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 Booted from State Attorney Job). In a tale fitting for David vs. Goliath, Larizza handily won against Tanner, who was largely financed by the same special interests that have profited immensely as a result of the widespread corruption in Daytona Beach City Hall. See This is killing Daytona Beach! When will it STOP?

Larizza's anti-corruption platform for reform was simply too attractive to the voters to pass.

"I'm privileged to have the opportunity to work with all of you, and to have the opportunity to make our community a better place."

"My promise to you is that we will prosecute those that need to be prosecuted, to the fullest extent. We will be fair. We will be just. We will be accessible.

And, by God, we're gonna do it right."

R.J. Larizza

As reported in The St. Augustine Record, Mose Floyd, a prosecutor in Duval County, will come to St. Augustine to take over the duties of managing attorney.

"He graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis and retired from the Marine Corps as a lieutenant colonel after 22 years," Larizza said. "He's currently the director of County Court in Duval County, and we're very pleased to have him on board."

Luis Bustamante, 39, was named Chief Assistant State Attorney, leaving behind a key position with the Attorney General's Office as Chief Assistant Statewide Prosecutor.

In addition, Noel Griffin, chief of investigations for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) in Jacksonville, signed on as Larizza's chief investigator.

"I'm very fortunate, as are the citizens of the 7th Circuit, to have an attorney the caliber of Luis Bustamante and a law enforcement officer the caliber of Noel Griffin willing to serve," Larizza previously said.

Judge Watson made enlightening comments about Larizza's to the position. After losing his father at nine he was brought up by a values-based family; he was able to finance his own education and work his way through various law enforcement and legal prosecutorial jobs into this position.

We wish RJ good luck and hope the political insiders who supported the incumbent will respect the office and the staff and allow them to "protect the innocent and prosecute the offenders to the fullest extent of the law".

Much fear is sensed in Daytona Beach City Hall.

Comments from readers:

You mean he got rid of most of the "Good Ol' Boys" and hired qualified staff. Without the "good Ol' Boys" running the show... [local politicians] are in a world of trouble.

Thank God for the change. Maybe now everyone can get back to doing business. My hopes and prayers are with you [RJ]. I know the right thing will be done now...

About the Florida 7th Judicial Circuit Court...

The Seventh Judicial Circuit is one of 20 in the State Courts System. Because the Seventh Judicial Circuit oversees court matters in a four-county area, the court has judges based at seven courthouse locations throughout the circuit.

Two Circuit judges and one County Court judge hear cases at the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center in Bunnell. Three Circuit judges and two County Court judges hear cases at the Putnam County Courthouse in Palatka. Four Circuit judges and two County Court judges hear cases at the Richard O. Watson Judicial Center in St. Augustine. Eighteen Circuit judges and 10 County Court judges hear cases at four courthouse locations in Volusia County. Volusia County courthouse locations include: Volusia County Courthouse, DeLand; Justice Center, Daytona Beach; Courthouse Annex, Daytona Beach; and Courthouse Annex, New Smyrna Beach.

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 of its citizens.

Their control extends to the institutions that are tasked with the checks and balances to protect the public, and as a result they act with impunity.

They have reaped untold riches by getting their captive public officials plunder the public trust and finance everything from overpriced sales of real estate, privileged zoning deals, virtual immunity against local laws, and, most galling, the funding of their personal pet projects and private indulgences. All courtesy of the taxpayers, which are unknowingly funding the largesse and who now must bear a gigantic burden that will take generations to pay off.

In Daytona Beach, the formula is simple as can be gleamed from a recent post:

...Well, it's an easy recipe, a few multimillionaire capos handpick a local politician; normally someone with poor skills, who is unable to find a job in the business world. They look mostly for an ability to follow orders and predisposition for corruption. Then they fund and get him or her elected to the City Commission.

They then wine and dine the corrupt official, give him rides in jets, invite him to parties where the public official would never have been invited otherwise, give jobs to the politician's family and so on...

Then payback starts in the form of lucrative contracts, sweet zoning deals, funding of hobbies, retaliatory measures under color of law against the capo's competitors [and enemies], etc. - all paid for by the taxpayers.

The end result is a city in fast decay, flight of jobs to cleaner locales, crime, unemployment, mistrust, and the homeless left behind aimlessly roam the streets.

Basically you take hope away from the people and they lose the energy to fight back.

The hope is that a docile public, numb, poor, uneducated and deep in despair is unable to make a change.

"Flee from the country where only one holds all the power. It is a country of slaves."

Simon Bolivar

Change might be in the horizon, however. The public has already made its voice be heard by booting State Attorney John Tanner from office. Tanner steadfastly refused to pursue the many criminal complaints against Daytona Beach public officials.

Not surprisingly, the same people that have largely benefited from the corruption in Daytona Beach coincidentally have also largely financed Tanner's political campaigns.

We thought we end the year with a run down of America's most corrupt leaders, the role models of Daytona Beach public officials:

America's Most Corrupt Politicians - Part 1



America's Most Corrupt Politicians - Part 2

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - The City of Daytona Beach reported that, starting next week, sending a crime tip to Daytona Beach's police department will be as easy as voting for your favorite contestant on American Idol.

Residents can relay crime tips by sending a text message. The new service allows tipsters to remain completely anonymous by encrypting personal details.

To provide a tip, simply send a text to CRIMES (27437) and in the body of the text, use the code DBTIPS along with any information.

Detectives hope the popularity of text messaging coupled with guaranteed anonymity will aid in the reporting of non-urgent illegal activity such as unsolved cases, vandalism, theft, drug deals or information about crimes that are being planned in the community or schools.

Police departments in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Scotland Yard and Canada are currently accepting text tips. There is no cost for using this service; although, standard text messaging rates apply.

What is not guaranteed is the follow-through of corruption crime reports against City Commissioners or City Management. As history indicates, they are under de facto immunity by their position in control of the police... Also enjoying de facto immunity are cronies, financers and other friends of the City Commissioners.

The City of Daytona Beach, Florida, has banned Santa from walking up and down a street handing out candy canes and dispensing Ho Ho Ho’s to passersby.

According to code enforcement officials, Santa is an "animated sign" which is illegal in Daytona Beach.

The store owner that sponsors the jolly old man has been sent a warning that she will be fined if Santa is still there come Monday morning.

This Santa has been a fixture for many years and only now did the Daytona Beach Code Enforcement decide to put a stop to the jolliness.

Selective Code enforcement has been a fixture of modern Daytona Beach, where influential political patrons routinely engage corrupt elected officials to abuse their powers and keep enemies and competitors under control.

Daytona Beach has been besieged by widespread political corruption in City Hall which has literally drowned this once bustling beach town into a wave of crime, unemployment, homelessness and overall despair.

Owner to Be Fined If Santa Appears Outside Store
WFTV, Friday, November 21, 2008

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Starting Monday, a Daytona Beach store owner will be fined if Santa appears outside of her business. So long Santa! The jolly old elf has been banned from a Daytona Beach street.

Daytona Beach code enforcement officials are kicking Santa off a city sidewalk and have sent the store owner who put him there a warning.

"I don't understand why they would do that, I want Santa on the street!" said one resident as she hugged Santa.

The live Santa Claus has been a fixture on Beach Street for several years. He hands out candy canes outside of Sheila LaBosco's store. He bellowed, "Ho, Ho, Ho" but code enforcement said, "No, No, No."

"They came in and said, 'We're gonna cite you for having Santa on the street,'" said

"That's unacceptable," said shopper Leslie Neese. "Santa is part of Christmas and he's been out there for seven years now taking pictures with children."

A city spokesperson said a review of article 18 of the city code considers Santa an animated sign and officials say LaBosco is "exploiting Santa Clause."

City code officials said making an exception for Santa would not be fair to other businesses as officials consider Santa a form of solicitation, just like someone waving a sign.

See the News video

EPILOGUE...

A few days later, but only as a result of press coverage and massive public outcry at the abuse of powers, Daytona Beach City Management relented and allowed Santa to do what he has been doing for many years... Dole out candy to passerby children.

Santa Gets Reprieve, Can Hand Out Candy
WFTV, Monday, November 24, 2008

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Santa Claus took on city hall in Daytona Beach and won. The city had threatened to fine a store owner if Santa appeared outside of her business Monday, but now the city appears to be backing away from that threat.

Santa has been a regular feature at Labosko's Jewelry on Beach Street for eight years. He was back in front of the jewelry and pawn shop Monday after the city of Daytona Beach changed its mind over a controversial code enforcement decision.

Friday, the city's code enforcement threatened to cite the owners if Santa stayed out front. They said the jolly old elf was considered an animated sign and the business was exploiting Santa.

The store owners have paid Santa for the past seven years to help draw in business and this was the first time there's been a problem. Sheila Labosko said she's relieved the city changed its mind and blames a neighboring jewelry business up the street for complaining.

"We are fierce competitors here on Beach Street. It's been a real battle," she said. "[Our competitors should] get their own Santa Claus. Get with the show."

Jessup's Jewelers said he didn't call code enforcement, but he does have a problem if Santa starts handing out flyers instead of candy canes, as Labosko did and was cited for last year.