Daytona Beach Corruption

© The Daytona Post, Daytona Beach News - http://www.DaytonaPost.com - Daytona's Corruption Watchdog Read Full Story

Ralph Joseph Larizza on Tuesday announced "the healing has begun" as he was sworn in as State Attorney for the 7th Judicial Circuit in Florida. Overwhelming applause in celebration at the start of a new era was the tone of the induction. Larizza, 50, a former probation officer, prosecutor and most recently private attorney based in St. Augustine, was introduced to hearty applause in the Flagler Auditorium, where he was sworn in by Senior Judge Richard O. Watson. Long time incumbent John Tanner was booted out of office by angry voters, tired of special interests tainting the office of the State Attorney (See Tanner ... Read Full Story

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - Local residents are too aware of the high level of crime they are exposed to every day in this formerly bustling beach town. Thanks to widespread corruption in City Hall, Daytona Beach is in a de facto state of anarchy. Here in this live map see where and what type of crimes are being committed today in your city. The map, of course, only includes reported crimes. Many crimes, especially civil rights violations, abuse of power cases, property takings, selective code enforcement and others go unreported for fear of retaliation by public officials. © The Daytona Post, Daytona Beach News ... Read Full Story

In the 1920s and 30s, Al Capone used to have police officers and government officials on his payroll. His influence was large but it had limits and was far from total control of Chicago, a city already famous for corruption. Capone would have drooled over the power that today's "capos" have over the local politicians in Daytona Beach; a product of good ol' boy networks, campaign contributions and undue influences that propel unqualified individuals with a nasty predisposition for corruption into power. Their patrons exert total and absolute control over a city as if it was their private ranch and much to the detriment ... Read Full Story

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - The state of anarchy, corruption and financial waste at City Hall has been publicly unraveling fast with the latest complaints, now by no other that Mayor Ritchey. In a letter sent last Monday as a result of public pressure, Mayor Ritchey formally questioned City Manager Jim Chisholm about the circumvention of the City Commission and the City Attorney by Chisholm about several legal and financial matters. Ritchey demanded an explanation for unapproved expenditures and the hiring of yet another attorney, Robert Abraham as legal counsel for the Daytona Pier (note the misspelling in Mayor Ritchey's letter... he called it "legal ... Read Full Story