Watchdog Report » Vol 11

Watchdog Report Vol. 11 No. 8 June 27, 2010 – Celebrating My 11th Anniversary

editor — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 22:40:47 +0000

CONTENTS

Argus Report: South Florida ground zero for Climate Change, sea level is rising, but can it be mitigated in time?

Florida: There he goes again, Gov. Crist suspends 40^th public official, almost one a month since Jan. 2007

Miami-Dade County: Bad week for Mayor Alvarez, aide settles ethics complaint, senior police officer resigns after probe of trust & outside consulting

Broward County: Commissioner Jacobs the environmental champion, county faces $160 million budget shortfall, says Sheriff & PA budgets must be reduced

Palm Beach County: Feds charge Straub who bought old Miami Arena with two counts of violating Clean Water Act in Wellington

Lake County: Gov. Crist appoints James R. Baxley of Eustis to the Lake County Court.

Monroe County: Administrator Gastesi says, “Tourism is stable,” but “advance reservations” of concern

Miami-Dade Public Schools: Round three, school board’s audit committee to hear about negotiations with Friends of WLRN

Public Health Trust: Wanted for public service, diligent trustees, but no pay to watch over Jackson Health system, applications should start next month

City of Miami: Employee count drops to 3,531 through June; but with $100 million budget hole, will another 1,100 follow?

City of Miami Beach: Commissioner Wolfson on Beach economy pick-up & Elected leaders salary & benefits

City of Coral Gables: Mayor Slesnick draws challenger in Korge, says “not likely” to run for reelection

City of Doral: Residents get new “performance dashboard” on city services, supposed to save money as well & Elected leaders salary & benefits

Community Events: Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club, June 29th, 2010: Dr. Martin Karp, School Board Member for District 3 — Downtown Bay Forum of Miami to offer debate between major congressional District 25 candidates on June 30^th

Editorials: Watchdog Report touches a nerve when it comes to elected leaders paying their property taxes — PAST WDR: SEPT. 2008: Elected leaders should humor the general public by following the Florida Sunshine Law

Letters: Readers on the Watchdog Report

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

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

>>> I will be on Topical Currents heard on WLRN/NPR 91.3 FM on July 1 from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m., and readers should listen in, and it is on line at www.wlrn.org

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding the University of Miami’s Knight Center of International Media http://knight.miami.edu within the University’s School of Communication www.miami.edu assistance to rebuild my web site www.watchdogreport.net that is now on line again, since the previous one was shut down in July 2008. Past reports will continue to go on line in the future, potentially as far back as May 2000. This institutional support is a major break through for me, and I am deeply appreciative of the help these two substantial international institutions have given me at a time the site was an unbudgeted expense and to keep the Watchdog Report a community education resource, while also being a decade old news service.

>>> If you think it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider becoming a supporter or sponsor. For there is no trust fund and I do have to live. A convenient form is at the bottom of this week’s Watchdog Report with all the instructions on how to support this newsletter and news service that started its 11^th Anniversary on May 5.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> South Florida ground zero for Climate Change, sea level is rising, but can it be mitigated in time?

Global Warming was the topic of the day Wednesday at the Miami-Dade County commission chambers with a wide range of speakers on the topic from representatives of the President Barack Obama administration on down the political food chain. There are more than 20 federal agencies involved in studying this climate change activity, while seeking solutions and these organizations come together as the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force, and here locally Miami-Dade Clerk Harvey Ruvin (Net worth $1.5 million) chaired the local task force, and on the commission, Commissioner Katy Sorenson (Net worth $1.34 million) has been the point of the ecological spear here in South Florida. Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., a marine ecologist and environmental scientist and the first female NOAA administrator said the Obama administration when it came to climate changes had a “sense of hope, yet urgency” and the administration was not sitting on the sidelines when it came to the subject. She noted numbers coming out of NOAA concerning the temperatures of land and seawaters are “the warmest on record going back to the 1880s,” she noted. The scientist also said there would be record “reductions in snow and ice” in the decades ahead and when it came to the Deepwater Horizon ongoing spill in its 69^th day. “It is an extremely difficult time” as the widening spill hits new state shorelines and while the residents and BP are “doing what they can to mitigate” the ecological disaster. “The health of our local community, in this case the Gulf of Mexico,” has been severely impacted, and dramatically highlights the role nature and our oceans play regarding life on the planet and local communities.

>>> Congressman Meek and Greene go at it, one mother is in campaign ad, and another is a lobbyist

The two U.S. Senate candidates for the Democratic Party came out swinging this week during the first live debate by U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami (Net worth around $62,000 in 2002) and Jeff Greene. Greene, a political unknown, is a billionaire who bet in financial markets that the nation’s real estate market would tank and he made a fortune when the investment worked, and it is a legal activity www.miamiherald.com or www.wpbt.org . Meek spoke of his long ties with the party and is not an interloper like Greene who had run years before as a Republican in California. But Greene fired back at the veteran congressman first elected in 2002 that his mother, Carrie Meek, 83, a former ten-year congresswoman and now a lobbyist was the problem. He cited the scandal surrounding a proposed biomedical park in the Overtown area that never materialized with developer Dennis Stackhouse, now facing charges and awaiting trial in Miami. The two candidates, neck and neck in the polls will ultimately face off on Aug. 24 and Greene has said he will spend tens of millions of his own money to get his new political message across to the party faithful. To watch the Meek and Greene debate on line go to www.palmbeachpost.com

What about Rubio and Crist’s U.S. Senate race?

Marco Rubio, (Net worth $8,351) the former speaker of the Florida House led an insurgent campaign that toppled Gov. Charlie Crist (Net worth $466,000) who a year ago had a lock on the Republican nomination for the nation’s most exclusive club. However, Rubio worked hard at the local level where many Republicans at first bulked at the anointing of Crist by national party leadership as the chosen one, and that discontent later spiked after Crist gave President Barack Obama the hug in Tampa, and the governor’s support with hard core Republicans dried up forcing him to become an independent. Crist has tacked to the political center and he is trying to woe voters from either party, with an eye to the key 20 percent of voters that are no party affiliation, and in a three-way race will likely be the deciding factor on who is victorious.

>>> Reporters Haggman of The Herald & Polansky of Miami Today honored

Mathew Haggman, the reporter that covers Miami-Dade County for The Miami Herald www.miamiherald.com recently was awarded, the Best of Miami by Miami New Times www.miaminewtimes.com for his coverage of county hall. Haggman, besides a scribe is an attorney as well, and the honor is well deserved.

Risa Polansky, who the Watchdog Report honored last week, got another send off when the Miami Commission gave the hard working scribe a proclamation for her four years of news coverage of the body. The document signed by both Mayor Tomas Regalado and commission Chair Marc Sarnoff described her past four-years of journalistic work with Miami Today, was well written in its description of her work, and is definitely a resume builder. To see her stories go to www.miamitodaynews.com

>>> White House press release: Bromwich Launches Investigative/Compliance Team to Spur Reform, Restructuring of Offshore Oil and Gas Regulation

New Team will Report Directly to Bureau of Ocean Energy Director

Michael R. Bromwich, the former Department of Justice Inspector General who now leads Interior Department reform initiatives to strengthen oversight and policing of offshore oil and gas development, today announced that he will establish an investigations and review unit that will help to expedite his oversight, enforcement and re-organization mandates. “The new unit will provide us the capacity to investigate allegations of misconduct, to provide unified and coordinated monitoring of compliance with laws and regulations, and to respond swiftly to emerging and urgent issues on a Bureau-wide level and in the industry,” said Bromwich, who is the director of the newly established Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (Bureau of Ocean Energy or “BOE”). The new Bureau, established by Secretarial Order, replaced the former Minerals Management Service which was responsible for overseeing oil and gas development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. “In light of the response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the impending reorganization of Interior’s offshore oil and gas management and enforcement missions and the new Bureau’s mandate to implement broad reforms, it is critical that we have an internal compliance and investigations team that can act quickly and report directly to me,” Bromwich said.

The unit would have the following functions and capabilities.

Investigation of allegations of misconduct. A key component to reforming the Bureau is establishing the ability to promptly respond to allegations or evidence of misconduct by Bureau employees as well as by members of industry. This will empower the Bureau to deal with some of its internal problems swiftly and effectively. This capacity is intended, and will be designed, as a complement to the work of the Interior Department Inspector General’s office. The unit will coordinate with the IG’s office on matters it investigates, will pursue investigations with the IG’s consent and knowledge, and will advise the IG of the status and results of its investigations. The new team also will be responsible for overseeing and coordinating the Bureau’s internal auditing, regulatory oversight and enforcement systems. Response to high priority issues. The compliance and monitoring unit will provide the Bureau with the ability to respond quickly to emerging issues and major events. The unit will be responsible for swiftly responding to and assessing significant incidents, including spills, accidents, and other matters. The unit will have a role in immediately coordinating and managing the Bureau’s response to significant events. Implementing the re-organization. The planned re-organization will be a major undertaking, conducted under a strict timetable that will involve, among other things, maintaining clear lines of communication among Bureau personnel and outside consultants responsible for implementing the re-organization; coordinating the collection and transfer of significant volumes of data and information; and process management. The team will support project managers in providing centralized planning, coordination, and oversight capacity in connection with the implementation of the re-organization.

>>> Zogby Poll: Zogby Interactive: 50% Say Obama Spill Response ‘Too Passive,’ 75% Approve of Deal With BP 72% Believe Spill Will Impact Energy Legislation

One-half of U.S. adults believe President Barack Obama’s handling of the Gulf oil spill has been “too passive,” and 75% approve of the agreement he struck with British Petroleum to set aside $20 billion to pay for damages caused by the spill. As we found in previous surveys about the oil spill, small majorities believe off-shore drilling is still, “a safe, reliable and cost-efficient method of producing oil” and that expansion of offshore drilling will lead to an increase in environmental problems. The interactive poll of 2,099 adults was conducted from June 18-21, and had a margin of error of +/-2.2%. Please click the link below to view the full news release on our website: http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.cfm?ID=1872

>>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for no money came in over the last week and I do have to live, thank you! The report is also shorter and with less real content because I am still weak and do not have my past energy level that allowed me to write all day Saturday and Sunday as in the past almost 11-years that I have been doing this. I ask for my readers understanding during this time. >>> Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times, The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel which ran as a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003 and UNC Chapel Hill naming me one of the top columnists in Florida in a multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on Topical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then and also the opportunity to be on Helen Ferre’s show Issues on issues@wpbt.org numerous times over the past decade.

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

watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

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

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

FLORIDA

>>> There he goes again, Gov. Crist suspends 40^th public official, almost one a month since Jan. 2007

There he goes again, Gov. Charlie Crist gets number 40 under his belt with the suspension of Tamarac City Commissioner Patricia “Patte” Atkins-Grad for accepting money from a prominent developer and not disclosing the financial relationship when she voted on zoning issues concerning the massive project now stalled. The Broward state attorney brought the public corruption charges against the official and is part of ongoing investigations of elected officials in the county that has a county commissioner and school board member already in federal prison, and a third ex municipal commissioner is awaiting sentencing. Crist requested a statewide grand jury look into Florida’s “culture of corruption” and the body is meeting and hearing testimony in Broward, where Tamarac is located and one of the county’s 31 municipalities.

What about the NBC Today Show coming to the Beach?

Crist when he visited the Loews Hotel on Miami Beach recently meeting with tourist and government officials that expressed the need for positive publicity about how great the beaches were in South Florida. State Rep. Luis Garcia, D-Miami Beach said, “Perception is reality, and let’s invite The Today Show to Miami Beach,” the state lawmaker suggested. The governor nodding his head yes, said he “would call Matt Lauer as soon as we leave,” and it is unknown if Crist was able to make his pitch to bring a show to the Beach. >>> For more information about the NBC show go to TODAYshow.com: Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry, Al Roker … TODAYshow.com: Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry, Al Roker, Natalie Morales.

>>> Independent candidate Lawton “Bud” Chiles, III was on www.wpbt2.org discussing his run for governor. He is the son of Lawton Chiles, a deceased governor and U.S. Senator that made his name “Walking Lawton” when he first ran by walking the state. However, the concern is Chiles will steal votes from Democratic candidate Alex Sink, and could be a spoiler in the general election in November. He will either likely face on the Republican side, AG Bill McCollum (Net worth $1.1 million) or businessman Rick Scott (Net worth $218 million). To see the Chiles interview go to http://channel2.typepad.com/issues/2010/06/watch-this-weeks-issues-3.html. To date Chiles has resisted that call for him to drop out and over the weekend. He campaigned in Coconut Grove, but few people seem to know him when asked by Michael Putney in his weekly news show. To see Putney’s show go to Michael Putney – Station News Story – WPLG Miami Michael Putney came to Local 10 in 1989 to become senior political reporter and host of “This Week In South Florida with Michael Putney.” http://www.justnews.com/station/269244/detail.html

>>> Gov. Crist today announced the following appointments: Seaport Security Standard Advisory Council

Colonel James A. Brown, 50, of Tallahassee, director of the Division of Law Enforcement within the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, appointed for a term beginning June 25, 2010, and ending August 13, 2013.

Colonel David A. Dees, 52, of Tallahassee, director of the Motor Carrier Compliance Office within the Florida Department of Transportation, succeeding David Binder, appointed for a term beginning June 25, 2010, and ending August 13, 2013.

John “Jeff” Fiser, 52, of Jupiter, assistant vice president of Logistics and Marine with Tropical Shipping, appointed for a term beginning June 25, 2010, and ending August 13, 2013.

Luis R. Gonzalez, 57, of Plantation, vice president of International Longshoremen’s Association, Local 1922, appointed for a term beginning June 25, 2010, and ending August 13, 2013.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Bad week for Mayor Alvarez, aide settles ethics complaint, senior police officer resigns after probe of trust & outside consulting

The last few weeks have not been all that great for Mayor Carlos Alvarez (Net worth $1.66 million) after a senior police official retired and his former chief of staff, now a Sargent in the police force was hit with an ethics complaint and settled last week. The Miami Herald www.miamiherald.com and www.WFOR4.com covered the stories on Frank Vecin, a high ranking Miami-Dade police officer who oversaw a environmental trust fund and also worked as a private consultant, and Denis Morales, the mayor’s top staffer and someone Alvarez had mentored over the years and both are close to him. Alvarez first elected in 2004, and again in 2008 where a community activist got about 30 percent of the vote that was considered by many people as a protest vote at the time. He pushed for strong mayor powers and county voters granted that new authority a few years ago, but he has puzzled some residents by keeping the county manager in place, at a salary above his own. The former Miami-Dade Police Department director is straight forward in many ways but he is finding it hard to keep some of his close friends out of trouble or in the media spotlight, and when challenged on these and other policy matters. He has lashed out at the press challenging their timing or slant of a critical article.

>>> Homeless trust gears up for census, now late July or August

The Miami-Dade Homeless Trust is gearing up for its biannual census scheduled for late July or early August said David Raymond, the executive director of the trust. These census counts of population living on the streets are a reliable indicator of how many people are actually living this way that in the early 1990s had over 8,000 homeless in the county. Since the trust’s creation back then, the number over the years has dropped too currently where it is below 1,000 people living on the streets.

>>> Ethics commission press release: Former Mayoral Chief of Staff Morales Settles Ethics Charges

The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust today accepted a negotiated settlement from Miami-Dade Police Sergeant Denis Morales over charges he exploited his official position when he was chief of staff for Mayor Carlos Alvarez. Morales paid a fine of $1,500 and will receive a public reprimand for the misappropriation of 40 hours of paid leave in March of 2009, while he was earning outside income teaching in Panama. Investigation of the complaint (C 10-25) found that Morales violated the County’s Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance by citing earned leave for overtime work long after it expired, exempting himself from standard leave procedures and destroying payroll records.

>>> The Ethics Commission denied a motion to dismiss the case against North Miami Beach Mayor Myron Rosner for exploitation of official position. Complaints filed last year (C 09-02 & C 09-04) alleged that, while he was a member of the City Council, Rosner used his influence to obtain permits for additions to his private home without seeking required variances. The mayor, who is a licensed building contractor and a member of the Miami-Dade County Board of Rules and Appeals, will face a public hearing on the charge.

>>> It was announced today that a county court appellate panel has upheld charges (C 07-28) against a former Bal Harbour Village Councilman who violated the Ethics Code by the late filing of a financial disclosure form, by not fully disclosing rental income and by misrepresenting the location of rental property. The Ethics Commission levied fines of $4,500 against Joel Jacobi, who appealed the case, but his conviction has been affirmed.

>>> A former municipal advisory board member will be fined $500 after failing to disclose his source of income, as required by the Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance. Wilfred Pierre, who was a member of Miami’s Equal Opportunity Advisory Board in 2007, refused to respond to several notices or to appear before the Ethics Commission in a public hearing on the complaint (C 10-21). A similar complaint (C 10-17) against Rosa Green, who was a member of the OAB/Overtown Community Oversight Board during 2007 and 2008, was dismissed after she filed the required information.

>>> No probable cause was found to a complaint (C 10-20) against two Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department officials. A former tennis instructor, Francisco Montana, accused Department Director Jack Kardys and Crandon Park Tennis Center Facility Manager Rick Pardon of wrongdoing associated with tournaments operated by Pardon’s son, Jason. The investigation revealed, among other findings, that since Jason Pardon is not a county employee and his father does not profit from the tournaments, there is no violation of county ethic laws.

>>> A complaint (C 10-24) filed against the Director of the County’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation was dismissed. Timothy Ryan was accused by labor leader Walter Clark of lying to state investigators who were reviewing the department’s hiring practices. The Ethics Commission ruled that since the complaint concerns personnel allegations outside its jurisdiction, it is legally insufficient.

>>> In response to a Request for Opinion (RQO 10-16), the Ethics Commission ruled that A.D.A. Engineering, Inc., which provides consulting services to the Miami-Dade Solid Waste Department relating to the clean-up of the former Munisport Landfill in North Miami, may not provide engineering services for that city. The Commission found that the firm would have a conflict of interest if it is responsible for reviewing the city’s progress in closing the landfill while working for the that same municipality.

>>> Two Requests for Opinions centered on the County’s “Cone of Silence” ordinance, which limits communication between a potential vendor and county officials between the time a bid is advertised and a recommendation for its award is made. In RQO 10-17, the Department of Procurement Management asked if the rule is in effect after the County Commission agreed to allow the County Manager to negotiate with the highest bidder. The Ethics Commission ruled that since staff recommended negotiations with a single proposer, that constitutes an award for recommendation and the Cone of Silence is lifted for that project.

>>> On the other hand, County Commissioner Sally Heyman sought clarification (RQO 10-18) after the committee she chairs voted to amend a proposed federal lobbying contract to divide the work among five firms instead of the recommended three. Since the county manager was asked to review changing the size of the bid award and expanding the number of winning respondents, Ethics Commissioners opined that the Cone of Silence would have to be re-imposed. >>> The Ethics Commission was created in 1996 as an independent agency with advisory and quasi-judicial powers. It is composed of five members, serving staggered terms of four years each. Through a program of education and outreach, the Commission seeks to empower the community and bolster public trust.

>>> Need a speaker on ethics?

Community and other groups interested in county ethics and what the ethics commission does can request a speaker through www.miamidadeethics.com or call to request a speaker at 305.350.0630 and ask for Robert A. Thompson.

>>> GMCVB – Press release: JOB$…JOB$…JOB$: GREATER MIAMI’S LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY JOB$ REMAIN SOLID IN MAY 2010 — In the month of May 2010, Greater Miami’s Leisure and Hospitality Industry employment reached 99.3% of the employment reported for the same period in 2009. An average of 102,600 people were employed in Greater Miami’s Leisure and Hospitality sector in May 2010, compared to 103,300 during the same period in 2009. .

LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY JOB$

May 2010	May 2009	% of Previous Year Level
102,600 jobs	103,300 jobs	99.3%

>>> GMCVB AWARDED $1.25 MILLION TO HELP DISPEL PERCEPTIONS OF GULF OIL SPILL IMPACT ON GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES

The GMCVB has been awarded $1.25 million in emergency marketing funds from Florida Governor Crist and the State Division of Emergency Management to assist the destination in correcting misperceptions among potential visitors about the effects of the Gulf oil spill. Dispelling these perceptions is critical, since tourism is Miami-Dade’s number one industry. We are grateful to Governor Crist for his leadership, and for recognizing that the oil spill is a statewide issue, affecting not only the areas already seeing oil sheen and/or tar balls, but the rest of the State, which suffers from the perception that they are affected, too. Securing these funds would not have been possible without the support of the Miami-Dade legislative delegation, and the leadership of Miami-Dade County, and the cities of Miami and Miami Beach. Unlike many other parts of the State, nearly 50% of all Greater Miami visitors come from international markets, and so the campaign supported by these funds will be carrying our message internationally. This $1.25 million allocation is the amount requested for this stage in the crisis, where we have seen some minor cancellations. However, if the situation worsens, we will renew our original request for an additional $4 million, for a total of $5.25 million. Thank you Governor Crist.

>>> Press release: Governor Charlie Crist today recognized Anthony Shriver of Miami as a Point of Light for Disability Awareness Month.

“Anthony’s extraordinary service has impacted the lives of persons with developmental disabilities not only in the local community but throughout world,” said Governor Crist. “His innovation and compassion has allowed his international organization to continually expand programs and opportunities for persons with disabilities.” For over 20 years, Shriver has been dedicated to serving persons with disabilities. In 1989, he founded Best Buddies International, an organization that allows volunteers to serve persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities by establishing one-to-one friendships and integrated employment and leadership development opportunities. These services include offering participants friendship through the Peer Buddy Program, job opportunities through Best Buddies Jobs, and e-mail pen pals via e-buddies. He also developed opportunities for students from colleges, high schools, and middle schools, as well as members of business and civic organizations, to ensure that programs are available to individuals of all ages. His organization now spans six continents and serves 700,000 participants every year. For more information on Best Buddies International, please visit www.BestBuddies.org . >>> AAA Auto Club South is the supporting sponsor of the Governor’s Points of Light Award. Walt Disney World is an in-kind supporter. This program recognizes Florida residents who demonstrate exemplary service to the community. Award recipients are announced weekly. A panel of judges comprised of leaders in the areas of volunteerism and service evaluate all nominations and make recommendations to the Governor. The Volunteer Florida Foundation manages the program. For more information, or to submit a nomination, go to www.VolunteerFloridaFoundation.

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Commissioner Jacobs the environmental champion, county faces $160 million budget shortfall, says Sheriff & PA budgets must be reduced

Kristin Jacobs, the county commissioner that represents District 2 took a road trip Wednesday when she attended a Climate Change Adaptation Task Force meeting held at the Miami-Dade Commission Chambers. Jacobs, dubbed the “Katy Sorenson” of Broward spoke in front of the body and reminded the task force when it came to Broward County, two-thirds of it is occupied by the Everglades. She said the county with 1.8 million residents swells in the millions during the weeks as people come from other parts of the state to work in the state’s second largest county. The commissioner recently won another four-year term on the dais after she was reelected unopposed, and just in case, there is $96,000 in the campaign war chest and she expended $15,100 for the race.

What about the $160 million budget hole?

Jacobs when asked about the county budget for the next year said $160 million in cuts are necessary and it is the Sheriff’s Office budget under Al Lamberti (Net worth ($642,000) and the Office of the Property Appraiser under Lori Parrish (Net worth ($647,000) that needs to make more budget reductions, like the rest of the county’s operations. Broward with 31 municiaplities has a smaller county government administration than say Miami-Dade, where over 1 million residents live in an unincorporated area.

What about the ethics & IG controversy?

Jacobs after the task force meeting told the Watchdog Report that when it came to some of the suggested ethics proposals, some said to be unconstitutional by the county attorney, and causing widespread media criticism. People are over playing the disagreement and said the commission is scheduled to vote Aug. 10 and there seems to be enough votes on the dais that it will pass and go onto the November ballot. The veteran commissioner said one of the controversial points was concerning family members or variations there of, such as half brothers, cousins etc. and such a broad definition for a conflict of interest was unworkable. In Miami-Dade where there is both an IG and ethics commission, the definition of immediate family when it came to conflicts of interest are defined as immediate family, mother, father, brother and sisters but that is all. For more information about Jacobs go to Broward County – Commissioner Kristin Jacobs – District 2 Kristin Jacobs, Commissioner Broward County. Broward County Governmental Center 115 South Andrews Ave., Room 414. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301 954- 357-7002 …http://www.broward.org/jacobs/

>>> Press release: Gov. Crist appoints Melinda Kirsch Brown of Plantation to the Broward County Court.

“Mindy has nearly two decades of practical experience with the law and how it affects people’s personal lives,” said Governor Crist. “Her patience and respect for people and knowledge of the law will serve Broward County well.” Brown, 52, has served as a General Magistrate of the 17th Judicial Circuit since 2004. Previously, she practiced with Brown and Brown from 1998 to 2004 and as a sole practitioner from 1994 to 1997. She was an assistant attorney general in the Fort Lauderdale Office of the Attorney General from 1997 to 1998 and an assistant state attorney in the Broward State Attorney’s Office from 1988 to 1994. Before attending law school, she was a correctional officer with Miami-Dade County from 1981 to 1983 and a rehabilitation counselor with Evergreen Rehab in Miami from 1983 to 1984. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminology from Florida State University and a law degree from Nova Southeastern University Law Center. Brown will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Peggy Gehl.

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

PALM BEACH COUNTY

>>> Feds charge Straub who bought old Miami Arena, with two counts of violating Clean Water Act in Wellington

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Maureen O’Hara, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigation Division, announced filing of an indictment of Palm Beach Polo Holdings, Inc., and its president, Glenn Straub, 63, of Wellington, with two counts of violating the Clean Water Act, Title 33, United States Code, Section 1319(c)(2)(A). The defendants are expected to make an initial appearance in federal court in Ft. Lauderdale on June 30, 2010 at 10 a.m. According to the indictment, which was returned yesterday, Palm Beach Polo Holdings and Straub violated the Clean Water Act by knowingly discharging pollutants into waters of the United States, including wetlands, during June and July 2005, without a permit. The affected wetlands are located in properties that, at that time, were owned by Palm Beach Polo Holdings. The affected properties are described in the indictment as Peacock Pond and Parcel F, or Pod F, in the Wellington Country Place Planned Unit Development in the Village of Wellington, in Palm Beach County. If convicted of the charges, Palm Beach Polo Holdings faces a criminal fine in the amount of $50,000 per day of violation, or $500,000, whichever is greater, as to each count. Straub faces up to three (3) years’ imprisonment for each count. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Special Agents of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Bonau. An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

LAKE COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Crist appoints James R. Baxley of Eustis to the Lake County Court.

“James understands the temperament a judge needs in order to treat everyone in the courtroom with dignity, respect, fairness and compassion,” said Governor Crist. “His life experiences and work ethic, as well as his legal experience in both the private and government sectors, have helped him develop the ability to carefully review the law and come to logical conclusions.”

Baxley, 41, has practiced with Hatfield and Baxley since 2004. Previously, he was an assistant public defender from 1999 to 2004, while also being a sole practitioner from 1998 to 2004. He practiced with Kosto and Rotella from 1996 to 1997. Baxley earned his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Florida. Baxley will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Richard W. Boylson.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> Administrator Gastesi says, “Tourism is stable,” but “advance reservations” of concern

The Watchdog Report continues to keep an eye on the nation’s most southern county with a population of about 65,000 residents, but is a tourist mecca and a natural treasure with scuba diving and reefs that rank with the best found around the world. I contacted Roman Gastesi, the Monroe Administrator and asked how things were going when it came to tourists and the general situation down there. He e-mailed back Saturday, “Tourism is stable for now; we actually had a good month of May. We’re hoping for a great 4th of July weekend. Our problem is advance reservations, they are down significantly, obviously folks are waiting until the last minute to come down. Conveying accurate information is our biggest challenge. Once folks realize that oil is over 300 miles away, our water is pristine and fishing is great, they come down,” wrote Gastesi.

>>> Press release: A number of important bills from the 2010 legislative session have been signed into law by the Governor. Among these bills is the Early Learning Bill, SB2014. The language in this bill was considerably amended from its original 2009 version based on input from stakeholders that included Early Learning Coalitions, state agencies, provider organizations and accrediting bodies. A couple of late amendments that impact local communities were also added. Now that the bill has become law, the rulemaking process begins. This process is used to create/promulgate rules that allow state agencies to implement the laws. Under this process, the public is informed and allowed to comment on proposed rules before they take effect. This process is publicly noticed. Rulemaking hearings take place in different parts of the state and are announced in advance. Rules adopted by the state will affect child care stakeholders. I encourage everyone to participate in the hearings either directly or through a representative. For a copy of SB2014 and other important legislation that affects early learning, please visit our website at www.elcmdm.org and click on the legislative updates link, wrote Evelio C. Torres, President & CEO Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe.

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Round three, school board’s audit committee to hear about negotiations with Friends of WLRN

The school board audit committee is meeting Tuesday at 12:30 p.m., at the large ninth floor conference room at the downtown administrative office and one of the items to be discussed is the relationship between the district and Friends of WLRN, the fundraising arm of the schools radio and television stations. As has been previously reported in past Watchdog Reports that included written comments from the different sides and the not-for-profit organization’s past history with the district that has been tense since Superintendent Alberto Carvalho took over in the fall of 2008.

Carvalho has been butting heads with the Friend’s board and the organization had been given 90 days back in January to settle the issue, and the audit committee after a lengthy discussion at the last meeting gave them another 30 days to hash out their differences. I will be covering the meeting and will let readers know what happened at this very important oversight meeting of the nation’s fourth larges public school district.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Wanted for public service, diligent trustees, but no pay to watch over Jackson Health system, new application process cycle should start next month

The process for applicants to apply to be on the Public Health Trust is about to start again in July and there are a number of openings on the oversight board that has received wide spread media attention over the past six-months. The 17-member Trust board that includes two voting county commissioners is made-up of volunteers, they put in about 30-hours a month, and they fall under the purview of the county’s ethics commission and inspector general’s offices. Commission Chair Dennis Moss (Net worth $477,000) has been the PHT’s Nominating Council chair and he is expected to call an organization meeting that will authorize public ads asking for the best of the best in the community to apply, and a background check is done.

There will be a number of openings on the PHT board this year and the University of Miami will be appointing someone to replace Stanley Arkin who has left the PHT board after doing a yeoman’s job. Another trustees to leave in the late fall was Diego Mella, and current trustee Rosy Cancela is termed out on the board and it is unknown how many of the current trustees up for renewal will reapply to the high profile oversight board. The new and reappointed trustees after going through the process and selected, generally are sworn in at the end of October after the county commission approves the names.

What about Commissioner Seijas?

At a recent PHT all day committee meeting, county Commissioner Natacha Seijas (Net worth $655,000) spoke to the fiscal and purchasing committee about recent articles in the press and a open letter that ran in The Miami Herald www.miamiherald.com written by civic leaders, stating the costs of nurses being used at the health trust was out of whack, and she challenged those numbers with her own data that paints a different picture. In a June 8 memo to board chair John Copeland, III. Seijas believes the cost per nurse did not square in the past stories and that some costs were left out of the calculations that had Jackson paying a higher dollar number than the surrounding hospitals were for their nursing staff. The commissioner has been a strong supporter of the county’s different unions for years, and she can have a biting tongue on the commission dais.

She also was critical of the “self-appointed Civic Group” and the www.miamiherald.com because the data that was used was skewed and “were not equitable comparisons” and unfortunately were used to attack the unions and were not “an ‘apples to apples’ comparison,” she thought. Her memo says some costs were left out of the published numbers and were not captured in the cost comparisons. She closed the document writing “Jackson does not have the highest operating costs” and the hospital systems financial problems are “not the responsibility of the high quality public employees who work here.” The commissioner also took a shot at management for allowing this misperception in the community and believes “this misinformation about labor costs continues to distract the leadership of this institution from addressing the true challenges of its financial situation,” she wrote. Further, the Watchdog Report received a nicely done flyer in the mail from SEIU 1991 stating that the Jackson Hospital unions have already sacrificed to the tune of over 500 employees laid off and a overall “voluntary” savings to the health trust of $106 million and they have a website www.savejackson.com to get their message out there. Readers should stay tuned and see how this issue plays out in the future.

>>> The PHT is having the televised monthly board meeting Monday at 3:00 p.m. at the Ira Clark Diagnostic Center on the second floor and it is open to the public or can be seen on Miami-Dade County’s television station or go to www.miamidade.gov

>>> This is why I have been doing the Watchdog Report for 11-years — Since May of 2000, I have been covering the PHT in all its aspects over the years and its financial challenges since then have never been far below the surface of any story over this time. In 2004, I ran the headline about the $84 million charge the organization was having to take for the year and the numbers in many ways never got that much better, week after week, month after month, to where we are today. Some of the county commissioners are carping about all the sudden press and media attention the hospital system with 12,000 employees is getting but that is what happens in Florida where the state sunshine and open records laws makes all these activities public events. However, the commissioners should also be asking why they and the Fourth Estate did not kick in earlier to alert South Florida of the pending financial train wreck. The chronic problem was apparent to anyone that read the Watchdog Report over the decade, but in many ways, my role seems to be of Cassandra for we, as a community did not necessarily have to be where we are today, if corrective action had occurred years ago.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Employee count drops to 3,531 through June, but with $100 million budget hole, will another 1,100 follow?

At a Thursday Budget Task Force meeting made up of citizens, and administration staff including over the weeks Mayor Tomas Regalado (Net worth $5,000) and Commission Chair Marc Sarnoff (Net worth $2.28 million) elected leaders, a graph of city employee headcount was passed out and staffing peaked in Jan. 2010 at 3,666 from Jul. 1, 2009 through June 21, 2010. The graph shows in July 2009 there were 3,647 city workers and now in June 2010, that number has dropped to 3,531 and that number is expected to go lower in the coming months. Miami Manager Carlos Migoya, a former banker told commissioners during a budget discussion recently suggested over 1,100 people could hit the streets depending on what happened at the commission and the ongoing battle with the unions in the months ahead, with the city’s reserves at a low point not seen since before the city’s financial meltdown in the mid 1990s.

>>> Will Miami’s 114^th Birthday be the last hurrah for awhile?

While Miami may celebrate its 114^th Birthday July 28 with a party at the American Airlines Arena with the proceeds going to charities, it may be a last hurrah before the September budget hearings that will be brutal in nature. The city has to cut another $100 million in the coming budget year, without major union concessions and on Monday the commission listened to local social local service agencies beg for continued or more funding for such things as meals on wheels for the elderly, help for domestic violence victims and a host of others, and it reminded the Watchdog Report how socialized many basic services have become for city residents. Miami is a city of contrasts, great wealth while having one of the highest poverty rates in the nation. The elderly especially are benefactors of some of this government largess and they have gotten use over the past decade of getting food from charities but these programs are facing enormous demands and the money at any level is not there and the community will see how this plays out in the months ahead.

>>> The commission on Thursday voted to modify how the Civilian Investigative Panel (CIP) would select panel members, and suspended and indicted Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones sponsored the original legislation over a year ago. The 4-1 vote had commission Chair Marc Sarnoff the only dissenter and he warned the commission should tread carefully when it came to this panel, that city voters approved creating by around 75 percent in 2001, and it also has subpoena power and is generally charged at reviewing police abuse.

>>> Former Atty. Fernandez lawsuit gets another closed session; legal bill over $250,000, meter is running!

Jorge Fernandez, the former City of Miami attorney is the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to his lawsuit and the commission had another closed-door executive meeting to discuss the attorney’s case against the city. The suit has already racked up a $250,000 legal fee for the city said commissioner Francis Suarez to the Watchdog Report in the past. Fernandez is challenging his firing after a controversial investigation stated he used city money for personal uses among other things.

>>> The following e-mail was sent to (now former) Mayor Manny Diaz using his e-mail address on his extensive city web-page on Sept. 13, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. and to date there has been no answer from the mayor. It currently goes to his new e-mail address.>>> “Mayor Diaz, I wanted to ask you in the chamber today but not in front of Chair Joe Sanchez. My question is where did the extra $400,000 in the 2007 disclosure form come from? I will run what ever you respond unedited but I would appreciate closing this issue, as I am sure you do. Sorry but I have to ask. Best to all. Dan” >>>> The Watchdog Report through Dec.7 has yet to get a response or catch-up with Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz on where he got the extra $400,000 in cash listed in his 2007 financial disclosure forms. To see what CBS 4 reporter David Sutta’s take on this issue and the other city leaders financial disclosures go to cbs4.com Blogs . >>> Readers should stay tuned and catch the meeting on the city’s cable station channel 77. >>> Stream Channel 77, for all City of Miami meetings, (Commission, Village Council meetings, Waterfront, Zoning, PAB, Code, etc. hearings) http://videos.miamigov.com/

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Commissioner Wolfson newsletter on beach businesses – Economy on the rebound

There is no doubt Miami Beach residents and businesses have felt the impact of the economic downturn. And everyone is hoping for a turnaround. That’s why the record numbers from our March Resort Tax Collections come as welcome news. Our resort tax is collected in increments of 2% and 3% of sales of food and beverage and hotels respectively. The amount of these collections is a strong indicator of the health of the Miami Beach economy as they are based off of sales. Trish Walker is the City of Miami Beach Finance Director. Her staff oversees Utility and Revenue Billing, Collections, Liens, Business Tax Receipts, Treasury Management, Payroll, Capital Projects Accounting, Grant Management, our Annual Audit, Financial Reporting, Resort Tax Collections, and so on. With respect to the March Resort Tax Collections, she said, “The March revenues are the highest we have seen. It looks like things are starting to turn around here”.

Our record March collections were $4,992,944.00. This includes both hotel collections and collections for food and beverage sales and is up 13.8% from last year. From a rolling 12-month perspective, the revenues for hotel collections only are up 4.96% from where we were this time last year. On that same rolling 12-month calendar, the food and beverage revenues are up 9.83%. For residents, the resort tax collections supplement and pay for many local services. They are appropriate as our City’s daily population swells due to our great visitors who we seek to provide great services as well. We are working to ensure that this promising news keeps coming!

>>> Ethics commission report on salaries and benefits of Beach elected leaders done a couple of years ago. CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

In the City of Miami Beach, City Code Section 2.02, Term and Compensation, establishes the compensation for the Mayor and Commissioners. Specifically, the City Code states: “The annual compensation for the Office of Commissioner shall be six thousand dollars ($6,000.00) and the compensation for the Office of Mayor shall be ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00); any increase in salary for Mayor and/or Commissioner shall require approval of a majority of the electorate voting at a City election.”

Based on COE inquiry of the City Clerk, the total taxable compensation for the Mayor was $10,000 and $6,000 each for the City Commissioners in the calendar 2007. With regards to taxable annual expense allowances, the Mayor and Commissioners each receive a $6,000 taxable vehicle allowance. These funds are authorized annually via the City’s annual budget. Additionally, through its annual budget process, the City authorizes nontaxable expense allowances to its elected officials in the following amounts: Total nontaxable expense allowance for the Mayor in 2007 was $24,000. Total nontaxable expense allowance for each City Commissioner in 2007 was $18,000. Elected officials are also provided with a government-issued cell phone, which is paid for by the City on a monthly basis; therefore, there is no taxable cell phone allowance. Lastly, the City Clerk stated that neither the Mayor nor the Commissioners are provided with a government credit card or a public relations allowance.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Mayor Slesnick draws challenger in Korge, says “not likely” to run for reelection

Mayor Donald Slesnick, II has drawn a challenger next year if he decides to run for another term in office. Slesnick, first elected in the spring of 2001 has served ever since then though he has drawn challengers in the past but he fended them off at the ballot box. Slesnick is an attorney in his private life and a retired U.S. Army officer and in an e-mail last week; he wrote, “I have consistently said that I was not likely to run for re-election next year. Tom Korge was gracious enough to ask on several occasions as to my intentions before he opened an account. I am already the longest serving Mayor in Coral Gables history (at 9 years) and next year will mark a full decade in office. [However] I have not ruled out that at some point I could change my mind based on what is happening in the City,” wrote the mayor.

>>> City web-page: Your Opinion Counts: Please Fill Out The Coral Gables Police Survey

The Police Department is currently undergoing the renewal of accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). This accreditation ensures that the Police Department remains in compliance with the high standards set forth by CALEA in all areas of policy and procedure. In order to assist in this process, the City of Coral Gables is asking you to participate in a short 12-question online or phone survey. Please take a few minutes to respond to the survey by July 15, 2010. To complete the survey by phone, contact the Police Department Community Affairs Office at 305-460-5491 and leave your name and number for someone to contact you. To complete the survey online, click here.

CITY OF DORAL

>>> Residents get new “ performance dashboard” on city services, supposed to save money as well

Press release: On the seventh anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Doral, city officials launched a web-based information dashboard for members of the community to access city information conveniently via the Internet. This new technology aids in the transparency of government, and helps the City become more efficient, resulting in improved operations, quicker dissemination of critical information, improved overall services and reduced costs. Members of the public can view the City of Doral Performance Dashboard online at www.cityofdoral.com/dashboard.

“The value of the dashboard is that it gives the members of our community real-time access to information that directly affects them,” said Doral Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez. “The information keeps everyone informed and up to date on what’s going on in our city, therefore keeping the government transparent. The technology also makes our City more efficient, saving us money and giving us the data we need to continually improve.” During the launch event, held at the Morgan Levy Park Community Center, members of the community and City of Doral elected officials navigated through the Performance Dashboard. They used laptops donated for that purpose by One Click, a local business.

The Performance Dashboard integrates data from a variety of City departments into one system, providing easy access to information from the City Manager and Clerk’s offices and City departments that include Finance, Planning and Zoning, Public Works, Parks and Recreation as well as Police. Data collected from these departments conveniently rolls into a web-based dashboard view, giving people access to real-time information on key aspects of the community, including: Capital Projects (status of projects and timelines), Community Programs, Green Initiatives, Public Safety Information and Statistics, Community Wellness Programs, General performance data and statistics from City departments. The Performance Dashboard is the result of a two-year IT project the City undertook with the help of EMA Inc., the national management and technology consulting and services organization who implemented the new technology and dashboard functionality. The Performance Dashboard is a work-in-progress, and the program will evolve as the City takes into account feedback from residents and other members of the community. >> About the City of Doral: Incorporated on June 24, 2003, the City of Doral is one of 34 municipalities in Miami-Dade County, Fla. Located one mile from Miami International Airport and 12 miles from Downtown Miami, Doral is 15 square miles in size. The City is home to about 36,000 residents and has more than 100,000 people who work within the City. The City of Doral has operated under the Mayor-Council-Manager form of government since incorporation. The City offers a wide range of services through its departments including the Office of the City Manager, Office of the City Clerk, Finance Department, Community Development Department, Public Works Department, Parks and Recreation Department, and Police Department. Described as the premier place to live, work and play, Doral provides for a superior quality of life in an urban center that is well known for its commerce.

>>> Ethics Commission report last year on municipalities and leaders salary & benefits unedited

The City of Doral’s Mayor receives compensation in the amount of $50,000 per fiscal year. City Council Members receive compensation in the amount of $12,000 per fiscal year. Compensation for Council Members and the Mayor shall be increased each calendar year consistent with the CPI. The Council also receives reimbursement in accordance with applicable law, or as may be otherwise provided by ordinance, for authorized expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. The Mayor and Council Members do not receive either vehicle or travel allowance. There is no “personal” public relations budget for the Mayor or for the Council Members.

The City pays all cell phone invoices for the Mayor and the Council Members. Government credit cards are provided to the Mayor and Council Members. In 2007, the Mayor received $25,342.92 in taxable expense reimbursements and $1,005 in non-taxable expense reimbursements. Council Members Ruiz and Van Name received $13,228 in taxable expense reimbursements. Council Member Ruiz received $772 in non-taxable expense reimbursements and Council Member Van Name received $675. Council Members DiPietro and Cabrera received $12,735 in taxable expense reimbursements. Council Member DiPietro received $540 in non-taxable expense reimbursements and Council Member Cabrera received $1,953 in non-taxable expense reimbursements.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club, Meeting Date: Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

Meeting Time: 8:30 AM, Meeting Place: David’s Café II, 1654 Meridian Ave., South Beach: Dr. Martin Karp, School Board Member for District 3 (Miami Beach), will be this week’s guest speaker at the June 29th meeting of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club.

Dr. Karp was first elected to the School Board in 2004 and was re-elected in 2008. Dr. Karp serves on two School Board committees: as Chairman of the Institutional Excellence and Community Engagement Committee, and as Vice-Chair. of the School Support Accountability Committee. He earned a Doctorate of Education at the University of Miami and is a life-long resident of Miami-Dade County. The current 2009/10 operating budget for the Miami-Dade School Board is approx. $2.69 billion dollars – funded primarily from local property taxes and contributions from the state. As property values have gone down, so have property tax collections, including the portion that goes to the School Board. The reduction in property taxes and reductions in state support may force the School Board to make cut-backs, which will be discussed. Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information contact David Kelsey. To be placed on the Breakfast Club’s mailing list, contact Harry Cherry. Both can be reached at TuesdayMorningBreakfastClub@Yahoo.com Visit our new web site at: www.MBTMBC.com (Miami Beach Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club).

>>> Downtown Bay Forum of Miami to offer debate between major congressional District 25 candidates on June 30^th

The Downtown Bay Forum of Miami is planning a debate among candidates running for Congressional District 25 and it could be the first verbal debate from the candidates. People vying for their party’s nod are state Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami and Paul Crespo trying to represent the Republican Party and Joe Garcia, a member in the Obama administration is expected to be the Democratic Party’s challenger. Rivera, also Chair of the Republican Party of Miami-Dade is skilled at running campaigns and Crespo is a veteran Marine officer with a wide range of skills and is a good orator. Garcia tried for the district in 2008 against incumbent U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami but was beaten back though the race was closer than two other congressional races taking place back then between his older brother Lincoln who bested former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez and Congresswomen Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami beat off Democratic candidate Annette Taddeo, who is now running for the county commission. The luncheon event is now scheduled for June 30. For more information go to www.downtownbayforum.com

EDITORIALS

>>> Watchdog Report touches a nerve when it comes to elected leaders paying their property taxes

Last week’s lead Argus Report story on elected leaders that are in the rears concerning their property taxes has apparently struck a nerve for I am getting information from readers of others in public office that also are delinquent in paying their taxes. This issue is important because in the months ahead these same elected leaders will be setting property millage rates and other levies and to say they have a conflict is an understatement. These records are public and when it comes to officials with multiple years of unpaid taxes. One has to ask how that could happen and what occurred behind the scenes for an average citizen and homeowner would be out on the street by now.

It is understandable that some people in these tough economic times have these issues, for the foreclosure swath is broad and long, but when it comes to those that set the community’s taxes. They must be compliant like the people they govern and I am reminded of the 1957 Miami-Dade Home Rule Charter Citizens’ Bill of Rights that opens with, “This government has been created to protect the governed, not the governing” and all such words mean in spirit and action.

What about the other Florida counties and municipalities?

Readers should check out their local leaders’ property tax standing in Broward and Palm Beach Counties and the 31 municipalities officials in Broward should also be reviewed because these documents are public and available to be reviewed by the respective elected county property appraiser. To review these property tax records go to http://www.miamidade.gov/pa/ >>> http://www.bcpa.net >>> http://www.pbcgov.com/papa

>>> PAST WDR: SEPT. 2008: Elected leaders should humor the general public by following the Florida Sunshine Law

At Tuesday’s Miami-Dade County Commission meeting, there were a lot of comments and discussions going on at the dais, while another commissioner was speaking, the microphones picked that up and the Watchdog Report reminds the body they fall under the Florida Sunshine Amendment. Some of the comments were jokes but others fell into that grey area and commissioners, along with others on public boards should remember this is the law and to skirt it, risks fines and other sanctions. Many elected leaders chafe at the transparency that the law is to provide at public meetings and institutions and while there is a cost for this open public discussion. It is well worth the price for government, its actions almost by definition wants to remain hidden, and that only leads to cronyism and poor public policy.

Further, it is just not here in Miami-Dade but in Broward as well where after the new mayor was elected last year. The body has the custom of going out to lunch with over 30 members of county staff, and this was a private event I was told when I tried to attend inside the private room, that unfortunately for them was held in a glass room and I just sat outside and watched the proceedings, that definitely looked more than just a social event. As Mayor Lois Wexler worked the room and other commissioners talked to department directors where they sometimes pointed at the staff members during the discussion.

The recent reelection of all the county commissioners in both counties in August shows that they are in a very secure position with the county electorate, regardless of the scandals or cost overruns of public projects and the elected body and others falling under this state Sunshine law should just abide by the restrictions, for you are very secure in your office and just humor county residents with this one little perk, because eventually if you do not. It will come back to bite you and that would not be a good thing.

LETTERS

I salute you Ricker and raise a toast to U! You are one of the few truly honorable people I know!

Jacqui H

>>> Just wanted to take a minute to say thank you for the info you provide…

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

LETTER POLICY

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

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

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

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

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

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years.

Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, The (FL) CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS —Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, The (FL) MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED —- 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.

>>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times –The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored. Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2003-05-15/citylife2.html/1/index.html

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

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

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

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

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Watchdog Report Vol. 11 No. 7 June 20, 2010 Celebrating My 11th Anniversary

editor — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 23:46:29 +0000

CONTENTS

Argus Report: Elected officials at all levels must be compliant with property tax obligations, documents are public, wayward officials with problem are in a political minefield

Florida: Gov. Crist on the march for tourists, visits Miami Beach leaders at Loews, and what a Beach it is!

Miami-Dade County: Commissioners Heyman & Sosa coast to reelection, Sorenson in November says sayonara, Commissioners Rolle, Souto, Diaz get challengers

Broward County: Will ethics legislation go down in flames after commission Atty. Newton’s memo on its unconstitutionality?

Palm Beach County: West Palm Beach contractors plead guilty to hiring illegal workers: tax fraud

Brevard County: Gov. Crist taps two for District Board of Trustees, Brevard Community College

Volusia County: Gov. Crist appoints three trustees, Daytona State College

Monroe County: State Rep. Saunders draws opposition; top dog challenger is former Key West Mayor McPherson

Miami-Dade Public Schools: Board Chair Stinson to retire, 50-years with district & Member Perez wins new term, unopposed by deadline

Public Health Trust: Local state attorney’s Grand Jury should look at politicians asking for special medical treatment over the years

City of Miami: Chair Sarnoff swears in new leadership on Grove Chamber, he is up for reelection in 2011; Sessions steps down as CGVC chair

City of Miami Beach: Mayor Bower and tourism industry gets pledge of no violent convicts in county Corrections hazmat suits will clean tourist beaches

City of Coral Gables: Architect Heisenbottle to begin design & engineering work on new international high school on Madruga

City of Miami Lakes: Mayor Pizzi may be small town attorney, but gets big legal fee of $500.00 an hour on Beach garbage deal

Community Events: Everglades DEIS draft on bridging Tamiami Trail up coming meeting — Downtown Bay Forum of Miami to offer debate between major congressional District 25 candidates on June 30^th

Editorials: When it comes to delayed FCAT results, Fair’s comment ‘It could have happened to anyone’ is unbelievable, lets not raise bar to high — Qualifying period is over, candidates fan out, will the ones elected be the best of the best?

Letters: Julia Tuttle statue to be unveiled July 28 at Bayfront Park, founder of Miami finally recognized this way – Reader on 11^th Anniversary

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

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

>>> Correction & Clarification: Miami-Dade County — Section 4.04B of the county charter allows commissioners to “transmit constituent inquiries to the administration,” wrote Victoria Mallette, Director of Communications, Miami-Dade County. However, Commissioner Joe Martinez said his proposed legislation would make this activity easier for commissioners to contact department heads directly, as was reported in the WDR last week. >>> Former state Rep. Miguel de Grandy, R-Miami lost his first race for office by one vote, not his last as was reported last week.

>>> I will be on Topical Currents heard on WLRN/NPR 91.3 FM on July 1 from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m., and readers should listen in, and it is on line at www.wlrn.org

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> Elected officials at all levels must be compliant with property tax obligations, documents are public, wayward officials with problem are in a mine-field

Elected officials at the municipal and county level should be sure their own property taxes have been paid, before they set the millage levels for those they govern. It also applies with state lawmakers that has former House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-Miami (Net worth $8,351) and state Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami almost losing a joint property they own in the state capital for unpaid taxes and was reported in www.wfor4.com Friday night. For all these property tax records are public and with all the elections in August and November. Candidates beware when it comes to running for public office when you have not complied with all the laws and obligations one might have in your personal or public life. I write about this as a heads-up to leaders for there are people across the political spectrum that are looking at these documents, breaking the news themselves or passing it on to the Watchdog Report or other media, and some of the documents coming in are not pretty, and I wonder why some people think they should be running for public office.

>>> For children with special issues, check out The Learning Experience School

With the national media reporting there are 400,000 Americans with Down syndrome, I had an opportunity to discuss the challenges these kids and adults face with some parents whose children attended The Learning Experience School www.learningexperience.org and www.miamiherald.com did an extensive story on the kids there. However, one of the challenges these children face as adults is getting a job, allowing them to fully participate in society and it provides not only money for the individual but also self-esteem. The parents of the children are a broad range of people, the way they spoke about the school was impressive, and why I give the school a plug. >>> http://www.greatschools.org/florida/miami/5574-The-Learning-Experience-School/

>>> Lunch to feature District 26 congressional candidates from both parties; will it be a tame debate?

All the major U.S. Congress candidates for District 25, now held by Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami but is moving to his brother Lincoln’s congressional seat in January, after the qualifying period passed and he was elected unopposed, created the vacancy. All the candidates will attend the upcoming Downtown Bay Forum luncheon (information is in the community events section) said the forum’s founder Annette Eisenberg, Wednesday night. The race has state Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami facing Mariana “Marili” Cancio and Marine veteran Paul Crespo on the Republican side and for the Democrat’s champions there is Joe Garcia, currently working in the Obama administration and Luis Meurice. The other candidates are Roly Arrojo registered as a Tea Party candidate and Craig Porter is registered as a FWP candidate. Rivera, the Miami-Dade Party chair originally was given the edge but the sprawling congressional district is politically diverse and Crespo or Cancio, an attorney and member of the county’s community relations board are running aggressive campaigns as well.

Garcia, is a fixture on the local political scene, though he has lost twice, once in the early 1990s when he ran for county commissioner and then in 2008 losing to Mario for the congressional seat. He later accepted an offer to work in the Obama administration and has been there the last two years. When it comes to Meurice or the other candidates, I have no idea who they are.

>>> Scribe Polansky says sayonara to Miami Today, her stories found there mark

Risa Polansky, a dedicated scribe for Miami Today www.miamitodaynews.com is leaving her post after four-years of hands on reporting and coverage of Miami and Miami-Dade County. Her significant other, a physician is taking a job in Boca Raton and she will be working at a local university, while continuing her studies. Polansky, an exceptionally hard worker over the past four-years could crank out excellent stories on a regular basis for the weekly paper and the community and press will miss her in the news trenches. To Risa, the Watchdog Report gives you a Tip of the Hat for a job well done, and friend and reader alike will notice your departure in the weeks ahead.

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

watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

FLORIDA

>>> Gov. Crist on the march for tourists, visits Miami Beach leaders at Loews, and what a Beach it is!

Gov. Charlie Crist (Net worth $466,000) stopped bye Miami Beach Monday to discuss with elected officials, community leaders and tourist officials the potential impact of the Deepwater Horizon ongoing oil spill and how to mitigate any damage it might cause to the state’s $60 billion tourism industry. Crist met in a hotel room at the Loews Hotel with Beach Mayor Mattie Herrera Bower, state Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, (Net worth $973,000) state Rep. Richard Steinberg, D-Miami Beach, state Rep. Louis Garcia, D-Miami, (net worth $100,000) state Rep. Yolly Roberson, D-North Miami, Miami Beach Commissioner Jerry Libbin and local tourism officials and hotel representatives to discuss the matter around the table.

Crist after listening to the concerns said the state was preparing since unlike other Gulf States, we have the time. “Florida is a big place,” he said and while there is oil washing-up in Pensacola in the form of “a few tar balls.” The governor reiterated that while this is terrible it must be made clear statewide that is not the case noting the impact is “not here on the Beach,” where “the restaurants are open and eager for business.” Crist explained why early on he declared a state of emergency for the shoreline counties allowing for the “standing up of our assets” that includes positioning the National Guard in the field and county Emergency Operation Centers are at the ready. The governor also took a few shots at British Petroleum saying they spent $50 million on “ads to clean-up their image” but when you also have “a $10 billion dividend”, it shows the profit a company of this magnitude can have. He also noted there are 1,300 miles of Florida coastline but it is the “marshes, wetlands and estuaries that are the hardest to clean-up” and while “no one knows if it is coming here when [you are] dealing with Mother Nature.” He said there is already 331,000 feet of boom deployed in Florida as a precaution.

What about the potential $7 billion hole in the state budget?

The Watchdog Report asked Crist in an exclusive interview after the beach tour about the financial damage the oil spill could have on the state budget, that some suggest is at least $1 billion so far. The governor, now an independent said “ were not sure yet, Jerry McDaniel heads up our budget office and we are trying to get a sense [of the Deepwater Horizon’s impact to the general fund] obliviously it is going to have significant impact, hopefully not as much as some estimate but only time will tell,” said Crist. With Florida’s budget next year anticipated to be $6 billion short, the extra billion or more will only add to the challenges legislators will face in the months and year ahead.

What about the media scrum?

After the first indoor meeting, the officials along with a large scrum of media creating almost a 20 foot diameter of people moved in mass down the steps to the hotel’s pool in the afternoon and sunbathers were startled to see the moving media pod and when the group came over the hill of sand going down onto the beach. Tourists on the beach almost gave a gasp, given what their attire was and that for many of them very little was left to the imagination as the press horde walked with Crist to the water.

>>> State Legislators Rich and Steinberg are going back to Tallahasee, no opposition

A couple of local politicians were reelected after they went unchallenged at the end of the qualifying period. State Sen. Nan Rich, D-Sunrise and state Rep. Richard Steinberg, D-Miami Beach are heading back to the state capital in 2011.

>>> Press release: Gov. Crist today attended the 12th annual Family Café to sign two bills benefiting persons with disabilities. The Governor signed the bills ceremonially, surrounded by individuals with disabilities, their families and advocates. The new legislation helps protect persons with disabilities from abuse and increases residential opportunities. “The Family Café is an excellent forum for Floridians to learn more about the services available for persons with disabilities and their families,” said Governor Crist. “The bills I signed today continue my deep commitment to increasing opportunities for persons with disabilities to live independently and achieve their dreams.” The Family Café focuses on providing information and resources to people with disabilities. Governor Crist provided the conference’s opening remarks, applauding the efforts of all advocates of persons with disabilities, including Family Café participants, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities and members of the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities. In addition to their vocal support for today’s legislation, the Governor highlighted attendees’ commitment and support for iBudget Florida, an individualized budget tool that enables persons with disabilities to prioritize allocated money. Joining Governor Crist for the bill signings was Senate Bill 1166 sponsor Senator Thad Altman.

Sponsored by Representatives Marcelo Llorente and Dorothy Hukill, House Bill 1073 specifies that persons with developmental disabilities have the right to be free of abuse, neglect and exploitation. The legislation requires staff of facilities licensed by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities be trained in detecting and reporting client abuse, neglect, exploitation and abandonment. The bill also includes provisions to protect children with disabilities, such as providing guidelines for the safe use of seclusion and restraint of students. Additionally, the bill requires school districts to collect information on incidents of restraint and seclusion and to provide such information to parents and the Florida Department of Education. Sponsored by Senator Thad Atlman and Representative Kelli Stargel, Senate Bill 1166 increases opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities to choose where they want to live. The bill alleviates restrictions for people with disabilities to allow them to live next to each other in residential communities, exempting them from the 1,000-foot rule if no more than three centers are located within a radius of 1,000 feet. >> About the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities >> On July 26, 2007, the 17th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Governor Crist signed Executive Order 07-148, creating the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities. He charged them with the mission to advance public policy for Floridians with disabilities and to provide a forum for advocates representing the disabilities community to develop and voice unified concerns and recommendations for improvements. For more information regarding the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities, please visit http://dms.myflorida.com/other_programs/governor_s_commission_on_disabilities.

>>> Press release: Gov. Crist today unveiled Florida Gulf Recovery Jobs, a Web site that allows job seekers to locate and apply for positions created in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Florida Gulf Recovery Jobs, found at www.floridagulfrecoveryjobs.com, is a dedicated portal through Florida’s official online job bank, the Employ Florida Marketplace, currently listing more than 3,500 positions related to response and recovery efforts, with additional positions posted regularly. “Immediate access to recovery-related job openings provides Floridians the opportunity to help our state while supporting their families and communities,” said Governor Crist. “Our beautiful Sunshine State remains open for business, and Florida Gulf Recovery Jobs is the latest example of our coordinated efforts to ensure preparedness and strengthen our economy.” Florida Gulf Recovery Jobs is a joint venture of the Agency for Workforce Innovation and Workforce Florida Inc., in partnership with the state’s 24 Regional Workforce Boards. Designed as an online “one-stop shop” for job seekers and employers, the Web site allows job seekers to access available positions, which are verified by the local Regional Workforce Boards, as employers post them. Floridians can also call 1-877-362-5034 to learn more about available jobs related to response and recovery efforts. “Under Governor Crist’s leadership, we are pursuing all options for maximizing assistance to the people and businesses of Florida who have been affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico,” said Agency for Workforce Innovation Director Cynthia R. Lorenzo. “Florida Gulf Recovery Jobs is a great resource for employers and job seekers with the skills and desire to help minimize the spill’s impact and ensure a complete recovery.” “Our top priority is getting Floridians back to work and ensuring Florida’s business climate continues to flourish,” said Chris Hart IV, president/CEO of Workforce Florida Inc. and interim director of the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development. “Florida Gulf Recovery Jobs is a key component of the state’s response to the oil spill, providing Florida’s job seekers access to a wide array of employment opportunities and its businesses with a ready and willing talent pool.”

Some response and recovery jobs will require special training, for which job seekers may receive a stipend. More than 2,400 workers have already been trained and are eligible to begin filling these positions, including 302 who are already participating in Florida’s recovery efforts. Information about required training is also available at www.floridagulfrecoveryjobs.com. Additionally, job seekers are encouraged to visit one of the 93 local One-Stop Career Centers for information about these and other employment opportunities in their communities. Job seekers can locate their nearest One-Stop Center by visiting www.floridajobs.org/onestop/onestopdir/index.htm. Launched in 2005, the Employ Florida Marketplace, www.employflorida.com, connects Florida businesses and job seekers, from entry-level to executive-level talent. More than four million jobs have been listed on www.employflorida.com since the website’s inception, and more than 30,000 visitors use the site daily to search for jobs, screen applicant resumes and research the latest labor market statistics.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Commissioners Heyman & Sosa coast to reelection, Sorenson in November says sayonara, Commissioners Rolle, Souto, Diaz get challengers

County Commissioners Sally Heyman (Net worth $426,000) and Rebeca Sosa (Net worth $628,000) cruised to reelection Tuesday after no one challenged them by the qualifying date. Heyman a former state legislator and attorney was first elected to commission District 4, northeast Miami-Dade that includes Aventura, Miami Beach and North Miami Beach in 2002, and she won again in 2006 when she did face an opponent she easily dispatched. Sosa, a former mayor of West Miami came to the body in June 2001 after a special election was held after Commissioner Pedro Reboredo, The Reboredo Files – Page 1 – News – Miami – Miami New Times , was busted by the state attorney’s office and had to step down from elected office. Last week she told me she was “not afraid of elections” but this is one she gets to skip. She works for the public schools district and she represents commission District 6 that includes Miami, Miami Springs, Coral Gables, and West Miami.

Heyman had $81,000 in her campaign war chest and Sosa raised $102,000 if she drew a challenger but they are home free now and have drawn another four-year term in the office that pays commissioners $6,000 but another $52,000 in benefits. Heyman has been a strong supporter of the arts and Sosa has been a guru when it came to procurement, the process and a minimization of lobbyist or elected leaders influence when it comes to contracts approved by the commission.

>>> Commissioners Souto & Diaz draw challengers

Javier Souto, (Net worth $856,000) the long serving commissioner for District 10 drew a challenger this cycle and it is Miriam “Mimi” Planas. Souto a former state legislator has been a fixture on the body, is adamant when it comes to constituent services for the district, but can ramble on during commission meetings. He has raised $95,000 for the race and Planas has $12,400 in her campaign war chest and she is knocking on voters doors, doing a grassroots campaign.

Jose “Pepe” Diaz, (Net worth $226,000) the commission vice chair who represents District 12 drew a challenger in Heather Pernas but with his $111,000 campaign war chest that dwarfs the challengers $100.00 in her account. He is expected to cruise easily to victory Aug. 24.

In commission District 8 now held by Commissioner Katy Sorenson, (Net worth $1.34 million) with her decision not to run again, seven candidates have qualified and in the future, the Watchdog Report will investigate these candidates as well as the candidates running against Commissioner Dorrin Rolle who represents District 2.

What about Sorenson?

Katy Sorenson, the veteran county commissioner and the first to beat an incumbent commissioner in the last two decades was roasted Wednesday night and investigative reporter Jim DeFede presided over the affair. She told the Watchdog Report that she is not endorsing any of the numerous candidates running for her District 8 seat, but might change that after the primary and the race heads into the run-off likely to occur given the size of the candidate field.

>>> Commissioner Edmonson leads BCC delegation to Haiti July 9

Commissioner Audrey Edmonson is leading a delegation of county commissioners to Haiti July 9^th she said last week. Edmonson and Jose “Pepe” Diaz first went to the devastated country right after the Jan 12 catastrophic earthquake that killed hundreds of thousands and the country has not changed all that much, except the “streets have been cleaned” from all the rubble and debris after the event, she told her peers. This will be her third trip to the country since the earthquake.

>>> Press release: Seasonally Unadjusted Numbers – Miami-Dade County’s unemployment rate for May 2010 was 12.3 percent. This was an increase of 0.9 percent compared to April 2010 (11.4%) and an increase of 1.6 percent compared to May 2009. This increase can be attributed to the slower summer season, the increase in the labor force after students graduated from high schools, colleges and universities, as well as people reentering the workforce who might have previously given up on finding a job. The May 2010 unemployment rate for the State of Florida was 11.2 percent. This was the same as April 2010. The United States unemployment rate was 9.3 percent in May 2010 and decreased by 0.2 percent from April 2010. For neighboring Broward County, the unemployment rate in May 2010 was 9.8 percent. This was a decrease of 0.2 percent compared to April 2010 and an increase of 0.9 percent compared to May 2009. For Palm Beach County, it was 11.3 percent. This was a decrease of 0.2 percent compared to April 2010 and an increase of 1.1 percent compared to May 2009. The overall unemployment rate for the tri-county area in May 2010 was 11.2 percent. The South Florida region (Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Pompano Beach MSA) experienced a loss of 29,000 non-agricultural jobs between May 2009 and May 2010, or a decrease of 1.3 percent. At the same time, between April 2010 and May 2010, South Florida created 5,600 new jobs. Non-agricultural companies in Miami-Dade County lost 9,900 jobs between May 2009 and May 2010, a decrease of 1.0 percent. Despite the loss year over year, the absolute number has dramatically been reduced from a high of 50,000 jobs in March 2009. At the same time, between April 2010 and May 2010, 3,100 new jobs were created or an increase of 0.2 percent. Most sectors lost jobs between May 2009 and May 2010.

The construction sector experienced a decrease in employment of 3,800 jobs or 10.1 percent decrease between May 2009 and May 2010. During the same period, manufacturing lost 2,600 jobs (-6.9%), retail trade lost 1,700 jobs (-1.4%), transportation, warehousing and utilities lost 1,100 jobs (-1.9%), financial activities lost 4,400 jobs (-6.7 %), professional and business services lost 1,600 jobs (-1.2%) and leisure and hospitality lost 1,400 jobs (-1.1%). Only ambulatory health care services (2,000 jobs or 4.0%), federal government (5,700 jobs or 28.8%) and state government (300 jobs or 1.8%) gained new jobs year over year. The federal government jobs increase included temporary census takers. At the same time, there are a few sectors, as detailed below, including wholesale trade and retail trade that have gained jobs between April 2010 and May 2010. This indicates companies have begun hiring, albeit cautiously.

Sector	April 2010 – May 2010 Job Change (% Change)
Federal Government	4,100 (19.2%)
Retail trade	900 (0.8%)
Wholesale Trade	800 (1.2%)
Ambulatory Health Care Services	500 (1.4%)
Administrative and Waste Services	500 (0.8%)

The Beacon Council continues to aggressively work on attracting new companies to our community and working on the expansion and retention of existing business. We promote Miami-Dade County as a global business center through our “Miami: Where Worlds Meet” campaign. >>> About The Beacon Council: The Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County’s official economic development partnership, is a not-for-profit, public-private organization that focuses on job creation and economic growth by coordinating community-wide programs; promoting minority business and urban economic revitalization; providing assistance to local businesses in their expansion efforts; and marketing Greater Miami throughout the world. Visit www.beaconcouncil.com for more information.

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Will ethics legislation go down in flames after commission Atty. Newton’s memo on its constitutionality?

The Watchdog Report was unable to attend an ethics commission meeting held on Friday at the Broward County government center, but fireworks followed during the meeting and is well documented in Bob Norman’s http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/. The gist of the story is apparently some county commissioners are trying to spike the idea, with the help of the commission attorney Jeff Newton, who released a controversial memo questioning the constitutionality of some of the proposed legislation. Commissioners Ilene Lieberman (Net worth $1.33 million), John Rodstrom (Net worth $2.4 million) who are paid in their official capacity roughly $92,000 but they also are lobbyists in their day job, and some of these new ethics guidelines would affect some of their future activities. The Watchdog Report has written extensively about the need for an ethics and inspector general’s office in the state’s second largest county, but it has been slow going for residents seeking reform. Over the past years, I have been told repeatedly that everything was fine in Broward when it came to ethics and public corruption but that party line was mangled after three elected officials got busted by the feds and only a former municipal commissioner is awaiting sentencing after a county commissioner and school board member when down, and the two have been sentenced to federal prison. I call on leaders, when it comes to this subject to look once again at what Miami-Dade County voters and commission have created when to comes to the Ethics and Public Trust Commission and the county’s Inspector General Office. In Broward, critics cite the costs of these offices but it is actually very cheap in the scheme of things and inhibiting corruption does have value and when it comes to the IG. Many times, they kill things before it gets off the ground and that act many times can save millions of dollars of public tax dollars.

>>> Press release: Broward resident charges with Hurricane Wilma Fraud

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Aaron Collins, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, Investigations Division, Eastern Regional Office, announced that Ronald Jansson, 59, of Miramar, was charged in an Information filed in federal court today with making false statements to the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) in order to obtain a disaster loan for real estate repair and replacement based on alleged disaster damage from Hurricane Wilma. The defendant is scheduled to make his initial appearance next week. Hurricane Wilma made landfall in the South Florida area on or about October 24, 2005. According to court documents, Jansson sought a loan for $143,700 for his property in Miramar, Florida, to include a major overhaul of his home based on Hurricane Wilma disaster related damages. Investigation revealed that Jansson’s home was already in considerable disrepair before Hurricane Wilma struck South Florida and that the condition of his home was not a result of the hurricane. Jansson subsequently fabricated and altered expense invoices/receipts, work estimates, proposals and contracts to falsely substantiate his expenditure of disaster funds to the SBA.>>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the SBA, Office of Inspector General. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy D. Katz. An Information is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

>>> Press release: Southeast Florida Counties Call for Action on Oil Disaster –What: Press Conference -When: Thursday, June 24, 2010, 12:00 pm -Where: John U Lloyd State Park, 6503 N. Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, FL -Contact: 954-357-8053, Kimberly Maroe, Public Information Manager, Broward County Board of County Commissioners

As the environmental and economic consequences of the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster continue to unfold in the Gulf of Mexico, representatives from the four coastal counties of Southeast Florida; Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, are joining forces at a press conference on June 24th to speak out on perhaps the worst environmental disaster of its kind in our nation’s history. Monroe County Commissioner and Keys climate change spokesman, George Neugent, said that “While our beaches are open and remain unaffected, we are all concerned about the potential long-term environmental and economic consequences…thinking about the future, we must ensure that South Florida’s world famous beaches, unique life style and economy are protected and leaders must lead the way.”

Elected leaders who recently adopted the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact are calling for Congress and the Florida Legislature to immediately move forward on a comprehensive national and state strategy that deals with the overarching problem…America’s dependence on oil. “The Deepwater Horizon oil spill has galvanized our joint commitment to lead Southeast Florida forward in reducing our dependence on foreign and domestic oil,” said Broward County Commissioner and Chair of the Broward County Climate Change Task Force, Kristin Jacobs. “We’re doing our part through the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, but others must act as well.” Leaders from the Compact Counties will demand that Congress immediately consider pending federal energy/climate legislation that is stalled in Washington. Compact County leaders will also appeal to state legislators to not lift the ban on oil drilling in Florida’s territorial waters…and call on President Obama to lead the way for a clean-energy future. “The ecological tragedy unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico is our wake-up call, yet we cannot seem to wake up from this nightmare,” said Miami-Dade Commissioner Katy Sorenson. “This cannot be the future we wish for our children and our community. We need partners in the Federal government that will work with us to chart a new course toward a green economy.” “The Deepwater Horizon oil spill has shown us the havoc that an oil spill almost 50 miles offshore can have on the economy and environment, it is time to have the political will to ensure that we never again experience such a disaster.” Palm Beach County Commissioner Shelley Vana said, “We must not let the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill fade from our memories without real action from Washington and Tallahassee.” The collaboration between the Compact Counties dates to the Regional Climate Leadership Summit held in October 2009. Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Monroe County Commissioners approved a Compact that supports a regional approach to the impacts of Climate Change.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

>>> Press release: West Palm Beach contractors plead guilty to hiring illegal workers: tax fraud

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Daniel W. Auer, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, announced today that John M. David and Juan A. Gonzalez have pled guilty to conspiracy charges related to their participation in a scheme to employ illegal aliens and thereby avoid the payment of employment taxes and workers’ compensation premiums for these workers. The charges involve Sun Deck Concrete, Inc. (“Sun Deck”), a Florida corporation located in Palm Beach County, which provides concrete services to residential and commercial contractors. John M. David is the President of Sun Deck and Juan A. Gonzalez was a supervisor at the business. According to court documents, in the early 2000s, Sun Deck’s business began to grow and the company needed to hire additional laborers. To meet this need and to remain profitable, Sun Deck turned to undocumented workers, many of whom were Honduran and Mexican nationals who were living in the United States illegally. In order to conceal the fact that Sun Deck was hiring and paying illegal aliens, John David and Juan A. Gonzalez devised a scheme to pay these workers through a series of shell companies.

According to court documents, the shell companies, which had been set up by co-conspirators, purportedly provided labor services to construction companies like Sun Deck. In truth, the companies provided no legitimate services and were set up for the sole purpose of funneling wages from the construction companies to the illegal workers. To make the shell companies appear legitimate, the co-conspirators opened corporate bank accounts, obtained federal tax identification numbers, and purchased fraudulent workers’ compensation insurance policies for the companies. According to court documents, between 2005 and 2006, Gonzalez and other Sun Deck supervisors recruited more than twenty illegal aliens to work at Sun Deck work sites. Sun Deck controlled all aspects of the illegal workers’ employment. Specifically, Gonzalez and the other Sun Deck supervisors, in consultation with David, hired and fired the illegal workers, determined their work assignments and schedules, supervised their work at the job site, and set their hourly wages. At the end of each week, Gonzalez and the other Sun Deck supervisors calculated the wages due to each illegal alien and reported these wages to David, who would approve the issuance of checks payable to the shell companies for the amount of the wages, as well as additional monies to cover kickbacks to the co-conspirators and supervisors and fees to the check cashing store.

According to court documents, during 2005 and 2006, David caused Sun Deck to pay more than $2 million in cash wages through the shell companies in order to conceal the fact that Sun Deck was employing illegal workers and to avoid the payment of employment taxes and workers’ compensation premiums for these workers. As a result of this scheme, David defrauded the Internal Revenue Service out of $316,254.60 in employment taxes which were due and owing on these wages. In addition, Sun Deck failed to disclose in its monthly audit reports which were sent via the United States mail to Bridgefield Employers Insurance Company, Sun Deck’s insurance carrier, that it had paid approximately $2 million in wages to the illegal aliens. Consequently, Sun Deck avoided the payment of approximately $163,652 in workers’ compensation premiums due and owing to Bridgefield for these employees. >>> David and Gonzalez each face a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment, followed by three years’ supervised release, fines and restitution. Mr. Ferrer commended the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, for their investigation of this matter. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrienne Rabinowitz. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

BREVARD COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Crist taps two women: District Board of Trustees, Brevard Community College (Senate confirmation required)

Dixie N. Sansom, 61, of Rockledge, self-employed consultant, reappointed for a term beginning June 15, 2010, and ending May 31, 2014.

Dedra “Dee” Sibley, 46, of Melbourne, self-employed attorney, reappointed for a term beginning June 15, 2010, and ending May 31, 2013.

VOLUSIA CUONTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Crist appoints three to District Board of Trustees, Daytona State College (Senate confirmation required)

Robert C. Davidson, 73, of Port Orange, chief executive officer and president of Hotel & Lodging Association of Volusia County, succeeding Mary Bennett, appointed for a term beginning June 15, 2010, and ending May 31, 2013.

Dr. Christina Frederick-Recascino, 45, of Ormond Beach, vice president of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, succeeding John Graham, appointed for a term beginning June 15, 2010, and ending May 31, 2014.

John W. Tanner, 70, of Flagler Beach, self-employed attorney, succeeding Edward Schatz, appointed for a term beginning June 15, 2010, and ending May 31, 2014.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> State Rep. Saunders draws opposition, expected top dog challenger is former Key West Mayor McPherson

State Rep. Ron Saunders, D- Monroe County has gotten some challengers this year for his elected office, three to be precise. He has drawn opposition from Republicans Matt Gardi, Morgan McPherson and the Tea Party candidate is Henry Llorella. Saunders, the minority leader in the House was a former state senator representing South Miami-Dade and the Keys before his election to the lower house. I do not know the other candidates but McPherson is a former Key West mayor.

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Board Chair Stinson to retire, 50-years with district & Member Perez wins new term, unopposed by deadline

Solomon Stinson, Ph.D., (Net worth $1.09 million) the long serving school board leader, past and current board chair is retiring after a 14-year term on the elected oversight board and concludes 50-years with the nation’s fourth largest public school district. Stinson, a teacher, senior district administrator and now elected official runs a tight ship when it comes to running the board’s meeting. A recent story in www.miamiherald.com gave a nice balanced profile of the man that once hoped to be the district’s superintendent, which did not happen, but rebounded by being elected to the school board in 1996. The Watchdog Report remembers a time in the 1990s when county Commissioner Katy Sorenson came in front of the body to discuss a matter. Stinson, the chair at the time told her “you have two minutes” to speak but the commissioner protested saying she represented over 160,000 people but he cut her off saying “a minute and a half,” he intoned. Sorenson at that point just left the podium and the relationship between the county and school board during that time was not that great, and only when the Metropolitan Planning Organization was created later, did the two significant public institutions really begin to work together on certain mutual challenges.

>>> Board member Perez wins again, unopposed

Long serving School Board member Marta Perez (Net worth $2.4 million) won her office again after not getting an opponent by the qualifying period closing date. Perez, a fixture on the board has coasted to victory over the years and her only setback was when she tried to run for Miami-Dade mayor in 2004, but later withdrew her candidacy for the countywide office. She had $122,000 in her campaign war chest, had a challenger emerged for the board seat.

>>> Board member Barrera “withdraws” from District 6 race

Augustine “Gus” Barrera, the school board District 6 board member has withdrawn from his reelection race to the nine-member board. Raquel Regalado, the daughter and attorney of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado (Net worth $5,000) is the best-known candidate running that has four other candidates in the race. Barrera first won the office in 2002 and he has been the board chair during the time Superintendent Rudy Crew was directing the district but all the turmoil at the end of Crew’s tenure that had him leaving, took a toll on the board member.

>>> With School Board member Ana Rivas Logan running for the state house, there are five candidates running to replace her on the board. A late entry to the District 7 race is Carlos Curbelo, now a director in a field office with U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, R-FL locally and he is a member of the Miami-Dade County MPO.

>>> IG budget of $1.1 million is approved by school board

The school board Wednesday passed the proposed $1.1 million budget for the school district’s inspector general for the coming year. The IG brought on a couple of years ago is Miami-Dade County Inspector General Christopher Mazzella, and late last year his contract with the county was extended to another four-year term. His office has been essentially hired by the nation’s fourth largest public district to cut waste, abuse and mismanagement. To see the most recent IG report go to
Three arrests made in connection with the Southside Elementary School Modular Classroom Addition Construction Project, Ref. IG09-10SB, June 10, 2010 (click to link to the U.S. Attorney’s Press Release).

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Local state attorney’s Grand Jury should look at politicians asking for special medical treatment over the years

With a Miami-Dade County state attorney grand jury hearing testimony on the Public Health Trust, I thought it might be helpful to write about what these citizens might consider looking at, and one of them is elected leaders or their families, relatives or friends getting special treatment when they present at the health trust. In the first few years of the Watchdog Report. I wrote about this issue because back then the PHT was much more political and why regardless of what then CEO Ira Clark did, even at the county commission level. He was immune from criticism and back then Clark even skipped the 2000 public budget meeting where commissioners for the first time were shifting unfunded mandates into the Trust (though I have since found out Clark was in the county government center). At the time, I thought the senior administrator and community icon would be gone after such a no show, but nothing happened at all, and showed to me how ingrained and impervious to removal Clark was at the time. It also helps explain why community leaders, the county administration and commissioners overlooked his failing health in the coming years that had Clark calling Gov. Jeb Bush the governor of New York, when Bush was trying to present a $37 million enlarged state check to the trust.

I don’t write about these issues to embarrass people at any level, but we as a community must be sure something like this can never happen again. For Jackson Health System is a jewel, that cities and counties around the nation can only dream about, with its countywide half-cent-sales-tax that brings in around $175 million, down from a peak of over $190 million a few years ago but is now, fighting for its financial life. After the health trust gives almost $600 million in charity and uncompensated medical care yearly, which is unsustainable given the limited public funding available.

>>> Press release: Spanish Interview with Commissioner Souto/Dr. Tejada -On Demand with Grisell Marino — Marino www.miamidade.gov introduced Commissioner Souto and Dr. Francisco Tejada, Professor of University of Miami to talk about the PHT Board situation.

Commissioner Souto: Jackson Hospital is one of the best hospitals in the country. It is a jewel for our community. This is everybody’s hospital. The County has a Chapter book. That book explains the power of the County Commissioners. On Chapter 6 explains the creation of a hospital to serve our community. The power is on the Commission because it is written on Chapter 6. The Commission recently voted for a new level to oversee the PHT. I believe that the Commission needs to look closely at the PHT Board, but I don’t believe it should be eliminated. There are good people serving as volunteers there.

Dr. Tejada was introduced as a retired physician and professor at the University of Miami by Commissioner Souto. Dr. Tejada: 10 years ago, I read Chapter 6 very closely because I was selected as a Board Member for the PHT and the chapter is very clear. The PHT needs to look at Jackson as a health system not only as a hospital. Jackson is a very complex health system with unique services provided to this community. The PHT has been very weak, maybe because there are members not very involved with health issues. The PHT has a history of having members like attorneys, business leaders but they need to understand everything related to health issues. Maybe in the next 12 months things will be better with the Universal Insurance and the community will decide where to go for their health care.

Commissioner Souto: We need people to care for Jackson, we need the system to go back to preventive medicine, we need primary physicians to follow the care. People think Jackson is only for health crisis. Jackson is a great hospital available to all and we need to keep it like that. I was a patient at Jackson and that is why I want to offer myself as a tour guide to this community. Call my office and I will take you personally for a tour at Jackson to show the community the wonderful things people do at Jackson and the wonderful and unique services they provide to this community. www.miamidade.gov/commissioners

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Chair Sarnoff swears in new leadership on Grove Chamber, he is up for reelection in 2011; Sessions steps down as CGVC chair

Marc Sarnoff, (Net worth $2.38 million) the Miami commission chair swore in the new members of the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce www.coconutgrovechamber.com at the swearing in luncheon Friday at Calamari Restaurant in Coconut Grove. The keynote speaker at the event was William Talbert, III the president of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau and former county manager and school superintendent Merrett Stierheim, a former boss of Talbert’s at the county did the opening introduction. Talbert first came to the Grove in 1969, “stopped at the Taurus Restaurant” and he has been in South Florida ever since and has a home in the north Grove. The Bureau markets globally all of Miami and there are eight regional offices in other countries to promote and monitor the image of Miami as a whole and all the cities and communities that involves. Sarnoff at a recent meeting said Talbert was one of the best promoters there was in the industry and his comments were well received by the local business community.

Any funny comments about Stierheim?

One of the classic lines the tourist and promotion guru said was about Stierheim’s tenure as county manager in the 1970s and later from the late 1990s ending in early 2001. He said one of the U.S. Air Force veteran and county manager’s duties during this time was “saving the community from itself” through some very trying social times that had riots, ethnic tensions, and in the spring of 2000. A showdown with the federal government over the young Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez, taken in by relatives and removed on Easter Weekend back then by federal authorities, and the community erupted in demonstrations along ethnic lines.

What about Sarnoff?

Sarnoff represents District 2 and was first elected to the body in 2006 after a bitter race against Commissioner Linda Haskins, who was appointed to the five-member commission by Miami commissioners after Commissioner Johnny Winton, was suspended by Gov. Charlie Crist after an incident at MIA, the elected official had with airport police. Sarnoff a former chair of the Coconut Grove Village Council before he ran for public office is a maritime attorney, lives in the Central Grove with his wife and dogs, and will not face the local electorate again until November 2011.

What about the CG Village Council?

Patrick Sessions, a local developer who lives on the water in the north Grove has stepped down as the organization’s chair since his presence in that capacity seemed to strain the relationship with Sarnoff, who has thought Sessions (Who in the past has told me he had no interest in running against Sarnoff) might be a political rival in the future, and seemed to hinder the Council from getting the commissioner’s attention.

What happened at the Ransom Pool planning & zoning hearing last week?

After a heated exchange among people for or against Ransom Everglades, building a new pool that has many of the neighbors in an uproar. The chair of the zoning board asked if there “was a sergeant-in-arms in the building,” after one woman would not leave the podium after the mike had been turned off. I have seen incidents in the past at meetings and I discussed the issue with a number of people that are veterans at policing citizens at public meetings that has had Sarnoff remove two people from the chamber. The commission Chair told me Friday he is “liberal” when it comes to allowing people to speak at public meetings, but there had been two that warranted the activity, that is better done if it is a plain-clothes officer versus one in uniform, which changes the dynamics of this public situation.

>>> City commission to vote on HUD funding for community funding requests

The Miami Commission is having a special committee meeting Monday to vote on federal HUD funding for a wide range of community services and the funding levels have never met the community funding requests. For more information go to www.miamigov.com and the meeting kicks off at 9:00 a.m.

>>> Press release: Miami, FL – Former City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz has been named Chair of FairDistrictsFlorida.org. As Chair, Mayor Diaz will lead the statewide effort to pass Amendments 5 and 6, which establish rules to stop Tallahassee politicians from drawing districts to protect themselves and their parties. “I am honored to lead the charge to stop self-interested line drawing in our State,” said Mayor Diaz. “Without these critical reforms, state politicians will continue to draw district lines that put their interests ahead of the people of Florida. It is time for the voters to have a real chance to select their representatives rather than allowing politicians to pick their voters.” A force in local, state and national politics for nearly three decades, Manny Diaz was City of Miami Mayor 2001 through 2009. During his tenure, he was named President of the United States Conference of Mayors, and one of America’s Best Leaders by US News and World Report. “We are thrilled to have him on our team,” said Ellen Freidin, Campaign Chair of FairDistrictsFlorida. “As a former mayor, he knows firsthand how devastating it is to have cities splintered when politicians draw districts to perpetuate their own power.”

Under our present system, there are no rules that limit legislators from drawing districts to favor themselves or their parties. Districts in Florida are bizarrely shaped, often meandering for hundreds of miles or from coast to coast. Communities are carved up so that voters living in the same neighborhood are often represented by different members of Congress or state representatives. The result is that only three incumbent legislators (out of 140 up for election each cycle) were defeated in the last six years. With voter approval, Amendments 5 and 6 will establish constitutional rules that will: • Prohibit politicians from designing districts to favor themselves or their parties; • Require them to make the districts compact and community based; and • Provide stricter protections for minority voters to have the ability to elect representatives >>> For more information on amendments 5 and 6, please visit www.FairDistrictsFlorida.org pd.pol.adv. Paid for by FairDistrictsFlorida.org, 2665 South Bayshore Drive, Suite M-103, Miami, FL 33133 – >>> Editor’s note: This is not a paid ad, just information for the community on what Diaz is doing these days.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Mayor Bower and tourism industry gets pledge of no violent convicts in county Corrections hazzemet suits will clean tourist beaches

Mattie Bower, the Miami Beach mayor is not happy when it comes to county prisoners possible being part of a clean-up crew if tar and oil hits the local beaches. Last week she called county Commissioner Sally Heyman who chaired the county committee and proposed the legislation asking the mayor to “prepare a plan” that would require anyone “eligible” doing the activity to wear a hazmat suit states a county memo on the subject. The idea has since been modified to include only people that owe fines, or are required to do public service in their sentence and would not involve violent prisoners incarcerated. The Beach mayor, like many others in the community when they heard about the proposal believed international tourists would only hear in the media that criminals are on the beaches and that was the last thing South Florida tourism needed at the time.

Tourism officials at a county commission meeting that approved the amended legislation noted prisoners would not be mobilized for the tourist beaches clean-up activity and the legislative body’s members understood the concerns, while noting the high unemployment rate warranted local residents get the jobs rather than people incarcerated. Tourism official William Talbert, III said during the commission discussion that if he heard it right. “There would not be any circumstances where county prisoners would be on our beaches with the tourists,” and the attended perception that would have on international tourists and the media, he said. Further, even with the changes county commission Chair Dennis Moss and Vice Chair Jose “Pepe” Diaz voted no on the legislation along with two other commissioners believing it was a good opportunity to employ the unemployed in the county.

What did Mgr. Burgess’ June 15 memo say?

George Burgess in a memo to the commissioners on this subject writes BP has already “arranged for over 500 contractors” that have the “proper credentials” and while residents are urged not to pick the oil up, they can become “beach spotters” pointing out where oil and tar has come on shore. He also notes there could be up to 15,000 volunteers from Hands on Miami that could be mobilized. However, he writes finding and using “Eligible inmates” is no easy task, with many of the less dangerous inmates working in the kitchens, sanitation, laundry etc., sates the document. There are further challenges as well when it comes to gear, anyone involved in this will have to take “four hours” of hazmat training, and it is unknown at the time where the hazmat suits and other equipment will come from. The manager concludes that DERM “is working on a solid mitigation plan” and if it is necessary, any use of inmates will be “in concert” with DERM and Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Heisenbottle to begin design & engineering work on new international high school on Madruga

It has begun, a new reliever school for Coral Gables High is coming to life after the school board Wednesday approved a contract of $554,000 with R. J. Heisenbottle, P.A., as “the Architect/Engineer” of a new school located at 1570 Madruga Avenue in Coral Gables. The “new senior high school for international studies” is known as State School ‘LLL-1’ state district documents and is supposed to relieve crowding at Coral Gables High. The new school is part of the nation’s fourth largest school district’s five-year plan. I contacted Mayor Donald Slesnick, II, last week about the matter and he said he would like to coordinate his response with Superintendent Alberto Carvalho in the future.

>>> Press release: Monitoring The Oil Spill In Gables Shoreline -At the request of City Manager Pat Salerno, city workers were sent last week to film and photograph our shoreline to document current conditions prior to any potential impact of the oil spill, currently affecting the Florida Panhandle. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been designated the lead state agency for responding to potential impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill along Florida’s shoreline. While Florida so far has been mostly spared from direct impacts of the oil spill in its coastal waters, Florida fishermen and coastal communities are already experiencing a significant loss of current and future income because of a mistaken public notion that all of Florida’s waters have been tainted by the oil spill. There are no projected oil impacts to the Coral Gables shoreline at this time, but it is important to be prepared and informed about what to look for and what impacts maybe associated. If you witness tar balls, tar patches or oil sheen in coastal waters, report it to the State Warning Point at 1-877-2-SAVE-FL (1-877-272-8335) or by dialing #DEP from most cell phones. To learn more about the oil spill response latest updates, click here.

CITY OF MIAMI LAKES

>>> Mayor Pizzi may be small town attorney, but gets big legal fee of $500.00 an hour on Beach garbage deal

Michael Pizzi, the Miami Lake’s mayor recently took a road trip for his day job as an attorney to the Miami Beach Commission. Pizzi had been hired by a waste hauling company and he was representing the firm at the municipal commission meeting. Pizzi when he spoke described himself as a small time, small town attorney and he was warmly welcomed by the elected body with Mayor Mattie Herrera Bower welcoming him to the chambers, in reference to his elected position. However, the Beach has an ordinance that requires lobbyist to file what they are paid and in the case of this small town attorney. He gets $500.00 an hour for this legal gig; state’s Miami Beach agenda support documentation.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Everglades DEIS draft on bridging Tamiami Trail up coming meeting

Press release: Join us at the upcoming public meeting to discuss the National Park Service’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)and its proposed plans for bridging Tamiami Trail to restore America’s Everglades. The meeting will include a detailed presentation for bridging Tamiami Trail and will serve as a forum for the public to comment. Local residents and Everglades advocates are encouraged to attend and participate in this discussion this Thursday, June 24. I’m happy to put you in touch with Kahlil Kettering with the National Parks Conservation Association to further discuss the DEIS and what this means for Everglades restoration. Alison Zemanski, Media Relations, Manager, National Parks Conservation Association – Protecting Our National Parks for Future Generations Email: azemanski@npca.org Cell: 202.384.8762

*Sign up for our RSS feed at: www.npca.org/media_center *Follow NPCA on Twitter: @NPCA

>>> Downtown Bay Forum of Miami to offer debate between major congressional District 25 candidates on June 30^th

EDITORIALS

>>> When it comes to delayed FCAT results, Fair’s comment ‘It could have happened to anyone’ is unbelievable, lets not raise bar to high

The story in the Miami Herald www.miamiherald.com written by reporters Kathleen McGrory and Hannah Sampson June 16 on the delay in the FCAT results affecting around 1.8 million students in Florida by Pearson Assessment paid $254 million with the contract ending in 2013 is appalling at a number of levels. First, these students lives are in scholastic limbo until June 28, second what should the expectations be for the members on the state oversight Board of Education. That one pops up after the board’s Chair T. Willard Fair is quoted saying ‘It could have happened to anyone who got the contract.’ Fair the president of the Urban League of Greater Miami comments are shocking and unacceptable and let’s not set the performance bar to high for a company providing such a key role to the future of our state’s residents, the education of our youth. Further, the delay is costing the 67 public school districts big money in the millions of dollars, and while the company may have to pay a fine estimated at around $3 million right now says the paper. The contract first awarded in 2009 to Pearson should be reviewed immediately. For if, this is the kind of performance the 18.5 million Floridians should expect from this firm and its designated oversight board then we have a much bigger problem. Because Mr. Fair there is a higher expectation than what you thought, that it could have happened to anyone, and with the tough budgets, all the states are facing. Taxpayers must believe that public money is being spent wisely and based on a company’s performance, something totally lacking in this case, and such performance should never become acceptable.

>>> Qualifying period is over, candidates fan out; will the ones elected be the best of the best?

With the qualifying period over for candidates for the elected office at all levels, county, state, and federal. The state’s voters have their future elected leaders and champions, but are they the best that is found in our community. Many people shake off off being an elected leader because they may not want to introduce past events, or thrust their family into the public eye that comes with political office. Plus there are those pesky financial disclosure forms everyone must file, and also are public in nature. Many people entering public service do it because it is almost a calling, after some event, tragedy or issue dragged them, many times reluctantly into the political process. Years ago, I was talking with a respected woman attorney I know, now in a prestigious lifetime job and she said from her experience. People that get involved had something that crystallized their activism and from my own experience, I have found it to be true as well.

However, now the challenge is to get the best candidates for the political job elected, and when you talk with these people, ask yourself if they will become self absorbed officials after being elected and what will they do for a living for most of these jobs are not paying big paychecks. The county commission pays $6,000 but $52,000 in benefits, at the state level, representatives make about $30,000 and senators get a little more than that. The point is these people get to deal with a double edged sword, the good that comes with being a solid, informed public official and the good you might be able to do for your constituents, or a elected leader that over times morphs into something that does not make a parent or average taxpayer proud.

From the electorates’ standpoint, it is very clear, if you do not vote Aug. 24 and Nov. 2 you have only yourself to blame and when it comes to whining about your elected leaders. Your lack of participation at the ballot box makes that carping sound hollow and false. Now what, you did not run yourself, will you at least participate as an informed voter? For if you don’t, you get the type of leaders we deserve, and let us hope they get the new reality, that the party is over, and all tax payers want is real performance and public services when it comes to tax dollars, not the usual baloney, that has like a corrosive, taken over the political process and many of the associated elected leaders over the past decades.

LETTERS

>>> Julia Tuttle statue to be unveiled July 28 at Bayfront Park, founder of Miami finally recognized this way

The Miami-Dade County Commission for Women is partnering with the City of Miami Commission on the Status of Women on a project to erect a statue of the founder of Miami, Julia Tuttle. Julia Tuttle was the pioneer and visionary who was the first to recognize Miami’s potential as a great city. She is widely recognized as the only woman founder of a major American city, and her achievements are all the more remarkable given the limitations placed on women at the time in 1896. The idea for a statue of Tuttle was first promoted in 1996 during the Centennial of the City of Miami, but it gained momentum in late 2004 when the two women’s commissions began collaborating on the project.

The Related Group and Mr. Jorge Perez helped us tremendously in the beginning with a monetary donation and with technical assistance. With their support, a national “call to artists” competition was conducted during the summer and fall of 2006. The winning design was submitted by Daub Firmin Hendrickson Sculpture Group, a noted firm with extensive experience in monumental sculpture and the creation of art for public spaces. The statue is a 10-foot bronze statue, and the skirt depicts scenes typical of Miami in 1896. In her right hand she is holding the famous orange blossoms. Historian Arva Parks worked closely with the sculptors to make sure that those depictions were historically accurate. An Oversight Committee of experts and members of the women’s commissions have supervised the entire process. The Oversight Committee raised $201,000 for the statue from both public and private sources. All the money raised has been deposited in a special trust fund with the City of Miami and all bills are being paid from this trust fund. The City of Miami has signed all the contacts required for this project. The statue will be located in Bayfront Park, in the playground area in the southern part of the Park, near the Claude Pepper statue. We are grateful to the Bayfront Park Trust and its Chairman, Miami Commissioner Frank Carollo, for approving the site.

As we speak, the sculptors are putting the finishing touches on the statue. The concrete base for the statue should be in place during the first week of July and the statue itself should be installed in mid-July to give it some time to settle in before the unveiling. The unveiling ceremony will be held on Wednesday, July 28 at 10 a.m., which is the 114th anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Miami. The Downtown Development Authority is providing extensive assistance with the planning of the unveiling ceremony. The ceremony will include a program with remarks from elected officials and others, the actual unveiling, and some refreshments. The invitations should be going out at the end of June.

Laura Morilla, Executive Director

Miami-Dade County Commission for Women

>>> Congratulations on 11 years! I hope there are many more to come!

Charlene

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LETTER POLICY

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

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

>>> The 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

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Watchdog Report Vol. 11 No. 6 June 13, 2010 – Celebrating My 11th Anniversary

editor — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 04:26:18 +0000

CONTENTS

Argus Report: Strong-polling shows Scott and Greene have a shot, but what will come out in the months ahead?

Florida: The Children’s Trust in Dade is the last stop for kids nurturing programs, as city and county money dries up

Miami-Dade County: Will county voters be asked to approve Charter change allowing commissioners to communicate with Dept. directors directly rather than the mayor?

Broward County: Rothstein gets 50-years by feds, Broward is rich in other schemes, and politicians beware of tainted money

Palm Beach County: State Atty. McAuliffe has 42 active public corruption cases, over twice that many investigations

Monroe County: Op Ed: BP Oil Spill: Monroe County Government Response by Gastesi, County Administrator

Miami-Dade Public Schools: Hialeah Gardens teacher tapped for national civics award, first time Floridian won award

Public Health Trust: Trustees need to be brief when it comes to potential litigation, public record must be accurate

City of Miami: Will Miami try to reclaim county water & sewer building on Le Jeune and U.S.1?

City of Miami Beach: Young Talent Big Dreams contest coming to Carlyle Theater, if city fees are waived

City of Coral Gables: Mayor Slesnick defends Gables shoreline; Mgr. Salerno initiates video of shoreline and canals

Community Events: M-DC Commissioner Sorenson honored and roasted at Rusty Pelican Restaurant June 16, leaving commission in November after 16-years in office — Downtown Bay Forum of Miami to offer debate between major congressional District 25 candidates on June 30^th

Editorials: Lack of civility at public and community meetings stops activists & lesser government officials in their tracks with higher leaders — PAST WDR: JULY 2008: Well-compensated public officials should be satisfied with pay, outside compensation nothing but a scandal minefield

Letters: Readers on last week’s story on energy & former Mayor Penelas

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

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

>>> This Week on Issues – 6/11 & 6/13 >> Election Trends – Tuesday’s primary election results reveal some remarkable trends that may come to play in Florida, where the races for Governor, Attorney General, and U.S. Senate are already in full swing. > Guests: Freddy Balsera, Balsera Communications, Ana Navarro, Political Strategist/Consultant, Daniel Ricker www.Watchdogreport.net , Joseph Uscinski, Ph.D., University of Miami >>> Domestic Violence: The investigation into last Sunday’s killing spree at a Hialeah cafe uncovered a tumultuous relationship between the gunman and 24-year-old victim Liazan Molina. How did a domestic dispute escalate to mass murder? Guests: Angela Diaz-Vidaillet, Victim Response, Inc.

>>> If you think it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider becoming a supporter or sponsor. For there is no trust fund and I do have to live. A convenient form is at the bottom of this week’s Watchdog Report with all the instructions on how to support this decade old newsletter and news service soon to start its 11^th anniversary on May 5.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> Strong polling shows Scott and Greene have a shot, but what will come out in the months ahead

The recent Florida poll done by Quinnipiac University from June 2-8 involving 785 Democrats and 814 Republican expected voters and reported in www.miamiherald.com raises the question, is it money alone, or are state voters just disappointed with the candidate choices they are being given when it comes to the U.S. senate and gubernatorial race in 2010? Rick Scott, a retired healthcare executive but who has spent over $12 million in television campaign ads, and a Republican is trouncing Bill McCollum with a 13–point lead state’s the poll and Jeff Greene, a billionaire is neck and neck with U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami for the Democratic U.S. senate primary. McCollum, the Florida attorney general is firing back at Scott in television ads, and through a committee close to the attorney, which has ads attacking Scott’s past business dealings and the company he headed Columbia/HCA, and the $1.7 billion fine the hospital chain paid after Scott left as CEO. However, this new entry is forcing McCollum to use precious campaign funds to fight the media onslaught Scott has brought to the race using his own money, with a net worth that is well over $100 million. Democrat Meek has yet to respond to Greene’s ads on the airwaves and since he is in Washington D.C. He is missing the opportunity the oil spill is giving state leaders to stay in the public eye, displaying why they should hold a higher office in the future.

If Scott prevails in the Republican primary that is expected to be low turnout affair of hardcore voters and it is a closed political party event, he will likely face Alex Sink, the Florida chief financial officer on the Democrat’s side and a new name Bud Chiles, III has entered the gubernatorial race as an Independent. Chiles is the son of the venerable Lawton Chiles, a deceased governor and U.S. senator, and he has a massive job getting his name out to voters statewide since his grand father passed away in 1998 while at the end of his last gubernatorial term in Tallahassee. Sink ran for the CFO office in 2006 and this is her second shot at elected office, but she is having difficulty gaining traction and name recognition over the past few months. She says that will change when the elections are closer, and it is during the General Election in November where she had better shine if her political career is not to end.

What about the other 2010-senate candidates like Crist and Rubio?

Gov. Charlie Crist, now an Independent and former House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami are also racing to join the nation’s most exclusive club and both men have a new variable to consider when it comes to the General Election Nov. 2. Prior to Greene’s entering the race Meek was considered the party’s presumed champion but Greene through aggressive campaign ads appears to have a chance of getting the statewide party nod and that would change the senate race dramatically, since the investor has tens of millions he is willing to spend to Crist’s $7 million and Rubio’s slightly less campaign war chest. Crist, on Friday also vetoed a bill that would have required women to get and pay for an ultrasound before getting an abortion and both sides of the issue are crying foul, calling the governor a flip- flopper on many issues, that also had him supporting offshore oil drilling, but since the spill. He has changed his mind.

The entry of these two insurgent candidates has thrown a wrench into what was seen as a fairly conventional race, but with Scott and Greene entering the fray with no real money limitations for their campaigns. Florida residents should hang on for this is going to be a bumpy flight, with charges against all the candidates flying as political operatives and the media pour over public records trying to help define who these various people are, and are they suited for high public office, or not. Readers should stay tuned.

>>> Dr. Michael Gordon and “Harvey’ get Tip of the Hat for changing medical education decades ago

I ran into someone I had not seen since 1980 and an idea he had has blossomed into I suspect a whole industry of medical manikins where students and physicians alike can try an operation or procedure further honing their skills. Michael S. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., is the man in question, and when I first met him back then in a small office, there were skeptics in the staid medical community about what he was trying to create with Harvey, the medical manikin, that has now mushroomed into The Gordon Center for Research in Medical Education at the University of Miami’s Miller Medical school where he is the center’s director, Professor of Medicine, and the associate Dean for Medical Education. The Watchdog Report gives Gordon a Tip of the Hat for persevering in something revolutionary that has helped doctors and patients alike. For more information go to www.gcrme.miami.edu

>>> Press release: Learning From The Oil Spill: How To Move America Forward By Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz

As we’ve seen over the last two months, oil is an important, dangerous, and troublesome part of this economy and our lives. The BP oil spill that began in April has shown us the danger of offshore drilling specifically, and the risk in oil as a source of energy in general. We should use the public’s increased awareness of the risks of oil as a catalyst to act to save our environment while still protecting our economy. We cannot afford to wait any longer to take decisive action to change our relationship with oil. During this spill we have seen, more clearly than ever, that offshore drilling has a serious impact on our environment. The effects on our waters are apparent in the endless footage of the black plumes of oil in the Gulf of Mexico. And the spill is having a real and negative impact on animals and plant life, too. As the oil makes landfall, it is radically altering and destroying the habitats of many shoreline plants and animals. At the same time, we must also keep in mind that offshore drilling poses a threat not just to our environment, but to our economy. As Floridians, this is especially true. Florida’s tourism economy is $65 billion a year because our environment is unique: Florida’s coastal region includes 85% of the continental United States’ coral reefs and the country’s largest wetland is the Everglades. Combine that with our incredible beaches and our great sport fishing and you can’t find these resources anywhere else.

As the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and the subsequent spill has shown us, drilling –even hundreds of miles away from Florida’s coast can easily bring oil along Florida’s western and eastern coasts via the Gulf loop current. In recent years, there have been multiple proposals to bring drilling closer to Florida’s coastline –some proposals were as close as five miles off of both of Florida’s coastlines. Just imagine if a spill like the BP disaster had been closer to Florida, the damage to the wildlife, wetlands and beautiful beaches of our state would have been unimaginable. Add to that the impact on our $65 billion a year tourism-based economy and the affect it would have on the numerous families who would lose their jobs and businesses and the impact would be devastating. Unfortunately, with oil continuing to leak into the Gulf, we still are not in the clear. Worst of all is the fact that the obvious danger of expanded drilling would not even contribute substantially to the United States’ oil demands: The amount of oil production projected from expanded drilling off of Florida’s coasts would do next to nothing to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Adding a fraction of a percent to the global oil supply will not lower gas prices, for Floridians or anyone else. This discouraging statistic demonstrates that we need more than a Band-Aid fix: we need to systemically change our approach to energy.

We should seize upon this tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico and truly put America on the path to a sustainable energy future. Instead of expanding coastal drilling and still continuing to depend on foreign energy, we should begin to find new sources of energy. Our country needs to run on something other than oil. We need to find new energy solutions. With that will come new economic growth, new opportunities for employment, and new scientific discovery. Wind turbines, bio-fuels, and solar power are examples of cleaner, job-creating alternatives to oil. If we were to introduce these alternatives as practical, viable sources of American energy, we could create thousands and thousands of new jobs. We could employ Americans in the fields of engineering, as well as construction and upkeep—jobs that can’t be outsourced to other countries.

Not only would we create jobs, but building a smart grid throughout the United States would invite more scientific study into smarter, more efficient forms of energy. This could lead to the creation of small businesses, vying for the newest and cleanest energy technology. It is important for us to remember that we don’t need to choose between a clean environment and a thriving economy. We can have both. In fact, employing new forms of energy will help employ Floridians, as well. And, as the high-speed rail initiative has already demonstrated, we can create more public transportation options that reduce our environmental impact while creating new jobs as engineers, contractors, and researchers. Simple solutions such as these will be the small, immediate steps that aide the larger process of moving away from oil. These are everyday actions that you can help with. Ultimately, we need to find a cleaner, more responsible source of energy. I know that we can. The United States is full of citizens who care: Intelligent men and women like you who are not just capable enough, but dedicated enough, to find a better, more sustainable solution than offshore drilling. And doing so doesn’t just mean we won’t have to clean up oil from the ocean—it will mean a better, healthier, safer life for our children, grandchildren, and generations to come. If you need help, you can reach my office in Pembroke Pines at (954) 437-3936, in Aventura at (305) 936-5724, in Washington, DC at (202) 225-7931, or on the internet at: www.house.gov/wassermanschultz

>>> Press release: Ros-Lehtinen Says Democracy Focus Vital to Haiti Recovery

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said at a hearing today that programs promoting democracy, responsible governance, and the rule of law are vital to the sustainability of Haiti reconstruction efforts. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “In the wake of the tragic January earthquake, Haiti faces as many opportunities as it does challenges. A responsible strategy with defined roles, clear objectives and a commitment to transparency will be critical to a successful future for Haiti.

“I was pleased by the recognition by some of today’s witnesses that the success of Haiti’s recovery depends upon the ability of democratic institutions to sustain and advance reconstruction and, later, development efforts. “The cornerstone of any prosperous and secure nation is a strong and democratic government. Any U.S. efforts to support the people and future of Haiti must focus on this key element. “The United States remains committed to working with the people and government of Haiti to ‘build back better.’”

>>> Press release: Zogby Interactive: 66% of Americans Believe Gulf Spill is a ‘Disaster’ That Will Cause Long Term Damage

Two-in-three U.S. adults (66%) say the British Petroleum (BP) Gulf oil spill is “a disaster that will cause long term environmental and economic damage,” up from 58% less than 2 weeks ago. Less than one-in-four (22%) rate the Federal Government’s response as either “excellent” or “good,” according to the latest Zogby Interactive survey. Only 14% rate BP’s response as positive, down from 25% in early May. Which of the best describes your opinion of the oil spill in the Gulf?

	6/7/10	5/27/10
“A disaster that will cause long term environmental and economic damage.”	66%	58%
“A problem that will cause some short-term environmental and economic damage on the Gulf Coast.”	20%	28%
“The potential damage caused by the spill is being exaggerated.”	10%	11%
None/Not Sure	5%	7%

A partisan divide is evident on this question, with 85% of Democrats believing that the oil spill represents “a disaster that will cause long term environmental and economic damage”, compared to only 45% of Republicans. Democrats and Republicans also have very different views on whether off-shore drilling is a “safe, reliable, and cost-efficient method of producing oil”; 20% of Democrats, 88% of Republicans, and 52% of the overall public agreed with this statement. Please click the link below to view the full news release on our website: http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.cfm?ID=1869

>>> Press release: Zogby Interactive: 24% of U.S. Adults, 42% of First GlobalsTM Will Watch World Cup – 38% Say Soccer Likely to One Day Match Popularity of U.S. Big 4 Sports >>> One in four Adults in the U.S. plan to watch at least some of the World Cup soccer matches beginning June 11 in South Africa. Also, 38% say it is likely soccer will one day match the popularity in the U.S. of football, baseball, basketball and hockey. Are you planning to watch any of the World Cup matches?

	Overall	First GlobalsTM	Men	Women
Yes	24%	42%	31%	17%
No	69%	51%	62%	75%
Not Sure	7%	7%	7%	7%

Please click the link below to view the full news release on our website: http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.cfm?ID=1870

>>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report. I do have to live, thank you! The report is also shorter and with less real content because I am still weak and do not have my past energy level that allowed me to write all day Saturday and Sunday as in the past almost 11-years that I have been doing this. I ask for my readers understanding during this time. >>> Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times, The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel which ran as a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003 and UNC Chapel Hill naming me one of the top columnists in Florida in a multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on Topical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then and also the opportunity to be on Helen Ferre’s show Issues on issues@wpbt.org numerous times over the past decade.

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

watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

FLORIDA

>>> The Children’s Trust in Dade is the last stop for kids nurturing programs, as city and county money dries up

The Miami-Dade Children’s Trust has a new member, state Rep. Julio Robaina, R-South Miami and a champion of children is replacing state Rep. Yolly Roberson, D-Miami on the over 30 member board. Another new addition on the trust a few months back is Carolyn Donaldson representing United Way of Miami-Dade’s slot on the board. The Trust is about all that is left when it comes to providing children services and programs now that the county and municipalities are facing there own financial meltdown. The state legislator over the years cut funding for many housing and social service programs but in many cases for the past decade. Local government was able to fill these funding gaps with local tax dollars but that is no longer the case and when it comes to the youngest members in the community, our children. They are about to find many past county and city summer and yearlong programs will either be cancelled or now require a fee to participate.

The Trust created by countywide voters in 2002 and reaffirmed by a huge margin in August 2008 has had to face its own budget issues after funding based on property values fell dramatically, cutting the organizations ability to fund certified programs given by organizations that have been carefully nurtured to provide the best programs possible. However, with the new economic reality its board and administration has to deal with these challenges and the two 2010-2011 public budget hearings will be in September and people interested should attend the public hearings.

What reports does county Commissioner Jordan want?

In the Trust’s handout for the June 7 board meeting, county Commissioner Barbara Jordan has asked for a report on the feasibility of airing a “TV program” through the county or school board cable stations and another report on “the feasibility” for the organization to have “its own building.” The trust currently is in a building owned by the United Way across from the street and it is Spartan in nature, but has a lot of light and with all the children’s artwork on the walls. The office space is quite appealing if one has to work there.

Further, check out the Trust’s Heart Gallery, in its third year, that has photos and a description of the kids in their own words that are looking to be adopted, and the program has resulted in about half of all these children finding a new family. For more information go to www.thechildrenstrust.org

>>> Press release: Gov. Crist appoints Tampa attorney C. Steven Yerrid as Special Counsel to advise the Governor pro bono on legal issues relating to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Yerrid, an expert in maritme law, successfully defended the harbor pilot in the Sunshine Skyway Bridge tragedy of 1980 and later worked on Florida’s legal team assembled by Governor Lawton Chiles to negotiate the tobacco settlement achieved in 1997. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University and Georgetown University Law Center.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Will county voters be asked to approve Charter change allowing commissioners to communicate with Dept. directors directly rather the mayor?

Commissioner Joe Martinez introduced legislation that would allow commissioners to directly interact with county department directors when it came to “constituent inquiries” if county voters approved the charter change Nov. 2. Currently commissioners can only deal with the county mayor to get something corrected or done in their respective districts and the change, if passed, would allow the elected leaders to communicate directly with department heads. Martinez believes it will help speed-up getting “constituent services” and enough commissioners at the Government and Operations committee chaired by Carlos Gimenez agreed.

Commissioner Natacha Seijas a supporter of the item said the language supplied by the county attorney’s office was not clear enough and since she has many elderly people in her district. They will become confused by the current language proposed and after she “beat up” the attorney after an extended discussion. The body worked to refine the ballot language. However, Gimenez a former Miami manager, said he was concerned with the change in the charter. He believed it could have department directors getting pulled in 13-ways, plus the mayor’s office versus having one central authority like the mayor’s office directing the over 60 departments, and he thought there was a need for a “unity of command” when it came to delivering county services. The ballot question passed the GOE committee and Gimenez was the only no vote.

>>> BCC committee wants to add two more federal lobbying firms; D.C. is where the money is at says Sosa and Souto

At another committee meeting dealing with inter-government lobbying by the county. A new strategy emerged shifting the lobbying focus away from Tallahassee and put more of county’s lobbying focus on Washington because that is where the money is. Florida is facing a minimum $7 billion shortfall in the state budget next year and Commissioner Rebeca Sosa and Commissioner Javier Souto said the money had to come from the nation’s capital because the state is tapped out. The committee members discussed ways of shifting more money into the $720,000 federal lobbying contract paying the top three firms $190,000 per year, and there was discussion of adding a fourth and fifth ranked firm as well and to pay for them from money in the department’s inter-government fund. In the end the committee agreed to have five firms, but see if the original three will do the contract for less, if the commission cannot identify new money for the extra lobbyist firms.

>>> Parks are subsidized to the tune of 60 percent by general fund

A possible parking fee at some of the county’s parks caused a stir with Commissioners Javier Souto and Rebeca Sosa who believed the new charges were a tax and would only hurt those who could least afford it. The county’s park system runs at a deficit when it comes to money coming in from users of the facilities, but does have marinas being self-sustaining financially. The county administration is looking for major cuts with a $360 to $420 million shortfall in next year’s budget, and in the case of the park’s department. The cost of running a park is covered by the public 35 to 40 percent said the department director at a commission committee meeting last week, and the rest is subsidized by the general fund, and all park programs needing this financial help are either now charging a fee or have been cut. The parks department has already laid off a couple of hundred of people and Commissioner Katy Sorenson cautioned the two commissioners that fees, or increases in current fees, if not adopted. The overall county deficit will only be bigger when the body in September holds its two public hearings and hashes out the final 2010- 2011 budget that will be brutal.

>>> Tropical Park equestrian center gets $10 million expansion boost, others just want a park in their area

A $10 million expansion of Tropical Park funded by the interest in a $2.9 billion county GOB in 2004 passed a committee last week but not without controversy and public comments. Leroy Jones along with others spoke passionately about the need for a park in the Little River area of the city of Miami and had been something county Commissioner Dorrin Rolle has been pushing for over the years. However, the new building at the park is to enlarge the equestrian center located there, and it will bring international horse shows of all type to the facilities and will bring much needed income to the local economy said expansion supporters.

>>> Mayor Carlos Alvarez sent a memo to commissioners concerning the budgets for the Commission on Ethics and Public Trust and the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust believing these organizations are not making the same concessions as other county workers under his supervision that included salary reductions and a five percent payment for employee health insurance wrote the mayor June 8. However, Robert Meyers, the executive director of the ethics commission said they made the budget adjustments by using furloughs instead.

>>> Mayor Alvarez will not veto annexation or money for Children’s Museum

The Watchdog Report e-mailed Mayor Carlos Alvarez’s media representative last week asking if he planned to veto the Sweetwater annexation legislation and the $750,000 for The Miami Children’s Museum. Vicky Mallette wrote back that Alvarez would not veto either item, and she noted by phone that the annexation bill was only a first step in the process. However, when it comes to the money for the museum, the “mid-year budget supplemental” must be adjusted by the commission with $750,000 worth of “alternative service reductions” in order for the general fund to balance for the current year, wrote the mayor’s number two George Burgess, June 7 in a memo to the board. He also hopes this is not a new “funding obligation” and tells commissioners that with a “roughly $360 million” funding gap in next years budget the administration “will likely be recommending significant cuts,” wrote Burgess.

>>> Commission letterhead must be used only for official county business

Use of a county letterhead seal for non-government related purposes caused an extensive discussion last week between Commission vice Chair Jose “Pepe” Diaz and Robert Meyers, the ethics executive director. Diaz when discussing some proposed legislation asked if it was okay to send a letter on commission stationary to a constituent after say graduating from college or school, but Meyers said that was not an official public duty, especially if the person was not known or had not worked for the commissioner. The ethics director said such a letter with the commission seal could be used for other purposes, and while he understood that it is done at state and federal levels. If the correspondence is not related to a commissioner’s county’s duties, official county commission stationary should be avoided. Meyers said it could say “from the desk of” but Diaz and others objected to these constraints, with the commissioner asking what it even means when a letter says from the desk of, since the desk is not writing the letter. This one issue is going to be further refined in the future and it will come back to the committee.

>>> What has happened to Community Councils? They rarely meet these days

I recently spoke to a member of one of Miami-Dade Community Councils and he said they had not had a meeting since last September since there were no zoning items that were to come before the body. The around 12 councils were first created in the 1990s to take pressure off the county commission for these over one million unincorporated residents to incorporate and become separate municipalities. Over the years the councils have had there difficulties, with a few of the members brushing with the law and state attorney’s office. However, the councils were also supposed to help county commissioners know what their constituents wanted in the way of services, but that input has fallen by the wayside in many cases.

Quote of the week

Commissioner Carlos Gimenez told his collogues at a committee meeting he chaired Monday that there was no reason for them to ask permission by “going through me” when it came to asking questions while the meeting was going on. This process was started when Commission Chair Dennis Moss took the leadership mantle and started demanding all discussion “go through the chair” and would only be granted if the discussion was “civil.” However, Gimenez said, “I don’t get it” and told the administrative staff wishing to speak to “go directly to her,” he said.

>>> Last week there was a different type of vehicle in the county commissioner parking lot and it was not a Ferrari, but a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and after a little digging. I found out it belonged to Jose “Pepe” Diaz and he rode it to the government center downtown from his home in Sweetwater.

>>> Next week, thanks to Miami Beach’s fee disclosure law for lobbyist, see what six or seven of them make for this activity, and it includes one small town attorney’s rate who also is a municipal mayor.

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Rothstein gets 50-years by feds, Broward is rich in other schemes, and politicians beware of tainted money

It is over, Scott Rothstein got a 50-year sentence in federal court last week for his organized $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme that shocked South Florida and continued the trend of being ground zero when it comes to get rich quick buck artists. The number of politicians ranging from Gov. Charlie Crist to local elected leaders all embraced the man and his ostentatious life style that was created seemingly out of thin air. Now his law firm is defunct, partners are defending themselves having lawyered up, and Rothstein’s number two also felt the weight of the federal government last week as well.

However, not just Ponzi schemes define some of the corruption that exists in Broward as the press release below shows from the local U.S. Attorney’s office. Medicare and mortgage fraud are also rampant, human smuggling is very much in play and creating fraudulent immigration papers has created a cottage industry of people creating new identities for themselves throughout South Florida. Elected leaders in the future should reflect on who these people are who want to give them campaign cash. For we have seen it can come back to bite officials, and while political campaigns are expensive. The candidates should remember you cannot be a little bit pregnant when it comes to tainted money, and that is not a way to start or continue a political career. Since starting that activity may take you to a rendezvous with a new destiny. A destiny that involves state and federal prosecutors and that is not a good thing, when it comes to a political career.

>>> Press release: BROWARD TITLE LAWYER CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH MORTGAGE SCHEME

According to the criminal information and statements made during today’s plea hearing, Price, a title attorney, operated Intracostal Title Services, Inc., a title company in Hollywood, Florida. According to statements made in court, Price embezzled more than $1,000,000 in loan proceeds that had been sent to Intracostal’s escrow bank account by clients to pay off prior mortgage loans. Instead of using the money as directed, Price prepared and sent a false HUD1 Real Estate Settlement Form, falsely reflecting the old loans had been paid. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FBI, the State of Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey H. Kay. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov

PALM BEACH COUNTY

>>> State Atty. McAuliffe has 42 active public corruption cases, over twice that many investigations

Palm Beach State Attorney Michael McAuliffe attending a meeting on public corruption a few months ago, and he was quoted in the South Florida Business Journal April 2-8 2010, saying his office had “about 42 active public corruption cases” and added there were about “twice as many investigations under way,” states the article by Kevin Gale www.southfloridabusinessjournal.com – key word ‘critical conversations.’ Palm Beach became ground zero over the past few years for elected leaders when it came to being busted on public corruption after a majority of the commission went to federal prison, including a commissioner’s husband and since then elected leaders up there go out of their way to explain they were not part of that old elected group of leaders.

After that bloodletting, county and community leaders decided enough was enough and an ethics commission and an inspector general’s office have both been created. However, these new creations have less oversight firepower then the state model in Miami-Dade, where both the ethics commission and inspector general have a larger staff and more expansive powers.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> Draft Op Ed: BP Oil Spill: Monroe County Government Response — Roman Gastesi, Monroe County Administrator

Thank you for this opportunity to explain Monroe County’s response to the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill resulting from the April 22ndsinking of the Transocean Deepwater Horizon drilling rig 130 miles southeast of New Orleans. Since day one, we have been engaged in an all-hands-on-deck response to this event. Every step of the way, we have closely coordinated our efforts with the federal, state, and municipal entities involved in this event. On Thursday, April 29, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano designated the event a Spill of National Significance, and appointed Admiral Thad Allen, the outgoing Commander of the Coast Guard, to serve as the National Incident Commander to coordinate resources and communication at the national level. His local representative is Captain Pat DeQuatro stationed in Key West. Our Director of Emergency Management, Irene Toner, sits with Captain DeQuatro, NOAA, and DEP as the local Unified Command Committee, which is responsible for the overall management of the incident.

While this spill is still continuing, I’m confident – while frustrated by the delay – that BP and the federal government will continue to do everything in their power to ensure that BP stops the leak, contains the spill, and mitigates the spill’s impact on the environment, the economy, and public health. Frankly, it’s scary to learn that BP and the federal government has limited capability and expertise in responding to wellhead incidents on the seafloor. I’m convinced that we as humankind are better equipped and have more experience to work on the moon than at 5000 feet under water. Ultimately, the permanent solution to stop this leaking is to drill a relief well, which will relieve pressure and permanently stop the flow of oil. BP is drilling two of these wells, and anticipates completion sometime in August; hence, we are in for a long summer. The Coast Guard, in conjunction with EPA and other federal agencies, has conducted six Spill of National Significance Exercises since 1994 that have provided valuable experience for this response. The exercises were guided by the highly detailed 700 page Florida Keys Area Contingency Plan, which includes the Tidal Inlet Protection Strategies for Oil Spill Response Plan. This plan provides detailed strategies to protect the vital estuaries and bays by ensuring that all appropriate agencies in the Florida Keys are aware of, and involved in, the local “oil spill response organization” which is divided into two (2) categories, Planning and Response.

Planning and preparation have been our primary focus the last few weeks. On May 11th, Mayor Murphy led a Board of County Commission meeting bringing together all federal, state, and local agencies to get a status update and calm the communities’ fears. I have spent many hours in meetings and conference calls. Including coordination conference calls with other County Administrators/Managers throughout the state, meeting with the municipal managers in Monroe County, meeting with State Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, various meetings with representatives of BP – including visiting their “war room” in Key West. Our Public Works Department is training twenty five (25) employees on oil spills and dusted-off the incident waste management & disposal plan and contracts. Our County Attorney drafted a Liability of Oil Discharge Ordinance, and worked with our engineering staff to review and prepare existing disaster response and recovery contracts for applicability to oil spill clean-up. Engineering staff also reviewed historical oil incidents and reviewed the Tidal Inlet Protection Strategies for Oil Response Plan in order to determine assessment and remediation expertise requirements. Our Risk Management/Insurance staff communicated with our insurance consultant and carriers to determine our insurance coverage. Monroe County TV/IT staff created a specific webpage that includes detailed information, reports, and claims process/office information. Our Growth Management Division created an aerial map book of the Florida Keys for the Nature Conservancy to assist volunteers in any potential clean-up efforts, and biologist staff have been trained for oiled wildlife handling.

As of this writing, there are more than 24,000 personnel at the federal, state and local level and thousands of trained volunteers responding to protect the shoreline and wildlife. More than 4,400 vessels have been deployed across the Gulf region, including skimmers, tugs, barges, and recovery vessels, in addition to dozens of aircraft, remotely operated vehicles, and multiple mobile offshore drilling units. More than 1.2 million feet of containment boom have been deployed, and more than a 1.2 million gallons of dispersants (none in Florida waters) has been used, in addition to using controlled burns and skimming techniques to contain the oil slick, along with recovering more than 18 million gallons of an oil-water mix. Locally, the unknown is frustrating all of us. When, Where, What are common questions that annoy all of us. All we can do for now is monitor and prepare. I believe there is still a very good chance that we will dodge this bullet and see none or very little impacts. The current situation is that all of the Florida Keys are open, fishing & diving are great, and our beautiful summer weather pattern is upon us. We must simply relax and go about our daily lives while monitoring this situation. Every summer, we all have hurricane preparedness plans in place, this year we must simply add an oil spill response plan component to it. Please stay informed. Wrote Roman Gastesi, Monroe County Administrator >>> Log on to: http://www.miamiherald.com/wlrn/ Click on “Keys Officials on Oil Threat: Relax and get the Facts.”

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Hialeah Gardens teacher tapped for national civics award, first time Floridian won award

Press release: Jackie Viana, a Social Studies educator and department chair at Hialeah Gardens Middle School in Miami-Dade County, has been named a winner of the 2010 American Civic Education Teacher Award (ACETA), an award sponsored by the Center for Civic Education, the Center on Congress at Indiana University and the National Education Association. The award recognizes three exemplary teachers annually from throughout the United States for their work in preparing young people to become informed and engaged citizens. This is the first time a Florida teacher has won the award. “My heartiest congratulations go to Jackie Viana for her exceptional commitment and passion for bringing civics education to life for her students,” said Education Commissioner Dr. Eric J. Smith. “The democratic process is a vital component of our nation’s strength and I am delighted that Florida is represented so well for an award of this caliber.”

A wide variety of teaching methods bring excitement about civics, law and government into Jackie Viana’s classroom. From simulated citizenship ceremonies to mock trials, her civics classes are more like laboratories for learning. Students enrolled in her classes have been successful over the years in finding viable solutions to a wide range of critical issues in their local communities and at the state level. Last year, her students were successful in improving the safety of a dangerous intersection by designing an improved traffic light system. >>> The ACETA winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., this summer to participate in an educational program that includes observing floor sessions and committee hearings in Congress, meeting members of Congress and other key officials, and visiting sites such as the National Archives and the U.S. Supreme Court. The American Civic Education Teacher Award is given annually to elementary and secondary teachers of civics, government and related subjects who have demonstrated exceptional expertise, dynamism and creativity in motivating students to learn about the Constitution, Congress and public policy. For more information, visit www.civiced.org/.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Trustees need to be brief when it comes to potential litigation, public record must be accurate

At Tuesday’s all day long PHT committee meetings, a number of issues concerning the public record and possible litigation that might ensue with a vender came-up. County lobbyist Miguel de Grandy representing Omega Technology Solutions LLC since April 15 said it is a woman run small company that is fighting for its business life without the $4.5 million payment that is being disputed by the health trust when he spoke in front of the purchasing committee. De Grandy, a former state legislator who lost his last race by one vote made his pitch to trustees asking for the issues to be resolved. However, after de Grandy spoke a number of trustees noted since there was potentially litigation in the future, they believed board members should “limit our discussion,” or say nothing at all said PHT trustee Gladys Ayala an attorney. Thus avoiding expanding the public record that could possible be used against the health trust in court or mediation and the board’s attorney Gene Shy had “nothing to add” because of the “potential litigation,” he said.

However, the Purchasing Committee chair Jorge Arrizurieta spoke and while he tried to make his comments general in nature. He put enough on the record that it will now be included in the public record and he should have said nothing given the circumstances. Arrizurieta, a past President George W. Bush, and Gov. Jeb Bush administration appointee, over the past decade is active in many areas in the community, as well as FIU and he has been a passionate spokesperson for the public trust, most recently at a Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce luncheon a few months ago, and with these experiences. It surprised me he spoke after the assistant county attorney advised to keep comments brief, if at all.

During another committee meeting that followed, committee Chair Ernesto de la Fe continued with the meeting even though the hospital’s fire alarm went off, it became very difficult to hear everything that was being said, and a break in the meeting should have been called, until the alarm was turned off. These two incidents may appear small but limiting the legal damage on any public board has to get a top priority from those who serve on these boards, and in the case of the public record. You either have an accurate public record or you don’t, and any doubt about the records integrity gives an opposing attorney a free shot when it comes to future litigation and that is not a good thing.

>>> Eneida O. Roldan, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., president & CEO of Jackson Health System, is in Washington, D.C., to meet with a group of Congressional leaders to discuss geographic variation in healthcare spending. Dr. Roldan is joined by other hospital executives from urban areas, including Boston, New York City and Atlanta. The purpose of the meeting is to learn why per capita healthcare spending varies throughout the United States and to discuss the next steps for Congress and other stakeholders as healthcare reform is implemented. Throughout the healthcare reform debate, lawmakers known as the “Quality Care Coalition” and others referred to regional disparities in healthcare spending that they believed should be reduced in order to improve the overall efficiency of the delivery system. Dr. Roldan will take part in a discussion on Miami’s high healthcare costs as they relate to the city’s uninsured and insured populations. “This is an opportunity to showcase Jackson Health System, while discussing the unique healthcare challenges we are facing as Miami-Dade County’s only safety net hospital,” said Dr. Roldan. “I look forward to continuing to work with our Congressional allies.” >>> Jackson Health System >>> Jackson Health System, an integrated healthcare delivery system, consists of its centerpiece, Jackson Memorial Hospital; four primary care centers; four specialty care centers; 17 school-based clinics; two long-term care nursing facilities; a network of mental health facilities; Holtz Children’s Hospital, Jackson Rehabilitation Hospital, Jackson North Medical Center and Jackson South Community Hospital. Governed by the Public Health Trust, a dedicated team of citizen volunteers acting on behalf of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners, Jackson Health System is committed to building the health of the community by providing a single, high standard of quality care for the residents of Miami-Dade County.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Will Miami try to reclaim county water & sewer building on Le Jeune and U.S. 1?

Mayor Tomas Regalado has his eye on some county real-estate that the city owns but is leased on a long-term contract. The property is the Water and Sewer Building near U.S. 1 and Le Jeune Road he told a budget advisor’s meeting Thursday around noon. “The county leaves a skeleton crew there”’ after the agency moved into its new building next to a Metro Rail station but the “property is owned by Miami” and it is a “huge property located right next to Coral Gables” and could be disposed of for considerable money he thought. He also noted the real issue was “would the county allow us to get it back?” The mayor with the city under enormous financial pressure also carped that while he has tried to have a “good relationship with the county.” He believes Miami has not gotten enough in return especially since city officials “were doing anything and everything they [county leaders] want including the museums” the Marlins new Ball Park, and the Port tunnel.

>>> Commission needs to stop deferring CIP issues, let board’s nominating committee interview applicants

The Miami Commission deferred once again an ordinance proposed by suspended Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones that had commissioners more involved in selecting who was on the Civilian Investigative Panel. The panel created overwhelmingly by voters in 2001 is the sounding board for complaints about the police department and the body has the power to subpoena people and documents. The commission has been deferring the item for months now and they need to finally come to a resolution of this issue that has been in limbo. Further, commission Chair Marc Sarnoff has cautioned fellow commissioners that keeping the panel independent of political interference is not only important, but commission involvement could create a new set of problems in the future. The CIP members have worked hard, and they deserve getting new members if there are openings on the body. Though there are time demands on a panelist if they wish to serve on the board that currently has its own nominating committee that reviews applicants after a public ad is run looking for qualified people to serve on the CIP. >>> Civilian Investigative Panel: New Location >> The City of Miami Civilian Investigative Panel (CIP) has relocated to the Manuel Artime Community Center, 970 SW 1 Street, Suite 305, Miami, Fla. 33130. The CIP has the authority to conduct independent investigations, inquiries and public hearings into allegations of misconduct by City of Miami police officers; review policies of the Miami Police Department; make factual determinations; facilitate resolutions and propose recommendations to the City Manager and Chief of Police. For more information regarding the CIP, please contact us at 786-246-4244.

>>> At a GOB oversight board meeting in May, one board member suggested that the Miami commission get the Parks & Recreation Board going and appoint new members to it, for this board was dealing with a lot of issues that concerned what was being put in parks, like recreation equipment, when maybe the local residents wanted a passive park instead. Legal staff said in some cases that GOB money was not involved and thus did not fall under the board’s purview but commissioners should activate the parks board.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Young Talent Big Dreams contest coming to Carlyle Theater, if city fees are waived

Youngsters from age 8 to 17 with talent are wanted during the upcoming talent contest tryouts under the eye of representatives of the Actors Playhouse Miracle Theater in Coral Gables and The Children’s Trust is a lead sponsor of the multi-month event kicking off in the fall and ending in mid February. The contest called Young Talent Big Dreams will be held at six locations countywide and on the Beach, it is hoped the tryouts will be at The Byron Carlyle Theater, if the city commission waived the fees on Wednesday. The tryouts have eight talent disciplines and the prizes include a Grand Prize, and eight first, second and third prizes and what will be awarded is still being determined. The semi finals and finals will be held at the Miracle Theater next year. For more information in the coming months go to www.thechildrenstrust.org or http://www.actorsplayhouse.org/

>>> Press release: Miami Beach’s Fire on the Fourth Celebration 2010 – The Greater Miami Youth Symphony & Soprano Elizabeth Caballero

The City of Miami Beach and Classical South Florida 89.7FM proudly present Fire on the Fourth. This year’s Fourth of July patriotic celebration features a free concert with the Greater Miami Youth Symphony, soprano Elizabeth Caballero and fireworks. The event will be held on Sunday, July 4, at 8:00 p.m. on the beach at 8 Street and Ocean Drive, South Beach. Free bus shuttle transportation from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. from Collins Avenue and 72 & 81 streets to Washington Avenue & 11 Street. Everyone is encouraged to arrive early, bring beach chairs, and towels. No coolers or bottles will be permitted on the beach. This year’s annual Fourth of July event is made possible by the following sponsors: Classical South Florida, Waste Management, AT&T, Whopper Bar, and Monster. Media sponsors include MAG (Miami Arts Guide), The Miami Herald, Miami New Times, Welcome Channel, Around Town Magazine and Atlantic Broadband. For more information, call 305.673.7400.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Mayor Slesnick defends Gables shoreline; Mgr. Salerno initiates video of shoreline and canals

Mayor Donald Slesnick, II at the May 25 commission meeting, told commissioners he was on the phone with the White House Staff, along with many others to get the daily briefing on the Deepwater Horizon’s catastrophic oil spill now 55 days into the incident, that has Louisiana and Floridians up in arms as the slick inundates the coast line, and all the life forms and habitats are destroyed or ecologically badly damaged. The mayor said during one of the conversations that someone wanted to know why the mayor of Coral Gables was on the phone with the group. Slesnick noted the city has a lengthy beachfront, and then there are the canals and other waterways that could be impacted. Patrick Salerno, the city manager also noted that a “video of the [pristine] shoreline, including still photos would be going on over the “next ten days” and this documentation could prove useful if there is an impact in the tony city in the months ahead.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> M-DC Commissioner Sorenson honored and roasted at Rusty Pelican Restaurant June 16, leaving commission in November after 16-years in office –Press Release: Urban Environment League “Orchid and Onion” Dinner for Katy Sorenson. June 16, 2010, 6:00 PM, Rusty Pelican Restaurant, Key Biscayne –Host: Jim Defede –Local commentator and humorist Jim DeFede is Master of Ceremonies for the Urban Environment League’s Annual Dinner – Orchids and Onions – in honor of Commissioner Katy Sorenson – on June 16 at 6:00 PM at the Rusty Pelican Restaurant, 3201 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne.

Commissioner Sorenson will step down from her the District 8 Commission seat this fall. The Urban Environment League (UEL) is taking this opportunity to let the community – from developers to environmentalists – bid her a fond – or not so fond adieu. DeFede will host a lively set of speakers (including developers, environmentalists, County Commissioners and County Manager George Burgess) as they praise or pan her County career and wish her well in her new position at the University of Miami. >>>> The Urban Environment League is a non-profit organization committed to enhancing the quality of life in Miami Dade County through advocacy for parks and open space, environmental conservation, historic preservation and transparent and participatory government decision making. For more information please call Fran Bohnsack, at 305-637-7977

>>> Downtown Bay Forum of Miami to offer debate between major congressional District 25 candidates on June 30^th

EDITORIALS

>>> Lack of civility at public and community meetings stops activists & and lesser government officials in their tracks with higher leaders

Note to activists and other elected officials: If you want to get something done at all levels of government from a small municipality, to a county, state or federal level, screaming at leaders, using profanity, and making personal attacks is not the way to go. Recently, at a local meeting with residents, county officials, and the University of Miami on a project in Overtown, County Commissioner Audrey Edmonson said the affair was “very embarrassing” for her and the others attending because it became so unruly. She said this at a commission committee meeting last week and the Watchdog Report has written about this issue in the past. A much better approach for people to take in many cases is to be calm and voice your concerns in a cogent way that forces elected leaders to treat residents or elected leaders from municipalities with respect and they are then more willing to hear the concerns and respond to whatever the issue is. However, once it breaks down into a shouting match or unacceptable words are being used, commissioners shut down, and it gives them a great excuse to do what ever they want, regardless what some of the objections might be.

Another example of a recent slap down was when the point of the written and verbal spear Miami Commission Chair Marc Sarnoff; spoke at a recent Miami-Dade commission meeting regarding the Coconut Grove Playhouse, and the city’s attempt to get a change of the board and governance. The discussion followed a letter Sarnoff sent to county officials that was seen as over the top by county insiders. Since the correspondence attacked a departmental director held in high esteem by the body, that earlier letter clouded the discussion on the commission, and a report on what the options are, concerning the iconic theater will be available in 30-days for the county commission to consider.

My point is not to pick anyone example for there are multiple times people lose the initiative in trying to persuade elected leaders after they have spoken, and why officials invoke the phrase of speakers be “silent” when things are going well for something. And elected leaders many times suggest advocates not speak for the commission was going their way, and why disturb the political current going on the body. Residents in the coming months will be going to commission chambers to plead and make their case for public funding covering a host if issues, but in these tough economic times, these proceedings must be done with civility and transparency. If a fragile public trust after this fiscal bloodbath is to exist about the role and size of government and other public institutions that have been put on a tax revenue diet, divvy up what funding is left. For, as I have written many times before, if you live in Miami-Dade and South Florida in general. You are on a ship and we are all in this together, whether we like it or not.

>>> PAST WDR: JULY 2008: Well-compensated public officials should be satisfied with pay, outside compensation nothing but a scandal minefield

In the coming months I am told the Miami-Dade Ethics and Public Trust Commission will release a report on all the little perks given to elected officials and employees outside what is considered there normal compensation and readers will find a wide array for benefits in money, using a personal credit card for government business where they get the points on there own personal accounts as just a few of the things found.

Elected leaders carp all the time about the lack of proper compensation forcing them to have outside employment but even if they are paid well like Miami Mayor Manny Diaz’s who gets $150,000. The compensation never seems enough though Gov. Charlie Crist does not have outside employment and neither does Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez who makes $232,254 said the mayor’s staff recently.

Somewhere along the way public service has blended with the private sector and you see that in the number of public/private business deals local governments have participated in. However, it becomes different when it involves elected leaders that engage in outside employment, be it as a lobbyist or in some other capacity, and if history has taught the public anything. Elected leaders if they have moonlighting jobs, if they are reasonable compensated, should realize there is a real perception problem at minimum if taxpayers are not to question if they are getting their money’s worth, from these well compensated public servants.

LETTERS

>>> Readers on last week’s story on energy & former Mayor Penelas

Your comments on the high cost of energy are appreciated. We must get alternative sources. Enough that we subsidize the terrorists every time we pull into a gas station. All new homes and condominiums built in the Sunbelt should be required to have solar hot water. We raised seven children since we moved in 1964 and all with solar hot water. We must also use more nuclear energy safely as well as wind energy and solar for electricity. What you are doing is necessary and impressive. Best regards for your health,

J. J.

>>> It would be interesting to know what former Mayor Alex Penelas has been doing all these years: I am guessing that he made money helping Spanish investors buy South Florida real estate. That has all come crashing to an end. It looks like only Leonard Abess made out well, with Spain. For Penelas, this must be a last resort, and indication of how bad the real estate crash really is.

A.F.

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LETTER POLICY

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

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Watchdog Report Vol. 11 No. 5 June 6, 2010- Celebrating My 11th Anniversary

editor — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:15:30 +0000

CONTENTS

Argus Report: Florida braces as oil hits western beaches, cost to state budget was $1 billion a few weeks ago, stakes go up

Florida: Oil slicks not only worry for Gov. Crist as former party chair Greer hit with six criminal counts

Miami-Dade County: Former Mayor Penelas spreads his wings, becomes registered lobbyist May 26, after years out of the public spotlight

Broward County: Commissioner Gunzburger has “Never worked in real estate,” as she faces state Sen. Geller in District 6 race

Palm Beach County: PAST WDR: JULY 2009: Commissioner Aaronson (Now commission Chair) is in the spotlight, had $626,000 net worth through 2008

Monroe County: Southern most county in nation gets hit with 12% property tax reduction, taxable value drops to $19.6 billion

Miami-Dade Public Schools: Supt. Carvalho says no mass firings at district because of money; people terminated will be for “performance”

Public Health Trust: Jackson Foundation leaders state their case in own words, have brought more than $130 million in philanthropy

City of Miami: County Commission shoots down Grove Playhouse governance raid by Sarnoff, will come back with report in 30-days

City of Hialeah: Defendant convicted of burning Hialeah Company gets 115 months in federal prison

City of Miami Beach: Miami Beach’s Fire on the Fourth Celebration 2010 – The Greater Miami Youth Symphony & Soprano Elizabeth Caballero

City of Coral Gables: Will city establish local preference guidelines for contracts in the future?

City of Sweetwater: Annexation process moves forward after BCC 8-5 vote, Dolphin Mall the real $200 million property tax prize

Community Events: Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club – Meeting Date: June 8th, 2010 – Meeting Place: David’s Café II, South Beach – Have you bought your ticket yet for the Public Allies Showcase in the Garden? — Downtown Bay Forum of Miami to offer debate between major congressional District 25 candidates on June 30^th

Editorials: PAST WDR: MAY 2008: U.S. economic model at risk with $126 a barrel cost for oil, conservation must be instituted as some hostile nations help pay our debt — PAST WDR: Mayor Diaz seems to be down, acts like he is unappreciated by people and voters of Miami

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>>> If you think it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider becoming a supporter or sponsor. For there is no trust fund and I do have to live. A convenient form is at the bottom of this week’s Watchdog Report with all the instructions on how to support this decade old newsletter and news service soon to start its 11^thanniversary on May 5.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> Florida braces as oil hits western beaches, cost to state budget was $1 billion a few weeks ago, stakes go up

It has come, the Deepwater Horizon’s oil slicks and tar balls are starting to hit the pristine beaches’ at Pensacola Beach, and the spill, the largest ecological event ever experienced by America, has a life of its on and little hope of capping it completely anytime soon. Florida while buffeted the last two months with tourists wondering about the impact on the state. In fact, we have done well in the scheme of things in bringing in tourists from around the world to South Florida and while there is new evidence the slick is coming toward us in about 70-days depending on the currents. The cost to the state budget of this disaster was estimated at $1 billion a couple of weeks ago and the number will only be climbing.

British Petroleum is taking a beating with the public and press, despite the company’s own ads about the employees that ends with “and it will be made right,” and so far the current management team is staying in place as President Barack Obama tries to show that he feels the region’s pain across the board, but the nightmare continues and for states dependent on tourism. The industry is bracing for the possible future impact and is going to make the Florida’s current and future budget an even greater challenge, just as the state’s economy was starting to bounce back.

>>> Press release: Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a senior member of the Florida Congressional Delegation and Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after reports that the cynical Castro regime had transferred sick political prisoners to jails closer to their homes.

Ros-Lehtinen’s statement: “The regime’s agents of repression imprison innocent people simply for crying out for freedom and democracy. While in jail, these prisoners of conscience are humiliated and tortured. Some, like Orlando Zapata Tamayo, die at the hands of their jailers. There is nothing to thank the regime for. These freedom seekers were unjustly imprisoned. But now the regime wants some sort of praise or humanitarian credit for moving these innocent prisoners closer to their homes or to hospitals? This is a farce and no one should be taken in by it. The Castro brothers want to be both the arsonists and the fire fighters; the torturers and the humanitarians. Only in Kafkaesque Cuba would these irrational acts make sense.”

>>> Press release: Miami Art Museum will offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families through Labor Day 2010, as part of Blue Star Museums, a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and more than 700 museums across America. The Blue Star Museums admission program is available to active duty military and their immediate family members (military ID holder and five immediate family members), which includes active duty Reserve and active duty National Guard. Miami Art Museum, located at 101 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130, is open Tuesday through Friday, 10am to 5pm, and Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5pm. For more information, visit miamiartmuseum.org or call 305.375.3000. “Miami Art Museum is proud to join museums across the country in thanking our military personnel and their families for their service,” said John Wetenhall, MAM interim director. “Exploring a museum with family is a wonderful bonding experience, and I look forward to welcoming many military families to the museum this summer.”

More than 600 museums in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are taking part in the initiative. The American Association of Museums, the Association of Art Museum Directors, and the Association of Children’s Museums each sent a letter from NEA Chairman Landesman inviting museums to participate in this program. In addition to thirty children’s museums across the country, participating museums represent a broad range of art, history, science, and cultural topics. Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in this free admission program. For questions on particular exhibits or museums, please contact the museum directly. The complete list of participating Blue Star Museums is available at www.arts.gov. >>> About Miami Art Museum – Miami Art Museum serves one of the most diverse and fast-growing regions of the country, where a confluence of North and Latin American cultures adds vibrancy and texture to the civic landscape. MAM embraces its role as a cultural anchor and touchstone in a city that welcomes countless ethnic and age groups, lifestyles and ideas. MAM’s far-ranging vision is expressed in the breadth and depth of its exhibition program, and its ambitious education and public programs. The Museum continues to build its collection of holdings from the twentieth century through the present, as it embarks on a major new building and expansion project. The new MAM designed by Herzog & de Meuron will open in downtown Miami’s Museum Park in 2013. >>> About Blue Star Families — Blue Star Families is a national, non-partisan, non-profit network of military families from all ranks and services including guard and reserve, with a mission to support, connect and empower military families. In addition to morale and empowerment programs, Blue Star Families raises awareness of the challenges and strengths of military family life with civilian community and leaders. Membership includes spouses, kids, parents, service members, veterans and civilians. Operation Appreciation is an initiative of Blue Star Families that seeks to connect military families to the larger community. Blue Star Families 2009 annual survey shows that 94 percent of military families feel that the larger community doesn’t truly understand or appreciate the sacrifices we make for the country. Through initiatives such as Blue Star Museums, Blue Star Families provides avenues for the larger community to show that they do understand, in meaningful ways that enrich the lives of military service members, spouses, children and parents. For more information, please visit www.BlueStarFam.org. >>> About the National Endowment for the Arts — Blue Star Museum is the latest Arts Endowment program to bring quality arts programs to the military, veterans and their families. Other NEA programs for the military have included Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience, Great American Voices Military Base Tour, and Shakespeare in American Communities Military Base Tour. The NEA is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts – both new and established – bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Arts Endowment is the largest annual national funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases. For more information, please visit www.arts.gov.

>>> Press release: GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCES THE 2010 SOUTH FLORIDA GOOD TO GREAT AWARDS® WINNERS >> Today the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of its 2010 South Florida Good To Great Awards® during a luncheon at the Chamber’s annual Goals Conference at the Hilton Miami Downtown. The regional award program honors companies based in South Florida that embody ideas from Jim Collins’ best selling business book, “Good to Great.”

The 2010 Good to Great Awards® winners (by category) are: 1-50 Employees: rbb Public Relations has a national reputation for delivering results. Named PRWeek’s “2008 Agency of the Year” and The Holmes Report’s “2009 Boutique Agency of the Year,” rbb delivers client results on par with the largest national firms, but with the individual attention of a boutique agency. Its bilingual staff excels in media relations, corporate communications, digital/social media, product introductions and crisis counseling. The firm’s capabilities encompass a variety of practice areas, including consumer products, B2B, travel & leisure, health and fitness, luxury goods, real estate and food and beverage. rbb is a member of the Converge network of PR firms. For more information visit www.rbb.com.

51-249 Employees: Steven Douglas Associates, one of the nation’s leading boutique search and project-based professional services firms, has been a recognized leader in identifying and providing access to top talent for corporate clients since 1984. Headquartered in Florida, the company services emerging and middle-market to Fortune 500 companies throughout the United States. Comprised of two synergistic divisions: Search and Project Resources, the company focuses on recruiting finance and accounting, wealth management, IT, and HR professionals. The Project Resources Division places qualified and experienced professionals on a project basis to help companies manage change and accomplish important internal initiatives in those same disciplines. The company has offices in South Florida, Jacksonville, Minnesota, New York, Connecticut, Tampa, and Orlando. For more information visit www.stevendouglas.com

250-999 Employees: Preferred Care Partners (PCP), one of the largest privately-owned Medicare Advantage health plans in Florida, is committed to providing greater access, choice and simplification of the healthcare process for its members. The company has a membership retention rate of more than 95 percent and enrolled more than 10,000 members in the last Medicare enrollment periods alone. Named by INC Magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in America, PCP’s provider network includes 27 hospitals and more than 2,600 physicians around Miami-Dade, Broward, Lake, Sumter and Marion Counties, Florida. In addition, PCP has six medical centers in South Florida and plans to expand into Medicaid later this year. For more information visit www.mypreferredcare.com.

1000+ Employees: AutoNation is America’s largest automotive retailer. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., AutoNation employs approximately 17,000 people at 205 dealership locations representing 250 franchises today and was named 2007 America’s Most Admired Automotive Retailer by FORTUNE Magazine for the fifth time in the last seven years. AutoNation is a member of the S&P 500 and has sold over seven million vehicles, the only auto retailer to achieve this milestone. The company outsells every other automotive retailer in the U.S. and is ranked # 212 in the 2010 Fortune 500. The company is considered a trailblazer for its utilization of the internet to sell its entire inventory of vehicles. For more information visit www.autonation.com.

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

watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

FLORIDA

>>> Oil slick not only worry for Gov. Crist as former party chair Greer hit with six criminal counts

Gov. Charlie Crist (Net worth $466,000) is in the public eye now that the oil spill is landing on Florida’s shores but a secondary political problem is the arrest of Jim Greer, his handpicked Florida Republican Party chair. Greer, hit with six charges last week had drawn criticism for over a year, before leaving the post in January but Crist has been his protector over the past years and how that relationship evolved may see the light of day if there is a criminal trial in the future. The governor says he was not aware of many of the things Greer is being charged with doing, including channeling money to a consulting form he was involved with, but not known to party leaders they claim.

Crist left the Republican Party recently, is now an independent U.S. Senate candidate and is facing former state House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami (Net worth $8,351) and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami (Net worth around $62,000 in 2002) or possible billionaire Jeff Greene in the General Election. Crist is in the media earnestly trying to be the face of Florida and getting more tan in the process but he knows the risk and financial impact if oil in a significant way hits the state’s beaches. However, the Greer issue will not go away and Miami Herald political reporter Beth Reinhard www.miamiherald.com on Sunday did an extensive story on the relationship between the two men and Greer is turning on the Republican Party establishment, including the governor.

What about all the new legislative candidates?

At a recent luncheon, a long time political veteran told attendees they should ask there state legislative candidates’ one question. “How do you plan to make a living while you are in office, if elected?” he said. And that is a valid question given the number of current Florida legislators that act as lobbyists, political consultants or other semi-vague profession. The legislature is not a full time job and the pay is in the low $30,000s but with 8-year limits the turnover in the body is quite brisk and here in Miami-Dade only a very few current leaders will return to the legislature after the Nov. 2010 general election.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Former Mayor Penelas spreads his wings, becomes registered lobbyist May 26, after years out of the public spotlight

Alex Penelas, 49, the former mayor of Miami-Dade County is venturing onto the public scene and is now a registered lobbyist with Miami-Dade County. He signed up to represent ADA Engineering on May 26 state county lobbying documents. The mayor was termed out in 2004, after running a failed U.S. senatorial campaign running as a Democrat in the same year. Penelas married with two sons since then has kept under the radar and worked as an attorney in Miami Lakes. He was recently profiled inwww.floridatrend.com in May saying he enjoyed being out of the public eye and was watching his kids grow-up and play baseball. When the former mayor was first elected to the commission after being a Hialeah city commissioner. He was the tender age of 29, and the youngest elected leader ever on the dais in 1990, says the magazine story. He was assigned later by the commission to take up the issue of the county’s homeless people after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and when he was given a problem considered a lemon politically. He made lemonade out of it along with the help of Alvah Chapman, Jr., the former publisher of Knight Ridder that published The Miami Herald back then. The two men with the help of many others created the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust that is now a national model and the number of homeless on the streets dropped from over 8,000 back then, to currently under 1,000 people living on the streets.

Since he first began his political career, Penelas has run for mayor in 1996 and was reelected in 2000 but only by a small margin, just over 50 percent, after he faced two opponents, County Commissioner Miguel Diaz de la Portilla and Jay Love. At the time, South Florida was coming off the highly charged and ethnically divisive Elian Gonzalez saga that ultimately had the young boy returned to his father and is now back in Cuba. However, the community was inflamed like almost never before and Penelas worked hard to bring together the different ethnic groups leaders trying to pick up the pieces initiating the “Mosaic community dialogue” after the child’s extraction and Miami erupted. But the mayor also during this time made some gaffs; including saying on national television at a press conference that if the federal government intervened and removed the child. He could not guarantee what would happen in the community and if the nation’s laws could be enforced.

Penelas also saw his political star fall after the close 2000 election of the U.S. president and had Miami-Dade as ground zero when it came to casting votes for either Republican George Bush or Democrat Al Gore, where Bush ultimately prevailed after federal court rulings. But Democrats on a national level were very upset with the lack of campaigning Penelas, a Democrat did for Gore during the last weeks of the race while the mayor vacationed in Spain, and had disbanded his successful mayoral campaign staff and was seen by many critics as “deserting his post,” when it came to the political party.

>>> Ethics commission, IG, and others get budget freedom from the administration

The county commission on Thursday has cut loose the inspector general, the ethics commission, the commission auditor and other entities that fall under the legislative board when it comes to there departmental funding. The legislation that originally only involved the three initial departments when crafted was sponsored by Commissioner Joe Martinez and is part of an ongoing process where certain powers currently residing in the strong mayor’s office are being diluted. The IG and ethics commission in the past submitted the yearly budget to the county administration and there would be some haggling, with these organizations representatives then appealing the funding with commissioners directly. Now, while county Manager George Burgess will still create a departmental budget for these entities since that is required by state law. However, now these organizations will now be submitting their financial needs directly to the commission and the move is hoped to give them greater budgetary freedom and independence.Editor’s note: I have attended over the past decade many of these internal budget meetings and while the independence is good, the county administration overall has understood their funding issues, while trying to their job as well.

What about the new property appraiser’s numbers?

Last week, the county’s elected Property Appraiser Pedro Garcia released the numbers and the drop is a jaw dropping 13.4 percent decrease countywide from the previous year. The county’s property value peaked in 2008 when it jumped to 245.6 billion, a 21.3 percent increase from the previous year but that has plummeted since then with the 2009 number being $222 billion, and now dropping to $192.4 billion for this year. The county administration has done a variety of financial models when it came to the projected revenues but 12 percent was considered the probable number but now the number is even higher. The county has cut $800 million out of the last three-year budgets and with the body unlikely to raise taxes. This is grim and all programs in areas will be cut, or services will be reduced significantly and there will be a high price in county personnel as well, and significant head count reductions are anticipated.

>>> Commission summer recess gets reduced to two-weeks

The county commission recess schedule over the summer has been reduced from a month to two and a half-weeks with a possible emergency BCC meeting on Aug. 3 said Chair Dennis Moss. However, Commissioner Barbara Jordan thought with all the pressure the commissioners were under, a longer break time would be better. However, Commission Chair Dennis Moss noted that with such a tight budget this year we will “need the extra time” to deal with the serious budget deficit next year, he said.

Quote of the week

>>> Jose “Pepe” Diaz during the ceremony honoring the public housing department’s success after a major scandal rocked the agency years ago and had the federal government stepping in to administer the organization. Diaz noted that despite the federal government, Miami-Dade has overcome the odds once again when it comes to some of these disputes and the housing department has bounced back and is placing low-income residents into housing. However, Diaz caught himself from getting too expansive in his criticism of federal authorities and joked he better shut-up because “I get in trouble all the time [with the authorities],” he said.

>>> Roosevelt Bradley, the former Miami-Dade Transit director is running for county mayor in 2012. The item was first suggested in The Miami Times recently and I caught-up with Bradley on Friday. He confirmed he was going to run and is currently the president of UBC, a company that specializes in brake and clutch service.

>>> Any Metro-Zoo future expansion should not diminish ecological mission of UM – CSTARS research facility

The proposed expansion of Miami-Dade Metro Zoo into a hotel and major recreation destination being pushed by Commissioner Dennis Moss could in the future affect a local ecological eye in the sky jewel that is located in Richmond Heights and owned by the University of Miami. The university’s Center for Southeastern Tropical Advanced Remote Sensing (CSTARS) is located there and with three large satellite dishes doing satellite analysis of the planet. The facility is a major asset and anything that the county proposes, especially in building height, should be kept to a minimum, for this is the NSA for the environment and a treasure the community needs to preserve. For more information go to www.cstars.rsmas.miami.edu or www.rsmas.miami.edu

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Commissioner Gunzburger has “Never worked in real estate,” as she faces state Sen. Geller in District 6 race

After last week’s story in the Watchdog Report about the anticipated heated race between Broward County Commissioner Sue Gunzburger (Net worth $1.34 million) and state Sen. Steven Geller, D-Cooper City (Net worth $1.24 million) in August. I got an e-mail from the veteran commissioner of District 6. Gunzburger wrote in regard to the article. “I am happy to read that you are on the road to recovery. However, I have NEVER worked in real estate. I am a former public school teacher in Detroit, Connecticut, and Florida. I then returned to college at Barry University and received a Master’s degree in Social Work. I became a Marital and Family therapist which I practiced part time, while raising my family and taking care of my late husband until he died last year. I also ran for office in 1982 for the Hollywood City Commission, and served there for 10 years. In 1992, I became a Broward County Commissioner. Serving and helping people has been my life’s work,” wrote the commissioner. The county commission race got a look-see by The Miami Herald www.miamiherald.com last week as well, and with the election in late August, there is still plenty of time for political sparks to fly.

>>> Press release: BROWARD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER Gallagher SENTENCED ON BRIBERY CHARGE

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announce that Beverly Gallagher, 51, of Pembroke Pines, was sentenced today on one count of bribery in programs receiving federal funds. At today’s hearing, U.S. District Court Judge James I. Cohn sentenced Gallagher to 37 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In addition, Judge Cohn ordered that the defendant participate in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program while in prison. Today’s sentence follows Gallagher’s March 17 guilty plea to Count 2 of the indictment against her, which charged her with accepting $9,000 in exchange for her promise to assist undercover FBI agents in connection with the issuance of a contract and subcontract work for the reconstruction and renovation of Hollywood Hills High School.

According to court documents and statements made in court at the plea and sentencing hearings, Gallagher, who was first elected to the Broward County School Board in 2000 and re-elected in 2004 and 2008, met on numerous occasions with FBI agents acting in an undercover capacity. Two of the agents held themselves out to be asset managers who purportedly represented contractors seeking to obtain construction contracts with local government entities, including the Broward County School Board. More specifically, at the March 17 plea hearing, Gallagher admitted, among other things, that on December 23, 2008, she accepted $3,000 cash from the undercover agent for “hooking up” the undercover’s construction company client for subcontracting work. Gallagher further admitted that on June 3, 2009, she accepted $6,000 cash for her efforts to obtain subcontracting work on the Hollywood Hills project on behalf of that construction company client. U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer stated, “Corrupt officials, at all levels of government – whether elected or appointed – are on notice that if they breach the public’s trust, by stealing or accepting bribes or engaging in any other form of corruption in the course of their official duties, they will be prosecuted and they will face substantial prison time.”

“Beverly Gallagher was elected to the school board, promising to help children get the best education possible,” said John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Miami Division. “Instead, she used her position for her own personal gain. In this economy, with schools already cutting budgets and laying off teachers, it is disgraceful what Beverly Gallagher did. This is reminder to all who serve in elected positions that if you break the law, you will get caught and you will go to jail.” U.S. Attorney Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service in connection with the investigation and prosecution of this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey N. Kaplan and Neil Karadbil. >>> A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

>>> PAST WDR: JULY 2009: Commissioner Aaronson (Now commission Chair) is in the spotlight, had $626,000 net worth through 2008

Burt Aaronson, the county commissioner for District 5 located in Delray Beach is in the spotlight this week and he is the body’s vice chair. The former businessman has been on the commission since 1992 and avoided the commission blood bath of the majority of the past commissioners who are now in federal prison on corruption charges.

What do we know about his finances?

He lists a net worth of $626,000 and has $150,000 in household goods. His cash on hand is $2,856, there is $154,000 in deferred compensation, there is $113,000 in a pension plan, FRS accounts for $36,000 and his condominium is valued at $170,000. His income for the year as a commissioner was $92,000, social security kicked in $26,887, retirement benefits contributed $20,592 and he got $2,000 as a board member at Delray Hospital.

Commissioner Burt Aaronson: 301 North Olive Ave. Suite 1201 -West Palm Beach, FL 33401 – (561) 355-2205 – 877-930-2205 (Toll Free outside the West Palm Beach calling area) E-mail Commissioner Aaronson >>> Board of County Commissioners

MONROE COUNTY

>>> Southern most county in nation gets hit with 12 % property tax reduction, taxable value drops to $19.6 billion

As with all the counties in Florida, Monroe when it comes to property tax values got a solid whack and the overall value dropped around “12 percent” wrote Roman Gastesi the County Administrator last week after the numbers were released. The county’s property values dropped from $22.3 billion in 2009 to an estimated taxable value of $19.6 billion (less new construction) his staff wrote in an e-mail exchange.

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Supt. Carvalho says no mass firings at district because of money; people terminated will be for “performance”

Alberto Carvalho, the superintendent of the nation’s fourth largest public school district told attendees at the Greater Miami Goals Conference Education Committee break out session on Friday that while other districts around the state may be firing employees. That will not happen here in Miami-Dade “because of economic issues,” he said. The superintendent who took over in Sept. 2008 said there would be people terminated but it will be “for performance issues” and not because of lack of funding. He said the new proposed budget, the board will consider in the future has “no tax increase” and he pledged, “Not to fire a single teacher for economic reasons’” that has other Florida districts laying off hundreds of teachers and other employees. The superintendent told the Chamber attendees that over the last 18-months “there have been $350 million in budget cuts” but said reserves that had dropped to almost nothing 2-years ago will be at $100 million and the number is giving the school’s bond ratings a boost to “stable,” he said. The former science teacher noted that 81 percent of children in the school system are considered “poor” and despite these demographics. Recent district test scores that rose show children, when it comes to education even if poor, can perform academically with their peers around the nation.

Carvalho has an active schedule in the course of a week and he recently went to New York City to receive an award after a Tuesday nighttime event with future principals and assistant principals held in Coconut Grove. At the affair, Carvalho and Freddie Woodson were called “the dynamic duo” of education within the district and these budding administrators that attended the affair clearly had their lights on and all radiated a certain energy, touched with a little bit of hope, and I for one was impressed with the caliber of these people.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Jackson Foundation leaders state their case in own words, have brought more than $130 million in philanthropy

The Watchdog Report is running the letter sent to a county Commissioner Barbara Jordan from the leadership of the Jackson Memorial Foundation that has been under fire over the past few months in the media and with county elected leaders. Commissioner Natacha Seijas has been especially critical when it came to the foundation suggesting the organization was willing to throw Jackson Memorial Hospital under the bus when it came to its problems. The foundation representatives disagree with that assessment and below is an unedited letter sent to Jordan on June 1 from Abel Holtz and Alan Dimond.

>>> Dear Commissioner Jordan: Jackson Memorial Foundation came into existence in 1989. Miami-Dade was in a trauma crisis, with hospitals unwilling to meet the needs of the seriously injured or dying. In response to this crisis, a group of community leaders led by Jay Weiss created the Jackson Memorial Foundation — a leadership that raised more than $20 million to create the Ryder Trauma Center and developed the half penny sales tax, which now supports Jackson. Since that beginning, the Foundation, a 501(c)(3) entity, and its Board of Directors, have sought to provide help to our health system with traditional philanthropy along with entrepreneurial efforts.

Jackson Health System (“JHS”) has always needed many kinds of help. We, at the Foundation, have, when asked, responded to their need in visionary ways. Two programs now operated to the Foundation by the JHS are “grants” and “international patients.” Each requires expertise and entrepreneurial focus. The Foundation created and operates both efforts with astonishing success, at zero gain to itself. All revenue from these programs goes directly to the hospital, with no money passing through the Foundation’s accounts. In turn, these programs are operationally funded by Jackson. Hallmarks are high returns on investment, and very low operating costs to achieve these returns.

Since its start, Jackson Memorial Foundation has raised for JHS more than $130 million through philanthropy. Since the inception 6 years ago of its “Grants Department”, the Foundation has garnered for the JHS awards of over $63 million. We currently manage more than $30 million in grants for this fiscal year. Finally, the Foundation, through its wholly owned subsidiary Foundation Health Services, another non-profit 501(c)(3), has secured for JHS gross revenues of $288 million creating a substantial net profit since the formation of this marketing effort for international patients, a tremendous increase over previous anemic in-house efforts.

The Board of Directors of Jackson Memorial Foundation, are community volunteers whose only mission is to support JHS at no benefit to ourselves. We want to make sure you understand all of the facts, and the value and the commitment we bring to our citizens. No other organization exists only to help Jackson, asking nothing in return. No other organization brings committed volunteers who not only provide their expertise and guidance, but also their personal dollars to help Jackson thrive.

We have been concerned that throughout the development of Jackson’s financial crisis, a lack of information has caused substantial confusion about Jackson Memorial Foundation, including criticism by some about our dedication and role. We find this lamentable, and we are concerned about the source of this confusion, which continues in some quarters despite the clear and transparent information we have provided to all who asked. As community volunteers and supporters of the Jackson Memorial Hospital, we, the Board of Directors of Jackson Memorial Foundation write to express our commitment to work tirelessly to be unified with the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners. We will strive to immediately clarify specific areas of concern regarding our Foundation, and how it functions to support the hospital.

As a private not-for-profit independent charity, we are dedicated to finding and providing money for the JHS. We are one of our community’s most successful philanthropic organizations. Shortly, members of our Board will be seeking to visit with you to ensure you have all of the information you require so that you will understand clearly the value that Jackson Memorial Foundation brings to JHS and our community. Sincerely, Abel Holtz Esq., Chairman, Jackson Memorial Foundation & Alan T. Dimond, Esq. Chairman, Foundation Health Services

>>> George Burgess told county commissioners Thursday during a report on the PHT that the organization is hoping to have up to $150 million of cash on hand by the end of the budget year Sept. 30. The issue of cash on hand is important because the health trust goes through about $4.5 million in cash a day and it takes 18 days worth to make the organization’s monthly payroll. The PHT is under “management watch” by the county and Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Burgess met with senior hospital management and the board chair on a regular basis, the most recent this past Thursday morning.

>>> Press release: Holtz Children’s Hospital Ranks among the Best Children’s Hospitals in U.S. News & World Report

Holtz Children’s Hospital at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center is among the country’s elite when it comes to treating diabetes and endocrine disorders in children and providing intensive care to the tiniest babies according to U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals.” Holtz was ranked 24th on the specialties list for diabetes and endocrine disorders and 25th for neonatal care. “This is an important honor for the physicians, nurses and entire medical team at Holtz Children’s Hospital and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine,” said Eneida O. Roldan, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., president and chief executive officer of Jackson Health System. “We are very proud of the cutting-edge treatments, medical expertise and compassionate care we provide to children in South Florida and from around the world.”

“Helping sick children become healthy and lead productive lives is one of the highest priorities of the Miller School of Medicine, and we are honored that these rankings reflect our commitment,’’ said Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Miller School. “We and families in South Florida and beyond are very lucky that our pediatric specialists and the dedicated staff at Holtz Children’s Hospital are providing the best care possible for children who need it the most.’’ Hospitals were judged on reputation, outcome and care-related measures. The rankings can be found online at www.usnews.com/childrenshospitals and will be featured in the August issue of U.S. News & World Report.

“These rankings are designed to help families with uniquely challenging medical needs. Being recognized on this prestigious list is certainly a reaffirmation of our commitment to delivering the very best in advanced patient care to some of the most seriously ill and medically complex children,” said Steven E. Lipshultz, M.D., professor and chairman of pediatrics and associate executive dean for child health at the UM Miller School of Medicine and chief of staff of Holtz Children’s Hospital.” Holtz Children’s Hospital’s Project Newborn Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a regional referral facility and has 126 beds, 66 of which are Level III and provide support for the most critically ill. The Level III NICU is the largest in Florida. Holtz also has one of the busiest pediatric diabetes programs per provider in the nation and performed the first transplant of a thymus gland from a fetus to a child without one. Holtz is world renowned for its expertise in treating hormonal disorders related to abnormal growth, obesity and sexual development.

Holtz Children’s Hospital is one of the largest children’s hospitals in the Southeast United States. In 2010, Holtz has more pediatric specialists selected as Best Doctors in America® than any other children’s hospital in South Florida. Through its experienced medical and support staff, including some of the top pediatricians in the nation, the 254-bed facility provides research and treatment for a wide range of pediatric medical specialties including diabetes, hematology/oncology, bone marrow transplant, cardiology and cardiac surgery, infectious diseases/immunology, neonatology, kidney disorders, transplantation and gastroenterology.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> County Commission shoots down Grove Playhouse governance raid by Sarnoff, will come back with report in 30-days

Marc Sarnoff, the chair of the Miami commission made a case in front of the county commission on Thursday concerning the Coconut Grove Playhouse, challenging its governance board as not being effective. Sarnoff made the case in a letter to the mayor and commission asking for the property to revert back locally rather than be retained by the county and state. The theater has been shuttered for years after racking-up a multi-million dollar debt and is considered a fire hazard with its numerous code violations. The county voters in 2004 approved $15 and $5 million for the site and that money was part of a $2.9 billion GOB proceeds but that money has stayed in county coffers to date. County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez brought the item in front of the board, and the commission rebuffed Sarnoff’s suggestion and a report by the county administration on possible solutions to the Playhouse’s problems will be brought back in 30-days after the study.

>>> Mayor Regalado gets ear full at film industry bull session Tuesday

A group of prominent representatives of the South Florida film industry gathered Tuesday with Mayor Tomas Regalado at noon in a city hall conference room to discuss how to make the industry vibrant again, with up to $240 million in new federal funding over the next five-years at risk, that translates into $1 billion in overall economic impact was the topic of the day. The mayor, a former member of the media said a story in The Miami Herald www.miamiherald.com Tuesday by Charles “Chuck” Rabin was “bad press.” He said if it was up to him, the city would hire a “movie producer” to run the Film, Movie and Cultural office but noted the city was in dire financial straits and that was out of the question. The normally low-key office has gotten into the media spotlight on a number of blogs as well, since the appointment of Harry Gottlieb, 61, as its new department director a few months ago. Gottlieb, is being paid $65,000 and says they are trying “to do more with less” given budget constraints but his tenure in the position is not wearing well with some members of the film and movie industry, who question his competence and qualifications for the post. One member at the meeting said “services provided by the city have been a little bit lacking” and with this big push in funding “starts June 9” and the city must be able to demonstrate “producers should not worry about coming here,” he said. He was also concerned if producers and others in the industry have a difficult time here now, that perception could last for years. He said they will go elsewhere like Orlando if they are not satisfied there is “basic client services” and there is “stability and confidence about working in the city of Miami” that is not there at the moment, he concluded. The mayor listened to these peoples’ comments for two-hours and another meeting is expected this Tuesday in the manager’s conference room around noon. >>> Other past stories on this matter can be read on line at www.miaminewtimes.com

>>>Arsht Center: Babalu: Lucie Arnaz Celebrates the Music of her Father, Desi Arnaz KNIGHT CONCERT HALL [View Seat Map] Thursday, July 8, 2010, 7:30pm – Starring Lucie Arnaz with guests Raul Esparza, and Valarie Pettiford, and dancers Jeanette Delgado and Richard Amaro and very special guest Desi Arnaz, Jr.

It’s show time at the Tropicana! Hear Desi Arnaz’s greatest hits, including the hip-swiveling “Cuban Pete,” his signature conga “Babalu,” and the beloved theme from “I Love Lucy,” plus some of the greatest Latin and Broadway hits in this one-of-a-kind tribute to the most glamorous music of the ‘40s and ‘50s. BABALU, featuring a 16-piece orchestra, is not only Lucie Arnaz’s loving tribute to her father, but also a chance to celebrate Desi Arnaz’s extraordinary musical legacy and the major role he played in planting the first seeds of the Latin music explosion in this country. Lucie Arnaz, EMMY Award-winning actress, Broadway star (They’re Playing Our Song, Witches of Eastwick, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and renowned nightclub performer (Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Feinstein’s, Rainbow and Stars, Birdland) and recording artist (Just In Time, Latin Roots) created, wrote and produced BABALU’s five SOLD OUT performances at New York’s legendary Lyrics & Lyricists Series (January 2010). Raul Esparza, the Tony Award-nominated Cuban-Miami native, has been acclaimed for his performances in the Broadway musical hits Company, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Taboo and Cabaret. And sexy, slinky, velvet-voiced Valarie Pettiford starred in Broadway’s Tony-winning Dancin’, Fosse, and Sophisticated Lady. Musical Direction by Ron Abel Staged and Choreographed by Ramon del Barrio, Directed by Lucie Arnaz.

>>> The following e-mail was sent to (now former) Mayor Manny Diaz using his e-mail address on his extensive city web-page on Sept. 13, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. and to date there has been no answer from the mayor. It currently goes to his new e-mail address.>>> “Mayor Diaz, I wanted to ask you in the chamber today but not in front of Chair Joe Sanchez. My question is where did the extra $400,000 in the 2007 disclosure form come from? I will run what ever you respond unedited but I would appreciate closing this issue, as I am sure you do. Sorry but I have to ask. Best to all. Dan” >>>> The Watchdog Report through Dec.7 has yet to get a response or catch-up with Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz on where he got the extra $400,000 in cash listed in his 2007 financial disclosure forms. To seewhat CBS 4 reporter David Sutta’s take on this issue and the other city leaders financial disclosures go to cbs4.com Blogs . >>> Readers should stay tuned and catch the meeting on the city’s cable station channel 77. >>> Stream Channel 77, for all City of Miami meetings, (Commission, Village Council meetings, Waterfront, Zoning, PAB, Code, etc. hearings) http://videos.miamigov.com/

>>> Press release: Lydecker Diaz Partners Named Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars -– Lydecker Diaz partners Onier Llopiz and Anthony J. Tinelli have beenrecognized as 2010 Rising Stars by the prestigious Super Lawyers magazine, placing them on the list of Florida’s top attorneys who have achieved success early in their careers. “I commend Onier and Anthony for attaining this high honor,” said Senior Partner Richard Lydecker. “Their success is a testament to the high level of customer service and professionalism they extend to the clients of Lydecker Diaz.” The Super Lawyers selection process is a comprehensive, good-faith and detailed attempt to produce a list of lawyers that have attained high peer recognition, meet ethical standards, and have demonstrated some degree of achievement in their field. In selecting attorneys for Super Lawyers, the organization employs a rigorous, multiphase process. The Rising Stars list is comprised of the top up-and-coming attorneys who are 40 years old or younger, or have been practicing for 10 years or less… please log onto http://www.superlawyers.com/florida/. For more information on the Lydecker Diaz firm, please log onto www.lydeckerdiaz.com.

CITY OF HIALEAH

>>> Press release: Defendant convicted of burning Hialeah company gets 115 months in federal prison

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, announce Friday’s sentencing of defendant Juan Gonzalez, 34, of Hallandale, Florida, for burning down Floors by Design, Inc., a carpet company in Hialeah, and conspiring to burn it down with his nephew, Wilmer Quesada-Ramos, 30, of Sunrise, Florida. On May 28, 2010, U.S. District Judge Alan S. Gold sentenced defendant Gonzalez to 115 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Defendant Quesada-Ramos, whose sentencing hearing was a few weeks earlier, was sentenced to 70 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Gold also ordered that the defendants pay $845,502.00 in restitution.

Previously, a jury found defendants Gonzalez and Quesada-Ramos guilty of arson and conspiring to commit arson, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 844(i) and (n). According to the indictment and the testimony at trial, Floors by Design was a warehouse located at 471 West 28th Street in Hialeah. On February 4, 2009, Gonzalez and Quesada-Ramos, who worked for the company as carpet installers, purchased gasoline in Broward County, drove it to the Floors by Design warehouse, doused the warehouse with the gasoline, and set it on fire. The warehouse, and everything Floors by Design had inside, was destroyed as a result of the fire. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the State Fire Marshall, and the Hialeah Police and Fire Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert J. Luck and Jared E. Dwyer. >>> A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Press release: Miami Beach’s Fire on the Fourth Celebration 2010 – The Greater Miami Youth Symphony & Soprano Elizabeth Caballero

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Will city establish local preference guidelines for contracts in the future?

At a recent Coral Gables commission meeting the issue of local preference when it came to letting out city contracts was the topic of the day and the administration after a review by the city attorney in 90-days will submit legislative language for the body to debate. Commissioner Ralph Cabrera brought up the item along with other commissioners after they heard from local business owners that they stopped trying to get city contracts, because the city did not have any local incentive believing the goal was to get the best price, product and service from companies around the world. When Commissioner Maria Anderson asked what the “down side” of such an ordinance was? Cabrera said it was “political influence” but he believed past commissioners and mayors have been “straight-up” and that if the bill is crafted right, should not be a problem, he thought.

Manager Patrick Salerno said while it was possible to have a local preference ordinance, it could have a “chilling” effect with other companies not wanting to compete since it could be viewed as a more closed procurement process. The commission when the ordinance is brought before it is expected to have a lively debate on the matter in the coming months.

>>> Press release: Monday, June 14th at noon Coral Gables City Commissioner Chip Withers

Members and Guests, Please join us for lunch at JohnMartin’s on June 14th. Our guest speaker will be Coral Gables City Commissioner Wayne “Chip” Withers. Chip is one of the longest serving City Commissioners in Coral Gables, first elected in 1991. Commissioner Withers has also held numerous appointed positions in the Gables including Planning & Zoning, Code Enforcement, Youth Advisory, Parks and Recreation. He is also one of the strongest proponents in the development of the Coral Gables Museum. Commissioner Withers is a graduate of the University of Florida and is President of Withers Transfer & Storage, Withers Worldwide Forwarders and Withers Transportation Systems Inc. Please reply to this message with your RSVP to rwmartin20@yahoo.com Please forward this announcement to any friends or business associates who may be interested in attending. Richard Martin, President

CITY OF SWEETWATER

>>> Annexation process moves forward after 8-5 vote, Dolphin Mall the real property tax prize

The political leadership of Sweetwater came to Miami-Dade County Thursday and their request to start the process of annexing some of the county’s Unincorporated Municipal Service Area (UMSA) that involves a vote was ultimately approved by the county commission by a vote of 8 to 5. “Russian midgets” and circus performers after the train they were on got stuck on Tamiami Trail founded the municipality in 1941, said Commissioner Joe Martinez (Net worth $270,000) last week during the discussion. He said the city has always had a “rich and colorful history,” but then said he could not support this annexation and the shifting of property tax revenue from UMSA to the small city in West Dade. Commissioner Katy Sorenson (Net worth $1.34 million) commented that the issue was something I hated as a kid hearing, “we cannot afford it.”

However, other commissioners especially Vice Chair Jose “Pepe” Diaz (Net worth $226,000) thought otherwise and Diaz was a former mayor of Sweetwater before being elected to the county district seat in 2002 and he got seven of his colleagues to agree that includes a vote on the matter by the 1,400 electorates in the 1,000 acre area with a total of 6,500 residents said county staff. The reason the matter really caught some commissioners attention is the fact that the Dolphin Mall is located there with other industrial property and Commission Chair Dennis Moss (Net worth $477,000) hoped that this shopping mecca could someday be a local “Sawgrass Mall” given its proximity to MIA and he could not support the annexation but he did not have the votes. >>> For more information about Sweetwater go to http://www.cityofsweetwater.fl.gov/ >>> Fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetwater,_Miami-Dade_County,_Florida – History -The history of Sweetwater actually began during the Florida land boom of the 1920′s when the Miami-Pittsburgh Land Company purchased land and laid out the original plat of “Sweetwater Groves.” However, the 1926 Miami Hurricane and subsequent South Florida real estate “bust” put an abrupt end to the development venture. In 1938, Clyde Andrews acquired most of the “Sweetwater Groves” tract and began to market lots. Among his buyers was a troupe of Russian dwarves seeking a place to retire after a career with the circus. They built several mini-scaled homes suited to their needs. For years, Sweetwater was known as the “midget” community.[5]

In 1941, Sweetwater held a successful election for incorporation. The new town’s first mayor was Joe Sanderlin, the midgets’ guardian and manager. By 1959, Sweetwater had attracted 500 residents and contained a town hall, church, grocery store, service station and 183 homes. It also had a two-man police force and a volunteer fire department. Sweetwater was the filming location for the 1969 movie, “Midnight Cowboy.”[6] In 1970, Sweetwater was still a relatively small community of about 3,000 residents. During the 1970s, however, several events were to happen which would dramatically change the hitherto “sleepy little country town” of Sweetwater forever. These events included the establishment of a major new state university, Florida International University, to the south of the city, the construction of the two major expressways to the north and west, and the discovery of Sweetwater by Miami-Dade County’s Hispanic community. The growth and development which was precipitated by these occurrences caused Sweetwater to more than double in population and lead all other Miami-Dade cities in growth during the 1970s.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Press release: Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club – Meeting Date: Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 – Meeting Time: 8:30 AM – Meeting Place: David’s Café II, 1654 Meridian Ave., South Beach

A new “Meet the Mayors of Miami Beach” series opens with former Mayor Harold Rosen, who served from 1974 to 1977, as our guest speaker at the June 8th Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club meeting. Over the summer we will be inviting over a half-dozen former Miami Beach mayors to be guest speakers. Former Mayor Rosen, a native of Miami Beach, was elected to the City Commission in 1971, and following the death of (then) Mayor Chuck Hall, he was appointed by the Commission to fill Mayor Hall’s unexpired term, which lasted until 1977. Mayor Rosen has remained active in Miami Beach civic affairs by volunteering his time as legal counsel for organizations such as the Visitor and Convention Authority (VCA). His law practice, Rosen & Switkes, focuses on commercial law and governmental issues, and he is a familiar face at most Planning Board hearings. Everyone is welcome to attend. David Kelsey, Moderator for the Breakfast Club – For more information contact David Kelsey. To be placed on the Breakfast Club’s mailing list, contact Harry Cherry. Both can be reached at TuesdayMorningBreakfastClub@Yahoo.com Visit our new web site at: www.MBTMBC.com (Miami Beach Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club).

>>> Press release: Have you bought your ticket yet for the Public Allies Showcase in the Garden?

Public Allies paint a fence on Hands on Miami Day

If you haven’t already, reserve your spot for the party that combines music, dance, storytelling,
nature and community building. The Showcase in the Garden will take place June 10 at 6 pm at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Enjoy food, drinks and live entertainment while learning more about Public Allies, the national program that helps young leaders serve their communities. Also, come prepared to bid on getaways, baked goods and celebrity memorabilia in our silent auction. Your donation of $15 will support the 2010-11 Public Allies class. Meet some of the current Public Allies in our short video.

>>> Downtown Bay Forum of Miami to offer debate between major congressional District 25 candidates on June 30^th

EDITORIALS

>>> Note to candidates: You should run political ads in your district race not in multiple counties like I am seeing with Broward County Commission Candidate Barbara Sharief in her bid for the District 8 seat on the commission dais. Over the past decade candidates have run ads, especially in local races that have far to wide of a reach when it comes to television ads and unless these people enjoy burning campaign cash on non-voters. The candidates should try to target your ads to your targeted voters not the mythical ones in other counties.

>>> PAST WDR: MAY 2008: U.S. economic model at risk with $126 a barrel cost for oil, conservation must be instituted as some hostile nations help pay our debt

Crude oil prices rose to a staggering $126 a barrel last week and the affect these high-energy prices will be profound on the U.S. economy as it is quickly forcing a major restructuring on how the nation operates and does business on the global scene. The nation has always competed with other nations for this black gold but the continued rise of China and India along with the growth of the economies in South and Central America has added a new dimension and we are behind the energy curve and we must start to conserve more at the minimum.

The nation’s decades of denial that oil would become more expensive is hitting us hard in the face now and people with big gas guzzling SUVs trying to trade them in are finding they have not retained much of their original value and this is also compounding the problem and hollowing out Americans pocket books further. In a world of FedEx, the internet and in global unrest, we as a nation must get to work in a big way to address our energy dependency. For if, oil goes higher still the whole economic model that America has built across the board will slow down and it even is affecting food prices.

The children of the United States already have $9.3 trillion in debt facing those in the coming generations and with a weak dollar, countries not really friends with us are paying our bills and that should be of major concern. If the nation is to be the Great Experiment once dreamed of generations before that now is stumbling and each of us should ask how we can do our part to change the energy tide, before someone else makes that decision for all of us on the free market.

>>> PAST WDR: JULY 2008: Mayor Diaz seems to be down, acts like he is unappreciated by people and voters of Miami

Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz was recently on a Sunday talk show on CBS4 www.cbs4.com with Eliott Rodriguez and when listening to him. He almost sounds a little bitter and seems to think he is unappreciated by Miami residents to the vast changes he brought to the office since first being elected in Nov. 2001. He is termed out next November but in the mean time, he will head up the national mayors conference that is holding its meeting in Miami on June 20. Diaz, who replaced former Mayor Joe Carollo, was light years different from the mercurial Carollo who loved the television talk shows where he incited the nation with some of his controversial comments.

Diaz, after a tough runoff against former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre in 2001 brought a sense of calm and sanity for a number of years but something began to change and he dropped the humble servant angle and now we are supposed to be thankful for all that he has done giving the impression that it was almost a pro bono act. His being in office. However, Diaz who has the most spectacular mayors office in the county overlooking Dinner Key Marina on the second floor also got a hefty raise after his election to a second term and then manager Joe Arriola and then Commissioner Johnny Winton proffered the motion even though at the time all three men were in a real estate investment in the south Grove, with another partner who later passed away.

Diaz would later get a fine from the county’s ethics commission and a four page Letter of Reprimand for the act but he still resists the belief that he did anything wrong, even though it involved members from all three branches of municipal government. The mayor believes his legacy will be the $3 billion global mega-plan that includes a new stadium for the Florida Marlins coming in at well over $535 million, a almost $1 billion port of Miami tunnel and a number of other projects have been thrown into the mix. Car magnate Norman Braman is challenging this county, city collaboration in a local court and last week both sides got some victories regarding the upcoming hearing before a circuit court judge in early July. Braman says he will take his appeal all the way to the Florida Supreme Court and both Diaz and county Mayor Carlos Alvarez are objecting to this legal delay that would end if the issue was just put to voters, Braman has said in the past.

Perhaps that is why Diaz is sounding a little down since so much of his legacy is riding on this mega plan that involves a very convoluted financial structuring scheme, but sometimes life is not always fair and in politics, things change, especially with the cooler national economy and condominiums in Miami standing empty or only partially occupied while others buildings continue to soar. Years ago when the building boom was at its peak. I said to the mayor that I hoped he was right, for if he was wrong it would take Miami years to recover and hurt his reputation. Something Ferre found out when Miami went bust in the late 1970’s producing a downturn that lasted over a decade, with only the $16 billion in FEMA and other aid after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 digging south Florida out of the housing and economic doldrums.

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LETTER POLICY

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

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

The Watchdog Report is no longer exclusively with The Miami Herald, and excluding the one story a week that is printed in the paper on Monday in the Metro & State section by me. The rest of the 20 or so news stories weekly sent out Sunday in the Watchdog Report are now available to television stations web pages, and all the newspapers and other media in South Florida if the publishers have an interest to run part or all of the stories. Further, in 2000, I used to have some paper’s running the report in the Spanish press, that option is available again, and publishers should contact me. The news content will not be free, but you can pick and chose the stories of interest, edit them if necessary but you must still keep the general story intact. If you are a news outlet and would like to learn more about, the Watchdog Report and this offer contact me atwatchdogreport1@earthlink.net for further information.

>>> 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.

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

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

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Watchdog Report Vol. 11 No. 4 May 30, 2010 Celebrating My 11th Anniversary

editor — Mon, 31 May 2010 05:59:07 +0000

CONTENTS

Argus Report: Will money rule in U.S. Senate & Governor’s races or will voter fatigue kick–in after Greene and Scott first campaign commercial barrage?

Obituary: Federal jurist tough but ‘fair’ gentle giant, chief federal Judge Davis passes at 77, will be missed!

Florida: When it comes to women voters, “trust me” they will know “I am one of them,” says gubernatorial candidate Sink

Miami-Dade County: Mayor Alvarez’s remark about symbolism odd given his past profession in law enforcement

Broward County: Commissioner Gunzburger faces off against state Sen. Geller; how low will they go as election draws closer in Aug.?

Polk County: Crist appoints three jurists: Judge Beth Harlan, Judge Mark Hofstad and Wayne Durden to the 10th Judicial Circuit Court.

Kissimmee County: Gov. Crist suspends county commissioner Irizarry after domestic violence charge, #39 political removal for governor

Volusia County: Gov. Crist today announced the appointment of Bryan A. Feigenbaum to Volusia County Court.

Charlotte County: Gov. Crist appointed John L. Burns to the Charlotte County Court.

Monroe County: Gov. Crist recognized Ciegler of Key West as a Governor’s Point of Light.

Miami-Dade Public Schools: Supt. Carvalho and founding GM MacCullough fire back at Friends of WLRN Chair Altman’s comments last week

Public Health Trust: Commissioner Souto & Dean Goldschmidt call for local businesses and county employees with insurance to use Jackson!

City of Miami: Budget worries continue to plague city, is bankruptcy in the wings since a tax increase is out of the question?

City of Miami Beach: Feds pop Beach hotel developers, get charged with tax fraud

City of Coral Gables: Will rental bike kiosks pop-up in the Gables, Deco Bike about to start on the Beach, Cabrera hopes so

Community Events: Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club, features former Fl. Senate president and state senate candidate Margolis — Women of True Grit and tribute to Roxcy Bolton –When: Thursday, June 3 at 8:00 p.m., Where: Books & Books, Coral Gables

Editorials: Watchdog Report gives Miami Today a Tip of the Hat on paper’s 28^th Anniversary June 2 — Sept. 2003: PAST WDR: It is some ones money, government leaders and their administrations should remember that!

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

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

>>> May you and your family have a safe and reflective Memorial Day and we remember those through the Centuries that have fought and died so that we all could have the freedoms we have today. Despite challenges, the Great Experiment called the United States has survived and we all should remember those serving our nation around the globe, allowing us to live our daily lives in peace and tranquility here at home.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> Will money rule in U.S. Senate & Governor’s races or will voter fatigue kick –in after Greene and Scott campaign commercial barrage?

With Jeff Greene and Rick Scott on the statewide scene as political insurgents with one running as a Democratic party U.S. Senate candidate and the other for governor as a Republican. Florida voters will be asked if money is enough in today’s political arena to be elected to a substantial political office. Nationally voters are in a throw the bums out attitude in many cases, and here in Florida, a recent statewide poll shows independent voters are the most pessimistic voters when polled on the direction the state is going in, and it is the wrong way they say. In the last few weeks, state voters have been deluged with political campaign ads run by both Greene and Scott non-stop, and while these candidates are registering in this same polling. The question is how they will wear with the electorate, once they are better known, their past and of course, how they made their money. Greene is a billionaire, betting for house mortgages tanking and Scott is a former healthcare executive whose company later would settle after paying a well over $1 billion fine for Medicare and Medicaid irregularities.

Both men can be considered colorful and Greene is challenging U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami (net worth in 2002 around $62,000) and former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre, (Net worth $2.16 million) while Scott is challenging Bill McCollum, (Net worth $1.2 million). The Florida Republican attorney general and former congressman who lost two bids in a run for the U.S. Senate in 2000 and 2004. The attorney general won his current statewide office in 2006 and if he gets past Scott, will likely face Alex Sink (Net worth $8.6 million) the state’s Chief Financial Officer. However, neither establishment candidates are firing up the electorate so far and the races are considered wide open with the party’s primaries in August.

The real issue is who are these two men, what do we know about them and when will they become accessible to the press and questioning rather than communicating through the airwaves, their platform, that has Scott pounding Obama on his lax immigration policy and supporting the recent controversial Arizona immigration bill that has been the talk of the nation. Greene has drafted his retired mother to weigh in on her son, and how hard he has worked over the years, but it is unknown how these kind of ads will wear with voters over the almost next three-months, that will also involve the press digging deeper in these men’s past looking for a hint how they might be in a elected office. A position that is far different from being in the private sector. >>> Here are two stories on these new candidates: Election 2010: Florida Governor – Rasmussen Reports™ Millionaire health care executive Rick Scott has bombarded the airwaves to launch his out-of-nowhere bid for governor of Florida, while both the …
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/florida/election_2010_florida_governor – 45k – Cached >>> Billionaire Jeff Greene to Run for Senate – So what if Mike Tyson … Billionaire investor Jeff Greene launched what promises to be a rather colorful campaign for Florida’s Democratic Senate nomination today, depicting himself …http://www.newser.com/story/87465/billionaire-jeff-greene-to-run-for-senate.html – 231k – Cached

>>> Downtown Bay Forum of Miami to offer debate between congressional District 25 candidates at end of June

The Downtown Bay Forum of Miami is planning a debate among candidates running for Congressional District 25 and it could be the first verbal debate from the candidates. People vying for their party’s nod are state Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami and Paul Crespo trying to represent the Republican Party and Joe Garcia, a member in the Obama administration is expected to be the Democratic Party’s challenger. Rivera, also Chair of the Republican Party of Miami-Dade is skilled at running campaigns and Crespo is a veteran Marine officer with a wide range of skills and is a good orator. Garcia tried for the district in 2008 against incumbent U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami but was beaten back though the race was closer than two other congressional races taking place back then between his older brother Lincoln who bested former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez and Congresswomen Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami beat off Democratic candidate Annette Taddeo, who is now running for the county commission. The details of the debate will become public soon, but the luncheon event should come on the last Wednesday of the month, possible the 23third or the 30th of June and for more information go to www.downtownbayforum.com

>>> White House press release Saturday night: Statement by the President on the Latest Efforts to Contain the BP Oil Spill

Today, I’ve spoken with National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen, as well as Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, and senior White House advisors John Brennan and Carol Browner regarding the ongoing efforts to stop the BP oil spill. From the beginning, our concern has been that the surest way to stop the flow of oil – the drilling of relief wells – would take several months to complete. So engineers and experts have explored a variety of alternatives to stop the leak now. They had hoped that the top kill approach attempted this week would halt the flow of oil and gas currently escaping from the seafloor. But while we initially received optimistic reports about the procedure, it is now clear that it has not worked. Rear Admiral Mary Landry today directed BP to launch a new procedure whereby the riser pipe will be cut and a containment structure fitted over the leak.

This approach is not without risk and has never been attempted before at this depth. That is why it was not activated until other methods had been exhausted. It will be difficult and will take several days. It is also important to note that while we were hopeful that the top kill would succeed, we were also mindful that there was a significant chance it would not. And we will continue to pursue any and all responsible means of stopping this leak until the completion of the two relief wells currently being drilled. As I said yesterday, every day that this leak continues is an assault on the people of the Gulf Coast region, their livelihoods, and the natural bounty that belongs to all of us. It is as enraging as it is heartbreaking, and we will not relent until this leak is contained, until the waters and shores are cleaned up, and until the people unjustly victimized by this manmade disaster are made whole.

>>> Press release: DEFENDANT PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGAL EXPORT OF ROCKET TECHNOLOGY TO SOUTH KOREA

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of Investigations, John F. Khin, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and John Corbett, Special Agent in Charge, NASA OIG, Office of Criminal Investigations, announced that defendant Juwhan Yun, a/k/a Jw Yun, 69, of Short Hills, New Jersey, pled guilty today to attempting to export RD-180 rocket propulsion system and technology to the Republic of South Korea without a license. Sentencing is scheduled for August 20, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. According to court documents and statements made in court, as early as December 2008, Yun attempted to acquire RD-180 rocket propulsion systems, engines and related technology for the Republic of South Korea. These items are classified as defense articles under the U.S. Munitions List.

According to court documents, Yun was previously convicted of conspiring to export Sarin gas in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and was previously sentenced to 39 months in prison. As a result of today’s guilty plea, Yun faces a term of up to ten years in prison. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the ICE’s Office of Investigations in Ft. Lauderdale, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and NASA OIG, Office of Criminal Investigations, as well as the assistance of the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Walleisa. >>> A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

>>> PAST WDR: I have been in the hospital after emergency surgery, one more procedure to go, need the community’s financial help to keep at this!

I have not communicated or sent out a Watchdog Report since the end of January because I had a catastrophic medical issue that required one emergency surgery and another in a few weeks after about two months of convalescing at the hospital and home. I would like to thank surgeon Jorge R. Rabaza, M.D., (Recently honored and awarded the Person of the Year at South Miami Hospital) and the rest of his vascular surgery team of Verdeja, Rabaza, Gonzalez, P.A., who practice at South Miami Hospital (http://www.miamihope.com/doctors/index.asp.). I went to the emergency room Feb. 8 and later in the evening, the operation was done, and it was touch and go. I also want to thank all the nursing and support staff located in the forth floor annex of the hospital who took care of me for over a week after the operation and your kind manner and medical attention was deeply appreciated. I have not had the strength and mental clarity to write until the last few days and to say I need a miracle is an understatement regarding my financial survival. I have been unable to send invoices to past supporters and just paying my rent currently is a big deal and hope you will consider doing what you can to keep me out in the field and reporting back after I get back on my feet and I am feeling better.

>>> The support form is at the bottom of this truncated issue for your convenience and if high definition transparency of what your public institutions are doing is important to you. Please help and support me financially during this particularly rough patch. >>> Editor’s note: If you see people that represent these two organizations, let them know you appreciate how they helped me keeping this free news resource out in our community for all to read if desired.

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

watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

OBITUARY

>>> Federal jurist was tough but fair gentle giant, Judge Davis passes at 77, will be missed!

Edward Bertrand Davis, 77, passed May 24^th and the highly respected federal jurist will be missed. A host of friends gathered at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables Thursday evening and the grief was palatable, though lightened by the numerous stories being told about his decades on the federal bench rising to chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Davis an imposing 6’5” was a professional athlete earlier in his life, a U.S Army veteran before going into law and while many attorneys are bright, it was his even temperament that made him a judicial Great One. Judge Davis had an impact on me for over a decade and he and U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore during lunch over the years explained to me the size and role the southern district played in the community and why I write about the district to this day.

At the event in the historic hotel’s Granada Room were the cream of the legal community, including the bulk of the federal judges in South Florida, former U.S. Attorneys, and a cross section of current or past assistant federal attorneys, public defenders, and just long time friends who paused in front of the oil portrait done of Davis that usually was hanging in the Central Courtroom of the Dyer Federal Court House downtown in the large courtroom. His warm smile and gentle blue eyes belayed his ability to hand down a tough sentence if the crime warranted it, yet he was described as always ‘fair.’ After Judge Davis stepped down from the bench in 2000 he worked at AkermanSenterfitt and I used to spot him going into Miami City Hall where he had a couple of mediation cases. While many people knew Judge Davis better, he mentored and taught me many things that I hope I will carry through the rest of my life, and we will all miss you Ned. >>> The family asks donations in his memory to be made to Lakeland Center, 8400 La Amistead Cove, Fern Park, Florida 32730; 407.331.7226 and you can view the guest book at www.miamiherald.com/obituaries

FLORIDA

>>> When it comes to women voters, “trust me” they will know “I am one of them,” says gubernatorial candidate Sink

Alex Sink, the Florida Chief Financial Officer dropped in at Miami city hall during a commission meeting Thursday, and the former banker is running for the shot to be the Democratic candidate for governor, a spot on the ballot she will likely get after the August primary election. Sink will face Bill McCollum, the state attorney general or Rick Scott a millionaire healthcare executive now retired. Sink and McCollum are close in recent polls but the CFO polls equal with women as McCollum and that suggests there is some confusion about her gender given her first name. The issue actually came up on Thursday in the lobby in city hall when someone heard that Alex Sink was coming to the commission meeting. The man in question said, “Where is he?”

The Watchdog Report caught up with Sink after her comments to commissioners on Hurricane preparedness and the growing Deepwater Horizon gusher that is hammering the wetlands in Louisiana and might impact Florida. I asked Sink about the confusion with her first name and the number of women voters splitting evenly in the polls when asked which of the two candidates they preferred. Sink said, “30 percent of the women don’t know I am a woman yet, but trust me,” by this summer, they will know me.

>>> Statement by Gov. Crist regarding Memorial Day

“This Memorial Day Weekend, I join all Floridians in remembering and paying tribute to the courageous men and women throughout our nation’s history who have given their lives to secure our freedom. Their selfless and patriotic service allows us to enjoy the liberties we know and celebrate as Americans today. “Since the Revolutionary War, America’s Armed Forces have defended our God-given rights and upheld the values that make our country the world leader it is now. Our military has established a legacy of raising the hopes of people held captive and oppressed around the globe.

“On Memorial Day, we honor the valor of our service members from the past and present. My heart goes out to the troops serving here and overseas, including our National Guard. Please join me in praying for safety and comfort for them and their families while we enjoy the freedoms they are fighting to protect. “I also encourage all Floridians to join Americans across our nation in participating in the Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time on Monday to reflect on the heroism of our Armed Forces and to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. “May God continue to bless Florida, our nation, our Armed Forces, our veterans and their families.”

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Mayor Alvarez’s remark about symbolism odd given his past profession in law enforcement

A Miami-Herald story www.miamiherald.com about the cars elected leaders are driving down at county Hall is resonating with the general public, if the media has it right, and Mayor Carlos Alvarez’s (Net worth $1.66 million) commented that he will not relinquish his car perk that currently involves getting a new 500 series BMW because he does not believe in symbolic gestures. He told the paper ‘my answer to that is, I am not going to do something that is symbolic.’ The mayor does say eliminating the benefit during these tough economic times ‘is a legitimate question’ and suggests he would do it if others who got cars followed but that is an odd answer. Alvarez, a former director of the Miami-Dade Police Department has spent decades in a profession that is based on honor, ritual and symbolic ceremonies, especially fallen comrades and his belief it would not make a difference is an unusual response for someone that sought and got a strong mayor form of county government where he was to be the person in charge, and would lead by example. The mayor is paid $233,000, he gets another $97,000 in benefits, and this is not chump change in today’s new norm and given the well over $300 million in cuts in next year’s budget. He could have set a better example, or at least explained his reasoning in a more understanding tone when it came to the 29,000, other county employees and taxpayers as a whole.

>>> What about the Commission Rolle ethics complaints?

Last Sunday, the Watchdog Report reported that the county ethics commission hit County Commissioner Dorrin Rolle (Net worth $1.02 million) with four probable cause ethics complaints and while the punishment if the commissioner is found guilty is not that severe. The investigation leading to the charges is a great read and shows what goes on internally in county hall over a few years and how commissioners get the kid glove treatment, even if it could be in violation of the charter. The Miami-Dade Home Rule Charter created in 1957 states that while the commission is the controlling legislative body, especially when it comes to allocating the county’s budget. It is the administration that is charged with the management and running of county services and in this investigation. It is surprising that no one stepped forward to warn someone and say this interference was inappropriate, especially since every county employee since the late 1990s has had to go through ethics training. Check out the memo yourself: >>> Ethics Commission: PROBABLE CAUSE MEMORANDUM To: Commission on Ethics and Public Trust –From Michael P. Murawski, Advocate –Re: Complaint C10- (In Re: Dorrin D. Rolle)..Recommendation: A finding of Probable Cause [1] should be entered in the above captioned matter. Background and Investigation: Respondent is a Miami-Dade County Commissioner who represents District #2 on the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners (BCC). At all times relevant to the complaint time frame, Respondent was employed as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the James E. Scott Center (JESCA). [2] In approximately November 1999, JESCA purchased parcels of land in the 9200 block area to develop a Senior Center. In approximately September 2006 the JESCA Senior Center was still under construction. At approximately that time, Carolyn Gibson (Gibson), a Region 2 Manager for the Miami-Dade County Parks and Recreation department (PRD), happened to be meeting with Respondent in his JESCA office on an unrelated matter. According to Gibson, Respondent told her that JESCA might not be able to line up funding for the Senior Center and proposed turning it over to the PRD to operate. Upon returning to her office, Gibson conveyed Respondent’s proposal to her supervisor, who at the time was Vivian Donnell-Rodriguez, the PRD director (Rodriguez). Rodriguez, in turn, conveyed the information to Assistant County Manager Alex Munoz (Munoz). Munoz replied via e-mail to Rodriguez saying: “What do you need in terms of positions and dollars… I am glad that u (sic) spoke to Commissioner but I need details for Manager …thank you very much.”

The Senior Center issue seemed to lie dormant for a while, however in March 2007, Munoz sent an “urgent” e-mail to Rodriguez and other county staff notifying them of a meeting to be held in Respondent’s office to discuss “JESCA options” for operating funds. A subsequent e-mail from Ray Baker (Baker) dated September 10 2007, indicates that County Manager George Burgess met with Respondent to discuss funding for the JESCA Senior Center some of this funding included funding for fixtures, furniture and equipment; the so called ‘FFE” funding. Subsequent e-mails between County staff, including but not limited to then Acting PRD Director Jack Kardys (Kardys), reveal that funding outlays ranging from $320,000 to $400,000 were being set aside to fund the JESCA Senior Center. On or about March 13, 2007, Respondent met with Assistant County Manager Alex Munoz and discussed what Munoz described as “appropriate ways” by which the County could fund the operations of the JESCA Senior Center including, but not limited to funding for the FFE. On or about September 11, 2007 Respondent spoke with County Manager George Burgess about securing funding for JESCA including, but not limited to funding for the FFE associated with the Senior Center. Respondent violated section 2-11.1(m) and (n) when he meet with County personnel, including but not limited to the County Manager, Assistant County Manager Alex Munoz and/or former PRD staff and sought County funding for, among other things, the James E. Scott Community Association (JESCA) Senior Center. JESCA receives funding from Miami-Dade County. When he first became a County Commissioner in 1998, Respondent was advised by the County Attorney’s Office that he would need to recuse himself on issues involving JESCA in order to avoid any conflicts of interest. Relevant Ordinances: -Section 2-11.1 (g) of the Miami-Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics (the Code) entitled Exploitation of official position prohibited, states, in pertinent part: “No person included in the terms defined in Subsection (b)(1) through (6) shall use or attempt to use his official position to secure special privileges or exemptions for himself or others…” -Section 2-11.1 (m), entitled Certain appearances and payment prohibited, states, in pertinent part: “No person included in the terms defined in Subsections (b)(1), (5) and (6) [commissioners, departmental personnel and employees] shall appear before any County board or agency and make a presentation on behalf of a third person with respect to any …benefit sought by the third person. Nor shall such person receive compensation, directly or indirectly or in any form, for services rendered to third person, who has applied for or is seeking some benefit from the County…” -Section 2-11.1 (n) of the Code reads in pertinent part that: “ No person included in the terms defined in subsections (b)(1) through (6) shall participate in any official action directly or indirectly affecting a business in which he or any member of his immediate family has a financial interest.”[3] >>> www.miamiherald.com ran a local front-page story on Thursday concerning the Rolle matter with the county ethics commission and its investigation.

>>>PAST WDRs, OCT. 2003: At 11:40 a.m. during a committee meeting, commission chambers are totally empty

The county commission had a marathon series of committee meetings last week and some of the meetings were down right boring, but others were explosive with a major exchange-taking place between Commission Dorrin Rolle and Natacha Seijas. Both commissioners are committee chairs and a sharp exchange occurred when Rolle objected at her government operations & environment committee that an item discussed had not been moved properly.

Seijas, chairing the committee said “Mr. Rolle we did move it” and stifled his protest of, “Madame Chair the item was not moved” a number of times and then she relented saying okay “were moving it now” and requested a second. Rolle visible annoyed at being cut off and her attitude and domineering tone after the vote said, “I know this is your meeting but we are supposed to be able to get our concerns,” answered and he had yet to get information from staff he had requested though it had been asked for months earlier.

>>> OCT. 2003: Seijas criticizes people that speak excessively, We talk, talk, talk

Seijas is becoming the dominate speaker at commission and committee meetings and after chairing her own committee that ran almost an hour late she noted it “was almost one o’clock and then blamed the late meeting on “We talk and talk and talk and don’t get the things done” and essentially blamed other commissioners for the long meeting.

Seijas also has become an ardent critic of practically any program that Mayor Alex Penelas supports and recently signaled out the funding for a juvenile crime program supported by the mayor. The commissioner is likely not to face any opposition in her 2004 re-election campaign after she trounced former state Sen. Roberto Casas in 2000.

>>> OCT. 2003: Not a single person was in the audience for an important committee meeting

The Budget and Finance Committee met Thursday morning and discussed a number of important issues, but at one point at 11:40 a.m., not a single person was in the chambers watching commissioners. The committee system was created by the commission last year and it is here that the public gets to speak on issues, but people are not taking advantage of it and legislation is going through with little public tweaking. Commission Chair Barbara Carey-Shuler has tried to let the public know that it is at the committees where public input is welcome and not at a full board meeting. The committees were set up to hear the minutia of a issue and offering greater discussion on a item but the general public still does not get this.

>>> Press release: Gov. Crist announced the appointment of Andrea Ricker Wolfson to Miami-Dade County Court.

“Andrea is a committed public servant with nearly 10 years of experience under her belt,” said Governor Crist. “Her character and desire to serve will continue to be tremendous asset to the legal community and our state as she takes the bench.” Wolfson, 37, has been an assistant state attorney with the 11th Judicial Circuit since 2001. She previously taught legal writing as a teaching assistant at Chicago-Kent College of Law from 2000 to 2001. Wolfson earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, master’s degree in biological sciences from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and law degree from the Chicago Kent College of Law. Wolfson will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Amy Karan. >>> Editor’s note: Wolfson is in no way related to the me.

>>> Recent reports done by the Miami-Dade Inspector General’s office: Miami-Dade Office of the Inspector General releases its 2009 Annual Report. >>> Final Audit Report re: Audit of Miami-Dade County Metrozoo Commodity Purchases and Appendices, Ref. IG09-50A, May 19, 2010.

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Commissioner Gunzburger faces off against state Sen. Geller; how low will they go as election draws closer in Aug.?

The Watchdog Report did a quick review of the Broward Commission District 6 race that has long serving incumbent Commissioner Sue Gunzburger (Net worth $1.34 million) facing former state Sen. Steven Geller, D- Hallandale Beach (Net worth $1.24 million). Gunzburger has been a fixture on the commission for over a decade and Geller in the state legislature rose to become the Minority Leader in the senate. She works in real estate, he is an attorney and lobbyist, and his lobbying activities have drawn criticism over the years. The commissioner has raised $243,000 for her campaign war chest and she has spent $75,000 through April 7. The attorney has worked since 2008 to raise money for his campaign and through a similar time period. He has raised $145,000 and spent $18,000 through April 12.

Local political pundits believe the race will get nasty as the election draws closer and both are seasoned politicians and district voters should check out both candidates thoroughly for the stakes to your community have never been higher as Broward faces its biggest budget crisis since the county was formed. Since both candidates are Democrats, the real election will be Aug. 24 and Broward has over Democratic 544,000 voters, compared to 244,000 Republicans, and there is another 242,000 that are independents or other party affiliations bringing the total county electorate to 1,030,838 voters as of Friday.

POLK COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Crist announced the appointment of Judge Beth Harlan, Judge Mark Hofstad and Wayne Durden to the 10th Judicial Circuit Court.

“Beth’s extensive legal knowledge from her more than 20 years practicing law both publicly and privately will be crucial as she takes the bench,” said Governor Crist. “I am confident her integrity and sense of fairness will serve the people of the 10th Circuit justly.” Judge Harlan, 51, has served as a Polk County judge since 2006. Previously, she was a sole practitioner from 1998 to 2006; an assistant Polk County attorney from 1985 to 1998; an assistant attorney general in the Lakeland office of the Attorney General from 1983 to 1995; and a research attorney with the Second District Court of Appeal from 1981 to 1983. Harlan earned both her bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Florida.

“Mark is a committed public servant with a high ethical standard and solid work ethic,” said Governor Crist. “He is guided by a strong conscience and personal and professional integrity that make him well-equipped to take the bench.” Judge Hofstad, 57, has served as a Judge of Compensation Claims since 2000. Previously, he was staff counsel to Fireman’s Fund Insurance from 1990 to 2000 and an assistant state attorney in the 10th Judicial Circuit from 1985 to 1990. Hofstad earned his bachelor’s degree from Moorhead State College in Minnesota and law degree from McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific in California.

“Wayne’s commitment to his community combined with his over two decades experience will be an asset to the people of the 10th Judicial Circuit,” said Governor Crist. “His determination, respect for the law and established career in public service will be invaluable as he serves from the bench.” Durden, 51, has served as an assistant state attorney in the 10th Judicial Circuit since 1987. Previously, he practiced privately with Donald Kaltenbach P.A. from 1985 to 1987 and as an assistant state attorney with the Sixth Judicial Circuit from 1982 to 1985. Durden earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida and law degree at Stetson University. >>> Harlan, Hofstad and Durden will fill the vacancies created by the retirements of Judge Dick Prince, Judge Randall G. McDonald and Judge Robert L. Doyel.

KISSIMMEE COUNTY

>>> Gov. Crist suspends county commissioner Irizarry after domestic violence charge, #39 removal for governor

There he goes again, Gov. Charlie Crist (Net worth $466,000) has suspended Kissimmee County commissioner Carlos Irizarry after he was charged with aggravated assault and domestic violence violations. This is Crist’s 39^th suspension since he took office in Jan. 2009 and has concerned the governor enough that a state grand jury is studying the state’s “Culture of Corruption” looking to see the prevalence and scope of wayward elected leaders. >>> Press release: Governor’s Executive Orders 10-116: Executive Orders 10-116, suspending Carlos Irizarry, Kissimmee County commissioner.

VOLUSIA COUNTY

>>> Press release: Governor Charlie Crist today announced the appointment of Bryan A. Feigenbaum of Ormando Beach to Volusia County Court.

“Bryan’s two decades of experience combined with his personal and professional integrity will serve him well as he takes the bench,” said Governor Crist. “I am confident Bryan will serve the people with fairness and compassion.” Feigenbaum, 44, has been an assistant state attorney with the Seventh Judicial Circuit since 1990. Feigenbaum earned his bachelor’s degree from Davidson College in North Carolina and law degree from the University of Florida. Feigenbaum will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John Roger Smith.

CHARLOTTE COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Crist appointed John L. Burns of Port Charlotte to the Charlotte County Court.

“John has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to carefully and fairly analyze and present evidence, and I am confident he will weigh each matter that comes before the bench in the same unbiased manner,” Governor Crist said. “During his 15 years as a prosecutor with extensive courtroom experience, he has shown the highest level of integrity while interpreting and applying the rule of law.” Burns, 42, has served as an assistant state attorney with the 20^th Judicial Circuit Court since 1995. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Florida State University and a law degree from the University of Puget Sound/Seattle University School of Law. Burns will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge W. Wayne Woodard effective August 31, 2010.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Crist recognized Bonnie Ciegler of Key West as a Governor’s Point of Light.

“Bonnie’s dedication to preserving Key West’s natural resources sets a positive example of community leadership,” Governor Crist said. “Her service in promoting environmental awareness will continue to have an impact for many years to come.” For 19 years, Ciegler has been a volunteer at the Fort Zachary Taylor Historic Park in Key West. With extensive knowledge of plant and animal life and fort history, she has created many educational opportunities to visitors and staff at the park. Ciegler has also trained and led numerous groups in exotic plant removal projects. Her knowledge of landscaping and utility installation inspired her to create and cultivate a butterfly garden onsite. For more information on Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park please visit www.fortzacharytaylor.com. “Bonnie has been an integral part of Fort Taylor since 1991,” said David Foster, park manager of Fort Zachary Taylor Historic Park. “She is a valued member of our park family and a tremendous asset, good friend and volunteer who epitomizes what the spirit of giving is all about.” >>> AAA Auto Club South is the supporting sponsor of the Governor’s Points of Light Award. Walt Disney World is an in-kind supporter. This program recognizes Florida residents who demonstrate exemplary service to the community. Award recipients are announced weekly. A panel of judges comprised of leaders in the areas of volunteerism and service evaluate all nominations and make recommendations to the Governor. Florida’s Foundation manages the program. For more information, or to submit a nomination, go to www.FloridasFoundation.org.

>>> Press release: Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a senior Member of the Florida Congressional Delegation and a staunch opponent of off shore oil drilling, hosted a Tele-Townhall on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and its implications for Florida’s economy and environment. Hundreds of residents from Monroe County took part in this forum organized by the Congresswoman.

Participants who took part in the Tele-Townhall included: Ray Dempsey, BP; Captain Pat DeQuattro, Commander of Coast Guard Sector Key West; Sean Morton, Superintendent of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary; Dr. Roy Crabtree, NOAA Fisheries for the South Atlantic Region; Rick Mossman, Incident Commander for the National Park Service; Dr. Bob Atlas, Director of NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML); Mark Robson, Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries Management, Florida Fish & Wildlife; Dr. Hans Graber, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (UM); Dr. Peter Ortner, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (UM); Dr. Patrick Rice, Dean of Marine Science & Technology, Florida Keys Community College; Roman Gastesi, Monroe County Administrator; and Liz Compton, Office of Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson.

Said Ros-Lehtinen, “I was pleased to host this Tele-Townhall because it gave residents in Monroe County the opportunity to ask direct questions from the participants who are all experts in the crucial areas related to the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The Florida Keys have been lucky that oil has yet to wash ashore, but it is our responsibility to be prepared and ready for any eventual outcome. I appreciate the participation of all involved. I will continue to do my very best to make sure that we all receive the latest information on the oil spill.”

>>> Administrator Gastesi says come on down to Keys, “Water is extremely clear for diving”

The Watchdog Report contacted County Administrator Roman Gastesi. Please let everyone know that we are open for business, the water is extremely clear for diving, and the early season dolphin fishing is one of the best in many years…come on down,!” wrote the veteran administrator and former water czar for Miami-Dade years ago. For more information about what is going on in the Keys go to :>>> The Monroe County tourism council continues to update its http://www.fla-keys.com <http://www.fla-keys.com> website with information regarding the spill and its relationship to the Keys. On the website are NOAA forecast tracking maps, a map showing the spill site in relation to the Keys, links to area webcams and more. TDC social media sites include: http://www.keysvoices.com • http://twitter.com/thefloridakeys • http://www.facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest >> Spill-related websites, primarily focusing on affected areas, include:
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com • http://www.noaa.gov

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Supt. Carvalho and founding GM MacCullough fire back at Friends of WLRN Chair Altman’s comments last week

Alberto M. Carvalho, the school district’s superintendent has responded to Janet K. Altman, the chair of Friends of WLRN response last week reported in the Watchdog Report www.watchdogreport.net and he writes. “Throughout the last 20 months, the intent of this administration has been to be a good steward of taxpayers’ dollars. When the whole issue of Friends of WLRN came before the Audit Committee, many questions were raised, and it became apparent that work needs to be done to ensure that the dollars raised in support of WLRN are doing just that—maximizing the benefits of public television and radio for the public,” wrote Carvalho.

Further, another knowledgeable Watchdog Report reader, Don MacCullough wrote the following: “You may remember that I was General Manager of WLRN for more than twenty years. Together with Bea Myers, Petey Cox and others I was part of the group that founded Friends and wrote its original bylaws, so I bring some special knowledge of the history and purpose of Friends to the discussion. As General Manager of WLRN from the 1970’s until 1995, and at the time Friends of WLRN was founded, it is distressing to read Friends Chairman’s comments on the relationship between Friends and the School Board. Friends was founded to be the vehicle to raise funds to support programming directed to the general community. It has also become a vehicle for financial activity, such as funding new program initiatives that would be impossible for the School Board to carryout expeditiously.

Mrs. Altman’s emphasis on the “independence’ of Friends is misguided. Friends was never intended to have that degree of independence. It was intended only that Friends should be the fund raising arm of WLRN and a responsible repository for the funds raised from the community and from certain grants. Friends was not chartered to make decisions as to how the funds should be spent or for any other purpose. Friends is not to be compared to those “independent” local charities that raise funds based on the services they, themselves, provide. Friends, in contrast, provides no service other than to raise funds solely for WLRN and its fund-raising efforts are based entirely on services provided by WLRN Radio and Television. In fact, a very large proportion is raised by on-air appeals broadcast on those two stations. The obvious question is, “Would anyone contribute to Friends based on the intrinsic value of the service it provides to the community?”

How those funds raised by Friends are to be spent is governed by the a national statement of policy, Editorial l Integrity in Public Broadcasting, adopted nationally by public broadcasting station boards, and by the School Board in the late 1980’s. That policy dictates specific oversight, support, and fiduciary responsibilities to the Board including to employ a professional manager who shall have the sole authority, within Board Rule, to make programming decision and as to how funds shall be spent to support that programming. That policy insures that neither a funds raising organization, special interests, nor politics should have the capacity to influence programming decisions. Mrs. Altman’s’ perspective of Friends” independence” challenges the roles and responsibilities of the School Board and the General Manager and is wrong. Her statement that no funding request from the stations has ever been refused assumes that Friends has the authority to “refuse.” Friends was never intended to have that right, and. it is apparently an authority that the Friends Board has taken unwittingly, or perhaps with purpose, unto itself. This controversy should be quickly ended with the Friends Board of Directors entering into an operating agreement with Board that includes the requisite Board oversight, and, that limits Friend’s role to an efficient and low cost fund raising effort and serving as the repository for the funds raised until they are needed to support the programming goals of WLRN. The Friends Board insists that is acting in the interest of the stations. Instead by pursuing a factually and historically unsustainable position, it puts at risk the good will that WLRN-Radio and Television have earned over more than twenty–five years,” wrote MacCullough, the WLRN Founding General Manager.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Commissioner Souto & Dean Goldschmidt call for local businesses and county employees with insurance to use Jackson!

Javier Souto, (Net worth $856,000) the Miami-Dade Commissioner at Monday’s PHT board meeting made a remarkable recommendation about one way the public hospital system might be helped during these tough financial times for the institution. He suggested that business and more public workers who have health insurance should use the facilities and given there are some 29,000 public servants at the county alone, a massive outreach to these people could draw in new paying patients he thought. Souto said the perception in the community is “you only come here to die or after a tremendous accident” and while “that is the consensus out there [with many in the public], it is wrong,” he said. “Bring people here [to the main Jackson campus] give them some food and show them the campus” and show these business employees that “no one is killed here,” and it is “a safe area,” he suggested. The over 90-year old plus public hospital system is “owned by the people of Miami-Dade County and let industry” such as “banks and American Airlines bring there employees” here to see for themselves. He believes “some sort of engagement between the people and the hospital” was necessary and if this was not done. Jackson “will never be what it could be,” he intoned. Further, University of Miami Miller Medical School Dean Pascal Goldschmidt, M.D., suggested one way to start this introduction to the health trust’s medical capabilities was to get “Miami-Dade County employees to get their healthcare here,” he suggested. >>> On Sunday, a full-page open letter to the Miami-Dade community ran in The Miami Herald signed by Jackson Health System’s Medical Executive Committee who represents the 2,000 members of the medical staff and their commitment to the health of the community and the medical strides the health trust has made over the years. This upbeat letter campaign must continue in the future, if the trust over time, is going to change the perception some in the community have, and that in fact Jackson is a community medical jewel. www.miamiherrald.com

What else happened at the PHT board meeting?

>>> Neurosurgeon Green is awarded UM President’s Medal for work in Haiti after devastating Jan. 12 earthquake

Miller Medical School Dean Pascal Goldschmidt, M.D. told trustees and the public that for the first time in the University of Miami’s medical schools history. A member of the medical faculty, Barth A. Green, M.D. was awarded the prestigious UM President’s Medal for his work in Haiti after the Jan. 12 devastating earthquake that killed hundreds of thousands of adults and children. Green spearheaded the setting–up of a field hospital and getting medical volunteers from around the world to come to the country and give aide and medical care. Barth a world-renowned neurosurgeon has spent his life studying paralysis seeking a cure, and he is co-founder of the university’s The Project to Cure Paralysis unit.

>>> Goldschmidt also said the university and hospital were working with physicians and hospitals in Latin America. He noted they “were increasingly interested in developing a relationship,” including Kidney and other organ transplants and they “would have partner in the U.S. The cardiologist also said the top medical schools for Spanish speakers were “Stanford University and the University of Miami.”

>>> The Dean also said the UM medical school recently graduated 155 new physicians at the commencement ceremony. He also noted the importance of research and the listing of the medical school in a national magazine and these rankings “have never been higher.” www.miami.med

>>> Second class of medical school has 43 students, Heart surgeon Harrison from Baptist Health is university’s chief of specialty service

Florida International University’s new medical school Dean John Rock, M.D., www.fiu.edu told trustees that the second class of new students had been selected, and 43 students would start their first year of training in August. He noted that 80 percent of the students were of minority status, and that 10 of the future physicians were from Miami-Dade. Rock recently brought on the medical school’s faculty, Lynn Harrison Jr., M.D. as the medical schools chief of the division of cardiothoracic surgery and professor of clinical cardiovascular surgery. Harrison will give the keynote speech when this class of medical students participates in the White Coat Ceremony in August and he is Baptist Health’s clinical director of cardiac surgery www.baptisthealth.net .

>>> PHT board vice Chair Medina thanks Commissioner Joe Martinez for note

Angel Medina, the board’s vice chair noted the letter from Miami-Dade County Commissioner Joe Martinez thanking them for their service on the highly publicized organization was most appreciated. “This was a very fine letter” from the commissioner and he believed it was “nice to hear something good for all the work we do.” Martinez in his letter sent to all trustees, noted the board when they voted on issues was only as well informed as the administration allowed in the past, and he appreciated their commitment on the board. The trustees are just citizens who have volunteered, and most put in well over 30-hours a month on their duties and is why I am so demanding when one of their number is not pulling his weight. Medina, a former Regions Bank senior executive has really put in his time over the years, including being early at important meetings, and he and I frequently sat on the floor outside the West Wing Board room at about 7:30 a.m. waiting for it to become available over the years.

>>> Public notice: June 4: 10:30 a.m. – Miami-Dade County & Public Health Trust Mgmt. Team

Mayor Carlos Alvarez is meeting with top PHT management and the chair of the 17-member PHT board on June 4, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Conference Room 29A on the 29^th floor of the Stephen P. Clark Government Center downtown. It is open to the public and press. A Sunshine Meeting between Miami-Dade County and the Public Health Trust (PHT) Management Team has been scheduled to review ‘Jackson Health Systems operational, budgetary and financial matters.’ The Honorable Miami-Dade County Mayor, Carlos Alvarez; County Manager, George Burgess; Assistant County Manager, Alina Hudak; President and CEO of Jackson Health System, Dr. Eneida O. Roldan, and Public Health Trust Chairman, John H. Copeland, III, will be in attendance.

>>> Press release: Jackson Health System Committed to Training Reassigned Nursing Staff -Plan Includes Specialty Internships

Jackson Health System (JHS) is committed to providing the highest level of safe, quality care to all of its patients. JHS has several training programs in place to evaluate the competency and skills of its nursing staff. Jackson’s Department of Education and Development provides a variety of specialty internships for nurses, including critical care, medical-surgical, pediatric, operating room and emergency nursing. The internships vary in length from 12 to 16 weeks and are modified to meet the specific needs of the participants. The nurses take part in classroom didactic presentations and simulations, as well as guided clinical experiences targeted at the specific skills required for the clinical areas in which the nurse will be working. Nurse Educators on the units coordinate the clinical experiences to reinforce the knowledge gained in the classroom.

During this orientation process, the nurse is assigned a preceptor, or buddy, who has experience in the area. The preceptor works closely with the nurse to ensure mastery of the technical, interpersonal and critical thinking skills required to excel in today’s complex health care environment. Nurses are also offered psychosocial support throughout the process. The Jackson nurses who were reassigned to different positions within the health system, as part of the recent workforce reduction and bumping process per union contracts, are currently engaged in this orientation process. “Our nurses are recognized nationally and internationally for their healthcare expertise,” said Eneida O. Roldan, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., president & CEO of Jackson Health System. “The public can rest assured that they will continue to receive the excellent care that Jackson is known for.” On March 31, 2010, the first group of nurses impacted by recent position changes completed their re-training program. The three-month program, coordinated by JHS Education and Development, included a comprehensive overview of medical-surgical topics and skills. Participants received classroom instruction, simulation exercises, clinical preceptorship, rounding and frequent support group sessions. The nurses, who were primarily from Jackson North Medical Center’s mental health unit, rose to the challenge and demonstrated flexibility and resiliency.

Mary Ann Villanueva, R.N., says the orientation prepared her for her new position as a neurotrauma nurse at Jackson Memorial Hospital. “The educators were very knowledgeable and helped make the transition very smooth,” said Villanueva, who formerly worked as a nurse at Jackson North’s mental health unit. “I still have great trust and faith in Jackson.” The mission of Jackson’s Department of Education and Development is to support the goals of the organization by strengthening the competency of the clinical staff. JHS believes that the dynamic nature of today’s healthcare environment requires that all employees engage in continuous learning. The evidence shows that this type of professional development is directly linked to effective performance, positive patient outcomes and the financial viability of the organization.

>>> Press release: JACKSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL RECEIVES ITS FIRST DIRECT RESEARCH AWARD –Grant Aimed at Developing Model to Reduce Inpatient Suicide and Suicide Attempts

This week, Jackson Memorial Hospital received its first direct research award to plan a patient safety and medical liability reform initiative that targets in-hospital suicides and suicide attempts. The research, led by a psychologist and physician at Jackson Mental Health Hospital, is aimed at preventing and improving assessment of the risk of in-patient suicide in a large, public healthcare system, such as Jackson Health System. The $300,000 grant is being awarded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for a one-year period. “This is a significant accomplishment for Jackson Health System and is a testament to our commitment to improving health care in our community and beyond,” said Eneida O. Roldan, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., president and chief executive officer of Jackson Health System. “I commend our highly trained staff at Jackson Mental Health Hospital for their hard work and dedication to patient safety.”

The investigators of this grant are Nicoletta B. Tessler, Psy.D., an attending psychologist at Jackson Mental Health Hospital, and Karin Esposito, M.D., Ph.D., associate chief medical officer of mental health and the interim associate chief medical officer and interim chief of service for ambulatory and corrections health at Jackson Health System. “Despite the enormous challenges facing JHS, this grant demonstrates to our patients and the community that we have not lost sight of our mission, which is to continually evolve as individuals and as a healthcare institution by remaining steadfast in our commitment to push ourselves to new heights,” said Dr. Tessler, who also serves as interim director of training and research at Jackson Mental Health Hospital, as well as the program director for adult outpatient service and the chair of the Suicide Prevention Committee at Jackson Memorial Hospital. “The utility of our research findings and procedures used to minimize suicide risk will have positive implications for improving clinical practice in healthcare institutions, such as saving lives and preventing medical errors.”

This grant will provide Jackson researchers with the opportunity to study the immediate need to develop and test an innovative model to reduce inpatient suicide. The new model, Initiative to Reduce Inpatient Suicide (I.R.I.S.), has four key components: staff and training, patient care, environmental safety and incident reporting. I.R.I.S. is aimed at effectively assessing, planning and treating at-risk patients so that patient safety and self-harm prevention is achieved, while also reducing medical liability that is directly related to inpatient suicide attempts and suicides. If successful, the study would implement a specific approach that could be replicated at various other healthcare facilities. To connect patient safety and medical liability, the proposed research proposes a parallel initiative, I.R.I.S.-Medical Liability Reform (I.R.I.S.-M.L.R.), to gather information through focus groups and surveys from internal and external stakeholders (legislators, accreditation bodies, insurance companies, lawyers and physicians). The goal is to generate options about how to reform medical liability and be more responsive to patient safety, to investigate major patient safety failures, to explore how the I.R.I.S. model can be used to reform medical liability and to create a plan to form workgroups across communities and health care systems to improve patient safety protocols.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Budget worries continue to plague city, is bankruptcy in the wings since a tax increase is out of the question

The Watchdog Report last week was given a multi page document that described the city of Miami’s financial future and its liabilities, and the idea of having the municipality go into bankruptcy is not that far fetched, unless significant reductions in costs, across the board including cuts in the city’s pension payments are achieved in the months ahead. The document titled Budget Crisis Breakdown, state’s with the city dealing with a $90 million shortfall this year. If dramatic actions are not taken, with raising taxes out of the question, up to 800 public workers of the city’s 4,000 would be let go. Commission Chair Marc Sarnoff (Net worth $2.28 million) had the breakdown done and he continues to raise the fiscal alarm fairly consistently at commission meetings, along with the other commissioners that include attorney Francis Suarez; Frank Carollo a CPA; Willy Gort a financial investment banker, and Rev. Richard Dunn, the newest member on the five-member body. The new commission has been dealt a tough set of cards after former Mayor Manuel “Manny” Diaz (Net worth $1.8 million) left for office that had the city over a number of years spending more than was taken in, even with a red-hot economy and property tax base increase that jumped countywide to 21.3 percent a one point a few years back.

What is going on with Commissioner Sarnoff’s campaign?

Sarnoff, about ten days ago had a well-attended campaign fundraiser at the Four Seasons Hotel on Brickell. The veteran commissioner, who started out as a Grove activist, is up for reelection in November 2011 and in the future. He will also have a hand in the shape of commission District-2 after the 2010 Census numbers are compiled. The Miami Commission will then draw new districts for themselves after the census numbers become available on March 2011. Sarnoff first won as an outsider beating appointed Miami Commissioner Linda Haskins in 2006 in a race that only can be described as viscous, and expensive with the losing commissioner spending over $700,000 in the contentious race that Sarnoff won by a two-to-one margin. For this upcoming contest, it is clear the commissioner will be doing some serious fundraising, a tactic that generally tamps down potential challengers from emerging.

>>> Press release: City of Miami Multi-Year Budget Analysis submitted by Public Financial Management (PFM) Information is used as source material:Public Financial Management Report For City of Miami Local Media has been very proactive reporting on this important issue and getting the facts to the public. Here are links to the coverage: NBC 6 Budget Coverage — CBS 4 Budget Coverage

>>> The following e-mail was sent to (now former) Mayor Manny Diaz using his e-mail address on his extensive city web-page on Sept. 13, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. and to date there has been no answer from the mayor. It currently goes to his new e-mail address.>>> “Mayor Diaz, I wanted to ask you in the chamber today but not in front of Chair Joe Sanchez. My question is where did the extra $400,000 in the 2007 disclosure form come from? I will run what ever you respond unedited but I would appreciate closing this issue, as I am sure you do. Sorry but I have to ask. Best to all. Dan” >>>> The Watchdog Report through Dec.7 has yet to get a response or catch-up with Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz on where he got the extra $400,000 in cash listed in his 2007 financial disclosure forms. To see what CBS 4 reporter David Sutta’s take on this issue and the other city leaders financial disclosures go to cbs4.com Blogs . >>> Readers should stay tuned and catch the meeting on the city’s cable station channel 77. >>> Stream Channel 77, for all City of Miami meetings, (Commission, Village Council meetings, Waterfront, Zoning, PAB, Code, etc. hearings) http://videos.miamigov.com/

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Feds pop Beach hotel developers, get charged with tax fraud

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Assistant Attorney General John DiCicco, and Daniel W. Auer, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, announced that defendants Mauricio Cohen Assor and his son, Leon Cohen-Levy, each with residences in Miami Beach, Fla., have been charged with conspiring to defraud the United States and filing false tax returns. Both defendants have been ordered detained pending trial. According to court documents, the two men and their co-conspirators used nominees and shell companies formed in tax haven jurisdictions, including the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, Panama, Liechtenstein and Switzerland to conceal their assets and income from the IRS. In order to further conceal their assets and income from the IRS, court documents state the men also provided false and forged documents to banks, opened bank accounts in the name of nominees, titled their personal residences and luxury vehicles in the name of shell companies, filed false and fraudulent tax returns, failed to file other tax returns, suborned perjury in a civil matter pending before the New York Supreme Court by directing individuals to testify falsely under oath, and induced other individuals to make false statements to federal law enforcement agents. According to court documents, Mauricio Cohen Assor and Leon Cohen-Levy were the developers and owners of several residential hotels known by the trade name Flatotel International. In 2000, the defendants sold one of their New York hotels and generated proceeds of $33 million. The income earned from the sale of the hotel was never reported on United States tax returns by the Cohens or by any of their related entities.

According to court documents, among the assets and income the Cohens concealed from the IRS are a $45 million investment portfolio, a condominium at Trump World Tower in New York City that was worth as much as $10 million, the personal residence of Mauricio Cohen Assor on Fisher Island in Miami Beach worth approximately $20 million, the personal residence of defendant Leon Cohen Levy in Miami Beach worth approximately $26 million, the personal residence of the daughter of Mauricio Cohen Assor in Bal Harbor, Fla., commercial properties valued in excess of $55 million in Miami Beach, luxury vehicles, including a Rolls Royce Phantom, a Porsche Carrera GT, a Bentley, a Ferrari Testarossa, a BMW Z8, a Dodge Viper, a limousine and a $1.2 million helicopter. >> A criminal indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, the Cohens each face a maximum of 14 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million, plus being ordered to pay tax, penalties and interest. Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Acting Assistant Attorney General John DiCicco commended the investigative efforts of the IRS agents involved in this case, as well as Senior Litigation Counsel Kevin M. Downing and Trial Attorneys Mark F. Daly and John E. Sullivan of the Tax Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Neiman, who are prosecuting the case. More information about the Justice Department’s Tax Division and its enforcement efforts is available at www.usdoj.gov/tax/. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

>>> Press release: Memorial Day Weekend: Miami Beach Police Athletic League, 999 11 Street (Flamingo Park) Miami Beach

Deployment of first team of Goodwill Ambassadors. This year, we have a record number of volunteers, about 300, that will serve as liaisons between the City of Miami Beach and the visitors. The ambassadors provide information and help visitors remain informed on pertinent laws and dispel any confusion working on eight-hour shifts throughout the weekend. The City of Miami Beach established the Goodwill Ambassador Program in 2001 as part of Miami Beach’s major events plan to assist City staff during major events and holiday weekends. The City of Miami Beach works closely with Miami-Dade County’s Office of Community Relations to expand the program. Volunteers consist of City of Miami Beach employees, Miami-Dade County employees and members of the clergy (God Squad).

>>> City press release: Memorial Day Weekend 2010 – Miami Beach Community Information – Miami Beach will once again play host to many visitors over the holiday weekend. To ensure everyone’s safety, enjoyment and cooperation of quality of life issues, the City of Miami Beach will be implementing its Major Events Plan (MEP) that enhances staffing and services over the weekend. Click here > to read more about the plan and restrictions to traffic and parking. Click here <https://mail.miamibeachfl.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103414337039%26s=847%26e=001XP5TMcDTKeOpri2ktewJ6x8t8mOUBHkFM_mj6FwOvgJfs87eHmjRsdRkiLy9apCQxbdS7dcGNit8bH1Sg8dlNAvSXq8o58X1zyLYihb3ajS1_S-znLl-WSuoRaBeYud5yz1WKs4DU9XiPUumqLax6qcnY0Tjsa1-1mg9nKvlrXk=> to read more about the plan and restrictions to traffic and parking. >>> Information hotline: 305.604.CITY >>> Tourism hotline: 305.673.7400 — COMMUNITY NOTICE: http://web.miamibeachfl.gov/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=58503

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Will rental bike kiosks pop-up in the Gables, Deco Bike about to start on the Beach, Cabrera hopes so

Ralph Cabrera, Jr., the Coral Gables commissioner and avid bike rider suggested a plan Tuesday at the commission meeting that the city emulate what is about to be tried on Miami Beach in the coming months concerning bicycle rentals. The commissioner said that city commission last year passed and put out a RFP for a company to set up kiosks where bikes are available for rent at a number of popular locations where you need them to also return you to your starting point. Cabrera said this type of thing is being done all over Europe and it is very popular. On the Beach, the program is called “Deco Bike” and while not yet instituted said Nannette Rodriguez, a Miami Beach media spokeswoman. The city’s leaders are excited about the introduction of more bikes and less cars on the busy city streets. Cabrera also said the city hoped over a “24 month period” to bring in a projected $2 million in revenue but Rodriguez would not confirm that dollar amount as accurate.

What about the $155 million unfunded pension fund?

A reliable source last week told me the city’s unfunded pension obligation for the year was $155 to $160 million and even after arbitration and mediation no solution has been settled on between the administration and its union members.

>>> Press release: City Unveils Renovations At Riviera Park — The City of Coral Gables invites the entire community to attend a ceremony on Tuesday, June 1, at 5 p.m. to celebrate the completion of Riviera Park’s extensive renovations. Located at 6611 Yumuri Street, Riviera Park underwent renovations which began last June and included the demolition and removal of concrete walkways, new electric light poles, site furniture, new playground with synthetic flooring, fencing, landscaping and irrigation system. The park also has a new gazebo and exercise trail with stations. Funding for this project was made possible by a $250,000 grant from the Florida Recreational Development Assistance Program and approximately $135,000 from Miami-Dade County’s General Obligation Bond. After the ceremony, light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact the Office of Public Affairs at 305-460-5205.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Press release: Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club — Meeting Date: Tuesday, June 1st, 2010 -Meeting Time: 8:30 AM, Meeting Place: David’s Café II, 1654 Meridian Ave., South Beach

Gwen Margolis, past President of the Florida Senate, and current candidate for the open Senate seat of Dan Gelber, will be this weeks guest speaker at the June 1st meeting of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club. Senator Margolis has had a long and distinguished career in Florida politics, starting with her election to the Florida House of Representatives in 1974, where she was subsequently re-elected to three additional terms. Her career in the Florida Senate started in 1980, and in 1990 she became the first women in the United States to serve as President of any state Senate. In 1994 she was elected to the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners , where she served six of her eight years as its Chairman. In 2002 she returned to the Florida Senate, and today, in 2010, she is once again running as a Senate candidate in the August Democrat primary. >>> Everyone is welcome to attend. David Kelsey, Moderator for the Breakfast Club For more information contact David Kelsey. To be placed on the Breakfast Club’s mailing list, contact Harry Cherry. Both can be reached at TuesdayMorningBreakfastClub@Yahoo.com Visit our new web site at: www.MBTMBC.com (Miami Beach Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club).

>>> Press release: Women of True Grit and tribute to Roxcy Bolton –When: Thursday, June 3 at 8:00 p.m., Where: Books & Books, 265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables, 305-442-4408 – Cost: Admission is free –Reception Celebrating Roxcy Bolton’s inclusion in the new book: Women of True Grit Books & Books

Coral Gables Store, 265 Aragon Avenue; Coral Gables, FL 33134 –June 3, 2010 -7:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. >>> Sponsored by the Women’s History Coalition of Miami-Dade County, Inc. (Prior to Edie Hand and Tina Savas’ presentation of Women of True Grit) In honor of Roxcy Bolton, Women’s History Coalition of Miami-Dade County, Inc. is sponsoring reception prior to the presentation of the book by its authors. You are invited to meet Roxcy and enjoy light refreshments and a cash bar in the Coral Gables Books and Books from 7:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. At 8:00 p.m., the authors, Edie Hand and Tina Savas, will discuss their book, Women of True Grit. Sponsored by The Women’s History Coalition of Miami Dade County, Inc.

EDITORIALS

>>> Watchdog Report gives Miami Today a Tip of the Hat on paper’s 28^th Anniversary June 2

Miami Today’s 28^th Anniversary is coming-up and that is something South Florida residents should celebrate since the media overall is in a recession and these celebrations are a big deal and a Tip of the Hat is deserved to Michael Lewis and his team of reporters. www.miamitodaynews.com The weekly publication is free and is widely read by tens of thousands of leaders and community shakers and while light on in house investigative stories. The paper every week reports on a wide swath of news that should be of interest to many South Floridians.

I write about the paper’s longevity because it is important and means the final product is appreciated and fills a news niche at a time other papers and television heavyweights either scale back or just shut the door and close. Since the Watchdog Report is only 11 years old. I look at the age of The Miami Herald at 107 years, The Miami Times well over 80 years old, The Miami New Times about 30-years and then there is Miami Today founded on June 2, 1983 and like the Eveready news Bunny. The paper keeps on going in an environment that over the years throws up numerous obstacles in the way when it comes to survival as a business entity and Lewis and his team should be proud of that fact. For the sacrifices made over the centuries in American Blood and Treasure to ensure a free and vibrant press can only be sustained by the continuation of papers like Miami Today and I wish all at the weekly-continued success in bringing the news in an independent way to the residents of South Florida.

>>>PAST WDR: Sept. 2003: PAST WDR: It is some ones money, government leaders and their administrations should remember that!

At the city of Miami Beach Special Commission meeting last week, one commissioner discussing the BayLink project said that how they voted was no problem since it was not the city’s money. Well commissioner, it is someone’s money and elected leaders and their administration should remember that fact. The most egregious example of that thinking occurred back in 1999 at county hall when during a commission meeting former county aviation director Gary Delappa told county commissioners that concerning a $1.2 billion overrun and change in scope and plans at Miami International Airport that they needed not to worry since “its not county money.” At the time, the Watchdog Report publisher spoke as a citizen and said that I came from the private sector and if it had been me, I would have been on my knees begging to keep my job. Months later at a Metropolitan Planning Organization, when Delappa kept making the reference that it was not county money that had been lost. Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez finally cut him off saying, “Well Gary it is someone’s money and you had better find out whose it is.”

Public money is everyone’s money and be it federal, state or local tax dollars that money belongs to all of us and elected officials and their administrations should always remember that important fact. At a time, that security costs are going thought the roof, the frugal use of our tax dollars is even more critical and elected leaders must lift the bar in their stewardship of public funds and being more accountable for how this money is spent under their watch. The public puts their trust in their governments and elected officials should remember that if voters are not to remind them later at the polls.

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LETTER POLICY

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

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

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Watchdog Report Vol.11 No. 3 May 23, 2010 – Celebrating my 11th Anniversary since May 5th

editor — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:36:54 +0000

CONTENTS

Argus Report: U.S. Atty. Ferrer honored by county, committed to fight fraud, public corruption; will these federal activities touch the counties?

Florida: Are gubernatorial candidates McCollum, Sink, Dockery and Scott resonating with voters, appears lukewarm so far

Miami-Dade County: Commissioner Rolle hit with four ethics violations for trying to steer county money to JESCA

Broward County: Feds pop man for attempted robbery at Regions Bank in Cooper City

Palm Beach County: Former Guatemalan Special Forces combatant indicted for false statements on federal form concerning 1982 massacre of villagers

Orange County: Gov. Crist appointed Patricia A. Doherty to the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court.

Monroe County: Administrator Gastesi says come on down to Keys, “Water is extremely clear for diving”

Miami-Dade Public Schools: Friends of WLRN board chair Altman fires back at last week’s WDR story, in her own words

Public Health Trust: Seijas tries to clear the air by letter in The Herald about Jackson, usually slams the paper and “people who buy ink by the barrel”

City of Miami: With city budget in dire straights, complete count in 2010 Census must be top priority, tens of millions over the decade in funding

City of Miami Beach: Litter, litter everywhere, beaches, and parks must be kept clean through education and zero tolerance enforcement, says Libbin

City of Coral Gables: Residents get face time with Mayor Slesnick at lunch Monday

Community Events: Florida Legislative round-up luncheon at Downtown Bay Forum Wednesday

Editorials: Budget gurus looking grim at all levels of public institutions with another round of significant cuts coming —- Miami Herald Ombudsman takes swipe at local papers, what about stories written by government employees?

Letters: PHT trustee on Commissioner Souto’s remarks about PHT board last week – Reader on Watchdog Report past work

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

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

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> U.S. Atty. Ferrer honored by county, committed to fight fraud, public corruption; will these federal activities touch the counties?

The Miami-Dade County Commission honored Wilfredo “Willy” Ferrer, the new U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida last week. Ferrer, 43, was an assistant county attorney the last few years after being a federal prosecutor in the Clinton Administration. Commission vice Chair Jose “Pepe” Diaz sponsored the proclamation and the event had Commission Chair Dennis Moss saying the selection of Ferrer by the Obama Administration shows the county “has the best law firm” in town, something he mentions periodically from the dais. The new top federal cop told the media last Tuesday www.miamiherald.com that he was embarrassed that South Florida led the nation when it came to all the varieties of fraud and he plans to do something about it. Ferre said he plans to have the office work with all the enforcement agencies at all levels to root out the community’s ills and with around 460 FBI special agents here along with ICE, ATF and many other federal law enforcement agencies. He has some back up in this endeavor. Ferrer is expected to shake up the office in some ways and the community from Fort Pierce to Key West waits to see what happens under his leadership of one of the nation’s busiest federal districts.

>>> M-DC Press release: Vice-Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz and County Commission congratulate Wifredo “Willy” Ferrer on appointment as U.S. Attorney

On May 18, Vice-Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz called for a special presentation with his colleagues on the County Commission in Chambers to congratulate Assistant County Attorney Wifredo “Willy” Ferrer on his appointment by President Barack Obama as the U.S. Attorney for the South District of Florida. Ferrer, who had been with the County Attorney’s Office since 2006, was awarded a proclamation naming May 18th “Willy Ferrer Day” for his service to Miami-Dade County. “Mr. Ferrer has done an excellent job representing our community and we wish him the best in his new role,” said Vice-Chairman Diaz. “On behalf of the County Commission, we are extremely proud that one of our own has been recognized by our nation’s leaders for his work.”

>>> Miami Monthly magazine takes a “hiatus” until sour economy turns around writes publisher Carpenter

Elena V. Carpenter, the publisher of Miami Monthly magazine in a letter to subscribers recently says the magazine will be back after a “hiatus” and the sour economy turns around for advertisers and the media alike. The magazine first started as a monthly newspaper in the 1990s and morphed into the glossy version during the height of the real estate boom around 2005. Carpenter last year was on a panel at the Downtown Bay Forum monthly luncheon discussing the press, and its long-term survival. At the time she said her organization’s motto was the Bee Gees song Staying Alive and she was trying to go to a subscriber business model that had readers picking a number of levels of financial help, but apparently it was not enough to keep the magazine publishing that recently went to bimonthly status. The Watchdog Report hopes that Miami Monthly gets back on its feet in the future for the lack of news reporting, and just general community event outlets is getting smaller by the day, and that is not a good thing. Here is the last issue on the webpage: Welcome to Miami Monthly Magazine Miami Monthly is a city-regional glossy serving the Greater Miami area. Regular sections include community news, personality profiles, dining, www.miamimonthlymagazine.com

>>> White House Press release: President Obama Establishes Bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling Names Former Two-Term Florida Governor and Former Senator Bob Graham and Former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency William K. Reilly as Commission Co-Chairs

In this week’s address, President Obama announced that he has signed an executive order establishing the bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling with former two-term Florida Governor and former Senator Bob Graham and former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency William K. Reilly serving as co-chairs. The bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling is tasked with providing recommendations on how we can prevent – and mitigate the impact of – any future spills that result from offshore drilling.

The commission will be focused on the necessary environmental and safety precautions we must build into our regulatory framework in order to ensure an accident like this never happens again, taking into account the other investigations concerning the causes of the spill. The commission will have bipartisan co-chairs with a total membership of seven people. Membership will include broad and diverse representation of individuals with relevant expertise. No sitting government employees or elected officials will sit on the commission. The Commission’s work will be transparent and subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The Commission will issue a report within six months of having been convened.

President Obama named the following individuals as Co-Chairs of National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling:

Senator Bob Graham is the former two–term governor of Florida and served for 18 years in the United States Senate. Senator Graham is recognized for his leadership on issues ranging from healthcare and environmental preservation to his ten years of service on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence — including eighteen months as chairman in 2001–2002. After retiring from public life in January 2005, Senator Graham served for a year as a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. From May 2008 to February 2010, he served as Chairman of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism whose mandate was to build on the work of the 9/11 Commission. Senator Graham was also appointed to serve as a Commissioner on the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, established by Congress to examine the global and domestic causes of the recent financial crisis. The Commission will provide its findings and conclusions in a final report due to Congress on December 15, 2010. He also serves as a member of the CIA External Advisory Board and the chair of the Board of Overseers of the Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida. Senator Graham has been recognized by national and Florida organizations for his public service including The Woodrow Wilson Institute award for Public Service, The National Park Trust Public Service award and The Everglades Coalition Hall of Fame. Senator Graham earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Florida and an LLB from Harvard Law School. He is the recipient of an honorary doctorate of public service from his alma mater, the University of Florida, and honorary doctorates from Pomona College and Nova Southeastern University.

William K. Reilly is a Founding Partner of Aqua International Partners, LP, a private equity fund dedicated to investing in companies engaged in water and renewable energy, and a Senior Advisor to TPG Capital, LP, an international investment partnership. Mr. Reilly served as the first Payne Visiting Professor at Stanford University (1993-1994), Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1989-1993), president of the World Wildlife Fund (1985-1989), president of The Conservation Foundation (1973-1989), and director of the Rockefeller Task Force on Land Use and Urban Growth from (1972-1973). He also served as the head of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations Earth Summit at Rio in 1992. Mr. Reilly is Chairman Emeritus of the Board of the World Wildlife Fund, Co-Chair of the National Commission on Energy Policy, Chairman of the Board of the ClimateWorks Foundation, Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University, and a Director of the Packard Foundation and the National Geographic Society and a member of Gov. Schwarzenegger’s Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force. He also serves on the Board of Directors of DuPont, ConocoPhillips, Royal Caribbean International and Energy Future Holdings, for which he serves as Chairman of the Sustainable Energy Advisory Board. In 2007 Mr. Reilly was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He holds a B.A. degree from Yale, J.D. from Harvard and M.S. in Urban Planning from Columbia University. >>>The full audio of the address is HERE. The video can be viewed online at www.whitehouse.gov.

>>> Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address Washington, DC

One month ago this week, BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded off Louisiana’s coast, killing 11 people and rupturing an underwater pipe. The resulting oil spill has not only dealt an economic blow to Americans across the Gulf Coast, it also represents an environmental disaster. In response, we are drawing on America’s best minds and using the world’s best technology to stop the leak. We’ve deployed over 1,100 vessels, about 24,000 personnel, and more than 2 million total feet of boom to help contain it. And we’re doing all we can to assist struggling fishermen, and the small businesses and communities that depend on them.

Folks on the Gulf Coast – and across America – are rightly demanding swift action to clean up BP’s mess and end this ordeal. But they’re also demanding to know how this happened in the first place, and how we can make sure it never happens again. That’s what I’d like to spend a few minutes talking with you about. First and foremost, what led to this disaster was a breakdown of responsibility on the part of BP and perhaps others, including Transocean and Halliburton. And we will continue to hold the relevant companies accountable not only for being forthcoming and transparent about the facts surrounding the leak, but for shutting it down, repairing the damage it does, and repaying Americans who’ve suffered a financial loss.

But even as we continue to hold BP accountable, we also need to hold Washington accountable. Now, this catastrophe is unprecedented in its nature, and it presents a host of new challenges we are working to address. But the question is what lessons we can learn from this disaster to make sure it never happens again. If the laws on our books are inadequate to prevent such an oil spill, or if we didn’t enforce those laws – I want to know it. I want to know what worked and what didn’t work in our response to the disaster, and where oversight of the oil and gas industry broke down. We know, for example, that a cozy relationship between oil and gas companies and agencies that regulate them has long been a source of concern. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has taken steps to address this problem; steps that build on reforms he has been implementing since he took office. But we need to do a lot more to protect the health and safety of our people; to safeguard the quality of our air and water; and to preserve the natural beauty and bounty of America. In recent weeks, we’ve taken a number of immediate measures to prevent another spill. We’ve ordered inspections of all deepwater operations in the Gulf of Mexico. We’ve announced that no permits for drilling new wells will go forward until the 30-day safety and environmental review I requested is complete. And I’ve called on Congress to pass a bill that would provide critical funds and tools to respond to this spill and better prepare us to confront any future spills. But we also need to take a comprehensive look at how the oil and gas industry operates and how we regulate them. That is why, on Friday, I signed an executive order establishing the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. While there are a number of ongoing investigations, including an independent review by the National Academy of Engineering, the purpose of this Commission is to consider both the root causes of the disaster and offer options on what safety and environmental precautions we need to take to prevent a similar disaster from happening again. This Commission, I’d note, is similar to one proposed by Congresswoman Capps and Senator Whitehouse.

I’ve asked Democrat Bob Graham and Republican Bill Reilly to co-chair this Commission. Bob served two terms as Florida’s governor, and represented Florida as a United States Senator for almost two decades. During that time, he earned a reputation as a champion of the environment, leading the most extensive environmental protection effort in the state’s history. Bill Reilly is chairman emeritus of the board of the World Wildlife Fund, and he is also deeply knowledgeable about the oil and gas industry. During the presidency of George H.W. Bush, Bill was Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and his tenure encompassed the Exxon Valdez disaster. I can’t think of two people who will bring greater experience or better judgment to the task at hand. In the days to come, I’ll appoint 5 other distinguished Americans – including scientists, engineers, and environmental advocates – to join them on the Commission. And I’m directing them to report back in 6 months with recommendations on how we can prevent – and mitigate the impact of – any future spills that result from offshore drilling. One of the reasons I ran for President was to put America on the path to energy independence, and I have not wavered from that commitment. To achieve that goal, we must pursue clean energy and energy efficiency, and we’ve taken significant steps to do so. And we must also pursue domestic sources of oil and gas. Because it represents 30 percent of our oil production, the Gulf of Mexico can play an important part in securing our energy future. But we can only pursue offshore oil drilling if we have assurances that a disaster like the BP oil spill will not happen again. This Commission will, I hope, help provide those assurances so we can continue to seek a secure energy future for the United States of America.

>>> ZOGBY POLL Press release: Zogby Interactive: 71% Don’t Like ‘Bank Bailouts,’ But Small Majorities See Necessity of Government Intervention

Anger Over Perceived Wall St. Abuses More Important Than Acknowledgement of TARP’s Benefits

More than seven in 10 likely voters do not favor the federal government’s “bank bailouts,” but small majorities do agree that the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) was necessary, helped stabilize the economy and may have averted a Depression. Those results come from a Zogby Interactive poll of 2,063 likely voters that was conducted from May 14-17 and has a margin of error of +/- 2.2%. Near the beginning of the survey, which also included several other topics, 71% of voters said their opinion of the “bank bailouts” that began in September 2008 was unfavorable, including 43% who chose very unfavorable. Please click the link below to view the full news release on our website:
http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.cfm?ID=1866

>>> If you believe, it is important to have someone watching your public institutions, consider supporting the Watchdog Report for essentially no money came in over the last week and I do have to live, thank you! The report is also shorter and with less real content because I am still weak and do not have my past energy level that allowed me to write all day Saturday and Sunday as in the past almost 11-years that I have been doing this. I ask for my readers understanding during this time. >>> Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times, The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel which ran as a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003 and UNC Chapel Hill naming me one of the top columnists in Florida in a multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on Topical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then and also the opportunity to be on Helen Ferre’s show Issues on issues@wpbt.org numerous times over the past decade.

>>> PAST WDR: I have been in the hospital after emergency surgery, one more procedure to go, need the community’s financial help to keep at this!

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

watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

FLORIDA

>>> Are gubernatorial candidates McCollum, Sink, Dockery and Scott resonating with voters, appears lukewarm so far

Alex Sink, the Florida Chief Financial Officer cannot seem to get a break with some people, especially with women not being aware she is a female Democratic Party candidate for governor. Sink, (Net worth $8.6 million) a retired Bank of America senior executive first ran for the CFO office in 2006 and in that case, she essentially coasted to victory. The only potential opposition for her would be if Lawton “Bud” Chiles III, the son of the deceased governor decides to throw his hat into the ring but that has yet to happen. Sink in 2002 got her first taste of running for office when her husband, attorney Bill McBride, the Democratic Party gubernatorial champion, ran against Gov. Jeb Bush. The Republican incumbent easily beat the attorney who as a political novice running a statewide race had a number of difficulties during the campaign. In her case, she would stump for him at events and I told her at the time, she was the candidate but to date in the governor’s race she has run a hesitant, careful campaign and she is very careful when speaking to reporters from my experience.

Bill McCollum, (Net worth $1.2 million) the state’s attorney general still has her trailing him in recent polls www.miamiherald.com but only by 34 to 32 percent and it is the 34 percent undecided voters that are the key swing vote in November’s General Election if they are the party’s candidates. Further, a new face has popped up on state voter’s television sets in the past weeks and it is former healthcare executive Rick Scott, now also running in the Republican Primary against McCollum and state Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland (Net worth $2.8 million) for the state’s top spot. Scott, a senior healthcare executive retired from Columbia/HCA is willing to spend $25 million of his own money in this effort to win the August primary but he also has past baggage. Scott’s company after he left the firm settled with authorities paying $1.7 billion in the agreement and McCollum has already made the man’s money, and how he made it an issue. In the poll done by Ipsos Public Affairs, McCollum garnered 46 percent to Scott’s 22, and Dockery had 3 percent support with another 30 percent undecided during the polling of 607 registered voters state’s St. Petersburg Times/The Miami Herald.

Why was Gov. Crist at UM Lois Pope LIFE Center Tuesday?

Gov. Charlie Crist did a redo signing ceremony at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine of the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act bill passed by the Florida legislature and the governor signed the legislation a few days earlier. The bill is aimed to reduce and stop red light runners with cameras at intersections. The citations cost will vary around the state and municipalities are hoping to pick up some extra revenue as well. The bill also directs some of that money to The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis headed up by Marc Buoniconti. Along with Crist was a host of notables including the two bills sponsors, state Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne (Net worth $1.64 million) and state Rep. Ronald Reagan, R-Bradenton, (Net worth $628,000). >>> For more information about donating go to www.thebuonicontifund.com

What about the $50 million for Jackson in the state budget?

The Watchdog Report asked Crist twice about the $50 million in state funding inserted into the state’s $70.4 billion budget for Jackson Memorial Hospital, and the money is critical to the hemorrhaging health trust system. The governor said he could not commit on the finding yet since it is still under review but I believe he will support the appropriation. In the future, he can veto, sign, or just do nothing and the bill passes and becomes law.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Commissioner Rolle hit with four ethics violations for trying to steer county money for JESCA

The Miami-Dade Ethics and Public Trust Commission hit Dorrin Rolle, the long serving county commissioner representing District 2 Wednesday with four counts of probable cause for trying to steer county money to the James E. Scott Community Agency where he served as the chief executive, and thus had a financial interest. Rolle, (Net worth $1.02 million) in 2002 had a similar run in with the commission after he wrote a letter to then County Mayor Alex Penelas asking for money for JESCA using his official office letterhead and that story was first broken in the Watchdog Report. In that same year he also had a tough commission seat race and he has since retired from JESCA that is currently facing financial issues that has persisted over the past decade. Rolle in that leadership capacity at the Black community’s oldest social service agency founded in 1925 was paid over $170,000 and back in 2004. The organization had over $150,000 in bounced check charges and I wrote about that in The Miami Herald back then.

>>> Here is what the ethics commission advocate wrote in the Rolle charging document :>>> COUNT ONE and TWO -10. On or about March 13, 2007, Respondent violated Sections 2-11.1 (g) and (n) of the Code when he appeared before Assistant County Manager Muñoz and discussed funding for JESCA and when he participated in official action directly or indirectly affecting a business in which he has a financial interest. To wit: Respondent sought funding for JESCA, a non-profit organization that employed Respondent as its President and Chief Executive Officer. COUNT THREE and FOUR -11. On or about September 11, 2007, Respondent violated Sections 2-11.1 (g) and (n) of the Code when he appeared before County Manager Burgess and discussed funding for JESCA and when he participated in official action directly or indirectly affecting a business in which he has a financial interest. To wit: Respondent sought funding for JESCA, a non-profit organization that employed Respondent as its President and Chief Executive Officer. 12. To the extent that the factual allegations contained within the Probable Cause Memorandum are relevant to Counts One, Two, Three and Four of this complaint the Probable Cause Memorandum is hereby incorporated and made a part of this complaint herein. At the time, Respondent violated Sections 2-11.1 (g) and (n), these were punishable by imposition of a fine of $250.00 for a first violation and $500.00 for each subsequent violation as well as an admonition or public reprimand.[1] 13. Pursuant to Section 2-1074(p), the ethics Commission has the power to issue an order imposing the penalty under the ordinance being enforced. Wherefore, the Advocate requests the Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust to enter an order against respondent, DORRIN D.ROLLE, finding him in violation of Sections 2-11.1 (g) and (n), administering a public reprimand and ordering the payment of fines. >>> [1] Respondent faced a similar complaint in February 2002. That complaint, C02-06 alleged that Respondent met with County Officials and discussed the budgetary needs of JESCA. Respondent pled No Contest to those charges and paid a $750 fine.

>>> Hills cry’s foul when critical county e-mail abut him goes out to 1,900 employees

Stan Hills, a 27-year Fire-Rescue employee at Miami-Dade is upset and told commissioners Tuesday that his “reputation” was damaged after an e-mail to 1,900 people went out on a county e-mail address. Commissioner Natacha Seijas (Net worth $655,000) sponsored the Special Presentation at the commission meeting and she has been a long time friend and supporter of the department and its union. Hills, who apparently has lost his leadership position in the union says the electronic transmission is against county policy and the misrepresentations of him should be cleared in the future in a public way. Commissioners and Mayor Carlos Alvarez, (Net worth $1.66 million) noted the seriousness of the comments and the administration is investigating the matter. Alvarez acknowledged the fact that Seijas brought –up the matter and that this type of presentation had really only been done rarely before. The last was for former Transit Director Roosevelt Bradley a few years ago after he was replaced, but with controversy.

>>> This is why the Watchdog Report makes a big deal of government e-mail lists

As I have written in the past, regarding some municipalities using public e-mail lists for things not related to the city or county. This is a serious breach, and it appears the message in someway might be sponsored by the public entity, which is clearly out of line, even if it is for a $100,000 wedding contest contestant, or a political candidate as I have seen before. Mayor Carlos Alvarez has said he will review the matter and he should because from one list of say a couple of thousand people. An email can take a life of its own as it is forwarded and why this type of action is wrong and unacceptable from a public employee.

>>> The county commission backtracked last week and decided now is not the time to ask voters for a raise from the current $6,000 plus about $52,000 in benefits to a new salary figure of essentially $92,000. The commission since 1957 has not had a raise but voters almost a dozen times have shot down any raise that many times in the past had an unclear ballot question when it came to the matter.

>>> At the end of a discussion by commissioners concerning the legislation that would be implemented if Jackson Memorial Hospital became unable to pay the institution’s salaries or procure goods and was a “tool” just in case it was necessary, said Commission Chair Dennis Moss (Net worth $477,000). A measure was suggested that would loosen the Sunshine Law requirements about meetings between the county administration, the mayor and PHT trustees. An amendment to the health trust’s bylaws will be proposed in the future that will make the mayor and county manager no longer Ex-officio members on the PHT board allowing them to hold meetings with PHT staff and trustees without it being a public meeting if passed.

What did Moss carp about when it came to the media?

Moss during the end of the discussion said he was tired of hearing in the media that “the county commission impeded Jackson Memorial Hospital” and had stopped “something it wanted to do” was just plain false, he said. Moss noted the body voted for union contracts, bonds and other matters the health trust wanted over the years and these representations were just not right. However, the commission has influenced the health trust over the years including the addition of two new hospitals, Jackson North and South. The hospital in the south was keeping a promise made to the public and voters back in 1991 said Moss when a half-cent-sales tax was proposed to help fund the main hospital downtown and the tax did pass. Further, there was political pressure to provide a public hospital to residents in the north of the county and as part of a settlement with the federal government. A private hospital chain sold what is now Jackson North for $33 million in 2007 and the hope was the new facility, would be a moneymaker but did not materialize after the global economy tanked along with a change in patient mix.

What did former CEO O’Quinn say about Miami-Dade?

Marvin O’Quinn, hired after a national search was done in the summer of 2003 to run the public health system after about six-months here in Miami-Dade. He told the Watchdog Report back then “this place is so political” and I responded, “No kidding,” at the time.

>>> Anything funny happen at Tuesday’s commission meeting?

“I need to get a hybrid phone,” joked Commissioner Javier Souto (Net worth $856,000) after his cell phone went off during a commission meeting and Chair Dennis Moss gently asked the former state legislator to turn it off. The comment came after Commissioner Katy Sorenson (Net worth $1.34 million) suggested making some of the administration’s new county vehicles, about 267 cars out of the county’s over 3,000 vehicles hybrid but she noted when it came to police and fire rescue vehicles. The manufactures do not make flashing light arrays on the roofs for these new types of vehicles. She asked the administration to ask companies to come-up with a new design that could be fitted on a variety of hybrid cars.

>>> Will new $1 billion port tunnel fill help clean up toxic site on Virginia Key? Commissioner Gimenez hopes so

At Thursday’s Metropolitan Planning Organization, the subject of what to do with all the fill that would result from the new Port of Miami tunnel was discussed. Commissioner Carlos Gimenez asked how it was going to be disposed and suggested an alternative might be to be fill for a toxic dumpsite on Virginia Key, and there is county GOB money for the cleanup. Officials from FDOT said they were flexible and if there was synergy after a study, it sounded like an interesting idea for a site that years ago absorbed a large earth-moving machine into the slime.

>>> County Press release Friday: Dieldrin not found in Miami-Dade Water Supply

A small group of homeowners in the Falls area of south Miami-Dade County have been contacted by the Miami Dade Health Department regarding their private well water being contaminated by Dieldrin – a pesticide. Affected homeowners should contact the Health Department at (305) 623-3500. Homeowners who receive their water from Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) are not affected by this issue. WASD tests for the presence of Dieldrin annually and there have been no detections found. WASD tests its water supply 100,000 times a year and the water meets or exceeds all local, state and federal guidelines. The department recently released its annual Water Quality Report and mailed it to each of its customers in early May. You can find an electronic copy of it at www.miamidade.gov/wasd to review the high quality, safe water that is delivered to more than two million customers daily. It is the priority of the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department to provide safe, reliable service to its customers.

Site highlights

Miami Metrozoo’s Birthday Celebration With its 30th birthday fast approaching, Miami Metrozoo is going all out with a three-day bash, July 3 – 5, to thank the community and out-of-town patrons for their unfailing support of the zoo throughout the years. > Join the celebration

>>> Press release: The Honorable Lourdes Simon will be officially sworn in as County Court Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit at 12 p.m. Friday, May 28, 2010, in Courtroom 6-1 of the Dade County Courthouse, 73 West Flagler Street. Members of the media are welcome. This past February, Judge Simon was appointed to the County Court by Governor Charlie Crist to fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Antonio Arzola to the Circuit Court. Prior to her appointment to the County Court Bench, Judge Simon served for more than 15 years as an Assistant Public Defender with the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office. Judge Simon joins the County Court Civil Division at the South Dade Government Center.

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Feds pop man for attempted robbery at Regions Bank in Cooper City

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, and James K. Loftus, Director, Miami-Dade Police Department, announce that defendant Oscar Lopez, 27, has been arrested and charged with the attempted robbery of a Regions Bank in Cooper City, FL, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113. If convicted, he faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. According to the allegations in the complaint affidavit filed in this case, on May 20, 2010, Lopez attempted to rob the Regions Bank, located at 9100 Griffin Road, Cooper City, Florida. Lopez allegedly displayed a demand note that read “BANK ROBBERY” and told the teller “Hundreds and fifties.” Lopez fled from the bank on foot without taking any money after bank employees announced that the bank was being robbed. Law enforcement officers identified Lopez from surveillance photographs, eyewitness identifications, and law enforcement databases.

According to the allegations in the complaint affidavit in this case, Lopez had also robbed the Chase Bank, located at 9499 Sheridan Street, Cooper City, Florida, on March 17, 2010. Lopez allegedly displayed a demand note that read, “This is a robbery,” and also told the teller “this is a robbery.” He also allegedly demanded all of the hundred and fifty dollar bills in the teller’s drawer. Lopez took approximately $2,000.00 in U.S. currency from that bank. U.S. Magistrate Judge Lurana S. Snow appointed the Federal Public Defender’s Office to represent Lopez. An arraignment is scheduled before the Fort Lauderdale Duty Magistrate Judge at 11:00 a.m., June 7, 2010. >>> A complaint is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami-Dade Police Department and Broward Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Linder. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

>>> Former Guatemalan special forces combatant indicted for false statements on federal form concerning 1982 massacre of villagers

A former Guatemalan special forces soldier was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Palm Beach County, Fla., for lying on his naturalization application about his participation in a 1982 massacre at a Guatemalan village known as Dos Erres, announced U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, and Assistant Secretary John Morton of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The one-count indictment charges Gilberto Jordan, 54, of Delray Beach, Fla., with unlawful procurement of U.S. citizenship. Jordan was previously charged via a criminal complaint on May 5, 2010. The indictment alleges that in approximately November 1982, a Guatemalan guerrilla group ambushed a military convoy near Dos Erres, Guatemala, killing soldiers and taking a number of rifles. In response, a patrol of approximately 20 Guatemalan special forces soldiers, known as “Kaibiles,” including Jordan, were deployed in approximately December 1982 to the village of Dos Erres to search for the stolen rifles and find suspected guerillas. According to the indictment, members of the special patrol entered Dos Erres on or about Dec. 7, 1982. Another group of approximately 40 Kaibiles allegedly established a perimeter around the town to prevent anyone from entering or escaping. Members of the special patrol allegedly interrogated the villagers, searched their homes, and separated the men from the women and children.

The indictment alleges that the special patrol then proceeded to systematically murder the men, women and children at Dos Erres by, among other things, hitting them in the head with a hammer and then throwing them into the village well. Members of the special patrol also allegedly raped many of the women and girls at Dos Erres before killing them. According to the indictment, Jordan participated in the crimes committed at Dos Erres, including murder. According to the previously filed criminal complaint, a Guatemalan judge appointed an Argentinean forensic anthropology team approximately 12 years after the Dos Erres massacre to exhume the corpses at the village. According to the complaint, this forensic team uncovered approximately 162 skeletal remains from the village well, whose deaths were presumed to have occurred in December 1982 as a result of traumatic injuries and gunshot wounds. According to the court documents, Jordan applied to become a U.S. citizen in September 1996. The indictment alleges that in the application, Jordan falsely denied that he had ever served in the military or committed any crimes for which he had not been arrested. In July 1999, Jordan was interviewed by a naturalization examiner, and swore under oath that the statements he had earlier provided on the application were true and correct. Jordan was sworn in as a U.S. citizen on Aug. 25, 1999.

If convicted, Jordan faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and revocation of his U.S. citizenship. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Hillary Davidson and Brian Skaret of the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) of the Criminal Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Marie Villafaña of the Southern District of Florida. The case was investigated by ICE’s Office of Investigations in West Palm Beach and ICE’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs as well as ICE’s Offices of International Affairs provided assistance in this matter. The Criminal Division announced the formation of HRSP on March 30, 2010, as part of the U.S. government’s efforts to bring human rights violators to justice and deny those violators safe haven in the United States. The new section represents a merger of the Criminal Division’s Domestic Security Section (DSS) and the Office of Special Investigations (OSI). ICE’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit’s (HRVWCU) mission is to deny human rights violators and war criminals safe haven in the United States using all of its legal authorities. HRVWCU provides programmatic oversight over ICE investigations involving foreign war criminals, human rights violators, and those who within ICE’s jurisdiction, violate laws that fuel widespread overseas human rights abuses and conflicts. These include investigations relating to torture, genocide, war crimes, and the recruitment of child soldiers; and immigration and visa fraud where the underlying offense is based on substantive human rights abuses and war crimes. >>> A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

ORANGE COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Crist appointed Patricia A. Doherty to the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court.

“During Patricia’s 23 years of legal practice, she has gained much expertise in analyzing cases and applying the law,” said Governor Crist. “Her leadership within the community and among fellow attorneys indicates the strength of her character and intellect.” Doherty, 55, has practiced privately with Wooten, Kimbrough, Gibson, Doherty and Normand since 1983. Previously, the firm has operated under the names Wooten, Honeywell, Kest and Martinez, as well as Wooten, Honeywell and Kest. She also worked as a physical therapist from 1977 to 1980. Doherty earned both her bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Florida. Doherty will fill the vacancy created by the death of Judge Robert Wattles.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> Administrator Gastesi says come on down to Keys, “Water is extremely clear for diving”

The Watchdog Report contacted County Administrator Roman Gastesi on Saturday about the presence of any oil from the Gulf of Mexico gusher, after the oil blobs appeared on the Keys beaches recently, but were found to be not from the well over one-month old crude oil spill that has vexed experts on how to plug the leak at 5,000 feet below the gulf’s surface. I asked the administrator how things were going at the Southern most tip of the nation and he replied. “Yes, everything is OK for now regarding actual oil pollution in the keys. The oil is still hundreds of miles away and there is still a good chance that we will not be affected at all. Even so, until the leak is plugged, the uncertainly continues to create concern for everyone in the keys. The oil is a Sweet Crude mostly made up of single-bonded carbon chains that biodegrade more readily than other crude oils. So we hope that if it does head this way it will be very “weathered” and inert.

Please let everyone know that we are open for business, the water is extremely clear for diving, and the early season dolphin fishing is one of the best in many years…come on down,!” wrote the veteran administrator and former water czar for Miami-Dade years ago. For more information about what is going on in the Keys go to :>>> The Monroe County tourism council continues to update its http://www.fla-keys.com <http://www.fla-keys.com> website with information regarding the spill and its relationship to the Keys. On the website are NOAA forecast tracking maps, a map showing the spill site in relation to the Keys, links to area webcams and more. TDC social media sites include: http://www.keysvoices.com • http://twitter.com/thefloridakeys • http://www.facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest >> Spill-related websites, primarily focusing on affected areas, include: http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com • http://www.noaa.gov

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Friends of WLRN board chair Altman fires back at last week’s story, in her own words

After last week’s Watchdog Report on what happened at the school board Audit Committee recently regarding Friends of WLRN, Janet K. Altman, the chair of the not-for-profit responded back giving the organization’s side of the story. I am running the complete response from Altman. >>> “You wrote in July 2008, “A strong, vibrant and responsible press is the glue that keeps public institutions and elected leaders restrained.” I see in this morning’s Watchdog Report that Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Superintendent’s office provided you with a statement about negotiations between WLRN and Friends of WLRN. I’d like to provide some additional information which the public needs to know.

Recently there has been significant tension between WLRN, the School Superintendent, and Friends of WLRN. Friends of WLRN is an independent, private non-profit organization dedicated to the support of WLRN Radio and Television. Friends doesn’t own WLRN — but neither does the School Board own Friends. Miami-Dade County Public Schools is the licensee for the Stations. Friends has supported the station, raising funds through membership, underwriting, special events and grants, for more than three decades. When listeners and viewers give to support public broadcasting, Friends of WLRN receives the gift, manages the funds, and pays bills for WLRN, including the bills to content providers like National Public Radio. WLRN’s General Manager drives the Friends’ budgeting process, identifying upcoming funding needs. Friends has never, to my knowledge, refused a funding request from WLRN.

Our budget for the coming year, which is scheduled for approval at our May Board meeting, forecasts $4.2 million in contributions to WLRN. The Superintendent of Schools appears to desire to end a 35-year relationship with our group — an independent organization that is dedicated to supporting the valuable assets of the School Board. He is insisting that we revert to 15-year old by-laws, which give his office control of our leadership and governance. That’s just not good for WLRN. Rather, we believe it’s critically important that WLRN and Friends have an operating arrangement which provides for independence, transparency, cooperation, and informed consultation between the organizations.

Friends has done all we can to communicate constructively with Superintendent [Alberto] Carvalho. Since the January Audit Committee meeting where we were tasked with negotiating an operating agreement, we have made every effort to resolve the issue. We provided our draft of the agreement, which we called Principles of Cooperation, on February 11. But WLRN refused to review that draft, and participants from WLRN were unavailable to meet to negotiate their version of the agreement until late March.

Why have a separate organization to raise money?

Friends is uniquely suited to raise money for WLRN. We can do many things the School Board cannot. The Miami-Dade County Public Schools must operate under the Florida Sunshine Act. If they were to absorb the fundraising role, all membership data (including donors’ contact information and giving history) would be available to anyone who requests it. As an independent group, we are able to attract members and underwriters who would not be comfortable contributing directly to an organization with taxing authority. We can raise money from members outside of Miami-Dade County. Incidentally, that now represents nearly half of the funds we raise. Importantly, the relationships our volunteer Board members have in the community give us access to potential major donations. We’re able to move quickly and effectively, as we did when we helped preserve the WLRN-Miami Herald News.

What are the issues?

The Superintendent is concerned about the cost of fundraising – and so are we. We recently undertook to benchmark our results against other public radio stations, and we discovered that our cost-per-dollar raised is lower than many of our sister stations, including the #1 station in the country, WNYC.

The Superintendent is concerned about transparency – and so are we. John LaBonia, General Manager of WLRN and an employee of the School Board, is on Friends’ Board. The General Manager’s position on our Board is secured in the bylaws. The General Manager is also on the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee. This ensures total transparency, through the General Manager, with the Stations and the School Board. The Superintendent is concerned about fiscal responsibility – and so are we. Fiscal responsibility is key to our ability to raise these funds from the public. We are audited by one of the top accounting firms in the country, Marcum Rachlin. In the past two years, we have stepped up our vigilance in many ways, including hiring a CFO with CPA firm experience, creating a financial procedures manual, introducing a conflict of interest policy for the Board and most recently establishing an audit committee.

The Superintendent is concerned that we don’t respect the School Board. We regret any communication that caused offense. At the most recent Audit Committee meeting, as part of the argument that Friends should be controlled by the School Board, the Superintendent read a five-year old memo which expressed some strong opinions. According to its author, “This five-year old memo, which was written at a time of high emotion and considerable frustration, does not represent the opinions of either the staff or the Board of Friends of WLRN. In fact, more recent documents and actions clearly repudiate the ideas suggested in the memo. I apologize to any it may have offended.” Friends of WLRN and the School Board share a common interest – the support of WLRN-FM and WLRN-TV. With cooperation from WLRN and the Superintendent, I am confident we can conclude an agreement that continues our independent service to the South Florida community,” wrote the Friends of WLRN board’s chair on May 17.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Seijas tries to clear the air in letter to Herald about Jackson, usually slams the paper and “people who buy ink by the barrel”

Natacha Seijas, a Miami-Dade County Commissioner wrote an excellent and well thought out letter published in The Miami Herald http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/letters/ on Thursday concerning the Jackson Health System and she believes one of the great strengths of the organization is the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine, and the trust made a mistake when it came to the health trust’s past business model. The medical school has been affiliated for over 50-years with Jackson and Florida International University’s new medical school also has an affiliation and the commissioner is right about the importance of both academic centers to South Florida’s health. Seijas was also responding to a letter that ran recently from 41 local leaders that have studied the problems with the trust over the last few months. These people believe the current model is broken and the role of the commission should be reduced in the oversight of the public hospital system. Seijas said on the commission dais Tuesday, when the discussion of legislation concerning commission oversight of Jackson, that there was a lot of misinformation out in the community and in the media regarding what the body legislatively was proposing, and the letter appears to be her way of clearing it up with readers of The Herald, a organization regularly verbally vilified by some commissioners including her.

Seijas, 73, over the years has been a frequent critic of aspects of how Jackson was managed and run, and she definitely had a problem with the CEO and others salaries that were larger than what the county manager or mayor was paid. She has also been a strong supporter of the county’s unions and is active in issues dealing with children, domestic violence victims to name just a few of her community interests. However, critics charge she can be politically ruthless and while one of the most veteran elected leaders who has dispatched any challengers to the office over the years easily. She rails against the media and press from the dais, and in the past would say she does not read The Miami Herald, the Miami New Times and after 2003 the Watchdog Report. >>> Editor’s note: Seijas was the first commissioner to contribute $500 to my endeavor back in the fall of 2000, but since then our relationship has had its difficulties over the years, depending on the issue.

What about an opposing view on Jackson’s governance?

Linda S. Quick, the president of the South Florida Hospital & Healthcare Association www.sfhha.com and one of the 41 leaders studying the PHT wrote an effective and thoughtful response to Seijas and the health trust issue of governance Sunday. To read the Opinion piece go to www.miamiherald.com/opinion

>>> Upcoming meetings: May 24^th -Jackson North Financial Sustainability Advisory Board Meeting 8 to 10 a.m., JNMC, 2nd FL Auditorium, 160 N.W. 170th Street, North Miami Beach, FL

>>> May 24^th : Televised PHT Board Meeting -3 to 6 p.m., Ira C. Clark DTC Bldg., Room 259 – main campus.

>>> PAST WDR: This is why I have been doing the Watchdog Report for 11-years — Since May of 2000, I have been covering the PHT in all its aspects over the years and its financial challenges since then have never been far below the surface of any story over this time. In 2004, I ran the headline about the $84 million charge the organization was having to take for the year and the numbers in many ways never got that much better, week after week, month after month, to where we are today. Some of the county commissioners are carping about all the sudden press and media attention the hospital system with 12,000 employees is getting but that is what happens in Florida where the state sunshine and open records laws makes all these activities public events. However, the commissioners should also be asking why they and the Fourth Estate did not kick in earlier to alert South Florida of the pending financial train wreck. The chronic problem was apparent to anyone that read the Watchdog Report over the decade, but in many ways, my role seems to be of Cassandra for we, as a community did not necessarily have to be where we are today, if corrective action had occurred years ago.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> With city budget in dire straights, complete count in 2010 Census must be top priority, tens of millions over the decade in funding

Census workers doing the 2010 count were spotted in Coconut Grove last week on foot going to households where the confidential census forms were not returned in April. The Census, a decade national count that will determine which communities get some of the $400 billion in yearly federal funding and political representation in Congress and the endeavor is critical to Miami and Miami-Dade County after the 2000 count fiasco. Elected leaders should be discussing this ongoing process on any media they can get on. For there are many misconceptions about what happens with the information and how it could affect someone or their family in an adverse way such as deportation.

Miami during the last count was in the middle of the Elian Gonzalez affair that involved a young Cuban boy who floated ashore on a raft that had his mother perishing back in November 1999. The child captured the Cuban community’s heart and the matter escalated in tension between the federal government and relatives taking care of the child in a home in Little Havana that became a media mecca with news crews coming from around the world to capture a glimpse of the small boy over the subsequent months before he was extracted by federal officials the Saturday morning, around 4:00 a.m., before Easter Sunday back then. The Watchdog Report a short time later started this e-mail newsletter a short time after that traumatic community event that had Anglos and Blacks protesting the Cuban community, caught in a Miami Herald photo back then that had some of the White people carrying a Confederate Flag, and it was a surreal photo event. However, that is not the case now and every public official and resident should make sure this activity is as complete as possible, though I still hear about enumerators being threatened with a homeowner’s dog if they don’t get off the property immediately. And a dramatic undercount of residents cannot occur again, for it will fiscally cripple us for the next ten years for a second time and that is unacceptable. >>> 2010 Census -The results are in and 72 percent of households mailed back their 2010 Census forms — the same rate achieved in the 2000 Census. Check out your community’s http://2010.census.gov/ – 28k – Cached

>>> City staff says “easy million” assets already sold off

The budget advisory board had its seventh meeting Thursday and the spirited discussion raised a number of questions, but no easy solution is available for the looming budget hole. The city apparently has over 700 assets, but any “easy millions” from these holdings have already been sold off or under lease said staff. The group is meeting again this Thursday and having a new set of eyes looking at these issues could be a productive activity, but certainly not easy given the financial realities the city’s current and future budget faces.

>>> The following e-mail was sent to (now former) Mayor Manny Diaz using his e-mail address on his extensive city web-page on Sept. 13, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. and to date there has been no answer from the mayor. It currently goes to his new e-mail address.>>> “Mayor Diaz, I wanted to ask you in the chamber today but not in front of Chair Joe Sanchez. My question is where did the extra $400,000 in the 2007 disclosure form come from? I will run what ever you respond unedited but I would appreciate closing this issue, as I am sure you do. Sorry but I have to ask. Best to all. Dan” >>>> The Watchdog Report through Dec.7 has yet to get a response or catch-up with Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz on where he got the extra $400,000 in cash listed in his 2007 financial disclosure forms. To see what CBS 4 reporter David Sutta’s take on this issue and the other city leaders financial disclosures go to cbs4.com Blogs . >>> Readers should stay tuned and catch the meeting on the city’s cable station channel 77. >>> Stream Channel 77, for all City of Miami meetings, (Commission, Village Council meetings, Waterfront, Zoning, PAB, Code, etc. hearings) http://videos.miamigov.com/

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Litter, litter everywhere, beaches, and parks must be kept clean through education and zero tolerance enforcement, says Libbin

Litter, litter everywhere but with all the budget shortfalls hammering counties and municipalities who and how is all this garbage on beaches, parks and along road ways ever going to get picked up in this “new normal” when it comes to public entities finances. A small group of people, less than a dozen at the county along with Miami Beach Commissioner Jerry Libbin met in a 10^th floor conference room in government center Friday afternoon to discuss what to do about the issue. Jack Kardys, the Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation director said when it came to litter at the parks and beaches. It is unbelievable what these visitors leave behind. He noted some of the worse offenders were high school and college age kids and they just refuse to pick up after themselves. A suggestion is to activate these students to help through education and perhaps as community services projects, or part of trips to these destinations to participate more in the effort, that has to be free since government does not have the money.

Libbin has been an pick-up the litter advocate on Miami Beach and has held numerous beach clean-up details and a new public relations blown-up photo depicting trash on the beach asking people to pick it up is on buses and other city vehicles in South Beach, that includes a large sign on the highway going into the Beach noting the city’s litter laws, and the fact these are enforced. The commissioner has pushed for education, but also “enforcement” and over 400 citations have been written since the crack down. He also said the city gives out biodegradable trash bags for people to use and suggested the county use the same type in their effort for a drastic clean up, possible first to be tried this summer at Haulover and Crandon Parks beaches. Further, given Libbin’s new gig as CEO of the Miami Beach Chamber, this clean up also makes good business sense and is a win-win for him in his new capacity of business cheerleader. However, beaches and parks are living environments with all kinds of creatures nesting and any clean-ups must also be environmentally sensitive to the living habitat these areas provide for multiple species. >>> Here is further information about the county’s park and recreation department and programs during the summer break.

Jack Kardys – Director Miami-Dade County’s Park and Recreation Department – Phone: 305-755-7800, Mission: To create outstanding Recreational, Natural, and Cultural experiences to enrich you and to enhance our community for this and future generations. www.miamidade.gov

>>> Press release: Washington Park is Going to the Dogs -Groundbreaking Paw-ty, Wednesday, May 26, 6:00 p.m., 201 2nd Street, Miami Beach, FL 305.673.7730. Amenities to the park will include a water spray fountain, extra benches, trash receptacles, dog bag dispensers, and an eco-friendly rainwater collection system that will augment the park’s irrigation. To assist in the fundraising for the extra features, engraved memorial bricks were sold and will be placed in the park. The project is a collaboration of the City of Miami Beach with the SoFi K9s organization and RDO (Responsible Dog Owners). Link to more info: http://web.miamibeachfl.gov/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=58429 Link to Miami Beach Bark Parks: http://web.miamibeachfl.gov/parksandrecreation/scroll.aspx?id=49658

>>> Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club features Prego of FDOT on port tunnel

State FDOT District Director Gus Prego and Tunnel Contractor Rep. Chris Hodgkins will brief the public on the construction schedule for the Miami Port Tunnel project, Tuesday, May 25, 8:30AM – 10:00AM, David’s Cafe II, 1654 Meridian Ave., Miami Beach, FL. http://www.portofmiamitunnel.com/Documents/POMTProjectSiteMap.pdf >>>

Since 1996, the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club has been gathering every Tuesday at 8:30AM at a local Miami Beach restaurant for informal, non-partisan discussions of issues – political, governmental, etc. It is not affiliated with any other organization. We are currently meeting at David’s Cafe II, 1654 Meridian Ave., Miami Beach, between Lincoln Road Mall and Macy’s (formerly Burdine’s). There is plenty of parking at that hour in the adjacent municipal parking lot. One orders from the menu or simply has coffee. Guest speakers range across the political, governmental, business, and social issues spectrum. Sessions are open to everyone. Simply show up. www.mbtmbc.com

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Residents get face time with Mayor Slesnick at lunch Monday

Voters and residents of Coral Gables can get some face time with Mayor Donald Slesnick,II on Monday at noon at JohnMartin’s Irish Restaurant located at 253 Miracle Mile. He is the featured speaker at the event. The lunch is $20.00 for members and $22.00 for nonmembers. You can RSVP for the lunch by e-mailing Richard Martin at rwmartin20@yahoo.com . Slesnick was first elected in the spring of 2001 along with Commissioners Maria Anderson and Ralph Cabrera, Jr., and the candidates ran against an entrenched group of incumbents but prevailed after a significant development and road closing wedge issue reared its head in the race. Since then, all three candidates have gotten the voters nod to stay in office but for the mayor. He has faced some bruising political times in the tony town where local politics can become a real contact sport, including multiple hurricanes that had residents in his face complaining about the delay in getting their power back. After these weather disasters, he told the Watchdog Report that it was times like this when one considers if it is all worth it being an elected official in a low paying job, but he has persevered and could become the longest serving mayor in the city’s history. The city recently celebrated its 85^th birthday and for more go to Coral Gables celebrates its 85th birthday – Coral Gables … 30 Apr 2010 … Visitors stream into historic Merrick House to mark the occasion. http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/30/1605930/coral-gables-celebrates-its-85th.html

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Florida Legislative round-up luncheon at Downtown Bay Forum Wednesday

Downtown Bay Forum luncheon: WEDNESDAY MAY 26, 2010–11:30 AM –LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP – SPEAKERS: ANA RIVAS LOGAN, School Board Member, KAREN ARONOWITZ, President United Teachers of Dade, ANA MARIA RODRIGUEZ, Baptist Health South Florida, MARY LOU TIGHE, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Public Health Trust, VICTORIA HERNANDEZ, Miami Dade College, JACOB COKER-DUKOWITZ, Director of Advocacy, Human Services Coalition, JOE RASCO, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Miami Dade County; MODERATOR BOB LEVY, ROBERT M. LEVY AND ASSOCIATES >>> MARRIOTT HOTEL–1633 N. BAYSHORE DR., MIAMI, $5.00 Valet Parking Available at Marriott Hotel – Call ANNETTE EISENBERG (305)757-3633 Fax (305)754-2015 RESERVATIONS REQUIRED – Membership Application &/or Luncheon Reservation (please print clearly) Name: ________________________ Business: ________________________________ Address: ________________

Phone No: _____________E-mail ___________________ Fax No. ___________$30 Membership ___ $22 Lunch, member w/reservation __ $52 Membership & Lunch __$26 Non-Member or Member without reservation if space is available ___$250 Table of 10 –DOWNTOWN BAY FORUM P.O. Box 371633, Miami, FL 33137-1633 www.downtownbayforum.com

EDITORIALS

>>> Budget gurus looking grim at all levels of public institutions with another round of significant cuts

To say people look grim if they work in public institutions budget departments is no joking matter, because after three years of financial cuts, that were partially mitigated by federal funding. The federal funding free ride is over and in the case of Miami-Dade for 2010-2011; another big hit is coming in an effort to find the $340 million in cuts after an expected revenue shortfall and includes over the past three-years over $800 million reduction in costs. County Commissioners like elected leaders around the nation face a hostile electorate when it comes to raising taxes in many cases, and with the sour economy. A fundamental question will be asked in the months ahead, will tax payers react to a diminishment of public services, or just role with the consequences that will be seen in the community at all levels. For we as a community “want to go to heaven, but don’t want to die,” says County Commission Chair Dennis Moss periodically when it comes to what residents expect but also are willing to pay for.

Miami, Hialeah, Miami Gardens, Miami Beach and all the other 30 something municipalities that populate the county in one way or the other is going to feel this further financial pinch as well and the man of the hour is Pedro Garcia, Jr. The county’s elected property appraiser and what his valuation number is in June of the aggregate reduction in property taxes and whether it is a, 10, 12 or 13 percent decline or worse say 16 or 18 percent. The final number will only confirm the next round of pain for public institutions is on its way. Further, the school district is going over a fiscal cliff next summer as the last of the federal stimulus money dries up that helped close fiscal gaps over the recent years.

The Watchdog Report has watched government in a serious way since 1998 and with these reductions in service and people. I am also worried public employees might take some of their frustration out on residents and services provided, something that is known to happen periodically in any public organization. I am starting to see more people complaining about their work as a public servant and a trend like that is only likely to grow as the pressure builds on who will stay and who will go when it comes to public employees. These public entities need to be careful as they navigate this human minefield with employees but the budget tealeaves are clear, that we are moving into another round of tough times and how we collectively deal with this difficult fact is critical to our overall success. For if you live in Miami-Dade County you are on a ship, and as I have said in the past, especially when we had in 2006, a 21.3 percent county property tax base increase pushing it up to $245 billion, up from $212 billion the year before. It was clear this bubble could not be sustained and government must watch the public dollars but that fell on deaf ears back then. However, the reality is now upon South Florida and our public institutions must deal with it, and the attendant pain that will come with these further cuts of people and services.

>>> Herald Ombudsman takes swipe at local papers, what about stories written by government employees?

The Miami Herald Ombudsman, Edward Schumacher-Matos had an interesting column Sunday on the paper’s www.miamiherald.com relationship with smaller local papers and blogs found around Miami-Dade County and the Keys. He notes some of these organizations or people may have conflicts of interest and some of the stories might be slanted or for their benefit and contrary to good journalism ethics. However, the Ombudsman missed one aspect and that is the county’s Community Periodical Program that actually pays newspapers to run stories across a whole range of subjects written by county employees. Miami-Dade County has about 50 papers that participate in this program and I have written about this over the last 11-years. I highlighted it in 2003 when a county audit found six papers got around $20,000 each but did not exist when county auditors tried to confirm there existence.

My beef with the papers that can be very influential locally and are “feared” by many politicians who go out of their way to accommodate the fledgling press that prints in multiple languages is that there is no indication that a byline is actually a government employee, and whether it is a paid community service ad. Over the years, I have run many of these press releases but I also indicate it is a press release for without that disclaimer. The stories can take on characteristics of propaganda for public institutions and that has to be monitored very closely, just as county government monitors local media stories now. For it is a slippery slope and can be an insidious process if one is looking for “truth in government” something coined by County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez a few years ago. An independent and accurate press is a key component of this equation and when that line is blurred. Only the general public in the long run will suffer and that is not a good thing for a vibrant, strong and active Republic and our governance.

LETTERS

>>> PHT trustee on Commissioner Souto’s remarks about PHT board last week

My friend, I wish you had added my comments to this story on Commissioner Javier Souto’s comments. You might remember I reminded him that the actions/comments of the PHT board that day on closure of the nursing home all related to the budget he and the BCC approved which we have the responsibility to implement and frankly are late in implementing. Frankly, another exhibit to the governance dysfunctionality ever present between the County and the PHT.

Jorge L. Arrizurieta

Trustee

Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County

>>> Reader on Watchdog Report

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LETTER POLICY

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

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Watchdog Report Vol. 11 No. 2 May 16, 2010 – Celebrating My 11th Anniversary since May 5th

editor — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:06:28 +0000

CONTENTS

Argus Report: What role will U.S. Rep. Meek’s family play in 2010 senate race, will Crist and Rubio get an issue?

Florida: Gov. Crist sharpens veto pen, what will be axed in $70.4 billion state budget in days ahead?

Miami-Dade County: When it comes to PHT, everyone has an opinion, but will the right one prevail in the end?

Broward County: Feds pop two people in mortgage fraud scheme

Palm Beach County: Local attorney pleads guilty to mortgage fraud conspiracy in West Palm Beach

Monroe County: Administrator Gastesi trying to keep taxes under roll back rate, budget begins to come together in mid June

Miami-Dade Public Schools: Friends of WLRN under the gun; need to come into line with district authority in next 30-days

Public Health Trust: Commissioner Souto joins Mayor Alvarez on dissolving PHT board, county leaders must appreciate enormity of decision

City of Miami: Commissioner Sarnoff cautions on ceding “powers” to mayor; supports independence of CIP

City of Miami Beach: Commissioner Weithorn says “$30 million” in expected budget cuts, budget workshops in the wings

City of Coral Gables: Mayor Slesnick says, “Income and expenditure projections are on target” but what of the next budget year?

Editorials: Past WDRS: Transparency in government affairs is always spoken about but without the Watchdog Report rarely seen — Collapse and consolidation of media will eventually create a Wild West mentality within public institutions

Letters: Readers on the Watchdog Report’s 11^th Anniversary May 5^th

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

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

>>> If you think it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider becoming a supporter or sponsor. For there is no trust fund and I do have to live. A convenient form is at the bottom of this week’s Watchdog Report with all the instructions on how to support this decade old newsletter and news service soon to start its 11^th anniversary on May 5.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> What role will U.S. Rep. Meek’s family play in 2010 senate race, will Crist and Rubio get an issue?

U.S. Rep Kendrick Meek, D-Miami (net worth roughly $62,000 in 2002) is in the media spotlight Saturday after an aide received a $13,000 home loan from Dennis Stackhouse, who is awaiting trial for stealing $1 million from a failed public project called Poinciana Park www.miamiherald.com and the story puts the congressman and his family back into the public eye. Meek, the Democratic Party front-runner for the U.S. Senate race in August has been below the radar for much of the preliminary months and has yet to spend any of his $3 million plus cash that he has raised for his campaign war chest. He was on Watch This Week’s Issues - Interview with U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek: Interview with U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek: Part 1 of 2 -Interview with U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek: Part 2 of 2 on Friday and Sunday. He discusses his campaign that started with him qualifying to run for the office by getting over 125,000 voters signatures statewide rather than pay the $10,000 qualifying fee as other candidates have done. Meek, taking a move out of past Gov. Lawton Chiles political playbook has met constantly with Democratic and other voters throughout Florida over the months but his name recognition is still low and he trails Gov. Charlie Crist (Net worth $466,000) and former state House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami (Net worth $8,351) in the polls. Meek during his earlier life worked as a Skycap at MIA and a Florida Highway Patrol trooper and he became a Miami-Dade County lobbyist during the end of the 1990s. Back then, Meek represented Wackenhut Security as a representative in front of the county and he was paid around $90,000 in that activity. During this time, Meek was also a sate senator and in 2002 gave Gov. Jeb Bush his only major policy defeat when the Florida Class-size Amendment was approved by state voters and championed by Meek.

Meek, whose mother Carrie preceded him in the congressional seat after being elected in 1992 to the body, retired at the last minute in 2002 and Kendrick was the only candidate to file and qualify for the office, where the sudden congressional seat opening caught many others by surprise. The elder Meek took-up the lobbying banner after her retirement from public office and she has represented Lennar Homes, the rock mining industry, URS, and Wackenhut from 2004 on. In the case of Stackhouse, he paid her $90,000 for her lobbying and supplied a Cadillac Escalade for her use and while her son says, they did not discuss these issues, that had her complain he does not listen to me. It still has a look the younger Meek can do without, in what is expected to be a bruising three-way Democratic Party senate race that now has billionaire Jeff Greene and former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre in the ring as well.

Meek the elder is also chair of the Carrie Meek Foundation, a not-for –profit entity that gets funding from a variety of sources including Miami-Dade that granted hundreds of thousands in “seed money” funding during a commission budget meeting years ago. There also is the issue of the Meek connection with Wackenhut, previously extensively reported in the Watchdog Report that has caused some of the controversy regarding these lobbyist activities that are separate from the Stackhouse investigation after the security firm sued Miami-Dade for $20 million after a critical county internal audit stated transit was over billed by over $3 million for phantom employees providing security by the company. The county a few months ago settled with Wackenhut and the issue never came to a head but it required the elder Meek to seek a conflict of interest waiver last summer with the county commission since she is also a lobbyist for the county in Washington and is paid up to $75,000 a year for this effort. Further, over the years the congressman, his attorney wife and now mother all represented the security company the congressman back in 2002 got a $92,000 salary for the lobbying gig. To see another person’s take on the Meek family >>> See what EyeOnMiami wrote about Carrie Meek back in 2007: http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2007/06/more-on-carrie-meek-by-geniusofdespair.html

>>> Former Miami top cop gets new gig as author, Timoney on Timoney

Former Miami Police Chief John Timoney was on www.msnbc.com ‘Morning Joe’ last Thursday and the sometimes-acerbic Irishman has a new book out called ‘Beat Cop to Top Cop,’ and he talked about his decades in law enforcement. He said he discussed the good and the mistakes during his time in uniform and during the first 20-months of his tenure, here in Miami; there was not a single police officer gun discharge, something not common in Miami. However, critics chide the chief for the lockdown of the city during the FTAA in November 2003 and then there was the car he got on loan for well over a year and became his Lexusgate. Mayor Manuel Diaz brought Timoney to the city in Jan. 2003 and the chief exited after Mayor Tomas Regalado won in a landslide in November 2009. Timoney was also criticized for some of his command choices that had the chief leaving the city under a union vote cloud of no confidence, which Timoney said, was political and not unheard of when pension reductions were being sought. For more information on the show go to Morning Joe (MorningJoe) on Twitter Video: Meet America’s ‘Top Cop’: Former Police Chief of Miami John Timoney joins Morning Joe to discuss the Times … http://bit.ly/bMKBOd 7:15 AM May 13th …http://twitter.com/MORNINGJOE – 39k – Cached – News – Morning Joe i Meet America’s ‘Top Cop’. May 13: Former Police Chief of Miami John Timoney joins Morning Joe to discuss t… Morning Joe | 8:20 AM May 13, 2010 …http://video.mobile.msn.com/en-us/news/morningjoe.aspx – 15k – Cached

>>> Press release: TAIWAN EXPORTER PLEADS GUILTY TO CONSPIRING TO EXPORT MISSILE COMPONENTS FROM THE U.S. TO IRAN

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Michael Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement, and Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Investigations, announced that defendant Yi-Lan Chen, a/k/a “Kevin Chen,” 40, a Taiwan passport holder, and his corporation, Landstar Tech Company Limited, a Taiwan corporation, pled guilty this morning in Miami to charges of conspiring to illegally export dual-use commodities to Iran. Chen appeared on behalf of himself and Landstar Tech in federal court today to announce their guilty pleas. Sentencing is scheduled for July 30, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Adalberto Jordan. Chen pled guilty to all three counts of the Information filed against him, and Landstar Tech pled guilty to Count 1 of the Information. Count 1 of the Information charges conspiracy to export and cause the export of commodities from the United States to the Islamic Republic of Iran, in violation of the Embargo imposed upon that country by the United States (“the U.S.-Iran Embargo”) and in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Title 50, United States Code, Section 1705(a). Counts 2 and 3 of the Information charge attempts to export and cause the export of commodities from the United States to the Islamic Republic of Iran, in violation of the U.S.-Iran Embargo and in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. On the conspiracy count, Chen faces a maximum statutory term of twenty (20) years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $1,000,000, and Landstar Tech faces a statutory maximum fine of $1,000,000.

According to documents filed with the court during the plea hearing, Chen, a Taiwan national who was residing in Taiwan during the time of the acts charged in the Information, by and through his Taiwan corporation, Landstar Tech Company Ltd, communicated and coordinated with co-conspirators in the United States, Iran, Hong Kong, and elsewhere and facilitated the attempted export of dual-use goods from the United States to Iran. In so doing, Chen communicated with and took requests for U.S. manufactured goods from customers in Iran. Chen and Landstar Tech then purchased those U.S.-manufactured goods from U.S. companies and misrepresented to those U.S. companies the ultimate end-user or consignee of the goods. With respect to the particular items charged in the Information, Chen made arrangements with a federal agent acting in an undercover capacity to have those U.S. goods hand-delivered by the undercover agent to Chen in Guam, a territory of the United States. Chen then planned to transport those goods back to Taiwan and then on to his customers in Iran. Chen and Landstar Tech also received payment for the purchase and shipment of the U.S. goods from his customers in Iran and then used funds received from the customers in Iran to pay the U.S. companies for those goods. Specifically, Chen and Landstar Tech conspired to export and cause the export of and attempted to export and cause the export of 120 circular hermetic connectors (Model MIL-C-81703/Part No. 8403-7-50P) and 8,500 glass to metal seals of various item numbers. The circular hermetic connectors and the glass to metal seals were manufactured in the United States and are dual-use commodities. That is, they are goods or technologies that have commercial application, but also could make a significant contribution to the military or nuclear potential of other nations and could be detrimental to the foreign policy or national security of the United States.

Chen ultimately failed to deliver the circular hermetic connectors or the glass to metal seals to his customers in Iran due to law enforcement intervention. That is, United States Department of Commerce agents seized the first attempted shipment of 60 glass to metal seals prior to their export from the United States. And, federal agents from the United States Department of Commerce and the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”), arrested Chen in Guam before he took delivery of the 60 additional circular hermetic seals or the 8,500 glass to metal seals from a federal law enforcement agent acting in an undercover capacity. Chen has been in federal custody since his arrest in February of this year and will remain in custody pending his sentencing. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Investigations for their work on this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Damian. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

>>>Press release: Zogby Interactive: 55% Not Very Concerned About Being Terror Victim; 50% Favor Increasing Security Funds to NYC – 85% Would Prohibit Guns Sales to Those on FBI Watch List

A majority of likely voters say they are not very concerned or not at all concerned that they or a family member could be the victim of a terrorist attack. The Zogby Interactive poll also found 50% would support increasing federal homeland security funding to New York City, even if that meant their community might see a decrease in such spending. The survey of 2,068 likely voters was conducted from May 7-10, and has a margin of error +/- 2.2 percentage points. Here are results of the poll’s questions about terrorism. 55% say they are not all or not very concerned about a terror attack victimizing them or their families. Of those, 18% were not at all concerned. Demographics groups in which majorities were either very or somewhat concerned included Republicans (61%), women (52%), those 65 and older (53%) and Catholics (55%). Please click the link below to view the full news release on our website: http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.cfm?ID=1862

>>> PAST WDR: I have been in the hospital after emergency surgery, one more procedure to go, need the community’s financial help to keep at this!

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

watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

FLORIDA

>>> Gov. Crist sharpens veto pen, what will be axed in $70.4 billion state budget in days ahead

With elected leaders and organizations around the state holding their collective financial breath, it remains to be seen what Gov. Charlie Crist (net worth $466,000) will decide to veto in the state’s $70.4 billion budget passed on April 30^th by the Florida legislature. Crist who changed his voter status to No Party Affiliation last week has an opportunity to pare down some of the legislators largess for their districts since he has very little to lose in political capital when it comes to either of the political parties. His decision to strike down what some might consider pork projects could resonant with voters who seem to be just turned off with all the government spending, even if it might be in their hometown. On Saturday, Crist vetoed two bills that had considerable legislative support and he has many more bills to consider in the days ahead.

Locally, the big appropriation is the $50 million for Jackson Memorial Hospital that was steered into the state budget by state Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami now running for congress in the District 25 seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz- Balart who claimed his brother’s seat at the end of April after not drawing a challenger from either party. However, Crist understands the importance of Jackson Memorial Hospital having visited the institution over the past decade and the Watchdog Report believes the governor will sign this appropriation for the health trust.

>>> Press release: Governor Charlie Crist signed the following bills today, May 15, 2010: HB 1581 Florida Atlantic University – HB 7119 OGSR/Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology >> The following bills were vetoed today: CS/CS/CS HB 981Agriculture – CS HB 7103 Agriculture

>>> Press release: Gov. Crist today named Erik M. “Rick” Figlio of Tallahassee as general counsel for the Executive Office of the Governor.

“Rick has extensive experience in the law, as well as with state government, and is deeply committed to serving the people of our great state,” said Governor Crist. “In addition, I am confident his legal expertise will always be complemented by his unwavering integrity and fairness.” Figlio, 38, has practiced with Ausley and McMullen since September 2009 after serving as assistant general counsel to Governor Crist beginning in January 2007. Previously, he was the deputy solicitor general in the Office of then-Attorney General Crist from 2004 to 2007, handling all appeals cases in the Eleventh Circuit and Florida district courts of appeal. He served as a law clerk to the Honorable Joel F. Dubina, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, from 2003 to 2004 after practicing with Shaw, Pitmann, Potts and Trowbridge from 2002 to 2003. Figlio received his bachelor’s degree from Davidson College in Charlotte, North Carolina, and his law degree from University of Georgia School of Law. “I am honored to have to have the opportunity to work again with Governor Crist and to serve the people of Florida,” Figlio said. “I look forward to getting to work right away and assisting the Governor in whatever ways are needed.”

>>> Press release: Gov. Crist, Attorney General McCollum Call for Oil Spill Legal Advisory Council ~ Former Attorneys General Bob Butterworth and Jim Smith to chair legal advisory team ~

Governor Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum today called on former Attorneys General Bob Butterworth and Jim Smith to chair a Legal Advisory Council to explore options relating to the Deepwater Horizon incident and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The legal advisory team will bring together private-sector attorneys and other experts who will use their expertise to begin assessing the impact the potential disaster could have on Florida. “Many of Florida’s communities, businesses and even entire industries could be affected by this disaster,” Governor Crist said. “We are wise and prudent to gather the best legal minds in our state together to begin preparing today for any future legal action we might need to take.”

The Legal Advisory Council will work with state agencies to prepare for any future litigation, enforcement, or regulatory action that may be needed. The group will focus on gathering information and strategies relating to the following: Protection of the rights of Florida consumers and businesses. Actions that the State of Florida can initiate now. Data and information collection and preservation. Prompt compliance to information requests by BP, Transocean, Halliburton and other companies. Strategies and theories for future legal action. “Floridians need our help now, and it is never too early to tap into the best legal resources available,” said Attorney General McCollum. “By taking this step now, we will be in the best position possible when moving forward with any litigation or other resolution on behalf of Florida and its citizens.” Governor Crist expressed confidence in the ability of Generals Butterworth and Smith to assist Florida in the early stages of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. They will begin identifying Legal Advisory Council members as soon as possible. Floridians with questions about the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Legal Advisory Council should call the Attorney General’s toll-free hotline at 1-866-966-7226.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> When it comes to PHT, everyone has an opinion, but will the right one prevail in the end?

Mayor Carlos Alvarez is holding another session Monday morning with the management of the Public Health Trust, his administration and this time he is holding it at his West Miami-Dade Office. In the past, 20 or so people have attended these meetings and while the mayor is perfectly within his rights to hold the meeting at this satellite location. It is odd that he is not using the more convenient 29^th floor conference room which is a more efficient and easy location to get to. Over the years, I have gone to this other office located in a large strip mall near FIU but given the meeting is from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., the height of morning rush hour traffic. I for one will not be able to attend this meeting that will follow on Tuesday with the county commission voting on legislation concerning the governance of the health trust, if necessary, because the current board could not overcome the financial issues facing the institution. Further, at last Tuesday’s PHT committee meeting, any veil of independence of the PHT board was lifted when Commissioner Javier Souto (Net worth $856,000) in “frustration and desperation” held–up the county charter document and proclaimed, it is the Board of County Commissioners that has the responsibility to provide for the healthcare of the county’s 3.5 million residents, he told fellow commissioners at a committee meeting Thursday. He was responding to the trustee’s discussion concerning closing the county’s nursing homes run by the PHT and the board had hoped to spin it off, saving about $3 million but no private organization responded to the request for proposals.

Trustee Judy Rosenbaum, Ph.D. asked Souto how they were going to achieve their charge by the county commission and mayor of balancing the institution’s budget, if these tough choices are not made. Souto did not directly respond, but later in the week, he told his fellow commissioners “they [the PHT trustees] don’t understand how the county works and our responsibility as elected leaders,” said the former state legislator. He railed on saying, “they just don’t get it, never were elected, and the responsibility that comes with that,” Souto intoned. However, it also shows how under the thumb the PHT board is and while the members of the board are struggling with these vexing problems, the elected official component is now always on the front stage of these important discussions.

What about the $11 million in Jackson Memorial Foundation funding?

At the commission, Health, Public Safety and Intergovernmental committee meeting Thursday, the issue of two PHT contracts worth $11 million with the foundation funded by the trust were deferred by commissioners. Commission vice Chair Jose “Pepe” Diaz said he did not understand aspects of the transaction, and Commissioner Dorrin Rolle wanted to hear from the “Jackson representatives” but there were no staff from the PHT or the foundation to answer commissioner questions.

What did Diaz say about the PHT board?

At the beginning of the committee meeting Diaz gave out recognitions for people being on county boards and when it came to the PHT 15-member board. He said “next” and did not read off any of the trustees names which gives one a sense of the his thoughts of the oversight board.

>>> May 17, 2010 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.: A Sunshine Meeting between Miami-Dade County and the Public Health Trust (PHT) Management Team has been scheduled to review ‘Jackson Health Systems operational, budgetary and financial matters.’ The Honorable Miami-Dade County Mayor, Carlos Alvarez; County Manager, George Burgess; Assistant County Manager, Alina Hudak; President and CEO of Jackson Health System, Dr. Eneida O. Roldan, and Public Health Trust Chairman, John H. Copeland, III, will be in attendance. Location: Office of the Mayor – West Dade Office, 1309 SW 107 Avenue, Miami, FL 33174

>>> Will there be funding independence for commission Auditor, IG, and ethics commission? - Change in resolving conflicts of interest

At county commission committee meetings last week, two ordinances related to ethics and the funding of entities that report to the commission passed on first readings. One ordinance that passed gives the Miami-Dade Ethics and Public Trust Commission the power to investigate and rule on conflict of interest cases, previously done by the county commission. Many ethics mavens believed the elected body did not have the resources to do an investigation and these conflicts also put the body in potentially an awkward legislative position.

The other ordinance would break out the budgeting authority, currently with the administration, though ultimately approved by the commission for the county commission’s auditor, IG and ethics commission. Over the years, funding for these organizations sometimes were under the fiscal gun, but the commission when deliberating the budget generally gave these three entities most of the funding they were requesting.

>>> Taxi driver wants to know what to do with “seeing eye horses?”

Another issue surfaced during a discussion at a commission committee meeting dealing with the taxicab industry and how someone with a disability, such as being legally blind could not get a cab at MIA because the drivers would not allow the dog into the car. Advocates for the blind made a credible case of the difficulty they faced getting around and after a long trip away from Miami. They deserved the right, granted by law to have a taxi take them home if that is their pleasure and the commissioners understood the seriousness of the problem.

Anything unusual happen?

However, this discussion brought up another issue when a driver got up and asked commissioners what they were supposed to do with “seeing eye horses?” Committee chair Carlos Gimenez was startled with the statement and asked for the man to repeat the question. The conversation concluded after Vice Chair Jose “Pepe” Diaz mad a ‘Mr. Ed’ joke, a black and white television staple in the late 1950s about a talking horse, but once again, some of the political dialogue at the commission was colorful to say the least.

>>> Press release on county boards being recognized: Miami-Dade County Commission recognizes members of County Boards in special ceremonies

From May 10 to May 13, the Miami-Dade County Commission recognized the numerous members of County Boards who perform valuable services in the community. The recognition ceremonies held in the County Commission Chambers were pursuant to a resolution sponsored by Chairman Dennis C. Moss that called for the event annually. On May 10, Vice-Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz recognized the members of the boards that contribute to the efforts of the County’s Recreation, Culture and Tourism Committee (RCTC). “Our board members go out in the community and ensure that everything – from public art to safety programs – is being implemented across Miami-Dade,” said Vice-Chairman Diaz. “Until now, they’ve mostly remained unsung heroes, but they deserve praise for their dedication to enriching and improving our community.”

The following board members were given certificates of appreciation this past Monday: Historic Preservation Board; Art in Public Places Cultural Affairs Council Film and Entertainment Advisory Board Kendale Lakes Landscape Maintenance Special Taxing District Advisory Board Miami Metro Zoo Oversight Board Parks and Recreation Citizens’ Advisory Board Performing Arts Center Trust Public Library Advisory Board Ronald Reagan Equestrian Center Advisory Board Safe Neighborhood Parks Citizens Oversight Committee Tourism Development Council Vizcaya Museum and Garden Trust

>>> Press release: Register your child in summer camp at the Deering Estate at Cutler

This summer, the Deering Estate at Cutler will offer three types of summer camp: Eco-Explorers (ages 6-8), Deering Discovery Camp (ages 9-11), and Camp Ikana Okee “Sea & Land” (ages 12-15). There are five, ten-day sessions available from June 14th through August 20th. Teacher planning day camps are also available on June 10th and 11th. Eco-Explorers (ages 6-8): Children can experience a fun environment in which they can explore a balance of environmental awareness, adventures, and eco-themed arts and crafts while exploring the history and nature of the Estate. The program makes use of the many advantages within the archaeological, natural and historic setting of the Estate, including interactive exhibits, our natural areas and technology lab.

Deering Discovery Camp (ages 9-11): Children will learn about history, archeology, and nature by taking part in a series of hands on activities at the Deering Discovery Camp. Camp activities include: nature hikes, educational environmental projects, a canoe trip to Chicken Key, and participation in an exciting archeological dig along with other enrichment and recreational activities. Camp “Ikana Okee” (ages 12-15): Camp “Ikana Okee”, which means “sea & land,” is an adventure camp where science, education and adventure are the focus as campers explore the wonders of the natural and marine world. Camp “Ikana Okee” offers unique and innovative recreational activities where the mysteries of the oceans are revealed through hands-on activities above, beside and below the water’s surface.

Camp hours are from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Early drop-off and late-pick up are available for an additional fee. Early drop off is from 7:30 am to 9:00 am and late pick up is from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. The cost of each camp is $375 (ten-day session). The cost for the Teacher Planning Day Camp is $38 for one day; or $75 for both days. Please note there is a one-time $12 annual camp registration fee. To register for Summer Camp at the Deering Estate, please call 305-235-1668 ext. 233. Visit the Deering Estate website for the Summer Camp registration form. >>> About the Deering Estate at Cutler >> The Deering Estate at Cutler, a Miami-Dade County Park, is located at 16701 SW 72 Avenue in Miami. This 444-acre natural and archeological preserve and historic site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a center for education, culture and recreation. Historic house tours are offered daily (10:30 am & 3:00 pm) with admission to the Estate. EcoAdventure Tours are also offered throughout the year for an additional fee. For more information on the Deering Estate’s educational and cultural programs, please visit www.deeringestate.org

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Press release: TWO PLEAD GUILTY IN BROWARD MORTGAGE FRAUD SCHEME

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Henry Gutierrez, Postal Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, and J. Thomas Cardwell, Commissioner, State of Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation, announced that defendants Monique Mitchell, 29, of Pembroke Pines, and Sheldon Martin, 34, of Plantation, pled guilty this morning in West Palm Beach federal court to one count of making false statements on a HUD-1 Real Estate Settlement Form in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 21, 2010 before U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks. According to records filed with the court and statements made during the plea hearing, defendant Monique Mitchell was employed by Attorneys Title Center, in Pembroke Pines. Defendant Sheldon Martin was a self-employed licensed mortgage broker in Plantation. At the plea, Mitchell and Martin admitted that they knowingly prepared a false HUD-1 Settlement Statement Form in connection with the January 2008 sale of a $1,250,000 home in Fort Lauderdale. The HUD-1 Form included false information to Regions Bank, the lender, about the down payment, the cash on hand at closing, and the amount repaid to the previous lender. In addition, the defendants concealed from Regions Bank money paid to The Pines Law Center at the closing. At sentencing, the defendants face a maximum statutory sentence of up to five years in prison. Co-defendant, attorney Michael Samuda, is scheduled for trial in June 2010. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FBI, and State of Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Kay. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

>>> Press release: ATTORNEY PLEADS GUILTY TO MORTGAGE FRAUD CONSPIRACY IN WEST PALM BEACH

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Henry Gutierrez, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Michael K. Fithen, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, J. Thomas Cardwell, Commissioner, State of Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation, and Alex Sink, Chief Financial Officer, State of Florida’s Department of Financial Services, announced that defendant Joseph Miller, 63, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud (Count 1), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349. Sentencing has been scheduled for August 9, 2010 at 10:30 am. According to documents filed with the court, from January 2006 through October 2007, Miller conspired with others to commit mail and wire fraud by acting as the attorney and title agent on mortgage loans that were obtained through the submission of false loan applications to Washington Mutual and other lenders. The superseding indictment also charged defendants Jason Vitulano, Peter Hartofilis, Robert Hofler, and Steve Vento. Defendants Vitulano, Hofler and Vento have pled guilty and are currently awaiting sentencing. The case against defendant Peter Hartofilis remains pending.

According to the factual proffer filed with the court in support of the guilty plea, Jason Vitulano was a branch manager at TopDot Mortgage, in Boca Raton, where Vitulano and others, including co-branch manager Hartofilis, devised a scheme to submit fraudulent loan applications to numerous lenders. The false loan applications grossly inflated the loan applicants’ earnings and assets on deposit in a local bank. According to the proffer and other court documents, Vitulano recruited attorney co-defendant Joseph Miller to act as closing and title agent on a number of these loan transactions. According to the proffer, Miller agreed to divert loan proceeds to the personal accounts of Vitulano, Hartofilis and others without disclosing that fact to the mortgage lenders. Defendant Robert Hofler pled guilty to the conspiracy charge on April 8, 2010. Hofler was a vice president at First Southern Bank in Boca Raton. According to documents filed in the case, Hofler used his position to falsify verification of deposit forms that were used to deceive lenders into believing that a prospective loan applicants had large balances on deposit at First Southern, which was not true. In reliance on these and other false statements in the loan applications, the lenders approved and funded more than $5 million in mortgage loans to purchase residences in Palm Beach and Broward Counties. Hofler is scheduled for sentencing on July 27, 2010 at 10:30 am. Defendant Steve Vento purchased two properties, each valued at the time at over $1 million, by submitting false loan applications through Top Dot mortgage, through the work of Jason Vitulano. Vento is scheduled for sentencing on July 13, 2010 at 11:00 am. Defendant Jason Vitulano, the Top Dot Mortgage branch manager and alleged leader of the conspiracy scheme, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 19, 2010 at 10:30 am. >>> At sentencing, each of the defendants faces a maximum statutory term of imprisonment of up to 30 years in prison on each of the counts against them. Mr. Ferrer commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the State of Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation, and the State of Florida’s Department of Financial Services for their work in the case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Jorgensen and Ellen Cohen, in conjunction with the Palm Beach County Mortgage Fraud Task Force. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> Administrator Gastesi trying to keep taxes under roll back rate like last year, budget begins to come together in mid June

The Watchdog Report contacted County Administrator Roman Gastesi last week concerning the county’s upcoming 2010-2011 budget that has been getting hammered like the other 66 counties in Florida and the administrator wrote back. “We are starting to put together the county’s budget, it’s a little different down here because the “constitutional” officers, i.e. Sheriff, Property Appraiser, Elections Supervisor, etc. don’t have to turn in their budgets until June 1st to me and I’m responsible for rolling it all up to form the “Aggregate”…my goal is to come in under rollback like we did last year…in mid-June we will know more… Hope all is well on the mainland…come down and spend money, we need it!” wrote Gastesi last week

>>> Press release from County Administrator: It’s important to let folks know that we are still very open for business… KEYS TOURISM ADVISORY 8 May 12, 2010 • News and Information From the Monroe County Tourist Development Council – ‘Relax’ is Key Word at County Commission Spill Workshop

Officials speaking at special county commission meeting Tuesday shared a key message for their constituents in the Florida Keys regarding the Transocean/BP oil spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Be calm, but be vigilant and be prepared. “The likelihood is that this will not happen,” said county administrator Roman Gastesi of fears that massive amounts of oil could reach the Keys’ sensitive marine areas. “Relax and go about your normal routines. We need to continue to enjoy our beautiful outdoors.” Captain Pat DeQuattro, U.S. Coast Guard sector Key West’s commander, said there is no near-term trajectory forecast that indicates the Keys will be impacted by oil any time soon. But he said his agency continues to monitor events closely and plan in case a local response should become necessary.

According to Florida’s emergency management office, as of Wednesday morning there are no impacts forecast for the next 72 hours to any part of the state of Florida and likely much longer for the Keys. According to official estimates, as of Wednesday morning the southern edge of the slick was projected to be about 70 miles from the northern edge of the Loop Current. At Tuesday’s meeting, Sean Morton, superintendent of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, said if oil enters the loop current it would take about 10 to 15 days to migrate to the Keys region. If oil reaches the Keys, said BP incident commander Keith Seilhan, it would likely be in the form of tar balls or tar pancakes, not a continuous sheet of thick oil that is being seen near the spill site. Morton said NOAA officials were still studying the physical transformations of dispersed “weathered oil,” but said impacts in the Keys would likely be different than those in the northern Gulf. The meeting, called by Monroe County Mayor Sylvia Murphy, brought together federal, state and local agencies — include Monroe County Emergency Management — to discuss the situation and inform the public of their state of readiness, if needed.

Tourism was a focal point and Andy Newman, media relations director for the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, relayed a TDC survey of Keys chambers of commerce and accommodations associations discovered thus far that there had been some cancellations, but that advance reservations were lagging because “consumers were taking a wait-and-see approach.” An online Trip Advisor poll in USA Today seems to support that premise with almost half the respondents saying that they are waiting for a resolution before making travel reservations for Gulf-area regions, with 25 percent saying they will travel to support the region and the balance responding they will not go “because of the mess.” County Commissioner Mario DiGennaro told Seilhan that BP should pay for advertising to help market the Keys tourism product. On numerous occasions, BP has promised to clean up and restore any affected areas as well as pay all “legitimate” claims. BP has established a claim hotline at 1-800-440-0858. Careful documentation, especially for claims registered in areas not physically impacted, is required. More information regarding claims can be found at http://www.uscg.mil/npfc/claims/ . >>> Wednesday morning, while attending a Visit Florida board of directors meeting, TDC Director Harold Wheeler said that Gov. Charlie Crist announced a $2 million release of money from a special risk fund to Visit Florida for extra advertising to inform consumers that Florida has not been physically impacted by the oil spill thus far. Crist told the board he has been talking to BP about acquiring funds from the oil company to help Florida market its tourism product. Crist also announced the creation of a task force to help businesses affected by the massive Gulf oil spill and to ensure BP PLC pays what it should for the economic damage. >>> The Monroe County tourism council continues to update its http://www.fla-keys.com <http://www.fla-keys.com> website with information regarding the spill and its relationship to the Keys. On the website are NOAA forecast tracking maps, a map showing the spill site in relation to the Keys, links to area webcams and more. TDC social media sites include: http://www.keysvoices.com • http://twitter.com/thefloridakeys • http://www.facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest >> Spill-related websites, primarily focusing on affected areas, include:
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com • http://www.noaa.gov

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Friends of WLRN under the gun; need to come into line with district authority in next 30-days

Alberto Carvalho is clearly frustrated after little progress has been made regarding bringing the Friends of WLRN’s bylaws in line with district authority and the tax exempt fundraising organization of WLRN has been given 30-days to get an agreement hashed out between Friends, the station and the nation’s fourth largest school district whose board holds the FCC license. Friends while being a philanthropic fundraising organization for the radio and television station, the organization headquarters is not located on the station’s premises and instead uses leased space in the Seybold Building in downtown Miami. In a document summarizing the superintendent’s feelings handed to me Wednesday after Tuesday’s school board Audit Committee meeting. He noted WLRN representatives are trying to resolve the issues, but Friends has their own operating document that WLRN representatives have not seen nor has the Friends board yet to approve the document. The not-for-profit’s mission is to essentially raise money for the station but has resisted certain oversight and how it picks its management of the foundation. The radio and television station of WLRN also is the vehicle for much of the foundation’s fundraising with numerous telethons over the years where WLRN staff does much of the pitch for benefactor money.

The superintendent also pointed out “several disturbing comments that had been communicated to him which clearly reflected that Friends was not working in a cooperative manner with WLRN, and in fact had made derogatory comments about WLRN and the School Board,” the statement says. He expects Friends to report back to the audit committee in 30-days “with an operating agreement which is predicated on and incorporates the 1995 bylaws.” He also notes if Friends “should fail to recognize as controlling the 1995 bylaws, it would be deemed an impasse has been encountered in the negotiations.”

The Watchdog Report contacted the school board Audit Committee chair Frederick F. “Buck” Thornburg after the meeting about what was discussed among board members and he responded. “In reply to your e-mail inquiry as to my take on the current status of the Friends/WLRN issue as a whole, the School Board Chair was manifestly clear regarding his position and the status of the WLRN/Friends operating agreement negotiations. Nearly 120 days have elapsed since the Audit Committee with the concurrence of Superintendent Carvalho requested the parties to conduct bona fide negotiations to reach a needed Operating Agreement. As telegraphed by the WLRN General Manager’s strong disagreement with the Friends Chair’s assessment that progress was being made in negotiations, the results to date are disappointing. Several School Board and Audit Committee members opined that Friends has failed to comply with the 60-day deadline originally set by the Audit Committee [on Jan. 26] and Superintendent. As you know, this deadline was subsequently extended.

As you are also aware, Friends and WLRN were requested at last week’s May 11 Audit Committee meeting to report back within 30 days with an operating agreement which is to include restoration of the Superintendent’s and the school district’s rights as the license holder as provided for in the Friend’s 1995 By-laws. Absent reaching such an agreement, it would be deemed that an impasse had been encountered in the negotiations and the Scholl Board would than be forced to consider its various options. In sum and predicated on the comments and observations of School Board Chair [Solomon] Stinson, Superintendent Carvalho and Audit Committee members at the May 11 meeting, the old adage appears to be triggered and applicable: “The time has come to fish or cut bait”!” wrote the attorney and audit committee chair.

>>> How we got here: Jan. 31 PAST WDR: Friends of WLRN in the spotlight must have an operating agreement with District in 60-days

Alberto Carvalho, the district’s superintendent in a terse tone said when it came to seeing the financial records of Friends of WLRN. He was told it could only be done off site, he could not remove them or copy the documents while under the watchful eye of the not-for-profit’s attorneys and the documents did not fall under the state’s Sunshine Law. Carvalho said “these conditions were unacceptable” and he made these statements at the Audit Committee meeting on Tuesday and it stunned the committee members including school board vice chair Perla Tabares Hantman, the board’s voting member.

The superintendent said he has been reviewing all contracts and operating agreements and a memo from board attorney James Walter Harvey details the organizations institutional timeline, noting Friends is charged with nothing but raising money for WLRN’s radio and television stations. The representatives of Friends said they were not trying to stonewall the inquiry noting over the decades since 1974 the organization has worked well with WLRN and the school district. The station now has significantly more media outlets and the not-for-profit has been instrumental in helping fund that expansion. However, the issue of some employees salaries came-up as well as administrative costs that come in at about 40 percent and that is normal said the Friends representatives. Jose F. Montes de Oca, the district’s chief auditor asked about some of salaries that had people making over the years $269,000; $247,000 and $315,000 but Friends said that is based on money they raise and the commission is 10 percent. They also pointed out these employees are paid a small salary, brought in $3 million in underwriting and they do not get the commission “until the money is in hand.”

Further, Friends bylaws once had the superintendent signing off on any by law changes, and who ran Friends. But that changed, but went unnoticed in 1998 and board Attorney James Walter Harvey in a Jan. 26 memo writes that “these significant, sea change amendments” were never approved by the superintendent and the school district administrative head was not “involved in the appointment process of Rick Lewis,” the current Friends president and CEO. Further, the attorney noted that the bylaws “have since been amended several times without superintendent approval.” Carvalho was instructed to create an operating agreement with Friends that would be due in 60-days and Friends representatives said they could comply with that time constraint and it will include inserting back that the superintendent will have to sign off on any bylaw changes in the future.

>>> Press release: Miami-Dade Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho will propose an anti-fraud rule at today’s regular meeting of The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida.

“After seeing the egregious fraudulent behavior of some individuals in corporations and on Wall Street, as well as that of individuals in other government entities, it is important to make clear to our employees and the people we do business with that fraud, in its many forms, will not be tolerated,” said Superintendent Carvalho. Although fraud is touched on in several School Board rules, no rule specifically addresses it. The proposed policy will apply to any fraud, or suspected fraud, involving elected officials, employees, consultants, vendors, contractors, outside agencies and employees of such agencies and any other parties with a business relationship with the District. The rule specifically prohibits: falsification of documents; misappropriating funds, supplies or other District assets; improper handling of financial transactions; disclosing confidential and proprietary information for personal gain; disclosing purchasing and bidding activities to allow an unfair advantage; causing the District to pay excessive prices or fees where justification is not documented; accepting or offering a bribe, gifts or other favors to influence a decision; removing records or property for personal gain; using local, State or Federal funds for other than their designated and approved purposes; using District equipment or work time for any outside private business activity. The rule provides special protection for individuals who report suspected fraudulent activity.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Commissioner Souto joins Mayor Alvarez on dissolving PHT board, leaders must appreciate enormity of decision

With county commissioners voting on Tuesday on new proposed legislation regarding the citizen based Public Heal Trust oversight board and its role in the future. The public should hang on, for this is going to be a rough ride for the trust body has numerous committees that overseas a complex public hospital with 5 million square feet in campus, including affiliations with the University of Miami’s Miller Medical School and Florida International University’s medical school. Commissioner Barbara Jordan is right when she points out all the work that comes with being on the PHT board and she knows. She was an assistant county manager that for years was the county’s liaison for the trust and how such an oversight body works. However, commissioners seem to have other ideas and now Commissioner Javier Souto, a voting member on the PHT board, has joined Mayor Carlos Alvarez in thinking the trust board should be abolished.

Souto told the Watchdog Report that fact on Tuesday when he left the PHT committee meeting after letting off steam regarding the role of the Miami-Dade Home Rule Charter that he fell in love with back in 2000 when he was on a county charter review committee. He believes the board does not appreciate that it is the county commission that has responsibility for county healthcare, but he does not address the larger issue of how the institution will balance its budget that is hemorrhaging hundreds of millions of dollars. The Watchdog Report since 1998 has watched the health trust and the concern I have is that fear and politics will replace reason when it comes to crafting a solution.

>>> PAST WDR MARCH 2005: Why the PHT is so important to the community! — Where are you going to go when you have deadly trauma, the UM/JMH Ryder Trauma Center- a community treasure

UM/JMH Ryder Trauma Center, the renowned Emergency Room facility attached to Jackson Memorial Hospital and staffed by U. Of Miami physicians will have a 13th birthday in June and it is the second busiest Level 1 Trauma Center in the nation. Ryder Truck Company primarily paid for the four-story center’s construction in 1992, the freestanding building is dedicated solely to trauma care, and it has a heliport on the roof. Many in the community do not know the level of services this institution provides until they are in a terrible car crash or perhaps shot. The center’s patients are 92 percent adults and 8 percent are children with most of the adults being male. Documents state the trauma center treated 835 people with penetrating wounds, 159 burn patients but 2,638 patients are admitted for blunt trauma (car accidents).

The Ryder Trauma Center has the lowest fatality rate per 100,000 people in Florida and it ranges from 0.01 – 20.00. Part of this success is the use of helicopters to transport injured patients from around the county and the indication is if the patient is 20 minutes or greater from the center, and 37 percent of patients are transported by air. However, providing state of the art emergency care is not cheap and last year UM/JMH lost $17.6 million providing trauma care. Trauma patient payer mix in 2004 shows that 32.4 percent had commercial health insurance, 7.8 percent Medicare, 10.7 percent is Medicaid and 49.1 percent of the patients are indigent. The trauma center also serves as a training school for physicians in the U.S. military, received the 2005 Department of Defense Patient Safety Award for Team Training, is a Center of Excellence for Combat Causality Care Team Training, and infuses “team concepts and common team language in trauma training” state PHT documents. It is also the home of the U.S. Army Extremity War Surgery Course, and participants have been involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Commissioner Sarnoff cautions on ceding “powers” to mayor; supports independence of CIP

After four commissioners had voted Thursday on an item concerning the Civilian Investigative Panel, Commission Chair Marc Sarnoff (Net worth $2.28 million) cautioned his colleagues to be careful when they “cede power” to the mayor’s office. He noted the body “was giving some legislative power away” and while “you may like this mayor” that may not be the case in the future and he suggested the body not give up these “powers” without considering the consequences. Sarnoff made the comments after four commissioners had voted on how the CIP members were chosen, that currently has each of the five commissioners picking two members on a slate decided by the CIP nominating Council. Sarnoff also noted the CIP; created by city voters overwhelmingly in 2001 to oversee and investigate the police has subpoena powers. He said such a body’s independence in his mind should be respected. The chairman an attorney said the commission is “giving some legislative power away” and in the case of the CIP. The panel “has subpoena power” and suggested the commission “not put a collar” on this entity and its independence.

>>> Security guard at Miami City Hall Nazario says sayonara for Chicago

A silent security sentinel at City Hall is leaving with security guard Rosa Nazario leaving for her hometown of Chicago after years of providing the first line of security at Dinner Key. Nazario, normally stationed at the metal detector was given a “salute” by Miami commissioners, Mayor Tomas Regalado, and her heartfelt “thank you” from the dais said it all, followed by the obligatory photos of the event. Rosa will be missed but Francis is taking her place for morning duty and Sanly Pierre continues with afternoon security duties.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Commissioner Weithorn says $30 million in expected budget cuts, budget workshops in the wings

With Miami Beach starting to craft its new city budget for next year that begins Oct. 1, the Watchdog Report contacted elected leaders and the manager last week by e-mail and Commissioner Deede Weithorn responded to my questions anout the city’s finances. The commissioner a CPA responded, “The budget is coming along, although we need to find around $30 Million [in cuts]. We have a series of budget workshops scheduled June 3; July 1; and on July 6-8 we will discuss the budget in [greater] detail. The city last year had to reduce its budget around $25 million and it remains to be seen what services will be trimmed back to keep the city’s next year budget in the black

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Mayor Slesnick says, “Income and expenditure projections are on target” but what of the next budget year?

The Watchdog Report contacted Mayor Donald Slesnick II and commissioners last week asking about the current and next years budget and the mayor responded back by my deadline. Slesnick in an e-mail wrote, “Hope you are well. We just had our mid-year review and both our 2009-2010 FY income and expenditure projections are on target. We do not have any preliminary information as yet (at least I don’t) as to the property appraiser’s evaluation estimates [for 2010-2011], so it is difficult to respond as to what will face us the coming year – but it won’t be easy, wrote the mayor. The Gables is like all government entities around the nation that are facing budget constraints but it is a wealthier city than some in Miami-Dade and how these public institutions’s deal with these budget constraints during this prolonged recession is going to take real political leadership.
>>> City web page: City Saves Thousands Rebuilding Instead Of Replacing

After years of service keeping Coral Gables’ canals and waterways clean, the City’s Water Witch fell into disrepair. The vessel is used to maintain waterways free of seaweed and debris buildup. It also assists with bridge and channel marker repairs. Some time ago, staff recommended the purchase of a new Water Witch at a cost of approximately $210,000. Although the decision to purchase a new vessel had been made prior to City Manager Pat Salerno coming onboard, he nonetheless asked the new Automotive Director, Steven Riley, to review the purchase. Riley recommended and the Commission approved canceling the purchase, and rebuilding the current vessel instead of replacing it. Several upgrades were also made to better handle the rigors of a saltwater environment. The final cost of the overhaul was approximately $20,000, a savings to the City of $190,000. Repairs were recently completed and the Water Witch is now in service. The photo below was taken of the newly rebuilt vessel right before being placed back into the water. Its operator says it runs like it is “brand new.” This is just one example of how the City is currently rethinking the way it conducts business.

EDITORIALS

>>> PAST WDR: March 2005: Transparency in government affairs is always spoken about but without the Watchdog Report rarely seen

The big news like the Florida Marlins stadium or a police shooting always makes the mainstream press, but what happens at the next lower tier of government rarely registers in the news food chain and it is at some of these more obscure meetings that the rubber meets the road when it comes to spending public money and making public policy. It is for this reason that you rarely see the Watchdog Report at the big news events since it already being covered by an army of press. The publisher when it comes to covering government and south Florida tries to be a news contrarian and look for those nuggets of information crucial to developing stories, especially inter-governmental showdowns or issues that explode suddenly into the community’s political landscape.

For example, when it comes to the Performing Arts Center, I only attend generally the construction committee to be sure the project, after a massive cost overrun and 20 month delay is still on track. At the Miami-Dade Public Schools, I rarely miss a meeting of the school board audit committee, which is the community’s safety valve and watchdog on how the $5 billion public district spends our tax dollars. The point is there are hundreds of meetings being held throughout the county and its municipalities every week but are rarely reported on and that is why I do what I do.

Transparency in government is always being talked about but it takes someone to bring the information into the light. That is what I have attempted to do over the last eight years, which in a few weeks will include six years of writing about it and it has been an unusual road to embark upon but worth it. For now there are many people ranging from the highest and the most humble people in our community that know first hand what is going on in the halls of power and when it comes to approving future bonds or other countywide initiatives. They are more informed and that strengthens the bond between government and its people and that is a good thing.

>>> PAST WDR: JULY 2008: Collapse and consolidation of media will eventually create a Wild West mentality within public institutions

The collapse and consolidation of the media and the press is hitting hard here in South Florida with the closing of the Orlando-Sentinel Miami office, continued cuts at The Miami Herald and Sun-Sentinel and now the merger of WTVJ-NBC 6 into WPLG-ABC 10 that is likely to get FCC approval since Spanish media is so strong in this market. However, for the general public looking for the press to be watchdogs this should be seen as very bad news and they need to financially support the industry for a strong vibrant and responsible press is the glue that keeps public institutions and elected leaders restrained and without that oversight. South Florida becomes an open town where anything will go in many cases within unchecked government entities.

Yes the inter-net has changed everything when it comes to people getting their news but many of the blogs out there are anonymous and many times not that accurate in some of the reporting and these people cannot replace what a large circulation daily can do collectively keeping people informed. Recently a reporter said something that has rattled in my head since I heard it. He said we do not make the news “we make it better” by being able to explain why something might be important and how it relates to perhaps other things and losing that is a loss for all of us.

Yes, the media has made mistakes, yes, it is not perfect but overall it is one of the pillars of a free society and why freedom of speech and the press was included in the United States Constitution and it has done its job for centuries. It is for this reason as newsroom cuts get to the bone that civic leaders and others should take note because while it might sound great to some people not to have the media. Its loss and watchdog charge must continue if we are not to have a Wild West mentality when it comes to our collective public institutions, and that is not a good thing.

LETTERS

>>> Delighted to see that you are back at the Watchdog Report helm. I hope that you are feeling much better and are well down the road to full recovery after your recent bouts with the surgeons.

>>> Welcome back. You are missed.

Paul George

>>> Great to see you back online. Hope you are on the mend.

>>> Good to see you back. I trust all is well on health front.

>>> Congrats on your anniversary! You are a survivor, in many ways. An inspiration to us all.

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GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschoolsnews.net

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

THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

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

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

LETTER POLICY

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

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

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Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, The (FL) CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS

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Watchdog Report Vol. 11 No. 1 May 9, 2010 – Celebrating my 11th Anniversary May 5th

editor — Mon, 10 May 2010 18:42:16 +0000

CONTENTS

Argus Report: U.S. Atty. Ferrer takes the helm of the FL southern district; shake-up is expected in one of nation’s largest federal prosecution organizations

Florida: Gov. Crist goes it alone, Meek gets billionaire, and Bush comes out for Rubio in senate race

Miami-Dade County: Commissioner Heyman cites “exceptional” medical care at UM/Jackson after accident overseas

Broward County: Pembroke Pines Commissioner Castillo opens can of worms statewide with ethics question ruling

Palm Beach County: Stecker is tapped as new county IG, but does she get clean slate?

Alachua County: Gov. Crist Appoints Robert K. Groeb and David P. Kreider to Alachua County Court

Monroe County: Keys brace and pray gulf oil will not invade pristine ecology

Miami-Dade Public Schools: Issue of Friends of WLRN governance and reporting authority back in front of audit committee Tuesday

Public Health Trust: County Mayor Alvarez wants “hammer” when it comes to PHT management, many ideas on how to proceed, but are any of them the right course?

City of Miami: Commissioner Sarnoff not concerned with threats of lawsuits, continues to promote economic benefit of sailing industry

City of Miami Beach: Does Commissioner Libbin have two jobs and two masters, or just best interest in city?

City of South Miami: Mgr. Carlton out, Witt takes interim job, third manager in less than a year

Editorials: Cool and creative minds needed when crafting solution on PHT financial survival – Two past WDR editorials from Oct. 2003

Letters: Reader on the Watchdog Report’s 11^th Anniversary May 5^th and my health

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

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

>>> I was on Topical Currents on WLRN/NPR 91.3 FM, May 5 along with Beth Reinhard of The Miami Herald, James Call with NPR in Tallahassee along with show host Joseph Cooper discussing the legislative session and politics in general and it also was the 11^th anniversary of the Watchdog Report. To listen to the show go to: http://204.13.1.19:81/ .

>>> If you think it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider becoming a supporter or sponsor. For there is no trust fund and I do have to live. A convenient form is at the bottom of this week’s Watchdog Report with all the instructions on how to support this decade old newsletter and news service soon to start its 11^th anniversary on May 5.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> U.S. Atty. Ferrer takes the helm of the southern district; shake-up is expected in one of nation’s largest federal prosecution organizations

The U.S. Senate confirmed Wilfredo “Willy” Ferrer and he was sworn–in locally as the new U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and the former federal prosecutor and assistant Miami-Dade County Attorney is expected to shake the office up. Ferrer, worked in the Justice Department under Janet Reno during the Bill Clinton administration, attended the University of Miami, and got his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Ferrer, 43 is married with two children and federal appellate Judge Marcus Stanley swore him into the office, also a former U.S. attorney who Ferrer had worked with as a law clerk previously says www.miamiherald.com . Ferre, who has a calm demeanor while on the county commission dais, giving legal advice to a county commission committee is widely respected and there are 290 federal prosecutors in one of the nation’s largest districts stretching from Key West to Fort Pierce that also includes dealing with federal issues in the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The local FBI office is said to have 460 special agents assigned to the southern district and rooting out public corruption has been a long standing tradition beefed-up during when Tom Scott and Guy Lewis were the then top federal prosecutors here in south Florida in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

>>> How did I know Ferrer would be the next U.S. attorney since early 2009?

Since the election of President Barack Obama and his swearing-in Jan. 20 2009 the Watchdog Report has been reporting that Ferrer would be the next U.S. attorney and many people asked how I knew this, but I just knew and is one of the advantages of doing this for 11-years as a newsletter and another roughly three-years watching and checking up on local government in action. Over the past 11-years, I have made predictions dozens of times and my loss record is under five times where I predicted something and then was wrong.

>>> White House Press release: The Ongoing Administration-Wide Response to the Deepwater BP Oil Spill

Report oiled shoreline or request volunteer information: (866)-448-5816 –Submit alternative response technology, services or products: (281) 366-5511 — Submit your vessel as a vessel of opportunity skimming system: (281) 366-5511 –Submit a claim for damages: (800) 440-0858 –Report oiled wildlife: (866) 557-1401 >>> Deepwater Horizon Incident Joint Information Center -Phone: (985) 902-5231 — (985) 902-5240 -Deploying and Activating the Coffer Dam –The Unified Area Command is carefully tracking the complicated procedure to assemble a subsea capture system that would entail pumping leaking oil up to a vessel on the surface.

Offshore Drilling Permit Applications Halted -Secretary Salazar announced that, as a result of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill, beginning April 20—the date of the explosion—no applications for drilling permits will go forward for any new offshore drilling activity until the Department of the Interior completes the safety review process that President Obama requested. In accordance with the President’s request, the Department will deliver its report to the President by May 28. The only exceptions to the new rule regarding permit approvals are the two relief wells that are being drilled in response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

Expanded Fishing Restriction -NOAA has modified and expanded the boundaries of the closed fishing area to better reflect the current location of the oil spill, and is extending the fishing restriction until May 17. The closed area now represents slightly less than 4.5 percent of Gulf of Mexico federal waters. The original closure boundaries, which took effect last Sunday, encompassed less than three percent. This leaves many areas that are still available for fishing. The vast majority of Gulf waters has not been affected by the oil spill and continues to support productive fisheries and tourism activities. NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco and her staff will continue to meet with fishermen in the oil-affected area to listen to their concerns and share with them what NOAA scientists have learned so far about how the oil might be affecting their potential seafood catch.

Fish & Wildlife Monitoring –More than 160 Fish & Wildlife Service personnel are involved in the oil spill response in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the west coast of Florida. Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Teams (SCAT) continue to assess and determine how cleanup will be conducted, and oversee cleanup operations. FWS personnel continue to conduct overflights of the Chandeleur Islands today to monitor the status of the brown pelican colonies. FWS closed the Breton National Wildlife Refuge to public entry. The refuge closure is important to keep the public safe, to minimize disturbance to nesting colonial sea birds, and to allow personnel conducting cleanup operations and recovery efforts to work safely and efficiently. Emergency Food Support –USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) met with Louisiana food bank directors to discuss potential need for USDA food support and to assess inventory that might be available for distribution to affected areas. FNS was informed that BP has made a $100,000 contribution to assist with local emergency food needs. FNS discussed income eligibility of potential Louisiana women, infants and children affected by the oil spill with the State of Louisiana.

>>> Press release: Zogby Interactive: 19% Say Their Votes Would Be Impacted by Economic Improvement; 67% of Those More Likely to Vote Democrat

But Among All Voters, Even With A Better Economy, Party Support Split

A Zogby Interactive survey that examines likely voter attitudes about the economy and how it will affect the election in November finds nearly one-half are encouraged by recent economic indicators. About a fifth say an improved economy would impact their vote, with two-thirds saying a better economy would make them more likely to vote for Democrats. However, among all likely voters, the parties split evenly at 43%-43% as to which party they are more likely to support if the economy improves. Neither party has the confidence of a majority of voters to improve the economy should either the Democrats or Republicans win Congressional majorities. Our sample has somewhat more confidence in a potential Republican majority, but still 42% say it is more likely the economy would get worse under a GOP majority, while 40% say it would improve. Exactly one-half of voters have at least some confidence that their economic situation will improve by the end of the year. As for the national economy, 47% have some confidence it will improve over the same period, while 49% do not. Please click the link below to view the full news release on our website: http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.cfm?ID=1859

>>> I wanted to thank the over dozen people and organizations that have sent me money over the past weeks and it was more than appreciated and you will each hear back from me by mail in the future. Thank you for the support. The report is also shorter and with less real content because I am still weak and do not have my past energy level that allowed me to write all day Saturday and Sunday as in the past almost 11-years that I have been doing this. I ask for my readers understanding during this time. >>> Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times, The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel which ran as a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003 and UNC Chapel Hill naming me one of the top columnists in Florida in a multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on Topical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then and also the opportunity to be on Helen Ferre’s show Issues on issues@wpbt.org numerous times over the past decade.

>>> PAST WDR: I have been in the hospital after emergency surgery, one more procedure to go, need the community’s financial help to keep at this!

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

watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

FLORIDA

>>> Gov. Crist goes it alone, Meek gets billionaire, and Bush comes out for Rubio

When it comes to Florida politics, it does not get any better then this with every major statewide office being contested in 2010 and the state’s Republican Gov. Charlie Crist (net worth $466,000) telling the state party you don’t love me anymore as he said sayonara to the party that had his arch rival former House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, (Net worth $8,351) drubbing him in the polls in a closed Republican primary in late August. Crist since his announcement of changing to an independent has been in the public eye over the past week with the oil blob crisis that has Florida’s coastal communities dusting off their disaster plans for an oil slick landfall on the state’s beaches and the environmental nightmare that comes with such an event not seen in over 40-years.

Crist, who first considered possible new oil off shore drilling recently backtracked and is joining U. S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fl as saying the off shore activity should be shelved and Nelson recently described the activity to be “dead in the water,” at the federal legislative level. But Crist also faces an uphill fight to get into the nation’s most exclusive club and besides Rubio who also is being supported by former Gov. Jeb Bush. The governor also has to beat U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami (Net worth around $62,000 in 2002) or possible Jeff Greene, a billionaire that has suddenly entered the senate race as a Democrat for the seat that is being vacated by Sen. George LeMieux, R-Fl appointed to the position by Crist last fall, after Senator Mel Martinez retired before his term was over in the summer.

>>> Crist suspends two more elected leaders, new total 38 since Jan. 07

Crist over the past few weeks while the Watchdog Report was gone has suspended two more elected officials from their office and his total number of public officials removed since he took office in Jan. 2007 is now 38. Crist had asked for the Florida legislature to pass legislation that toughened up the public corruption laws, but that failed to gain traction during the past session that ended April 30. Crist has called the clip of removals unacceptable, is part of a “culture of corruption” found throughout the state, and a statewide grand jury is looking into this culture.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Commissioner Heyman cites “exceptional” medical care at UM/Jackson after accident overseas

>>> Commissioner Sally Heyman (net worth $426,000) is injured and getting around in a wheel chair, with a leg up and was attending commission meetings even though she was infirmed. At the meeting last week, she told fellow commissioners she was out of the country when she had the medical issue with her leg and said she called UM Miller Medical School Dean Pascal Goldschmidt, M.D. “for help.” She noted that once she was back in the country and “rushed to the University of Miami” her physician said he would not be operating there “but at Jackson,” the commissioner said. Heyman said Jackson was “my preference too” and she believes it “reinforces the partnership” and it was “not a philosophical but practical statement.” And when it came to the level of medical care she received, it was “exceptional” and why “my choice of treatment was at Jackson [Memorial Hospital],” she told commissioners.

>>> “Alright behave now,” said Commission Chair Dennis Moss (Net worth $477,941) last Thursday during a zoning meeting hearing a request for a new charter school after commissioners began getting antsy and were talking to each other fairly loudly. Moss has been strict about keeping order on the dais invoking the “through the chair” rule and any discussion “must be civil,” he frequently intones. In this case, the commission meeting broke up after the quorum was lost and the charter school’s request will be heard again on July 22 said the staff at the end of the meeting. Further Moss wants better sign advertising for federal stimulus projects believing the public is not grasping the scope of where this federal money is going around the county and the proposed jobs it is supposed to create.

>>> Commissioner Joe Martinez (Net worth $270,000) is frustrated with the Jennings Law that prohibits speaking about a project and its zoning with developers out of the Florida Sunshine Law that says it must be done during a public hearing. The former commission chair was discussing Academir Charter School’s application and the school was near his home in the district. However, he got frustrated during the questioning with land use attorney Juan Mayol and about the time it was taking holding up the commission, meeting. He asked the county assistant attorney what any penalty might be if that law was violated. She said it was definitely a “misdemeanor” and when asked if he could have a side bar with the school’s officials and attorney, the answer was no, and depending on the discussions and given the severity and content of the discussion. The legal penalty might escalate if something like that were to occur.

>>> Press release: Governor Crist Appoints Judge Jose L. Fernandez to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court

“As a lifelong Floridian and Miami native, Judge Fernandez has served the people of Miami-Dade County well while sitting on county bench, and I am confident he will serve the circuit court with the same level of integrity,” said Governor Crist. “In addition, his wide variety of legal experience ensures that he will review each case with impartiality and fairness.” Fernandez, 45, has served on the Miami-Dade County Court since 2007. Previously, he was associate counsel for the Professional Law Enforcement Association from 2002 to 2006 while also being a sole practitioner. He practiced with Essen Essen Susaneck Canet Fernandez and Goodis from 1995 to 2002, as a sole practitioner from 1994 to 1995, and with Rumberger Kirk and Caldwell from 1993 to 1994. From 1989 to 1993, he served as and assistant state attorney in Miami. Fernandez earned both his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Miami. >>> Judge Fernandez will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Norman S. Gerstein.

>>> Press release: Ethics Commission welcomes new member: A lawyer with a divinity degree is the newest member of the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust. University of Miami Law Professor Charlton Copeland will be sworn into the post at the next Ethics Commission meeting, 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at 19 W. Flagler St. Suite 820.

Copeland, who joined the UM faculty as an associate professor in 2007, earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Amherst College, a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale Divinity School and a Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School. He has clerked for the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit as well as in the Constitutional Court of South Africa. Professor Copeland worked as an associate with an international law firm based in Washington, D.C., before serving as a visiting assistant professor at Northwestern University. “I am terribly excited to be invited to serve on the Commission so that I may become more involved in Miami-Dade County,” Copeland said. “I think it will be a valuable experience for me and I hope I can make a valuable contribution,” said the 35-year-old Brickell resident. Copeland fills the position on the five-member board that is rotated between the UM and St. Thomas University Schools of Law. He replaces Magda Abdo-Gomez, the appointee from St. Thomas who served on the Ethics Commission with distinction for more than three years. She will be honored at the May meeting. Another position on the Ethics Commission – previously filled by Erica Wright, who resigned to run for political office — is expected to be filled shortly by the Chief Judge of the Eleventh Circuit Court. >>> The Ethics Commission was created in 1996 as an independent agency with advisory and quasi-judicial powers. It is composed of five members, serving staggered terms of four years each. Through a program of education and outreach, the Commission seeks to empower the community and bolster public trust.

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Pembroke Pines Commissioner Castillo opens can of worms statewide with ethics question ruling

Pembroke Pines City Commissioner Angelo Castillo has opened a can of worms now that he asked for a state ethics commission ruling whether he could be a county commission candidate and still run a not-for –profit that gets county money and his attorney says he was advised it was a ‘no,’ states www.miamiherald.com . This ethics ruling has had Castillo decide to not run for the county commission seat being vacated by Diana Wasserman-Rubin later in the year but the ethics decision could have a statewide impact. If elected leaders are not able to run organizations that get public dollars from a body they may be serving on there are people around the state that should take note of this conflict. In Miami-Dade County, commission chair Dennis Moss also works as the director of the Richmond Perrine Optimist Club and that organization gets county and public school funding and while Moss does recuse himself when county commissioners vote. This broader interpretation of a conflict should be checked out if elected leaders around the state are not to be possible flagged from an ethics oversight body.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

>>> Stecker is tapped as new county IG, but does she get clean slate?

Leaders in Palm Beach County have chosen their county inspector general and they chose Sheryl Stecker state’s the Daily Pulp done by Bob Norman and he gives some insight on the women. Below is from his web-page. >>> From Bob Norman’s Daily Pulp page at http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/

Stecker

While Broward’s inspector general gets caught up in Tallahassee, Palm Beach County just chose its new IG/ethics czar: Sheryl Stecker, former inspector general for the Department of Children and Families. Already some are criticizing the hiring of the longtime bureaucrat at what has been a mismanaged and oft-corrupt state agency that wasn’t cleaned up under Steckler’s watch. Said one ethics commissioner of the appointment for the $125,000-a-year job: “I think the public’s confidence is going to be damaged.”

>>> Press release: FORMER WEST PALM BEACH SPA OWNER PLEADS GUILTY TO HARBORING ILLEGAL ALIENS AND MONEY LAUNDERING

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of Investigations, Daniel W. Auer, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Ric L. Bradshaw, Sheriff, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), today announced that defendant Mal Suk Kim, 60, of Palm Beach County, pled guilty today to a criminal information, charging her with one count of harboring illegal aliens and one count of money laundering, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1324(a)(1)(A)(iii), 1324(a)(1)( B)(I), and Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(a)(1)(A)(I), respectively. Defendant Kim also agreed to forfeit $150,000 involved in the money laundering offense to which she pled guilty.

According to court documents and statements made in court in connection with the plea hearing, on September 30, 2008, Special Agents from ICE, IRS-CID, FBI, and deputies from PBSO executed federal search warrants at Coral Spa, located at 4730 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach, and the Wellington residence of another individual, of Hannah Eun Sung Chong, 50. Defendant Kim owned 50% of Coral Spa until February 26, 2008, when she sold her 50% share of the business to Chong. Documents filed with the court show that defendant Kim hired two undocumented aliens to work and live at Coral Spa, without having them complete any paperwork, job application, and without regard to their immigration status. Customers paid Chong for the work performed by the illegal aliens at the Coral Spa, and Chong, in turn, paid a portion of those proceeds to defendant Kim. Defendant Kim knew that the money she was receiving was generated by the work of these illegal aliens. Defendant Kim is scheduled for sentencing before the U.S. District Court Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks on July 20, 2010. At sentencing, she faces a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of up to ten years on the harboring count and up to twenty years on the money laundering count. Chong previously pled guilty on March 6, 2009 to a superseding information, also charging her with harboring illegal aliens and money laundering. Chong is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2010, before U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth L. Ryskamp. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of ICE’s Office of Investigations in West Palm Beach, the IRS-CID, FBI, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. McMillan. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

ALACHUA COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Crist Appoints Robert K. Groeb and David P. Kreider to Alachua County Court

“With over two decades of experience, Bob has the heart of a public servant and the legal prowess of a veteran attorney,” said Governor Crist. “I am confident he will serve the people of Alachua County fairly and justly.” Groeb, 50, has been a sole practitioner since 1999 and from 1995 to 1998. From 1998 to 1999, he was an assistant general counsel with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. He was an assistant state attorney with the Eighth Judicial Circuit from 1991 to 1995, with the Sixth Judicial Circuit from 1990 to 1991, with the 19th Judicial Circuit from 1988 to 1989, and with the 12th Judicial Circuit from 1985 to 1988. He was also an associate with the Law Firm of Robert E. Merchant III from 1989 to 1990. Groeb earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and law degree from Stetson University.

“David’s extensive breadth of knowledge and respect of our judicial system make him well prepared to take the bench,” said Governor Crist. “I am confident he is guided by a high ethical standard, strong conscience and professional integrity that will serve Alachua County well.” Kreider, 42, has been an assistant state attorney with the Eighth Judicial Circuit since 1998 and prior from 1993 to 1998. Previously, he practiced privately at Dell Graham PA in 1998. Kreider earned both his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Florida. >>> Groeb and Kreider will fill the vacancies created by the elevations of Judge Mary Day Coker and Judge Victor Hulslander to the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> Keys brace and prey gulf oil will not invade pristine ecology

Florida Keys officials prepare for potential spill impacts: Report oiled shoreline or request volunteer information: (866)-448-5816 — Submit alternative response technology, services or products: (281) 366-5511 — Submit your vessel as a vessel of opportunity skimming system: (281) 366-5511 –Submit a claim for damages: (800) 440-0858 — Report oiled wildlife: (866) 557-1401 >>> Deepwater Horizon Incident Joint Information Center, Phone: (985) 902-5231 -(985) 902-5240

>>> White House press release: The United States Coast Guard at Sector Key West, Fla., in conjunction with its port partners and key stakeholders, have been actively preparing for possible marine pollution effects from the spill associated with the sinking of the mobile offshore drilling unit, Deepwater Horizon, on April 22, 2010. As part of an ongoing preparation efforts, the Coast Guard hosted a joint meeting on Tuesday, May 4th, at Sector Key West with federal, state, and local partners to discuss potential impacts and response priorities should the spill affect the waters of the Florida Keys. In addition to the Coast Guard, Key West City officials, representatives from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Navy, Monroe County Department of Public Health, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Monroe County Emergency Management, City of Key West, City of Marathon, National Park Service, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission met to review highly sensitive areas in the Keys, prepared response strategies, and to share information and discuss pollution mitigation. “Although it is still too soon to predict if or how the Florida Keys may be impacted by the Deepwater Horizon spill, we are focused on preparing for whatever those impacts may be,” said Capt. Pat DeQuattro, sector commander at Coast Guard Sector Key West. For further information on the spill response effort visit www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com . >>>View this document online – Joint Information Center Gulf of Mexico-Transocean Drilling Incident

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Issue of Friends of WLRN governance and reporting authority back in front of audit committee Tuesday

The school board audit committee is meeting Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. at the nation’s fourth largest public schools district office, one of the controversial topics will be Friends of WLRN, and how they fall under the school district’s governance and are required to let the superintendent know what and how the organization is being run. A reliable source indicated the WLRN issue is expected to be the hot topic and the Watchdog Report plans to be there to hear how the past negotiations have turned out. For a brief history of where this issue stands. The following story was in a past report.

>>> Jan. 31 PAST WDR: Friends of WLRN in the spotlight must have an operating agreement with District in 60-days

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Mayor Alvarez wants “hammer” when it comes to PHT management, many ideas on how to proceed, but are any of them the right course?

While I have been ill and recovering from two surgeries the last three months, The PHT has received a lot of press www.miamiherald.com & www.CBS4.com and commentary since then after it was revealed months ago that the economic business model was failing to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars lost in the past and current years. Though that future financial hemorrhaging at the health trust had been predicted back in June 2008 when President & CEO Marvin O’Quinn gave a presentation at a joint meeting of the PHT and BCC boards, and frequently reported in past Watchdog Reports including a colored graph depicting the financial Waterloo that was coming. Now a group of “alpha men” including Merrett Stierheim (The “alpha men” reference was made by county Commissioner Katy Sorenson recently at a commission meeting), a former county manager along with 40 other prominent business and community leaders of both genders, after reviewing and studying PHT documents and financials. They suggest the current model of PHT governance is no longer viable especially given the political turbulence the PHT board is buffeted with when it comes to the county commission’s influence and interference. However, County Manager George Burgess does not concede that dysfunctional governance observation. But Burgess’ boss, Mayor Carlos Alvarez (net worth $1.66 million) also has reservations about the current set-up. He has said he wants the PHT-17 member board to be dissolved and taken over by the county. He notes the current “management watch” for the health trust is unlike any other county department it has been applied to since he lacks the “hammer” to remove the CEO and President now under the oversight board’s purview. PHT Chair John Copeland, III on Monday at a meeting with the mayor, manager, and other financial staff along with PHT President Eneida Roldan, M.D. and her top people, along with nurse union members including Martha Baker and there attorney Mark Richards. Copeland said if such a removal issue came-up, the board would handle the issue trying to blunt the mayor’s overall thrust of his lack of authority over the public entity.

During this meeting, it was clear to the Watchdog Report that Alvarez was finding the meeting slow going as questions were raised about a multi-million dollar contract with a consultant, with a draft of the document in front of them. The mayor noted he was not prepared to sign off on the document with out much more review and while he noted the need for speed. That fact would not override the bigger principle of thoroughly vetting contracts as is being done at the county and the discussions forced Copeland later to cancel a PHT meeting on Wednesday to vote on the contract to a later date.

The PHT board was first created in 1973 and in 1991 county residents passed a half-cent countywide sales tax to fund Jackson and at its peak it brought in about $192 million in sales tax revenue back in 2006 but this funding never kept up with the onslaught of medically uninsured in the community that now has the public hospital system giving around $600 million in charity and uncompensated medical care.

>>> This is why I have been doing the Watchdog Report for 11-years – Since May of 2000, I have been covering the PHT in all its aspects over the years and its financial challenges since then have never been far below the surface of any story over this time. In 2004, I ran the headline about the $84 million charge the organization was having to take for the year and the numbers in many ways never got that much better, week after week, month after month, to where we are today. Some of the county commissioners are carping about all the sudden press and media attention the hospital system with 12,000 employees is getting but that is what happens in Florida where the state sunshine and open records laws makes all these activities public events. However, the commissioners should also be asking why they and the Fourth Estate did not kick in earlier to alert South Florida of the pending financial train wreck. The chronic problem was apparent to anyone that read the Watchdog Report over the decade, but in many ways, my role seems to be of Cassandra for we, as a community did not necessarily have to be where we are today, if corrective action had occurred years ago.

>>> PAST Dec: 2005 WDR: Overall cash balances climb to $400 million but trust gets hit with $8.5 million in hurricane loses

The PHT financials continue to get moderately better after the health trust closed the year at the end of September with an $800,000 surplus after five years in the red. The health trust with a $1.5 billion budget over the years has been dealing with an antiquated billing and information technology system, cuts in Medicaid funding, and unfunded county mandates that are now dropping to about $5 million a month as the county reassumes some of the costs for correctional health care service and county nursing homes.

However, with 10,300 employee’s cash is king within the institution after hitting a low of only 18 days of cash in October 2004 but that position has improved. Currently the health trust has more cash on hand since September of 2001 and in total. It is about $400 million but that includes restricted monies, and other cash that is limited to use.

Further, the recent hurricane season took its toll on the health trust and the numbers are coming in. PHT documents state hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma cost the organization $7.47 million in salaries and related costs. Total non-labor costs came to another $1 million for a total hit to the PHT of $8.5 million for this year’s hurricane season.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Commissioner Sarnoff not concerned with threats of lawsuits, continues to promote economic benefit of sailing industry

Commission Chair Marc Sarnoff (Net worth $2.28 million) was blind-sided recently, regarding a new proposed parking structure, that featured a giant billboard tower top across from the Arsht Performing Arts Center and he said attorneys would use legal threats of a lawsuit if he did not support the project that Mayor Tomas Regalado (Net worth $5,000) has been sheparding through the city. However, he told the Watchdog Report last week that a legal challenge does not scare him away since the city has many of them already. Sarnoff, an attorney, and represents the distinct the project is in now has another hot potato on his hands with this new project that has the Arsht Center PACT board and administration taking a wait and see attitude regarding the proposed structure detailed in the www.miamiherald.com last week. A public hearing on the project was held at the arts center last week, it was packed with people in favor and against, and for the moment, it is on the commission’s front burner.

>>> Sarnoff also was spotted last weekend at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club with a large body of U.S. Navel Academy graduates and other alumni having a reunion and feasting on legendary Maryland blue crabs that he described as being very tasty. He was attending the affair along with his wife and it was part of his initiative to promote the clean sailing industry that is quite vibrant and economically important to the Grove and south Florida given the many races and other sailing events that take place here over the years.

What about the city’s future budget?

On Thursday, there were two dueling meetings of citizens and staff concerning the city’s current and future budget that is facing a financial hit next year, possible up to $80 to $100 million and the city administration is looking for new revenues and the sale of possible city assets. The Watchdog Report caught the tail end of this assorted group of advisors and city staff meeting and Commissioner Marc Sarnoff was the ranking participant. Robert Rodriguez was at the head of the table at the meeting and the group will come together again this Thursday, even though a commission meeting will be going on, and Sarnoff said he planned to attend this one anyway, since he found it so useful.

>>> Former Commissioner Sanchez, now a deputy federal marshal in Miami

What happens to a former Miami Commission chair after he loses his run for mayor in November 2009? In the case of former Commissioner Joe Sanchez, after he lost to Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado back then. Sanchez is now working as a deputy U.S. federal marshal in the local federal court buildings. He was spotted by a reliable source and former constituent on the job and part of his duties is to escort federal prisoners to and from the courtrooms. Sanchez, a former Florida state trooper before he was appointed to the commission in the 1990s had kept up his law enforcement credentials and once told the Watchdog Report that it was his “back-up” profession. For more information got to: U.S. Marshals Home Page US Marshals and their Deputies have served for over 200 years as the instruments … usmarshals.gov is an official site of the U.S. Federal Government, U.S. …http://www.usmarshals.gov/ – 19k – Cached

>>> Televised Grove Village Council meeting gets cynical in some remarks

An exchange at the Coconut Grove Village Council last month between chair Pat Sessions and Ron Nelson, a Commissioner Marc Sarnoff staff member shows there is some undercurrent between the chair and the commissioner’s office. Nelson said Sarnoff could not attend the televised meeting because he had a previous commitment. Sessions shot back “was he jogging?” Nelson responded that the comment was uncalled for and in fact, the commissioner was at an Arsht PACT event. Nelson, one of the original members on the council in 1991 was noting that the original charter of the council was not just to focus on the center Grove but residents concerns as well. Council members said that was not the intention and Sessions will be sending a letter to any homeowner organizations letting them know the council wants to hear from you and are invited to come to the public meetings.

>>> The following e-mail was sent to (now former) Mayor Manny Diaz using his e-mail address on his extensive city web-page on Sept. 13, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. and to date there has been no answer from the mayor.>>> “Mayor Diaz, I wanted to ask you in the chamber today but not in front of Chair Joe Sanchez. My question is where did the extra $400,000 in the 2007 disclosure form come from? I will run what ever you respond unedited but I would appreciate closing this issue, as I am sure you do. Sorry but I have to ask. Best to all. Dan” >>>> The Watchdog Report through Dec.7 has yet to get a response or catch-up with Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz on where he got the extra $400,000 in cash listed in his 2007 financial disclosure forms. To see what CBS 4 reporter David Sutta’s take on this issue and the other city leaders financial disclosures go to cbs4.com Blogs . >>> Readers should stay tuned and catch the meeting on the city’s cable station channel 77. >>> Stream Channel 77, for all City of Miami meetings, (Commission, Village Council meetings, Waterfront, Zoning, PAB, Code, etc. hearings) http://videos.miamigov.com/

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Does Commissioner Libbin have two jobs and two masters, or just best interest in city?

Jerry Libbin, the Miami Beach commissioner and new CEO of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce got a nice write-up in Miami Today as this week’s The Newsmaker www.miamitodaynews.com and while the elected leader deals with the possible conflict of interest, the two jobs pose. He says he was given the go ahead by two ethics bodies. However, as has been written in a past Watchdog Report this dual relationship between being an elected official and a drumbeater for the business community is a potential conflict minefield. The commissioner notes in the interview that many of the issues are symbiotic between businesses and residents but that is a very fine line and it is yet to be determined which master Libbin listens to. For there are two masters, the local commercial interests and voters and his votes on the dais must always be seen in this unusual context.

CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI

>>> Mgr. Carlton out, Witt takes interim job, third manager in less than a year

Well the bloodletting is still going on now that city manager Roger Carlton has gotten the boot this week after serving in this capacity since the fall of last year. And now the commission by 4-0 has tapped retired Air Force Brigadier General Buford R. “Randy” Witt to take up the charge that has seen a number of long serving employees getting fired or embroiled in some other matter including a stabbing. Witt is the third manager in less than a year that started first with the termination of Ajibola Balogun and all got around $165,000 in salary. www.miamiherald.com Witt a former IT department director at Miami-Dade County was also an applicant for the manager’s job in Coral Gables last year.

He is said planning to be meeting with stakeholders in the city but the turmoil continues and elected leaders should remember the ultimate goal is to provide and maintain city services and safety and these continued dust-ups with senior leadership certainly does not serve the city residents and voters who are only looking for good government and governance. Something elected leaders need to remember as they continue to lurch from one political crisis to another.

EDITORIALS

>>> Cool and creative minds needed when crafting solution on PHT financial survival

The Public Health Trust’s future is on the community’s lips and a group of alpha men and women in our community have sent a message in www.miamiherald.com to the leaders of Miami-Dade County and the PHT board that there is great public support for the institution but something must change if the public hospital system is to survive and be a vibrant state of the art global medical center. The 41 people supporting the recommendations is a broad swath of community leaders and over 15 of them are readers of the Watchdog Report. I mention this because I first arrived at a PHT meeting in 1998 and have never stopped following what was going on at this important and special public institution and reporting back.

Over these years, the PHT board has evolved but much of the drive for different changes came from the county commission itself. In the 1990s, then Mayor Alex Penelas chose the PHT nominating council that was chaired at the time by former PHT chair Jose Cancela and they chose, over time, the 21-member board’s citizen trustees. Further, in 2000, during the September final budget hearing at the county, the shifting of $65 million in county costs to the health trust was the first financial raid, allowing the expansion of county general funding into other community activities like art and cultural programs. This also was the last time the health trust was able to easily balance its $1 billion plus budget back then as the cost of the rising medically uninsured in the community started to skyrocket beginning to outstrip the revenue coming into the public hospital that now also has $800 million in infrastructure needs that have been deferred over the years.

And in 2002 under the direction of county Commissioner Dennis Moss the PHT board was downscaled to 15 citizen trustees plus two voting commissioners (Currently Commissioners Dorrin Rolle and Javier Souto) and joint meetings between the two bodies were required twice a year. However, during all this time the role of the county commission in the background is profound and when it comes to the business model and how Jackson will survive getting the mayor and commissioners involved is no sure bet to success of the gigantic medical enterprise that employs 12,000 people and generates abut $3 billion in economic activity in the community. And I for one do not have the silver bullet to solve this vexing problem but I do know shooting from the hip, or taking actions out of frustration and being impatient when it comes to Jackson should be resisted, because when a hospital becomes like its patients, and is on a financial respirator, cooler minds must always prevail if we are not to lose the organization as a whole. And that is something Miami-Dade cannot live without.

>>> OCT 2003 PAST WDR: Florida Marlins win it all, but will they get a new stadium?

The community is euphoric and with the Florida Marlins victory, baseball fans are partying in the streets and that includes county and municipal elected officials and employees who attended some of the World Series against the New York Yankees. However, government employees should remember that there is a $25 gift disclosure limit and anyone that got free, complimentary tickets must list them on their disclosure form due July 1, 2004. The disclosure also applies to citizens on volunteer community boards if they did not directly purchase them.

One government employee said his ticket had no value and would not have been used but people need to ask themselves how that explanation would sound to the ethics commission and any World Series ticket before a game does have value and it is much more than $25. The Watchdog Report sits at the government window when these forms come in on July 1 and next year there should be many more than normal, if local and county employees are following the rules, and if there are not, a few of you out there will be in for a surprise because a number of people are already known to the Watchdog Report and you can be sure getting busted for this will not be a resume builder.

>>> PAST WDR OCT 2003: When the Watchdog Report says I have it on tape, it is!

Recently a long-term commissioner in one of our community’s governments said that I was wrong and that something was not said and it could not be on tape but in fact, it is. The elected official repeatedly said it was not possible but the truth is it was and the content said is not what is important but the denial by the elected official that it was said is.

The Watchdog Report gives many-elected leaders, staff and citizens wide latitude about what they say because part of this community discussion is how Democracy works. However, when the publisher says something is on tape it is, because though I work alone. I do use extensive VHS recordings of meetings and can record the county commission, school board and the city of Miami simultaneously and these tapes are archived for future reference.

On Monday I am going to play the VHS tape of the comment to the commissioner’s staff member there at the time of the exchange and I assure my readers that if I say I have something recorded, the offending party is busted and please just fess up rather than make denials and counter accusations. An elected official that admits to something they know is true, shows leadership. The official that denies it will not only lose my respect but the community’s as well.

LETTER

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LETTER POLICY

Daniel A. Ricker

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Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

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

>>> The 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.