Daytona’s Dirty Secret: Flooded Streets, Forgotten People & the Fight for Real Change

We wave from the beach, but behind that shine is a silent fight. Major health systems are expanding—really big—but for who? Let’s dig deeper. 💰 Mega-Bucks Hospital Growth AdventHealth Daytona Beach • Kicked off a $220 million vertical expansion in mid‑2024. • Project adds 104 beds (raising the total from 362 to 466), four surgical suites, enlarged ICU wings (cardio & neuro), CT/MRI, pharmacy, lab, and sterile processing space  . • Completion slated for Fall 2026; project will nearly double the facility size to ~1 million sq ft . This sounds fantastic—BUT here’s the question: Is this growth leading to more equitable access, especially for underserved communities? Or just more bricks and beds? 🚨 Local Hospitals in Crisis Halifax Health’s Massive Fine • In March 2014, Halifax Health was ordered to pay $85 million for false Medicare billing and violating the Stark Law—improperly paying bonuses to oncologists/neurologists to boost referrals . • The case was trigge...

Let’s get into some raw truth. This ain’t just another blog—it’s a call-out and a wake-up for Daytona Beach, Florida. We talk about America being the land of opportunity—but what happens when you’re Black in Daytona, and your neighborhood floods more than the rest of the city? Let’s bring out the red lights. Shine them on Jean Street, Center Street, and every other block neglected for 30–40 years. Let’s expose the hypocrisy—special treatment for elites, silence for working families. The Root of the Problem: Infrastructure Disrespect Black areas in Daytona flood faster because they sit in low-lying zones—the notorious “bowl” effect. Midtown, Nova Canal, and Orange Avenue are prime examples . Flash floods overwhelm pipes and pumps. In October 2024, Hurricane Milton dropped over 15 inches of rain—overwhelming storm systems and dumping saltwater from high tides . Still, nothing changes. Jean Street pipes? 30–40 years old—they’ve never been replaced. Roads above ground? Repaved ...