Watchdog Report Vol.18 No.2 May 21, 2007 EST:05.05.00 – I go when you cannot – Celebrating almost 18 Years of Weekly reliable publishing

 

>>> 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 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 newsletter, The Watchdog Report, celebrates its [18^h] 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.

 

ARGUS REPORT: Heard Seen on the Streets

 

>>> Trump speech in Saudi Arabia has different tone than campaign statements calls for Muslim World to fight radical Islamist terrorists that indiscriminately kill people of all faiths

 

The Whirlwind of the Donald Trump administration is taking a road trip to Saudi Arabia and later Israel and the White House is leaking like a sieve and critics and supporters would like things to settle down and maybe a little less “drama” said, said Sen. Mitch McConnell a senate leader. However, the trump administration is saying along with federal legislators that things are getting done. But Trump is still going after the media and created a firestorm when he told the Russian Ambassador some classified information that came from Israel and plots by terroist blowing up planes using a laptop computer and Trump saying he can declassify such information but he has the global intelligence community nervous. Further the rogue North Korea launched another missile and is putting their finger in the eyes of China with these frequent tests an has Russia Japan and South Korea on high alert since The Hermit kingdom is so unstable and unpredictable and is just another global problem the trump administration will have to face.

 

Further, critics are sighting the 25^th Amendment in the Constitution but even Democrats are afraid of that option when the vice President and cabinet officers vote to replace the president (either through illness or difficulty in doing the required job).

 

And that could add instability to future administrations and would make the office more unstable in future years and even Democrats are worried about such a maneuver and its impact on the highest office in the nation

 

>>>> Trump firing Comey causes firestorm but his purview and N. Korea snubs PRC with ballistic missile launch

 

President Donald Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey is still causing ripples throughout the nation but it is the president’s purview to fire the director but the timing seems odd for many and had a confusing narrative coming from the White House press for the dismissal. Further, Tump is suggesting stopping press conferences unless he does them himself since things are moving so fast his media staff cannot keep up causing the confusion and he suggested maybe the staff should send out memos and press releases. However, trump has made so many odd claims including a suggestion he might have ‘taped,’ the Comey discussion and that president Obama might have tapped his phones in Trump Tower and these past statements have affected his credibility and people are concerned that there is loyalty in business but In America it is loyalty to the constitution. And for more go to: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trumps-frustrations-are-boiling-over-after-comey-dismissal/ar-BBB4NRe?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartandhp

 

However, Republicans hope he cuts back on his tweets that continue to dominate the weekly news cycle and has reporters exhausted at the sheer volume. Coming during the weekly news cycle and some contradictory statements but the missile launch by North Korea Saturday has the country back on the front burner and the rogue regime is not only threatening Japan, Russia and Seoul but also China and the PRC has a major stake to keep Korea from having a deliverable intercontinental missile with a nuclear warhead.

 

>>> Two top U.S. Federal prosecutors, Coffey & Martinez discuss FBI Dir. Comey firing on “This Week in South Florida,” with Putney and MIlberg

 

“What About This Week in South Florida,” with Glenna MIlberg and Michael Putney and this week they had two former U.S. Attorneys Roberto “Bob” Martinez a Republican and Kendall Coffey a Democrat and they gave a very enlightening view of the Comey firing and the way Comey was fired getting a three page letter delivered by a Trump body guard. To watch the show go to: https://www.local10.com/this-week-in-south-florida/this-week-in-south-florida-now-that-james-comey-has-been-fired-whats-next

 

The North Korea ballistic missile launch Saturday and the rogue country continues to defy the Chinese and world organizations condemnation. And the ballistic missile could have a 1,200 mile range but is not capable of carrying a nuclear warhead at this time.

 

>>> Humorist Dave Barry was featured speaker at Biannual federal Convention and Bar Conference, at Hollywood Diplomat Hotel, in past held at Doral Trump resort, but not this year.

 

The Federal District Judges for the Southern District of Florida had their Biannual Federal Convention and Bar Conference meeting at the Hollywood Diplomat Hotel and Pulitzer prize winner Dave Berry who U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz knew was the key note speaker but before Barry spoke one of the judges mentioned they were “appointed for life.” After President Donald Trump criticized some of the federal rulings. And got a brief laugh since everyone in the room knew that.

 

What about past conferences?

 

A reliable source said the conferences in the past had been held at the Trump Doral golf course but not this year for obvious reasons

 

What about Judge Seitz?

 

U.S. District Court Judge Patricia Seitz once gave a great quote before she sentenced two bothers in Medicare fraud and the defense attorney argued they had paid a portion of their taxes and should get a reduced sentence and she interrupted the attorney saying, “Just stop there, Only in South Florida is stopping at a red light and paying all your taxes an aspirational act,” she sternly said and gave the high profile brothers nine years in the federal Big House.

 

New Citizen Scientist wanted supply and degradation of their environment

 

A new Citizen’s for science engagement group called Citizen Scientist’s and the Cloud are monitoring water quality around the nation and they are local eco warriors and I saw one of the programs and it involves retired scientists and retired engineers who are concerned about their drinking water and environment and some of the most distressed areas are in China where years ago The Yangtze River was on fire something that happened once with the Cuyahoga River in Ohio in 1969 that also ‘caught fire’ and convinced president Richard Nixon to create the EPA along with smog alerts in LA, NYC and a host of other cities and prompted most of the clear air and water laws. And for more on the program go to: http://www.pbs.org/video/2365985099/

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=the+crowd+and+the+cloud&view=detail&mid=CD84F5C8382A9CB88ED3CD84F5C8382A9CB88ED3&FORM=VIRE

 

And what about CDBG and Meals on wheels cuts?

 

Further, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) are being cut substantially and the program feeds thousands of elderly people in Little Havana. Hialeah and at retirement homes, providing socialization and in past years HUD funding was using a poor funding formula in the case of the City of Miami. They had to work with the local congressional delegation to get the needed funding formula changed but in this case that seems unlikely and Trump’s budget does not attack the $19 trillion debt. And for more go to:http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/16/politics/trump-budget-cuts/ https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/03/the-concrete-cost-of-trump-military-budget/518193/ >>> http://www.crfb.org/papers/president-trumps-fy-2018-skinny-budget

 

>>>> Update from last week?

 

Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado said he had an opportunity to speak to HUD Sec. Ben Carson, M.D. about the unique role CDBG block grants plays in Miami such as meals on wheels and the city had to patch the cuts in funding with $10 million in Miami Funding and the meals program also plays a major social role with elderly residents in Little Havana. Carson a neurosurgeon and presidential candidate said The Trump administration is looking for the private sector partnerships called P3   and he believes there are plenty   for public housing to be done this way like Liberty Square, that partners the Related Group with Miami-Dade County and the   deal raised eyebrows with the county’s Inspector General recently with some communities getting chicken dinners. And here is more: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/edison-liberty-city/article144081449.html

 

>>> A PBS Channel 2 program called The Crowd and the Cloud documents the thousands of people that are documenting water quality as Citizen Scientists and participants range from retired engineers and scientists and with the EPA budget cuts the local people on site in their community and these people from all around the nation

http://www.pbs.org/video/2365985099/

 

>>> Connect Miami is a new program trying to get residents to engage with their neighbors and friends to broaden community interaction something that at times may be difficult to do. And for more go to www.connectmiami.org And Many of the events are free.

 

What about the autocracy of cars so out of control in Miami-Dade?

 

I am starting to see a new phenomenon in the county and it is drivers who believe their cars give a certain status and can tailgate drift into other lanes with impunity and pull out suddenly just because they are in a dually or high end SUV Many times a Land Rover, Hummer and some of these drivers believe they own the road and I only bring it up because recently someone had to come to screeching stop since the light had changed to red.

 

STATE OF FLORIDA

 

>>> Students with disabilities have a hard time getting to public magnet schools says one public speaker at the Florida Commission for Transportation Disadvantaged, is facing a $2.3” million budget cut says staffer, and commissioners will work with Gov. Scott for there final funding

 

The Florida Commission for Transportation Disadvantaged met May 17 in the Miami-Dade County Commission Chamber and the commission heard from the public about how students with disabilities have a hard time if they want to go to a magnet school, especially if they live in Homestead and South Dade. And one board member said the “commission was not political,” and the allocation was based on data,” and it does Move to the legislature to see how constiuents feel about the service since each of the 67 Florida Counties have different populations. And this year the legislature gave the CID similar funding and the urban counties may see less funding because the emphasis this year is helping “the rural counties,” said one commission member. And for more on the commission go to: http://www.fdot.gov/ctd/ and the next planned meeting in August is in Orlando and is open to the public.

 

>>> What will Gov. Scott veto in state’s $83.5 billion budget?

 

Gov. Rick Scott has been given an $83.5 Billion budget by the legislature for the state’s next fiscal year and he is said to be sharpening the budget veto pen and he has only one more budget until he is termed out. But a special Legislative session may be called since the constitutional Amendment for legal Marijuana has yet to be settled and to read the governor’s budget go to. http://fightingforfloridasfuturebudget.com/content/current/reports/Budget-Presentation-FY-18.pdf

 

What about former state Rep. Eric Fresen, R-Miami and the IRS?

 

Fresen is going before a federal judge for sentencing for owing $30,000 to the IRS and his home was foreclosed on and the former state rep carried a lot of water for the Charter School industry and was also a Genting lobbyist looking to bring gambling to Miami. And for more go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article1945162.html Further, he did not pay taxes for eight years and people are outraged and shows between Artiles the South Florida delegation better lift the bar concerning their activities and women who are not their wives while they claim to be a family man, and elected officials who get convicted many times lose any public pension and can be a considerable deterrent that did not work with Fresen and his family and he could be sentenced to year in federal prison.

 

The Watchdog Report can’t believe how many taxpayers are shocked he did not pay taxes for 8 years and they would never temp the federal agency in this way and it his hypocrisy that really annoys most taxpayers and U.S. District Judge Robert Scola has a history of rough sentences when comes to betraying the public trust when it is a state lawmaker and while a plea deal he could get a year in jail.

 

MIAME-DADE COUNTY

 

>>>Long debate on who can serve charter Review Task force without conflicts, Suarez believes only “Priests and Nuns” would qualify, but [but problem they] don’t pay “taxes,”

 

The debate Tuesday on if lobbyist should be on the new county charter review task force Committee was disheartening and had one Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz wondering if the group might ask voters to eliminate term limits passed by voter’s years ago and go into effect in 2020.

 

Further Commissioner Rebeca Sosa noted one of the great things about the commission is commissioners are nonpartisan and the body represents “everyone in the county.” She also disagreed with anything “retroactive,” she believed. “Remember how “messed up it was before,” said Diaz first elected back in 2002 and replaced Miriam Alonso after she was indicted for having a campaign slush fund where her commission aide after Alonso viewed the aides dead husband. The aide gave $10,000 to the commissioner keeping $1,000 for herself.

 

However when it came to Task Force members Commissioner Xavier Suarez said appointees without conflicts would only be “Priests or Nuns,” but he also no noted they don’t pay taxes which might preclude them from serving he considered.

 

However BCC Chair Estephan ‘Steve” Bovo said in the community “many believe the system is compromised,” the chair said he is concerned the perception will be that “the process is cooked from the beginning,” said Bovo. Further, Commissioner Dennis Moss noted a previous task force was a” mess,” after media criticism on the past charter task force. And Bovo said he “wants to ban lobbyist, since many believe the system is compromised in the community,” he observed.

 

Diaz said a past task force was highly criticized in the media and community and since 2000. I have covered Charter Review committees which back then was chaired by former County Attorney Murray Greenberg and then manager Merrett Stierheim was on it as well.

 

What did the county manager say about my being a columnist for The Miami Herald?

 

Stierheim at a charter review meeting said “Jesus Ricker now you are a Herald columnist,” he joked since we had gotten to know each other over the years.

 

>>> Commissioner Levine Cava wants greater diversity on numerous County boards, says women are severely unrepresented on these commission boards

 

County Commissioner Daniela Levine Cava is asking County Clerk Harvey Ruvin to give breakdown on how many women are one of the county’s 93 commission created boards including the Public Health Trust and Levine Cava noted that at least half of the population of Miami-Dade are women and should be represented on these numerous boards and had County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz saying he is doing his part since “all his staff,” are women and he appointed a women to the Charter Review Committee Diaz, noted.

 

What about the need for a new court house County Commission discussion?

 

Judges and high profile attorneys spoke to commissioners about the need for a new county courthouse including Steve Zack a past president of the American Bar Association and Zack was part of the 2000 election legal team in Gore Vs. Bush and he was the first Cuban American to hold that legal perch. And the county is trying to figure a way to fund this needed courthouse including a P3 proposal as a possibility and has been pushed by Commissioner Sally Heyman also an attorney.

 

>>> Will Pinecrest get connected to county’s water sewer system, has 5,000 septic tanks but who will pay?

 

Further, PInecrest has some 5,000 households on septic tanks and the county administration is mulling on how to pay for it since funding cannot come from current rate payers and has to finance in another matter but leak sewage into Biscayne Bay and has been an issue for years.

 

MAY IS NATIONAL TRAVEL & TOURISM MONTH IN MIAMI >>> GMCVB press release: America’s annual salute to travel and tourism— the first week in May – was established by a congressional resolution in 1983. This week of events serves to champion the power of our community’s #1 industry. The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) is marking this annual tradition with a series of events throughout the month of May to spotlight the unique value travel holds for our community, economy and our personal lives. From the GMCVB’s State of the Travel and Tourism Industry presentations at County and City Commission meetings to the GMCVB’s 26th Annual Hospitality Open Tournament (H.O.T.) Challenge Golf Tournament to benefit the Black Hospitality Initiative of Greater Miami held Friday, May 12, 2017, the GMCVB fills the May calendar with opportunities to share the news and value of our dynamic, impactful industry. Visit our website  to discover all that awaits you to explore and enjoy in Greater Miami and the Beaches during National Tourism Month and throughout the year!

U.S. TRAVEL INDUSTRY FAST FACTS – 2016 $2.3 trillion generated by Travel for the U.S. economy $900.3 billion spent in the U.S. by domestic and international visitors 15.3 million jobs support Travel 1 in 9 Americans are employed in the Travel Industry Source:  U.S. Travel Association

 

>>>PAST WDR Opioid Task Force, dealing with scourge of overdoes, 33,000 Americans died last year, 3,000 alone in Florida, different treatment than heroin addiction

 

The Miami-Dade County Opioid Task force met Monday and heard some of the committee recommendation on how to end this scourge that kills 33,000 people in the nation of overdoses and last year Florida saw 3,000 deaths from overdoses and it cuts across all ethnic lines an even physicians are saying they were guilty as well after medical reviews indicated treating someone for pain was beneficial and the clinicians were told many of these drugs were less addictive than in the past which turned out not to be true and many users in pain shifted to cheap Mexican yellow heroin mixed with very toxic fentanyl mainly from China and is highly toxic and a drop can easily kill.

 

Further, in New Hampshire they are arresting dealers as killers when one of their doses kills someone and here in Miami-Dade government leaders were warned about this scourge about three years ago when former addict now clean, Jon Schmidt told some commission staff the county was not prepared for the onslaught coming. And discussions are going on to increase the availability of NarCan, a drug that reverse the overdose but also has some addicts getting an immunity to the dose that may have to be given twice to the slumped over person. And the task Force will be presenting their recommendations in the coming weeks to Mayor Carlos Gimenez.

>>> County’s Youth Commission holds last joint meeting with the Board of County Commissioners, for the year, host of commissioners going to top schools in the nation.

 

The Miami-Dade Youth Commission started a few years ago by Commissioner Barbara Jordan and this year’s class of commissioners were very impressive and in the past bullying and community violence were some off the students past top concerns. And when Commission Chair Bovo spoke to them he was nervous but “very respectful since these seniors could be the County’s leadership of the future. Further the young commissioners got citations and many of them are going to some of the top universities in the nation such as FIU, Cornell, Princeton and the Wharton School of business and these young people show the community should have a bright future.

 

>>> The office of the Inspector General released their Annual Report and to see what County IG Mary Cagle has accomplished over the past year go to: http://www.miamidadeig.org/

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

 

>>>>> PAST WDR: Friends of WLRN and District at impasse little progress in getting new operating agreement with the district an entity that owns the WLRN license and Supt Alberto Carvalho says he has ‘no interest,” in selling the station or “determine content”

 

When it comes to the Districts relationship with WLRN there has been little progress and the item will not be discussed again until the School Audit and Budget review Committee has a signed actual agreement to review after a four hour meeting with much of the discussion on WLRN and Friends of WLRN.

 

And under former Superintendent Rudy Cruz the organization Friends of WLRN made a number of changes in their bylaws that currently has Superintendent Alberto Carvalho trying to clarify the relationship including another entity SFMC that pays for the News Director’s high-end salary of $200,000 after news director Tom Hudson left from PBS a few years ago.

 

And the station did not want staff and employees to be Miami-Dade District employees because then WLRN would have to pay union wages and does not have to know since the employees are not district employees. Further there is said to be other inequities in pay funded by an organization called South Florida Media Company (SFMC). Further an auditor’s memo states “SFPM is not subject to public disclosures of significant information that is typically included in Form 990 tax returns,” wrote the chief auditor. And during the audit committee there were no representatives of Friends or WLRN present.

 

Further, the issue of Friends audits has dominated the headlines but previous years certified audits are on line at the friends of WLRN web page an there office is on Flagler Street versus the school district and i wanted to attend one of WLRN and friends board meetings but I found no information how I could attend a meeting .

 

The odd thing is that one or two board members are on the Friends Board including Dr. Michael Karp and other board members over the tears but some board members have spotty attendance record and at past audit committee meetings Perla Tabares Hantmen has asked for a Friends update every three months but that has not been forth coming. And Hantman reminded the board she has been on this for years and I have reporter audit packets from 20009 and WLRN and Friends are peppered with references in the minutes including 2015 packets. Further, in Hantman’s case she had a good attendance.

 

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

 

>>> CEO Migoya, gets rave reviews, community jewel Ryder Trauma Center has silver anniversary, only Level 1 public trauma center in Miami-Dade and saves lives daily

 

President and CEO Carlos Migoya got rave reviews in his capacity and he took over back in 2010 when the health system was on the ropes fiscally and he turned that around since his administration was in place and while challenges are ahead the trustees gave his performance unanimous 4s the highest in a 1 to 4 rating system and the PHT Nominating Committee met and interviewed a number of very qualified candidates and the Trust may get another woman on the board something the County’s commission on women suggested commissioners look for on the board where there are 2 women on the seven member board. And for more go to on Migoya’s review go http://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article151526062.html    and his pay will be $1.05 million which is less than other administrators of similar size health systems.

 

>>> And here is the list of trustee finalists and the Council has to send a three person slate and the Miami-Dade County Commissioners will vote on who will be given a three year term on the prestigious citizen board that is overseeing a $1.6 billion budget and over 10,000 employees including the physicians from the University of Miami Miller Medical School

 

Here is the final three selected by the Nominating Council list. Current former chair Joe Arriola of the PHT board and termed out and did not have to interviewed given his past service on the Trust and the health Systems fiscal turnaround. But still has to undergo a background check and be fingerprinted, said the county’s attorney office in the past minutes.

 

1. Joe Arriola

 

2. Juli Daniels, Ph.D. – Nursing Program Director at MDC (she is an outstanding candidate, which I usually don’t comment on but she is impressive)

 

3. Wayne Stephens – pediatric dentist at Jessie Trice

 

>>> WHAT about Ryder Trauma Center’s 25 Silver Anniversary saving lives since 1992?

 

Ryder Trauma Center created in 1992 at a time when many emergency rooms wwere shutting down and many hospital administrators were seeking just one incredible Level1 Trauma Center that is expensive to run given a complete complement of surgeons and physicians on site 24/7 verses other Level 1I Trauma Centers where a surgeon is less than an hour away and when it comes to Trauma time is of the essence.

 

However a number of private hospital trauma centers have been opened at Kendall Regional, Aventura and these trauma Centers are all owned by the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) and these centers tend to get the car crashes where there may be $10,000 in car insurance but Ryder is getting the gunshot wounds and knife blades ( and generally have no insurance and the U.S. Army surgeons before they deploy have rotated through Ryder since 20001 and this training hones the surgeons skill and the professionals also give free medical care to the health system.

 

And a few years back Ryder because of these other trauma centers (Ryder was losing some $28 million one year) an is why I have always kept an eye on the facility because it is a county crown jewel that other counties around the nation (would kill for) given the incredible success rate that included telemedicine with surgeons in Iraq and Afghanistan over the years and more recently Ryder has been in the news after a wounded Florida State Trooper Carlos Rosario was hit on a freeway by a texting driver and received serious injuries but he was helicoptered to Ryder and is slowly recovering after almost dying a number times while being treated.

 

How did Ryder come about?

 

On the 10^th Anniversary of Ryder there was a big celebration and Jackson benefactor Jay Weiss took me aside and told me the history and how he had called the Ryder CEO and asked them to pony up some serious money to get the fundraising started for the public facility filled with UM physicians and surgeons of the first order. Further, Weiss, a philanthropist made a significant contribution at the time and Ryder is what it is today celebrating its silver anniversary and the public thanks all the staff and physicians for saving so many lives over the decades. And for more: http://www.jacksonhealth.org/ryder.asp

 

CITY OF MIAMI

 

>>> Is Miami ready for dynastic rule with Regalado’s & Carollo?

 

Here is the current registered candidates for the commission and mayor and many of the names are familiar and involve many of the same family’s lineage and the Watchdog Report wonders where the new political faces might be and Commissioner Francis Suarez is trying to follow in his father’s footsteps and Suarez the younger is not as high in adulation maintenance as his father Commissioner Xavier Suarez who has not seen a mic he did not love.   But Francis a few years back had a misfire when he first ran for mayor an withdrew and he needs to run a tight campaign and needs to not raise a obscene amount of cash if he wants to not be seen as being bought by special interests and since it is Miami the race will be colorful.

 

Robert Ingram Burke Exempt F.S. 119.071 Miami, FL Zoraida A. Barreiro 2101 SW 4 Avenue Miami, FL 33129 (305) 856-7835 Keon Hardemon Exempt FS 119.071 Miami, FL Christian Canache P.O. Box 310655 Miami, FL 33231 (305) 302-7983 Joe Carollo 3126 Coral Way Miami, FL 33145   Hubert Llanes 48 NW 58 CT Miami, FL 33231 (786) 804-1700 Alex Dominguez 521 SW 23 Road Miami, FL 33129 (786) 210-2366 Francis X. Suarez 1750 Coral Way, Second Floor Miami, FL  33145 (305) 992-3342 Olidia “Lee” Hernandez 2245 NW 1st Street Miami, FL 33125 (786) 273-0267     Alfonso M. Leon 2368 SW 4th Street Miami, FL 33135 (786) 395-0849     Tomas N. Regalado 2828 Coral Way, Suite 400 Miami, FL 33145 (305) 442-1010   Miguel C. Soliman 1436 SW 6 Street Miami, FL 33135 (786) 367-0323   Daniel Suarez Exempt FS 119.071 Miami, FL     José A. Suárez 1143 SW 13 Court Miami, FL 33135 (305) 858-4108   Active Committees & ECO’s Political Committee Political Committee Electioneering Communications Organization A Stronger Miami 2600 South Douglas Road, Suite 900 Coral Gables, FL 33134 (305)445-0777     November 2019 General Municipal Election Commissioner District 1 Commissioner District 2 Commissioner District 4       Tony J. Diaz 2264 SW 22 Avenue Miami, FL 33145 (786)473-4573           Manolo E. Reyes 5301 SW 7 Street Miami, FL 33134 (305)302-4492         Ralph Rosado 1800 Coral Way P.O. Box 452521 Miami, FL 33245 (305) 588-4364     Denise Galvez Turros 2130 SW 20 Street Miami, FL 33145 (305) 744-7061 CAMPAIGN REPORTS

 

>>> Virginia Key Advisory Board, upset with not knowing about city’s plan with developer to have tony Cabana Club, some say it disrespects Historic Black Beach

 

The Virginia Key Advisor Board is bristling with a city plan to let a developer put a tony Beach cabana club on the Historic Black Beach and the Miami Commission is reviewing the matter given the sensitivity of the historic beach relegated to only Blacks back in the late 1950s And at one ceremony back in 1999 then Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek and Althea Range planted a tree in memorial of the sacred beach.

 

However the developer has apparently bought a part of the beach and environmentalists are concerned it will be a concrete jungle that also must be open to the public and it remains to be seen what the final development will be that must be approved by the Miami Commission.

 

>>> Bayfront Park Trust gets new CEO and director is long time Trust employee Jose Gell and he will be paid $83,882.70 which is a 10 percent bump in his current salary and it was approved by the trust board Tuesday.

 

A decision on the Flagstone development project on Watson Island was deferred and first approved by the Miami voters in 2002 and was on the ballot with a GOB bond and the project back then was one of three but paid the city the most and was selected by the governors financial Oversight board chaired at the time by Adolpho Enrique’s who was chair of the board and in the meeting at the Miami Power Boat club and at the proceedings were a FBI special agent and an investigator with the county’s Ethics commission but Flagstone was picked and a few years back with little discussion.

 

And years ago Flagstone had big press conference and gave out some great bling including a CD of the classic movies “The Lost Horizon,’ about the mythical city Shangri-La, and the organization has asked for one concession after another and blames the delay on the Great recession that made financing difficult and was to include a mega-boat marina

 

>>> What about the Peacocks in the Grove north hates them South Grove Tolerates them, the yang and yang of Grovites is on display, The Great Peacock war is going on in the tony Grove but residents are divided and for more on the kafuffle over the birds go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article147103874.html

 

>>> Miami Commissioner Ken Russell attended a United Teachers of Dade (UTD) event where he spoke to the crowd in Spanish. However, at the meeting was former Miami commissioner Marc Sarnoff and his wife Teresa who lost to Russel after Sarnoff raised $1.2 million for her failed campaign a few years ago. Sarnoff is said to be eyeing running for congress but most dismiss that effort.

 

City of Miami Beach

 

 >>> Mayor Levine and commission say no to ‘hail Mary’ gambling bill by Florida Legislature

 

We were glad to learn that the State has backed down on the terrible piece of legislation that would have placed a casino(s) right in the heart of Miami-Dade County. This bill, which was up for a vote in Tallahassee, would have essentially sold our cities to the gaming industry, deliberately ignoring our local needs and desires.

 

An investment in the gaming industry is a “Hail Mary” pass for cities with challenging futures. Time and time again, they have proved to worsen the quality of life for their residents, increasing crime and creating social ills. For case studies, you need only look at Atlantic City, Baltimore, and elsewhere.

 

Miami and Miami Beach have become cultural and corporate destinations, and thankfully we have bright and glowing futures. While our cities are currently in the middle of a cultural and economic renaissance, we believe that casinos would lead us in the wrong direction.

 

We want to continue to make our cities the kind of places where people want to raise their families, innovate with new startups, and attract international corporations. Adding gambling facilities to the mix achieves the opposite of this-who wants to raise a family next to a casino? In fact, we have already received negative indications from Art Basel that the potential opening of casinos may cause them to search for alternative locations. This would be a major setback for our communities.

 

Understand that all the purported revenue that gaming generates does not actually go back to the county. In fact, it goes directly to Tallahassee, where we have yet to see a great return (i.e. public transportation). The only people who actually win in these situations are casino operators, and the Tallahassee politicians that they have paid to vouch for them.

 

The losers? Everybody else, especially the residents who now have a venue to gamble their paychecks away (casinos are proven to breed gambling addiction at up to four times beyond the norm).

 

On top of all of this, a gaming facility on Biscayne Boulevard-as has been proposed-would majorly compound our current problems with congestion. It would be impossible to visit the beautiful new Frost Science Museum, enjoy a performance at the Arsht Center, or go to a Miami Heat game without mind-numbing amounts of traffic.

Regarding the location on Miami Beach, it would render our main thoroughfares unnavigable, grinding Julia Tuttle Causeway to a full stop, turning 41st Street into a parking lot, and clogging up Collins Avenue for residents and visitors.

 

We are happy that our state legislature came to their senses, but we hope that this awful bill is not revived in any form in the future. Let’s continue to invest locally in ways that help all citizens, like public transportation, and not with quick easy “fixes” that are dictated by an out-of-touch legislature in Tallahassee.

 

Remember-casinos are not built by winning gamblers; they are built by losing gamblers. The house always wins!

 

Philip Levine

Mayor of Miami Beach

 

Tomás Regalado

Mayor of Miami

 

>>> The Miami-Dade Ethics and Public Trust commission released a survey after city workers all went through extensive ethics classes and the survey found some employees are still being asked if they want a bribe. Further these training sessions have been done in the city of Miami and across the county and like the county’s Inspector general it is another watchful watchdog. For more go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article141609749.html

 

What about zoning plan expediters’?

 

Builders across the county still use a practice of using attractive women to get building plans approved on a timely basis. And the beach is known to be a tough nut to crack and I have followed them and they get off on the building department floor

 

The Miami-Dade Ethics and Public Trust Commission issued a survey of Miami Beach employees and even after extensive ethics training they still were offered a bribe and to see the press release on the matter go to below.

 

Community EVENTS & Public Service announcements

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

 

>>>> Now open and the Warehouse has a new exhibit and check it out at http://www.margulieswarehouse.com/#/home

 

>>> And the Margulies Warehouse will be opening the season in weeks and to see what art is on display and when it plans to close the season for this community treasure go to http://www.margulieswarehouse.com/#/home

>> Press release: The Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science and Miami Science Barge join together to bring the expression of art to a scientific experiment. Visitors will have the opportunity to create artworks on a drift card that will be deployed into the ocean. These drift cards will help scientists gain understanding of how the ocean currents distribute debris through the Biscayne Bay. Admission is free. Miami Science Barge 1075 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami

 

EDITORIALS

 

>>> Politicians since the dawn of time have hated the media, Trump’s fixation on press, distracts from his policies and administration, needs to get more focused and fill key lower level administration staffers

 

Since the dawn of time leaders have hated the press and media yet President Trump keeps harping on the “dishonest media,” and actually singled some of the nation’s news organizations and a republic needs a diverse and strong press to challenge authority and calling the media the “enemy,” of the American people which is ironic since Trump was in many ways created by the media and he is extraordinary marketer.

 

But people will get tired of this demand for adulation that the president seems to feed on and he won and now people want him to get to governing. For the world is a dangerous and having the national security council head vacant is a serious issue and when it comes to Russia Trump should clearly state he or his staff did not have contacts and perhaps release the transcripts of the conversations if the president wants to end this distraction on the world stage.

 

Further he is saying some of the executive orders are being rewritten and he is moving quickly carrying out his campaign promises. However, in many ways Trump is a creation of the press and his constant carping is getting old with the American people and some are wondering why he is so fixated on his victory considered a long shot by the media ever since he went down the escalator but he won .And Americans expect him to govern and keep the nation safe and that is the job he accepted when he ran for office.

 

>>> 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 this is a national story in all the Tribune papers

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.

 

LETTERS

 

>>> Lotus Village provides vital services for Miami women and children

 

Here is some information about the Lotus Village. In Lotus Village, we seek to create a prototype for the future, in which shelter and services for those in need are fully integrated with the urban fabric of the neighborhood we call home. In addition to offering increased capacity with efficient design and land utilization, Lotus Village will include a holistic neighborhood health clinic and children’s day care and wellness center, serving Lotus House and our community.

 

The shelter facilities in Lotus Village, to be operated by Lotus House, are being designed to accommodate high special needs individuals and families, including programs for youth, elders and the medically needy, a safe haven for those with severe trauma histories, pregnant women and infants, and families of all shapes and sizes. The children’s wellness center will offer child therapy services, nurturing parenting classes, a day care and playground. Food service and dining facilities will include training programs for life skills and job readiness, in addition to meal preparation, dining and a wide range of social activities. A neighborhood health clinic will offer a complement of basic and preventive health care, maternal and pediatric care, eye and dental care, behavioral health and wellness, and a wide range of health and wellness programming for the shelter and our Overtown neighborhood. Deeply integrated in the fabric of our neighborhood, Lotus Village will provide critical linkages to a network of service providers and resources in the larger community, empowering those we shelter and serve to build the foundation for enriched, happier and healthier lives.

You can learn more at: http://lotusendowment.org/about-lotus-village/

>>> 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 supporting 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 sales tax dollars.

 

>>> And while the Watchdog Report has reached16 years of using my own money to survive in the costlier Miami community. And while I have cut expenses I need my readers help. In this fast changing world and with Pay Pal now you can easily use a credit card to contribute and I hope you will consider helping keeping someone out in the field. And I have not wanted to be a lobbyist but rather a lobbyist for everyone and is why I use the tag line ‘I go when you cannot’. But things were made worse after spending 18 days in the hospital with a badly infected finger. And is why I am behind sending my traditional thank you letter to any supporters contributing and hop to catch up in the near future. And I thank these people from the bottom of my heart for the past financial help.

 

>>> I just ask any reader, once a year who thinks this community resource is valuable to contribute via my Pay Pal account for the fiscal issues sometimes keeps me from going to a meeting sometimes, and the stress also affects my health and only with my readers support can “I go when you cannot,” thank you and hope you will help so the WDR can celebrate 17 years on May 5^th.

 

>>> And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account at https://paypal.me/WatchdogReport

>>>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 https://paypal.me/WatchdogReport 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, it is no easy task 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 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. And I thank my supporters 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        

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

 

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

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr (The first contributor)

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

 

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

 

EIDSON, COLSON & HICKS www.eadisoncolsonon.com

BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com

BERKOWITZ POLLACK BRANT Advisors and Accountants www.bpbcpa.com

JEFFREY L. BERKOWITZ TRUST

BERKOW RADELL FERNANDEZ & LARKIN www.brzoinglaw.com

RON BOOK

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

WILLIAM PALMER www.shutts.com

Rbb PUBLIC RELATIONS www.rbbcommmunications.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

 

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

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, 2017, 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. ********************

Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form Thank you

 

Supporting Sponsors $5,000

Sustaining Sponsors $2,000

Corporate Sponsors $1,000 (All levels above will be listed in the report with web-site link if desired)

 

Large Business Supporters $500

Small Business Supporters $250 

Individual Supporter $150

 

Make Checks payable to Daniel Ricker

3109 Grand Ave, #125 Miami, Florida 33133

 

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