Watchdog Report Vol.18 No.9 July 9, 2017 – EST: 05.05.00 – I go when you cannot – Celebrating almost 18 Years of reliable weekly 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!”

 

ARGUS REPORT: Heard Seen on the Streets – Heard Seen on the Streets

 

>> President Trump may have struck a cease fire deal over Syria with Putin, but world waits to see if Russia will keep its word in the long run?

 

The world has been wondering how the interaction with Vladimir Putin would go at the G-20 summit and demonstrations have been the order of the day. Since it first began and Trump and Putin had a long exchange with only Sec. of State Rex Tillerson in the room and it is being reported as being a productive exchange the two leaders and trump said he did broach the subject of the Russians meddling in the 2016 election, twice. Further, there may be a cease fire in the Syrian conflict that might end the Humanitarian nightmare with refugees and children fleeing the civil war.

 

However it was the Putin meeting that captured the world’s attention and while the president said the almost three hour meeting went ‘tremendous,’ it remains to be seen if Russia carries through on the country’s pledge on Syria. Further, Trump talked about creating a mutual cyber security unit with Russia, that has Republicans carping would be giving to the Russians our technology on this activity. That could have them using such technology against America and it remains to be seen if this actually comes about, and while trump discussed the Russia hacking, which Putin denied. Trump just moved on since it was unlikely Putin would admit such a breach to the world. Further, the pundits are saying Trump was played by Putin and for the moment the world will have to see what this new rapprochement might bring. However, having his daughter Ivanka, sitting at the G-20 table has caused a kafuffle and she wanted to talk about helping women entrepreneurs create business but it still was very odd and a number of leaders found it unusual especially since Trump disagreed with the Paris Climate Agreement and the G-20 looks like it is more a G-19 since the other countries are all supporting the Paris global climate change agreement negotiated by President Obama https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ivanka-trump-takes-fathers-seat-at-g-20-leaders-table-in-break-from-diplomatic-protocol/2017/07/08/f8eabe8a-63ea-11e7-a6c7-f769fa1d5691_story.html?utm_term=.473ae06b24dd >>>  https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/07/08/trump-pledges-50-million-global-womens-business-effort-advocated-daughter-ivanka/461640001/

 

President Donald J. Trump’s tweets are continuing and law makers on both sides of the aisle are questioning. If these distractions are impacting his legislative agenda and he is off to a meeting with Vladimir Putin in Europe and he will find the former KGB officer is only concerned with advancing Russia’s global interests and his warm and fuzzy smoozing will hit a brick wall with the man. Further, he shocked world leaders with the recent tweets concerning The Morning Joe on WMSNBC political talk show where he goes after the two hosts and his people are saying ‘tweeting is the new modern presidential’ way of communication and Trump’s, attempt to have China reign in North Korea has not found traction and from the Chinese standpoint having 29,000 U.S. troops is in their strategic value. For it costs money and from the Middle Kingdom’s standpoint the nation is looking for hegemony in the region which includes the US bases in Japan as well.

 

But some of this gets back to his style if hit, to hit back even harder and Trump in a video goes after CNN with some lawmakers saying “this has got to stop,” and with all the challenges his tweets have become a major distraction and diminishes the highest office in the land and while he used social media to get elected. For more and on the kafuffle go to

http://money.cnn.com/2017/07/02/media/president-trump-cnn-video/index.html

 

>>> Press release: Ros-Lehtinen Statement on the Release of Venezuelan Political Prisoner Leopoldo Lopez, Miami, Florida – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) made the following statement on the release of unjustly jailed political prisoner Leopoldo Lopez to house arrest by the Maduro regime. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: 
“Leopoldo’s release from prison, where he was unjustly jailed, is somewhat welcomed news. However, this half-measure by the Maduro regime to distract the Venezuelan people will not end the demand for Leopoldo’s unconditional freedom and will not end the calls for freedom, democracy, and the respect of human rights for all Venezuelans.  He has committed no crime and should not be under house arrest. His wife, Lilian Tintori, his parents, and children have been through an incredibly difficult time due only to the criminal actions of the Maduro regime and my solidarity goes out to them for at least now Leopoldo is home with his family.
There must be an immediate cessation of violence in Venezuela. Already the toll is too high with over 80 killed and thousands unjustly arrested or injured in the past three months alone. Maduro’s constituent assembly, a poorly disguised subversion of Venezuela’s National Assembly, must also immediately disband. I join the Venezuelan people in continuing the clarion call for liberty for Leopoldo and all other political prisoners and for the immediate cessation of the repression perpetrated by the Maduro regime on the Venezuelan people.”

 

>>> Press release: Government Lawyer Section of The Florida Bar proudly presents the 2017 Claude Pepper Outstanding Government Lawyer Award —The 2017 Claude Pepper Outstanding Government Lawyer Award – Presented to an individual who has exemplified the highest ideals of dedication, professionalism, and ethics in service to the public. 2017 recipient is Richard Jay Weiss

Richard Jay Weiss has spent 39 years representing, counseling and advocating for numerous governmental entities.  He presently focuses his practice on governmental and municipal law and provides advice and guidance to numerous governmental agencies while practicing at the firm he helped establish, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman.  Since 1991, he has served as City Attorney for nearly a dozen South Florida cities and special counsel and labor counsel to many more. From 1978 through 1984, Mr. Weiss served for seven years as an Assistant County Attorney for Miami-Dade County. His extensive experience includes litigation in both the State and Federal trial and appellate courts. In recent years, he has authored charters for many newly-created cities.
Mr. Weiss was an adjunct professor in the Department of Public Administration at Florida International University and is currently writing a textbook on Florida local government law. He is the author of numerous publications regarding dispute resolution and arbitration and is a frequent speaker on municipal law topics to groups such as the American Arbitration Association, the Florida Association of Police Legal Advisors, the Florida Public Employer Relations Association and the Florida Association of Municipal Attorneys. He has lectured at the Criminal Justice Institute at Broward County Community College.

After the Florida Supreme Court held in 1980 that section 768.28, Florida Statutes, did not prevent a public employee from being sued individually for negligence, Mr. Weiss successfully guided the passage of sub-section 768.28(9), Florida Statutes which protects government employees from being named in a suit for routine negligence.   For his efforts, he received the “Unsung Hero’s Award” from the Police Benevolent Association.  Mr. Weiss’s goal of providing legal counsel to municipalities has led to his serving more than fifty municipalities in various capacities. While Mr. Weiss has not always served government directly through employment with the public sector, he has uniquely served the government as an attorney for the government and provided 39 years of outstanding service to his clients.  He shares the same goals of all great public government attorneys, to provide great service to your client, the citizens of the State of Florida. Editor’s note: I normally don’t run a PR piece but this is a significant honor and Weis over the years has been a teacher and indirectly helped me understand the 34 municipalities in Miami-Dade and I give him a tip of the Hat for the honor.

 

>>> Homeless families’ spending 100 days is straining the County’s homeless trust resources

 

The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust met Friday and a federal official gave an update on what the new administration is up to and he said a new national homeless strategic plan is being developed and he noted when it came to homeless veterans, Miami “has been doing a good job,” and ending homeless veterans is one of HUDs priorities and major funding cuts are expected under the Trump administration and one of the challenging issue facing the trust and straining their funding is because a homeless family is qualified for staying in certain hotels but the problem is the average “length,” of stay is 100 days and even if these families went to the homeless assistant Center (HAC) which is even costlier given the continuum of care the Alvah Chapman, Jr. Partnership for Homeless provides but families with small children needing a home is a Trust priory.

 

What did Miami Police Chief Rudy Llamas suggest?

 

In the chief’s opinion just putting the homeless in a bed or hotel is useless. Since most of these people on the street either have a “mental issues, or a drug addiction,” and he believes they will just go back to their habit, he considered and the chief noted the Pottinger Decree came about after Miami had a Grand Prix race and officials told the police to get them out of sight and this race kicked off the consent decree suit years after the 1983 race in downtown Miami and created a big Bern on now Museum Park.

 

Further the trust is doing extensive outreach seeking more rental units and with section 8 low cost housing there is a long waiting list and the county’s different departments involved with this are working together said the Trust administrator.

 

>>> Press release: Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) today announced that Miami-Dade County would receive $4.092 million in Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Last year, Miami-Dade County lost over $5 million in funding for essential homeless programs in the county. HUD’s homeless assistance program has become increasingly competitive as HUD directs more funding to grantees that allocate resources to projects known to deliver better outcomes like permanent housing and rapid re-housing. Diaz-Balart secured the $4.092 million in funding to help fill the gap for FY17, and these funds could be used for homelessness prevention activities, rapid re-housing, short- or medium-term rental assistance, housing relocation, and stabilization services. “I am pleased to announce that Miami-Dade County will receive $4.1 million in homeless assistance funds. The Homeless Trust does excellent work for our community, and I truly enjoy working with them and local partners who are making a difference for the most vulnerable.  This funding will go a long way towards providing solutions and filling gaps can that effectively help address homelessness in South Florida. As Housing Appropriations Chairman, I will continue to work with my colleagues and the Homeless Trust to ensure the best use of federal funding. “Of the more than 100 recipients, Miami-Dade received the most ESG funding of any jurisdiction. >>> Since 2015, Diaz-Balart has served as Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee. As Chairman of this Subcommittee, Diaz-Balart has jurisdiction over and sets funding levels for various transportation and housing programs, including homeless assistance grants. 

 

>>> However Lotus House Village is seeing cuts to the tune of $750,000 said Constance Collins who runs the facility for homeless mothers with children and she said about one third of residents are “youths,” and “Many times with children,” and what is “happening is a humanitarian crisis,’ said Collins to trust board members. And Trust staff said there were “41 families with children,” in shelters and the “length of stay is just too long,” said Trust chair Ron Book and the trust has spent over” $1. Million” for the year for these families needing homes said executive director Vicky Mallette at the trust meeting

 

>>> What does the local VA badly need in the Miami Hospital District city of Miami land?

 

The top VA administrator locally told Miami Commissioners Thursday morning the important medical institution is having patient delays and vets are “missing doctor appointments,” because of the lack of parking and the VA wants the city of Miami to contribute some City Land to be used for parking especially for amputees in wheelchairs and this the kind of issue that is important but will many times fall between the cracks and the Miami Manager a vet of Dessert Storm and the city should try to work something out in the future..

 

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

 

>>> 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.in the future.

 

>>>>OBITUARY: Dr. Michael Gordan the inventor of the medical manikin Harvey, that is now cutting edge technology, especially helpful in cardiology, allows med students to get experience in diagnosing heart arrhythmias, no easy skill for a medical student

 

Michael S. Gordan, M.D., Ph.D., passed at 80 and he was the godfather of “Harvey” a medical Manikin that would eventually almost mimic a human body especially in the study of Cardiac rhythms that one cardiologist said to me was “like learning a new langue, But Gordan saw patients would be spending less time in the hospital and medical students would have less patients to learn from and I first met Gordan In 1981 when I used to work with Cordis Corp and one of our biomedical engineers would periodically create something for his small office at UM had on the backside of the VA hospital and I would take the device to his office and later around 2009. I met him again and we became friends and he contributed to the WDR years ago and he was a gentleman with incredible perseverance. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/obituaries/article160318589.html and he will be missed for he made a profound medical contribution and my condolences to his family, for he certainly left his mark and will be missed. For more go to; http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/herald/obituary.aspx?n=michael-s-gordon&pid=186037089

 

STATE OF FLORIDA

 

>>>Sen. Dist. 34 race heats up after Boston police report on challenger Diaz de La Portilla, after smoking in Boston hotel, pays cleaning fee, but continues the controversy associated with him in the past.

 

Florida loses one of its key watchdogs with CFO Atwater (net worth 2016; $2,555,378) leaving the office, brought down state’s debt monitored state contractors ensuring performance without any real scandals tells Miami Chamber Miami-Dade County accounts for some 35 percent of the state’s revenues. Further the former banker is a past senate president and has supported transparency in government contracts.

 

And to read his financial disclosure form go to http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/Forms/2016/72587-Form6.pdf

 

Florida elected leaders have to submit their financial forms July1 and the Florida Ethics commission gives delinquent filers a grace period to the end of September but lawmakers from county commissioners to the governor has to file the disclosure document

 

PAST WDR: With Florida CFO Jeff Atwater retiring he has been a frugal watchdog since being elected in 2010 an he lowered the state’s debt and closely monitored Florida contracts and whether contractors were really delivering the goods.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article159147759.htmlhttp://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article159147759.html

 

The Senate race for Florida Dist. 34 is heating up and has one of the candidates getting a Facebook threat by a local member of the GOB’s executive committee member and former house Rep. Jose “Felix” Diaz, R-Miami was the target and he is seeking the empty seat when ex Sen Frank Artiles was forced to resign after some racially tinged remarks to a number of senators who were black and created firestorm. Further Alex Diaz de Portilla a perennial candidate and also running for the vacant senate seat on the GOP side got some media exposure for his refusal to stop smoking in a Boston hotel room with the wife of CJ Gimenez and the son of the mayor who is working mow on the former state senator’s campaign and are friends and she goes after another GOP candidate Diaz, saying. She is working on the Diaz campaign and his brother Miguel Diaz de La Portilla along with Gimenez’s son were the lobbyists pushing for municipalities to purchase red light cameras and the duo represented the company and a host of municipalities approved them and the elder Diaz de La Portilla when it came to the cameras and would later be elected senator walked the Miami commission chamber like it was his living room and the only other time I saw such familiarity was Vicky Leva Garcia Toledo but she has since divorced Raphael Garcia Toledo who was Gimenez’s campaign fundraiser and while the county’ ethics commission gave the GT construction executive a pass re his relationship with the mayor Carlos Gimenez. Further on his lobbyist registration he wrote on issues: “Everything that involves Miami-Dade County,” a fairly wide window when it comes to issues. However the political savvy DPL family has a reputation for playing it fast and loose and one brother, Renier got into a fight with candidate Carlos Lacasa in a Spanish radio parking lot and his brother Alex a chain smoker who at one republican meeting threw a butt into a planter at the hotel event where former Republican Chair Manty Sbatis Morse was voted out as the Republican Party chair after the party was having financial challenges back then. And for more go: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article152049552.html —http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/rafael-garcia-toledo-mayor-gimenezs-friend-has-millions-in-county-construction-contracts-6388774 —http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article160217214.html

 

>>>> PAST WDR: With the summer break the Children’s Trust of Miami –Dade has a host of summer activities including getting one free book for a young person and helps with a child’s reading ability. https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/parents/initiatives/read-to-learn-book-club

Further, check out the Health Connect program.

 

Health Connect

 

Further the trust also has health connect a program ensuring wellness of children and for more go to https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/providers/health-connect

 

Health Connect is a comprehensive, three-tier, quality-driven health initiative, spearheaded by The Children’s Trust, with the goal of having the healthiest children possible in Miami-Dade County. Health Connect: Connects children and families to low cost medical insurance options and health services with the help of health navigators.

Provides information and support through home visitations by family coaches to all new and teen mothers. Provides a team of nurses/nurse practitioners, social workers and health aides to public schools to provide needed health and mental health services. Please visit the FORMS section for provider forms. Agencies funded by The Trust for HealthConnect,Borinquen Health Care Center, Inc. Catalyst Miami, Citrus Health Network, Inc., Community Health of South Florida, Inc. Jessie Trice Community Health Center, Inc. Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Nova South-eastern University, University of Miami, to download a brochure, please visit the Publications section.

 

>>> State Atty. Katherine Fernandez Rundle weighing governor bid, but will past decisions nix that race, with other candidates joining the fray?

 

The top cop in Miami-Dade County Katherine Fernandez-Rundle (net worth was $2.368 million in Dec.1, 2012) is said to be considering a run for Florida governor in 2018 when Gov. Rick Scott is termed out. And she gathered a host of campaign consultants to discuss her possible bid, which could be fraught with criticism of how the office prosecuted cases related to one high profile death Darien Rainey continuing staying in the news. And for more go to:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article154707729.html

 

Rundle first took office when she was appointed after her predecessor Janet Reno became the nation’s attorney general in the Clinton administration and she has won reelection several times since then and given she is elected county wide critics believe she is soft on local political corruption over the years and recently the Miami-Dade Democratic Party has called for her removal after the office did not pursue the Rainey case where the man was scolded with hot water while in a county jail and has infuriated the community and is still lingering and could complicate any attempt of her running for higher office either as a gubernatorial candidate or Florida Attorney general since AG Pam Bondi is termed out and she is weighing her political options for the future but if she runs her long prosecution history will be dissected in detail and could be a rough race for her to win.

 

>>>Further to search for any Florida Constitution officers net worth go to http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/reshttp://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article159147759.htmlhttp://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article159147759.html isults.cfm

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

 

>>> Are surveillance Cameras coming to county’s regional parks, hope is to cut down on gangs and drug sales in Miami-Dade County Regional Parks, will prevent rapes says, Souto

 

Cameras in county wide parks is coming and Commissioner Sally Heyman wants them to be phased since the unbudgeted cost is $3 million and has to have periodic updates. However Javier Souto championing the cameras suggested that if Heyman did not support this he suggested without the cameras she did not want to stop a rape he suggested in a sharp exchange and Heyman has been a big supporter of ending domestic violence and other women rights issue.

Further at another commission meeting Souto when discussing all the projects that have been approved. He blamed former assistant manager Pete Hernandez. Souto said because ‘so much money over the years,” has been spent and “nothing happens,” he said in frustration to how long it takes to get a county project completed

 

>>>Related Group and affordable housing stays in the news, commissioner Barreiro “welcomes all investigations,” all he asks is to do it “promptly” since it pts a “cloud” over affordable housing projects

 

When it comes to the federal investigation of possible irregularities with the Related Group. The Miami Herald did a follow-up story Sunday. And whether the issue of the investigation was factual, had Commissioner Barbara Jordan questioning the paper’s story since some of it was anonymous sources and she said “what I read in the paper does not have to be true,” and she believes some of the these people might have their “own agenda,” and Commissioner Bruno Barreiro who had one of the affordable housing projects in his district, under scrutiny said. “I welcome all investigations, all I ask is do it promptly,” because the probe has “put a cloud over are affordable housing projects, “Further Barreiro noted the probe “slows down the process,” of approving more affordable housing projects around the county, he believed. And for more on this go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article159788874.html

 

BCC names a street for slain 6 year old boy King Carter, Commissioner Estephan laments Dade is not “Bagdad or Aleppo,” re all the children being killed

 

What about the naming of a street after the six year boy King Carter shot walking to get some candy and this senseless killing has chilled the community and later BBC Chair Estephan Bovo, Jr., who has a similar age boy related and he lamented “This is not Bagdad, or Aleppo,” he said in frustration since the killings keep going on despite any law enforcement increase in the affected communities and kids being killed has bedeviled the public school district and has supt. Alberto Carvalho calling for an end of these killings of the communities youth. And for more on the little boy’s death go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article70700267.html

 

>>> The vote on the fate of The Vizcazya Gardens and its management under a not for-profit passed and one of the controversies to this change is what to do with the 30 or so county employees who will have to seek a job in the county using what is known as the pipeline where the human resource administration is adding extra staff to help facilitate the hiring process, and the deal was “like a friend with benefits,” deal said Commissioner Suarez, who believes the organization will “not meet,” its fundraising goals, and will come to the county for more money

 

The Vizcaya gardens a national treasure supporters believes will be able to receive more cultural grants for the property is a community jewel but its upkeep is no small fiscal matter and the county’s general fund needs a little assistance and it is hoped the not-for-profit will be the vehicle to help with funding issue and Rayfield McGhee. CPA, Esq., is the not for profits chair and in a different capacity he is chair of the Miami-Dade School board Audit and budget review committee and is a CPA and is a member on the publics firewall of how the $5 billion district spends your county tax dollars and the WDR wishes all the success in the future

 

>>> Animal Activist are getting some attention after the Miami-Dade County inspector General released a report on how successful the county’s Animal Services no kill rate was especially with cats and I had heard that some thousands of cats were killed because they were considered aggressive. Further the IG report puts more pressure on the Mayor Gimenez’ administration to get these numbers further lowered.

http://www.miamidadeig.org/Reports2017/1.%20IG14-39%20Transmittal%20&%20Executive%20Summary%206.26.17.pdf Further I have learned that many animals adopted are not checked on and some dogs are said to be “bait dogs” used in dog fights that can be held apparently easy in any empty pool and is still popular in south Dade.

 

>>> PASTWDR: After five years of a surplus, Jackson Health this year with budget cuts only “breaks even, “has become the “hospital paying patients want to go too, not because they have to,” said PHT board chair Arriola in joint trust BCC meeting

 

The joint meeting of the public Health Trust board on Wednesday was a smooth affair but the trust warned there was fiscal choppy waters depending on what the new Trump administration pushes in the way of cuts ranging to a potential block grant system (versus LIFT) that has the state determining how it would be distributed among the public healthcare facilities in the state. Further after five years of a surplus, this year Jackson will close out break even, said Jackson CEO Carlos Migoya and he has signed on for two more years as the hospital president. He noted one of the big ongoing projects is the new $175 million UM Jackson rehab center and will be a “landmark facility,” said Migoya to commissioners. The president said things are moving quickly when it comes to the five urgent care centers and being staffed with UM physicians. Further a number of wellness programs “like cribs for kids,” that teaches new parents how a child “can sleep safely and while births have been going up with the new concierge service it also includes teaching mothers the benefits of breast feeding for a child in the early years and Jackson is celebrating its 99the birthday in the summer.

 

What about Jackson first?

 

Jackson First is a program to serve the county’s 26,000 employees health needs and is doing well and in the past few years have served employees medical needs and has grown to 1,431 at the beginning and is now heading up to 2,981 paying county employees and since the county is self-insured and if this population continues to increase the savings to the county is significant and all the PHT new facilities take into consideration “resilience,” and the perception among Miami- Dade residents is Jackson health System “is the hospital you want to go to,” rather “than the hospital you have to go to,” said PHT board Chair Joe Arriola and Migoya and Arriola told commissioners UM Miller Medical School “relationship has never been better nd is helping to provide cutting edge medical care, and Jackson just completed a three year contract with the institutions nurses and it is “maintaining the nursing ratio,” said Migoya and the nurses leadership is working well with the administration and SEIU Union Local 1991,said the CEO.

 

Further, the JHS has reduced the “length of stay,” a major cost saving and while the health system had a $830 million GOB, the trust still has a $1.2 billion capital plan and the institution is “stretched thin,’ and with the “squabble,” in Washington “we are heading for some very tough times,” said Migoya to commissioners that had a number of trustees at the dais and Arriola stressed the point that “Carlos is one of the lowest paid presidents of large healthcare systems, and had Migoya saying his work at Jackson is “one of the proudest chapters in my career,” he closed.

 

What about the Pelican Harbour seabird Station?

 

Pelican Harbour Seabird Station was the talk of the beginning of the Tuesday County Commission metting and included a tragic presentation on Biscayne bays seagrass that is dying at a high rate and provides habitat for manatees, and other sea life and its fast dying also reduces the quality of the bay’s water since sea grass cleans the water as well. And a representative’s gave an impressive slide show of the dying seagrass and what the bay looks like now and Commissioner Sally Heyman supported the item to go in front of the commission and for more go to https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=pelican+harbor+seabird+station&spf=1498340957225 And a young man along with Heyman had socks created with a pelican on them to raise money for the not for profit and Heyman supplied some of the seed money but when I googled the pelican socks nothing came up and the organizations slide show is incredible with one shot looking like some kind of dinosaur and to see them gohttps://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=pelican+harbor+seabird+station&spf=1498340957225 Further long time clerk and early Envoronment Harvey Ruvin who is rarely at commission meetings spoke of the need to keep the bay healthy and he and Heyman are board members of the Pelican Harbour Seabird Station .However a young student had an idea on how to raise.

 

County employees raise $ 1.million for Miami-Dade United Way yearly fund drive, helps fill in “some gaps,” the county can’t cover, says CEO Mogul

 

The county workers that were loaned to the United Ways yearly fundraising, raised over $1 million and includes the mayoral ball and a host of other events and the organization helps fill in gaps that the county can’t, said united Way CEO Harve Mogul

 

>>> County’s affordable housing program under fire in federal probe, Related Group chair Jorge Perez says company is highly ethical on all housing built in letter to Miami Herald

 

A new investigation on affordable housing projects and if some projects were inflated by The Carlisle Group, Pinnacle and the issue concerns the profit of these public funded projects generally low cost housing, and were the numbers inflated and includes Related Group projects that chair and founder Jorge Perez says in a letter to the Miami Herald that the deals and projects done were on the up and up and the organization prides itself on the companies ethics but it remains to be seen how this all plays out in

 

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article156697314.html

 

>>> The Miami-Dade Office of the Inspector General is making some recommendations on an $11.852 million no bid waiver to modernization of the traffic control services at MIA and it is a great read with some suggestions and recommendations being made for the administration to consider and to read the report go to:

http://www.miamidadeig.org/Reports2017/TrafficControlModernizationServicesBidWaiver06.12.17.pdf

 

>>> Movie and production mavens want county film incentives Ga. Reaps $2 billion in revenue due to productions leaves Miami out in the cold

 

Movie and film representatives filled the commission chambers last week asking the county to create a production incentive program that the state legislature shot down and movie advocates say Georgia is reaping a $2 billion windfall given their creative incentive program and would help fill hotel beds and show case Miami-Dade and the full commission will consider the matter

 

>>> Will last minute amendment to MLS deal by Commissioner Diaz torpedo the deal when it comes to Miami?

 

Will a last minute amendment stall a Miami Commission vote on zoning changes for a new MLS stadium on the edge of Overtown and had Commissioner Jose “Pepe,” Diaz insisting that only county first responders could work the stadium and get overtime and once again would exclude City of Miami police and fire rescue and has caused a firestorm with Miami commissioners and had Mayor Tomas Regalado calling it ‘crazy’ and given the time sensitive nature since MLS has to approve David Beckham and his investor team waiting and the issue has been percolating for years. Ever since Miami sold the land to the county to bolster its anemic finances at the time. However county fire chiefs are chafing at the county “dictate’ and don’t want to be responsible for the municipalities first responder duty and this adds a new wrinkle in the deal and may ultimately frustrate the Beckham investment group.

 

What about parking at JHS?

 

County Commissioner Javier Souto During the stadium discussion noted that nearby Jackson Health System had plenty of parking saying the parking garages are empty but the hospital is a 24/7 facility and the Watchdog Report does not know how empty the garages are run by the Miami Off Street Parking authority and they could provide information on parking levels at night. Further, there are a number of government parking garages nearby and the MLS is creating 2,000 parking spots and why the extra parking is needed.

 
>>> GMCVB press release: RECORD LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY JOBS IN GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES REPORTED FOR MAY 2017 Greater Miami’s Leisure and Hospitality jobs increased +3.5 percent in May 2017 compared to the same period in 2016, showing the continued strength of the destination’s travel and tourism industry in generating jobs for the community.

Record Greater Miami Leisure & Hospitality Jobs
May 2017	May 2016	% Change
146,700	141,700	+3.5%

 

>>> At last week’s commission meeting discussing the soccer stadium and people noting the residents in the “305” don’t walk to events. But had Commissioner Xavier Suarez trying to be hip saying he was going to change all his phone numbers to the hipper “787” exchange he said from the dais to fellow commissioners.

 

Further Suarez when he found About a county job that was causing some controversy said to pass the employment opportunities to him and he will post them on his Tweeter page and he says he has “10,000,” followers(but his twitter account says 4730 followers) and the commissioner also did an editorial in the Community Newspapers Coral Gables edition and to see the article arguing the thing the Trump administration has done like firing his FBI director James Comey are not impeachable offenses he believes. Further he asserts former President Bill Clinton should not have been impeached for the Monica Wolinski incident since it involved two consenting adults. And Suarez has been a long time Republican as is his son Francis who is running for the mayor of Miami an office his dad held decades before and the son is trying to walk in his footsteps and his campaign is focusing on the Hispanic Cuban voters which census data shows Miami is 70 percent Hispanic and it is that voting block is where he is focusing his almost $3 million campaign war chest and a campaign add that has been running on the right side of the Miami Herald webpage there is a photo but all the verb age is in Spanish which is fine but it disregards any Anglo voters who along with African American voters represent 30 percent of the municipal vote.

 

PAST WDR: Americans died last year, 3,000 alone in Florida, different treatment than heroin addiction, but death toll nationally huge

 

PAST WDR because our Youth are dying at a terrible rate: because this is killing our kids and caused the creation of The Miami-Dade County Opioid Task force met 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. Where 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. Editor’s note: I keep running this story because it is such a scourge that kills across all ethnic lines.

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

 

>>>> Supt. Carvalho focus on education excellence pays off in big way with no F schools after state rating, has been an elusive goal over the years

 

Finally no F Miami-Dade public schools major achievement for district and Supt. Carvalho’ s hands on approach and focus, when he first took office, he fired a number of low performing principals, something rarely done in the past and put resources into early learning programs. And in the community he is seen almost as a rock star given his speaking style and his name has people wondering if he would run for county mayor in 2002.

 

Supt. Alberto Carvalho gets high praise after none of the district 180 schools for the first time had no D schools rated by the state and the former chemistry teacher is hands on superintendent and has been able to manage the sprawling public school district the fourth in the nation in size.

 

He has partially accomplished this because there has been little political interference by the supportive school board and has created a host of magnet schools and has focused on “safe zones,” to protect students from the shootings that has plagued the district and the number of students killed is a shocking number

 

>>> OIG report looks at minority owned firms getting contracts under GOB and is a priority with Supt. Carvalho

 

At the $1.2 billion GOB oversight board recently there was a discussion on how many minority contracts have been given to minority firms and primes since the school board let out contracts and Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has made this a crusade in that was promised when the bond was first voted on and the schools IG did a study of these minority contracts and to read the IG report go to:: http://www.miamidadeig.org/Reports2017/GOBIG0013FinalReport6.15.17.pdf

>> Past WDR: FIU Golden Scholarship program helps fund students needing fiscal resources to graduate in four years, great opportunity for Miami-Dade students wanting a higher education

 

>>> FIU Golden Scholar program funds for the economically distressed in Miami-Dade and is a new initiative started by the FIU Foundation      

 

Florida international university President Marc Rosenberg, Ph.D spoke to the Miami-Dade Schoolboard about a new scholarship program called Golden Scholars and the FIU foundation is guaranteeing anyone that wants to work hard and qualifies will be able to get a degree in four years if the student economically cannot pay and it is a great program and school board members were enthusiastic in their support of FIU Foundation and its 54,000 students and for more on the program go to https://give.fiu.edu/tag/golden-scholars/

 

FIU’s promise to 2017 freshmen: As good as gold

FIU Foundation News, Inspiration and Impact, Student | No Comments

FIU is making a promise to the 2017 freshman class: If your family cannot help you pay for college, FIU will. Call it a Golden Promise. FIU’s Golden Promise guarantees…

Read More

 

>>>>> 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”

 

>>> What about the federal IG audit and investigation of Friends of WLRN?

 

WLRN on Wednesday at the school board received some federal grants for the station that are normal and generally occur every year said Supt. Alberto Carvalho in the press room while the meeting ws going on and the grant amounts are $1,031,346 for the grant period from Oct.1 through Sept.30, 2018. Further the Corporation for Public Broadcasting grants the funding under the Radio Community Service grant in the approximate amount of $655,416 for that duration.

 

The Watchdog Report asked Carvalho and the district’s Chief Auditor if there was any news on the federal IGs audit of Friends of WLRN the fundraising arm for the WLRN but is facing an IG inquiry since the organization has not been able to produce a certified audit after the organizations CFO was fired and he had used an inappropriate formula that may have ginned up the federal draw down from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting. And for more go to https://townhall.com/watchdog/florida/2017/03/14/290811-n10467

 

And here is the Friends CFO job description that apparently has been filled

 

https://www.ziprecruiter.com/jobs/friends-of-wlrn-e8cbc7da/coo-cfo-5b5152ac

 

>>> And here is the audit report done by the District and what has been going on at Friends and the school board’s options and it is a great read.

http://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_May_9_2017/item13.pdf

 

When it comes to the District’s 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

 

>>> PHT votes on new trustee three member slate to go before BCC for vote by commission, one applicant removed for “open legal item,” former Chair Arriola number ranked number one

 

The PHT Nominating Council met last week and one of the finalists was removed, Juli Daniels. RN and Ph.D in nursing because she had a “open legal item,” (and it was not stated what it was) and the council voted a slate of three new applications one of which was former PHT chair Joe Arriola and the number two is Wayne Stephens, D.D.S and the third is Ben Bobillo. And the county commission is expected to vote on the slate Jun.20, 2017 or the following BCC meeting on July 6

 

>>> PAST WDR: 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 were 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: go to http://www.jacksonhealth.org/ryder.asp

 

CITY OF MIAMI

 

>>> Some Grovites take dim view of Commissioner Russell potentially running so soon for Congress, could leave opening for former Commissioner Sarnoff to retake the seat, which is of concern

 

Newly minted Miami Commissioner Ken Russell is getting some blowback from Grove residents residents after he announced he was forming an exploratory committee to see if he should run for the House seat being vacated by Ileana Ros Lehtinen and has Raquel Regalado running as a republican and it is hurting the reluctant politician aura and one long time Grove business asked what was next “the presidency,” since Russel was so new to the political arena and a leap to congress is a big political upgrade and people are questioning his sincerity. Further, his run for congress could allow former Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff to make comeback after he had his wife Teresa run in his stead since he was termed out and Sarnoff lost much of his popularity for his imperialistic manner and that attitude allowed Russell to beat his wife Teresa after she came poorly during –the first vote and her name on the runoff while on the ballot the votes were not counted and Russell has been a refreshing change from Sarnoff who after he left office dropped book of his achievements at residents homes when he was helping his wife’s campaign that did not translate into votes.

 

>>> Will Miami’s upcoming elections be a celebrity event? Or will it keep the old political order in place?

 

Since both Francis Suarez and Raquel Regalado have lived their lives in the public eye and many suggest they led a charmed life and Suarez ran his first long campaign ad last week and he is portraying himself as the next generation (that a past tag line was “our time,” when he had a past mayoral campaign).Since his father Xavier Suarez was a past Miami mayor. Further he has a $2. Million campaign war chest with his PAC and he and his father take every opportunity to promote the son who is vice chair of the County’s Transportation Policy organization (TPO) but used to be known as the MPO. Further his wife Gloria on a tube video is campaigning for him and she did a good campaign video that you can see at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgbFKxeTo6M . Further Suarez has a young son and the family is part of the package and since his father’s nemesis former Miami Mayor Joe Carollo is running for his open Dist. 3 seat he will have to later deal with the mercurial Carollo. And his new campaign piece in the Herald is now in English and he is touting the $3 million he has in his campaign war chest and it reads like he has already won the post, which is a very risky maneuver and to see the ad go to: http://www.francisformiami.com/

 

So here in Miami politics. The family that runs together apparently wins together and that is the case with the Diaz de la Portilla family where one brother Alex is running for the Florida senate. But had a very messy divorce that even included who would get the dog and will make him a prime target for attack ads in the future and his campaign ads are popping up in the media. Further Suarez is proposing a multimodal Transportation impact fee that would be just enough to fund a new tunnel across the Miami River on Brickell and he believes with these funds the city would pay for “45 percent of the cost,” and believed the state might kick” in 45 percent.” However his colleague Wilfredo Gort saw it differently saying such a fee “would kill businesses opening and a further discussion on the fees around the city will continue and one commissioner asked what the area should be through the city. However, the county will have to agree and commissioners will consider hash out the details in the future if it turns out to be a possible solution.

 

Miami residents warning!

 

The city is rushing a deadline to get a proposed development on Virginia Key in front of voters to approve and this has been a past tactic for years and the Flagstone development had this same urgency back in 2002 and voters should wake up because the city has a long history of voters getting suckered in these “terrible deals,” said Commissioner Frank Carollo in the past and the matter is being rushed so that it can be on the Nov. 7 ballot that will also likely include a $250 million GOB bond called ‘Forever Miami,” and city leaders use this urgency to many times pull a fast one and frankly it is about the money, that in a number of cases never materializes. And for more go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article159278724.html

 

>>>>When it comes to hiring outside Atty’s, Commissioner Russell wants to be sure the city “is not out gunned,” in court after testy exchange with city attorney Méndez

 

When it comes to hiring attorneys, “I want a knockout punch, “believing the commission’s decision to call Flagstone in “default,” of the agreement had with the city and Flagstone now suing Miami for $120 million on damages for breaking the agreement first created back in 2002 when the city’s voters approved a massive project on Virginia Key and has yet to really get anything done except a mega yacht Marina

 

What about the exchange between Commissioner Ken Russell and Miami attorney Victoria Méndez?

 

Russell and Méndez got into an exchange where she said he did not “understand the law,” since he was not an attorney and after the exchange the city attorney kind of rubbed it in saying “she could lose her Florida Bar License and highlights the strain between Russell who a few months ago wanted to have her fired because of a past performance but it did not occur and just simmers in the background

 

>>>> CIP discussion gets testy over “heroics,” police chief Rudy Llanes wishes CIP would remember the “heroics” of officers, exchange ends civility earlier supported by ethics omission Director Joe Centorino

 

The funding for the Civilian Investigative Panel (CIP) was a hot topic at a past commission meeting and Chair Keon Hardeman in the discussion noted his appointment Was not accepted because the slot was not for Dist. 5 since the bylaws were modified years ago to have people on the CIP who live in the five commission districts because years ago many of them lived in Dist. 2 with many of the members living in Grove Isle. Further, funding was dramatically cut during the Great Recession and the body financially with a new director has shaped up and is running much smoother said the board’s chair Horatio Aguirre a close confident to Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado

 

What about the civility program?

 

The County Ethics Commission has a new civility program and Miami-Beach and Coral Gables have all signed on including Miami and to see the program go to:

http://ethics.miamidade.gov/library/2017-meetings/summary_jan_17.pdf

 

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article154960954.html

 

What did local leaders say about the US leaving the Paris accord?

 

Here is a WPLG Channel 10 piece that includes mayoral candidate and potential congressional candidate Ken Russell being interviewed. Since South Florida is ground zero for sea level rise and is even impacting Vizcaya.https://www.local10.com/video/south-florida-lawmakers-react-to-us-withdrawal-from-paris-climate-agreement

 

What about The Bay front Park Trust?

 

The Trust met Wednesday and negotiations are going on if the Omni CRA has to pay the Trust $2 million a year for 15 years (some $30 million) for the maintenance of a playground in Museum Park where the playgrounds facilities will cost some $2 million in a no bid contract and the playground equipment is made in Germany.

 

However the Omni CRA would like to use the $30 million for affordable housing in the CRA area and negotiations are going on between Miami Commission Vice Chair Ken Russell and Commissioner Frank Carollo who chairs the Bayfront Park board and readers will have to see how this all pans out.

 

The Bayfront Park Trust is considering building a playground in Miami Museum Park and the Omni CRA in a past agreement has agreed to pay $2 million a year in park maintenance.

 

>>> What about the killing of a Peacock in South Coconut Grove?

 

Someone killed a male peacock on Lyber and police are investigating but given the length of death for the poor bird, the police should ask some of the neighbors in the area if they have a 410 gauge shotgun a smaller quage and is used for doves and has nothing of the power of a 12 or 20 quage shotgun which would have killed the peacock immediately but a 410 would cause this slow death and the authorities should check around if anyone has such a small barrel shotgun. And for more go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/coconut-grove/article156062084.html

 

>>> Virginia Key Advisory Board, still 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.

 

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

 

>>> Mayoral campaign heats up how low will Gelber & Grieco go to win the top spot, suspicious PAC will be dissolved nd money returned pro rata

 

Defense Attorney Michael Grieco has been fighting back after the Miami Herald did an investigation of a PAC that the commissioner said did not involve him and since the reporting the PAC has been dissolved and money returned to donors in a pro rata basis but the Kerfuffle has amped up the intensity of the race for mayor and pits Gelber a former federal prosecutor against his opponent a former state representative and senator and historically there have many tough mayoral races over the years and the beach has some of the tightest campaign finance rules in the county and why this became a major political issue in the race and Grieco suggests the paper of record is doing a hatchet job on him in

And for more go to: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/

 

This matter but many wonder if these type of issues will impact on the election in November and voters will make the decision.

 

>>>Mayor Levine, calls for 2:00 a.m. drinking curfew at bars & restaurants on Ocean Drive, which draws a rowdy crowd late at night

 

>>> When to end drinking on Ocean Drive splits city leadership, after incidents during packed Memorial Day celebrations and has Mayor Phillip Levine calling for a 2:00 a.m. curfew though he notes (people could continue to drink in hotels) but it can’t be at the bars and restaurants on Ocean Drive and has restaurant owners up in arms but the Drive has changed over the years and is not drawing the family crowds like years past. Further Kristen Rosen Gonzalez sent a memo to City Manager Jimmy Morales questioning if the police body cams is keeping the officers from policing. However, Morales notes how the police were reacting prior to Chief Dan Oates taking the helm and the commissioner is a congressional candidate could be looking for a little press. For more on the story go to

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article153870244.html

 

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article153813234.html

 

What about the missing money?

 

A man from Syracuse NY has been arrested for stealing some $3.6 million from the city’s coffers and the man is already in custody and authorities are working getting the money back and the city has beefed up its finance department that in the past missed the transfers from a Sun trust bank account.

 

>>> Further, 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

 

MIAMI MARINE STADIUM ACTION ALERT

The Phase One Architectural Review for the Marine Stadium will be discussed at the Miami City Commission Meeting on Thursday, July 13. Please click on the link below, and take 30 seconds to encourage the City Commission to move forward with the restoration of the Marine Stadium.

https://secure2.convio.net/nthp/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1231

The goal: To generate 1,000 emails to Miami City Commission by July 12. Sharing the link, prepared by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, with friends and colleagues can make all of the difference!

Yours truly

 

Don Worth, Co-Founder

Restore Marine Stadium
https://www.facebook.com/Restoremarinestadium

 

Photo credit: Leslie Harris

 

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

 

>>>> Now closed for the season and the Warehouse and check it out at http://www.margulieswarehouse.com/#/home

 

>>>And the Margulies Warehouse for more info 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

 
Cynthia Fleischmann Gallery www.CynthiaFleischmann.com
+1. 508. 479. 6631 cynthia@cynthiafleischmann.com

Gallery visits are available by appointment. Other

Posted by Cynthia Fleischmann

12 Jun to Utopia Court + 25 neighborhoods ·

 

Bodypaintography: ‘Front Door’ FL, 2017                                                                                                                     Cynthia Fleischmann

EDITORIALS

 

>>> Politicians don’t realize voter’s frustration is they are such hypocrites, many times in their own actions

 

Politicians are always asking for our trust but it is the hypocrisy of their actions that has gone on for years that makes voters jaded and even if voters pass something they then renege on any promises made and the Pet Trust is one such example and for many local politicians who are high maintenance they forget they work for the people and voters should not have to say thank you for running for office which periodically raises its ugly head and that it is a privilege that just sometimes is based on someone getting their resume punched and the idea of political dynasties in the coming 2017 election is not the way to elect our local representatives and the public can only hope that their true colors will not be seen during their time being a public servant.

 

>>>> Florida Constitutional commission should insist on transparency, not darkness as Sunshine law gets diluted

 

The rallies around the nation seeking the truth is not just a national issue but a local one where politicians say one thing and do another. And locally one high profile attorney Roberto Martinez a former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida and he objected to the changing the Sunshine Rules for the Florida Constitution Review that were going to be watered down by the chair.

 

And given the state Constitution’s importance it seems odd that the chair would want to revise the basic tenants of the Sunshine Law and open government and the public needs to keep a close watch on this body when something like this becomes the first issue and with Gov. Rick Scott appointing many of the members email Scott that transparency is one of Florida’s hallmarks and should not be diluted.

 

>>> 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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