on development-induced flooding — interspersed with a few developers, real estate brokers, commercial construction companies, and “economic development” shills — who told flashlight under the chin scary stories about how even a temporary moratorium on future development would result in financial Armageddon for those in the trades.
At present, there is enough rehabilitation work in Volusia County to keep a construction company in business for generations.
Per usual, in the end, the institutionalized status quo of stagnation and mediocrity prevailed.
And those with a chip in the game got sixty more days to fill and build…
Between County Manager Recktenwald’s hypnotic monotone, the asinine finger pointing, the handwringing hypocrisy, timewasting spit/spats, and David Santiago’s stall tactics and name-calling, the devastating issue of regional flooding almost got lost in the bureaucratic ether.
Just as “No Show” Santiago intended…
Once again, the same tired names in the cloistered halls of the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Building who got us into this mess in the first place will be given even more money – then permitted to cover their previous mistakes and formulate a “solution” to get us out of it.
While the bulldozers continue to roar.
The very definition of insanity.
Perhaps it is time for frustrated victims of Volusia County’s growth at all cost strategy to demand federal and state agencies with the responsibility for protecting the public trust investigate the myriad allegations, whispered suspicions, and murky alliances at all levels of government that have resulted in this malicious foot-dragging on a clear and present danger to public health and safety?
I’m asking.
Because this choreographed strategic procrastination in the face of such widespread human suffering is obscene.
— Barker writes a blog, usually about local government, at barkersview.org. A retired police chief, Barker says he lives as a semi-recluse in an arrogantly shabby home in coastal Central Florida, with his wife and two dogs. This is excerpted from his blog, lightly edited (he swears a lot) and reprinted with his permission.
