Watchdog Report Vol.17 No.14 September 18, 2016 – EST: 05.05.00 – I go when you cannot Celebrating – 16 Years of reliable weekly publishing

 

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center www.knightfoundation.org   to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no pops-up and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

 

>>>> The Watchdog Report publisher for 16 years now, has reported back weekly on how your billions of public dollars in local government are being spent. And how to help support me providing this information is at the end of the WDR. And I hope you will consider keeping an independent news service out in our community, where what is going on with all our government entities is of critical benefit for both the public institutions but voters as well l. Thank You.

 

And to my Supporters I pledge to keep ‘going when you cannot.’ And we have about $9 billion in GOB funds being spent through a variety of public institutions and that is no small number and in the past I have broken the story on Cuban refugees coming in droves and also the Oriental fruit fly quarantine and its huge economic impact to name just a few of the more recent stories in past WDR’s.

And I also keep watch for the all-important tourism industry and with the Zika Virus people are starting to understand how vital these tourists are for a host of amenities like culture and the arts, Jackson health System and transportation dollars all entities that benefit from tourism.

 

>>> And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account at www.watchdogreport.net

>>>And you can now easily support the Watchdog Report by going to my new PayPal Button account, you know you want to do it at www.watchdogreport.net for as media resources contract residents still need to know that someone is also watching out for their interests. Because government watched is a better governing experience for voters and their local quality of life?

 

However, because of fiscal issues I was barely able to publish this week as Miami continues to get more expensive. It is no easy task financially to do the WDR weekly. And years ago the county Ethics Commission did a report that suggested over the past decade some $50 million had been spent fighting waste fraud abuse and public corruption and having the press at public meetings (some very obscure) changes the tone of the meeting (and is why you don’t speed past a state trooper, if you’re smart) Further, I have tried to be an information electrolyte available to all free (and that is a problem) between these large public institutions when I first started back in 1997. And many public meetings back then were not being recorded except by me and that is no longer the case.

 

For an accurate public record is key and diminishes future legal action. For you either have an accurate public record or you don’t. And I hope you will consider helping me in this effort to keep the community informed and saving taxpayer monies in the process. For I need your help and Thank you for the past support over the last 17 years. And to read a national story and profile of the WDR publisher in the early years and background back in 2003 go to: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american    

 

>>> And here is the story done by Miami New Times when they named the publisher as the community’s Best of Miami and Best Citizen and to read the story go to: http://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517

 

And the credibility I have established over that time of news you can trust without an attitude. And to help me in this quest to keep the community informed can easily be done since I know have PayPal at www.watchdogreport.net    and it accepts a host of credit cards and I hope you will consider supporting me allowing to have someone watch over how your public tax dollars are being spent. And few web blogs have the duration and community history as I have given in this effort and has people saying “you were blogging before we even knew what it was,” And I hope I get a decent response so I can get back to what I do best ‘go when you cannot,’ and the Watchdog Report will only return when my fiscal health is in better shape and to any of my past contributors. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. >>> May 5^th was my 16^th Anniversary, and I thank all my supporters and can’t believe it has been that long and hope you will help keep me in the field and reporting back how your public tax dollars are being spent.

 

>>> And here is the verbiage related to the award: 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 [16th Anniversary. In a former life Ricker made a handsome living as an international salesman of heart pacemakers. As the hard-working publisher of Watchdog, 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!”

 

>>> And checkout the new Watchdog Report merchandising campaign featuring Knowledge is Bliss coffee cups and includes premium cotton super soft tee shirts.at http://store.inkcampaigns.com/watchdog_report_store .    >>>

http://store.inkcampaigns.com/watchdg_report_store or go to

                           www.watchdogreport.net

 

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the street

>>> Trump flirts with local S. Florida Haitian groups, will he catch on, after pipe bombs explode in NYC and Seaside, Trump says nation must get ‘tough’

GOP candidate Donald Trump was in town Friday in a brace of public campaign events including at the Haitian Cultural Center. And his critics believe these efforts are a little too late after some of his harsh immigration rhetoric. He has used during the campaign. However Hillary Clinton had a rough week when she was overcome with heat and had a case of phenomena but her campaign handled it wrong and she looked frail rather than just being sick. And one former Miami fire rescue officer said under “Secret Service protocol,” he said she should have been taken to a hospital not her daughters apartment, which was the policy when such people came to Miami and have a medical incident in the past, the veteran fire rescue medic said.

 

And Clinton is said to be soldering on but the polls are tightening up to the General Election and Trump is making fewer gaffs though he punked the press with an overblown press conference where he clearly repudiated his past claim that President Barack Obama was not born in America saying the man was a American, and then giving the media a tour of a new hotel he will be opening in D.C. But the nation’s landscape is changing fast with some disturbing attacks over this weekend including a mall stabbing attack that has injured nine.

 

What about the bomb blast in NYC?

And over the weekend NYC was the site of a bomb blast, with 29 injured but no deaths and another blast in a dumpster (which is the assumption) is being investigated in Seaside Heights a shore community in the Garden State. And these acts are becoming interwoven in the presidential race and has Trump saying the nation needs to get ‘tough’ and with all the cameras it will take authorities time to review these images but the surveillance cameras are everywhere in the Big Apple. And a retired ATF special agent speculated that a number of the explosive devices seem to have not worked and a ISS magazine ‘Inspire’ details how to build a number of explosive devices on page 40 said one media expert while discussing the issue on www.msnbc.com   And authorities don’t know if this is connected with terrorism but it has put the nation on edge running up to the presidential election with absentee ballots soon to go out. Further, nine people were stabbed in a Minnesota Mall and they are all recovering in a local hospital. And for more on the NYC blast go to

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/09/17/explosion-new-york-chelsea-neighborhood/90605526/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/09/17/explosion-new-york-chelsea-neighborhood/90605526/ >> http://abc7ny.com/1516341/

 

And Clinton is having enthusiasm issues (especially with Millennials and the concern is they will stay home when polls open) and there are very few campaign signs for her or Trump and in some parts of Miami except for state and local elections. There is very little presidential signage, which could single it will be a small turnout race after President Barack Obama’s elections where turnout was sky high.

 

>>> You won’t see Mayor Diaz on the PGA tour anytime soon, buddy of N.Y. Mayor Bloomberg

While former Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz loves to play golf, he is said to be a duffer on the links and the attorney smokes constantly and must go through almost a pack while playing 18 holes said someone playing behind them. And mayor Diaz use to sit out on the veranda outside his office at City Hall and smoke cigars and sip a Pinch Scotch while overlooking Dinner Key Marina and he is pals with former New York Mayor Michael Blumberg, who waged a major health campaign in the big Apple.

 

>>> Further some of Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s body people need to give people some slack when they call Gmenez “Chief,” since he was fire Chief for Miami. And the mayor asked his staff to stand down since it was another Firefighter calling him that

And while more organizations are using the internet to conduct business some customers are being left behind since they may not be as savvy as they should on a computer depending on their age and health and I have been trying for weeks to contact one company Florida Blue and the calls say “because of heavy call volume,” the wait could be considerable and I am having to drive to one of their branches to get something cleared up or shown how to enroll on line which I have not been able to do. Editor’s note: I normally do not write about such issues but know others must be frustrated.

 

>>> And former Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff appears to be channeling Peter Fonda and ‘Easy Rider,’ except in this version Captain America has a fanny pack and this is a new Harley and the attorney is a big car buff and while in office given the commission car stipend he went through a Porsche 911, and later a Tesla and the attorney since leaving office has flown under the radar.

 

The Commish cruising on his hog from his Facebook page

 

What did the mayor say about the County’s laid back Culture?

Back in 2011 when Gimenez was first elected mayor. The Watchdog Report asked him about the county’s laid back culture and how he would change it? He asked back “how do you eat an elephant?” “One bite at a time,” he surmised back then but for many residents the general perception is that County employees treat residents ‘like dogs,’ was one quote in The Miami Herald.

 

What about Zika and Mayor Gimenez trying to clean “5,000, storm drains a day countywide?”

Mayor Carlos Gimenez told county commissioners last week that when it comes to reducing standing bodies of water in streets. The county is trying to clean out some “5,000 drains a day,” he said, but he noted some are in the municipalities and since there are some “150,000, storm drains countywide,” this is no easy task and the county needs the cities help said Gimenez. And Regalado has been hammering the mayor that he should have been more proactive action when it came to Zika and he responds that he had taken earlier action.

 

What about the WDR publisher’s health and what about the second surgery (that was cancelled Wednesday) and I hope to be back soon?

I am slowly coming back after I heal from a major infection of my right index finger’s tendon and had me in a hospital for some 18 days getting antibiotics IV and impacted my kidney’s and to be in a hospital for that long of a period gives one time to reflect on this unique and colorful community.

 

And I thank all the readers wishing me well since then and continuing to support my efforts to keep the community informed while I have been on the sidelines but I continue to monitor our local public institutions via cable and other methods and should be back in full- form in a couple of months. If not sooner God willing. And I have another procedure and hope to be back in action soon.

 

STATE OF FLORIDA

>>> Judge Brennan’s, temperament and temper gets her slap on hand for breaking truck window with a pipe, stickler in her own courtroom, has $10 million net worth for 2015, $6.6 million in “AUS Inc. stock a closely held company.”

Circuit Court Judge Victoria Brennan, known for her temper in the courtroom managed to escape being charged for taking a pipe and smashing the window on her son’s friend’s truck, and her boy had gotten into a car crash. And she is a stickler in her own court and this story only surfaced because of a Key’s newspaper The Keynoter and the judge was interrelated and conflicted in a number of ways. (and the media says she paid the owner of the car more than was needed to fix the window and he did not press charges)

 

But critics charge she got special treatment even though Gov. Rick Scott picked a neutral state attorney’s office from Leon county to look at the case after the Monroe state attorney was conflicted out and the judge had worked in the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office before Gov. Jeb Bush appointed her to the bench years ago, and when a judge does something like this. I always wonder about their finances and she is a wealthy woman which is fine but she seems to have an oversized sense of entitlement. Since she is a criminal court judge and in this case the judge was facing a misdemeanor charge. But she needs to realize she has a special status in the community and perception in the judicial arena is paramount and cannot be compromised in anyway.

 

What do we know about Brennan’s finances?

Brennan through Dec. 31, 2015 had a net worth of $10.69 million there is $100,000 in household goods and she has $75,000 cash on hand and vessels are listed valued at $160,000 and her salary as a judge is $146,000. She also has an $852,000 in an equity line of credit and $6.6 million in “AUS a closely held company.” she states on her yearly financial disclosure form for the year. And to read more on the incident go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article95847082.html

And her total assets net worth is $11.552 million.

 

>>> With Zika fears, local tourism officials in interviews are saying, “Miami is open for business,” says GMCVB tourist maven Talbert who is, “in the good news business,” he likes to say

With Zika worries tourist mavens say “after 12 days we are open for business and doing well,” said William Talbert, III, the CEO of the Greater Miami Visitors and Tourism bureau (GMCVB) at a commission meeting concerning the Zika virus and he noted. Mayor Carlos Gimenez had been doing an outstanding job in interviews with the press trying to keep the issue in context and what Miami-Dade is doing to diminish the bugs impact on the critical tourism industry, whose taxes pay for a host of county facilities and organizations from the Homeless Trust to Jackson Health System to name a few and this revenue is critical to many of these organizations. As the County runs up to its public budget hearings in September. And people need to realize that if tourist tax revenues drop, the county’s general fund would have to be tapped to cover committed obligations if revenues fall short.

 

>>> What about the popular Miami Spice restaurant program?

What does the Greater Miami Convention and Visitor’s Bureau do to gin up business and promoting businesses that includes the very popular Miami Spice program from Au.1 to Sept.30 and is a culinary bargain during the slow summer months and has become very popular with locals as well. Editor’s note: The GMCVB was an early sponsor of the WDR. And with these tourist challenges a program created years ago Miami Spice jump starts the slow summer months with 32 restaurants offering three course meals from a $23.00 lunch to a $39.00 dinner at a host of tony restaurants and to see the list of restaurants participating go to http://www.miamiandbeaches.com/special-offers/monthly-deals/miami-spice-month

 

 

And more on the GMCVB: go tohttp://planners.miamiandbeaches.com/meeting-venues/miami-beach-convention-center?&gclid=CPWQgZ2A9M4CFcMmhgodUYABbg

 

 >>> Gov. Scott Encourages Floridians to Apply for the Florida Constitution Revision Commission

Gov. Scott press release: Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that the Governor’s Office will begin accepting applications for the Florida Constitution Revision Commission. The 37 member Commission convenes every 20 years to review Florida’s Constitution and propose potential changes to be approved by Florida voters.

 

Governor Scott said, “Every 20 years, we are given the opportunity to review Florida’s Constitution to ensure that our laws are best serving the citizens of our state. The Constitution Revision Commission will serve on behalf of all Floridians, and appointees will learn firsthand what issues and potential changes are most important to our families in order to best make these impactful decisions. I encourage Floridians interested in serving on the Commission to apply today and I look forward to appointing qualified individuals who will represent our families and communities. “To view the appointment application from Governor Scott’s Office, click HERE. Of the 37 appointments to the Constitution Revision Commission, the Governor will appoint 15, the Florida Senate President will appoint nine, the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives will appoint nine, the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court will appoint three, and the Florida Attorney General will be automatically appointed. Appointments will be made no later than March 6^th, 2017.

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>>> New challenges for Frost Museum of Science, lawsuits flying dismissed Suffolk Construction seeking $800,000 in damages and $141,000 in unpaid labor costs, with tourism revenues slowing, will county be asked for more funding, future facility is magnificent?

The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science project has another wrinkle in multiple lawsuits by Suffolk Construction, and other contractors. Suffolk was fired after delays and overruns and Suffolk is suing the county for $800,000 in damages and another $141,000 in unmet wages and Dr. and Mrs. Frost helped fund a previous shortfall to the tune of $45 million and the county was going to supply another $45 million coming from future tourist tax revenues that are being impacted by the Zika virus and is slowing tourism. Further, people don’t realize that future tourist tax revenues s hefty number if these fall short the liability for much of this bonded money is the county’s general fund and while the tourism numbers last year were a record. The County in a few months will see how severe any downturn might be though MIA is doing very well said airport director Emilio Gonzalez recently at a commission meeting since “three new carriers,” are coming to MIA, he told county commissioners recently and hopefully this will help buffer the revenues (that I saw dramatically drop back after 9/11 when tourism dropped substantially and only bounced back after a major state tourism campaign pushed by then Gov. Jeb Bush).and here is more on the Frost Museum issue. http://www.frostscience.org/blog/future/patricia-and-phillip-frost-museum-of-science-fly-through and for more on the lawsuits go to: http://therealdeal.com/miami/2016/09/15/frost-science-museum-hit-with-construction-lien-lawsuits-from-contractors/

 

Apple Siri testimony a first at BCC will it become a trend?

During a zoning meeting last week one public speaker on a Lennar Townhomes project in north Dade, and a “former firefighter,” used Apple’s Siri to explain his position and it was a “historic first,” said BCC Chair Jean Monestime and the meeting was accelerated and cut short since commissioners wanted to go to Mayor Carlos Gimenez mother’s funeral a few hours later. And the device did a decent job and was brief…

 

The Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is asking Gov. Rick Scott to appoint a member to the regional planning board and the request came from Rebeca Sosa and she is close with Scott. And other municipal representatives come from Dade cities with over 50,000 residents and back in 2001 one governor representative Ron Krongold tried to get the MPO back then to fund to the tune of $10 million a local A.M. radio station to-do traffic updates (owned by prominent Haitian Dr. Rudy Moise that I pointed out these were free from all the other stations and was part of their federal community benefit package with federal agencies. And had then Commissioner Joe Martinez said “You’re on fire, bail out,” he told Krongold who was fighting the issue on the MPO and Bush would later remove him from the body after this incident.

 

>>> And Commissioner Javier Souto wants the MPO to study water taxis and using the extensive canal and water routes to reduce road congestion and Miami used to be a major boating manufacturer he said during World War II and it could become a considerable tourist draw he suggested at the MPO on Thursday and the man is the longest serving commissioner along with Dennis Moss..

 

PAST WDR: Further, it was Martinez’s idea to streamline the Jackson Health System board from 17 to seven members five years ago and that change helped turn around the PHT fiscally with the unions help five years ago and little political interference

 

And his return to the dais will change the board’s dynamics and it was he who changed the size and makeup of the Public Health Trust Board that oversees Jackson Health System and back then was hemorrhaging red ink in the millions but since that change the trust has had some five years of running in the black. After major union concessions and PHT CEO Carlos Migoya taking the reins and is embarking on massive renovations and new clinics throughout Miami-Dade and Martinez’s gamble worked and the trust is stronger fiscally for that commission push.

Commissioner Xavier Suarez when he made his remarks that “I am going to keep it brief as I always do,” he said and Suarez an author and has just finished a fifth book but he was hesitant to say the title. Since he thought Commissioner Jose “Pepe,” Diaz would make fun of him he considered. However, commissioners rarely keep it brief and Suarez has his moments and his frequent reference to having gone to Harvard Law school has gotten old and the former Miami mayor was just reelected to commission District 7. And for years before. He was in the political weeds having lost numerous elections including one in 2004 against now mayor Carlos Gimenez for the commission seat. And here is the County’s budget info.http://www.miamidade.gov/budget/FY2016-17/proposed/library/budget-in-brief.pdf and to see the WPLG show go to: http://www.local10.com/this-week-in-south-florida

 

What about the IRP?

Many people at the budget hearing wanted the Independent review Panel (IRP) resurrected and the board was sun setted out of business during the budget crunch years ago and had its executive director Eduardo Diaz, Ph.D. being well paid and the panel was controversial with the County’s police union and its leader John Rivera.

Gimenez said he supported the IRP but believed. The IRP because of this new technology is expected to have less cases than in the past and the Watchdog Report was the only press that attended these IRP meetings of the panel made up of attorney’s and the panel worked closely with the Miami-Dade Community Relations Board (CRB) in trying to keep the community calm after police incidents especially shootings that many times are including young children caught in the crossfire.

 

>>> With surging demand from 6,100 homeless families, trust’s resources getting stretched thin countywide, wants revenues from Miami Beach, surfside and BAL Harbour to end homeless in Miami-Dade

PAST WDR: The Miami-Dade Homeless Trust is having trouble with taking in all the homeless families in Miami-Dade. Some 6,100 homeless families are attending the public schools said the rep from the school district at the monthly board meeting and ( a $400,000 special disbursement of funding is running dry, said the trust chair and “resources are stretched dramatically,” said long time trust chair Ron Book when it comes to finding beds for a family of four using hotels and a room at some of the facilities cost the trust $55 a day said staff and while Lotus House is a facility bargain at “$22.00 a day, “ that cost is way under what Lotus House spends. Since these families with children need a host of social services and continuum of care that Lotus has to fiscally eat but the]rising number of homeless families in Miami is challenging the available resources said Lotus CEO Constance Collins to other trust members at the monthly televised trust meeting.

 

And Book said the only way the trust could end homeless a HUD directive in the coming years is by including the food and beverage tax revenues from the two municipalities excluded from the original state legislation and excludes Miami Beach, Surfside and BAL Harbour. But if the trust could get a resolution out of the county commission supporting these communities inclusion in the food and beverage tax revenues it would be a major benefit to the cause of ending homeless in Miami-Dade. Editor’s note: School Supt. Alberto Carvalho was once homeless and has said “no one should ever have to sleep on a sidewalk,” and “look at the stars,” at night.

 

And the trust is did its biannual census Aug.18. But this extra municipal funding is key too finishing the job of taking any homeless off the street and Miami has a host of organizations helping and getting funding for this effort from Camillus House, to The Chapman Community Partnership to end Homeless are just a few but Miami continues to draw this population and given the community’s diverse population people are coming from all over the world to the global gateway that South Florida has become.

 

>>> What about the Children’s Trust and Children’s Savings accounts program that Commissioner Levine-Cava wants to promote public schools on board?

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniela Levine Cava had a presentation done at the Prosperity committee meeting on a new program to teach children financial literacy and the opening of Children’s Savings accounts. She noted the public schools district, The Children’s Trust have all been involved in this important skill that results in many of the participants attending a four year College or university and starts the saving habit early.

 

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> PAST WDR: “More district’s arrests are coming,” when it comes to Medicare fraud ring in District with $400 million self-insured health insurance program, money stolen from students and teachers, and thieves will be caught, says Carvalho.

Alberto Carvalho the superintendent of the nation’s fourth largest public schools district said the busting of a Medicare fraud ring is just the beginning,” and “more arrests,” are coming since the self-insured district has a $400 million health insurance program. And he said this money stolen is coming from the classrooms, students and teachers he asserted at Wednesday’s school board meeting. And the man vowed to use a, variety of law enforcement resources to root out this South Florida scourge.

 

>>> Pets for Vets and Teaching Responsible Pet Ownership to Kids

Press release: County Commissioners have unanimously adopted two initiatives, sponsored by Commissioner Sosa, to better the lives of Miami-Dade County’s pets. In a move to help connect veterans with pets, Commissioner Sosa advanced legislation that waives adoption and spay/neuter fees for qualifying individuals. This new initiative is meant to give Miami-Dade County’s over 60,000 veterans of war greater access to the health benefits of pet ownership. Recent evidence suggests that bonding with animals greatly reduces stress and the effects associated with PTSD, a condition identified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as afflicting the veteran population.

Additionally, Commissioner Sosa filed legislation to expand the Responsible Pet Ownership Curriculum. The incredibly successful program, an initiative sponsored by Commissioner Sosa in 2013, now teaches over 89,000 elementary school students the principles of responsible pet ownership. This new measure seeks additional funding to bring the program to our community’s junior high and high school students.

“I truly believe that our veterans are this community’s greatest source of pride, and I know that they will give our pets warm and loving homes,” said Commissioner Sosa. “We are forever indebted to them for their service and protection of our freedoms.” Continued Commissioner Sosa, “In 2013 when I sponsored the initiative to teach our children the importance of responsible pet ownership I could never have imagined just how great the program would have turned out. It is my hope that we can grow the program to our older students, who can play a larger role in saving animals.”

Pets for Vets legislation: http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/legistarfiles/Matters/Y2016/160987.pdf

Responsible Pet Ownership Curriculum Expansion legislation:

http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/legistarfiles/Matters/Y2016/160987.pdf

 

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Jackson Health System is opening its first urgent care clinic in Country Walk in West Dade and many more are planned and this is the first one to open this Monday.

>>>> Press release: Jackson Health System Celebrates Grand Opening of its First Urgent Care Center –UHealth Jackson Urgent Care in Country Walk Opens for Business Following Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 

 

What: Jackson Health System will celebrate the grand opening of its first urgent care center, one of six centers announced under its $1.8 billion capital plan. UHealth Jackson Urgent Care in Country Walk will start serving patients immediately after a ribbon-cutting event on September 19.

 

Nearly three years ago, Jackson began its journey towards expanding its reach deeper into the community it serves after winning the support of Miami-Dade voters. Through the capital plan, Jackson is building new hospitals, renovating outdated facilities, and upholding a promise that it made to taxpayer owners.

 

The new urgent center is located in Country Walk Plaza at 13707 S.W. 152nd Street. The center is 4,000 square-feet and will be open every day from 8 a.m. to 8p.m. The center is strategically located in a neighborhood that previously lacked access to the existing Jackson network of hospitals.

 

In addition to the Country Walk site, five additional urgent care locations are currently in different phases of development in North Miami, South Beach, Cutler Bay, North Miami-Dade, and Doral.

 

All of the new centers will be called UHealth Jackson Urgent Care, and staffed by University of Miami Health System expert, board-certified physicians and Jackson’s world-class nurses and support staff.

 

The centers will cater to patients with urgent care needs such as ailments like the flu or common cold, fever, vomiting, earaches, simple bone fractures, rashes and minor allergic reactions; diagnostic tests such as echocardiograms and digital x-rays; and lab tests such as blood glucose, urinalysis, and strep throat cultures. Sports physicals and flu vaccine will also be available. More information on the centers is available at JacksonUrgentCare.com. Who: Carlos A. Migoya, President  & CEO, Jackson Health System

Chris Wing, Associate Vice President, Urgent Care Centers, Thinh H. Tran, MD, Chief Clinical Officer & Chief Operating Officer, UHealth – University of Miami Health System

UHealth Jackson Urgent Center doctors, nurses and staff

Community leaders when: Ribbon-cutting at 10 a.m. on Monday, September 19

Doors open to patients at noon, Monday, September 19 Where: UHealth Jackson Urgent Care– Country Walk, 13707 S.W. 152^nd Street Miami, FL 33177

 

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> With Lotus Village groundbreaking, there will soon be 500 new shelter beds for homeless women and their children and safe house for these kids to heal from living on the streets

Lotus House Village a new Miami shelter with 500 beds for women and children broke ground Friday and it was a labor of love for the organizations Founder Constance Collins who has shepherded the project through the political shoals in the halls of government and that is no easy task to achieve. The $25 million shelter is badly needed since the county’s homeless population of mothers with infants and children is rising at a faster pace than local adult service providers can keep up since children and infants who have lived on the street many times have special issues that have to be resolved and may have included sexual abuse. Further Collins has a passionate army of volunteers, supporters and advocates and I have been watching this project since it first came on my radar. And this is from the organization’s webpage: >>> Lotus Village is a safe sanctuary for these mothers and children to heal and the project was privately funded and the land was conveyed last Wednesday at the County Commission’s Prosperity Committee and the commission added a reverted clause that the use be limited to only Lotus Village and the services it is providing to Miami-Dade County residents. And for more on this community jewel gohttp://lotushouse.org/ Our Story: Lotus House Women’s Shelter (Fall 2013) fromLeslie Arcia on Vimeo. >>>> A quiet enclave in the heart of one of Miami’s poorest neighborhoods providing shelter and support, the Lotus House offers a sanctuary from life on the streets – a place where the minds, bodies and spirits of women & infants most in need are supported and nurtured. And watch the video of the lives of women living at the shelter and only can only think, Thank for the grace of God one is not in these women’s circumstances. And at the groundbreaking were a host of Miami commissioners including Mayor Tomas Regalado.

 

>>> When it comes to city commission termination by body, mayor cannot veto Atty. Menendez’s firing after she lost ‘trust,” of commissioner ken Russell, over selective emails on Grove development on Battersea.

What about the mayor vetoing the firing of Victoria Gimenez as the commission attorney. While I saw the mayor on Friday. I forgot to ask him about the matter talking about his daughters race to be mayor and the subsequent run-off in November.

 

In the Miami Charter there are items the mayor can veto such as a zoning issues but the city’s attorney is not something he can weigh in on.

 

>>>PAST WDR: City Atty. Menendez’s job on life support, will she get recruited by high profile law firm, after she loses “trust,” of Commissioner Ken Russell on zoning matter in South Grove and closeness to lobbying attorney on deal, and what will the separation cost?

 

City of Miami Attorney Victoria Menendez ran into a political buzz saw Thursday when newly elected commissioner Ken Russell said he had lost “confidence in his city’s attorney,’ after a records request brought two different sets of emails and suggested Menendez. Who joined the city as a newly minted assistant attorney years ago was too close and helpful with a zoning attorney seeking to change the zoning on a parcel in south Coconut Grove near where Russell lives and had neighbors up in arms given the proposed density of the project. She is claiming a ‘misunderstanding’ with the commissioner.

 

What about past city Attorney’s firing Jorge Fernandez?

And the city may run into a surprise unless they help her get a new job and leave quietly though she has asked for an investigation by the Miami-Dade County Ethics and Public Trust commission. And if she got a new job that could limit the $250,000 the city had to pay to fire a past city attorney, Jorge Fernandez who had problems with his expense accounts and left under cloud. But the legal costs added up and at one point he was asking for $274,721 in payments that included salary, severance and vacation time ` the city spent some $250,000 in legal fees to get rid of the controversial attorney. One commissioner has told me in the past. And for more on the Fernandez case go to:

http://www.morelaw.com/verdicts/case.asp?n=3D11-2735&s=FL&d=69358

 

>> As you can see, there are several units represented, but a lot may be missing. Please help to promote this project for its potential for interdisciplinary curricular integration, and feel free to contribute work to this collection, which can be as easy as emailing a PDF, URL, or other file (even if some things aren’t captured, they can help with that, too)! Contact Jamie Rogers (rogersj@fiu.edu) or Dr. Robert Gutsche Jr. (rgutsche@fiu.edu) for more information, or to add the work of your units or recommend others.

As always, you can visit our

Communications Coordinator

 

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/11/fSLSC website for more info, or email us (slsc@fiu.edu) with any questions and/or recommendations for other events to include. Thank you,

City of Sweetwater’s running man video totally different from the one in MIAMI and has certain City of Sweetwater edge to but it’s a must see it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t9M2zTxtfI

 

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> First it was the Zika virus then Friday three men with an AR-15 rifle on a roof, police dispatch problem three arrested no injuries

Residents packed the commission chambers last week and they were protesting the County’s spraying to kill the Zika virus mosquitoes and a thoughtful discussion on the matter was held on This Week in South Florida hosted by Glenna Milberg and Michael Putney and the panel had a strong medical bent and reporter Daniel Chang who covers health issues for the Miami Herald and to see the show go to http://www.local10.com/this-week-in-south-florida And while there is a passionate debate on the matter of spraying , County Mayor Carlos Gimenez says he will follow the medical communities and CDC recommendations when it comes to tamping down the number of cases and now includes all of the Beach.

 

PAST WDR: With Zika worries tourist mavens say “after 12 days we are open for business and doing well,” said William Talbert, III, the CEO of the Greater Miami Visitors and Tourism bureau (GMCVB) at a commission meeting concerning the Zika virus and he noted. Mayor Carlos Gimenez had been doing an outstanding job in interviews with the press trying to keep the issue in context and what Miami-Dade is doing to diminish the bugs impact on the critical tourism industry, whose taxes pay for a host of county facilities and organizations from the Homeless Trust to Jackson Health System to name a few and this revenue is critical to many of these organizations. As the County runs up to its public budget hearings in September.

 

>>> First it was the Zika virus then Friday three men with an AR-15 rifle on a roof, police dispatch problem three arrested no injuries and for more go to www.miamiherald.com

>>> Press release: Miami Beach Enforces All Prevention Measures – Miami Beach asking residents and businesses to do their part to reduce mosquitoes —

Miami Beach, FL – City officials continue taking all necessary steps to ensure effective and efficient elimination of mosquitoes in the Miami Beach area, including having Code Compliance Officers scour the city to determine and rectify potential risks.
“The city’s public works and sanitation crews have been on overdrive with addressing standing water on the public right-of-way, and we’re also doing our part to make sure the community is stepping up their game with the threat of Zika,” said Code Compliance Manager Sarah Saunders. “Our team is working tirelessly to ensure all business and property owners are complying with ensuring no standing water.”

 

If code inspectors determine that visible conditions within private property are an immediate threat to healthy, safety or welfare of the public, he/she may order the immediate correction of the violation at the expense of the occupant, owner, or operator. This violation, known as forthwith, carries a fine of $1,000 for the first offense and $2,000 per each additional infraction.

 

Since the beginning of June, crews have dispersed standing water on streets if it has been stagnant for more than 24 hours. Where a significant volume of water is involved, it is being vacuumed out or treated with an environmentally-friendly larvicide. All showers along the beach walk have standing water removed on a daily basis in the early morning hours, and crews inspect alleyways on a daily basis to remove any litter or illegally dumped waste, which could be a potential breeding ground.

 

As of January, all catch basins in stormwater drains have been either pumped out to eliminate standing water, or using larvicide where standing water could not be removed or prevented.

 

At pump stations, the set points on the floats have been adjusted to circulate the water; in addition to having larvicide placed in the wet wells. This year, the City of Miami Beach has invested over one million dollars in vacuum trucks to improve cleanliness of the system.

 

City irrigation systems have also been adjusted to not activate if there has been a recent rain event, and broken irrigation line repairs have been prioritized. At city facilities, larvicide has been introduced into any dumpsters or containers holding water.  All other items collecting rain water have been removed or eliminated.

 

“All City of Miami Beach employees, working indoors and outdoors, have been provided with mosquito repellent,” added Morales. “We strongly encourage all businesses on this urban-island to take the same precautions with their employees.”

 

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> IG Press release on misuse of procurement cards for the Town of Davie

September 8, 2016 –Misconduct and Gross Mismanagement in the Use and Administration of Procurement Cards in the Town of Davie

Broward Inspector General John W. Scott announced today that the Broward Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has issued a report finding that between October 2012 and July 2014, employees in the Town of Davie engaged in misconduct and gross mismanagement in their use of procurement cards (p-cards) by ignoring policies and procedures and failing to engage in the reasonable oversight of the p-card program that would be expected from a governmental entity. Despite our small sample review size relative to the town’s total p-card expenditures, we identified $160,630.72 spent in violation of procurement policies, a startlingly high ratio of vulnerability we would not expect to see in a local government with proper policies and controls. The report can be viewed at www.browardig.org The OIG found that purchasing staff failed to detect obvious and prolific splitting of transactions to avoid procurement controls. In this report, we detail instance after instance wherein employees deliberately split up purchases to avoid limits on their p-cards. We also found that purchasing and finance staff failed to develop necessary controls to ensure proper authorized approvals. In multiple instances, the town paid more than it would have if proper procurement controls had been observed.

 

Regrettably, at many times during the investigation, the OIG was provided with misleading information and documentation. The submission of the false documents and explanations led to additional and unnecessary time to complete the investigation and damaged the credibility of certain individuals. The consistent and prolific pattern of the deceptions we detail herein is certainly disconcerting. Fortunately, the town has already begun to address the OIG’s concerns—communicated during the course of the investigation—with a number of new processes and policies which are also identified in this report. The OIG is encouraged by the remedial steps the City has taken in response to the preliminary version of the report. However, we have requested that we be provided with a status report in 90 days regarding the City’s additional corrective actions in response to this matter.

 

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Press release: FFCR’s Claws for Kids Luncheon is an annual tradition! Whether you’re a regular or have never been before, don’t miss out. Mark your calendar and keep your claws ready to grab a ticket! In the meantime, check out these pics from last year’s event.

Save the Date! Online Ticket Sales Opening Soon! Sponsorship Packages Available!

Please contact Candice Maze at cmaze@fostercarereview.org or 305.679.2735 for more information or to inquire about Sponsorship packages.

 

http://www.margulieswarehouse.com/index.php#/exhibitions

 

 

EDITORIALS

 

>>> SEC jury finds Miami not guilty of securities fraud, second time federal agency goes after city and its bonds, fiscal accountability and strong skill sets must be raised

 

The City of Miami has once again dodged SEC purgatory and in a jury trial was found to be not guilty of trying to defraud bond buyers. And it continues a trend of sloppy finances that is most relevant. Since Miami is asking voters to approve more bond sales? And while the city was vindicated Mayor Tomas Regalado blamed it on the previous Mayor Manny Diaz administration. However, this is the second time the SEC has investigated Miami and this cannot continue for taxpayers deserve better than flying by the seat of our pants which seems to occur more often than not and while Regalado is termed out he needs to look at employees and demand better and accountable performance for too many years there was not a performance bar

 

>>> Now what? Will you at least vote? “Reset & “Pivot” should be banned from campaign speeches, just be honest and tell the truth

 

Public officials should banish the term “pivot,” and “reset,” and just tell voters the truth and be honest about their positions and this verbal fluff is not what voters want to hear. Instead honest and clear plans will get candidates what they want to be elected. And while I have been going by early polling sites from the West Dade regional Library site this past week candidate turnout at the polls is surprisingly low in comparison to past years where candidates stood in the rain talking to voters but that is a rare sight today. And that is a shame for this is a test of commitment to elected office and every candidate needs to experience this process. For it makes them a better person and voters now have their chance to help their community. And once again the Watchdog Report asks, NOW what? You did not run yourself, will you at least vote?

 

>>> Public institutions Collaboration must be our goal if South Florida to reach its greatness

 

Collaboration should be Miami-Dade’s watchword for we are too big with too many challenges and collaboration was one of the main topics at the Greater Miami Chamber’s Goal conference and with FIU President Mark Rosenberg, Ph.D. being chair of the Chamber. South Florida has never been a better position to leverage the academic excellence from the local public institution and not to go it alone and our other public institutions need to work together, like the Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade did recently and helped create some over 3,000 summer jobs with the assistance of the county and public schools district but with the limited resources it is important every tax dollar is used effectively and tax payers are getting there, money worth of these precious and scarce money. And this working together includes the 34 municipalities that many times signore what tis the common good an generally just produces more traffic and chaos since from the homeless population to many other issues there are no boundaries and what happens in one part of Miami-Dade impacts somewhere else for our 1.6 million residents are essentially on a ship and we have to learn to for our public institutions to learn and work together. If we are to attain the greatness South Florida can be while maintaining our environment. >>> And is one of the recommendations on an economic prosperity report done by FIU and is at www.FIU.edu

 

>>> One of Watchdog Report’s main missions is to keep watch on all the host of Trust’s in Miami-Dade and these organizations involve some serious public money in the billions

 

Residents in Miami-Dade County periodically ask why I cover all the trust’s found in the county, from the Children’s Trust to the Public Health Trust to the County’s Homeless Trust and it is because elected county leaders are always looking for new funds and while the raids of these public dollars periodically occurs like in the case of the Citizens Independent Transit Trust where the county is slowly paying back the sales tax dollars absorbed by the county’s transit system in what was called “unification,” by county leaders

 

But the Public Health Trust was also raided back in 20002 when county commissioners shifted some $ 70 million in unfunded mandates on to organization and that cost has risen to over $100 million a year and was one of the reasons the Public health trust needed a $830 million GOB passed overwhelmingly by voters a few Years back to upgrade its infrastructure and ageing main campus

 

After this past money was diverted over a decade by the County commission that does provide some $250 million in public funds for a maintenance of effort contribution. But in Miami-Dade where everything is political. I keep watch so that these organizations are kept whole and politics is kept to a minimum and this oversight helps keep the organizations on the straight and narrow when it comes to public dollars and it is no small amount of money and helps explain why there have been so few scandals in the past that plagued the county back in the 1990’s and was a frequent topic in the media.

 

LETTERS

 

>>> A Reader on danger of yellow pole barriers on 195, and sign petition asking FDOT to modify polls https://www.change.org/p/florida-department-of-transportation-change-i95-plastic-poles-to-unable-movement-in-and-out-of-the-express-lanes

 

>>> Great story on the Pets’ Trust.  I’d love to speak with you and tell you more.  You are right…..it will be an issue in the Mayor’s race.  

Please watch this…      Pets’ Trust…the Story    password is     movie

And read this……..  http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/joe-cardona/article2087823.html

 

Michael Rosenberg

President Pets’ Trust

Rita Schwartz Cofounder

 

>>> And another reader sent the following the shocking truth about Miami-Dade Animal Services, http://www.animalliberationfront.com/ALFront/Actions-USA/MiamiAnimalServices.htm http://www.examiner.com/article/questions-about-fatal-mauling-by-group-of-dogs-miami-dade-county

 

DR

Coconut Grove

 

>>> The Watchdog Report is Celebrating 17 years of weekly publishing since May 5^th 2000 and when I started back then I never thought I would be doing this so

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog. And while I have taken a licking over the years including some medical issues I have kept at the job thanks to my supporters who I thank so very much over the many years. And the community’s public institutions are better when it comes to them knowing what the other is doing and why I have tried to be an information electrolyte for these giant institution’s leaders and things and here is a national story done on why I started to watch government back in 2000 http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog and to all the people along the way that have helped me I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

 

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

 

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

ANGEL ESPINOSA – (Deceased) owner COCONUT GROVE DRY CLEANER’S

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com .

THE MIAMI HERALD www.miamiherald.com (2000-2008)

ARTHUR HERTZ

WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)

ALFRED NOVAK

LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)

JOHN S. and JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION www.knightfoundation.org

THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE

 

>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $2,000 a year

 

Mr. NORMAN BRAMAN http://www.bramanmotorcars.com/dealership/normanbraman.htm

BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com

RONALD HALL

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov

UNITED WAY OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.unitedwaymiamidade.org

 

>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $1,000 to $5,000 a year

 

COLSON HICKS EIDSON, PA www.colson.com

Badia Spices www.badiaspices.com

BERKOWITZ POLLACK BRANT Advisors and Accountants www.bpbcpa.com

JEFFREY L. BERKOWITZ TRUST

RON BOOK

LINDA MURPHY: Gave a new laptop in Oct. 2001 to keep me going.

WILLIAM PALMER www.shutts.com

Rbb PUBLIC RELATIONS www.rbbpr.com

ROYAL MEDIA PARTNERS www.royalmp.com

SHUBIN & BASS www.shubinbass.com

WILLIAMSOM AUTOMOTIVE GROUP http://williamsonautomotivegroup.com/

 

>>> Public, Educational & Social institutions – subscribers at $1,000 or less

 

CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC. www.camillushouse.org

CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov

CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION OFFICE OF THE CHAIR www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST: www.miamidade.gov/homeless/

MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE www.mdc.edu

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL www.miamidade.gov/ig

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPT. http://superintendent.dadeschools.net/

MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY www.miamidda.com

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST & JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM www.jhsmiami.org

THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

THE GOOD GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE http://goodgov.net/

THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES www.mdclc.org

THE MIAMI FOUNDATION www.miamifoundation.org

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA http://www.firstgov.gov/

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

 

>>> Public, Educational & Social institutions – subscribers at $1,000 or less

CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC. www.camillushouse.org

CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov

CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION OFFICE OF THE CHAIR www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST: www.miamidade.gov/homeless/

MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE www.mdc.edu

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION ON ETHICS and PUBLIC TRUST www.ethics.miamidade.gov  

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL www.miamidade.gov/ig

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPT. http://superintendent.dadeschools.net/

MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY www.miamidda.com

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST & JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM www.jhsmiami.org

THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

THE GOOD GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE http://goodgov.net/

THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES www.mdclc.org

THE MIAMI FOUNDATION www.miamifoundation.org

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA http://www.firstgov.gov/

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

 

>>> 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 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 Extras 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. I welcome letters via e-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, 2016, Daniel A. Ricker

 

>>> 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

 

Published on January 20, 2003, Page 1E, Orlando Sentinel, PAPERWORK TIGER, Miami’s citizen watchdog piles up government files in his quest to keep the “little people” informed. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog

 

>>>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/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517

 

>>> 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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