Watchdog Report Vol. 12 No.7 June 19, 2011 Est.05.05.00 – I go when you cannot!
CONTENTS
Argus Report: Obama taps S.FL campaign donors at Arsht Center, Ambassador Green’s Beach home, finishing up in the Grove, millions raised on trip
Florida: Note to elected leaders, potentially breaking FL Sunshine Laws in front of asst. state attorneys may not be a resume builder
Miami-Dade County: It has begun, 64,040 absentee ballots returned, early voting started, but what will turnout be in Jun. 28 mayoral race? And how low will Gimenez & Robaina go to win?
Miami-Dade Public Schools: IG & SB member Diaz de la Portilla go after each other on “constituent” survey, but report should be lesson to all elected leaders
Public Health Trust: BCC Public Safety & Healthcare Admin. Cmte passes 3 to 2 for commission supermajority vote to override the FRB now overseeing Jackson’s operations
City of Miami: Is segregation of Finance & Budget department part of city’s financial reporting problem? First done back in 1997 after CFO Surana & Mgr. Odio sent to jail.
City of Hialeah: Local man pleads guilty to slaughter of swine and selling uninspected meat for human consumption, could get up to six-years in federal pen
City of Miami Beach: Mayoral candidate Robaina to speak at TMBC at David’s Café Tuesday
City of North Miami: North Miami man arrested & charged with bank robbery by the feds
City of North Miami Beach: North Miami Beach man charged in armored car robbery and shooting
City of Coral Gables: Ponce lunch features Javier Soto, CEO of Miami Foundation, an attorney, former chief of staff for County Mayor Alex Penelas, Georgetown University graduate.
City of Doral: Officials celebrate the “Topping Off” ceremony of new $22 million government center, to open in the spring of 2012
>>> Other stories around Florida
Broward County: Jacobs gets financial scan, $75,957 net worth Jun. 2010 & IG Scott makes first special agent hire
Palm Beach County: Leader of Krazy Locos street gang and five associates are sentenced on two homicide charges, robbery, and other crimes
Leon County: Gov. Scott today taps Judge Swanson, of Pensacola, and Commissioner Ray, of Tallahassee, to the First District Court of Appeal.
Indian River County: Local eye doctor pleads guilty to filing phony IRS tax returns
Community Events: M-DCPS Supt. Carvalho takes road trip to Grove June 21 to hear community concerns about public schools – Elephant Forum features state Sen. Anitere Flores June 27 at Rusty Pelican Restaurant on Virginia Key — Downtown Bay Forum luncheon June 29 @ 11:30 a.m. Topic: 2011 Legislative Roundup – Progress or Regression? – Speakers Steinberg, Lopez-Cantera, Flores
Editorials: People shopping for elected office need not apply; skeptical voters want honest, committed and humble candidates, not citizen lites
Letters: Children’s Movement leader Lawrence continues to march ahead — Reader asks if uninsured patient study has been done in M-DC for ER visits? — Council member Kramer on Miami Best Gadfly – Stephanie Kienzle – Best Of … – Miami New Times Best Of Awar … The very next day, Miami’s best gadfly
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ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street
>>> Obama taps local campaign donors at Arsht Center, Ambassador Green’s Beach home, finishing up in Grove, millions raised on trip
President Barack Obama stopped in at a Coconut Grove residence Monday night for a fundraiser and locals turned out to watch the massive motorcade come through the tony village of 19,000 residents on its way to Magalie “Maggie” and Jean Philippe Austin, M.D.’s mansion just off Main Highway along Biscayne Bay and near the Historical Barnacle. The Grove fundraiser with Obama cost $35,800 per plate, and the dinner came after a rally at the Arsht Center and a fundraiser at former Ambassador Steven Green’s home on Miami Beach attended by around 80 people where the president racked in millions of contributions for his 2012 campaign on the trip, before heading to Puerto Rico on Tuesday.
>>> WH Press pool remarks on the event: Written by Caputo, Marc – Miami Herald: At his third and final fundraiser Monday, President Obama addressed about 40 people at the Coconut Grove manse of Magalie “Maggie’’ and Dr. Jean-Philippe Austin. “I’m sorry about the Heat,” Obama joked, noting the Miami team had beaten his hometown Chicago Bulls. Obama held to his campaign stump speech, noting he’s “grayer than in 2008” while joking that it’s “not as cool” to be campaigning for reelection. “We have gone through an incredible journey,” he said, recalling the night of his election. “It was a night of such hope such promise. I tried to warn people that this was not the end. This was the beginning.” Obama said the economy as a whole and the auto industry were rebounding thanks to his policies that “helped prevent a second great depression.” He never explicitly mentioned the stimulus act by name, but said he spurred the greatest amount of infrastructure investment since the presidency of Dwight Eisenhower. “An economy that was shrinking is now growing again,” he said. “Over the last 15 months we’ve added 2 million jobs. The financial system is stable.”
He talked up his healthcare policies, garnering applause. The crowd also clapped when he mentioned he appointed the first Latina Supreme Court justice. “That doesn’t count the pirates, the pandemic, the oil spills,” Obama said. “Bin laden,” someone said, “Yeah, Bin Laden is something we did,” Obama, acknowledged to applause. At 9:14, Obama finished speaking. He took a few questions from those who paid $38,500 per plate. The press was ushered out.
>>> Medicare ends pay and chase with new monitoring legislation Jul.1, law enforcement officials say it is about time, billions getting scammed
Federal legislation that ends the practice of “pay and chase” when claims are paid when it comes to Medicare payments that has resulted in a giant industry of fraud and scams since the federal healthcare programs creation in the mid 1960s begins July 1. And for many on the enforcement and prosecution side, it is about time they say. Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, R-FL during his 18-month stint as senator that ended in Jan 2011 had made this one of his priority items. The junior Florida Senator felt credit card companies’ swing into action right away when they see unusual account activity. But when it came to the federal program that typically pays claims in 15 to 30 days. By the time federal authorities picked it up it was too late and many times the scammers have already shut down a storefront operation and moved on. Here in South Florida, the “Graduate School for fraud” said former U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta a few years ago there has been an ongoing battle since around 2003 when the first FBI detail to fight this fraud was first set up and since consists of another unit engaged in fighting this activity. And federal judges since then have bumped up the sentences for these convicted scammers and some are much stiffer than in years past, since in one 13-month period federal authorities prosecuted over $1 billion in fraud.
>>> ICE makes key improvements to the Secure Communities program, prioritizes removal resources after illegal suspect arrested
Press release: As part of the Obama administration’s continued commitment to smart, effective immigration enforcement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today announced key improvements to the Secure Communities program—a program that prioritizes removal resources on individuals who are found to be illegally in the country after being arrested for other crimes. “Secure Communities is a critical tool for law enforcement agencies working to protect the citizens and communities they serve,” said ICE Director John Morton. “However, we need to do a better job of ensuring that the program is more focused on targeting those that pose the biggest risk to communities. Today we are undertaking several reforms—developed in collaboration with our law enforcement partners and other stakeholders—that help us achieve that goal and will improve and strengthen the program.” Secure Communities currently helps identify dangerous criminals through an information sharing process. When individuals are arrested, they are fingerprinted and booked into jail, and their fingerprints are conveyed to the FBI and checked against the FBI criminal database. That fingerprint data is then also shared with ICE and checked against immigration databases, allowing ICE to identify which individuals may not have legal immigration status.
Through April 30, 2011, more than 77,000 immigrants convicted of crimes, including more than 28,000 convicted of aggravated felony (level 1) offenses like murder, rape and the sexual abuse of children were removed from the United States after identification through Secure Communities. These removals significantly contributed to a 71% increase in the overall percentage of convicted criminals removed by ICE, with 81,000 more criminal removals in FY 2010 than in FY 2008. As a result of the increased focus on criminals, this period also included a 23% reduction or 57,000 fewer non-criminal removals. Secure Communities has proven to be a critical tool for carrying out ICE’s enforcement priorities. To continue to improve the program, DHS and ICE are committed to addressing concerns that have been raised about its operation including …
>>> Today, ICE announced the following reforms: Advisory Committee & Minor Traffic Offenses: ICE is creating a new advisory committee that will advise the Director of ICE on ways to improve Secure Communities, including making recommendations on how to best focus on individuals who pose a true public safety or national security threat. This panel will be composed of chiefs of police, sheriffs, state and local prosecutors, court officials, ICE agents from the field and community and immigration advocates. The first report of this advisory committee will be delivered to the Director within 45 days and will provide recommendations on how ICE can adjust the Secure Communities program to mitigate potential impacts on community policing practices, including how to implement policies stopping the removal of individuals charged with, but not convicted of, minor traffic offenses who have no other criminal history or egregious immigration violations. Prosecutorial Discretion: ICE Director Morton has issued a new memo providing guidance for ICE law enforcement personnel and attorneys regarding their authority to exercise discretion when appropriate—authority designed to help ICE better focus on meeting the priorities of both the agency and the Secure Communities program to use limited resources to target criminals and those that put public safety at risk. This memo also directs the exercise of prosecutorial discretion to ensure that victims of and witnesses to crimes are properly protected. The memo clarifies that the exercise of discretion is inappropriate in cases involving threats to public safety, national security and other agency priorities.
Training for States: ICE and the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) have developed a new training program for state and local law enforcement agencies to provide more information for state and local law enforcement about how Secure Communities works and how it relates to laws governing civil rights. The first set of training materials can be accessed here.
Protecting Victims & Witnesses of Crimes: At the direction of Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, ICE, in consultation with CRCL, has developed a new policy specifically to protect victims of domestic violence and other crimes and to ensure these crimes continue to be reported and prosecuted. This policy directs ICE officers to exercise appropriate discretion to ensure victims and witnesses to crimes are not penalized by removal. ICE is also working to develop additional tools that will help identify people who may be a victim, witness, or member of a vulnerable class so officers can exercise appropriate discretion. Detainer Policy: ICE has revised the detainer form that ICE sends to local jurisdictions to emphasize the longstanding guidance that state and local authorities are not to detain an individual for more than 48 hours. The form also requires local law enforcement to provide arrestees with a copy, which has a number to call if they believe their civil rights have been violated. Data Collection: ICE and CRCL have created a new complaint system whereby individuals or organizations who believe civil rights violations connected to Secure Communities have occurred can file a complaint. For example, CRCL will investigate complaints of ethnic discrimination by policing jurisdictions for which Secure Communities has been activated, and DHS will take steps to ensure that bias or other abuses do not affect immigration enforcement. ICE and CRCL have created an ongoing quarterly statistical review of the program to examine data for each jurisdiction where Secure Communities is activated to identify effectiveness and any indications of potentially improper use of the program. Statistical outliers in local jurisdictions will be subject to an in-depth analysis and DHS and ICE will take appropriate steps to resolve any issues. For the most up-to-date ICE information, sign up for ICE e-mail alerts. You may also visit us on Twitter and YouTube.
>>> Ros-Lehtinen Introduces Legislation That Gives More Flexibility To Cash Strapped Cities Press release: To Use Community Development Block Grants (CDBG); Says Bill Will Help Low Income Persons & The Elderly During These Tough Economic Times
Cong. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen introduced legislation that would give cities greater flexibility to use funds from Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for public services programs that have decreased because of the economic downturn. The legislation “CDBG Public Services Flexibility Act” is also being co-sponsored by Congs. Mario Diaz-Balart, David Rivera, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Frederica Wilson and Corrine Brown. This bill will provide communities with greater flexibility to use funds from CDBG for public services. It does not increase funding or change the overall formula for the CDBG programs, but rather it increases the CDBG public service percentage expenditure for participating communities from 15 to 25 percent. Public services are described as: Services (such as food) for senior citizens, the disabled, the homeless and abused/neglected children, Child care, Health services, Substance abuse counseling and treatment, Education programs, Job training services
Said Ros-Lehtinen, “Cities across my Congressional District in South Florida and indeed across the country have less to provide to our communities because of the economic downturn. The most vulnerable persons in our communities who depend on these programs for their very existence have been impacted. This legislation will help to lessen the pain because it allows municipalities greater flexibility in how they spend their CDBG funds in their public services accounts.”
>>> Repeat of national Tribune paper profile, a blast from the past of Watchdog’s life back in Jan. 2003, and 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.” >>> To read the section’s large 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
>>> 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 show Topical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also numerous times over the past decade.
FLORIDA
>>> Note to county & municipal elected leaders, potentially breaking FL Sunshine Laws in front of asst. state attorneys may not be a resume builder
At the Miami-Dade Public Safety & Health Administration Committee meeting chaired by county Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz Tuesday, that included two senior Miami-Dade state assistant attorneys seated in the chambers front row, two commissioners chatted extensively among themselves on the dais and God only knows the subject. But it looked very odd given the setting and viewers could not discern if the discussion was about their children’s orthodontist or whether about public policy that was being discussed in front of the commission. And this conversation activity and behavior was mind boggling considering who was there in the audience. The Watchdog Report writes about this because it is the single biggest beef I get from readers and I empirically see. And it is not just Miami-Dade, but Broward and the state’s other 65 counties elected leaders that do the something and their residents wonder what elected leaders are talking about while a Sunshine meeting is going on and if the subject is concerning policy and issues an elected body will be voting on. That conversation must be done in public if it is not to be a violation of the Florida Sunshine Law, but has county and municipal officials chaffing at these restrictions, because these are rarely prosecuted given the limited resources available to investigate such matters.
In this case, it was Commissioners Sally Heyman (Net worth $425,000) and Lynda Bell (Net worth $308,309 in 09) having the extensive discussion while another commissioner was talking. And the conversation went on long enough that Commissioner Javier Souto (Net worth $790,000) stopped talking waiting for them to finish and when other commissioners were also talking among themselves. Commissioner Barbara Jordan (Net worth $1.97 million) also interrupted her discussion until the other wayward commissioners could give their full attention to the matters at hand, but it shows how casual some are about any restrictions about what they discuss, that to be fair may involve if the body should break for lunch or not. But just as people generally do not speed by a state trooper or police officer, for elected leaders to so openly chat in front of these state attorneys is one of the reasons a Broward Grand Jury blasted its local school board and had then Republican Gov. Charlie Crist (Net worth $461,000) challenging the state’s “culture of corruption” that had him suspending and removing around 46 wayward elected officials during his term, and Gov. Rick Scott is continuing the almost monthly removal trend of elected leaders around the state after they have been charged with a crime.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>> It has begun, 64,040 absentee ballots returned, early voting started, but what will turnout be in mayoral race? And how low will Gimenez & Robaina go to win?
The endorsement recently by Luther Campbell after he had extensive discussions with mayoral Candidate Julio Robaina (Net worth over $8 million) after he backed off endorsing mayoral Candidate Carlos Gimenez (Net worth $871,000) has been rattling around the community including the state attorneys office and sources say the FDLE. However, Campbell backed off from things he said in a Miami New Times www.miaminewtimes.com interview that was videotaped where he said he had struck a deal with the former Hialeah mayor for the “endorsement,” and it is the issue of the endorsement and getting something politically for it on the future that is the violation of state law. But legal sources say the issue is “proving” and proof that there was in fact an agreement since the former rapper is backtracking about what he said and what he actually meant to say, he now says. Further, critics and friends of Campbell are now dismayed with his antics and he has created controversy at a critical time in the mayor’s June 28 election that had early voting for the next eight days starting yesterday.
What about the candidates and debates?
The candidates have been making the rounds having debates all over Miami-Dade but one was televised over the weekend on http://channel2.typepad.com/issues/ hosted by Sean Forman Ph.D. and the two men had a lively half-hour debate in a controlled setting and no crowd or audience to clap or cheer when their guy made political points. The pair of mayoral candidates squared off again Sunday on Michael Putney’s This Week in South Florida show in the morning http://www.local10.com/search/form.html?qt=Michael+Putney&cof=FORID%3A11&client=pub-9218467875002671&channel=5769781572&x=14&y=9
Further, www.miamiherald.com released a poll of county voters that shows Gimenez is surging ahead of Robaina, the top vote winner last month in the 11-candidate race, with Gimenez getting a larger cross section of the community’s voters. He is getting 50 percent of the questioned respondents support to Robaina’s 39 percent of the survey’s voters polled.
Gimenez says he has three dozen years in public service, ranging from being a Chief of Miami’s Fire and Rescue Department, to city manager to becoming a county commissioner in 2004 and he is known for his contrarian point of view when it came to raising taxes, and carping about the sprawling county bureaucracy at the peak of the real estate bubble in 2006. He notes his integrity over those decades of public service has never been questioned, he is a nuts and bolts type of manager, and when he left the city of Miami in 2003. The city’s reserves had never been higher coming in at over $140 million that are now around $10 million.
Robaina, a real estate developer and investor followed former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez in office in 2005 and says he will be the ambassador of Miami-Dade around the globe, work with all segments of the diverse community, and wants to stimulate job growth, something both candidates support. He says he has made the hard choices since the economy tanked in 2008 cutting employee pay, facing down the city’s unions, and downsizing staff and services while keeping the city going. However, he is a big supporter of video slot machines that he says are legal and are licensed by the city, but Miami-Dade Police recently busted a number of these machine operators after doing a long-term undercover sting of what actually was going on in these local restaurants and bars. Further, Robaina is being dogged by other media reports and he believes he is not getting a fair shake from the mainstream English media outlets, and why he skipped meeting with The Miami Herald editorial board. Further, there is one question still out there, Robaina, paid $250,000 as mayor before he resigned recently also has extensive financial interests and the question is whether he will put these holdings in a blind trust or not? If he is elected mayor for the next 18 months.
Anything-unusual going on at the debates?
Many of these mayoral forums have supporters from both camps attending and as the days count down, expect more partisan outbursts from these people that is already occurring sporadically now.
What about Miami-Dade absentee ballots & turnout?
The county election department is reporting that they have mailed 124,538 absentee ballots and 64,040 have been returned state’s www.miamiherald.com and given there are 1.2 million registered voters. Voter turnout in this runoff is expected to be higher than the 15.8 percent voter turnout at the last election and could hit just over 18 percent in this race. But it is still unknown if the voters have the political will to participate, or just take off on a vacation leaving the issue to be settled by a small number of super voters, many of whom are retirees and extensively courted by candidates for their absentee ballot votes.
>>> Suarez shocked that county has 33,000 budget codes, looking for way to understand county spending habits
How big is Miami-Dade when it comes to individual budget codes for the $7.3 billion operation and a question Commissioner Xavier Suarez asked last week at a fiscal committee meeting. He was told by Jennifer Glazer-Moon, the county’s budget guru that in total there were about 33,000 separate codes and they try to distill these numbers down to “eight” major budget items for the commission to review she said. Suarez was looking for a way to gauge the administration’s performance and spending habits but he is finding there is a big difference from the city of Miami to the county, where the county’s budget is almost 15 times greater than the municipality.
>>> BCC likely to tap Olmedillo for $138,000, 2012 redistricting contract
The County Commission on June 21 will vote on a $138,000 redistricting contract with OlmedilloX5 Inc. headed up by Guillermo Olmedillo, a former county demographer who did the new 13 county districts 2000 Census maps back in 2001-2002. His firm will also do the nine new districts after the 2010 Census for the Miami-Dade Public Schools, and he may pickup the city of Miami’s contract for redistricting as well in the future.
>>> Will top talent at county hall bailout with new administration coming?
After cutting over $1 billion in the county’s budget over the past three-years, the hit this year will be around $300 million said a knowledgeable budget insider last week. Whoever wins as the new mayor is not walking into a good scene and some of the more competent professional county workers are looking elsewhere, seeking greener pastures. And while cutting personnel may have to be done, the retention of top talent must also get a priority in the new administration, that in 18 months will have to craft two county budgets and further cuts are expected in 2012-2013.
>>> Ethics Commission press release: Three candidates remain to interview for Executive Director
Following hour-long telephone conversations with seven candidates yesterday, a screening committee of the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust (COE) narrowed the search for a new executive director to three people. They are, in alphabetical order, Joseph Centorino, Chief of the Public Corruption Division of the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office; Esther Jacobo, Statewide Director of Children’s Legal Services in the Department of Children & Families; and David Young, Attorney and former Circuit and County Court Judge. The finalists will meet individually with the full Ethics Commission and with staff members following the conclusion of the regular meeting of the Ethics Commission on Wednesday, June 22, 2011.
>>> GMCVB press release: HO$PITALITY JOB$…JOB$…JOB$: GREATER MIAMI’S LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY JOB$ INCREASE IN MAY 2011
May 2011, Greater Miami’s Leisure and Hospitality Industry employment increased +4.4% compared to the same period in 2010. This is the 12th consecutive month of increased employment in Greater Miami’s Leisure and Hospitality industry. In May 2011, an average of 111,200 people was employed in Greater Miami’s Leisure and Hospitality sector compared to 106,500 for May 2010.
GREATER MIAMI LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY JOB$
May 2011 May 2010 % Change
111,200 jobs 106,500 jobs + 4.4%
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
>>> IG & SB member Diaz de la Portilla go after each other on “constituent” survey, but report should be lesson to all elected leaders
Renier Diaz de la Portilla, the school board member who represents District 5 did not get a resume builder when the school’s inspector general released a report recently on a constituent survey he did and was sent to Republican super voters that primarily lived in state Sen. Dist. 36, not his own school board district constituents, that would have used public money from his office account, to finance the activity. The IG found the school board member split the payments into four amounts of $5,850 totaling $23,400 and avoided a school district requirement that any contract over $6,000 be let out to competitive bid, which was not done in this case and included a disguised company doing the actual work. Diaz de la Portilla fired back that the IG office was a “wasteful taxpayer funded kangaroo court” and that no public money was ever spent. Since the IG got involved before the invoices could be processed.
However, the school board member and attorney should think about how this looks and while his attorney says skirting the procurement rules was a “oversight” www.miamiherald.com the real question is why would someone do a survey of only Republican super voters in a district much of which is not his own, and why are Democratic and Independent voters not included in this constituent canvassing survey? One suggested explanation is that his brother Miguel, a former Miami-Dade commissioner and the first Cuban American chair of the county commission, who ran for county mayor in 2000 and 2004 but lost, was planning to run for the seat then being held by his brother Alex in 2010. And this was an attempt to test the political waters with the likely Republican voters in the closed party primary in August of that year. Miguel, a top lobbying attorney with Becker & Polikoff did run and he bested former state Rep. Julio Robaina in that local Senate race and has followed Alex, a political consultant into that state office.
However, it is clear Diaz de la Portilla disagrees with these findings and has suggested the contract with the school board’s IG should be looked at and maybe put out to bid to see if the district is getting its money worth. But the IG has already saved the district well over $1 million in taxpayer dollars including a number of arrests. And the school board should tread very slowly given public skepticism of their elected leaders. And while no charges were filed by either the IG or the state attorney’s office. This avoidance of the $6,000 trigger looks more than odd, and should be a lesson to any Miami-Dade leader that this does not pass the smell test. And Diaz de la Portilla will have to let the voters decide if this was over the top or not in 2012 when he is up for reelection.
>>> Press release: Today the Miami-Dade County School Board passed an item sponsored by Board Member Carlos L. Curbelo, which extends Superintendent Alberto Carvalho’s ($275,000) current contract for two additional years. The item ensures stability and continuity in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and rewards Superintendent Carvalho’s efficient, effective and ethical leadership. Mr. Curbelo noted that under the direction of Superintendent Carvalho, this administration has restored the district to financial solvency, overseen improved student achievement, and reduced administrative and bureaucratic costs, among other accomplishments. “Superintendent Carvalho, with the support of his stellar senior staff, has provided more options for students while protecting our teachers against the strong headwinds of the economic recession. There is no question that our school system in Miami-Dade County has greatly improved under this administration, and it is important that we reward and recognize excellence,” said Curbelo.
>>> Police Chief Hurley honored by school board, violence is down in schools
The school board in a resolution honored Police Chief Charles Hurley for his work since becoming the head of the 155-member force, and he was recently named as a recipient of the Children’s Juvenile Justice Systems Wall of Fame member. Board members noted violence in schools has decreased during his tenure, being a police officer in a school setting is unlike traditional policing, and conflict resolution between feuding students may be the rule of the day many times.
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST
>>> BCC Public Safety & Healthcare Admin. Cmte Tuesday passes 3 to 2 for commission supermajority vote to override the FRB, now overseeing Jackson’s operations
A county commission committee voted 3 to 2 on Jun.14 on an ordinance to require a supermajority of the commission vote to override any union labor contract made by the Public Health Trust Financial Recovery Board. The change was offered months ago by commission Chair Joe Martinez (Net worth $245,000) and from the chambers podium Tuesday he noted, “Now is the time for such a change” since there is a “new management team.” The former county cop elected in 2000 said the change will allow the FRB “to function a little more independently” and believes they will have to make “hard decisions” in the future, especially with union contracts, and it is in our “best interest to give them that independence,” he said. Commissioner Lynda Bell said the “perception” in the community is that county commissioners are “meddling” with the operation of Jackson; the commission is “not allowing people to their job”, and why she would support the legislation change.
However, Commissioner Javier Souto believes otherwise saying “Jackson has always had some kind of trouble” and the health system is not designed to be a moneymaker but to “take care of the community,” he thought. He called for a massive outreach program to inform the public and allow us to “to explain Jackson” and its outstanding clinical programs such as the Ryder Emergency Room for example. He also thought it was important to dispel the campus was not safe. They need to know they “need not be afraid of Jackson, that someone is going to rob me, or hit me in the parking lot,” he said. Commissioner Barbara Jordan took a different tack in her objection to the new legislation saying since this new oversight board was just created. The board’s ability to manage the almost $2 billion health system is “not tried and true,” and that was a concern to her. And SEIU local union President Martha Baker objected to the change saying the commission was the “elected body” to keep an eye on Jackson and “we want you to be in charge.” She said President Carlos Migoya has a “new team” coming together but she believes “there are lots of ways to correct Jackson,” not just by union concessions and she believed this is “not the time to take away your authority,” she closed. However, Commissioners Jose “Pepe” Diaz (Net worth $164,000), Bell and Esteban Bovo (Net worth $25,898) voted yes and Souto and Jordan were the dissenting votes on setting the override bar this high, but the legislation is expected to pass when it hits the full 13-member commission this Tuesday.
>>> Here is the legislation on Tuesday’s Jun.21 BCC agenda 111243 PDF
Donn Szaro, the new chief strategy officer vice president for Jackson Health Systems debuted Thursday and he discussed the “vision” Jackson needed to develop and once decided to create a “path” to get there in the coming months and years. Szaro is part of a team President & CEO Carlos Migoya is pulling together since he took over May 1. State Rep. Michael Bileca, R-Miami one of the six men on the hospital systems Financial Recovery Board created a few months ago (after the old PHT board was put into hibernation for the next 24 months) while this new smaller board tries to get through a cash crunch summer, and ultimately making the public health system sustainable into future years. Bileca, a CPA with healthcare experience said Migoya has put together a team that is the “All Stars of healthcare” and “when you look at the team,” to have that “kind of depth, we are fortunate and lucky [to have this assembled new group],” he thought. For more on the committee meetings last week go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/06/16/2271376/jackson-finishes-may-in-the-black.html
What about Gov. Rick Scott and Jackson?
Szaro who knows Scott made one comment that should be noted by the community when it comes to state funding for the health systems operation. The governor, the former CEO of Columbia/HCA until 1997, ran the private chain of over 300 hospitals (A company that later paid a $1.7 billion Medicare fraud settlement with the federal government, though Scott was never charged). “I know the governor [said Szaro] and one of his comments is that Jackson should be printing money,” and staying the old course is not an option, and the future includes more “collaboration” and “spreading the money” among a larger pool of related medical specialties so healthcare institutions are “collaborating versus competing,” the new VP said.
CITY OF MIAMI
>>> Is segregation of Finance & Budget department’s part of city’s financial reporting problem, done back in 1997 after CFO Surana & Mgr. Odio sent to jail?
Mayor Tomas Regalado (Net worth$5,000) told the Watchdog Report Friday when I brought up that the city’s department of finance and budget were two separate offices and that could help explain why there is such a disconnect when it comes to staff understanding all the ramifications of the city’s finances. This separation of the departments, which is different from most cases when it comes to what a chief financial officer does, occurred in 1997 after Miami went into a financial meltdown and the city manager Cesar Odio, CFO Manohar Surana and others went to jail. The theory for the breakup back then was that no one person like Surana should be able to cook the city’s books without others knowing about it, and is why the two departments were segregated and the two organizations numbers only come together at the manager’s office. The mayor said this line of questioning I was asking is what the U.S. Security & Exchange Commission “is taking” when it came to the past issuance of city bonds, now being investigated by the federal agency, he said Friday afternoon out front of city hall.
However, city commissioners that said they were not aware of the looming shortfall in the 2011-2012 budget and in a www.miamiherald.com story last week forget that when they discussed floating bonds to cover the new Florida Marlins baseball stadium’s parking garages last month. That in the bond document there was the disclosure that the city would be dealing with a around $55 million revenue shortfall in the next years budget, though the current year is expected to close out budgeted, said one insider that has studied the issue for the past months.
CITY OF HIALEAH
>>> Local man pleads guilty to slaughter of swine and selling uninspected meat for human consumption, could get up to six-years in federal pen
Wifredo A, Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Larry S. Hortert, Regional Director, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety & Inspection Service, announced that Mauret Curbelo, 37, of Hialeah, Florida, pled guilty yesterday in federal court to charges stemming from his involvement in the inhumane slaughter of swine and the sale of uninspected and adulterated swine meat for human consumption, in violation of the humane methods of slaughter act (HMSA), Title 71, United States Code, Section 1902(a) and the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), as amended, Title 21, United States Code, Sections 601(m)(4), 610(b), (c)(1)-(2), and 676(a). Mauret Curbelo entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Court Judge Joan A. Lenard, who scheduled sentencing for August 29, 2011, at 4:30 p.m.. Curbelo faces a possible term of imprisonment of up to three years on each of the two counts, a fine of up to $250,000 per count, and a term of supervised release of up to one year per count.
According to a Factual Statement and other court records, Curbelo worked as the manager of Danilo Ranch, located on N.W. 97th Avenue, in Hialeah. Curbelo was responsible for the day to day management and oversight of the ranch activities, and engaged in the slaughtering, processing, handling, storing, and selling of meat and meat food products for human consumption, including swine. Curbelo admitted to knowingly distributing and attempting to distribute swine capable of use as human food in June 2010, without the swine first being inspected as required by the FMIA. Mauret Curbelo also admitted that on June 26, 2010, he directed the sale of a live pig to investigators in a USDA undercover investigation into the inhumane slaughter and uninspected distribution of meat and meat products for human consumption from the Danilo Ranch. The pig was dragged from a pen holding multiple animals by its rear legs and then slaughtered with a large knife into the chest, with no prior steps taken to render the animal insensible to pain. The animal was then left to die by exsanguination. Curbelo admitted his involvement in the slaughter and handling of this swine. The HMSA established as the public policy of the United States, that the slaughtering or handling for slaughter of livestock, including swine, may only be carried out by humane methods. The law requires that such animals be rendered insensible to pain by one of the methods described in the HMSA, prior to the animal being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut. Title 7, United States Code, Sections 1901-1902(a). >> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Compliance Officers of the USDA FSIS, Office of Program Evaluation, Enforcement and Review, Compliance & Investigations Division and further expressed appreciation for the assistance rendered by the Hialeah – United States Marshall’s Service Florida Fugitive Task Force in effecting the arrest in this case. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Watts-FitzGerald. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
>>> Press release: Headline speaker is mayoral candidate Robaina at TMBC meeting on Tuesday, see the candidate up close and personal: Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club – Meeting Date: Tuesday, June 21st, 2011 Meeting Time 8:30 AM Meeting Place: David’s Café II, 1654 Meridian Ave., South Beach >> Julio Robaina, facing a run-off election for Mayor of Miami-Dade County, will be the guest speaker at the June 21st meeting of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club. Mr. Robaina was the top vote getter among the eleven candidates running for County Mayor in the May 24th election. However, because no candidate received 50% or more of the votes, there is a run-off election scheduled for June 28th between the two top vote getters. Mr. Robaina, Mayor of Hialeah, faces his opponent, the second highest vote getter, former County Commissioner, Carlos Gimenez. There is no charge for attending and everyone is welcome. David Kelsey, Moderator for the Breakfast Club. >> Visit our web site at www.MBTMBC.com (Miami Beach Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club). For more information contact David Kelsey. TuesdayMorningBreakfastClub@Yahoo.com
CITY OF NORTH MIAMI
>>> North Miami man arrested & charged with bank robbery by the feds
Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announced that Dasniel Barrera, 35, of North Miami, was arrested without incident yesterday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with a bank robbery. Today, Barrera was charged in a criminal complaint with bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a). Barrera made his initial appearance in court this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry S. Seltzer. A pre-trial detention hearing has been scheduled for June 24, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lurana S. Snow.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, on June 10, 2011, Barrera entered the Bank of America located on West Dixie Highway, North Miami, wearing sunglasses. Barrera approached a teller and presented a note that indicated this was a robbery and also told the teller that this was a bank robbery and demanded cash. When the teller did not comply quickly, Barrera retrieved the note he had presented to the teller and fled on foot from the bank. Later that same day, June 10, 2011, Barrera entered a Bank Atlantic branch, located on east Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale. Barrera approached a teller and presented a note that said, “this is a robbery.” Barrera robbed the bank and fled on foot with the cash. Subsequently, on June 15, 2011, Barrera entered a Bank of America branch located on North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Again, Barrera approached a teller and presented a note that said, “this is a robbery.” He then demanded currency in denominations of 100s and 50s. When the teller informed him that she did not have currency in those denominations, he left the bank on foot. On June 16, 2011, law enforcement received an anonymous tip from an individual who had seen television coverage of the above-described robbery and attempted robberies. This individual identified Barrera as the person who had committed the robberies. Further investigation confirmed that Barrera was the individual engaged in the robberies and attempted robberies at the Bank of America and Bank Atlantic branches. Barrera was arrested on June 16, 2011. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and the South Florida Violent Crimes Task Force for their work on this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Linder. A complaint is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
CITY OF NORTH MIAMI BEACH
>>> North Miami Beach man charged in armored car robbery and shooting
Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announced that Kerby Aurelhomme, 26, of North Miami Beach, was indicted in connection with an armored car robbery and shooting of Gustavo Sorzano, which occurred on July 12, 2006, in Boca Raton, Florida. Aurelhome made his initial appearance in court on June 15, 2011 before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Ann E. Vitunac. A pre-trial detention hearing is scheduled for June 24, 2011 at 10 A.M. On May 31, 2011, Aurelhomme was charged in an indictment for a Hobbs Act robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1951(a); conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a); possessing a firearm during the commission of a federal crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, 924(c); and making a false statement to the government, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, 1001. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI for their work on this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandy Galler. An indictment is only a charging document, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
CITY OF CORAL GABLES
>>> Ponce lunch Monday features Javier Soto CEO of Miami Foundation, former chief of staff for County Mayor Alex Penelas, Georgetown University grad.
Press release: June 20th – Javier Soto, CEO of the Miami Foundation – Members and Guests, Please join us for lunch at JohnMartin’s on June 20th. Our guest speaker will be Javier Soto, CEO of the Miami Foundation. The Miami Foundation provides civic leadership by bringing stakeholders together to tackle issues of concern in our community. Working with its fundholders and community partners, the Foundation leverages collective knowledge, creativity and resources for a greater impact on our community. Their actions, connecting philanthropy with community needs and opportunities; makes Miami a greater place to live, work and play. Mr. Soto is involved in a variety of professional and community organizations, including being the Chairman of the Community Advisory Committee of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Board Member of Total Bank, Board of Advisors of PhilanthroGuia and the Florida Philanthropic Network. 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
Richard Martin, President.
CITY OF DORAL
>>> Officials celebrate the “Topping Off” ceremony of new $22 million government center, to open in the spring of 2012 – Press release: CITY OF DORAL AND CODINA PARTNERS CELEBRATE “TOPPING OFF” OF NEW DORAL GOVERNMENT CENTER – Wednesday, June 22 at Noon – WHAT: City of Doral Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez, Doral City Council members, Codina Partners President and Chief Operating Officer K. Lawrence Gragg and business leaders will gather at Downtown Doral to commemorate the “topping off” construction milestone for the new Doral Government Center on Wed., June 22, beginning at noon. The “topping off” is traditionally held when a building reaches its maximum height, represents the progress of the development and serves as a token of a positive future.. The up to $22 million Doral Government Center is three stories tall and encompasses 60,000 square feet. It will be LEED Silver certified and is being built on a 1.8-acre site in the vicinity of Northwest 53rd Terrace and 84th Avenue. Also, it will offer 250 parking spaces and form part of Downtown Doral, a 120-acre mixed-use community destined to become the heart of the City. Completion is slated for spring 2012. WHEN: Wednesday, June 22nd – 12 p.m. (noon) – WHERE: Downtown Doral, 8333 NW 53rd Street Doral, FL >> MEDIA CONTACTS: Helena Poleo/ City of Doral/ 305-406-6731/ Helena.Poleo@cityofdoral.com -Lilyvania Mikulski/ rbb Public Relations/ 305-448-3425/ Lilyvania.Mikulski@rbbpr.com
>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA
BROWARD COUNTY
>>> Jacobs get financial scan, $75,957 net worth Jun. 2010 & IG Scott makes first agent hire
Kristin Jacobs, long serving county commissioner for Commission District 2 is back in the spotlight this week after I gave her such a glowing story last week but realized I had not looked at her financial disclosure forms recently, and I got the last two years of the documents last week. She has a net worth of $75,957 through June 2010 and it has dropped from $85,695 in June 2009. Her only income for the years is her salary of $90,178 as a commissioner. She lists a house valued at $305,000, a Honda Odyssey is worth $25,000, a RV is valued at $7,000 and there is $2,350 in an escrow mortgage account. Her listed liabilities are $257,163 owed Chase Home, Tropical Financial wants $22,256 and Regions Bank is owed $3,974.
John Scott, the new Broward Inspector General and former federal prosecutor has made his first hire, and the man Dylan Hughes worked with Scott at the Miami- Dade Inspector Generals office covering the public schools. Since the county IG has an agreement since 2007 with the nation’s fourth largest public school district. Scott is creating a new office in the state’s second largest county by scratch versus in Miami-Dade where the office was created in 1998 and has had Christopher Mazzella the only inspector general since then, and the office has saved millions of tax dollars and prosecuted a wide variety of contractors and public employees since that time.
>>> 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.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
>>> Leader of Krazy Locos street gang and five associates get sentenced on two homicide charges, robbery, and other crimes
Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), and Ric L. Bradshaw, Sheriff, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, announced today the sentencing of Jonathan Gonzalez, the leader of the Krazy Locos criminal street gang of Lake Worth, Florida, his brothers, Ivan Isidro Santiago and Christopher Gonzalez-Chamberlain, and three other gang members and associates, Manuel Medina, Alejandro Tomas, and Itzel Candela-Campos, for their roles in two homicides, three non-fatal shootings, narcotics and firearms trafficking, and obstruction of justice.
U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer stated, “The success of this prosecution is due, in no small part, to the selfless and cooperative relationship between many federal and state agencies, all working towards the common goal of combating violent street crime and making our communities safer. By working together, pooling our resources, and sharing the work load, we succeeded in dismantling a violent gang that committed ruthless murders and robberies, and trafficked in narcotics and illegal firearms.” “In too many neighborhoods, young people are recruited into gangs and fall into a life of crime, drugs, and violence. Gang members have little regard for innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire and subject entire communities to intimidation and fear,” said John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Miami Office. “The success of this investigation would not have been possible without the assistance and cooperation of our law enforcement partners in South Florida.” “Based on the hard work and dedication of the South Florida law enforcement community, these violent criminals were prosecuted and convicted. Our streets are safer now,” said Hugo Barrera, ATF Special Agent in Charge.
“These sentences should serve as a stern warning about the consequences awaiting gang members whose actions breed fear and violence in our communities,” said Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ICE HSI in Miami. “ICE HSI will continue to work closely with its federal and local law enforcement counterparts to attack and dismantle these dangerous criminal organizations and see that those involved are brought to justice.” As set forth in the Fourth Superseding Indictment and statements made during various guilty pleas and court hearings, Gonzalez was a leader of the “Krazy Locos,” also known as the “KL” gang, a group composed primarily of juvenile and young adult males, operating primarily in Palm Beach County, Florida. The Krazy Locos had been affiliated at times with another gang, the “Making Life Krazy” or “MLK” gang, which also operated in Palm Beach County. From 2007 through 2009, there were approximately forty Krazy Locos gang members and associates. The Krazy Locos organization made money through the sale of controlled substances, primarily oxycodone, Xanax, methadone, cocaine, crack, and marijuana. With respect to the prescription medications (oxycodone, Xanax, and methadone), a Krazy Locos member would “sponsor” a patient, that is, pay for the patient’s medical visit and prescription, in exchange for a portion of the prescription medication. The gang would then re-sell the prescription medication. Members of the gang also were required to pay “taxes” to the gang on a weekly basis and often resorted to criminal activity to secure the money to pay their “taxes.”
In January 2009, Jonathan Gonzalez ordered a juvenile gang member, Manuel Medina, to murder Rolando Franco because Franco was trying to leave the Krazy Locos and Florida to start a new life. In February 2009, Jonathan Gonzalez ordered his brother, Christopher Gonzalez-Chamberlain, and two juvenile gang members, Medina and Alejandro Tomas, to participate in the home invasion-style robbery of an apartment in Lake Worth, Florida, that Gonzalez believed was used as a “stash” house by the 18th Street Gang. Instead, the small apartment was occupied by a family of five adults and seven children who were not involved in drug trafficking. Gonzalez-Chamberlain and Medina attempted to rob the house on February 22, 2009, but were startled to find Daniel Rivera sitting outside the house. Gonzalez-Chamberlain and Medina both fired shots, killing Daniel Rivera and wounding Angel Rivera. Tomas served as the getaway driver. In April 2009, Gonzalez ordered Medina and Tomas to shoot up the home of another former Krazy Locos member. The two juveniles went to the home on April 18, 2009, firing several shots into the home. Gonzalez was angry that the two juveniles had not emptied the entire clip in the AK-47-style firearm, so he sent them back to the house on April 22, 2009 to finish the job. On that occasion, Medina fired the weapon into the air, causing damage to a number of homes in the area.
That evening, Gonzalez sold the firearm to an undercover officer as part of a joint federal/local investigation that eventually led to the arrest of Gonzalez and seven other Krazy Locos members and associates. During the undercover operation, undercover PBSO officers along with special agents from the FBI, ATF, and ICE recovered 24 firearms and over a thousand rounds of ammunition, along with a bulletproof vest and a grenade. Gonzalez had pled guilty to Counts 1, 3, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 26 of the Fourth Superseding Indictment, which charged conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted aggravated assault in aid of racketeering, carrying, brandishing, and discharging firearms during crimes of violence, conspiracy to transfer firearms to others for use in crimes of violence and drug trafficking, and felon in possession of firearms. Gonzalez was sentenced to life imprisonment plus a consecutive term of 1,620 months (135 years) in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. The judge ordered $58,476 in restitution. Ivan Isidro Santiago had entered a guilty plea to Count 1 of the Fourth Superseding Indictment, which charged conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Santiago was separately charged as a juvenile for his role in the murder of Daniel Rivera and, as part of his plea in that case, agreed to dismiss his appeal to the Eleventh Circuit, and agreed to be sentenced as an adult for his role in the murders of Rolando Franco and Daniel Rivera and the shooting of Angel Rivera. Santiago was sentenced to 360 months (30 years) in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. The judge ordered $58,476 in restitution… A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
>>> Press release: Governor Rick Scott taps Mark W. Klingensmith of Stuart to the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court.
Klingensmith, 50, is the mayor of Sewall’s Point, Florida. He has practiced with Sonneborn, Rutter, Cooney and Klingensmith since 1993. Previously, he practiced with Metzger, Sonneborn and Rutter from 1986 to 1992. He received both his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Florida. “With 25 years’ experience in handling complex litigation cases, Mark has gained the knowledge and skill necessary to effectively and efficiently serve the court.” Governor Scott said. “I am confident that he will base every ruling on a fair, reasoned and impartial application of the law.” Klingensmith will fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Burton Conner to the Fourth District Court of Appeal.
LEON COUNTY
>>> Gov. Scott today taps Judge Ronald V. Swanson, of Pensacola, and Commissioner Stephanie Williams Ray, of Tallahassee, to the First District Court of Appeal.
Press release: Governor Rick Scott today announced the appointment of Judge Ronald V. Swanson, of Pensacola, and Commissioner Stephanie Williams Ray, of Tallahassee, to the First District Court of Appeal. “The First DCA is one of the State’s most important courts, and with these two appointments the Court gains jurists with a deep intellect, an abiding commitment to judicial restraint, and great professional and personal integrity,” Governor Scott said.
Judge Swanson, 63, has served on the First Judicial Circuit Court since 2003, and prior to that served on the Santa Rosa County Court from 2000 to 2003. Previously, he was an assistant state attorney from 1995 to 2000. From 1975 to 1995, Judge Swanson served in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, a law degree from the University of Florida College of Law and a Master of Laws from George Washington University.
“With eleven years on the bench, and a long and distinguished career as a Navy JAG, Judge Swanson will bring integrity, wisdom, and experience to the First DCA,” Governor Scott said. “He has a proven record of judicial conservatism, and a reputation for considering cases with respect and patience, coming to each decision in a firm but fair manner. As a well-respected member of the Pensacola community, Judge Swanson will bring that community’s values and perspectives with him to the bench. I am confident he will prove to be a wonderful addition to this important court.”
Commissioner Ray, 41, has served as the Chairwoman of the Florida Public Employees Relations Commission since 2008. As Chairwoman, Commissioner Ray has led the panel that issues final orders in the State’s labor and employment disputes and has served as the chief executive and administrative officer of the agency. From 2004 to 2007, Commissioner Ray held several leadership roles at the Florida State University College of Law, including Associate Dean for Administration, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, and Director of Career Placement. Prior to that, Commissioner Ray was in private practice at Ausley & McMullen P.A. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and her law degree, with honors, from Florida State University, where she was a member of the Law Review.
“Throughout her career, Commissioner Ray has demonstrated an ability to analyze complex legal issues while also taking on significant management responsibilities,” Governor Scott said. “Her record of decisions as a PERC Commissioner is impressive and reflects respect for and adherence to the rule of law. She has an abiding commitment to ensuring that judges say what the law is, rather than what it should be, and I am confident that Commissioner Ray will have a long and distinguished tenure on the First DCA. ” >>> Judge Swanson will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Peter D. Webster, and Commissioner Ray will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Charles J. Kahn Jr.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
>>> County eye doctor pleads guilty to filing phony IRS tax returns
Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), announced that defendant David J. O’Brien, of Indian River County, pled guilty today to filing a false 2005 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1). At sentencing, O’Brien faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to three years’ imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for July 18, 2011 at 1:00 pm in Ft. Pierce, FL, before U.S. District Judge Donald L. Graham. According to statements made in court during today’s plea hearing, David J. O’Brien was a practicing ophthalmologist with an office in Vero Beach, Florida, and was employed by and a shareholder at the Florida Eye Institute (FEI). According to statements made in court, the defendant had agreed to have various personal expenses paid by FEI prior to any calculation of his income, thereby reducing his reported taxable income. O’Brien under reported approximately $54,000 of income for 2005. In a plea agreement filed with the Court, Dr. O’Brien agreed that approximately $58,000 in additional tax payments are due, excluding interest and penalties, for tax years 2004, 2005 and 2006. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry S. Baron. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
>>> Supt. Carvalho takes road trip to Grove June 21 to hear community concerns about public schools
Press release: JOIN SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS ALBERTO M. CARVALHO FOR COFFEE & CONVERSATION, JUNE 21 – WHO: Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho, community stakeholders and interested citizens WHAT: Coffee and Conversation with the Superintendent – WHEN: Tuesday, June 21, 2011, 6:30 – 8 p.m. WHERE: Paragon Grove 13, CocoWalk
3015 Grand Avenue, Suite 322, Coconut Grove, FL 33133 WHY: This is an opportunity to hear the Superintendent’s thoughts on a range of issues concerning our schools, including school funding from Washington and Tallahassee. CONTACT: Arlene Martinez, Office of Community Engagement, at 305-995-1265.
>>> Elephant Forum Jun. 27 features Republican state Sen. Flores
The Elephant Forum Monday June 27th luncheon is featuring state Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami (net worth $163,000) as the organization’s key note speaker. Flores was elected to the state senate in 2010 after serving a number of years in the Florida House. She is an attorney and works for FIU. For more information or to make reservations contact Mary Ellen Miller at memil@comcast.net or 305.377.9187.
>>> Downtown Bay Forum luncheon June 29 @ 11:30 a.m. Topic: 2011 Legislative Roundup – Progress or Regression? – Speakers include state Reps Richard Steinberg, D-Miami Beach, Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami and Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami and the event is hosted by Helen Ferre. The location is the Wolfson Auditorium at Temple Israel at 137 N.E. 19th Street and to make reservations contact Mathew Schwartz at 305.256.4130 or Fax 305.754.2015. www.downtownbayforum.org
EDITORIALS
>>> People shopping for elected office need not apply; skeptical voters want honest, committed and humble candidates, not citizen lites
There is a disturbing trend of people in the community that want to hold public office and literally shop around for a position that might open up whether they have a real interest in the elected or appointed position or not. These people look for openings in the judiciary, school board, county commission, the Public Health Trust board (Now in hibernation for the next 24-months) where one trustee after she announced she was resigning told me she was “just getting her resume stamped.” Civic leaders wonder why there is such apathy with the electorate in today’s world, part of that is the political atmosphere that allows want-to-bees to get into some office, and it just justifies voter’s skepticism of the political system.
Elected leaders should never forget why they ran for office and the sacred bond they have with voters who cast their ballot for the candidate, and while there has been almost a decade of many of the same leaders in public office there is a wind in the air, and while the Watchdog Report does not know where we are going. I do know the Miami-Dade community is going somewhere and being an incumbent is a double-edged sword in the political landscape of today.
The county’s 2.5 million residents and 1.2 million voters have been battered with an economic tsunami with unacceptable unemployment rates and what they want from their leaders is not only honesty, competency in the job. But a humbleness and humility about the great honor the electorate has bestowed on them, and while this voter support may appear permanent, this bond can quickly dissolve as recalled Mayor Carlos Alvarez found out Mar. 15 and some of the newly elected and incumbent leaders at all levels of elected office should remember that fact. For the residents and voters are restless when it comes to politics and politicians, and candidates that do not acknowledge and accommodate this change in the political air may find they are in political quicksand, that once in. They can never get out of, given the sentiment voters are feeling today and in the months ahead.
LETTERS
>>> Children’s Movement leader Lawrence continue to march ahead
A very full week… A statewide gathering in Vermont and a standing ovation for the growing Children’s Movement of Florida. A Children’s Cabinet meeting in Tallahassee with the day’s most pointed and extensive discussion focusing on the too-often inadequate standards and lousy funding for Florida’s voluntary pre-K program for 4 year olds. Discussing The Children’s Movement with energized teachers at Miami’s Coral Park Elementary. And, to close out the week, talking about The Movement with hundreds of foster and adoptive parents in Orlando…then to Bartow to meet with former Senator Rick Dantzler…and to Anna Maria for a two-hour conversation with former First Lady Rhea Chiles plus Kitty, Bud and Ed Chiles. It has been another encouraging week for The Movement…and we are still just getting started. Thanks for believing.
Dave Lawrence
Chair
The Children’s Movement of Florida >> info@childrensmovementflorida.org
>>> Reader asks if uninsured patient study has been done in M-DC for ER visits?
http://www.coverageforall.org/pdf/2011/FHCE_0511_HealthAffairsBlogRelease.pdf A startling 79.7% of uninsured patients seeking emergency care in four San Diego hospital ERs could have had some form of government insurance, but did not. Has a similar study been done in Miami?
Santiago Leon, J.D.
>>> Council member Kramer on Miami Best Gadfly – Stephanie Kienzle – Best Of … – Miami New Times Best Of Awar … The very next day, Miami’s best gadfly was back on her computer, blogging about Rosner’s crackdown and >>> As a former activist, now civil servant or as I say I’m a resident with a title. I want to congratulate Citizen of North Miami Beach Stephanie Kienzle for making a name for herself. Whether you like Stephanie’s sharp tongue and wit or not, Stephanie serves a very important role by keeping “em honest” in our community. I have fallen under her wrath long before I was a Councilwoman, and no, it wasn’t fun. Thankfully, even though it was years later we found out she had mistaken me for someone else. We have many active residents in NMB who have worked hard to inform our community of the issues. Some are more negative than positive, but at least they are dishing their opinion, rather than be silent. Stephanie does both and when her facts are askew, she corrects them. By creating her blog, she has reached out to the masses and now has been recognized by her peers. Let’s give Stephanie a big hoorah, for going where many dare to go (publicly that is) and let’s hope that all residents stay informed and keep us Councilmember’s on our toes which should never take a blogger like Stephanie to accomplish!
Barbara Kramer
Council Member, City of North Miami Beach
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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
Copyright © of original material, 2011, Daniel A. Ricker
>>> 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.
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