Archive for May 2011

Watchdog Report Vol.12 No.1 May 8, 2011 Est.05.05.00 Celebrating my 12th Anniversary

CONTENTS

Argus Report: The Watchdog Report Celebrates its 12^th Anniversary, a strange fork in the road for me, but someone had to do it armed with the internet and free to all readers

Florida: Wild Republican dominated legislative session leaves business smiling, with environmentalists and controlled growth advocates aghast at repeal of decades of planning safeguards

Miami-Dade County: Hard for 11 candidates to get verbal licks in at local debates, media may be the message for top four candidates, Robaina, Gimenez, Llorente and Campbell

Miami-Dade Public Schools: Grove Arts & Mind Academy parents, in six-page blistering letter to school district, light up charter school’s governance and criticize building owner and school founder Alonso-Poch

Public Health Trust: A lot of balls in the air at PHT, great healthcare, new CEO Migoya, new Financial Recovery Board coming, new PHT leadership with cash crunch coming over the summer

City of Miami: Possible CRA deal with Douglas Elementary suggests double taxation, should be considered by all politicians very carefully

City of Miami Beach: Local business man sentenced for using fake government seals

City of Coral Gables: Ponce luncheon May 16th – features Dennis L. Weiner – Chief of Police for the City of Coral Gables

City of Doral: City begins 90-day warning period for red light camera safety program

>>> Other stories around Florida

Broward County: Scott is tapped as new Broward IG, getting community’s trust and respect critical to success in new office

Escambia County: Gov. Scott taps Jayprakash “Jay” Patel to the Board of Trustees, University of West Florida.

Lee County: Gov. Scott taps Judge John E. Duryea Jr. of Alva to the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court.

Volusia County: Gov. Scott taps four reappointments and four appointments to the District Board of Trustees, Daytona State College.

Monroe County: Top Administrator Gastesi comments on concluded FL legislative session, impacts on the Keys

Community Events: The Elephant Forum luncheon May 16 being held at the Rusty Pelican is featuring state Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami and Majority leader in the FL House

Editorials: A brief history of the Watchdog Report over the past 12 years, but an odyssey that really started in late1997 when waste, fraud and public corruption flourished in South Florida

Letters: Readers on Braman & Baker editorials in Herald – Attorney Lopez’s take on charter questions – Reader’s group wins zoning battle – Reader on 12^th anniversary of WDR

Sponsors – Publisher’s mission statement & Subscription information is at the bottom of this issue

>>> Just because you do not take an interest in politics does not mean politics will not take an interest in you. –Pericles (430 B.C.)

>>> If you wish to be deleted, just e-mail me with that message and you are free to e-mail this on to friends.

>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding the University of Miami’s Knight Center of International Media http://knight.miami.edu within the University’s School of Communication www.miami.edu to financially support and maintain my webpage.

>>> If you think it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider becoming a supporter or sponsor. For there is no trust fund and I do have to live. I almost did not write this week because of my financial condition. And while I as so many others are facing tough times. I hope you or your organization will consider helping in a small or larger way and help keep another voice on line and in the media. A convenient form is at the bottom of this week’s Watchdog Report with all the instructions on how to support this newsletter and news service that is celebrating its 12th Anniversary.

>>> I will be on WLRN 91.3 FM on Monday May 9, at 1:00- 2:00 on Topical Currents hosted by Joseph Cooper and the panel discussion will include the conclusion of the Florida Legislative session and the bills passed. 2011 Florida Legislative Review

View More WLRN Radio Programs Topical Currents examines the controversial 2011 Florida Legislative Session. Gov. Rick Scott was successful in many of his pro-business and budget- slashing efforts . . . but had to compromise as well.
Lawmakers agreed on a $69.7 billion dollar budget. We’ll learn more from Watchdog Report publisher Dan Ricker; Florida Public Radio Senior Producer James Call and political columnist Joy Ann Reid.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> The Watchdog Report Celebrates its12^th Anniversary, a strange fork in the road for me but someone had to do it armed with the internet

The Watchdog Report on May 5^th turned 12-years old as a weekly news service and community education resource and I could never have imagined such a venture, who I have interviewed since then, and the other stories I have covered since 2000, but it was the tax dollars being saved, or better spent in the hundreds of millions over the years that has kept me at this, especially given our new financial norm. During this time, I have been an independent editorial and featured news columnist with The Miami Herald, had my articles reprinted in Spanish, had other stories running in the Community Newspapers and also the Sun-Post. I have also done almost 100 radio shows on Topical Currents www.WLRN/NPR.ORG 91.3 FM hosted by Joe Cooper and almost 50 interviews on www.WPBT.ORG on Issues hosted by Helen Ferre over the years and all this coverage helped me boost my free readership, but still has kept me in the financial doldrums, since I essentially live off community members support checks, yet I return some checks, because of the person giving it, made me feel uncomfortable. And I know of no one else in this town that returns a support check given my fiscal circumstances.

I also want to thank all the people and organizations that have helped me achieve this significant milestone, given I am a solo operation and enlist no help to write the report except the citizens and residents of South Florida for information, and to say I am informed is an understatement. I thought about this activity on Thursday while driving to the school board committee meetings that day. It was back in 1997 and 1998 these meetings, and at the school board’s audit committees meetings where I first got my interest in making sense of government and public institutions and in the case of these past meetings years ago. I am the only one that has the micro cassette audio tapes of what was said and that was the case until 2002, when Merritt Stierheim became superintendent and started to have the public committee meetings recorded and archived for future reference. (At the time I pounded the school board for not recording these meetings back then and that it was insane I had the only audio tapes of what was being discussed). At the meeting Thursday, Supt. Alberto Carvalho gave the Watchdog Report and the fact it was my publishing 12^th birthday a shout out, and it was most appreciated. Since I have known Carvalho all these years in a variety of capacities including being the press flack for the district, and seen how much the district has changed since the mid to late 1990s.

>>> See what was said about the Watchdog Report in the Miami New Times 2003 — Best of Miami — BEST CITIZEN — Daniel Ricker –

Three years ago, we said Ricker was our Best Gadfly. Given his dedication and perseverance, this new honor, Best Citizen, is well deserved. Ricker goes to 2500 mind-melting meetings annually, from the Public Health Trust’s purchasing subcommittee to the Efficiency and Competition Commission to the Alliance for Human Services’ nominating council to the school board’s audit committee. Sometimes he’s the only public observer. Object: to be the Public Citizen for all those out there who can’t attend, and to connect and serve as an information bridge among the special-interest-dominated Miami-Dade governmental institutions that seem so problematic and indifferent to the democratic process.

This month his e-mail newsletter, The Watchdog Report, celebrates its fourth anniversary. In a former life, Ricker made a handsome living as an international salesman of heart pacemakers. As the hard-working publisher of Watchdog Report, though, he’s struggling financially — this despite the fact that his weekly compendium of meeting summaries, analysis, interviews, and commentary has become essential reading for anyone involved in public affairs. What his written work may lack in polish, it more than makes up for in comprehensiveness. So raise a toast to the man whose official slogan says it all: “A community education resource — I go when you cannot!

>>> Repeat of national Tribune paper profile, a blast from the past of Watchdog’s life back in Jan. 2003, not all that much has changed financially

The Watchdog Report is going down memory lane again, during the past moving process, and here is a national profile and story done by Maya Bell in the Orlando-Sentinel, but ran in all the Tribune papers around the nation on Martin Luther King’s Birthday back in Jan.20, 2003. After she spent about six weeks, off and on, experiencing the world I was living in back then, and she nicely captured the reality of my life, that in many ways continues to today, which I wish was otherwise after now 12-years.

>>> `I Go When You Cannot’ – January 20, 2003|By Maya Bell – Orlando Sentinel – Miami Bureau Chief

Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. It’s not by choice. Miami’s self-anointed citizen watchdog depends on the people he writes for and about to finance his quixotic quest to attend nearly every government meeting in Miami-Dade County. That’s a lot of mind-numbing meetings — as many as 2,500 a year — but not a lot of income. So Ricker teeters on bankruptcy. He dashes to his post office box daily, hoping subscribers to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks.

Among them are managers with Florida Power & Light, the utility that regularly cuts power to Ricker’s Coconut Grove home, most recently while he was attending a legislative delegation meeting last month. But what Ricker, once a successful international sales executive, lacks in financial stability, he makes up for in credibility. When he walks into Miami-Dade’s government center, the county manager salutes him. When he runs into Miami’s first Cuban-American congresswoman, she greets him with a kiss. “He knows where the bodies are buried,” said U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami. “He knows the people behind the curtain. He knows the real wizard of Oz.”

Ricker, 51, is the black box of government, recording and reporting about every public nook and cranny. His motto is, “I go when you cannot,” and he does, attending the obscure but vital forums most have neither stomach nor stamina for. The Public Health Trust Purchasing Subcommittee meeting? He’s there. The Efficiency and Competition Commission? He drops by. The School Board Audit Committee? He attends. The nominating council for the Alliance for Human Services? He’s the only observer in the conference room, whispering into his “Saturday night special,” a micro-cassette recorder with an intimidating, oversized microphone.

“If you get good people on councils, you don’t have to watch them as much,” Ricker explained. A dapper man who wears faded but custom-made suits from his previous life, Ricker began watching local government in late 1997, just as corruption-plagued Miami sank into a $68 million financial hole. The son of activist Quakers — his mom was a school board president, his father a physician who founded the historical society in New Hope, Pa. — Ricker had spent 20 years selling pacemakers and other medical devices in Asia and Australia. It was a good living, earning him more than a quarter of a million dollars in his best years… >>> To read the full section large two page front page story, but without the photos and smart box graphics, go to: `I Go When You Cannot’ – Sun Sentinel 20 Jan 2003 … Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. … to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks. … http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american

>>> Mills, federal SBA Administrator is adamant advocate for stimulating job growth through creation and expansion of small businesses

Karen G. Mills, the Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration gave a spirited pep talk on her federal agency Wednesday at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon, and since she has $90 billion in loan guarantees and 2,000 employees. She has the financial force to help struggling small businesses grow, or recover from a devastating natural event like Hurricane Katrina or more recently the tornadoes that ravaged Alabama and the South in the past weeks. She said, “Two out of every three jobs are created by small businesses and in Miami. She said these smaller local companies are “Miami’s economic bread and butter,” and must flourish if a dent is to be made in the high unemployment number here in Miami and the nation, she noted. For small businesses, the federal agency head stressed the importance of financial “stability” for the business, if it is to flourish and expand. “We want small businesses to prosper, which will get unemployment down,” and wants her agency’s resources to put “the wind at the backs” of such enterprises, she said. The top Administrator, with a Harvard University undergraduate degree and a MBA from the institution was sworn in on April 6, 2009 after President Barack Obama’s appointed her to the office.

What about SBA loans after a natural disaster?

Mills told the hundreds attending the luncheon at Jungle Island that last week she “was walking around houses in rubble” and it had one woman finding only “one shoe and a picture.” The local residents at the scene said “they will rebuild,” but we can “help them get back on their feet quickly,” noting that claim processing has changed where after “Katrina, it took 70-days to process,” versus after the recent “tornadoes where they will get a check in 10-days,” she estimated. The top federal administrator said since South Florida was in the eye of the hurricane ally for storms. “If disaster hits this community we will be there for you,” she assured the crowd. For more about her and the SBA go to http://www.sba.gov/administrator/7585/3215

What else happened at the Chamber Luncheon?

Alfred Sanchez, the President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater Miami gave out the Chamber’s Tenth Annual NOVO Awards which recognizes nonprofit programs for innovative excellence. This years winners Sanchez announced were Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami, Inc.; School to Work program; Belafonte TACOLCY Center, Inc.; South Florida Schools Collaborative and Outstanding Board Leader went to Alex Montague, a board member on the Children’s Bereavement Center Board. Sanchez noted that Miami-Dade has around 10,000 non-profits that account for around $20 billion in total income yearly.

>>> Zogby poll press release: U.S. action that killed Osama bin-Laden appears to have given President Barack Obama a bump in both his job approval (46%) and with the percentage of voters who believe he deserves re-election (42%), a new IBOPE Zogby interactive poll finds. Both of those totals are five percentage points higher than those of a similar survey last week. The May 3-5 interactive poll also finds 83% of voters believe the Pakistani government was aware that bin Laden had been hiding in the compound where he died. Nearly half (47%) say bin Laden’s death will make the U.S. safer in the long run, but 65% believe his death is more important for its symbolism than its actual impact on possible future terrorist attacks. Overall, do you approve or disapprove of Barack Obama’s job as president?

Obama Job Performance	May 5	Apr. 25	Apr. 15	Apr. 7	Apr. 4	Mar. 28	Mar. 21	Mar. 8	Mar. 4	Feb. 24	Feb. 21	Feb. 8
Approve	46%	41%	43%	42%	43%	46%	45%	47%	44%	46%	45%	46%
Disapprove	54%	59%	57%	57%	56%	54%	55%	52%	55%	53%	55%	53%
Not sure	<1	<1%	1%	1%	1%	<1%	1%	1%	1%	<1%	1%	<1%

Totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Please click the link below to view the full news release on our website:
http://www.zogby.com/news/2011/05/05/ibope-zogby-poll-obama-job-approval-jumps-5-post-bin-laden-death-/

>>> Press release: U.S. Secretary of State: STATEMENT BY SECRETARY CLINTON – World Press Freedom Day

On this May 3 as we observe World Press Freedom Day, we take time to honor those who promote and protect the freedom of expression, and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives while giving voice to those who may not have the opportunity to express themselves freely — including the journalists recently killed while bravely covering the crisis in Libya. This year the United States is proud to have partnered with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and civil society organizations to host the global World Press Freedom Day conference, which focused on the theme “21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers.” With two billion people now online, the internet has become the public space of the 21st Century. We have all witnessed the power that this surge in connectivity can have in shaping society and holding governments accountable. New media empowers individuals around the world to share information and express opinions in ways unimaginable just ten years ago.

Even as we celebrate innovations that make information easier to share, we are reminded that in many places around the world, journalists are still targeted for harassment and abuse, and are sometimes killed. Today, we remember that journalism is a calling of everyday heroes. We must continue to stand up for those who speak out in perilous circumstances as they pursue, record, and report the truth.

>>> Press release: U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented on the signing of an agreement between Fatah, Hamas, and other Palestinian groups. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “Let’s face reality: assistance to the Palestinian Authority will end up benefiting Hamas. Any nation that continues to fund the PA will be bankrolling a pro-militant, anti-Israel entity. If any government, or the UN, recognizes a Palestinian state, they will be recognizing a terror sanctuary that will threaten Israel and all free democracies.

“Hamas is a Foreign Terrorist Organization that calls Bin Laden a ‘holy warrior,’ remains determined to destroy Israel, and is responsible for the deaths of Israelis and Americans. Now, Hamas will be a part of the Palestinian Authority, without having to recognize Israel’s right to exist, renounce violence, or accept previous agreements. “Abu Mazen, head of the PA and Fatah, embraced Hamas’s leader and called Hamas ‘our brothers.’ In contrast, Abu Mazen still refuses even to directly negotiate with Israel. Abu Mazen is also undermining any chances for peace with Israel by pursuing unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state from foreign governments and the UN. “The Administration must follow U.S. law and immediately cut off all assistance to the PA. The U.S. also must announce that it will veto any UN Security Council resolution recognizing a Palestinian state, and will oppose any other efforts in international bodies to recognize such a state.” >>> BACKGROUND: Ros-Lehtinen authored the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006, which became Public Law 109-446 on December 21, 2006. The law conditions U.S. assistance to the Palestinian leadership on the latter’s compliance with its obligations to renounce and combat violent extremism, abide by its existing agreements, and recognize Israel’s right to exist.

>>> White House press release: Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr.: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr. serves as a Judge on Florida’s Eleventh Judicial Circuit, where he has presided over criminal, civil, and family law matters since 1995. Prior to joining the bench, he spent a decade in private practice as both a sole practitioner and, from 1992 to 1993, at the law firm of Quinon, Strafer & Scola, as a criminal defense attorney representing a wide range of defendants in both state and federal courts. Judge Scola began his law practice at the Miami-Dade Office of the State Attorney, where he worked from 1980 to 1986. He received his J.D., cum laude, in 1980 from Boston College Law School and his B.A. in 1977 from Brown University.

What do we know about his finances?

The Watchdog Report pulled up Scola’s May 31, 2010 financial disclosure form for the year and his net worth was $994,000 and he has $40,000 in household goods. His only liabilities are $236,000 owed to GMAC mortgage, and PNC Bank is owed $154,000. His total assets for the year was $1.38 million of which $137,000 is in one pension account, his house is worth $800,000 among the listed investments on the form. His income for the year was $142,901 as a local circuit court judge and UM Law kicked in $6,000 and FIU Law contributed another $9,000. He lists four gifts for the year with the most being $150.00 states the disclosure forms on file with the state.

>>> White House press release: Edward M. Spooner: Nominee for United States Marshal for the Northern District of Florida

Edward Spooner, a life-long Florida resident, began his law enforcement career as an intern with the Florida Highway Patrol in 1973. He served as a patrol and training officer with the Tallahassee Police Department from 1973 to 1977. Mr. Spooner trained law enforcement officers as an instructor at the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy from 1977 to 1979. In 1979, he was named the Director of Public Safety for Quincy, Florida, a position he held until 1991. Mr. Spooner has served on the Florida Parole Commission from 1991 to 1998, as Chief Deputy of the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office from 1998 to 2004, and as Sheriff of Okaloosa County from 2009 to 2010. He currently serves as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge within the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

>>> All photos in the Watchdog Report are taken from public government sites, and the Report goes on line at www.watchdogreport.net on Monday sometime during the day usually. >>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for I am a low cost news service yet I do have to live, thank you! Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times, The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel which ran as a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003 and UNC Chapel Hill naming me one of the top columnists in Florida in a multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on the WLRN/NPR showTopical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also numerous times over the past decade.

FLORIDA

>>> Wild Republican dominated legislative session leaves business smiling, with environmentalists and controlled growth advocates aghast at repeal of decades of safeguards

It’s over, the Florida Legislature has finished the 2011-2012 budget that begins July 1 and while still $69.7 billion, it is a far cry from the $74 billion state budget in the mid 2000s, and includes a wide variety of cuts, including in education, Medicaid, the environment and pension reforms that includes state workers kicking in 3 percent more to their individual contribution. The Republican controlled Florida legislature with a super majority in both bodies also slashed growth management regulations and a host of other planning activities that also prunes back the state’s water management districts funding by $20 million and locally the South Florida Water Management District was cut $120 million primarily used for Everglades Restoration www.miamiherald.com .

However, a illegal immigration law similar to the one passed in Arizona died in the wee hours at the end on Saturday morning and the Florid House ran out of time before it could take up the matter and that legislation, if it had passed would have created significant issues, including unintended new costs for South Florida, given the areas demographics. Republican Gov. Rick Scott (Net worth $218 million) when he was campaigning made the legislation one of his campaign planks and told www.miamiherald.com that he had next year to try to get the illegal immigration legislation through. However, Scott did get a more modest tax cut of $37 million but that was well below the $458 million he had sought. The new budget, $700 million less than the current state budget also gives $308 million in tax reductions, including property taxes, and 4,492 state employees will be reduced through layoffs and attrition state’s the paper. The new budget document also whacks back school funding by $2.6 billion, would put 3 million residents in managed care HMOs that accounts for $22 billion of the state budget starting in 2012, and state prisons in 18 counties would be privatized from Manatee to Miami-Dade Counties and is expected to reduce state corrections staff by 1,751 people.

Critics, especially in the environmental community are going ballistic since much of this new legislation guts major land management issues including the abolishment of the Department of Consumer Affairs that used to approve land use and general regional planning that now is going back to local governments purview and is considered a windfall for developers and land speculators.

>>> Press release: Governor Rick Scott today announced the appointments of William Michael Heekin, Alan M. Levine and Juliet M. Roulhac to the Board of Trustees, University of Florida.

Heekin, 58, of Sandy Springs, Georgia, is the president of Heekin Advisors LLC. He succeeds Dianna Morgan and is appointed for a term beginning May 6, 2011, and ending January 6, 2016.

Levine, 43, of Naples, is the Division 3 president of Health Management Associates Inc. He succeeds Daniel Ponce and is appointed for a term beginning May 6, 2011, and ending January 6, 2016.

Roulhac, 47, of Plantation, is a senior attorney for Florida Power and Light Company. She succeeds Roland Daniels and is appointed for a term beginning May 6, 2011, and ending January 6, 2015. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott today announced the appointment of Dr. Zachariah P. Zachariah to the Board of Medicine.

Zachariah, 62, of Fort Lauderdale, is a self-employed cardiologist. He succeeds Michael Chizner and is appointed for a term beginning May 5, 2011, and ending October 31, 2014. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott today announced the reappointment of David Darm to the Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged.

Darm, of Tallahassee, is a government analyst with the Office of Policy and Budget. He succeeds James R. Harding and is reappointed for a term beginning May 2, 2011, and ending August 13, 2013. Darm will serve as chair.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Hard for 11 candidates to get licks in at local debates, media may be the message for top four candidates, Robaina, Gimenez, Llorente and Campbell

The eleven mayoral candidates are working the debates with a big one held at the University of Miami’s Bank United Center, sponsored by The Miami Foundation Tuesday afternoon that followed a debate the earlier day that also included all 11 candidates. The pack of mayoral hopefuls is made up of Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina, former County Commissioner and Miami city manager Carlos Gimenez, former state Rep. Marcello Llorente, R-Miami, former rapper and front man for 2 Live Crew Luther “Luke” Campbell, former County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Cancio, former county transportation Director Roosevelt Bradley, economist Farid Khavari, a previous 2010 Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Wilbur “Short Stop” Bell, Jeffrey Lambert, Eddie Lewis, and Gabrielle Redfern, a past county transportation board activist from the Beach rounds out the pack.

The election May 24 is looming with absentee ballots going out and early voting will start Monday for the election. Given this race is a political sprint that will end with a runoff election in June. People are pouring money into the races with Robaina leading the group having raised $767,000 to date followed by Llorente with $403,000 and Gimenez comes in at $267,000. However, Robaina is being scarce at some of the scheduled debates that had all the other candidates generally showing and skipped a meeting with The Miami Herald editorial board. He is claiming the paper is biased and has done some scathing investigative stories on the candidate, including his loaning money at high interest rates and allowing slot machines to proliferate in the city, he insists these machines are legal and are a game of skill and not chance, that are now being regulated. However, the Hialeah mayor did fill out the paper’s candidate questionnaire as requested. The Watchdog Report also covered one debate at the Biltmore Hotel hosted by the Latin America Business Association but because there are 11 candidates, it is difficult to get a handle or for them to make their case with voters and it will be dependent on their ability to get their message out, and define who they are, though a runoff is expected and that is when reporters really will go to work, including the Watchdog Report.

What did the mayoral candidates say about new Jackson CEOs $590,000 salary?

All the candidates voiced their opposition to the salary being paid to Carlos Migoya and most thought it should be about half that total number. And whoever, becomes mayor is going to have to deal with the PHT and it is telling that they all are essentially fiscally conservative in their comments in public.

What about former Gov. Bush?

Former Gov. Jeb Bush has come out in support of Robaina and they have been long time friends since the days Robaina supported Tom Gallagher in the 2006 Republican gubernatorial primary over Republican candidate Charlie Crist and Bush’s jumping into the race will broaden Robaina’s Hialeah voter base in the race. Gimenez is pounding back that Robaina supported the new Florida Marlins baseball stadium, a project that ultimately will cost $2.4 billion given the financing package, the mayor’s comments at the county commission hearings are on tape, and Gimenez a former Miami manager, finds it incredible that Robaina now says he was not in support of the project. Campbell, still writing his weekly column in www.miaminewtimes.com is also getting some press attention and got a long profile in some prestigious publications and I have heard many people who were skeptical at first about his candidacy, say at least he is not one of them, people that have worked in government in the past, and is truly a new political face. Llorente, a young face in the crowd is also getting a look-see by voters since while he represented a part of Miami-Dade in the Florida House. Some voters view him as not being a county insider.

>>> Here is what is being reported as their campaign war chests on line

Mayor 2011	Wilbur ‘Short Stop’ Bell ( Active- Qualified)	NOP	$26,211.00		$3,215.24
Mayor 2011	Roosevelt Bradley ( Active- Qualified)	NOP	$10,225.00		$3,158.74
Mayor 2011	Luther ‘Luke’ Campbell ( Active- Qualified)	NOP	$6,425.26	$500.00	$3,012.68
Mayor 2011	Jose ‘Pepe’ Cancio ( Active- Qualified)	NOP	$170,650.00	$1,650.00	$16,367.71
Mayor 2011	Carlos Gimenez ( Active- Qualified)	NOP	$267,963.00	$3,012.75	$162,075.45
Mayor 2011	Farid Khavari ( Active- Qualified)	NOP	$4,500.16		$2,693.24
Mayor 2011	Jeffrey Lampert ( Active- Qualified)	NOP	$3,000.00		$2,768.20
Mayor 2011	Eddie Lewis ( Active- Qualified)	NOP	$3,470.00		$2,721.57
Mayor 2011	Marcelo Llorente ( Active- Qualified)	NOP	$402,831.00	$700.00	$238,953.34
Mayor 2011	Gabrielle Redfern ( Active- Qualified)	NOP	$10,710.81	$1,500.00	$4,573.50
Mayor 2011	Julio Robaina ( Active- Qualified)	NOP	$767,075.00		$287,987.53

>>> IG investigative report release: Grant Recipient’s Executive Director, Criminally Charged with Stealing County Grant Funds, Pleads Guilty During Trial, IG04-52, May 4, 2011.

>>> Dist. 7 race heating up, Suarez gets support from Diaz-Balart brothers, populist Robaina pushing ahead

The Miami-Dade County Commission District 7 race is getting more intense as the two candidates, former state Rep. Julio Robaina, R-South Miami versus former Miami Mayor Xavier Suarez verbally duke it out but the former mayor has a considerable fundraising edge at the moment. He is also getting support from his son Francis, a Miami Commissioner in the race, but the real surprise is former Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart and his brother Mario in Congress are supporting Suarez’s county commission campaign. Suarez has long ties with the two brothers and was with them on Republican primary night in a black turtleneck sweater cheering on the McCain victory on 2008. He also gave Mario his first taste of politics when the younger man worked in the mayor’s office when Suarez held the office through the mid 1990s. Suarez had tried to win this commission district race in 2004 but lost to former County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez, now a county mayoral candidate who vacated his seat early last month to run.

Robaina, a champion of condominium owners rights while in the state House was also the mayor of South Miami when it was named An All American City and is an effective campaigner. He is currently trailing in the fundraising department but he started late and when the more recent campaign filings come in. Voters will get to see if he can mount an effective campaign against the older Suarez. >>> From the county election’s webpage:

County Commission 07 2011	Julio Robaina ( Active- Qualified)	NOP	$6,550.00
County Commission 07 2011	Xavier L. Suarez ( Active- Qualified)	NOP	$117,275.00		$33,111.71

>>> Press release: Election Ready – Absentee ballots have been mailed for the May 24 Special Election. Early voting will begin on Monday, May 9 and end on Sunday, May 22. Make sure to be Election Ready. > Sample ballot > Early voting schedule >

>>> GMCVB Press release: RECORD CONVENTION DEVELOPMENT TAX (CDT) AND INCREASED TOURIST- RELATED TAX COLLECTIONS IN MARCH 2011 INDICATE STRONG DEMAND FOR TRAVEL TO GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES March 2011 Food and Beverage tax collections from hotels in Miami-Dade (excluding Miami Beach, Bal Harbour and Surfside) generated $647,661 compared to $523,404 in 2010, an increase of +23.7%. The Miami-Dade Resort tax collections (excluding Miami Beach, Bal Harbour and Surfside) for March 2011 totaled $2.2 million compared to $1.9 million in 2010 for an increase of +14.0%. Record Convention Development Tax (CDT) collections for Greater Miami and the Beaches in March 2011 of $6.6 million compared to $5.7 million for the same period last year represented a +13.7% increase and marked the first time CDT collections for March exceeded $6 million.

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Grove Arts & Mind Academy parents, in six page blistering letter to school district, light up school’s governance and criticize building owner and school founder Alonso-Poch

Parents of students at the Arts & Minds Academy located on Commodore Plaza in Coconut Grove fired off a blistering highly critical letter of complaint to the Miami-Dade Public Schools administration concerning how the charter school is being run and governed that seems to only benefit financially the building’s owner and school founder Manny Alonso-Poch. The May 2 six-page letter signed by the A&M PTSA Executive Board President Carlos Deupi and other senior board members and parents to Tiffanie Pauline, the Administrative Director of charter schools in the nation’s fourth largest school district. The letter details a long list of issues, including the fact that he owns the building the school is housed, and uses it for other activities including having his law office at the site. The school created in 2004 was flagged by the Watchdog Report back then because of the building ownership issue that is known as a “related transaction.” The original monthly rent paid by the school district was $29,000 but when it expanded in 2006, that same rent jumped to around $69,000 a month, and caught the eye of the district’s inspector general and the school board’s audit committee. Poch, an attorney, at a past school board audit committee meeting explained to audit board members why the new rent was fair, but his explanation did not fly and had audit board Chair Frederick “Buck” Thornburgh, an attorney noting there “was a lot of fairy dust in the room,” after the explanation he thought.

Further, Poch thinks of himself as the Grove’s comedian for when he saw me and Miami Commissioner Frank Carollo talking in the lobby of Miami City Hall months ago. When he walked through security, he told the commissioner “to not believe a thing he writes,” but Poch forgot that prior to the CPA being elected as a Miami commissioner. He was a member of the school district audit committee and was actually there at the audit committee meeting when this “fairy dust” discussion came up at the body. The school has done well academically (Is an A rated school but it also has had four principles since 2004) but it is the governance issue that is the question, said a school administration official on Thursday and this complaint’s charges will be investigated by the public school district. The District has over 90 charter schools, many are successful, but A&M is an exception because of the “related transaction” issue, and the district administration will now investigate the complaint, and that will include interviewing the members of the governance board chaired by Ruth “Chuny” Montaner, a first cousin to Poch the letter asserts.

>>> Cartographer & Demographer Olmedillo moving to be tapped to draw new school board member districts for 2002

School Board members elected districts was the topic of the day at a board committee meeting Thursday and the public school district will spend up to $100,000 for a law firm and Cartographer and Demographer to actual create the new districts that will now have around 277,000 residents in them, now that the 2010 U.S. Census results are out and under state law, these new board member districts must be in place by the end of 2011(The courts have ruled the redistricting process, if done in reasonable fashion is solely a legislative and political activity). However, because of county population shifts that had greater growth from the east to the west and south, some of the nine school board districts will be reduced and others expanded but this must be done in a way that passes muster in the courts, especially now since the two Fair Districts Amendments passed and are part of the Florida Constitution last November, but that legislation only applies to congressional and state legislative districts and not local school boards.

Walter Harvey, the board’s attorney is recommending using a firm from Washington D.C. and former Miami-Dade planning and zoning Director Guillermo Olmedillo, who is an expert Cartographer and Demographer to do the job. In 2002, Olmedillo also did Miami-Dade County Commissioners redistricting, and he is expected to probable do it again (two firms were short listed after a RFP was done, but the results are unknown to the WDR at this time) for the county body this year (where the average population of the 13 districts will go from 175,000 to 219,000 residents). He has already given a brief update to county commissioners a while back and he may now add the public schools redistricting to his list if the school board passes the item on Wednesday.

However, Olmedillo is a major lobbying expert for developers and in 2010 state county documents he had six clients ranging from Hetram Puran to United Earth Movers, Inc. state county lobbyist documents for the year and doing the elected leaders redistricting gives him considerable access to commissioners during the process and after, especially at the county. Elected leaders influence on the new districts in 2001 was minimal at the school board said Board Chair Perla Tabares Hantman last week, but at the county that was a different story that back in 2001, had then ex Commissioner Miriam Alonso draw out the homes of potential political rivals, Sweetwater Mayor Jose “Pepe” Diaz, now a county commissioner and current Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi. Diaz’s home would later be added back into District 12 when the county commission in June 2002 reopened the redistricting process under the urging of Jose “Pepe” Cancio, the Gov. Jeb Bush appointed county Commissioner to replace Alonso after she was indicted, suspended from office and ultimately went to jail. Diaz would later follow Cancio to the office when he was elected to the county commission in Nov. 2002.

Hantman

>>> Board agenda item: G-2 AUTHORIZATION TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE PROPOSED AGREEMENTS WITH HOGAN LOVELLS, LLP, OLMEDILLOx5, AND THE MIAMI DADE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING FOR SCHOOL BOARD REDISTRICTING PROJECT RECOMMENDED: That The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida, authorize the Board Attorney to retain the services of outside legal counsel of Hogan Lovells, LLP, cartographer and demographer Olmedillox5, Inc., and the Miami Dade County Department of Planning and Zoning as database expert for the purposes of assisting with the complexities of the redistricting process.

>>> Supt. Carvalho goes to WH correspondents dinner, invite from Hunke of USA Today

Supt. Alberto Carvalho has gone a long way in his life that first started in Portugal and was at a table at the White House Correspondents Dinner April 30 along with Gov. Rick Scott and possible Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump. He told the Watchdog Report for a kid from Portugal to have had such a night was hard to top. Carvalho’s press office in response to my email about the dinner wrote, “He was invited by USA Today publisher David Hunke, after the Superintendent appeared on the United to Make a Difference Education Panel at USA Today headquarters in Washington. Here’s a link to the video:”

http://superintendent.dadeschools.net/index.php?news=123 >>> WELCOME TO THE WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ ASSOCIATION WEB SITE 2011 WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER. The 2011 WHCA DINNER took place on … for excellence in coverage of news of national or regional significance.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> A lot of balls in the air, great healthcare, new CEO Migoya, new Financial Recovery Board coming, new PHT leadership with cash crunch coming over the summer

The PHT board confirmed Carlos Migoya as the new PHT President and CEO on April 29 and his salary is $590,000, benefits account for another $107,000 and a possible bonus of up to $295,000 if certain financial goals have been achieved. Migoya since then has hit the ground running at the sprawling main campus and a health system with three major hospitals and over 30 clinical sites that must all uniformly deliver safe and effective healthcare. Migoya, the dark horse candidate after a national search was done, got the nod for his understanding of finances, the diverse Miami-Dade community, and his ability to raise much needed capital from the private sector. He has said he thought around $300 million could be raised to help capital activities at the ageing main hospital with over $1 billion in infrastructure needs.

Migoya, 60, divorced, is a banker with a penchant for high performance cars and owns a variety of high-end cars including a new Ferrari he picked up just before he left being the pro bono Miami manager in January. He now is running a public medical system with 11,180 employees, around 16 days of cash on hand with 18 days required to make the monthly roughly $85 million payroll, while at a time patient census continues to go down. Further, Migoya has to deal with a major shift in how the PHT will be governed and what will be the new role of the 17-member PHT board, that includes two voting county commissioners. Since the Miami-Dade Commission voted to create a new Financial Recovery Board Tuesday made up of seven members that would stay in place for roughly two years while trying to turn around the ailing health system that gives around $700 million in charity care.

Migoya

Further, at Tuesday’s Miami-Dade Board of County Commission meeting, Chair Joe Martinez when discussing the commission created Hospital Governance Taskforce proceedings. From what he has heard of the discussions, “it is a commission bashing group,” he said and suggested a better way to find out what county residents wanted Jackson to be was to hold “public hearings and get an idea from the people how Jackson should be run and what people want their safety net hospital to be.” The Taskforce is expected to make its final recommendations in the coming weeks, but these recommendations are not binding when it comes to the county commission’s embracing or approval of any governance change at the PHT.

Martinez

>>> Past WDR: What else is going on?

Past WDR: However, the commission is without two county commissioners in District 7 and District 13, there is a mayoral race with 13 candidates, a Hospital Governance Taskforce meeting (also created by the county commission – To review minutes of the taskforce go to http://www.miamidade.gov/auditor/hospital_goverance.asp ) is trying to submit recommendations by May 12, said its chairman former state Rep. Juan C. Zapata, R-Miami.

Zapata

>>> Ethics Commission Director Meyers & IG Mazzella’s emails last week to county commission Auditor Anderson on questions asked by Taskforce chair Zapata.

Here is what Robert Meyers wrote to the Hospital Governance Task Force chair, “In response to HGT Chair Juan C. Zapata’s queries, I am providing the following: The County’s Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance has always applied to PHT officials and employees and was recently amended to cover contract staff. This will have enormous implications for individuals who contract with the PHT and/or Jackson. Therefore, we need to engage in ethics training for these contractors. Given the number of parties that transact business with Jackson, we may need a physical presence there to enable us to conduct the training and to enforce the ethics code – whether it involves allegations against officials, employees, contract staff or lobbyists.

In light of the fact that many individuals doing business at Jackson are classified as lobbyists (e.g., sales reps.) and our office is responsible for issuing opinions and enforcing the lobbying rules and regulations, we would like to see our office receive a greater percentage of the registration fees go towards our efforts in ensuring compliance by these parties. We would also like to see the PHT/Jackson ban all gifts from individuals transacting business with Jackson. We also have concerns about the extent to which employees with outside employment are getting prior approval before accepting outside employment and we want to make certain that employees are not accepting outside work, which conflicts with their hospital employment.

Finally, we would like to participate in training for those who sit on the PHT committees. We appear before the Board of Trustees on a regular basis, but we haven’t had the opportunity to present to the committees to advise the members of possible conflicts of interest and other issues that could arise by sitting on a committee of a public hospital. We have no comments on the governance structure per se,” wrote Meyers, the retiring director of the Miami-Dade Ethics and Public Trust Commission.

>>> Here is Miami-Dade IG Mazzella’s comments: “Currently, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) is satisfied with the access and funding afforded to it to adequately conduct its oversight responsibilities as mandated by the County’s IG enabling ordinance. However, if the JHS governing structure should change, especially if it becomes a private not-for-profit that receives county subsidies, then I would recommend that the resolution/ordinance creating such an entity, and the entity’s by-laws, incorporate the following type of language: that the language expressly provides for OIG oversight; that the language provides for OIG access to JHS records, including medical and financial records; that the language expressly requires the entity to fully cooperate with the OIG and that it refer/and or report all complaints of waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement to the OIG promptly; and that the enabling legislation and by-laws expressly provide for the inclusion of the ¼% IG contract fee as outlined in the county’s IG enabling ordinance.

The IG enabling ordinance contains other pertinent provisions relative to the OIG’s authority and powers which should be applicable to the new entity as well. When appropriate, we would, of course, work closely with the BCC, JHS staff, and the County Attorney’s Office in drafting adequate OIG language. Thank you for soliciting my input in this important matter,” wrote Chris Mazzella, the Inspector General of Miami-Dade County last week.

Mazzella

Meyers

>>> Press release: Yesterday the Florida House approved a measure to protect doctors who serve and educate in public teaching hospitals by extending the state’s sovereign immunity. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Frank Artiles (R-Miami), positively impacts the University of Miami’s not for profit medical school and Jackson Memorial Hospital. The bill could affect other public teaching hospitals in the future, if they enter into comparable affiliation agreements with medical schools. “Teaching hospitals play a vital role in our state and it was an honor to sponsor this commendable bill,” Rep. Frank Artiles stated. “After spending countless hours working with the University of Miami and many weeks moving the bill through committees, I am proud to report a tremendous success to my community.” Currently, sovereign immunity is provided to public teaching hospitals in the state of Florida. However, when a teaching hospital has a contract with a not for profit medical school, the liability wavier does not apply to doctors who are employees of the medical school. In Miami, the University of Miami provides doctors who serve in JMH as supervisors and teachers while treating many of the indigent and underserved patients in the area. The hospital’s staff is covered under the state’s sovereign immunity protection, while the University of Miami doctors are left solely liable. “What ends up happening is, you have a team of doctors caring for the same patient and everyone on the team is protected but the one UM doctor, “explained Rep. Frank Artiles. “The cases presented at JMH are often some of the rarest and most difficult seen in the state and they deserve the best treatment available,” Rep. Artiles continued “these doctors are providing outstanding care to members of our community and they deserve the same protection as their colleagues.”

As the bill moved through the legislative process, it faced criticism by members of the Democratic Party as well as by the Florida Justice Association who deemed the bill to be a “Trojan horse” for widespread tort reform. The bill was amended several times in committees to clarify language and minimize concerns. “Early on I heard some misconceptions about this bill from my colleagues, and after some minor changes, I fully stand behind this final version of the bill and I truly believe its transparency is evident,” said Rep. Frank Artiles. “This bill does not provide sovereign immunity to all of UM or to all not for profit universities in the state, it does not apply to private health care centers, and it does not cover UM doctors when they are providing care anywhere but in Jackson.” After passing the Senate unanimously and the House with a vote of 109 to 8, the bill now heads to the governor for a signature.

>>> Blast from the past: PHT CEO Marvin O’Quinn’s presentation to the Miami-Dade BCC in June 2008 on the financial issues facing Jackson Memorial Health in the years ahead.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Possible CRA deal with Douglas Elementary suggests double taxation, should be considered by all politicians very carefully

A story in www.miamiherald.com last week concerning using Miami Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) money to held rehabilitate ageing Frederick Douglas Elementary, while a noble idea that should be applauded, it does suggest double taxation and could create a new precedent that should be considered thoughtfully before this deal is entered into. The CRA has around $29 million in its general pot of money, Miami Commissioner Richard Dunn, II, chairs the CRA board, made up of Miami commissioners, and while he said, “you can’t lose with children.” The cash strapped public school district has a much bigger problem on its hands, which is what schools of the 390 public school facilities should be closed and consolidated given the significant drop in enrollment running around 345,000 students. While the district’s problems seem discrete from Miami’s interests that is not the case, and since county taxpayers property taxes pay for a significant part of nation’s fourth largest public school district funding, that is down to $4.3 billion from a high of over $5 billion at the height of the real estate boom in 2006. This kind of new creative funding and arrangement should be legally vetted very carefully before the CRA proceeds, if lawsuits are not to follow.

>>> Readers should stay tuned and catch the meeting on the city’s cable station channel 77. >>> Stream Channel 77, for all City of Miami meetings, (Commission, PAB,CIP, Code, etc. hearings) http://videos.miamigov.com/

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Local business man sentenced for using fake government seals

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Karen Citizen-Wilcox, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Southeast Region, announced today that Luis Salom, 48, of Miami Beach, Florida, was sentenced today in Miami in U.S. District Court to charges related to the fraudulent use of the seal and logo of the United States Department of Agriculture. United States District Court Judge K. Michael Moore sentenced Salom to three years of federal probation, a criminal fine of $2,000, and imposed as a special conditions of the probation that Salom serve six months of home confinement, electronically monitored, and that he submit to substance abuse treatment.

According to the government’s factual statement proffered in support of Salom’s guilty plea, statements in Court, and Court records, Salom, operating as Southern Foods and Commodities, Inc., was engaged in the business of brokering the sale of food products, including cocoa powder, to Panama. The Panamanian government, in order to assure the safety of certain food product imports, enacted a law that required certificates to accompany the imports of those food products, officially attesting to their wholesomeness. In June 2009, at Miami Beach, Salom created a false “Certificate of Human Consumption” that appeared to have been authored by a USDA employee in Ripon, Wisconsin, and bore falsified logo and seal of the Agency. The employee, in fact, did not exist, and the purported tests of the chocolate product had never been conducted. The fraudulent Certificate was used to secure entry of a shipment of approximately 19,000 pounds of chocolate products into Panama, worth approximately $34,734.00. According to government records at least six separate shipments, with a wholesale value of approximately $86,000, were accompanied by false documents created by Salom in order to promote his export business. >>>Mr. Ferrer commended the efforts of USDA-OIG and USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Compliance Officers who successfully investigated this matter. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Watts-FitzGerald. A copy of this press release may be found at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> May 16th – Dennis L. Weiner – Chief of Police for the City of Coral Gables

Press release: Please join us for lunch at JohnMartin’s on May 16th. Our guest speaker will be Dennis L. Weiner, recently hired as Chief of Police for the City of Coral Gables. Chief Weiner was the former police Chief in the City of Juno Beach. He has over 25 years of municipal law enforcement experience. Dennis began his law enforcement career with the New York City Police Department starting as a police officer and rising to the rank of Sergeant. He is also a Naval Reserve Officer in charge of the Maritime Civil Affairs Detachment in Miami. Dennis holds a Bachelor of Science degree from John Jay College in Criminal Justice, a Law degree from St. John’s University, a Masters of Law (LLM – Taxation) from New York University and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy. Please reply to this message with your RSVP to poncebusiness@gmail.com Please forward this announcement to any friends or business associates who may be interested in attending. Please check out our website for upcoming events and newsletter at www.poncebusiness.com contact Richard Martin, President

CITY OF DORAL

>>> Press release: Doral begins 90-day warning period for red light camera safety program

In an effort to prevent dangerous accidents resulting from drivers running red-lights, the City of Doral announced that its intersection safety cameras will begin taking photos of red-light runners at designated intersections beginning on Friday April 1, 2011 and issuing warning notices during a 90-day period. These cameras will capture still images and video of red-light running violations. During a 90-day warning period, a warning notice will be issued to the vehicle’s registered owner. There will be no fine for this warning notice during this time. However, at the completion of the warning period, citations will be issued. Red-light running is the leading cause of urban crashes according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Deaths caused by red-light running are increasing at more than three times the rate of increase for all other fatal crashes, and more people are injured in crashes involving red-light running than in any other crash type.

The first safety camera will be located at the following intersection: Southbound on 79 Avenue and NW 36 Street. Throughout the following weeks, 10 additional safety cameras will be installed in the following intersections: Northbound NW 87TH AVE @ NW 36TH ST / DORAL BLVD; Eastbound NW 36TH ST / DORAL BLVD @ NW 87TH AVE; Westbound NW 36TH ST / DORAL BLVD @ NW 87TH AVE; Eastbound NW 36TH ST / DORAL BLVD @ NW 79TH AVE; Westbound NW 36TH ST / DORAL BLVD @ NW 79TH AVE; Northbound NW 97TH AVE @ NW 41ST Street/ DORAL BLVD; Southbound NW 97TH AVE @ NW 41ST Street/ DORAL BLVD; Westbound NW 41ST Street / DORAL BLVD @ NW 97TH AVE; Eastbound NW 41ST Street / DORAL BLVD @ NW 107TH AVE; Westbound NW 41ST Street/ DORAL BLVD @ NW 107TH AVE: Additional cameras could be added in the future. >>> The warning period will give the Doral community an opportunity to become familiar with the system. Drivers in Doral are encouraged to slow down and definitely stop on red before the actual citations begin. This is a public safety program, and the City of Doral’s goal is to deter red-light runners and prevent collisions and deaths resulting from these violations. Cameras will operate 24-hours a day and capture images of every vehicle running a red-light at the intersection. Warning signs alerting drivers to the intersection safety cameras have been installed prior to the warning period. The program is administered by American Traffic Solutions, Inc. (ATS) with each violation reviewed and approved by the Doral Police Department prior to being issued. Red-light running is the leading cause of urban crashes according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Deaths caused by red-light running are increasing at more than three times the rate of increase for all other fatal crashes, and more people are injured in crashes involving red-light running than in any other crash type. Intersection safety technology is just one way the City of Doral will make local streets safer for everyone. For more information on the City of Doral’s Road Safety Program, visit www.CityofDoral.com.

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Scott is tapped as new Broward IG, getting community’s trust and respect critical to success in new office

The Broward County Inspector General Selection Committee has picked John W. Scott as the county’s first new Inspector General and the post continues the reforms that have over taken the Broward Commission and the Broward School Board where a critical grand jury report noted the local school board interfered and the board was so dysfunctional that if the body could be abolished. The group would have recommended that action. Scott a former assistant U.S. Attorney for almost two decades and has spent extensive time in Washington before coming to Miami around 2003 and he has been working locally with the Miami-Dade Inspector General Christopher Mazzella since then. He lives in Coconut Grove and the Watchdog Report caught up with him recently and asked him about the new gig. He is excited to get going and during his selection committee interview before being selected over 97 other applicants. He told the selection committee members he felt that he had been training his whole life for the job. He has been involved in a number of high profile cases, including public corruption and will now get to try his hand at fighting waste, fraud, corruption and other abuses of public dollars in the state’s second largest county that has been rocked with past political arrests and the jailing of county commissioners and some school board members over the last two years. Scott is being paid $165,000 and his first task will be to set up his office and get a staff together, something he did not have to deal with when he joined the Miami-Dade IG’s office that is well developed since Mazzella was first hired back in 1998.

However, being a successful IG requires the person to get the community’s trust and respect by the elected leaders over the years if they are to be successful. In Mazzella’s case, a former FBI Special Agent, he laid that integrity groundwork over the past 13 years and Scott will have to do the same thing in Broward when it comes to his reputation and how the public views this new oversight office. Scott said for the moment he would commute to his new office from the Grove and he is the second Miami-Dade county employee to take a leadership position in Broward, and he joins former local assistant county Attorney Joni Armstrong-Coffey, now the Broward Commission attorney, who also lives in Coconut Grove as well.

>>> For more go to: Broward webpage: First Inspector General Hired in Broward County First Inspector General Hired in Broward County. John W. Scott has been selected to serve as Inspector General by the Inspector General Selection/Oversight Committee. http://www.broward.org/…/welcome.htm – Cached >>> Bob Norman’s webpage: http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2011/04/broward_inspector_general_john_w_scott.php

>>> Thank you for using the Broward County Commission Agenda E-mail Notification System. A new Broward County Commission Agenda is available. Point your browser to http://www.broward.org/commission/welcome.htm to view the new agenda.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

>>> Press release: Governor Rick Scott today announced the appointment of Jayprakash “Jay” Patel to the Board of Trustees, University of West Florida.

Patel, 47, of Pensacola, is the chairman and chief executive officer of LHS Companies. He succeeds Jeanne Godwin and is appointed for a term beginning May 5, 2011, and ending January 6, 2016. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

LEE COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott today announced the appointment of Judge John E. Duryea Jr. of Alva to the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court.

“With over twenty years of public service to Southwest Florida, Judge Duryea will be a great asset to the Twentieth Circuit Court,” Governor Scott said. “I am confident he will carefully consider each case that comes before him and serve with dignity and fairness.”

Judge Duryea, 46, has been a Lee County Court Judge since 2003. Previously, he was chief assistant statewide prosecutor with the Office of the Attorney General from 2000 to 2003. He practiced with Conroy, Samberg and Ganon from 1999 to 2000 and was an assistant state attorney with the State Attorney’s Office in the Twentieth Circuit from 1996 to 1999. In addition, he served as a firefighter and paramedic from 1985 to 1992. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and his law degree from Stetson College of Law. Judge Duryea will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Lynn Gerald Jr.

VOLUSIA COUNTY

>>> Press release: Governor Rick Scott today announced four reappointments and four appointments to the District Board of Trustees, Daytona State College.

Robert C. Davidson, also known as Bob Davis, 74, of Port Orange, is the president and chief executive officer of the Hotel and Lodging Association of Volusia County. He is reappointed for a term beginning April 25, 2011, and ending May 31, 2013.

Forough B. Hosseini, 51, of Ormond Beach, is the senior vice president of information systems for ICI Homes Inc. She is reappointed for a term beginning June 1, 2011, and ending May 31, 2015.

Dr. Christina F. Recascino, 46, of Ormond Beach, is the vice president of academics and research for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She is reappointed for a term beginning April 25, 2011, and ending May 31, 2014.

John Tanner Jr., 71, of Flagler Beach, is a self-employed attorney. He is reappointed for a term beginning April 25, 2011, and ending May 31, 2014.

Donna B. Brosemer, 60, of Daytona Beach, is a community relations manager for Community Based Care of Central Florida. She succeeds Greg Smith and is appointed for a term beginning April 25, 2011, and ending May 31, 2013.

Lloyd J. Freckleton, 62, of Flagler Beach, is a retired United States Army Colonel and former warden for the Brooklyn House of Detention. He succeeds William Davison and is appointed for a term beginning June 1, 2011, and ending May 31, 2015.

Betty J. Holness, 66, of Ormond Beach, is the community outreach manager for the County of Volusia. She succeeds Joseph Petrock and is appointed for a term beginning April 25, 2011, and ending May 31, 2011.

Dwight D. Lewis, 67, of Deland, is a former Volusia County Councilman and retired business owner. He succeeds Steven Miles and is appointed for a term beginning April 25, 2011, and ending May 31, 2011. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> Top Administrator Gastesi comments on concluded FL legislative session, impacts on the Keys

The Watchdog Report contacted Roman Gastesi; the Monroe Chief Administrator after the Florida Legislature Session ended Saturday morning. Monroe, the most southern county in the United States is an ecological treasure but also deals with a myriad of issues including a dropping population from around 100,000 in 2004, but currently is around 65,000 residents after a series of hurricanes visited the Conch Republic in 2004 and 2005 driving windstorm and property insurance rates through the roof. In his email Sunday, Gastesi wrote, “We’re still evaluating the state budget in detail to surmise it’s affect on our budget. I suspect that it won’t affect us much directly, but there may be some indirect hits. For example, some of the CBOs in Monroe County experiencing state budget cuts might lean on us for more fiscal support.

As you may recall, Monroe County is uniquely state designated as an Area of Critical State Concern (ACSC) that basically allows Tallahassee to dictate our Growth Management activities. It also includes a work-plan that directs us to perform many initiatives in the next five (5) years. For example, update our Hurricane Evacuation Model/Plan, update our land ID/tier system, finalize our wastewater projects, etc. This work-plan – I refer to it as our “Playbook” – was passed unanimously by the Governor & Cabinet before the session began and then ratified by the Legislature last week, which is great for us, because now we have our game-plan for the next five years. We used the ACSC designation to slay or amend some of the quirky Bills that would have weakened Growth Management and local controls in Monroe County. For example, the Legislature passed the Public Lodging Bill with an exemption for an Area of Critical State Concern. Therefore, the bill will no longer have an effect on any current or future ordinances regarding vacation rentals in the Keys.

Thanks again for asking and for your service to the South Florida Community with the Watchdog Report. Please tell everyone that the water is warming up, it’s crystal clear for snorkeling & diving, and the Spring early Summer Dolphin fishing season is upon us…come down, relax, have fun, and spend lots of money (we need it!),” wrote Gastesi, the veteran county administrator.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> The Elephant Forum luncheon May 16 being held at the Rusty Pelican is featuring state Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami and Majority leader in the FL House as its featured speaker. He will be discussing the legislative session that concluded early Saturday morning. To make reservations contact Mary Ellen Miller at memil@comcast.net or call 305.377.9187 Cost is $21 for members – $25 for others

EDITORIALS

>>> A brief history of the Watchdog Report over the past 12 years, but an odyssey that really started in late1997 when waste, fraud and public corruption flourished in South Florida

In 2000 when I first started the Watchdog Report using a purple IMac armed with the power of the internet, my only goal was to create a public nervous system of information about what was going on at all the public institutions in South Florida in an attempt to reduce waste, fraud and abuse, while also trying to connect the general public with their public leaders and institutions. The decision to make the Watchdog Report free back May 5, 2000 was a conscious effort on my part and the fact I was single with no children also freed me up to do this on a full time basis, using roughly $500,000 of my own money over the years, everything I had. I also made the report free because I did not want to create a group of people, with inside information, but to make the public knowledge available to all, and when it comes to the Watchdog Report’s readership, that has been achieved. Since that time one of the unanticipated advantages of doing this is the people I have gotten to interview and ask questions too over the years. Ranging from current President Barack Obama (When he was a U.S. Senator), Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, Mikail Gorbachev, Gov. Jeb Bush (who I actually almost saw weekly since he was from Miami) and hundreds of other people and events over the years.

When I have been on WLRN/NPR radio listeners from Palm Beach and other places ask why they don’t have a Watchdog in their community as well, and they may in the future but it takes an odd set of circumstances for someone to have the guts to try this. And in my case, it was a number of events including when federal officials extracted the young Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez that left the community in ethnic flames, combined with the widespread use of the internet back then, along with political corruption flourishing in the 1990s. Including some of these powerful people saying some really contemptible things, like “You little people, we are going to f….. crush you,” said one top political operative back then to me who later died from a heart anomaly. Though a number of people asked if I had killed him. I said no, I just told him when it came to long serving Miami Commissioner J.L. Plummer getting reelected after 29 years in office that it was going to be a tough race. Further, having lived in Japan, Sydney and spent extensive time in China and the rest of Asia where democracy sometimes is in short supply. It seemed here in South Florida there was a need for enhanced high definition transparency at public meetings and I attempted that assignment when no one else wanted to do it.

Now I am starting my 12^th year as the editor, publisher, and I again thank all that believed in what I was trying to do, and actually financially supported me in this activity that really began back in 2007 but morphed in 2000 into a news service and community education resource. Further, People ask me all the time what and why I have the Argus Report section, and it is in honor of former Miami Herald Publisher Alberto Ibarguen who when I became a independent editorial columnist in the summer of 2000. He told me to be the “community Argus.” At the time I emailed back, he and I were probable the few people who knew the Argus was a Greek mythical colossus with 100 eyes that protected the fawn Io, and would later morph in symbolism to the peacock’s feathers used by NBC for their logo. And I have tried to fulfill that Watchdog role in a small way, in this diverse and exciting community that I refer to as “colorful,” but is likely not to be repeated when I am gone and why for me, publishing solo for these dozen years with over 100,000 readers is a milestone, that I thank my readers and supporters to allow happen, and while it has not been easy. It was necessary for someone to have done it, I just did not think it would have to be me, but here we are today.

LETTERS

>>> Reader agrees with Braman editorial on charter questions on ballot

Norman Braman’s reasons for voting NO on all proposed county charter questions is convincing.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/05/2203188/braman-why-im-voting-no-to-all.html Carlos Gimenez’s incisive work to hold the Marlins to account, and convince the members of the county commission to reject the unconscionable Stadium funding deal, earned him my vote for county mayor.

Frank Del Vecchio

Miami Beach

>>> Lopez editorial in The Miami Herald

This week The Miami Herald was generous enough to publish my Op-Ed on Charter Reforms entitled One charter proposal could transform county (see below in case you missed it). I wish to acknowledge Miriam Marquez, Editorial Page Editor and the entire Editorial Board for encouraging and presenting differing community points of view on these critical issues. I welcome your thoughts on ALL the reforms and encourage you to vote on May 24th.

One charter proposal could transform county Voter dissatisfaction as evidenced in Miami-Dade County’s historic recall election has fueled yet another push for reform – changes to the county charter, the document that dictates how Miami-Dade’s government is run. Although there is no doubt that reform is needed, these proposed changes must be met with reasoned restraint. As James Madison argued in The Federalist No. 49, restraint is paramount in the amendment process. That said, the people have spoken loudly with their resounding vote, commanding action rather than inaction (or status quo).

On May 24, voters will not only elect a new mayor and fill the vacancies in County Commission Districts 7 and 13, but also decide on six County Commission proposed charter amendments that address: • Setting commissioner term limits and salary. • Banning elected officials from lobbying County Hall. • Eliminating the strong-mayor form of government. • Removing the notary requirement for voter ballot initiatives. • Adding the Office of Inspector General (County watchdog) to the charter. • Allowing the Charter Review Task Force to bring proposals directly to voters.

During the past 20 years, I have actively participated in numerous efforts to reform, modernize and make Miami-Dade County government more representative of, and responsive to, the people it serves. Most recently, I served as Senator Javier D. Souto’s appointee to the 2008 Charter Review Task Force. Under the thoughtful leadership of our chairman Victor Diaz, we plowed through reform after reform, producing 18 recommendations – one of which is now on the ballot and would have lasting benefits for Miami-Dade government. By a 9-5 vote, we recommended empowering future Charter Review Task Forces to place reforms directly before voters, bypassing the County Commission. The proposal now on the ballot provides that during presidential election years, an independent citizens’ Charter Review Task Force will be convened to prepare proposed revisions. It would prohibit county politicians from serving as members of the task force. And most importantly, it would allow revisions approved by a two-thirds majority of the Task Force to be placed on the ballot (unchanged) for voter approval.

With this tool, the potential for voters to dramatically transform Miami-Dade County for the better is limitless. Voters never saw the various meaningful recommendations made by the 2008 Task Force because of the political process that now exists. To stress the significance of how the proposed task force reform could impact county policy, here are a few of the important measures we proposed back then – that could actually be implemented in the near future if this reform passes: • Comprehensive plan for countywide incorporation. De-politicization of contract awards and disputes. • Stricter requirements for moving the Urban Development Boundary (UDB) line. • Review of zoning decision appeals by independent hearing officers. If the Task Force reform is approved, review of changes to the charter may begin even sooner than 2012. Commissioner Bruno Barreiro, the prime sponsor of the 2008 Task Force, has already suggested that a new Task Force convene and fast-track their review of Norman Braman’s “Covenant with the People,” along with other reforms.

Ultimately, voters must decide whether now is that “great and extraordinary occasion” when we jump-start the most significant round of county government reform in decades. I urge voters to participate in this special election and support the Charter Review Task Force measure that will allow for citizens to have a more direct say in changing how our county government is run. >> Early voting begins May 9 – time for an informed and civil debate. In the meantime, if you wish to participate in the online debate, link to comment directly on the Herald Op-Ed page; follow Yes to County Reform on Facebook or on Twitter @Yes2CntyReform. Finally, don’t miss my discussion with Eliott Rodriguez on CBS4 News and Views, which aired today, available online at http://miami.cbslocal.com/show/news-views/.

Jorge Luis Lopez, Esq.

Miami

>>> Physician on Baker editorial in Herald

Attached a link to an interesting article http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/05/2201361/solutions-for-jackson-memorial.html entitled “Solutions from the Inside.” In the article the author, Martha Baker- President of the SEIU Local 1991- , points out that “We must transition to a cost-effective, preventive, patient-oriented, primary-care-focused system.” It still baffles me that the focus of hospital administrators remains on expanding specialist driven care to maximize the volume of reimbursable medical services instead on primary -care based medical services with the focus on quality, safety and population oriented care. The latter approach would also provide access to increased Medicare and Medicaid meaningful use reimbursement and performance-based incentive payment.
As family doctors, we should be responsible for relentlessly pointing out these shortcomings, which eventually will only increase healthcare costs and will force us to ration care.

Bernd Wollschlaeger, M.D.

Miami

>>> Reader’s letter last week in WDR gets decided in residents favor
Our hearing last night was decided in our favor. The use of a single family home as a 15 resident commercial retirement home in a residential neighborhood was seen as incompatible for our street. 4 to 1 vote by a wise Planning Council Board. I thank you very much for your publication of my letter to the acting Mayor, Alina Hudak. I believe that the additional scrutiny was beneficial to our arguments against the applicant’s petition. And everyone reads the Watchdog Report.

Nora Denslow

>>> Happy early anniversary

Richard Sharpstein, Esq.

>>>The Publisher’s Statement on the mission of the Watchdog Report and the special people and organizations that make it possible: Government Subscribers/Corporate Subscribers/Sustaining Sponsors/Supporting Sponsors

***** LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & Initial sponsors since 2000

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The Watchdog Report covers a few of the meetings attended weekly. It remains my belief that an informed public will make better decisions. Therefore, I go to meetings, make the presence of an informed citizen known, and bring the information to you. The Watchdog Report is in the fourth year of publication and it has been an honor to be able to send this information to you. It is sent to readers in Miami-Dade, Florida, the U.S. and the world. The Watchdog Report is sent to thousands free and while readers have been prodded to subscribe the results have been mixed. Over 250 reports and Extra’s have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events. The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain.

LETTER POLICY

I welcome letters via e-mail, fax, or snail mail. Letters may be edited for length or clarity and must refer to material published in the Watchdog Report. Please see address and contact information. Please send any additions and corrections by e-mail, fax or snail mail. All corrections will be published in the next Watchdog Report. If you or your organization would like to publish the contents of this newsletter, please contact me. Please send your request to watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

>>> Watchdog Report is expanding as a new service and this content is now available to other news media, no longer exclusive to The Miami Herald

The Watchdog Report is no longer exclusively with The Miami Herald, and excluding the one story a week that is printed in the paper on Monday in the Metro & State section by me. The rest of the 20 or so news stories weekly sent out Sunday in the Watchdog Report are now available to television stations web pages, and all the newspapers and other media in South Florida if the publishers have an interest to run part or all of the stories. Further, in 2000, I used to have some paper’s running the report in the Spanish press, that option is available again, and publishers should contact me. The news content will not be free, but you can pick and chose the stories of interest, edit them if necessary but you must still keep the general story intact. If you are a news outlet and would like to learn more about, the Watchdog Report and this offer contact me at watchdogreport1@earthlink.net for further information.

>>> Here is what past newspapers have written about the Watchdog Report publisher including a survey and regional study done by the U. North Carolina at Chapel Hill on the media in the southeast United States.

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years. >>> Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, The (FL) CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS >>> Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, The (FL) MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED >>> >>> To read the full section large two page front page story, but without the photos and smart box graphics, go to: `I Go When You Cannot’ – Sun Sentinel 20 Jan 2003 … Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. … to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks. … http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american >>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times —The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored. Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2003-05-15/citylife2.html/1/index.html

From the spring of 2003: U. North Carolina, Chapel Hill: Southeast U.S. Media Report lists Watchdog Report publisher as leading Florida commentator >>> Selected excerpts from the report on Florida’s media sources

Those who do read the newspaper in Florida have a bevy of options for state government and political coverage. The dominant newspapers in the state are Knight-Ridder’s The Miami Herald (Acquired by The McClatchy Company in 2006) and the Poynter Institute’s St. Petersburg Times. Both papers endorsed Gore in 2000 but split on the 2002 gubernatorial race, with the Herald endorsing Republican incumbent Jeb Bush and the Times backing Democratic challenger Bill McBride.

Daniel Ricker of The Miami Herald also writes an influential column as well as an email newsletter called the Watchdog Report that goes out to more than 100,000 subscribers. FEBRUARY 2004 – Florida: Columnists in Abundance –ERIC GAUTSCHI, graduate student, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill – D) LEADING COMMENTATORS – Resource Commentator Organization Type Web site –Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/bousquet.shtml -“First Friday” WPBT TV (Miami) TV Show www.channel2.org/firstfriday/issues.html –Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/morgan.shtml –Daniel Ricker Miami Herald/Watchdog Report Newsletter – http:///www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/columnists/dan_ricker/ >>> Readers who would like to read the complete University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Southeast United States Media Report go to view the complete report or download all the data used in this study. >>> Watchdog Report Editor’s note to the NCU/CH study: The subscriber number referenced is incorrect and applies to readership.

General subscriber’s names will not be published in the Report. To subscribe to the Watchdog Report please use the form below as a subscription invoice.

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