IF YOU HAVE CORRECTIONS, OTHER ADVICE, OR WISH TO CONTACT US, PLEASE EMAIL THE WEBMASTER AT nsbshadowteam@gmail.com Published Weekly, Direct from the Web.  Look to Us for the Latest Intrigues and Tell Your Friends About Us!

Thank you, enjoy your visit and come back ya' heah.

January 23, 2012

DEAR PAM

We realize that you have limited resources available for  pursuing cost reduction projects, so we have decided to help you with draft letters. This will free you up for important things, like dealing with all the serious problems of the police and fire department pensions. Hope this helps you formulate your position to the Mayor. 

NOTES:

1.CORRUPTION: SURPRISE

It is not the corruption that is the surprise. It is the arrogance. They have been giving away other people’s money so long they forget  it is a public trust and not for them to ignore the basis for their appointment. 

2.DAVE KOSMAS SHOULD RESIGN

“Email address:prespropman@bellsouth.net Subject: Get the facts before you spout off Message:To whom it may concern, Maybe prior to spouting off contrived conspiracy theories you should check your facts. Dave Kosmas has never signed a check or had one cross him in his 9 month tenure at the SVAA. So, do your readers and the community a favor & get the facts before you spout off!”

President Nixon never signed a check for the Watergate plumbers either. Kosmas either believed the public would never find out  or is an incompetent Chairman.

Your pick.  Remember, he negotiated and endorsed the first contract for $110,000  which the County Council set aside. The Shadow says both he knew about the “deal” and he is incompetent.

Last  Thursday the County Council members were pleased with Kosmas for firing the SVAA Director  on Tuesday. 

Mayor Barringer:

I work 18 hours a day, six days a week. How about time and a half? Carni got it. Just ask Dave Kosmas and Ed Pankonin how they did it. I won’t tell Kelly DeSoto. You know I need some extra cash as the dinner prices are going up in Ponce Inlet and there are really no waterfront resturants in NSB. Don't tell Tony I spilled the beans on that one. By the way, they do have email in Maitland don't they? I am having trouble reaching you these days.

PAM

1.BARRINGER’S “GOOD” DAY

Please, Shilsky, don’t resign from the CRA just because Williams and Hodson abandoned ship. Of course it might be the honorable thing to do, and it might save a lot of speculation as to whether everything in your grant was, what is that word, “witting”. The County has taken over the SVAA and may choose to deny NSB any money for the CRA. The City still has the CRA.  There are plenty of jobs in Maitland.

2.$5,000 EACH FOR 30 ARTISTS WHO DO NOT WANT TO USE THE ARTIST WORKSHOP SPACE FOR FREE.  HERE ARE THEIR NAMES:

Nope, do not have their names. Nothing has been “formerly” filed. All that jazz about transparency. Nope,  Sally at work behind the scenes again, spending your money.

Thanks for Stopping By and You Are Visitor Number:

012312 -

The Shadow Runs Best Under Internet Explorer.

BLOGS: A STATEMENT BY THE SHADOW

The Shadow generally does not edit BLOGS. Very profane comments, even in only first letters,  and attacks accusing anyone of a crime are deleted or reformed even when they are about public officials. Personal attacks upon the publisher that are devoid of content are deleted.  But not always. Not all postings are essays on important subjects. Not all are fully cogent. On the real positive side, there are way more than 100,000 postings over the last few years and many are excellent tip offs as to funny goings on in Mayberry. Many also are excellent essays on relevant topics. Do our readers a favor and stop attacking the opposing political party as commies or reactionaries. The Shadow does edit for spelling.

Secondly, it’s a joke that is more than droll to say that you need to take back authority from someone who is an at-will employee where you approve all determinations of any size but say he is doing a great job. At the same time you announce you are taking back the authority you already exercise. Wow!! Do they really think this convoluted and bizarre reasoning will convince the Governor or County Council that the City knows what it is doing? If anybody reads the above sentences out loud they will realize how vapid this position is.

Maybe they could translate this to Hebrew and make it work by reading it backwards. What did Plaskett and the rest of think they were voting on when they voted for all these CRA grants,  agenda after agenda?  On  the pending Badcock proposal, apparently Jim Kosmas has refused to vote on it.

Third, why do they treat the taxpayers as stupid? Look at how the Daytona Beach New Journal leads off (Jan.13, 2012):

“NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- City commissioners are considering taking over financial control of their Community Redevelopment Agency, under fire for how it allocates

CRA funds.”

What did the Journal think the City Commission  did when they voted to approve these projects? And then there is this stupid quote from Plaskett:

"I have spoken about this for several years," City Commissioner Lynne Plaskett said during Tuesday night's commission meeting of the proposed tighter reins on the agency's finances.  "It is not that the CRA has done anything wrong, but it is our responsibility. The City Commission is the CRA; we are responsible on how to spend (its) funds. "It is time for the commission to take control of the CRA funds and spend them in the best way possible," Plaskett said.

And another from Reiker:

“Reiker praised the CRA accomplishments over the years, adding that in no way was the commission's discussion meant to disparage the agency's board.”

What did she and Plaskett think they were voting for when they voted to spend all that tax money. In sum she is damning herself, plain and simple.  Now, taxpayers are not sensitive, they are mad and they are mad as hell at the City Commission. Tony Otte is an overpaid employee. Fire him and at least save $150,000.

Fourth, after the City votes, Pam signs the checks. She also signs the checks for the little stuff, like the $20,000  for Merk’s bathrooms, where they may not vote on but her employee Tony presents them. 

2. SALLY’S NEWEST TAXPAYER RIP OFF----- THE HUB—30 artists?

The Community Redevelopment Agency is under attack for making grants that are outside of its mandate. See the list above.

The following reasons have been advanced in two essays on the Opinion page on Saturday for why this is desirable:

A.  It is cheaper than the one in Daytona;

B. Other Cities have them;

C. The sponsors put it together themselves;

D.  It is cheap compared to Esther Street;

E.  People are talking about it; and

F.  They will not ask for all the money.

The fact is that we already have provided space for them at the Artist Workshop. It is cheaper than other rip offs, and they will grift every cent they can from the taxpayers. They will take every nickel.

So along comes Sally with a demand that not only should the CRA give artists that already have plenty of subsidized work places (Artist Workshop, Atlantic Center for the Art, etc.) for this unneeded venture but, also, wants the ante raised from the current subsidy ceiling for subsidized rentals to give them more. Each of her so-called “artists” would be eligible for $5,000 in rent subsidies over a three year  period. This is nonsense. A mile away they have free space in an already subsidized facility. Before this happens the County Council should close them down. This is the County Council’s responsibility to all of the taxpayers, including the ones who live in New Smyrna Beach.

The State is investigating CRAs and we believe the one at New Smyrna Beach is one of the ones that caught the Governor’s attention. It has now caught the County Council’s attention and we think there will be another audit in addition to the one at the SVAA.  Even the City Commissioners state they should have been more sensitive. Heck they passed all of the big ones. But they can blame Tony, their flunky at $100,000 salary a year plus $50,000 benefits, and Tony can be run off like the black goat with all their sins on its head. He was hired by the City and can be fired.

Sally, you are the poster child for wasting City money. What will your Balloon fiasco lose this year? After the last event, the tally of losses was a minimum of $50,000 of tax dollars last year and a bad trash pickup contract.  The Marine Disaster Center is still waiting for an “Old Faithful” to erupt on the flats so that it will be an echo tourism attraction. That was only $130,000 of City money and another million of State and County tax money. And you supported the water taxi at $84,000 a year. What else do you want from the taxpayers. Only  another  $150,000 commitment this year? Please go away.

3. BADCOCK CAN AFFORD ITS OWN RESTORATION OR IT SHOULD SELL THE PROPERTY AT MARKET RATES---NO $474,000 OF TAXPAYER MONEY TO GOOD OLD BEN

Giving a half million to Publix to buy Food Lion and keep it open makes more sense for the City. Badcock Company runs a chain of furniture stores. The Shadow is sure it wants money. What’s new? Google Badcockfurniture.org. Hey Tony, ask Lynn and Judy how to access Google. We are not sure, but we think they know how.

Then look at the foreclosure list of residential property in the CRA district and ask each of the owners what they think of this proposed grant of their money. You could prevent a few hundred residential foreclosures with that kind of money. Hey Tony, now that you know how to Google, try Zillow foreclosures and you can find everybody. Ask them their view. Hey Tony, ask Adam how to turn off the light in your office.

4. EAST VOLUSIA COUNTY NEEDS A REAL PRINT NEWSPAPER

East Volusia County is ill served by a newspaper which sees no evil about local government until its nose is rubbed in the doo-doo. There has been no end of stories circulating in the Shadow for the last several years about the problems with the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority. NSBNEWS.NET has run stories for the last year. Nothing in the Daytona Beach News Journal until it became so notorious that the County Council had to act last summer. But business as usual despite plumes of smoke that there was a continuing problem with the SVAA Board as well as both its former and current director. And worse, over the last couple of weeks before the doo-doo hit the fan, two articles as a vehicle for the SVAA Board’s Chairman, Dave Kosmas, to say “not him”. This was a disservice to the community. So what a surprise that on Sunday it prints a story laid out for them by the County Manager like cold sliced turkey as if the Journal was on top of it

all the time.

The colossal problems that have been evident about our so-called Community Redevelopment Agency also cry out for investigation. Not by the Journal. You could give the Journal a road map and they would not know where to find a story if it were critical of a local government. At the CRA there were two suspicious resignations in the last months, grants of large sums of money that make no economic sense, and expenditures which are clearly outside the reason they were created. The grant to That’s Amore stank and was made even worse when it became known that the money was going to the Mayor’s construction Company. The only thing the City and the CRA do well is print press releases for the New Journal and Hometown whatever, many of which are sufficiently funny on their face to be laughable, but not one is ever examined in any depth by the Journal.

The Shadow must admit it was miffed after being told by the County Attorney’s office on Tuesday or Wednesday two weeks ago that no material  on the SVAA would be made public until the audit was submitted. What a surprise that Mr. Dinneen, the County Manager, thought he should then brief the News Journal because the Journal “only” asked for the payroll and not the audit. Technically correct but totally unfair. 

Over a Century ago Horace Greely said that one should never pick a fight with someone who bought ink by the barrel. But the Shadow does not want a fight. We need a newspaper more intent to live up to Mr. Pulitzer’s ideal that profits are necessary but take a back seat to the obligation to serve the public good. We need a newspaper that looks behind press releases and investigate both “unwitting” as well as real fraud at the local level.

1. THE CITY HAS APPROVED ALL LARGE PAY OUTS OF CRA MONEY. THE CITY IS THE CRA

First , all large expenditures, by the CRA are and have been approved by the City Commission. This includes opening the way for 30 “artists” to swipe $150,000 for rent subsidies, the improper money for Flagler for the pub crawls ($63,000 annually), $400,000 for the Pennysaver, $417,000 for Dunn Lumber, $ 5 million for Esther Street, and another $474,000 for Badcock which is pending. The City approved all of these plus a lot more. We figure what they did not vote on they knew about and approved---like the “unwitting” That’s Amore grant where the Mayor’s construction firm was given a contract without bidding. Did we forget to tell you that the Mayor appointed the owner of That’s Amore to the CRA board?

Think also about the cost of the four five City personnel that Pam has put on their payroll! The County Council should refuse to give them a dime, which is what Hathaway said could happen. It should happen immediately.

NORMAN’S CORNER

ITS’ ME AGAIN CHAIRMAN BRUNO

I tried to follow up on those fishing boats offloading fresh catch on the docks in NSB that Holly claimed in her and Tony's last handout on the Waterfront Loop. But I must report this is apparently some old wives tale myth that Holley heard at Traders last week. There are no fishing boats offloading fresh seafood (it all comes by truck) and there are no docks. Now I know that kind of messes up your "port deal", but facts are facts.

Did drop by the Chamber to view the $40,000 a year satellite SVAA visitor center. Could not find the Chamber as the Rt 1 sign sent me to the City building still under construction on Canal. So I guess they have not had many visitors lately. Seems like a waste of money.

Did checkout the free parking at the church parking lot and there was some lady there with white stockings on who helped me park. She said she was working for the Gnarly Bar on a volunteer basis as she thought it was "classy."

Called Pat Rice at the NJ and told him Tony was wrong on the New Years Eve fireworks count as I was there and no one from the NJ was around. A couple of hundred people at most and most of them left after the six minute fireworks around 9 PM. Only the beer party animals remained. Not a real good return on the CRA's and taxpayer's investment if you ask me.

Again, just give me a call if I can help.

NSB Norman Normal -

The Shadow Comments on the Decline and Fall of Objective News Reporting

The Shadow has moved our monitoring of the News Journal and Hometown News to a new page which you can access HERE.

We will continue to list our past observations on that page and those for this week here....

Pat Rice Editorial today (01/22/2012) in the NJ

Mr. Rice is absolutely correct with his assertion that his reporters should always check the numbers given to them. It is too bad he doesn't demand his own advice be followed when ‘reporting” powder-puff press releases from the NSB CRA Director, wherein Mr. Otte claimed huge numbers of visitors were a result of a six minute fireworks display New Years Eve night on Flagler Ave. We did and there is no factual documentation anywhere to support Mr. Otte’s claims, yet the NJ never asked and just printed what it was given. Could that be because they get advertising money from the CRA and NSB government? As Fox News says, ‘we report- you decide!”

The Hometown News continues its mediocre run of reprints of press releases.

Will someone start a real newspaper here?

Date:  1/22/2012, 6:55 pm

Name:       California has abolished all CRA's

California did it. Florida should follow now. While your blogging, switch over to the Governor's website and ask him to abolish all CRA's in Florida.

SHADOW: We edited the remainder as did not make sense in light of the above.

Date:  1/22/2012, 11:45 am

Name:        Poor Henry

Don't hate on Henry too hard.

He is willing to ask the questions the "polite" and crooked media won't.

Date:  1/22/2012, 11:48 am

Name:        C Thomas

I have listened to the NSBNEWS.net videos discussing “Negativity”. I am not quite sure what the definition of negative actually is. I am understanding and geographic postures come into play when making the determination of “Negativity”. The posture and perception must be noted before caring on an operation to combat an idea interpretation being paid for with public funds. I wouldn't want to be perceived as “negative” but what is the CC trying to accomplish? We all see progress and failure. What is it that these public servants want us to see?

We fought an unpopular war in South East Asia trying to win the hearts and minds of the population with little success. Accomplished only wrecking the economy and stunting growth of several countries within the region. If the CC's objective is to change the mindset of bloggers questioning the elected and employed government workers or the city status, a feel good posted on the cities website (with counter) may not be the best utilized approach. Perhaps water-boarding or electronic stimulation would be more effective. But who could know?

Perception of what is positive and what isn't should better be defined. Is it positive to remove an employee that paid herself an extradition amount of money? It very well may be positive if this stops this practice. Bringing to light the hiring of friends and family, of funneling money to said persons? Positive if it prevents an occurrence of this practice. It is positive to point out that the Mayors picture (doing the Rocky pose) looks Juvenile and just plain silly. A positive way to find why the construction of the new hotel had stopped? Does the public need to know? What would be positive is the information fourth coming from government on a timely basis. Embrace the Sunshine and put out answers good or bad, not just what posture you want the public to know. As a intelligent person once said “The truth will set you free and you may sleep better”.

I could go on but reasonable people get the point. Disagreeing with politicians is history in America. You get your moment in the sun with the right to free speech. An election ago this disagreement was with current and post elected officials. As long as the individual taxpayer agrees it is positive and when they disagree it is negative. As in the eye of the beholder, everyone has the right to choose which posture they are of. I am not sure but I know that these videos seem to show a battle line being drawn by city staffers (against anyone disagreeing with them) to change the hearts and minds of who they believe is negative.

My way or the highway is not a civil approach to any assumed problem. I doubt that most folks spend much time on public back patting. If you wish to see self indulgence in persona, there are several local publications that will satisfy the back patting monkey on your back. In the mean time grow up and get over yourself, not that many people care.

Date:  1/21/2012, 9:24 pm

Name:        Mr. Ed

Read between the lines of News Journal article....

@http://www.news- journalonline.com/news/local/southeast-volusia/2012/01/21/county-team-takes-over-southeast-volusia-tourism-duties.html

"Carni, 37, received an appointment to the SVAA in 2008 because of her involvement in tourism and events along Flagler Avenue, where she runs the glass art shop Galleria di Vetro. She also opened the nearby "Planet X," a smoke shop and body-piercing parlor that sells hand-blown glass and water pipes on Cooper Street, around the corner from the Om Bar and Chill Lounge."

TRANSLATION:

The SVAA hired her, because they believed she was a "MARKETING GENIUS".......

After all, She opened a second store......that sells CRACK PIPES and BONGS......"around the corner from the Om Bar and Chill Lounge."

And our Mayor is PROUD OF THIS?

And Hathaway.....does what he always does......HE SAYS NOTHING!

( We should begin calling Hathaway: Sergeant Shultz!

Date: 1/21/2012, 11:26 am

Name:       enough is enough

Judge this is about corruption, and what you speak of people in the unemployment line, the economy and watching the rich get richer, this is not spite this is a fact, clean up the SVAA and the county, you speak of our economy and helping NSB we need to start at the top. I am tired and i am a hard working citizen and can give proof of my hard work, along with a lot more all i am saying is the FEDS need to be included, Somebody said where is Scott, true where is he?

Date: 1/21/2012, 10:50 am

Name:       Iben Yachin

The individual opinions of the guilt or innocence of the deposed SEVA director is a non functioning entity to itself. Weather you like or dislike, agree or not everyone should be concerned with the ease that this event has progressed to. Our country has and is going through an economic downturn with devastating effects on the regular people that supports local, state and federal government across this land.

Tax payers suffer, loose their homes, loose retirement and are not better off than they were last year. Going to the public well to drink excessively is bad on a good day. The excess of personal funds gained from any government employee under questionable means has never been acceptable but for out right non-condemnation or recovery from the very people that put Nichole in place must be looked at in a bigger text. Two board members downright were not willing to concede something is wrong and something needs to be done about it, besides an apology from an elected official.

The really sad part is no one knows for sure that this type of greed is going on in every sector, from elected officials to appointed members. Even sadder, this greed seems to be getting worse or maybe we are just more becoming aware. This is more serious than few mean spirited people looking for vengeance. Average citizens look to these community leaders to steer the ship right but the more we find out, the less we know how our tax paying sacrifices are being used. Judgment and rewards have not been solely based on dollars and cents. The old Chamber members and officers were volunteers. They did a lot with a little. Now it seems that payment for all hours is what's about.

I would never ask anyone to condemn for spite. I do however ask all parties to search and find the truth, not half baked loyalties. Real meat and bones answer with actual documentation will clear the air. After this we can ask our elected officials, board members and tax paying citizens to get back to work making our country great. I probably will attend events of Flagler and Canal. They are fun. I will also probably wonder how much of the tax base is paying for the event, whom am I paying to attend and why are my leaders letting this happen. This may get a lot worse before it gets better. Trust is a two way street. Tax payers have walked

Date: 1/20/2012, 9:44 pm

Name:       Dusty Mac

Carni supporters have said how she worked her butt off and how many hours she put in. Look at the date and days and see what she was doing. Were the hours actual or fabricated? Fabricating time sheets is a crime. Why was she allowed to work so much overtime. Maybe enough to hire a whole nother person. How about it Frank?

No Carni supporters has said what Carni actually accomplished verses what her goals were. Just she did great. I am sure the county provided a way to evaluate, not in just name only, her job description. What was her job? Does anyone know? How about it Frank?.

Was going to events and getting paid for observing what's happing is not working. How was she scheduled and were these hours required in her job description. Who scheduled her hours? I am sure no city or county representative would pay any city or county employee to go to Flagler and get drinks. A simple verification of the days she worked would not be the same as an event hours. How about it Frank?

Too many hours could mean she doesn't have a clue what the job is so she isn't organized. Working your butt off is not in any job description that I know of. Or is it Frank?

Too many hours could mean she doesn't trust her co workers, subordinates or management to do anything. Only she can getter done. Who signed under what guidelines are overtime hours paid for? How are other county employees paid or is this another special case with no job description, no supervision or accounting of public funds? Your ball Frank?

Hiring friends and family is just greedy and selfish. Do public servants have the right to hire your relative or should you post opportunities for everyone qualified in this wonderful economy. How many NSB kids could use a grand that their parent do not make $100,000? If the county won't find the answers the state should. Some politicians all over the state read this blog and front page. Can you get elected allowing anyone to pay overtime to themselves, then stuffing $7,500 to your kid? Lets look at any others she hired and what they did. Is this what Frank thinks is good management at a state level?

There are so many things wrong with this you can't find a rug big enough to put this dirt under. When it comes to public funds being miss used the local yokals will not stand for this. And someone close to Carni should tell her she does not look good in a pink jumpsuit. But not as bad as a Bonkers Chick!

The Mayors apology is shocking at the least but can we afford the overtime pay policy our county friends allows? There is more to this whole mess than meets the eye. Lets Get To Work! Come on Scott do what you promised. Save tax payers from ourselves!

GREAT WEEK FOR THE BLOG AND MANY MORE ON THE BLOG PAGE - ENJOY!!

GO TO THE BLOG PAGE FOR MORE GREAT BLOGS; CLICK HERE

THE SVAA SCANDAL—INBREEDING CREATES RETARDATION

Volusia County has taken over the full control of the Southeast Volusia County Advertising Authority. District 3 Council  Representative Josie Alexander became more and more involved last summer when it became clear  to her that  the critics of how the place was handing money out to friends was just the tip of the iceberg of the shenanigans. Volusia County Council Chairman Frank Bruno stayed on top of the issue and Commissioners Josh Wagner and Carl Persis not only took notice, but all four insisted on examining how this appointed Board had become the antithesis of good government----possibly corrupt. The County has taken complete control and has four staff assigned here starting Monday.

Dave Kosmas does not seem to get the message and stated he would expect to get full authority back to the appointed board soon. Lots of luck. Read Board member Ed. Pankonin’s (representing the Atlantic Center for the Arts we think) letter supporting Carni and the detail of how she worked and kept the board involved. Kosmas' denial of knowledge of the problems can not be found credible given these statements.

The Shadow has been looking at improprieties at the SVAA for a couple of years. Ms. Carni was treasurer when the previous  director was paying out money before the event (Karen Clancy), to events that put no heads in beds (the County Fair in Deland and the Atlantic Center for the Arts), and money to the Flagler pub  crawls. Ms. Carni is not new to the scene but apparently a full participant in the past bad behavior of the group.

There is much to investigate and the Shadow thinks that the audit will be more like a centipede dropping a multitude of financial shoe bombs, and not just questions about Ms. Carni. In addition to Ms. Carni’s pay and benefits, questions have been raised by the Shadow and others about leases, purchases of supplies, failure to follow their own rules, strong armed tactics against grant recipients, a very disturbing contract with the Chamber of Commerce, and where “points” (money credits) on an SVAA credit card have disappeared to a personal account of the former director, just to name a few issues. Hey James Moore@ Co, auditor, do you need a better outline? None of this is acceptable behavior for a board charged with the stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Now the Shadow believes that the information given to the press and the public is less information than the in-house County auditor told the County Council and the SVAA Board members in private meetings on the Monday before Ms. Carni was fired. The Shadow must be blind because we can find no discussion in the released papers showing payroll payments to Ms. Carni’s daughter, yet the NJ claims they have seen it in their Sunday edition. It will be several weeks before the audit is released, but Commissioner Persis is quoted as saying that Richford and Pankonin should be removed for not voting to fire Ms. Carni.  On that the Shadow agrees wholeheartedly as based on their comments they just don't get it.

This is not smoke folks, it is a blazing fire. While there is an audit, the Shadow is almost certain that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) with subpoena power and contempt authority is involved. The  Shadow also believes that the County will also now audit the CRA. Hopefully, so will the FDLE. We are looking forward to that one.

A Comment on the SEV Chamber of Commerce

Last Saturday the SEV Chamber of Commerce hosted a Business Expo on Canal Street. In addition to it being a pretty day, several business people on Canal told the Shadow they got a lot of foot traffic in their establishments and that the street was quite full most of the day. This was verified by Shadow readers, who also attended the event. So while we here at the Shadow strongly object to the Chamber for living “high on the hog” with free rent in a taxpayer owned building and getting subsidized by the SVAA, we do give credit where credit is due. Good job with the Expo SEV Chamber of Commerce!

SHADOW NEWS ALERT - SILLY SALLY IS AT IT AGAIN - THE HUB SCAM

The full application for the HUB was presented to the Community Redevelopment Agency on December 7, 2011, but was carefully framed as a request for changing the regulation so that Sally and her cheap friends could get more taxpayer money. The City Clerk “truthfully” told the Shadow that no application had been filed, with the CRA and the City knowing full well that the reality was the application was moving along under the table as a business plan.  This is vintage dirty politics at the taxpayer expense and exactly what causes the bad press noted in the Holcomb discussion above. Here another $150,000 to subsidize your rich friends who, if they want a new playground on Canal, should pay for it themselves. The most disturbing aspect of this proposal is that all of the artists involved (it looks like about 15) can have space at the Artist Workshop, which was previously funded by the massive ECHO and City supported grant to transform the old high school into a free home for both the Artist's Workshop and the Marine Disaster Center. So why do we need another taxpayer supported venue?

First, there are so many wonderful people whose names are in this application we think they should pony up a thousand each and leave us taxpayers alone. If the mythical traffic occurs on Canal, for a change this group will have given something to the City.

Secondly, the application is basically an undocumented fairy tale. The Shadow particularly likes the couple of pages of endorsements. It reminds the Shadow of the huge floral wreaths the Mafia sends to the Cemetery, Huge because the florist puts every flower in the shop that wilt the next day into a display that is left on the grave.  The Shadow would rather give the money to the Kiwanis than to another unneeded tax supported hair brain venture.

Third, no project of this sort will increase the viability of the rest of the merchants on Canal. It is all pure invention, anecdotal, and has no, and will have no, cost effective analysis behind it. There is no documented studies that show art generates retail sales.

The list of local shakers and movers behind this application is significant. The one that  surprised us most was Commissioner Hathaway. Has he forgotten the $130,000 he voted for giving the MDC and Artist  Workshop their current home? He is on their advisory board. Please tell the taxpayers how you are a fiscal conservative and support the further disbursement of taxpayer funds for a special interest groups with no track record of performance. Or do you really believe that supporting this project will revitalize Canal?

Fourth, will the State and County put an end to this farce.  This is just another waste of taxpayer money. If they want this, pay for it with their own money

STOP THE PUBLIC FINANCING OF THE HUB AND STOP IT NOW!

JACK HOLCOMB AND NEGATIVITY

At a meeting held last week of the New Smyrna Beach Economic Development Board, Mr. Jack Holcomb, a car dealer for Chevrolet  and Chrysler on U.S. I, criticized the negative press about the City of New Smyrna Beach. He looked beguiled, on the film clip on the NSBNEWS,  as the City Manager enumerated all the “concrete” accomplishments she says are in the works over the next eight months. Is it a coincidence that they will be working on these before the next election? While the biggest issue facing the Federal government today is cutting at least a trillion dollars out of the Federal budget, she brags on how she is going to spend a million or two of federal money to enhance the I-95 interchange near Wal-Mart with a New Smyrna Beach welcome sign. The Feds and the State also  are putting up the signs for Canal and Babe James. Perhaps Holcomb should have asked if any of these projects  were other than fully funded by the taxpayers (Federal, State, County or in addition, City inducements for building the Hampton Inn).

It was interesting that she stated that the County Council and taxpayers are concerned about the sham fruit loop concocted by her and the CRA. She went on to say she has ordered no city employee to respond; right along with the same lack of transparency and information started by the Mayor when he eliminated the majority of public involvement in the governing of this City. Billboards, brochures, and ads in newspapers for this phony promotional are costly. Now throw in $60,000 salary for the chiropractor “consultant” at the CRA who lifted the theme from Portland. And they snickered when Pam said she would not answer!

Maybe because there are only two, not 22, restaurants on the water, and despite the CRA hype, there is no water route, nor any fishign boats off-loading seafood daily or even a port or set of City docks. The Shadow believes there is only one restaurant on the fruit loop with a dock and that is Riverview; despite CRA money there is no way to dock at George Richford's Dolphin View. Her concerns about the negative impression about NSB should be more directed at how she has become the principal fount for spending taxpayer money, under the table taxes like the franchise trash tax, and not touching the salary or benefits of grossly overpaid cronies---particularly at the municipal golf course and the $374,000 City Attorney. Rumor is that she is dickering with Liz Yancy as to how Liz goes away. What Mr. Holcomb does not reaslize is she is the problem not the solution.

How about abolishing the position? How about Pam cutting her own salary and stop spending City money for consultants to do her job? How about just working with inquiring citizens and not attempt to confuse them with non-responses through the City Clerk.

Now on to Mr. Holcomb. Since you want positive press, and are on board for promoting good government, do you have an opinion on $474,000 proposed as a gift to Badcock or spending another $50,000 of tax money on the Balloon Disaster, which racked up a loss for the tird year in a row? Can you provide us wth your cost benefit analysis or business plans for either of these pie in the sky projects?

Next time you see Adam or Pam, ask them where the $50,000 is in the budget for balloons and air shows; we can't find it in either published budget or the hidden, non-published version. Then there is the  $150,000 for another subsidy to Sally’s artist friends? Or how about the $50,000 from the CRA for Richford at the Dolphin Restaurant or Merks getting $20,000 for marble top restrooms. Would you spend this kind of money as a businessman if it were your money and not somebody else's as it is?

The City has a bad press because it unwisely spends money, and has made questionable appointments to boards that hand out money to their friends and do not give a hoot about the taxpayer. Getting the appropriate rent from the Anglers ($200,000) and the Chamber ($50,000+) for its now free digs would go a long way to where they would not have to rely on  Federal money. So Mr. Holcomb where do you stand on the Anglers or the Chamber? Mr. Holcomb, would you like to justify the salary and benefits paid to Mr. Gummey?  Please compare that rip off with what you pay for legal services.

Now the Shadow tries to be accurate. If you think we said something wrong, we will print your corrections. But we think it is another waste of taxpayer money to pay Google for pay-for-clicks or have Pam waste time writing fiction to be published in the City newsletter. No amount of ‘pambering’ will change the image of Richford on the SVAA Board voting to keep Nicole Carney in a position of trust  at the SVAA while taking $50,000 from the CRA for his restaurant on the fruit loop. Those knowledgeable, including County Councel members, about the SVAA mess seem incredulous that Richford voted to retain Ms. Carni. But check  the overlap of positions with the Chamber, a chunk of the real estate crowd, the CRA, Carnie and Flagler, Adel at Canal  and the SVAA.

As of today, the County has taken over running the SVAA. Mr. Holcomb, is there anything you would do differently given the problems uncovered at the SVAA? What would your board of directors at the car dealership say if your accountant  used a stratagem to double the annual salary of an employee after being instructed not to do so? What would they think of you as a manager if you said you did not know?  Dave Kosmas apparently told the County it was not entitled to payroll records? This mindset  is why the City has a bad press. The Shadow seriously doubts that you would offer a management position to Dave Kosmas.

When you clean the latrine it will not stink.  Clean up the spending money on your friends management  approach in New Smyrna Beach and you might even get  to smell the roses.  When you appoint people who spend taxpayer money as if it were their own, the press will improve.  And you will not even need Google.

If we said something inaccurate call us and let us know!

THE SHADOW MUSES - RUMORS FROM THE STREET:

Did City Manager actually tell City staff they were not to respond to citizen questions about the Loop? Maybe she needs to recheck the Florida Public Records Law before she establishes City policy that restricts the ability of citizens and taxpayers to get information from their government.  But then this just fits in line the Mayor's refusal to let citizens have a voice in City government. Another new low in New Smyrna Beach.

Received from Ed Connor, Volusia Tax Reform, on the Governor’s State Hospital Taxing Districts Report

Hospital Taxing Districts

Last Wednesday, News-Journal reporter Andrew Gant published the latest update on the Governor's Commission to review the Independent Hospital Taxing Districts in Florida. Volusia County has been highlighted as having the largest number of these districts and the least uniformity in their creation and administration with some Districts having elected boards, others appointed by the Governor and some boards separate from the Hospital while others are combined.

The Commission did recommend correcting these obvious inequities by having all tax Boards elected and separate from the Hospital Board. They also recommended reviewing these Districts more often to see if taxpayers considered them viable.

Unfortunately, the hoped for remedy of privatizing all taxpayer supported hospitals was not one of the recommendations. This is even more puzzling considering the Commission essentially made the case for privatization by the following statement:" The Commission could not establish that there is a pattern of higher or lower quality health care based on ownership".  So if there is no definitive difference then why punish property owners and depress the economy with higher than average property taxes for no tangible benefit? In addition there is a matter of competitiveness with the private sector hospitals like Florida Hospital that receive no property tax subsidy , yet are required to provide the same level of services and must pay higher insurance rates because they do not have sovereign immunity.

The halfway measures recommended by the Commission still leave us with the system of three districts with unique dysfunctions. One too big to avoid depressing property values, One too small to survive without exceeding its maximum allowable millage, and one owned by a private company that still draws property tax money for support.

For over thirty years the pattern of privatization has continued throughout the US and here in Florida. Nearly 90% of all acute care hospitals in Florida are privately owned and do not burden their citizens with onerous property taxes.

We at Volusia Tax Reform believe this is more evidence that lobbyists are firmly in control of the disbursement of tax dollars.  In the fourteen hearings over ten months just one person, Margie Patchett, our Executive Director, was not associated with a lobbying group. Every other witness was from an interest group receiving some benefit from the flow of tax dollars.

We commend the Governor for creating this initiative. If nothing else, it revealed the depth of the problem.

Ed Connor

Volusia Tax Reform

Ormond Beach, FL

386/441-0681

econnor@cfl.rr.com

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