>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center for International Media http://knight.miami.edu within the University of Miami’s School of Communication www.miami.edu to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no ads, pops-up and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

>>> HELP: I NEED FINANCIAL HELP IF THIS IS TO CONTINUE AFTER 12-YEARS AND HEADING INTO 13-YEARS IN MAY:  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 and I hope you or your organization will consider helping in a small or larger way and help keep another voice on line in the media. 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.

>>> There will be no Watchdog Report for the next two weeks since I am physically exhausted and have to spend my time raising money since I only paid my May rent on Friday. And I hope readers will consider contributing to my effort to bring high definition reporting of your public institution’s and its leaders to light, while also fighting government waste, fraud, abuse and public corruption.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> Sen. Nelson helps identity theft woman known as “Miss X,” he says ID theft is of “epidemic” proportions in South Florida

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-FL, held a press conference Wednesday at a law firm’s office above his local Coral Gables local district office (and using these conference rooms is part of the rental agreement said Nelson versus his much smaller office below) and “Miss X” a unidentified women told of her travail after her identity had been stolen in Dec. 2010.When she first arrived to Miami and a theft took her purse while at a local gas station. The women, an interior designer with a young daughter tried to rectify the problem by herself but it was slow going with the IRS and when she tried to file her taxes for the year. The thieves had already done that and gotten her several thousand in dollars refund check and it took months and the help of Nelson to get her situation corrected and her badly needed refund for her and her young daughter. The women had testified in front of a Senate Committee that Nelson chaired last year and at the time. She described to the committee the horrific effect identity theft is on someone’s life and it has changed her life forever she said.

Nelson noted that local U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer also testified recently to the magnitude of identity fraud here in Miami and Tampa and how drug dealers, thieves and other criminals have found stealing someone’s identity and then filing for any refund from the IRS the South Florida scam of the day, and to say it is rampant is a understatement. Nelson noted Ferrer said it was an “epidemic” given how pervasive it had become in just the last few years and the volume of frauds overwhelms his office across the board.

>>> Sen. Nelson press release: Senator meeting with ID-theft-and-tax-fraud victim from Miami on how new IRS program protects her and others

The arrest of two ex-NFL players and a third football star in an ID-theft and tax-fraud case here indicates the epidemic nature of the crime in Florida, according to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who will be in Miami Wednesday afternoon for a meeting with “Miss X,” the key witness in a congressional hearing into such crimes.  The Miami resident fell victim to someone filing a false tax return in her name. As The Miami Herald noted today Nelson presided over congressional hearings.  In response to the testimony to “Miss X” and others, the Florida lawmaker sponsored a bill that would make it a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, to use someone else’s Social Security or taxpayer identification numbers to file a fraudulent return.

Criminals who commit tax fraud using stolen Social Security numbers — many of them based in South Florida — have victimized nearly half a million taxpayers since 2008 and collected millions of dollars of refunds, according to published reports on the problem. Since 2008, the IRS has identified more than 460,000 taxpayers who have been affected by identity theft.  While estimates range into the hundreds of millions, nobody knows just how much has been sent to criminals.  The victims, meantime, lose control of their identity and struggle through a bureaucratic maze to get their refunds from the IRS. “I was in shock and extremely concerned about the tax refund I was due to receive, and was very much counting on,” said the woman identified as “Miss X” to protect her privacy.

She said her handbag had been stolen while she was pumping gas for her car. The information it contained allowed someone to file a tax return and receive her refund of $4,299… Nelson will be meeting again with the witness Wednesday afternoon for an update on how a new IRS PIN-number program is working to protect her and other possible victims.   A related IRS program just started April 25. The IRS and federal investigators say they’ve redoubled their efforts to combat tax fraud from identity theft, a crime they call “epidemic” in Florida that’s spreading nationwide.

The IRS recently began a pilot program in Florida aimed at fighting identity theft-related tax fraud by improving cooperation between the agency and local law enforcement, according to Nelson. According to the IRS, the new pilot program will help victims and prevent fraud by assisting “law enforcement in obtaining tax return data vital to their local efforts in investigating and prosecuting specific cases of identity theft.” Under the new program, law enforcement could have victims fill out an IRS disclosure form in suspected cases of identity theft-related tax fraud.  This form would allow the IRS to share returns filed under the victim’s name with local and state law enforcement.  Local law enforcement that’s interested in participating should contact the IRS Criminal Investigation field offices in Tampa or Miami.

The announcement follows a request by Nelson for the IRS to work more closely with local authorities to combat identity theft-related tax fraud.  Nelson first got involved in the issue last year after hearing numerous complaints from taxpayers in Tampa and Orlando who had their tax refunds stolen.  Nelson’s Finance subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth has held two investigative hearings on the issue, and he has introduced legislation that would strengthen penalties for ID thieves, expand protections for victims, such as a PIN system to safeguard personal identities, and add new protections to prevent future cases of identity theft-related tax fraud, such as a preventing the release of Social Security numbers of deceased persons. Florida has recently emerged as a hot-spot for identity theft-related tax fraud.  Besides the bust of three former NFL players in Miami yesterday, a crackdown and investigation by a Tampa police task force last year led to 49 arrests and uncovered as much as $130 million in fraudulent refunds. “Fraudsters are taking millions from hard-working taxpayers in Florida,” Nelson said.

What about Nelson’s U.S. Senate reelection race?

Nelson first elected in 2000 to the worlds most exclusive club is expected to face front runner Republican U.S Rep. Connie Mack, IV, R-Cape Corral or former U. S. Sen. George LeMieux or long shot Michael McCalister who only has $4,595 of cash on hand to LeMieux’s $1.9 million. However excluding Mack who has the best name recognition and funding capability, LeMieux appointed to the Senate by then Gov. Charlie Crist after Sen. Mel Martinez stepped down in Aug. 2009. He has had to slog it out around the state and he is being dogged by his past association with Crist who is now an independent after Crist lost the race to U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-FL. in 2010. However, Mack is not without his critics and some say he is not his father, former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack, R-FL and the son is cut from a different cloth than his more famous father many say, who was the grandson of famed baseball manager Connie Mack.

What about the Washington Post reporter at the Nelson meeting?

A Washington Post reporter also attended the meeting, she is doing a longer profile on Nelson for the award winning national paper as his Senate race heats up, and he is more focused once Republicans decide in the Aug.14 primary who will be the GOP challenger. Nelson is a former U.S. House representative, Florida Agricultural Commissioner and also a mission specialist on a past Space Shuttle flight while in Congress. And he joked when she was in the room that she thought this news conference was “all about politics” but he argued constituent outreach in the case of the scammed women was also part of the job he did as a Senator.

What about CBS 4 consumer & investigative reporter Al Sunshine?

Nelson asked Sunshine after they had verbally sparred on a couple of issues on and off camera where his name came from and how was it derived? Sunshine said when his past relatives came to Ellis Island to enter the United States. After the immigration official did not understand their real name and he instead called them Sunshine. The name stuck and became the official one for the family said the veteran reporter to Nelson. And he joked afterwards Nelson probable did not expect such a long elaborate explanation that included a reference to the movie Schindler’s List where he saw his family’s old name on some luggage of people in the trains being sent to their doom at the Nazi’s concentration death camps.

What about CBS4 investigative reporter Stephen Stock?

Stock who came to Miami a number of years ago with his family to be part of the station’s award winning investigative team and lived in Coconut Grove has said sayonara and about a month ago, he went to a new gig in San Francisco. The Watchdog Report respected Stock for his work, he will be missed and I give him a Tip of the Hat for a job well done while he was in South Florida.

>>> Diaz-Balart: IRS new Florida pilot program, step in the right direction

Press release:  Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released the following statement in response to the implementation of the IRS new Law Enforcement Assistance Pilot Program, exclusively for the state of Florida. The pilot program is designed to aid law enforcement in obtaining tax returns to investigate and prosecute specific cases of identity theft. Diaz-Balart comments: “After numerous hearings and meetings with the IRS, during which I expressed deep concern with the astounding number of identity theft cases in South Florida, today the IRS responds with the launch of a new pilot program. The new program will help provide answers to the thousands of identity theft victims in the state of Florida, particularly in South Florida. We must ensure the security and safety of hardworking taxpayers; I think this program is a step in the right direction to prevent these heinous crimes from occurring in the future.” Congressman Diaz-Balart testified on a panel in June 2011 held by the Oversight Committee, Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency and Financial Management titled “IRS E-file and Identity Theft.” In the same month, Diaz-Balart met with IRS Commissioner, Doug Shulman to demand more effective measures to be implemented to prevent identity theft.

>>> Press release: Don’t Assume Chen Saga Over, Ros-Lehtinen Warns

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented today on reports that China will allow Chen Guangcheng, a human rights activist who recently escaped house arrest, to apply for permission to study in the United States.  Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “While China has reportedly agreed to let Chen leave, U.S. officials must not assume that Beijing will actually allow this to happen.  Only when Chen arrives on American soil and is granted political asylum will we know that this issue is resolved and his freedom and safety are assured.  “U.S. officials made a mistake by escorting Chen away from the safety of the U.S. embassy and into an uncertain fate.  To avoid another harmful error, the State Department must press China to carry out its commitments.  We cannot assume that this saga has been resolved.”

>>> It’s official:  The Watchdog Report is 13 years old, I have taken a licking over the past 13-years, but have kept on ticking with some special peoples & organizations help – Thank You!

The Watchdog Report is Celebrating my 13^th Anniversary and I could not have done this without the help of around a hundred people and organizations over those years and to each of you. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and while some earlier supporters have passed away or can no longer help in some capacity. You each still stepped up and helped at a time I needed it, and has allowed me to get to this date and time. And when I started, I only knew the power of the internet would give the report internet wings that fly’s over the globe via the email list every week, people sending it on by their own list, or the www.watchdogreport.net webpage.

I also thought long and hard about when to publish and most weekly papers in South Florida run on Wednesday, the big dailies have there own schedule of what is published over the weekend, and there was a news opening I thought. If someone was willing to work essentially 24/7 and publish late Sunday afternoon. On Saturday May 5, I marked this new anniversary and there has been so much news that has been reported on in the weekly report over those years, as my past readers know and for the first time this past year. I have published 52 weeks in a row.

And that publishing milestone is no small feat and it has left me exhausted, broke and later in the month. I will take a break since my web person is getting married and going on her honeymoon. And I wish her all the best in her new married life. However, I also want to thank all of you that have helped in some way to get to this milestone.  Since I work alone and battled a major medical issue back in February 2010, that included two lifesaving surgeries, one at 4:00 a.m. by Vascular Surgeon Jorge Rabaza, M.D. at Baptist Health’s South Miami Hospital that he said “was a flip of the coin,” if I came through the operation and I thank him for being successful and keeping me alive. And since that time, it has given me a different perspective about life and its fragility and throughout these past years. I have tried my best to fight public corruption and I have done what I could to make public institutions more transparent, ethical and eliminating waste, fraud and abuse of the community’s precious public tax dollars but it has been a rough road for me financially.

When I first started, I knew two things, the internet and the Florida Open Records Sunshine Law opened a door to watching public institutions and what elected leaders did like never before, and I would make the Watchdog Report free to all that were interested. I wanted the richest and the poorest and in need of us to get the Report if they wanted it. Because I also hoped to increase the civic depth and understanding of all people interested in how politics were affecting their lives. Since as Pericles said, “You may not take an interest in politics but politics may take an interest in you,” and that has been my tag line since the beginning back in 2000.  However, financially it has been slow going and while I have saved hundreds of millions of public tax dollars over these years, by killing some expenditure or getting the PHT a break on a new stents contract where about $10 million was saved along with others help in 1998. And I have done this fiscal questioning for almost 15 years now and it adds up quickly given the aggregate sum of public dollars in play, now around $13 billion yearly that we have in our public institutions in Miami-Dade. And one example included the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization considering giving a politically connected person Dr. Rudy Moise around $10 million to do traffic updates on a Creole AM radio station he owned and was being pushed by Ron Krongold, one of the co founders of Jungle Island.

After I spoke to some commissioners before the MPO vote back in the early 2000s pointing out other radio stations were doing it free as part of their public service component. Further, I also noted we should at least put the traffic updates in Creole and for that amount of money, and we could buy our own radio station at the time since the market was not that competitive.  Miami-Dade Commissioners ended up voting it down at the time, with Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez telling Krongold who pushed the deal very hard at the dais. “You are on fire, bail out, bail out,” he joked when it was clear the issue was dead with the other MPO members (After this incident, Krongold would later be removed by Gov. Jeb Bush to the MPO board since he was the governors appointment), but there have been so many other cases like this over the years, and this saving of tax dollars is a very strong reason why I kept at the Watchdog Report. Also, another example was in the late 1990s at a school board committee meeting when then long serving Board Member Betsy Kaplan said to me after what I call an incident. “Dan, you’re trying to keep us out of jail,” she mused and yes, that was another objective in my attempt to help be part of building a community that was informed and civically engaged with minimal public corruption.

I reflect on this because I doubt anyone will ever do this again in South Florida when I am gone for it took a broad set of circumstances to take a international businessman on this path after living in Japan, almost five years in Sydney while traveling extensively throughout Asia, and spending extensive time in China since my 1974 degree from George Washington University’s (Sino-Soviet Institute at the time) was in Chinese Studies. Further, I am divorced with no children, thought back in the mid 1990s someone needed to fight for the residents and people who did not have time to participate in governmental affairs, and when no one else stepped forward, I did. And that decision was partly driven by some of the social and financial injustice that pervaded the community back then with scandals in the headlines ranging from MIA to Miami-Dade, the county school board and the city of Miami being the poster child. Where city managers were fired like eating M&Ms and elected leaders and two city managers went to jail.

Further, I was given the gift of being a featured Miami Herald editorial columnist back in the spring and summer of 2000, sharing the Tuesday page with controversial award winning writers like Max Castro and Carl Hiaasen. I was writing as the ‘Public Citizen’ and later in 2003 as a featured weekly independent news columnist for The Herald  www.miamiherald.com as the Watchdog Report, where one of my weekly stories ran in the general circulation daily up to the time McClatchy bought out Knight–Ridder. And this mainstream media exposure expanded my readership to around 100,000 readers in 2004. A University of North Carolina Chapel Hill study of the media in the southern states estimated and named me one of Florida’s “influential columnists.” Further, I have been a regular contributor on WLRN/NPR 91.3 FM on Joseph Cooper’s show Topical Currents show www.wlrn.org since 2000. I appear frequently on Helen Ferre’s show Issues on WPBT2, and past Watchdog Report stories early on have run in the Community Newspapers as well as in Spanish publications and all of this back then allowed me to gain credibility and a readership base unheard of at the time, and now, for a single individual reporter working on his own.

And after all of that media help, I also thank the many new people I have met on this strange journey, their thoughts, opinions and information that they have given me. For I have tried to represent the average person when I have gotten the chance to interview such people like then candidate President Barack Obama, Presidential candidates Senators John Kerry and John McCain, Gov. Jeb Bush and Gov. Charlie Crist almost weekly when they were in office, as well as people like former Soviet Union Leader Mikhail Gorbachev, former CBS anchor Dan Rather, and the U.S. Ambassador from Pakistan over the years to name a few of the people.

And covering South Florida brings these people here and I am convinced there is nowhere else in the country; just a citizen armed with the internet could accomplish this. For when you say Miami anywhere you go in the world, someone will have some colorful comment be it a German tourist to a retired headhunter in Borneo. And I like to joke that South Florida “is like the dysfunctional half brother or sister every family has, but we have great weather, beautiful beaches, and stone crabs the size of small children! And that has been what has made Miami one of the top destination spots in the world, and where else but here, would a Watchdog Report spring up back in May of 2000.

>>> 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 (Now entering its 13^th year May 5^th ). 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!”

>>> All photos in the Watchdog Report are taken from public government sites, and the Report goes on line at www.watchdogreport.net on Monday sometime during the day usually. >>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for I am a low cost news service, yet I do have to live, thank you! Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times and was Best Citizen in the 2003 Best of Miami of The Miami New Times, profiled twice in The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel ran a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003, and UNC Chapel Hill named me one of the top columnists in Florida in a  multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on the WLRN/NPR showTopical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also numerous times over the past decade. Further, I am a frequent guest on WWW.WPBT2.ORG on Helen Ferre’s show Issues, and have also appeared on  Eliott Rodriguez’s show News & Views on www.CBS4.com .

FLORIDA

>>> U.S. Rep. Rivera may get primary challenger in former Miami Mayor Carollo, Dems have Garcia and Romero Roses in the race, how low will they go?

The race for U.S. House District 26 is heating up and U.S. David Rivera, R-Miami is getting a variety of challengers for the seat (Which was U.S. House District 25 when he first won in 2010). Joe Garcia, a former chair of the Florida Public Service Commission in the 1990s and a past Democratic Party congressional candidate is throwing his hat into the ring again as well as Gloria Romero Roses, who lives in Broward. But a new Republican entry may be former Miami Mayor Joe Carollo who has been in political limbo since he left office in late December 2001, after he did not make the runoff election that had Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz ultimately prevailing. Carollo on Thursday while he was having lunch with Garcia told the Watchdog Report that it was his brother Frank, a Miami Commissioner who first suggested the idea. Rivera in the last race faced Garcia and the congressman prevailed getting 52 percent of the vote, Garcia came in with 43 percent, a Tea Party candidate got 3 percent, and the no party affiliation candidate siphoned off 2 percent of the vote.

Both Garcia and Carollo think that while Rivera has survived an extensive state attorney investigation on how he lived the past ten years, with no charges being brought. A federal probe including the FBI and IRS was also running in parallel and that investigation has yet to be closed, and if the former state representative is charged. He might drop out of the race and Garcia if he captures the primary could win the office unopposed and Carollo a hardcore GOP member doesn’t want that default election to be the voters only alternative, he said. Rivera has said he is innocent and that the state attorney’s closeout report is false and inaccurate in its description of his past years and how he lived off campaign funds telling Republicans he “did nothing wrong.” And he is hoping with mainstream GOP members that they will buy into this argument and allow him to politically move on with his career and fundraising, but the investigation is still out there in the public domain, and if he faces the former Miami Mayor in the primary, this will be an ugly race.

Carollo has had a mixed reception in the community over the years and while he is considered honest. He also earned the nickname of “Crazy Joe” and had a significant incident involving a past divorced wife, who he had children with. He remarried later, but also got divorced again and his decades long political and personal narrative is quite extensive, and some of it is not flattering. And one person who has known him for decades described him as “being his own worst enemy.” Further, during the Elian Gonzalez crisis in the spring of 2000. He fanned the flames of ethnic tension that had Miami leading national news programs every night for almost six months as the young Cuban boy with his Cuban American relatives took refuge in a Little Havana home, was extracted by federal immigration authorities over the 2000 Easter Holiday, and Miami broke into ethnic demonstrations, social disturbances, and flames.

However, Carollo was also the one to ask Gov. Lawton Chiles for an independent state financial oversight board in the mid 1990s and that board of people who did not live in the city for five years, essentially administrated the city and approved all legislation that the commission had passed. After a record some $65 million budget hole in the mid 1990s and the city’s bonds were junk at the time. And during that subsequent time of tight fiscal management, Miami’s reserves rose to well over $120 million, and when Mayor Diaz arrived in office. The city Diaz found was in great fiscal shape and Miami voters also passed a Homeland and Neighborhood $245 million bond during that same election but those general fund reserves have tumbled significantly since those days. The new redistricted congressional District 26 is also much more uniform in the number of voters from both political parties, and this will be potentially a two-part play, the primary Aug. 14 and then the grueling general election in November.

>>> State Atty. Fernandez-Rundle faces off against Vereen, battle lines are set for tough countywide race

Katherine Fernandez-Rundle, the Miami-Dade State Attorney since 1993 when she followed U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno in the office has gotten a credible challenger in fellow Democrat Rod Vereen, an African American and there is an array of prominent people backing his campaign. Fernandez Rundle, a Cuban American is being criticized for being soft on corruption and for prosecuting Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, that later had the case dropped after a key witness recanted their story and is one of the cases critics cite that suggests she does selective prosecutions. The long serving top legal prosecutor fires back that is not the case, that sometimes people do some things that while stupid and look bad. They may not have broken the law or the charges can’t be proven in a court of law. However, critics also charge after so many years in office, including having a street named after her. They suggest new blood in the office is needed and because there are two write in candidates, Omar Malone and Michelle Samaroo, it is a closed primary in August that only Democratic Party voters can participate in. Malone is a public defender and Samaroo was a past Broward assistant state attorney who left the office suddenly under a cloud. http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/20/2759359_p2/miami-dade-state-attorney-race.html

Thus, the partisan primary will be closed because of these “write in” candidates to Republican voters and the Watchdog Report in the future is going to find out who these people are since they are disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of county voters, just because they are listed on the general election ballot in November. Fernandez-Rundle suggests it was a political maneuver by Vereen to limit the voters to the 525,800 Democrats in the county, but he fires back that is not the case; though both write in candidates are Black. And when I checked on past write in Candidates in 2000. One person disconnected their phone after I called them asking about the race, and another had a listed address that did not exist when I drove to the location back then. However, in this case both of these candidates appear to be legitimate given their credentials versus the people I checked on back then.

>>> Press release: I don’t do movie reviews, but…If I were a parent – indeed, everyone who cares about children — I would make it my business to see it.

If I were a school superintendent, I’d insist that my top administrators and all my principals see it. If I were a principal, I’d ask all my teachers to see it. If I were the Senate president or House speaker, I’d urge every legislator to see it. If I were the governor, I’d make sure I saw it – and those who worked for me, too. The movie is “Bully,” and I saw it last weekend. It is a profoundly important topic, and ever more important in this cyberspace age. Thanks for caring. Dave Lawrence
Chair, The Children’s Movement of Florida P.S.: If you’d like to learn more about this film, just click here.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Charted Review Task Force gets scanned, Sen. Garcia, Rep. Trujillo, and Mayor Greer in the spotlight

With the Miami-Dade Charter Reform Task Force holding public meetings this week to get input from the public before they come together again to make their recommendations to the county commission. The Watchdog Report thought I would look at the financials of some of the leadership members. State Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah is the chair of the body, state Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, is on the task force and former Mayor and county school board member Evelyn Greer (Net worth $7.75 million in 2007) was elected vice chair. Garcia has been a healthcare executive, and in the past has worked for Mercy Hospital, the old Cedars Hospital, and is now at Miami-Dade Medical College and Greer is a Columbia University educated local practicing attorney.

Garcia, a former Hialeah councilman, was first elected to the Florida House in 2000, was termed out in 2008 and he took a political hiatus from public office but came back in 2010 when he won his Senate District 40 seat unopposed.  Garcia is running unopposed so far this year as well. He has raised $190,975 for his campaign war chest, and he has spent $63,000 for the race. The healthcare executive has a MBA from the University of Miami and a BS in political Science from Florida International University and is the VP for Community Relations for Dade Medical College.

Fellow Republican Trujillo has $107,800 in his campaign war chest and he has spent $28,200 to date. Fellow GOP candidate Jose Diaz who is reporting zero money for his campaign is challenging him. The Miami-Dade assistant state attorney got his law degree from FSU, was a Miami Herald Silver Knight recipient in 2001, and was first elected to the House in 2010. He is married and lives in Coral Gables http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4527&SessionId=70

What about their finances?

Garcia through Dec. 31, 2010 had a net worth of $25,089 and he lists owning no household goods of value. His assets include a condominium in Miami valued at $130,000 and a house in Tallahassee is worth $155,089. His liabilities are a mortgage with Chase owed $101,000, a GMAC mortgage is owed $124,000 and Sallie Mae wants $35,000. His income for the year was $101,568 from Dade Medical College, a firm he owns has contributed $5,500 and FIU kicked in $1,387 for the year.

Trujillo through Dec. 2011 had a net worth of -$13,000 and he lists $30,000 in household goods. His assets are his home valued at $285,000, a house in Tallahassee is worth $95,000 and in the Florida Retirement System, there is $19,800, and a checking account has $3,200 state his financial disclosure forms on file with the state. His liabilities include a SunTrust mortgage owed $277,000, GMAC wants $77,800, Sallie Mae is owed $75,800, and Access Group wants $15,400. His income for the year is $34,040 as a member of the House and there is $18,000 and $10,200 in rental income but for some reason his salary from the state attorney’s office is not listed.

Garcia

Trujillo

>>> Press release: The Miami-Dade County Charter Review Task Force is conducting Public Hearings, which will allow for public input and focused study of possible amendments to the County Charter.  Residents are encouraged to provide their input at the Public Hearings or at www.miamidade.gov/charter.  Members of the 2012 Charter Review Task Force will be in attendance at the Public Hearings.  On March 8, 2012, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved Resolution R-253-12 creating a Charter Review Task Force.  The Task Force is charged with reviewing the Home Rule Charter of Miami-Dade County; studying the final report of the 2008 Charter Review Task Force; reviewing amendments submitted to the voters since 2008; inviting knowledgeable members of the community to appear; conducting public hearings; hosting regional public meetings; and providing written recommendations to be presented to the Board of County Commissioners at their July 17, 2012 meeting.

>>> The Task Force consists of 20 members, 13 of the members are appointed by each County Commissioner, one by the Mayor of Miami-Dade County, four by each of the four largest cities in the County, and two by the Miami-Dade League of Cities. For more information about the Charter Review Task Force, visit www.miamidade.gov/charter/task-force-2012.asp. >>> WHAT: 2012 Miami-Dade County Charter Review Task Force Public Hearings WHEN Monday, May 7, 2012, 5:30 p.m. Miami Art Museum WHERE: 101 W. Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130 >>> Tuesday, May 8, 2012, 5:30 p.m. North Dade Regional Library, 2455 NW 183^rd Street, Miami, FL 33056 >>> Wednesday, May 9, 2012, 5:30 p.m., West Kendall Regional Library, 10201 Hammocks Boulevard, Miami, FL 33196 >>> Thursday, May 10, 2012, 5:30 p.m. South Dade Regional Library, 10750 SW 211^th Street, Miami, FL 33189 >>> Friday, May 11, 2012, 5:30 p.m., Wilde Community Center, W. 53^rd Terrace, Hialeah, FL 33012.

>>> Looking for a sixth term on the BCC Moss gets challenger; but is Pena in the candidate wings?

Dennis Moss, the county commissioner that represents District 9, located in South Dade and seeking a sixth consecutive term on the legislative body has one challenger Loretta Riley already and a second, Alice Pena is said to be considering jumping into the race. Moss who has a reputation of keeping his word and being a straight talker also supported the new Miami Marlins stadium costing around $2.5 billion when the financing is considered and the overall cost is causing controversy around the county. Moss has run the Richmond Perrine Optimist Club for decades, his wife is an executive at MIA, and he drives himself to events around the county but he was also the chair of the body when the stadium vote took place voting yes.

Moss first came on the political scene just after Hurricane Andrew wiped out South Dade in August 1992 and his focus over the years was to get the community rebuilt, get a vibrant and thriving local economy, beautify Miami-Dade and make Miami Zoo a premier global attraction. He is a supporter of not moving the Urban Development Boundary line and has been a moderate voice on the 13-member commission. However, billionaire auto magnate Norman Braman who has criticized his stadium vote for years has targeted him for removal from the dais and it is a question whether he will endorse and support someone like Pena. Moss has called Braman in the press a “bully” with his political tactics and says he is happy to face the voters of the district based on his record over the past 20 years.

Since Pena has the higher profile of the challenger’s, and she was recently named the Dade Farm Bureau’s Women of the Year and received proclamations from the City of Homestead and county Commissioner Lynda Bell gave her a proclamation from Miami-Dade. If she decides to challenge Moss, Pena might get the support of Bell who is considered a fiscal conservative and Bell is a Republican like Braman, though the race is nonpartisan. However, that party affiliation helped Bell get over the top in her own commission District 8 race by around 400 votes in a tight squeaker in 2010. Moss has $9,700 in his campaign war chest and Riley has raised no money to date.

Moss

>>> Press release:  Registration Now Open for Miami-Dade Parks’ Summer Camps! Exciting Summer Camps are being offered by the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, June 11-August 17, 2012, at its parks around the County. Programs are affordable and fully-supervised. There’s fitness, sports, nature-encounters, arts and crafts, field trips and more! Camp hours: 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., with early drop-off/ late pick-up available. Miami Dade Parks provides inclusion services for children with disabilities who want to attend typical summer camps.

>>> Press release:  Adrienne Arsht Center AileyCamp Miami 2012 AileyCamp Miami is a summer day camp where middle school students are “turned on” to dance and come to respect the discipline of dance as a physical activity that requires athletic ability comparable to skills demanded by any sport. Also, campers will increase their leadership skills and enjoy a variety of social activities. Monday – Friday, June 25 – August 4, 2012; 8:30AM – 3:30PM. Ages 11-14, MDCPS Grades 6-8, SPACE IS LIMITED, NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Supt. Carvalho lights up Chamber luncheon, has “Rock Star Status” with pledge of 90 percent graduation by 2014

Alberto Carvalho who has achieved “Rock Star Status,” said one person Wednesday given how the nation’s fourth largest school district is beginning to perform since he took the reins in September 2008 and the man promised hundreds of people attending the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon Wednesday that graduation rates would hit 90 percent by 2014, he vowed. Carvalho detailed what he faced when he took the job back then when the district had been plagued with late into the night board meetings, open hostility on the board, and only $4 million in reserves for the then around $6 billion public school district. He told the entranced audience that Miami-Dade was only two points below the state graduation rate, a significant increase over the past few years that had past graduation rates in the 60 percent range and was considered unacceptable.

He said he has changed 60 percent of the district’s principals during his tenure and has moved administration staff back into the classrooms with the central focus teaching the children of the school district. And he is the district’s biggest public cheerleader, is on advisory boards on education at the White House level and was once described by a past chair of the citizen based School Board Audit and Budget Advisory Committee as “the most interesting man in the world,” a phrase used in a popular beer ad. He came to America from Portugal to attend college and has had a host of posts from a chemistry teacher, to the district’s legislative liaison and also the media representative. He is a dapper dresser with perfect hair and is fluent in a number of languages that gives him an edge since the schools teach English language programs in around 19 languages. The district has for decades had high achievement schools but the ones in the poor urban core were failing to educate the at risk youth effectively, with unacceptable high drop out rates, some of the highest in the nation. It is for his reason said Carvalho, that high performing schools are being given more freedom but greater assets are being focused on the failing schools and after four years the results are paying off, he said. He believes given the rise in graduation rates to 78 percent versus the state’s 80 percent that the 90 percent rate in the next two years is achievable and seems to indicate he wants to stay at the public schools district in the coming years.

What about the rumor he might run for county mayor?

The Watchdog Report asked Carvalho if he was considering running for mayor this year against Mayor Carlos Gimenez and he said. “I am committed to the work I am doing,” he said. Which suggests he is staying right where he is during this election cycle but he is young and any future political aspirations have plenty of time to mature as he continues in this high profile position.

But what about any cheating on the FCAT tests?

While this graduation increase is impressive, there still an undercurrent asking if there is widespread or instances of teachers and students cheating on the FCAT tests that now has Miami-Dade with no state rated F status high schools and the district says the improvements are real, but people are still discussing the issue.

>>> Candidates Castillo and Espino vie for Dist. 5 seat on nine-member board

School Board District 5 being vacated by board Member Renier Diaz de la Portilla who is running for the Florida House has drawn two candidates, Susan Castillo and Daniel Espino. Castillo has raised no money and Espino has $100.00 in his campaign war chest that had the incumbent raising $39,100 before he dropped out of the race.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> BCC & JHS meet in closed session, no verbal fireworks as Jackson CEO Migoya details evolving strategy to make health trust sustainable in years ahead

There was peace and calm in the public healthcare valley as county commissioners met with the senior administrative staff of Jackson Health System in a closed executive session meeting Tuesday at noon in a small second floor conference room used by commissioners. Jackson President and CEO Carlos Migoya in a presentation detailed what the strategy for sustainability was morphing into and the confidential plan should be finalized in either June or July. Commissioner Sally Heyman, Barbara Jordan along with at least five other county commissioners signed off on having the private discussion with Migoya but the Watchdog Report thought there might be verbal fireworks but I am told it went well and Jackson’s senior executives left none of the confidential material behind.

The Watchdog Report waited in the conference room until they began the closed meeting that included a court reporter present, the county attorney’s office representatives but they along with commissioners and Migoya’s top people and the one Financial Recovery Board member Steven Nuell was there, and no other FRB member attended since it would have triggered the meeting becoming public under Florida’s Sunshine Law.

Jordan

Heyman

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Because of 2010 Census numbers being challenged, redistricting of commission seats takes a back seat for now

The Watchdog Report contacted Miami Commission Chair Francis Suarez last week asking what the status was of the commission redistricting process that usually concludes at the end of April, a year after the 2010 Census numbers were received and has the county and school board already approving the new 2012 representative’s districts maps. The commissioners do not need new maps this year since their elections are on odd years and 2013 is the next round of elections, but these are usually done by now. However, since the Miami Census numbers are being challenged by the city, there is delay of the new maps. Suarez wrote back that while “we have [not] finalized the redistricting process. There is a “legal consultant who has begun the process,” wrote the commission chair.

>>> Watchdog Report gives all Miami Department Directors 30 days to file financial disclosure forms, CIP Dir. Bravo already compliant

The Watchdog Report is giving all City of Miami Department Directors 30 days to get your yearly-required financial disclosure form in and when I asked Alice Bravo if she had filed. She responded “yes,” since she is a long-term government employee who has been a past local FDOT secretary. However, I know of one high profile city director who has not and he should get his paper work in because it is a requirement and being busted for this will not be a résumé builder. Some of the employees of Miami take a very blasé attitude about some of these requirements they are supposed to operate under. And with the Miami-Dade Ethics Commission having oversight of such issues. It would be prudent for all top administration employees to become compliant.

CITY OF HIALEAH

>>> Eleven Indicted in Pharmaceutical Thefts Defendants Involved in Selling and Distributing More than $75 Million Worth of Stolen Pharmaceuticals and Other Goods

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, Hugo J. Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office, James K. Loftus, Director, Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), and Captain Mary Lathrop, Southern Region Commander, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), Bureau of Criminal Investigations, announce the indictment of eleven South Florida residents for their participation in the sale and distribution of stolen pharmaceuticals and other goods. This prosecution, dubbed Operation Southern Hospitality, targeted individuals involved in the sale and distribution of goods stolen from warehouses and tractor-trailers across the United States.  Charged in the eighteen count indictment are Amaury Villa, 37, of Miami, Roberto Garcia-Amador, 46, of Miami, Ernesto Romero Vidal, 46, of Hallandale, Abel Mesa Samper, 39, of Miami, Michael Rangel, 38, of Hialeah, Suhong Wu, 42, of Miami, Geovanni Gonzalez, 40, of Hialeah, Pedro L. Rangel, 27, of Miami, Carlos Alberto Valdes, 43, of Hialeah Gardens, Yanni A. Sanchez, 39, of Hialeah, and Leonardo Manuel Guerra, 43, of Clewiston.  All are in custody and will appear in federal court in Fort Lauderdale today and tomorrow.

In March 2010, an Eli Lilly warehouse in Connecticut was the target of what has been described as the largest pharmaceutical theft in the country.  More than $75 million worth of medications were stolen.  The indictment charges three defendants (Villa, Garcia-Amador and Wu) with conspiring to sell and the sale of anti-psychotic and anti-depressant medications stolen from the Eli Lilly warehouse in Connecticut.  Villa is also charged with possession of approximately 4654 boxes of medications, including Gemzar, an intravenous drug used for the treatment of cancer, stolen from the warehouse during the theft. In addition, in a separate case announced today in the District of Connecticut, defendants Amaury Villa, and his brother Amed Villa, 46, were charged with conspiracy and theft offenses related to the March 2010 Eli Lilly burglary.  The federal indictment in Connecticut indictment was unsealed earlier today (Thursday). In addition, the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois today announced the unsealing of an indictment charging Amed Villa with the theft of more than 3,500 cases of cigarettes valued at more than $8 million from a warehouse in Tazewell County, Ill., on Jan. 24, 2010… “This investigation represents the largest takedown in U.S. history involving cargo theft. The theft involves more than $100 million, including $80 million worth of pharmaceuticals,” said John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge for FBI Miami.  “Today’s arrests have dealt a major blow to this Miami-based criminal organization.  Cargo theft is a growing multi-billion dollar crime that significantly impacts consumers, local governments, manufacturers and shipping companies.”…  An indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Passions running high when it comes to Mgr. Gonzalez, residents should make their case by “The strength of their argument, not the stridency of their voice,” said Ghandi

With the Miami Beach Commission meeting looming Wednesday May 9, activists are split on whether they want the head of long serving Beach Manager Jorge Gonzalez or not and incivility concerning this issue is raising its head. Critics charge that Gonzalez in office almost a dozen years, that his administration has been rocked by scandals, “corruption” and most recently the undercover FBI sting that ended in the arrest, indictment and one guilty plea of six Beach code and fire inspectors mostly hired in the 1990s before Gonzalez took the helm, for shaking down a club owner. Gonzalez has fired back by creating a wide variety of new relationships with the FBI, county inspector general’s office, ethics training and a host of other initiatives that the commission will vote on but some question if it is not too late and will change nothing given the city’s culture. Commissioners are also taking heat from some constituents and the upcoming meeting if past meetings are any example will be contentious and the issue will be discussed around 5:00 p.m.. The Watchdog Report has been getting emails from both sides of the debate, if Gonzalez should stay or go and Mayor Mattie Herrera Bower has been verbally buffeted and got into a shouting match at a recent rally with an activist demanding the man step down.

In a telephone interview Saturday, Gonzalez said his record over the years of accomplishment is being ignored by some of these people and commissioners and the city in many ways has never been in better shape. He said the issue has become commingled with some activist’s demands and the CWA Union that represents a number of city employees facing “a 17 percent pay cut in concessions” in the fall and for the union’s members this is a significant salary reduction that is being fought. He said the city has around 2,000 employees and the lead code enforcement officer (who was arrested and indicted) was about to get a Commission proclamation, possible the third over the decades from the body, but it shows how the past respected employee fooled the commission and administration.  He said that over the years he has had a history of proactive action when alerted to corruption, like in the building and procurement departments. He notified the state attorney’s office in those cases and helped “root out” these wayward officials and he was not a target of the investigation. He said he hoped commissioners “recognized that he was a very good manager over the past 12-years” and that under his administration there “was a extremely long list of positive actions” and business leaders in the municipality are doing very well with tourism numbers and the attendant different tourist tax revenues that are through the roof. He said this is in “no small part me as the city manager” and while he did not attend an “out pouring of about 100 people, a cross section of the community” that wanted him retained last week. He did note that a recent survey of about 3,000 residents showed that 89 percent of the people sampled rated the city’s services “excellent or good, 8 percent said fair and only 3 percent rated services poor,” he said. Gonzalez further noted the city’s strong AA+ bond rating as another sign he has done a good job. However, the two key people on the commission may be the swing votes of Commissioners Deede Weithorn and Michael Gongora, and how they vote is expected to determine Gonzalez’s fate. Readers should stay tuned and see how this highly charged issue plays out in the coming days.

>>> Press release: Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club Meeting Date: Tuesday, May 8th, 2012, Meeting Time: 8:30 AM, Meeting Place: David’s Café II, 1654 Meridian Ave., South Beach. Miami Beach City Manager Jorge Gonzalez will be this week’s guest speaker at the May 8th meeting of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club.  Mr. Gonzalez is now in his 12th year as City Manager. The recent disclosure of alleged long term corruption in the city’s Code and Fire Departments, as well as allegations of Police miss-conduct and seemingly out of control Police shootings last Memorial Day weekend, have resulted in questions over the administration of the city, and even calls by some for the Manager to step down.  Addressing these concerns the Manager has put together a new program of reforms, which he will be presenting. Also high on the Manager’s priorities is the evaluation of the finalists for the Convention Center expansion, which he will also be discussing. There is no charge for attending and everyone is welcome. David Kelsey, Moderator for the Breakfast Club. Visit our web site at www.MBTMBC.com (Miami Beach Tuesday Morning

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Gables web page: Zoning board: Pickups on private property OK — with restrictions Coral Gables’ Planning and Zoning Department determined new guidelines, and the advisory board approved, in a 4-1 vote, that pickup truck owners would be allowed to park their unmodified vehicles in residential driveways, potentially changing controversial rules that have existed …

Read more

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Former Police Officer Sentenced for Wire Fraud

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Franklin Adderley, Chief of Police, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, announced that David Michael McElligott, 47, of Warner Robins, GA, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra to 21 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by two years’ supervised release, for his fraudulent scheme to defraud the City of Fort Lauderdale.  Earlier this year, McElligott pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1343, in connection with the scheme.

According to court documents, McElligott worked as a Fort Lauderdale police officer from 1991, through his resignation late last year.  Since 2001, he had been on extended military leave from the U.S. Air Force. Beginning in September 2003, McElligott would present the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and the City of Fort Lauderdale with falsified military leave and earnings statements in order to increase the supplemental pay that the City of Fort Lauderdale gave him pursuant to its supplemental pay policy. McElligott also presented the Police Department and the City with fraudulent military orders, which entitled him to certain rights under federal law to maintain, and return to, his job as a police officer. McElligott sent all of the falsified documents by facsimile or e-mail, or both, to an employee in the payroll department of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. McElligott’s fraudulent conduct resulted in a loss to the City of Fort Lauderdale of $312,270.65.  This included supplemental pay, longevity pay, and benefits.  At the sentencing hearing, in addition to imposing imprisonment and supervised release terms, the Judge ordered McElligott to pay restitution to the City in the amount of $197,205.70, which was the balance of the City’s total loss not already repaid by McElligott.  This investigation began as a result of information discovered by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department during an internal review. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department immediately contacted the FBI Public Corruption Task Force, and continued to assist in the investigation that resulted in today’s charges. Mr. Ferrer commends the efforts of the FBI’s Public Corruption squad and the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, which is part of the Broward County Public Corruption Task Force.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard P. Murad. >>> 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.

>>> 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.

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY

>>> Three Turtle Farmers Charged and Two Arrested For Illegal Turtle Trafficking

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Jason Riley, Deputy Resident Agent in Charge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and Major Jeff Hubert, Regional Commander, South A Region, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC), announced the arrest of defendants James Cheung, 57, of Moore Haven, Florida, and Chris Craig, 36, of Okeechobee, Florida, on two criminal complaints charging them with knowingly making illegal sales of freshwater turtles in interstate and foreign commerce, in violation of the Lacey Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 3372(a)(2) and 3373(d)(1).  A third arrest warrant was issued for David Feltenberger, 52, of Okeechobee, Florida, for related crimes.  If convicted, the defendants face a maximum of five years’ imprisonment.  Craig is scheduled to make his initial appearances in federal court on Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ann E. Vitunac in Ft. Pierce, Florida.  Cheung is scheduled to make an initial appearance on Friday in Ft. Myers, Florida, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas N. Frazier.

Approximately two years ago, FWCC instituted an aquaculture permitting system in response to a declining wild freshwater turtle population in Florida.  The purpose of the system was to foster the development of turtle aquaculture facilities, or “turtle farms,” capable of breeding turtle populations for commercial sale as a way to prevent continued overharvesting of the state’s wild turtle populations.  The permit system allowed an aquaculture facility owner to harvest a set number of turtles from the wild for the purpose of developing a successful brood stock.  In return, the owners of aquaculture facilities were required to follow their permit conditions.  One of the required conditions was to maintain any wild-caught turtles on their turtle farms for use as brood stock until the permit’s expiration date. According to the allegations in the complaints, Feltenberger owned a turtle aquaculture facility known as the Big Lake Fish Farm II and possessed an FWCC Turtle Aquaculture Brood Stock Collection Permit.  Feltenberger’s permit allowed him to collect over 15,000 turtles of various species from the wild for use as brood stock from May 1, 2011 until April 30, 2012.  Craig was an employee on Feltenberger’s turtle farm.  In the fall of 2011, Feltenberger purchased wild-caught turtles.  Instead of holding them on his aquaculture facility to use as brood stock, he and Craig repeatedly shipped them to China in shipments of live turtles.

Also according to the allegations in the complaints, Cheung owned a turtle aquaculture facility known as I & C Fish Ranch and possessed an FWCC Turtle Aquaculture Brood Stock Collection Permit.  Cheung’s permit allowed him to collect over 500 turtles of various species from the wild for use a brood stock from March 21, 2011 until April 30, 2012.  Instead of holding them on his aquaculture facility, Cheung repeatedly sold the turtles to buyers in California. Mr. Ferrer commended investigative efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.  This case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaime Raich. A complaint is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. >>> A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

ORANGE COUNTY

>>> Press release:  Gov. Scott taps Wayne C. Wooten, of Apopka, to the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court.

Wooten, 45, has served as an assistant state attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit since 1995. He received bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Florida. “For the past 17years, Wayne has focused on serving the people of the Ninth Circuit with integrity, and I am confident he will continue to do so from the bench,” Governor Scott said. “He has demonstrated a commitment to upholding the law and refraining from allowing his personal beliefs and preferences to influence his legal judgment.” Wooten will fill the seat previously held by Judge N. James Turner.

JACKSON COUNTY

>>> There he goes again, Gov. Scott suspends Council Member Jones of Town of Malone

There he goes again, Gov. Rick Scott suspends Council Member Fred Lee Jones from the Town of Malone Council. Malone has been charged with two counts of grand theft and two counts of dealing with stolen goods. The charges are a second and third degree felony and after a slight lull in suspensions of elected leaders. Scott is adding another notch to his belt of removing wayward elected officials. His predecessors suspended elected people almost one a month with Gov. Jeb Bush, given his two terms in office getting the top number of suspensions of politicians around the state. Gov. Charlie Crist following Bush also fought this “culture of corruption” or illegal actions but the Sunshine State continues to lead the way to the top, though Chicago and the state’s governors top the chart in removed top state officials.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade and Monroe press release: VPK Registration Continues for Summer 2012 and School Year 2012-2013

Summer 2012: Children who have not previously participated in the VPK program and will be entering kindergarten in the upcoming 2012-2013 school year are eligible to participate in the Summer VPK program.  Available public school sites include Poinciana School, Key West; Marathon High School; and Key Largo School.  This is a full day program running from June 13 – July 25.  Parents must provide their own transportation.  Parents are encouraged to register early to enable the school district to adequately plan for summer staffing. >>> School Year 2012-2013: Children must be 4 years of age on or before September 1, 2012 to participate in the School Year VPK program.  Parents are encouraged to register early to receive the Certificate of Eligibility. Enrollment at a specific public or private school is first come, first-served (as space is available) or by lottery.

Parents may register their children at all Wesley House locations from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Monday – Friday in Key West and Tavernier; Tuesday and Thursday in Marathon). Evening hours are by appointment only. For additional information, please contact Val Taylor at 305-809-5000.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> League of Women Voters May 9th Annual Meeting – Florida 2012 Redistricting: Are Voters Back in the Driver’s Seat?

The League of Women Voters of Miami-Dade County will host its annual
meeting and elect a new slate of officers on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
from 6 p.m. to 9p.m. at the Coral Reef Yacht Club located at 2484 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove. Dan Gelber, former Florida State Senator and general counsel to the Fair Districts Coalition, will be the keynote speaker addressing concerns regarding the recent Florida Supreme Court unanimous decision to validate the redrawn 40-member Senate map and reject opponents’
claims that it violated the new constitutional ban on political gerrymandering.

Gelber explained to the Tampa Bay Times that “redistricting was an evolutionary process” and that “these districts are far more compact and more sensible than the ones that were done in previous years.” However, opponents remain disappointed with the court’s decision. >>> To RSVP please contact Terry Coble at terryarose@bellsouth.net or  305-751-0504. Admission is $35 and includes complementary food and a cash bar. The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

>>> www.downtownbayforum.org LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP PRODUCED BY ROBERT M LEVY & ASSOCIATES: SPEAKERS KAREN ARONOWITZ, PRESIDENT, UNITED TEACHERS OF DADE; DANIELLA LEVINE, PRESIDENT & CEO, CATALYST MIAMI; DIANA RAGBEER, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY & COMMUNICATION CHILDRENS TRUST; KATY SORENSON, PRESIDENT & CEO – THE GOOD GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE: MODERATOR ROBERT M LEVY – WOLFSON AUDITORIUM @TEMPLE ISRAEL, 137 NE 19^th STREET, MIAMI, FREE SELF PARKING AVAILABLE: Call ANNETTE EISENBERG (305)757-3633 Fax (305)754-2015

EDITORIALS

>>> Gov. Scott what were you thinking at Freedom Tower bill signing event, then memo suggesting law did not pass constitutional muster, slap in the face of Cuban Exiles

Gov. Rick Scott came to Miami last Tuesday and signed a bill that companies that did business with Cuba and Syria would be banned from state and local governments contracts, but then later in the day sent a memo saying he did not believe the legislation was valid and would not pass federal constitutional muster. Scott a healthcare executive before being elected in 2010 on the mantra of “lets get to work,” stunned local legislators and members of Congress from the Cuban American community that attended the event at the iconic Freedom Tower. While he has since softened his stance, he still faced a firestorm in South Florida and while the flip-flop may have played out well in a Central and North Florida. Here in Miami it looks like blatant pandering. Scott has been trying to find his political feet over the last two years but this bush league demonstration of hypocrisy takes the cake, after his approval rating was ticking up slightly. And when it comes to his reelection in 2014, with one stroke of the pen. He has lost many of the Cuban Exile community’s voters for this cheap ploy and staged election press conference when he signed the bill that included the local Congressional leaders in attendance.

Scott’s election and administration is what one long term prominent Republican called, “The Great Experiment.” Scott has had some success but has made some real bonehead decisions, and this double cross last week is the most jarring, because it was so public and a real slap in the face to the Cuban community as a whole. And I suspect it will be awhile before he shows up at Versailles Restaurant in a photo stop, where he may be booed or at best shunned and the governor has learned a hard political truth. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me, and here in South Florida we do have a decent memory and to say the bloom for Scott is off the tree, is an understatement after this botched affair. >>> Editor’s note: As I have written in the past, I believe this issue is solely under the purview of the federal government without federal legislation allowing the states or local governments to have this restriction.

>>> Feds continue war on Medicare fraud, FBI SAC Gillies calls for stringent requirements for providers, and even a “carpenter” opened a clinic

Wifredo Ferrer, the U.S. Attorney for Southern District of Florida and John Gillies, the Special Agent in Charge for the local FBI Bureau were on www.local10.com show’s This Week In South Florida hosted by Michael Putney, the stations senior political reporter today and the feds have had a gangbuster week when it came to tamping out Medicaid Fraud. In two separate cases, almost $500 million of public dollars were involved and well over 160 people around the nation were busted. Gillies said last year alone as a result of a local federal Healthcare Fraud Task Force created in 2007. The federal government had saved $500 million in reduced billings by this clamp down but the volume of people involved in scams that evolve and mutate over time makes it a Herculean task to shut it down completely.

Ferrer noted in the federal strike force there are a wide array of different people assets including the FBI, IRS, the IG from Medicare and CMS and even nurses to spot these scams, coordinate a law enforcement response and to then prosecute the criminals. Gillies said he has been pushing for two changes in what is currently a “pay and chase,” system where the government has to pay within 15 days of getting the patients bill. The top federal agent thought a better way would be to not use a person’s social security number for Medicare but random numbers like is used with credit cards. He also suggested having Medicare providers under go a more extensive background checks and noted one such person started a Medicare business and scammed the system even though he “was a carpenter.” Fraud in South Florida is off the charts and while some of these efforts are paying off in a big way. It is up to each of us to protect our identity and accounts because law enforcement cannot do it alone and the taxpayers and residents must be forever on alert. For these public tax dollars is all of our money and should be going to where it is needed, not the Cayman Islands or Cuba as has happened in the past.

>>> Check out the past national story in the Tribune papers:  Paperwork Tiger

By Maya Bell, Miami Bureau, January 20, 2003 – MIAMI – Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. It’s not by choice. Miami’s self-anointed citizen watchdog depends on the people he writes for and about to finance his quixotic quest to attend nearly every government meeting in Miami-Dade County. That’s a lot of mind-numbing meetings — as many as 2,500 a year — but not a lot of income. So Ricker is always teetering on bankruptcy. He dashes to his post-office box daily, hoping subscribers to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks.

LETTERS

>>> Reader on Parks Summitt story: What was this all about?  Was Key Biscayne invited?

We’d like to see Miami-Dade County rebuild the Calusa Playhouse (in Calusa Park) It’s owned by the County and designated a ”historic building.” That certainly is a distressed property. And it had three or four shows a year, attracting an audience of 2,000. Then again, as far as Key Biscayne goes, the only thing the County seems to be interested in is sucking up our tax money.  Do they ever have an interest in anything else? How about contributing to our beach renourishment that will cost us over $3 million?  Maybe we should keep our hotel bed tax money for that? (Like Miami Beach, Surfside, and Bal Harbor.)

Yeah, “greening  ” starts at home…

Ed Meyer

Key Biscayne

>>> Happy Anniversary and thank you for keeping the public informed. It certainly must take you quite a bit of time to assemble and write about all that you cover.

Jeannett Slesnick

Coral Gables

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

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

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr.

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

ARTHUR HERTZ

WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)

ALFRED NOVAK

LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)

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

THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE

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

BADIA SPICES    www.badiaspices.com

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com

RONALD HALL

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY  www.miamidade.gov

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

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

AKERMAN SENTERFITT   www.akerman.com

RON BOOK

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

WILLIAM PALMER

SHUBIN & BASS     www.shubinbass.com

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

CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC.   www.camillushouse.org

CITY OF MIAMI  www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.cph.org

THE STATE OF FLORIDA    www.myflorida.gov

GREATOR MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA  www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY  www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov/ethics

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

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

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

THE BEACON COUNCIL   www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

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

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

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI             www.miami.edu

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 600 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 www.watchdogreport.net

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2012, Daniel A. Ricker

>>> The Watchdog Report are now available to television stations web pages, and all the newspapers and other media in South Florida if the publishers have an interest to run part or all of the stories. Further, in 2000, I used to have some paper’s running the report in the Spanish press, that option is available again, and publishers should contact me.  The news content will not be free, but you can pick and chose the stories of interest, edit them if necessary but you must still keep the general story intact.  If you are a news outlet and would like to learn more about, the Watchdog Report and this offer contact me at watchdogreport1@earthlink.net for further information.

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

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years. >>> Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, The (FL) CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS >>> Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, The (FL) MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED >>> >>> To read the full section large two page front page story, but without the photos and smart box graphics, go to: `I Go When You Cannot’ – Sun Sentinel 20 Jan 2003 … Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. … to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks. … http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american >>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times –The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored.  Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2003-05-15/citylife2.html/1/index.html

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

Those who do read the newspaper in Florida have a bevy of options for state government and political coverage. The dominant newspapers in the state are Knight-Ridder’s The Miami Herald (Acquired by The McClatchy Company in 2006) and the Poynter Institute’s St. Petersburg Times. Both papers endorsed Gore in 2000 but split on the 2002 gubernatorial race, with the Herald endorsing Republican incumbent Jeb Bush and the Times backing Democratic challenger Bill McBride. Daniel Ricker of The Miami Herald also writes an influential column as well as an email newsletter called the Watchdog Report that goes out to more than 100,000 subscribers. FEBRUARY 2004 – Florida: Columnists in Abundance –ERIC GAUTSCHI, graduate student, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill – D) LEADING COMMENTATORS – Resource Commentator Organization Type Web site –Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/bousquet.shtml -“First Friday” WPBT TV (Miami) TV Show www.channel2.org/firstfriday/issues.html –Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/morgan.shtml –Daniel Ricker Miami Herald/Watchdog Report Newsletter >>> 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.

********************************************************************

Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form

NOTE: Invoice is for Yearly supporter/sponsorship Rates: Thank you.

Supporting Sponsors $5,000

Sustaining Sponsors $2,000

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

Large Business Supporters $500

Small Business Supporters $250

Individual Supporter $150

Student Supporter $ 75

Any amount $

Name & Address

Please make checks payable to: Daniel A. Ricker

Send to: 3109 Grand Avenue, #125

Miami, FL 33133

Fax 305-668-4784 -To contact the Publisher please e-mail watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center for International Media http://knight.miami.edu within the University of Miami’s School of Communication www.miami.edu to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no ads, pops-up and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

>>> HELP: I NEED FINANCIAL HELP IF THIS IS TO CONTINUE AFTER 12-YEARS AND HEADING INTO 13-YEARS IN MAY: 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 and I hope you or your organization will consider helping in a small or larger way and help keep another voice on line in the media. 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.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> Bayfront Park Trust passes resolution to keep Bicentennial Park under its control Tuesday, new control suitors not wanted

The Mildred and Claude Pepper Bayfront Park Management Trust that operates and manages Bayfront Park and nearby Bicentennial Park passed a resolution Tuesday to keep Bicentennial Park under the Trust’s management umbrella. Since a “rumor” has surfaced that people were trying to change that management structure since two new museums are going up on part of the 30-acre bayside land. Nathan Kurland, a member of the Trust board said he had heard “rumors” to this affect and believed the organization should act proactively. The city of Miami created the Bayfront Management Trust in 1987 and in March of 1994, Bicentennial Park was added to the Trust’s portfolio and on Dec. 2006, the deep-water parcel adjacent to the park was also put under trust management. The management of Bayfront has been excellent since a major scandal rocked the organization in 1999 to 2000 and sent the past director to jail and in the course of 2010, attendance to events was 287,679 people and in 2011, it was 158,093 in the course of the year.

Timothy Schmand the Trust’s executive director in a Mar. 14 memo notes the facilities over the last 11-years have consistently ranked in the top 50 venues worldwide based on ticket sales and is in the top ten nationally. He told trust members I “hate to see duplication, we are a natural for Bicentennial Park” and noted “most of the Bayfront Bay Walk is on Trust property.” Kurland noted the park was a city “asset and waterfront property” and any change in its oversight “might be a foot” in the door “to put another museum there,” he said. When the Watchdog Report asked for more specifics on the issue. Kurland passed not saying anything more specific, but the Trust members unanimously voted to approve a resolution stating they supported “absolutely no changes in the management of the Bay Walk and Bicentennial Park.”

What else is going on at Bayfront?

Bayfront Park in the 1990s used to require the city pumping in some $400,000 in public money to keep the organization running but after the scandal has been a consistent moneymaker for the city. And while the Trust is also running Bayside, the tourist attraction with shops and restaurants next to the park. The organization also started yoga lessons six years ago and 75,000 people living in the nearby condominiums and others have participated in the over 1,000 practices, that have about 75 people in each class since then, said Schmand.

>>> White House press release: New Health Care Law Provides Up to $148,589,661 in Health Insurance Premium Rebates for People in Florida

President Obama’s health care law – the Affordable Care Act – gives hard working, middle-class families the security they deserve and includes a number of important provisions that help control health care costs. One way the law helps hold down health care costs are new rules that generally require insurance companies to spend at least 80 percent of your premium dollars on health care and quality improvements instead of other activities like advertising, executive bonuses, or overhead. If insurance companies fail to meet this standard, they must provide a rebate to their customers. The law calls this the “medical loss ratio” rule, but it’s commonly known as the 80/20 rule.

Yesterday, a new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that 1,753,065 consumers in Florida will receive $148,589,661 in rebates solely because of the 80/20 rule. This includes 38 percent of enrollees in the individual market in Florida for an average rebate of $153 per person. Rebates to consumers will be delivered by August 1. You can read the full report by visiting http://www.kff.org/healthreform/8305.cfm. And even if you don’t you receive a rebate, you may be benefiting from the new rule. Many insurance companies changed the way they do business or lowered their premiums to comply with the 80/20 rule. The 80/20 rule is just one way the Affordable Care Act is already making a difference. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act: 2.5 million more young adults have health insurance on their parent’s plan. 5.1 million people with Medicare saved an average of $635 on the cost of their prescription drugs. And everyone on Medicare can get preventive services like mammograms for free.
Insurance companies cannot raise your premiums by 10 percent or more with no accountability. It’s illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage to children because of a pre-existing condition. And in 2014, discriminating against anyone with a pre-existing condition will be illegal. While some want to go back to the days when insurance companies could deny your coverage or jack up your rates whenever and however they pleased without any accountability, we are committed to moving forward, implementing the Affordable Care Act and delivering the benefits of reform to the American people. For more information on the new health care law, go to www.HealthCare.gov.

>>> Press release: Cyprus Officials, Ros-Lehtinen Discuss EU Presidency, Rights of Cypriot People

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today met with Deputy Minister for European Affairs Andreas Mavroyiannis of the Republic of Cyprus. Chairman Ros-Lehtinen, along with fellow members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Deputy Minister Mavroyiannis discussed the upcoming Cyprus Presidency of the European Union and the U.S.-Cyprus relationship. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “Eight years after becoming a full member of the European Union, Cyprus will assume the Presidency this summer for the first time. Cyprus has set forth an ambitious agenda for its tenure, with particular emphasis on economic growth, job creation, and the promotion of human rights around the world. I wish Cyprus well as it begins this important endeavor.

“Yet, even as Cyprus continues to use its voice to advocate for the rights of oppressed people, its own citizens continue to suffer from the ongoing division, conflict and military occupation of their country. This is a critical year for Cyprus reconciliation talks, and now more than ever it is important that all responsible nations support those efforts. “I am hopeful that a peaceful and equally beneficial solution can still be achieved if both sides engage in the negotiations in good faith.”

>>> Diaz-Balart: IRS new Florida pilot program, step in the right direction

Press release: Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released the following statement in response to the implementation of the IRS new Law Enforcement Assistance Pilot Program, exclusively for the state of Florida. The pilot program is designed to aid law enforcement in obtaining tax returns to investigate and prosecute specific cases of identity theft. Diaz-Balart comments:

“After numerous hearings and meetings with the IRS, during which I expressed deep concern with the astounding number of identity theft cases in South Florida, today the IRS responds with the launch of a new pilot program. The new program will help provide answers to the thousands of identity theft victims in the state of Florida, particularly in South Florida. We must ensure the security and safety of hardworking taxpayers; I think this program is a step in the right direction to prevent these heinous crimes from occurring in the future.” Congressman Diaz-Balart testified on a panel in June 2011 held by the Oversight Committee, Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency and Financial Management titled “IRS E-file and Identity Theft.” In the same month, Diaz-Balart met with IRS Commissioner, Doug Shulman to demand more effective measures to be implemented to prevent identity theft.

>>> U.S. Attorney Testifies on Health Care Fraud before U.S. Senate

Press release: U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer testified this morning at a hearing before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee on health care fraud. Mr. Ferrer’s testimony at the hearing, entitled “Anatomy of a Fraud Bust: From Investigation to Conviction,” highlighted the Department of Justice’s successful national efforts to combat health care fraud, citing the record number of prosecutions and the highest ever financial recoveries during fiscal year 2011. Also testifying during the hearing were Daniel Levinson, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Dr. Peter Budetti, Deputy Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and Kathleen King, Director of Health Care, U.S. Government Accountability Office.

During the testimony, U.S. Attorney Ferrer stated, “Health care fraud is a costly law enforcement problem. Every year, taxpayers spend hundreds of billions of dollars to provide health care to the most vulnerable of our society – our seniors, children, disabled, and needy. We have a duty to ensure that these funds are spent on providing proper medical treatment to those who need it.” According to Ferrer’s testimony, in FY 2011 alone, the government’s health care fraud and prevention efforts recovered nearly $4.1 billion related to health care fraud and false claims and returned these funds to CMS, the U.S. Treasury, other Federal agencies, and individuals. This is the highest annual amount ever recovered from doctors and companies who attempted to defraud seniors and taxpayers or who sought payments to which they were not entitled. 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.

>>> The Watchdog Report has taken a licking over the past 13-years, but has kept on ticking with some special peoples & organizations help – Thank You!

The Watchdog Report is Celebrating my 13th Anniversary and I could not have done this without the help of around a hundred people and organizations over those years and to each of you. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and while some earlier supporters have passed away or can no longer help in some capacity. You each still stepped up and helped at a time I needed it and has allowed me to get to this date and time. And when I started, I only knew the power of the internet would give the report internet wings that fly’s over the globe via the email list every week, people sending it on by their own list, or the www.watchdogreport.net webpage. I also thought long and hard about when to publish and most weekly papers in South Florida run on Wednesday, the big dailies have there own schedule of what is published over the weekend, and there was a news opening I thought. If someone was willing to work essentially 24/7 and publish late Sunday afternoon. Now this coming Saturday May 5, I will mark this new Anniversary and there has been so much news that has been reported on in the weekly report over those years as my past readers know and for the first time this past year. I have published 52 weeks in a row.

And that publishing milestone is no small feat and it has left me exhausted, broke and later in the month. I will take a break since my web person is getting married and going on her honeymoon and I wish her all the best in her new married life. However, I also want to thank all of you that have helped in some way to get to this milestone. Since I work alone and battled a major medical issue back in February 2010, that included two lifesaving surgeries, one at 4:00 a.m. by Vascular Surgeon Jorge Rabaza, M.D. at Baptist Health’s South Miami Hospital that he said “was a flip of the coin,” if I came through the operation and I thank him for being successful and keeping me alive. And since that time, it has given me a different perspective about life and its fragility and throughout these past years. I have tried my best to fight public corruption and I have done what I could to make public institutions more transparent, ethical and eliminating waste, fraud and abuse of the community’s precious public tax dollars but it has been a rough road for me financially.

When I first started, I knew two things, the internet and the Florida Open Records Sunshine Law opened a door to watching public institutions and what elected leaders did like never before and I would make the Watchdog Report free to all that were interested. I wanted the richest and the poorest and in need of us to get the Report if they wanted it. Because I also hoped to increase the civic depth and understanding of all people interested in how politics were affecting their lives. Since as Pericles said, “You may not take an interest in politics but politics may take an interest in you,” and that has been my tag line since the beginning back in 2000. However, financially it has been slow going and while I have saved hundreds of millions of public tax dollars over these years, by killing some expenditure or getting the PHT a break on a new stents contract where about $10 million was saved along with others help in 1998. And I have done this fiscal questioning for almost 15 years now and it adds up quickly given the aggregate sum of public dollars in play now around $13 billion yearly we have in our public institutions in Miami-Dade. And one example included the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization considering giving a politically connected person Dr. Rudy Moise around $10 million to do traffic updates on a Creole AM radio station he owned and was being pushed by Ron Krongold, one of the co founders of Jungle Island.

After I spoke to some commissioners before the vote back in the early 2000s pointing out other radio stations were doing it free as part of their public service component. Further, I also noted we should at least put the traffic updates in Creole and for that amount of money, and we could buy our own radio station at the time since the market was not that competitive. Miami-Dade Commissioners ended up voting it down at the time, with Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez telling Krongold who pushed the deal very hard at the dais. “You are on fire, bail out, bail out,” he joked when it was clear the issue was dead with the other MPO members (After this incident, Krongold would later be removed by Gov. Jeb Bush to the MPO board since he was the governors appointment), but there have been so many other cases like this over the years, and this saving of tax dollars is a very strong reason why I kept at the Watchdog Report. Also, another example was in the late 1990s at a school board committee meeting when then long serving Board Member Betsy Kaplan said to me after what I call an incident. “Dan, you’re trying to keep us out of jail,” she mused and yes, that was another objective in my attempt to help be part of building a community that was informed and civically engaged with minimal public corruption.

I reflect on this because I doubt anyone will ever do this again in South Florida when I am gone for it took a broad set of circumstances to take a international businessman on this path after living in Japan, almost five years in Sydney traveling throughout Asia, and spending extensive time in China since my 1974 degree from George Washington University’s (Sino-Soviet Institute at the time) was in Chinese Studies. Further, I am divorced with no children, thought back in the mid 1990s someone needed to fight for the residents who did not have time to participate in governmental affairs, and when no one else stepped forward, I did. And that decision was partly driven by some of the social and financial injustice that pervaded the community back then with scandals in the headlines ranging from MIA to Miami-Dade, the county school board and the city of Miami being the poster child. Where city managers were fired like eating M&Ms and elected leaders and two city managers went to jail.

Further, I was given the gift of being a featured Miami Herald editorial columnist back in the spring and summer of 2000, sharing the Tuesday page with controversial award winning writers like Max Castro and Carl Hiaasen. I was writing as the ‘Public Citizen’ and later in 2003 as a featured weekly independent news columnist for The Herald as the Watchdog Report, where one of my weekly stories ran in the general circulation daily up to the time McClatchy bought out Knight–Ridder. And this mainstream media exposure expanded my readership to around 100,000 readers in 2004. A University of North Carolina Chapel Hill study of the media in the southern states estimated and named me one of Florida’s “influential columnists.” Further, I have been a regular contributor on WLRN/NPR 91.3 FM on Joseph Cooper’s show Topical Currents show www.wlrn.org since 2000. I appear frequently on Helen Ferre’s show Issues on WPBT2, and past Watchdog Report stories early on have run in the Community Newspapers as well as in Spanish publications and all of this early on allowed me to gain credibility and a readership base unheard of at the time, and now, for a single individual reporter working on his own.

And after all of that media help, I also thank the many new people I have met on this strange journey, their thoughts, opinions and information that they have given me. For I have tried to represent the average person when I have gotten the chance to interview such people like then candidate President Barack Obama, Presidential candidates Senators John Kerry and John McCain, Gov. Jeb Bush and Gov. Charlie Crist almost weekly when they were in office, as well as people like former Soviet Union Leader Mikhail Gorbachev, former CBS anchor Dan Rather, and the U.S. Ambassador from Pakistan over the years to name a few of the people. And covering South Florida brings these people here and I am convinced there is nowhere else in the country; just a citizen armed with the internet could accomplish this. For when you say Miami anywhere you go in the world, someone will have some colorful comment be it a German tourist to a retired headhunter in Borneo. And I like to joke that South Florida “is like the dysfunctional half brother or sister every family has, but we have great weather, beautiful beaches, and stone crabs the size of small children! And that has been what has made Miami one of the top destination spots in the world, and where else but here, would a Watchdog Report spring up back in May of 2000.

>>> 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 (Now entering its 13th year May 5th ). 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!”

>>> All photos in the Watchdog Report are taken from public government sites, and the Report goes on line at www.watchdogreport.net on Monday sometime during the day usually. >>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for I am a low cost news service, yet I do have to live, thank you! Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times and was Best Citizen in the 2003 Best of Miami of The Miami New Times, profiled twice in The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel ran a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003, and UNC Chapel Hill named me one of the top columnists in Florida in a multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on the WLRN/NPR showTopical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also numerous times over the past decade. Further, I am a frequent guest on WWW.WPBT2.ORG on Helen Ferre’s show Issues, and have also appeared on Eliott Rodriguez’s show News & Views on www.CBS4.com .

FLORIDA

>>> Troika of public corruption and ethics mavens, former state Sen. Gelber says, “Everyone has an internal compass about what is right or wrong.”

Corruption in Florida was the topic of the day Wednesday and how to tamp out this statewide scourge brought together former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson, state Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach and Miami-Dade Ethics and Public Trust Commission Executive Director Joe Centorino to the Downtown Bay Forum luncheon at Miami’s Temple Israel. Republican Pam Bondi beat Gelber a former federal prosecutor and ten years in the state legislature, serving first in the House and then the Senate before running for the Florida Attorney General spot back in 2010.

Centorino said when it came to political scientists and the issue of “corruption and ethics, political science never got a handle on it.” He noted only “people in the process know it best,” and how there is “corrupt pressure to infiltrate the political process,” said the former Council member in Salem Massachusetts when he was younger. And when it came to the ethics commission the challenge through education was to get people to do the right thing, because the commission cannot “enforce the unenforceable” and many of the acts people do are stupid and look bad but “are not a violation.”

Gelber said, “I have a fundamental belief about corruption and it is that everyone has an internal compass about what is right or wrong.” He noted that the Sunshine State is in the top tier or first when it came to elected officials going to jail around the nation. Further, Gelber said while counties and municipal governments are required to have meetings in the public, that is not the case in the state’s legislature. Here in South Florida you let the “Sunshine in,” when it comes to legislation and policy questions but “in the legislature it is called lunch,” he said. The state lawmaker over the years said he has tried to introduce some corruption legislation, but never got anywhere because other legislators would ask, “How is this going to affect me?” He also said, “you don’t need to give a bribe, there are other ways” such as political Pac’s that raise money and dole it out in political ads in support of certain elected officials during their races. And he called some of this behind the scenes political activity “slimy but not illegal.”

Sorenson had a different perspective on the matter and carped that the Florida Sunshine Law of open and public meetings was “against human nature” and has resulted in “important interests and policy issues not being discussed,” since the elected leaders can only discuss policy questions in an open to the public meeting. She said when (now deceased) County Commission Chair Art Teele, Jr., appointed her to chair the manager selection committee in the mid 1990s “I had hardly anything to do with it,” since three other commissioners had already agreed on the choice and were busted for the Sunshine violation later. “Good people abide by it, but others don’t,” said the long-term county commissioner first elected in 1994 and did not seek reelection in 2010. She noted the “public and press love the Sunshine Law,” but these open government requirements are “not the best for government,” the former District 8 commissioner thought.

Centorino, in the post since September, but prior to that the past Miami-Dade assistant state attorney heading up the public corruption unit since the mid 1990s when waves of scandals hit Miami-Dade at all levels of government. These scandals resulted in voters creating the ethics commission and the county commission created the county Office of the Inspector General. The man said “enforcement has its own politics”, and dynamics but the worse is the perception with the public and the blowback “is the people that don’t get charged makes us all seem corrupt”, and that fact is “part of the problem.” The attorney said one of the problems was people are relying on “law enforcement to deal with political goals.” He noted a “healthy Democracy needs a healthy electoral process” to remove wayward elected leaders rather than through law enforcement action alone.

Gelber getting back to money and gifts joked that a Legislator cannot accept a muffin from someone after a zero tolerance law on gifts was passed by the legislature a few years ago. However, “you can accept a wheelbarrow of cash,” if it comes from a 527, a section in the federal tax code for the creation of political action committees and the donors names are shielded from public scrutiny. He cited the push for legalizing large scale gambling in the state that had millions of dollars being spent to get the legislation passed, but stalled in the last session, but will rear its head again in the coming years he predicted. Gelber said about these gambling corporations spending “$1 million [that ] is nothing when they are trying to make billions” over decades and opposition will eventually dissolve given “the enormous amount of cash” that is involved in the lobbying process, “once they get a foothold,” in the future he thought.

Centorino also noted the “lack of [civic] engagement of the entire community” was also a problem and is producing this “lack of a civil society,” he thought. He said you saw an example of that “when [billionaire auto magnate] Norman Braman makes a splash. There should be 50 Norman Braman’s if we are to have good government,” and it should not be “just one person like that and where are the rest of the Norman Braman’s?” in South Florida he asked. And Gelber thought when it came to public corruption “we have very lax laws when it comes to ethics and campaign laws.” He also thought the process of someone becoming corrupt was a “slope elected leader’s fell into” because there is very little law enforcement and oversight when it comes to corruption, noting again while something’s “may be just slimy, it’s not against the law,” but it does contribute to the possibility of corruption of public officials and civil servants.

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott signed legislation that will expand the protections available to victims of domestic and sexual violence. Florida currently provides nearly $6.5 million for rape prevention and sexual assault services which is in addition to $29 million available for domestic violence programs. Legislation signed today will provide an additional $1.5 million to pay for relocation services for women who are victims of sexual battery. “While Florida has a 40-year low crime rate, we must continue to protect the rights of individuals affected by crime. This critical legislation I have signed into law shows the valuable steps Florida has made in protecting the rights of victims,” said Governor Rick Scott. “April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and this week is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and it is an important time to raise attention to promoting victims’ rights and remember those lives affected by violence. We will continue to work to keep our communities safe so that fewer people are victims of crime.” Legislation approved today will increase funding for female victims of abuse and is coupled with critical programmatic and legal changes that will help prevent incidents of abuse from occurring.

Legislation Signed by Gov. Scott

HB 1355: Protection of Vulnerable Persons >> Legislation increases the requirements for reporting known or suspected abuse of a child and establishes stricter criminal penalties for individuals who fail to report such abuse. It also authorizes additional spending to support victims of sexual abuse and to increase the state’s capacity to process additional reporting.

HB 701: Florida Evidence Codes >> Legislation provides exceptions to the hearsay rule, under certain conditions, and at the approval of the trial judge, to allow victims statements made outside the courtroom (such as statements to a 911 operator, law enforcement, or rape counselor’s) to be used as evidence in court proceedings.

HB 1099: Stalking >> Legislation expands protections for victims of stalkers by removing the burden for the victim to prove that the person making the threat has intent to actually carry out the threat and expands the definition of threat to include verbal and nonverbal threats and those made through electronic means.
Makes it easier for victims to secure an injunction for protection through the courts by creating a statutory cause for action against stalking and requires the courts to consider issuing an injunction for a longer period of time.

HB 1193: Public Records Protections for Victims of Violence >> Legislation expands the protection of public record access of any personal contact information that may be used for the Clerk of the Court to notify victims of domestic violence, repeat violence, sexual violence and dating violence.
Legislation ensures personal information of victims of domestic or sexual violence is protected in court proceedings.

>>> Press release: The Movement is becoming national. I spoke this week before hundreds of people in Fresno and Merced, California. Both have growing children’s movements, and both are inspired by The Children’s Movement of Florida. The week after next I will share the podium with the leader of The Children’s Movement of Hawaii. All across America I see people organizing to insist that children be at the very top of the priority list for those who make decisions as to how public money — our money — is spent.

Here’s one paragraph of what I said yesterday morning in Fresno: “You and I live in a country where the vast majority of us go to public schools. I can promise you that the first-grade teachers in Fresno County’s 190 public elementary schools know first-hand that a great chunk of entering students are really not ready to learn; these teachers see so frequently the tragedy of the first-grade student who already feels like a failure. Just think of the difference it would make to children entering formal school, and to their teachers, to have children really ready to learn. The early years are the most crucial growing and learning years of a child’s life.” (If you want to read the entire speech, click here.) We can build a movement for all children. We must. Dave Lawrence Jr., Chair The Children’s Movement of Florida

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> And they’re off, WDR gets first phone call from Mayoral Candidate Martinez as election looms Aug. 14, challenging incumbent Gimenez, but what of Suarez?

The Miami-Dade County Mayoral Race is heating up and late Friday afternoon the Watchdog Report got my first campaign call from County Commission Chair Joe Martinez, who along with a host of other candidates on Aug. 14 is challenging incumbent Mayor Carlos Gimenez, elected last June in a special runoff election. After a massive majority of county voters recalled Mayor Carlos Alvarez though, it included only about 16 percent of the county’s voters going to the polls. Gimenez and Martinez have been verbally sparring on the commission dais over the past months and the latest controversy is the past hundreds of cars bought by the county back in 2006 that have been sitting in a county parking garage when the coffers were flush, but the vehicles have now become the poster child for waste in Miami-Dade government.

Gimenez detailed the issue in a memo last week, the number of cars has drastically diminished, and a variety of vehicles have been put in service that has the county police department needing to replace eight vehicles a month because of either an accident or age and millage and reported in a March Watchdog Report. Here is Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez’s memorandum regarding the County’s vehicle fleet. To view the memo, visit http://www.miamidade.gov/mayor/memos.asp.

Martinez

Gimenez

Suarez

What about County Commissioner Xavier Suarez running for mayor?

A knowledgeable source close to Suarez said he does not expect the former Miami mayor to run for county mayor saying it was roughly “90 percent he would not,” but he also noted with the Harvard trained attorney one never knows and you can’t rule it out and “is a 10 percent” variable. Suarez is going to weigh his chances after a May 11 fundraiser that will showcase some of his family providing entertainment and of course food. Suarez replaced Gimenez as the Commission District 7 representative on the 13-member commission and he is different from Gimenez and former Commissioner Jimmy Morales who came before the new county mayor, and if Suarez stays on the county commission. He will if elected again have a full four-year term on the 13-member commission.

>> Press release: Vice Chairwoman Audrey M. Edmonson hosted the first meeting of the task force charged with combating the rise of scrap metal and copper wire theft on April 27, 2011 at the Joseph Caleb Center, 5400 N.W. 22 Avenue, in Miami. At the meeting, representatives of government, law enforcement and the industry chose Miami-Dade County Police Lt. Denise Bernhard as chairperson and Denise M. Carreño from Bob’s Recycle as vice chairperson of the Miami-Dade County Scrap Metal and Copper Wire Theft Task Force. The State Legislature has allowed Miami-Dade County to amend its scrap metal ordinance through July 1, 2013 in order to allow the task force to complete its work.

The task force, created by legislation sponsored by Vice Chairwoman Edmonson, will formulate recommendations to the Miami-Dade County Commission on the enforcement of ordinances regulating junk dealers and scrap metal processors. In January, Vice Chairwoman Edmonson spoke before the State Senate Community Affairs Committee in support of a bill which creates additional restrictions on regulated metal transactions, making it more difficult for secondary metals recyclers to purchase regulated metals, including copper, which may have been obtained illegally. In March, the State Legislature adopted higher penalties for secondary metal recyclers who buy stolen copper and other metals without proper documentation. It preempts new but grandfathers existing ordinances.

“I am pleased that we have begun the task of thoroughly examining our present ordinance and that we have representation from industry and government alike,” Vice Chairwoman Edmonson said. “We want to create an ordinance which does not impede scrap metal dealers from doing legitimate business; we want to make it harder for thieves to sell stolen metals. Scrap metal and copper wiring theft is an epidemic in Miami-Dade County which is not only criminal in nature but an issue which has severe consequences. In addition to the increasing cost and inconvenience to replace copper wire stolen from light poles, appliances and air-conditioning units, it creates a security threat to our residents, particularly our most vulnerable ones, our children and seniors.”

>>> MIA NAMED AMONG AMERICA’S 10 BEST AIRPORTS, SETS NEW PASSENGER RECORD

Press release: Miami International Airport (MIA) this month was named one of the 10 best airports in America in 2011 by the readership of Travel and Leisure magazine, who rated U.S. airports on their facilities, services and overall attributes (see http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-best-and-worst-airports/22). Additionally, after a record-breaking year for passenger traffic in 2011, MIA surged to a new record in the first quarter of 2012 with the most passengers ever during that period. More than 10.2 million travelers passed through MIA in the first three months of the year for an increase of 9.5 percent over the same period last year. Through March, international passenger traffic increased by 11 percent and domestic passengers grew 8.1 percent over last year. In the last two quarters, MIA has overtaken New York’s JFK Airport as the U.S. airport with the most international flights. According to a preliminary report from Airports Council International, MIA was also the 18th busiest passenger airport worldwide for the month of January, moving up from 26th in calendar year 2011 (see http://www.airports.org/cda/aci_common/display/main/aci_content07_c.jsp?zn=aci&cp=1-5-212-218-222_666_2__).

>>> Press release: Registration Now Open for Miami-Dade Parks’ Summer Camps! Exciting Summer Camps are being offered by the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, June 11-August 17, 2012, at its parks around the County. Programs are affordable and fully-supervised. There’s fitness, sports, nature-encounters, arts and crafts, field trips and more! Camp hours: 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., with early drop-off/ late pick-up available. Miami Dade Parks provides inclusion services for children with disabilities who want to attend typical summer camps.

>>> Press release: Adrienne Arsht Center AileyCamp Miami 2012 AileyCamp Miami is a summer day camp where middle school students are “turned on” to dance and come to respect the discipline of dance as a physical activity that requires athletic ability comparable to skills demanded by any sport. Also, campers will increase their leadership skills and enjoy a variety of social activities. Monday – Friday, June 25 – August 4, 2012; 8:30AM – 3:30PM. Ages 11-14, MDCPS Grades 6-8, SPACE IS LIMITED, NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> District fiscal guru Hinds warns looming COPS debt payments could jump by $50 million in new payments, without successful restructuring in 2013-14

Richard Hines, Ph.D., the veteran CFO of the Miami-Dade Public Schools, that came out of retirement back in 2008 to fiscally right the district has for the second time pulled out $10 million in bond costs savings over a ten-year period. But it could be the last time he can pull off this trick on COPs bonds used to fund capital projects because of “debt restructuring” and an earlier deal last year pushed out other ballooning larger payments out to 2013-2014 and property tax ad valorem revenue currently is still depressed. Hines noted there was some good news that when it came to people not paying property taxes because they are appealing the assessment. He said the Florida legislature passed a law this year requiring these people to have to pay 75 percent of their property tax bill now and he estimated it might bring up to $30 million in the coming year and the district is monitoring the issue very closely. He also said that “salaries have been reduced so much” that “salary expenditures are down $3 million and [this money is going into the district’s] reserves.”

However, when it came to the nation’s fourth largest public school district when it came to these current COPS bonds that the district “hopes to restructure again.” “If we don’t [restructure the bonds again], there will be $50 million in new payments” required in the coming years because of that, and he said that “is money we don’t have,” said the fiscal wizard brought back from retirement in 2008 after the public district’s reserves was under $10 million. Hines made these remarks at a school board committee a few weeks ago and is why with no state funding for capital coming from the state for years now. It is pushing the large public school districts in Florida to be saddled with huge debt that is a drain and diversion of dollars needed for current school maintenance and other infrastructure projects.

>>> Press release: KROP SENIOR HIGH STUDENTS EXCEL AT BARRY UNIVERSITY’S SCIENCE OLYMPIAD

Each spring, Barry University hosts a Science Olympiad competition designed for local area high school students taking chemistry and physics. More than 150 students from about 13 Miami-Dade and Broward schools participate in a daylong competition comprised of a written test, an oral team competition, and a lab tournament. This year’s Olympiad took place on April 20 and the team from Dr. Michael Krop Senior High School dominated the field and had unprecedented results. In the overall Chemistry II (advanced) competition, the Krop Senior High students took first place, coming in ahead of Ransom Everglades and Pinecrest Academy. Four Krop Senior High students placed in the top 10 out of 54 competitors: 3rd place -Netgie Laguerre, 4th place – Kirlos Haroun; 7th place – Jiali Lei; 8th place – Salomon Vainstein. In the Chemistry II Oral Competition, the Krop Senior High team came in second place in front of Ransom Everglades. Krop again came in first place in the Chemistry II Overall Standings.>>> The Krop Senior High team was comprised of Netgie Laguerre, Kirlos Haroun, Salomon Vainstein, Jonas Shomorony. The following students also competed in the Chemistry I (first year) competition and finished in third place in the oral competition: Qiwei Lin, Charity Waweru, Leonardo Placeres, Vanessa Wu, Enrique Santiago, and Eric Abrams. The team’s instructors and coaches are Dr. David Buncher and Dr. John Trafton. For more information contact Dawn M. Baglos, Principal, Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High, 305-652-6808.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> County Commissioners get closed strategy meeting with CEO Migoya May 1; afterwards their mouths should be zipped tight regarding new JHS plan

On May 1 in a closed to the public meeting Miami-Dade Commissioners will get to hear the case of Jackson Health System CEO Carlos Migoya evolving strategy to right JHS fiscally while also become competitive in the fast moving healthcare delivery system market. Commissioner Sally Heyman got the needed signatures to hold the closed executive session where only one Financial Recovery Board (FRB) member can attend without it being open to the public and press. FRB Chair Marcos Lapciuc has indicated he will not attend the meeting since he feels it could compromise the independence of the FRB from the 13 member county commission. The commissioners planning to attend are Heyman, Commissioners Barbara Jordan, Javier Souto, Xavier Suarez and at least three other commissioners or it could be all 13 members but that is unknown at this time. Migoya and Lapciuc along with the new JHS administration have been squeezing every dollar out of the health trust that lost well over $400 million over the last few years, and the fiscal hemorrhaging really went into overdrive first in 2004 when Jackson posted an $84 million loss with adjustments back to the late 1980s. However, it has struggled since then and it remains to be seen how involved commissioners get involved in this process and is why the public and all at Jackson are holding their collective breadth to see how this meeting and strategy pans out now and in the future.

Jordan

Souto

Heyman

>>> Here is the announcement of the meeting: A Special Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners is called for May 1, 2012, during the Commission lunch break, for the purpose of: 1) meeting in a closed executive session to review a written strategic plan regarding the Jackson Health System; and (2) adopting County Commission directives thereon to the Financial Recovery Board. Pursuant to Section 395.3035, F.S., this meeting is exempt from the public meeting requirements of Section 286.011, F.S. and will be closed to the public. http://www.miamidade.gov/cob/downloadsandlinks.asp

>>> Letter to UM President Dr. Donna Shalala from FRB Chair Lapciuc on future staff cuts

Dear President Shalala,

As you proceed through a challenging time of restructuring at the Miller School of Medicine, I want to assure you of Jackson Health System’s ongoing commitment as your partner. I am grateful for the balanced nature of your comments on this matter that recognize the wide range of factors that have forced medical schools and healthcare systems to reexamine their operations. Please know that the leadership and staff of Jackson are completely committed to building a next-generation organization that earns its position as the University of Miami’s clinical partner. Together we have built a system in which the world’s best medicine is available to our entire community, and together we will ensure that system is even better and stronger in the future. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to the people of Miami-Dade County. Respectfully, Marcos José Lapciuc Chairman Public Health Trust Financial Recovery Board

LapciucCITY OF MIAMI

>>> To be or not to be a strong mayor form of government, that is the question, commissioners debate issue

The Miami Charter was the discussion of the day at Thursday’s Miami Commission meeting and while the five commissioners thought the mayor should be able to be recalled by the electorate, the body should elect its own chair, but the idea of a strong mayor form of government like Miami-Dade County is an elusive topic for the moment. Commission Chair Francis Suarez said he had spent months on a extensive review of the city’s charter and has concluded a strong mayor form of government is the way to go, not the current executive mayor form in use now that has the manager with the power to administer the city’s services. Commissioner Willy Gort agrees with Suarez but Commissioner Frank Carollo has his doubts given some of the past governance experiences and an incompetent mayor could drain the city’s coffers dry, and he wants more time to think about the issue.

And Mayor Tomas Regalado supports the change to a strong mayor and he told the Watchdog Report Friday that it would not be much different from when he was first elected in the mid 1990s. Back then he said, then Miami Manager Cesar Odio (who later went to jail) when they first met, said to him. Commissioner, “What do you want?” and it would be a similar situation if there were a strong mayor form of government, he thought. However, Commissioners Marc Sarnoff and Michelle Spence-Jones both expressed concerns about a strong mayor form of government and if it is right for the city and its demographics that is 65 percent Hispanic. They both liked the current check and balances the current political system has in it but the commission will continue to debate the issue in the future and if it goes on the ballot. The charter question is expected to be on the Nov. general election ballot.

>>> Rapper and music producer Luther Campbell was named to the Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority by Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones and the former county mayoral candidate last spring brings a new and interesting perspective to the body. Campbell is also a featured weekly columnist with the Miami New Times and people should not underestimate this man who ran a credible mayoral campaign, though he fell short of the top spot won by Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Mgr. Gonzalez institutes sweeping changes, brings FBI & IG into the picture after being rocked with seven Beach workers indictments

Around 100 people gathered in protest of all the recent corruption arrests in front of Miami Beach City Hall Thursday after city Manager Jorge Gonzalez announced sweeping changes at city hall that had seven code enforcement and fire safety inspectors being indicted last week by federal authorities. After a FBI undercover sting operation started last summer began after a nightclub owner balked at making payments to the people to keep the club open. Since then the arrests have been the talk of the city and Gonzalez has said he will root out any other corrupt individuals but there is significant blow back and had him announcing the city will have a police officer as a liaison on the FBI’s Public Corruption Task Force, the Miami-Dade Inspector General Chris Mazzella will contract with the city, and all past records these wayward officials were involved in are being double checked are just a few of the reforms he is enacting.

The scandal after it broke had Mayor Matti Herrera Bower calling it “horrible” but the arrests have given faces to corrupt public servants and an upcoming May 9 commission meeting is expected to have fireworks. Since this will be the first commission meeting since the initial arrests earlier in the month. Commissioner Ed Tobin in a series of emails with Gonzalez last week is critical of the long serving manager that cut his policy and administrative chops after Hurricane Andrew helping to get Homestead back on its feet right after the Category 5 storm cut a swath through South Florida back in Aug. 1992. He has been in the manager’s post almost 12 years and has weathered past political turbulence but this is the biggest hit to his administration to date. To read his memo on the subject go to: http://web.miamibeachfl.gov/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=70044 Here is what NBC 6 did on the controversy: http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/Residents-Protest-Corruption-in-Miami-Beach-149097615.html

>>> Press release: Former UBS Client Pleads Guilty to Failing to Report Over $4 Million in Swiss Bank Accounts

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and José A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), announce that Luis A. Quintero, of Miami Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty today to willfully failing to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR), in violation of Title 31, United States Code, Sections 5314 and 5322(a). Sentencing has been scheduled for July 24, 2012. At sentencing, the defendant faces a maximum statutory sentence of up to five years in prison. Quintero pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Federico A. Moreno to a one count Information charging him with the willful failure to file the FBAR on June 30, 2007 that was due for calendar year 2006. According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2006 Quintero had approximately $4 million in accounts at UBS AG, a Swiss bank. In his plea agreement, Quintero also agreed to pay a civil penalty of approximately $2 million, which is half the highest aggregate balance in the Swiss accounts.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Quintero sold wholesale quantities of imported perfumes and fragrances in Miami and throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. Quintero conducted business through several domestic S corporations, including Genesis International Marketing Corporation. In September 1998, Quintero opened a personal numbered account at UBS AG. In October 2004, Quintero caused two offshore corporations to be formed, which Quintero then used to open additional accounts at UBS. The offshore corporations were Murano Development Corp (Murano), incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, and Credimax Corporation, S.A. (Credimax), incorporated in the Republic of Panama. In February 2005, Quintero caused an account to be opened at UBS in the name of Murano. That same month, Quintero closed his personal account at UBS and caused the transfer of approximately $2.3 million from his personal account at UBS to the Murano account. In February 2006, Quintero caused an account in the name of Credimax to be opened at UBS. Quintero was listed as the beneficiary of the Murano and Credimax accounts. The total aggregate value in these UBS accounts as of December 31, 2006 was $4,005,618. From 2005 through 2007 Quintero used the Murano and Credimax UBS accounts to conduct financial transactions. For example, Quintero caused a business customer in the U.S. to send $314,000 to the Credimax UBS account. Quintero also caused the transfer of approximately $2.4 million from the UBS Swiss accounts to the accounts of U.S. corporations that Quintero controlled.

According to documents filed with the court and statements made during the plea hearing, Quintero knew that he was required to file an FBAR for foreign bank accounts in which he had an interest. Indeed, Quintero had previously filed FBARs for years 2001 and 2002 relating to bank accounts in Mexico in the name of Quintero’s U.S. corporation Genesis. Nonetheless, Quintero failed to file FBARs for the UBS Swiss accounts of which he was the beneficial owner, and which held more than $10,000 in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Quintero also failed to report his interest in the UBS Swiss bank accounts on Schedule B of his tax returns, Forms 1040 for 2005, 2006 and 2007. >>> U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the IRS-CID agents involved in this case. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana Maria Martinez and Trial Attorney Todd Ellinwood of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. In February of 2009, UBS entered into a deferred prosecution agreement under which the bank admitted to helping U.S. taxpayers hide accounts from the IRS. As part of the agreement, UBS provided the United States with the identities of certain United States customers. United States citizens who have a financial interest in, or signature authority over, a financial account in a foreign country with an aggregate value of more than $10,000 are required to file with the United States Treasury a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts on Form TD F 90-22.1. U.S. citizens are also required to disclose the existence of such accounts on their individual income tax returns. >> A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Loosening truck law passes local P&Z board 4-1, goes to commission next, Anderson hopes “civility prevails” in debate

The City Beautiful no trucks allowed ordinance in a grace period in Coral Gables got a go ahead to tweak the legislation at a city Planning and Zoning Board meeting Tuesday, and it is now headed to the commission in May. The city has spent around $200,000 defending the law prohibiting trucks from parking outside of houses and critics fear opening up the law would reduce property values of homeowners and the scenic beauty of the Gables. Former Mayor Donald Slesnick, II has supported the current no truck law and has been a vocal opponent of keeping the law. However, others say trucks have changed substantially over the decades and are not trades people utility vans, like long ago and commercial trucks will still be banned along with a few other restrictions if the law is made more lenient. The issue has been a hot topic issue for years after a resident challenged the law in the courts but it appears to be concluding. Last week I contacted Mayor Jim Cason, and Commissioners about the recent passage of the modified truck law and Commissioner Maria Anderson responded.

“As I’ve said in the past, this law was always to prohibit commercial type trucks…and that would not change. This would allow trucks used by families as a lifestyle choice. I love my hometown of 52 years and think thoughtful changes would not affect the cache of Coral Gables. We have not enforced this law for seven years, and yet property values continue to be among the steadiest in Miami-Dade County. We’ll see what happens, but bring your jammies to the Commission meeting, as this will be a long day with lots of emotion on both sides. May civility prevail! Stay tuned,” wrote the veteran commissioner in her last term since being elected in the spring of 2001. >>> Here is more on the subject: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/25/2766034_p2/coral-gables-zoning-board-pickups.html

>>> Gables web page: Zoning board: Pickups on private property OK — with restrictions Coral Gables’ Planning and Zoning Department determined new guidelines, and the advisory board approved, in a 4-1 vote, that pickup truck owners would be allowed to park their unmodified vehicles in residential driveways, potentially changing controversial rules that have existed …
Read more

>>> Gov. Scott taps Rodolfo “Rudy” A. Ruiz II, of Coral Gables, to the Miami-Dade County Court.

Ruiz, 32, has been an assistant county attorney with the Miami-Dade County Attorney’s Office since 2009. He previously practiced with White and Case from 2006 to 2008. From 2005 to 2006, he was a law clerk to Judge Federico A. Moreno of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Ruiz received a bachelor’s degree from Duke University and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. “Rudy has built a reputation as a smart, diligent and committed attorney at both the trial and appellate levels,” Governor Scott said. “He will bring these qualities to the bench as he continues a career of public service.” Ruiz will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Norma Lindsey to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court.

MIAMI SPRINGS

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Ariana Fajardo to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court.

Fajardo, 41, has practiced with Orshan and Fajardo since 2003. Previously, she was an assistant state attorney with the Eleventh Judicial Circuit from 1996 to 2002. Fajardo received a bachelor’s degree from Florida International University and a law degree from Nova Southeastern University Law Center. “Ariana is committed to the rule of law and well understands the proper role of the courts within our system of government,” Governor Scott said. “As a prosecuting attorney, and as a leader in the bar, she has demonstrated integrity and a dedication to hard work.” Fajardo will fill the vacancy created by the death of Judge Julio Jimenez.

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Press release: Former Florida State Senator Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announce that Muriel Amanda Dawson, 55, formerly of Broward County, pled guilty earlier today to charges of felony tax evasion and failing to file a federal income tax return (Counts 2 and 5). During today’s guilty plea, Dawson admitted that in each of the calendar years 2004 and 2005, while she was a Florida State Senator, she received substantial income from third parties. Dawson failed to file income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service during that period. Dawson also admitted that she failed to file federal personal income tax returns for any of the years 2006 through 2008. During this time, Dawson was a Florida State Senator representing portions of Broward and Palm Beach counties.
In particular, in taxable year 2005, the defendant received total income of at least $102,896 from various sources and did not file a federal income tax return. Among the sources of additional income were: $7,200 from the Ft. Lauderdale Housing Authority; $22,600 from Friends of Children; $1,000 from Blackhawk Security; $5,000 for Alliance for Florida’s Future; $22,000 from Consulting and Communications Group, Inc.,; $15,000 from Alliance for Promoting Florida’s Future. In addition, as stated in court, Dawson received a salary from the State of Florida as a State Senator and was required to file a federal personal income tax return for tax year 2008. During today’s plea hearing, Dawson admitted to willfully failing to file a tax return for taxable year 2008. Sentencing is scheduled for July 12, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr. At sentencing, Dawson faces a maximum statutory sentence of up to five years in prison on Count 2, and one year on Count 5. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CID and FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Carlton and Julia A. Paylor. 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.

>>> 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

>>> Press release: Miramar Man Convicted on Kidnapping Charges

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Keith F. Dunn, Chief of Police, Miramar Police Department, announce today’s conviction of defendant Joel Wayne Griffin, Jr., 22, of Miramar, on kidnapping charges. According to the evidence presented at trial in federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida, Griffin brutally assaulted and tortured his girlfriend in August 2011 after mistakenly believing that she had been unfaithful to him. For three consecutive days, Griffin held the victim against her will in a residence they shared in Miramar. During that time, Griffin beat the victim, cut her with a knife, pulled hair out of her head, and burned her with a cigarette lighter, causing third degree burns on various parts of her body. To prevent her from calling the police, Griffin took the victim’s cell phone, money and car keys. He then forced her to go with him to Wilmington, Delaware where he hid out in hotels and at a cousin’s residence. After being in Delaware for about four days, the victim disclosed the abuse and kidnapping to one of Griffin’s cousins who called the Wilmington Police Department. Soon thereafter, the victim was rescued and the defendant was arrested.

Griffin will be sentenced before the U.S. District Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley in West Palm Beach on a date to be determined by the court. Griffin faces a maximum term of life imprisonment on the kidnapping charges. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, the Miramar Police Department, and the Wilmington Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Dispoto and Roger Stefin. 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.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

>>> Press release: Florida Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft and Wire Fraud

Ernst Pierre, a Port St. Lucie, Fla., tax preparer, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. Pierre was charged with a scheme to file false federal income tax returns using stolen identity information. According to the indictment and Pierre’s admissions in his plea, from October 2009 through May 2011, Pierre filed false tax returns for clients of Tax Max, a Port St. Lucie tax return preparation business he owned and operated. Pierre obtained the names and Social Security numbers of relatives of clients for whom he had prepared and submitted federal income tax returns and then fraudulently used those names and Social Security numbers as “dependents” on other client tax returns and on his own tax return. Inclusion of a dependent on a federal income tax return can result in a higher tax refund.

Sentencing has been set for July 2, 2012, before the Judge Donald L. Graham of the Southern District of Florida. Pierre faces a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison for the wire fraud count and a mandatory two-year sentence for the aggravated identity theft count. Pierre also faces up to $500,000 in fines and an order of mandatory restitution. >> This case was investigated by IRS – Criminal Investigation special agents. Trial Attorneys Justin K. Gelfand and Thomas J. Krepp of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Florida. Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/tax.

LAKE COUNTY

>>> Press release: Lake County Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy Charges

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 defendant Linda Irene Rovetto, 69, of Lake County, pled guilty yesterday in connection with her participation in a bank fraud conspiracy scheme. More specifically, Rovetto pled guilty to converting and misdirecting more than $3.5 million of real estate escrow funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1344 and 1349. Sentencing has been scheduled for August 20, 2012, at 11:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez. At sentencing, Rovetto faces a possible maximum statutory sentence of 30 years in prison.

On December 9, 2010, defendant Rovetto and three others were indicted on bank fraud, conspiracy, and related mortgage fraud charges. According to the charges, Rovetto, through her company Florida Lakes Title & Closing, LLC, along with various co-defendants, were diverting escrowed mortgaged funds from real estate closings. In this way, the defendants diverted more than $3.5 million in mortgage loans to Raviworld New Homes, Inc., a company managed by codefendant Bhaardwaj Seecharan. Bhaardwaj Seecharan pled guilty on April 2, 2012 to the same charges as Rovetto. Sentencing for Seecharan is also scheduled before Judge Martinez on August 20, 2012. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI. Mr. Ferrer also thanked the State of Florida Office of Financial Regulation, Bureau of Finance, West Palm Beach Regional Office for their work on this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore Cooperstein. >>>A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Monday April 30 – Elephant Forum – 94th Aero Squadron Red Road – State Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami $25 Mary Ellen Miller 305-377-9l87.

>>> The Miami/Dade County Alumni Association of Bethune-Cookman University will host its Scholarship Gala on Friday, May 4th at 6:30 pm at the Rusty Pelican, located at 3201 Rickenbacker Causeway Key Biscayne, FL. This year, the M/DCAA will honor State Senator Larcenia J. Bullard! Tickets are $80/pp and Dress is Business Attire. If you’re interested in attending, information on tickets/tables/sponsorship is available at (407) 808-8494 with Mr. Sumner Hutcherson.

>>> It’s prom season again and we are currently collecting gently worn dresses for our Mentees attending prom this year and we need your support to make this year’s event, even more successful than last year’s! Long and short dresses are welcome, as well as any other clothing/accessories that you are interested in donating. Items can be dropped off Monday – Friday between 8:30am-5:00pm at WOT offices located at 22 East Flagler Street, 6th Floor, Miami, FL 33131 – we are located on the 6th floor of the Macy’s building. Due to timing, we ask that all items be in WOT offices by no later than Thursday, April 19th. If you need the items picked up, please contact Beatrice Arias at 305-371-3330 or b.arias@womenoftomorrow.org to make arrangements and we will gladly have a WOT staff member pick up the donated clothing at your convenience. You will receive an acknowledgement letter after the event for your tax purposes. Thank you in advance for your donations and support – we are able to continue doing what we do, because of you! Warmest Regards, Women of Tomorrow

EDITORIALS

>>> JULY 2009 PAST WDR: Public institutions budgets have fundamentally changed, but do the leaders realize this?

With cuts and layoffs coming with the new county and municipal budgets starting in October, public institutions must consider not doing some arbitrary across the board cut without first looking at past performance. The private sector had to deal with this since the 1980s but government has been immune over the decades and now it is in these institution’s face and can no longer be ignored. I appreciate that many people in public service do a fine job and these are the people that should be kept and rewarded for their job skills rather than just tenure but that concept is to nuanced for government and just asking for a five-percent cut in salaries at the county is bringing a firestorm, and forget about Miami where former Manager Joe Arriola says the city pensions need a $98 million injection, and he noted on television that if Commissioner Tomas Regalado (Editor’s note: Regalado did win the 2009 mayoral race and he reduced his mayoral salary from $150,000 to around $100,000) wins the mayoral race. Arriola said after Regalado retired from elected office he would get a $120,000 a year pension for the rest of his life, and the businessman thought that type of payout over the years would bankrupt the city, especially in the budget years from 2010 to 2012.

Further, when I hear people say that the old days of continued growth in property values and the economy will be coming back to America soon. I don’t believe they have factored in how the world has changed with the nation’s debt growing at such a rate. The debt service alone could be devastating, and that is before factoring in China and India, and these nation’s ever expanding economies. These two countries for centuries, were essentially donor nations to the western powers but that economic tide is going the other way rapidly and these two nation’s will have an impact globally in the future like never before and that lack of understanding of the change in dynamics will be the real challenge for public institutions, as future years play out. However, one thing is for sure, the debt that public institutions have taken on has a life of its own and it is generations to come that will have to pay this off, while critical services get the short stick, with them asking if it was all worth it, as the current local politicians watch television in their retirement homes.

>>> Check out the past national story in the Tribune papers: Paperwork Tiger
By Maya Bell, Miami Bureau, January 20, 2003 — MIAMI – Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. It’s not by choice. Miami’s self-anointed citizen watchdog depends on the people he writes for and about to finance his quixotic quest to attend nearly every government meeting in Miami-Dade County. That’s a lot of mind-numbing meetings — as many as 2,500 a year — but not a lot of income. So Ricker is always teetering on bankruptcy. He dashes to his post-office box daily, hoping subscribers to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks.

LETTERS

>>> Thank you for highlighting the work of our volunteers. We could not do it without their dedication and commitment. Their contribution of time distinguishes the non profit sector in America as uniquely powerful force of community service.

John Richard
CEO Arsht Performing Arts Center

>>> Thanks, for your kind comments about our board volunteers. We have one who has served for 40+ years. The only “compensation” he has received is the inner satisfaction of doing something good for the community.

Brian Keeley
CEO Baptist Health South Florida

>>> Thanks for the nice mention re volunteers! We also had a nice reference in the GMCVB weekly about our attendance this weekend.

Joel Hoffman
CEO Vizcaya

>>> Thanks for the feature on volunteers in the most recent WDR. Personally, I volunteer at Fairchild Garden, the Arsht Center, and the New World Symphony year around. I am a Mangohead for the King Mango Strut every year in the Grove. Volunteers make Miami’s vibrant arts and culture scene possible. This May, I will also be volunteering for the Volvo Ocean Race when the boats visit Miami. See if you can cover this event – http://volvooceanracemiami.org/.

Mike

>>> The problem with college tuitions is that the federal loan programs, as currently structured, have erased any incentive for the schools to reduce or even maintain tuition levels so that they are affordable. The last bubble was real estate. The next one will be the college tuition loans. And it’s not fair to the kids that they leave school with multi hundred thousand dollar loans. But it’s not the government. It’s easy money and runaway tuitions that are in response to the easy loan money.

Steve

>>> Property appraiser needs to be Proactive investigating the Epidemic of Homestead Exemption fraud, Costing taxpayers millions of Uncollected Tax Dollars!

James

>>> Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed reading your bulletin. I checked it out after we met when I was in town speaking. This is a great public service for Miami and I look forward to continuing to see what you write.

Katy

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

ANGEL ESPINOSA – (Deceased) owner COCONUT GROVE DRY CLEANER’S
HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr.
THE MIAMI HERALD www.miamiherald.com (2000-2008)
ARTHUR HERTZ
WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)
ALFRED NOVAK
LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)
JOHN S. and JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION www.knightfoundation.org
THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE

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

BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com
FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com
RONALD HALL
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov
UNITED WAY OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.unitedwaymiamidade.org

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

AKERMAN SENTERFITT www.akerman.com
RON BOOK
LINDA MURPHY: Gave a new laptop in Oct. 2001 to keep me going.
WILLIAM PALMER
SHUBIN & BASS www.shubinbass.com

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

CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC. www.camillushouse.org
CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.
CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.cph.org
THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov
GREATOR MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com
GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com
HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov/ethics
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL www.miamidade.gov/ig
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST & JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM www.jhsmiami.org
THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com
THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org
THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES www.mdclc.org
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA http://www.firstgov.gov/
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

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 600 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 www.watchdogreport.net
Est. 05.05.00
Copyright © of original material, 2012, Daniel A. Ricker

>>> The Watchdog Report are now available to television stations web pages, and all the newspapers and other media in South Florida if the publishers have an interest to run part or all of the stories. Further, in 2000, I used to have some paper’s running the report in the Spanish press, that option is available again, and publishers should contact me. The news content will not be free, but you can pick and chose the stories of interest, edit them if necessary but you must still keep the general story intact. If you are a news outlet and would like to learn more about, the Watchdog Report and this offer contact me at watchdogreport1@earthlink.net for further information.

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

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years. >>> Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, The (FL) CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS >>> Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, The (FL) MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED >>> >>> To read the full section large two page front page story, but without the photos and smart box graphics, go to: `I Go When You Cannot’ – Sun Sentinel 20 Jan 2003 … Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. … to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks. … http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american >>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times –The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored. Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2003-05-15/citylife2.html/1/index.html

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

Those who do read the newspaper in Florida have a bevy of options for state government and political coverage. The dominant newspapers in the state are Knight-Ridder’s The Miami Herald (Acquired by The McClatchy Company in 2006) and the Poynter Institute’s St. Petersburg Times. Both papers endorsed Gore in 2000 but split on the 2002 gubernatorial race, with the Herald endorsing Republican incumbent Jeb Bush and the Times backing Democratic challenger Bill McBride. Daniel Ricker of The Miami Herald also writes an influential column as well as an email newsletter called the Watchdog Report that goes out to more than 100,000 subscribers. FEBRUARY 2004 – Florida: Columnists in Abundance –ERIC GAUTSCHI, graduate student, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill – D) LEADING COMMENTATORS – Resource Commentator Organization Type Web site –Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/bousquet.shtml -“First Friday” WPBT TV (Miami) TV Show www.channel2.org/firstfriday/issues.html –Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/morgan.shtml –Daniel Ricker Miami Herald/Watchdog Report Newsletter >>> 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.
********************************************************************

Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form

NOTE: Invoice is for Yearly supporter/sponsorship Rates: Thank you.

Supporting Sponsors $5,000
Sustaining Sponsors $2,000
Corporate Sponsors $1,000 (All levels above will be listed in the report with web-site link if desired)
Large Business Supporters $500
Small Business Supporters $250
Individual Supporter $150
Student Supporter $ 75
Any amount $

Name & Address

Please make checks payable to: Daniel A. Ricker

Send to: 3109 Grand Avenue, #125
Miami, FL 33133
Fax 305-668-4784 -To contact the Publisher please e-mail watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center for International Media http://knight.miami.edu within the University of Miami’s School of Communication www.miami.edu to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no ads, pops-up and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

>>> HELP: I NEED FINANCIAL HELP IF THIS IS TOO CONTINUE AFTER 12-YEARS AND HEADING INTO 13-YEARS IN MAY: 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 and I hope you or your organization will consider helping in a small or larger way and help keep another voice on line in the media. 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.
>>> CORRECTION: Miami-Dade Public Defender Carlos Martinez raised $72,800 for his reelection campaign and loaned it $40,000 more for $112,800, and he has won a new four year term after not being challenged on Friday by the filing-closing deadline.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> Dolphins Pro Bowl player Anderson kicks off 4th M-DC Park Summitt, but tens of thousands of other volunteers are the unspoken heroes in S. FL

Dick Anderson, 66, the Miami Dolphins all pro defensive back on the team’s perfect season is one of the tens of thousands of volunteers in Miami-Dade County that make a cross section of our parks, cultural facilities, schools and a host of other activities possible in many ways, and saving taxpayers tens of millions of public dollars in the process. Anderson spoke Tuesday to Miami-Dade Commissioners as the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade vice president created in 2004 and the money and volunteers role these people play saves the county millions of dollars while also providing high programs for the kids of all ages and the community as a whole http://www.parksfoundationofmiami-dade.com/index.html or to become a county parks volunteer go to www.miamidade.gov/parks and click on volunteer opportunities or call 305.961.2781 .

The role of volunteers is going to be looked at in this issue of the Watchdog Report and these people give their time and sweat equity ranging from coaching peewee football, or being a referee, to guiding ticket holders to their seat at the Adrianne Arsht Center and it actually might be Adrianne Arsht herself taking you to your seat. The Watchdog Report thought about volunteers when I attended the fourth Annual Miami-Dade Parks Summitt held at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens on Thursday and volunteers are everywhere at the garden, that had a woman teaching some young children how past pioneers lived on a field trip to what I call Miami’s Camp David, given some of the political meetings that had been held in the serene setting over the years.

What about Arsht & Vizcaya volunteers?

John Richards the CEO of the Arsht Center told county budget officials a few weeks ago the organization has a core of about 330 volunteers that has 35 of them assigned “for each House’s performances,” he said. He noted these volunteers provided 31,000 hours of their time in the course of a year and that translates to “$660,000 in voluntary support from these people.” However, Richards said they could use some more people and “would love to see the number of volunteers double.” Since the Arsht Center opened, after a somewhat rocky start, two new CEOs have turned it around and Richards has done a remarkable job that had 500,000 people attending events last year including 75,000 of the community’s kids going to Rock Odyssey over the last three years. http://www.arshtcenter.org/
In the case of the Historic Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, the role of volunteers is also critical with these people helping to the tune of 14,000 volunteer hours a year valued at $260,000. Since they provide help with operations and the visitors experience through daily guided tours, program support and maintenance of the art collection and gardens. Vizcaya, a community treasure, sits on a 50-acre site, includes 15-historic buildings and with 100 years in deferred maintenance, needs all the volunteers and outside help, it can get. For more go to: http://www.vizcayamuseum.org/

What about Public and Private school volunteers?

From the public schools PTA to a host of other organizations volunteers, these thousands of people are the backbone of enhancing education and range from City Year members in the schools helping teachers in struggling schools teach the community’s younger charges to helping on a sports team and possible being a driver or some other volunteer to a school event. www.dadeschools.net

What about Jackson Health & Baptist Health volunteers?

Jackson Health System also has a large number of people that work as volunteers or are donors to the Public Health Trust. And Baptist Health South Florida to name another organization has a host of volunteers who serve on oversight boards of the not-for-profit. And these people all make the community a better place in their own quite way with little fanfare and that is the way for many of them how they like to participate. For further information how to become a volunteer go to: Jackson Memorial Foundation & www.baptisthealth.net

>>> White House press release: Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address The White House Saturday, April 21, 2012

This week, I got the chance to sit down with some impressive students at Lorain County Community College in Ohio. One of them was a woman named Andrea Ashley. Two years ago, Andrea lost her job as an HR analyst. Today, she’s getting certified in the fast-growing field of electronic medical records. Before enrolling at Lorain, Andrea told me she was looking everywhere trying to find a new job. But without a degree, she said that nobody would hire her.

Andrea’s story isn’t unique. I’ve met so many Americans who are out there pounding the pavement looking for work only to discover that they need new skills. And I’ve met a lot of employers who are looking for workers, but can’t find ones with the skills they’re looking for. So we should be doing everything we can to put higher education within reach for every American – because at a time when the unemployment rate for Americans with at least a college degree is about half the national average, it’s never been more important. But here’s the thing: it’s also never been more expensive. Students who take out loans to pay for college graduate owing an average of $25,000. For the first time, Americans owe more debt on their student loans than they do on their credit cards. And for many working families, the idea of owing that much money means that higher education is simply out of reach for their children.

In America, higher education cannot be a luxury. It’s an economic imperative that every family must be able to afford. That’s why next week I’ll be visiting colleges across the country, talking to students about how we can make higher education more affordable – and what’s at stake right now if Congress doesn’t do something about it. You see, if Congress doesn’t act, on July 1st interest rates on some student loans will double. Nearly seven and half million students will end up owing more on their loan payments. That would be a tremendous blow. And it’s completely preventable.

This issue didn’t come out of nowhere. For some time now, I’ve been calling on Congress to take steps to make higher education more affordable – to prevent these interest rates from doubling, to extend the tuition tax credit that has saved middle-class families millions of dollars, and to double the number of work-study jobs over the next five years. Instead, over the past few years, Republicans in Congress have voted against new ways to make college more affordable for middle-class families, and voted for huge new tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires – tax cuts that would have to be paid for by cutting things like education and job-training programs that give students new opportunities to work and succeed.

We cannot just cut our way to prosperity. Making it harder for our young people to afford higher education and earn their degrees is nothing more than cutting our own future off at the knees. Congress needs to keep interest rates on student loans from doubling, and they need to do it now. This is a question of values. We cannot let America become a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while a growing number of people struggle to get by. We’ve got to build an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules. That’s how the middle class gets stronger. That’s an economy that’s built to last. And I’m not only going to take that case to college campuses next week – I’m going to take it to every part of the country this year. Thanks, and have a great weekend.

>>> Press release: Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) recently voted to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve the long-delayed Keystone XL energy pipeline within 30 days. The pipeline would bring crude oil from supply fields in Alberta, Canada to refineries in Oklahoma and Texas. Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen has voted to support this important project four previous times. (Votes: H.R. 1938; H.R. 3630; H. Res. 370; H. Res. 501) Unfortunately, President Obama continues to reject the Keystone XL pipeline.

The President’s decision is good news for China but terrible news for the millions of Americans who want and need jobs and energy independence. Approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline project would increase our domestic supply by 302 million barrels of oil per year. This project has the potential to change the current gas price dynamic in the consumer’s favor. A Department of Energy analysis projects that the increased energy supplies and gains in energy efficiency could essentially eliminate U.S. dependence on Middle East oil. The U.S. already imports more oil from Canada than any other country and the enormous potential of this politically and economically secure source of energy can restore market confidence and could help gas prices while significantly rebalancing global oil markets toward North America’s favor. In a statement, Ros-Lehtinen said, “Given that oil prices are so high, it is past time that real solutions are put on the table. The economy suffers catastrophically because of these high prices and the burdens being placed on American families only continue to grow. I am committed to measures that lower the price of gas in a responsible way and end our crippling dependence on Middle East oil.”

>>> Press release: Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released the following statement in response to the passage of H.R. 9, the Small Business Tax Cut Act of 2012, which provides all small businesses with a 20 percent tax deduction. Diaz-Balart comments:

“While small businesses continue to struggle, President Obama continues to insist on job-killing policies like tax hikes and burdensome regulations. We must focus on creating an environment that promotes economic security and opportunity for our nation’s job creators; we do not need tax gimmicks that punish small businesses. My home state of Florida has been hit especially hard with double-digit unemployment rates, and this tax relief is a step in the right direction to encourage job creators to expand and hire.” Click here, to see how the bill is good news for Florida.

>>> Knight Center for International Media newsletter: One Water Continues to Reach Audiences Globally with Eight Screenings this World Water Day
The film continues to cross borders, physical and cultural, by showing at a variety of settings this World Water Day 2012. With screenings spanning the globe, from British Columbia to Hungary, One Water continues to be a popular choice in media for discussing the world’s water crisis. All screenings of the film are free. If you are interested in organizing or holding a screening, large or small, please contact Lauren Janetos. For more about the film and related educational projects, visit http://onewater.org/education. www.knightfoundation.org

>>> 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 (Now entering its 13th year May 5th ). 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!”

>>> All photos in the Watchdog Report are taken from public government sites, and the Report goes on line at www.watchdogreport.net on Monday sometime during the day usually. >>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for I am a low cost news service, yet I do have to live, thank you! Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times and was Best Citizen in the 2003 Best of Miami of The Miami New Times, profiled twice in The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel ran a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003, and UNC Chapel Hill named me one of the top columnists in Florida in a multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on the WLRN/NPR showTopical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also numerous times over the past decade. Further, I am a frequent guest on WWW.WPBT2.ORG on Helen Ferre’s show Issues, and have also appeared on Eliott Rodriguez’s show News & Views on www.CBS4.com .

FLORIDA

>>> Gov. Scott signs $70 billion FL budget, South Florida whacked $25 million including $3.1 million for UM Med school

Gov. Rick Scott (Net worth $103 million) signed the $70 billion Florida budget last week, he cut $143 million from the legislative created budget, and South Florida got whacked to the tune of $25 million in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Scott has pushed the need for more educational funding and there is $1 billion more, but after past funding cuts around $2 billion each over the last few years. Critics say this new money cannot make up for the past reductions and much of it indirectly goes to servicing past school construction debt that is ballooning for some of the 67 public school districts in the state. Scott continues to approach the state budget as if he is running a business and the $500,000 for the Bay of Pigs Museum was slashed and the University of Miami Miller Medical School lost $3.1 million in state funding.
Scott a former healthcare executive of Columbia/HCA that paid a $1.6 billion fine to the federal government in the late1990s after widespread Medicare fraud was found in the well over 300-hospital chain nationwide resigned in the 1990s, but he was never charged. During the 2010 election, he was mum to a great extent about the federal settlement, the largest in the nation’s history and the man ran on creating jobs and dominated the television airways with his campaign ads using his own millions. Now he has signed into law his second budget for the state and he has stayed on his pro business course that has the environmental community crying foul. After one environmental safeguard law after another is gutted or neutered by the governor’s administration throughout Florida.

The governor already has started to raise money for his campaign in 2014, and so far termed out state Sen. Nan Rich, D-Broward is the only Democrat lined up to run against Scott. However, former Republican governor Charlie Crist’s name has also surfaced as a possible candidate running as a Democrat after he switched to the Independent Party in his losing 2010 U.S. Senate race against then former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-Miami and Democratic Congressman Kendrick Meek, D-Miami that had Rubio coming out on top.

>>> AG Pam Bondi press release: I have always been committed to defending the interests of Floridians, businesses, and government entities that have suffered losses caused by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. I had always wanted an audit in order to bring transparency to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility claims process. I requested that the audit include a review of unexplained discrepancies in payments to similarly situated claimants and the documentation required by the GCCF.

In response to prompting by my office, the Department of Justice, and the other Gulf Coast states, this fall Administrator Kenneth Feinberg agreed to an evaluation. On Thursday, the Department of Justice released findings and announced that approximately $64 million in relief will go to claimants who were adversely affected by GCCF errors. Approximately 4,450 Floridians will receive an estimated $37.7 million in relief. The roughly 4,450 Floridians account for more than 60 percent of the total estimated 7,300 claimants who were adversely affected by errors in claims processing. Thankfully, Floridians will now receive the millions in relief that they deserve. I will continue to monitor the claims process and help ensure that harmed Floridians are fairly compensated.

>>> Press release: I wish progress were easier, but it is not… Gov. Rick Scott just vetoed early learning legislation that was quite flawed despite the good efforts of leaders such as Marti Coley in the House and David Simmons in the Senate.
The governor’s veto message emphasized the importance of arriving at a “uniform, nationally recognized pre- and post-assessment to ensure children are making education gains” while in school readiness programs. This is a major goal of The Children’s Movement. The governor is absolutely right on this. He’s asking Dr. Mel Jurado, who leads his Office of Early Learning, to get us to just that. To read his message, click here. That message said “solid early learning experiences” are “critical to our children being properly prepared for school success…. I am committed to ensuring Floridians have access to high-quality early childhood education.” Amen, I’d say. That high quality must come to pass. Children’s futures depend on it. You in The Movement made a difference. We, together, have so much more to do…. Dave Lawrence Jr., Chair The Children’s Movement of Florida.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Charter Review Task Force taps state Sen. Garcia & Mayor Greer for leadership positions

The third Miami-Dade Charter Review Task Force since 2000 met Thursday and the members elected state Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah (Net worth $130,000 in 2008) chair of the body and former Pinecrest Mayor Evelyn Greer the vice chair. The 20-member group has four women, which is the same gender representation back in 2007, and 08 and Miami Beach attorney and Commissioner Victor Diaz chaired that past task force. Further, the 2000 charter review was held on the 29th floor of the Stephen P. Clark Government Center and former FP&L executive and Miami Beach commissioner Sid Levin chaired that one.

The Watchdog Report mentions this because throughout this charter review process I have covered all these meetings, that almost became a work program for me, and in this case, as well. I seemed to be the only press in the room. The group is planning to have public input sessions in five locations throughout the county hearing residents input, and then too get back together for further intense discussions before presenting their recommendations by July 17, to county commissioners and it is a tight time line to get the items on the Nov. general election ballot.

Anyone unusual on the task force?

Joe Arriola, the treasurer of the Financial Recovery Board overseeing Jackson Health System is one of the task force members and Miami-Dade Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz (Net worth $64,200) appointed him. Arriola, the past businessman who made his around $40 million fortune when he sold his printing business in the 1990s has since morphed into a City of Miami manager under Mayor Manny Diaz (Net worth $1.8 million), became a member of the PHT board and now is one of seven people on the FRB. He is respected for his business acumen, but he can be vulgar and a bully sometimes and this new role is more thoughtful in nature than his past posts, and he has a history of outbursts and definitely does not like the press or being criticized in any way. During the Charter Task Force meeting that conflicted with his responsibilities at the FRB that held its monthly all day committee meeting. He provided periodic banter and quips during the discussion but the concern the Watchdog Report had was if he had the time for this new public task force.

Further, Arriola is also coming back as a major political fundraiser for upcoming state and local candidates running for office this year, though one countywide candidate demurred when Arriola asked if he wanted his help in this regard. And Arriola is also a frequent guest on radio shows. But all these activities put him in the center of a lot of local political drama while he has the very important task of keeping Jackson Health System financially afloat. And I write about this because I don’t known if he has the time because he did not return to the FRB committee meeting, after the task force broke-up around noon, and he missed the important future strategy discussion given by the institution’s new VP of strategy Jeffrey Crudele. After the previous strategic officer, Donn Szaro passed suddenly in his sleep a few weeks ago in Sarasota after working for ten months on a strategy to stop the fiscal bleeding and create a sustainable health trust for the 2.5 million county residents that includes the poor and needy of our community across all ethnic lines.

>>> Public in the dark how $275 million in county GOB money spent at Museum Park, closed to public scrutiny

The Watchdog Report has found that when it comes to the $275 million in 2004 GOB funding for the Perez Art Museum (MAM) and the Frost Science Museum going up in Museum Park on Bicentennial Park, the public, press and the county’s inspector general are in the dark. A Miami-Dade assistant attorney in the county attorney’s office who looked into this matter has concluded there were no open public record laws required when these organizations received the funding that is currently ongoing with MAM ahead in this public funding and will receive the last $26 million of its $100 million in the next county budget year beginning in October. The attorney did extensive research and the only organization possible similar was the Ringling Brothers Museum in Sarasota. However, the circus museum is a state agency when it comes to its public funding and these meetings are open to the public but the two museums here in Miami are not such an entity, and thus there board meetings are allowed to be closed.

And since that is the case, these two organizations boards and the chairs have a crucial role and must act as the community firewall when it comes to the oversight of these public funds. And any funding surprises in the future need to be minimal because the pubic trough is empty for unbudgeted hits and the public and taxpayers are putting their faith in MAM Chair Aaron Podhurst and the Frost Museum chair Dan Bell who in their leadership capacity are the overseers of this public money. And the Watchdog Report hopes these men do their duty and protect the public dime as well as building two new museums in the process, on time and on budget.

>>> MIA Abreu “cautiously optimistic” regarding new automated baggage & screening system, handling 30,000 bags a day at N. Terminal

The new over 10.5 mile automated baggage and security screening system at the North Terminal at Miami International Airport has completed a month of the trial run and its operation is “getting smoother,” said MIA Aviation Director Jose Abreu last week. The baggage system is actually 13 miles long if the spurs are included and American Airlines was hesitant to fire up the system initially, but with federal officials putting on pressure, the trial run began last month. So far the aviation guru said the baggage system had met “90 percent of the [test] criteria,” federal officials are assisting in tweaking the system, and we are “cautiously optimistic,” said Abreu. He said the baggage-handling rate is about 30,000 bags a day and when it came to the “unknown bags,” technicians are working to “minimize” those bags that were not photographed and have to be checked manually.

>>> PROPERTY APPRAISER PEDRO GARCIA REMINDS SENIORS TO RE-APPLY FOR THEIR 2012 PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION – Press release: Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser, Pedro J. Garcia is appealing to homeowners who last year benefitted from the Additional Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Older (more commonly called the Senior Citizen’s Exemption) to file their renewal applications for 2012.

Although the deadline to file timely applications ended March 1st, Mr. Garcia says his Office will accept late applications for the Senior Exemption. The Senior Citizen’s Exemption can reduce overall property taxes by $500 or more each year. To qualify for the 2012 Senior Exemption benefit, the Adjusted Gross Income cannot exceed $27,030. This limit applies to everyone who lives in the house whether they are owners or not. Mr. Garcia points out that in most cases social security income does not count towards qualifying for this benefit. He is advising seniors filing for the exemption to check the “Adjusted Gross Income line” on their Federal Tax Return to verify actual income amounts.

Since December, the Property Appraiser’s Office has sent notices to 42,341 seniors who received the benefit in 2011, reminding them that unlike the homestead exemption, this benefit does not automatically renew and they must re-apply for 2012. Mr. Garcia notes that 6,997 seniors have still not filed renewals for 2012. To file your senior renewal application, visit either the Downtown Miami or South Dade offices of the Property Appraiser:

Stephen P. Clark Government Center South Dade Government Center
111 NW 1st Street 10710 SW 211 Street
Miami, Florida 33128-1984 Cutler Bay, FL 33189
Suite 710, Public Information Counter Suite 207, Public Information
Renewal applications can also be filed online at the Property Appraiser’s website: http://www.miamidade.gov/pa/exemptions.asp First-time applications have to be filed in person at either of these offices.

Garcia (Net worth $1.1 million)

>>> Press release: MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES NEEDS YOUR HELP IN SOLVING ANIMAL CRUELTY CASE

Earlier today, the Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department received an anonymous tip that a dog had been severely beaten with a baseball bat. Upon arrival in the vicinity of SW 155th Terrace and SW 111th Avenue, a small black and tan dog was found with severe head trauma. Unfortunately, due to the extent of his injuries the dog could not be saved. The department is actively investigating this alleged crime and is requesting assistance in identifying the person responsible. If you have any information regarding this case, please contact 3-1-1 to file a report. “All pets are very important to us, whether they are a stray, abandoned or lost. They all have a right to be treated with love and kindness. Acts such as this cannot be tolerated,” said Alex Muñoz, Director, Animal Services Department. Muñoz added, “If what was reported to us regarding this case is true, we need to find the responsible party in order to prevent them from committing future acts of animal cruelty.”

>>> Press release: The Bureau of Labor Statistics today released its employment and unemployment estimates for March. The latest release shows that payroll jobs (persons working in Miami-Dade) is regaining the growth momentum it experienced in the last quarter of 2011. The January estimate indicated a loss of approximately 4,000 jobs from the December peak of 1,016,500, but that loss was recovered in February and March. Payroll jobs, after accounting for regular seasonal variations, reached 1,017,400 March – a new peak since the end of the recession. The growth in payroll jobs has been led by the private sector, which has added 25,900 jobs over the past 12 months, while during the same period public sector employment has fallen by 2,700. Gains in consumer spending, health care, and tourism appear to be leading the gains in the labor market.

The number of unemployed workers and the unemployment rate, both adjusted for regular seasonal variations, fell in March. Unemployed workers last month declined by 2.3% from February, and the unemployment rate declined to 10% from 10.3% in February. The unemployment rate last March was 12.3%. More encouraging is that the decline in the number and rate of unemployment is that is entirely due to an increase in employment. The number of Miami-Dade residents holding jobs has increased 6% over the past 12 months. >> CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE REPORT<< Robert D. Cruz, Chief Economist, Miami-Dade County.

>>> Press release: Registration Now Open for Miami-Dade Parks’ Summer Camps! Exciting Summer Camps are being offered by the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, June 11-August 17, 2012, at its parks around the County. Programs are affordable and fully-supervised. There’s fitness, sports, nature-encounters, arts and crafts, field trips and more! Camp hours: 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., with early drop-off/ late pick-up available. Miami Dade Parks provides inclusion services for children with disabilities who want to attend typical summer camps.

>>> Press release: Adrienne Arsht Center AileyCamp Miami 2012 AileyCamp Miami is a summer day camp where middle school students are “turned on” to dance and come to respect the discipline of dance as a physical activity that requires athletic ability comparable to skills demanded by any sport. Also, campers will increase their leadership skills and enjoy a variety of social activities. Monday – Friday, June 25 – August 4, 2012; 8:30AM – 3:30PM. Ages 11-14, MDCPS Grades 6-8, SPACE IS LIMITED, NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> SEED Foundation gets OK to start new charter school at old Bay Point campus in Cutler Bay, eventually will have student boarders, says Diaz-Balart

The school board on Wednesday approved the beginning of a new charter school on the old Bay Point Schools Cutler Bay campus with 157-beds that closed in the late 2000s after the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice shut down the facility that tried to turn around troubled youth when the state funding was cut. The new organization that wants to use the campus is the Washington D.C. based The SEED Foundation. Its representative Tia Diaz-Balart, the foundation’s South Florida Director told the board that the plan was to start with around 80 students when it is open, well over a year from now, and build it up to around 400 students in the years ahead that would include students boarding Sunday through Friday at the south Dade location. SEED started its first such school in D.C. 15-years ago and there is also one in Baltimore Maryland started in 2008 she said. Notable people that have stopped by to review the schools success with at risk youth have included Oprah Winfrey and “up to 25 to 30 percent” of the students attending are expected to come from foster homes. Since the students remain on the school campus, it creates a more controlled education environment and the goal is for all the kids to graduate high school and go to college.

The public schools district’s staff on allowing new charter schools to go forward said the application was for a “typical charter school” and the board was only approving the “day component,” she said. And SEED’s application with the district had met “state statutes for a day charter school.” And the nation’s fourth largest public schools district over the next year will hash out in further detail with SEED about making the facility a boarding school in the future, something that is rare in Miami-Dade versus in the northeast U.S.
>>> SEED webpage: The SEED School of Washington, D.C. is a public, college-preparatory boarding school whose primary mission is to provide an outstanding, intensive educational program that prepares children, both academically and socially, for success in college. More than 320 students in grades six through twelve attend SEED. All students live on campus Sunday through Friday, enabling them to benefit from an integrated curriculum that incorporates academic, extracurricular, and life skills learning. For more information, visit The SEED School of Washington, D.C.

http://www.seedfoundation.com/index.php/seed-schools

>>> Press release: Dr. Wilbert “Tee” Holloway, Miami-Dade County School Board Member for District 1, will join some 150 students from three Miami-Dade public schools to engage in several exciting activities related to Earth Day at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Monday, April 23. The Botanical Gardens are located at 10901 Old Cutler Road in Coral Gables. Admission will be free that day.

The annual event raises awareness for the environment and continues to be an educational tool for the community. Students from Rainbow Park, Nathan B. Young and Dr. Robert B. Ingram elementary schools will participate in three activity stations: a cooking demonstration with Chef Chris Bulgarian, who will teach students how to make healthy, family friendly foods; a hands-on lesson on photosynthesis with Jeff Wasielewski; and a planting exercise with Kiki Mutis, in which students will pot a plant to take home. >> For more information, please contact Raquel Alexander, Assistant to School Board Member, Dr. Wilbert “Tee” Holloway, at 305-995-1334; or Amy Padolf, Director of Education at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, at 305-663-8097.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Some Miami-Dade commissioners beat up the messenger, FRB Chair Lapciuc, but were almost blind to Jackson’s fiscal problems for a decade

Marcos Lapciuc, the Financial Recovery Board chair ran into a verbal buzz saw last week when he spoke in front of the Miami-Dade County Commission Tuesday morning and it was not some of the commissioner’s finest hour. The international businessman born in Columbia told commissioners Jackson Health System must be “competitive” if it is to survive and thrive in what he described as a “healthcare reform business that moves so fast and [when it came to a strategic plan] and you can have the most beautiful plan, but you need the money” to pull it off, he said. Commissioner Sally Heyman (Net worth $425,000) has been carping for 11 months about not seeing such a plan that is slowly being developed and has called for a closed executive session with Jackson senior management staff including CEO Carlos Migoya to get a briefing on their new strategy to get paying patients to come to the health trust. She said during the stern discussion, “The one thing that has eluded us is specific details” and likened the future strategic plan to being in “the ozone,” she said.

However, Migoya in the past has said he “had concerns about [giving commissioners] propriety information,” that might be shared with competitors, said Heyman but she is moving forward with the May 1 closed session after getting the required commissioner signatures. Lapciuc will not attend this session for the same reason he did not attend a hearing by the organization’s unions members after a significant staff cut was made. He believes the FRB must maintain its governance independence given its charge of trying to save JHS that has for the last three years hemorrhaged over $400 million in losses while giving roughly $1.1 billion in charity and bad debt medical care for the past year alone.

Commissioner Javier Souto (Net worth $658,000) a long time member of the old PHT board said in the past “The Jackson Board was not really interested in the Medicare business” and not “really interested in clinics.” He thought the focus was more on giving a “triple organ transplant but that also costs a lot pf money” and generates “a lot of pizzazz,” he said. The former state legislator also noted the competitive clinics that are controlling patients would be okay, but if that is the case for the health trust. “Jackson will be out of business,” he contended. He then went on a verbal tear comparing patients to coffee beans and said it is “crucial Jackson needs to control the supply of patients” because that is what “makes the place work.” Commissioner Xavier Suarez (Net worth $328,500) also joined the fray asking about a study he considered “shoddy” but was not done by the administration but a draft study done by a union consultant and Lapciuc did not know what he was talking about. Suarez even asked what time at the FRB daylong committee meeting, the fiscal committee would be going on, suggesting he might attend, but on Thursday, he was a no show at the Jackson committee meetings.

However, throughout this intense discussion by commissioners was the fact that Lapciuc and his other six board members are all volunteers, the amount of time they put in is considerable, and righting the public hospital financially is no easy task. Further, under the county commission’s watchful eye over the past 12 years, JHS has lost money every year and posted a $84 million deficit back in 2004 that had fiscal adjustments going back to the late 1980s and settling a over $40 million outstanding obligation with the federal government. And to add to Jackson’s fiscal burdens in 2000, the county commission shifted about $72 million in unfunded mandates on the PHT, including nursing home care and inmate prisoners’ medical care and all of these come to over $100 million in the current budget year at JHS. And back in 1999 or so the health trust had about $400 million in capital infrastructure reserves for the campus and sprawling facilities but that was also drained. And now at JHS there is an estimated over $1 billion in capital infrastructure needs that has been pared down to over $600 million, but the campus facilities look old, and even include ashtrays in the bathrooms outside of the first floor executive wing, a throw back to the 1960s.

Now on May 1 at the closed meeting, only one FRB trustee can attend without it being a board Sunshine Law violation and Lapciuc at Thursday’s committee meeting said if any other members wanted to go that was up to them. However, it sounds like just Migoya and his senior staff will attend the meeting and let’s hope the commission allows these people to do their jobs. For while the Miami-Dade Home Rule Charter does give commissioners the charge of the community’s health and public hospital, that is in a broad scope and does not actually cover how the hospital is run, and this past intervention by the commission over the years is one of the reasons JHS is in this position. Even though for years past, JHS administrations have brought the fiscal matter to the elected leader’s attention. But county commissioners failed to heed the warnings and lack of capital for improvement of the health complex that this FRB and the administration is trying to stabilize and grow. And if the improving trend continues in the months ahead, JHS may actually have a good shot of a small loss or actually breaking even at the end of the budget year ending in September.

Lapciuc

Suarez

Souto

Heyman

>>> A PAST WDR: This is a graph PHT President & CEO Marvin O’Quinn presented to the Board of County Commissioners in June 2008 about the future for Jackson Health System in the coming years and frankly I am surprised anyone would want to be part of the oversight board given the fiscal and political challenges.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> FDLE agents descend on city hall, part of 5K Torch Relay, did not include public corruption unit, in the 1990s they were all over the place

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) special agents along with Miami Police SWAT members ran a 5K Torch Relay for the Special Olympics midday Friday and they arrived in mass at Miami city hall, but the FDLE public corruption unit was not part of the pack of runners. Over the decades either FDLE or the FBI special agents have been roaming the halls of the Miami commission and I remember a small posse of them in the mid 1990s that put a variety of commissioners in jail including the ex city Manager Cesar Odio. Miami-Dade municipalities over the years have been a vast breeding ground for wayward elected leaders and administrators and more recently included Miami ex Commissioner Angel Gonzalez being forced out of office by the state attorney’s office in a plea deal in November 2009. However, these officers were there for charity or maybe casual reconnaissance of the area, but a number of people wondered why there were so many blue lights around the parking area in front of city hall at the time giving the impression of possible mass arrests.

What is the WDR connection with Miami?

I began this effort of watching our government and public institutions in late 1997 and without former Commissioner J.L. Plummer in office almost 30-years. I would not be doing this today and having a 13th Anniversary May 5. Back then, I went through almost 200 personal jackets for Miami employees and I would review about 18 to 20 of the files every Friday at Miami’s personnel office. And at the time, for some people there was concern I was an undercover cop rather than an inquisitive citizen even though at meetings when people would introduce themselves. I would say, “I am just a citizen,” that once had a television reporter covering the event as well, saying “Yeah right, just a citizen,” but it was said in a respectful way, since at that point. I had about two and a half years of watching government under my belt. But it was the fact the citizens never won anything in the 1990s and were constantly getting steamrolled by their elected leaders regardless of the commission district they lived in. And my mission at the time was to try to change the odds for the ordinary people and while some major issues still get past the public like the Miami Marlins Stadium. There have been many other items before the commission that ultimately went down in flames over the past 15-years and I consider that a good thing.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> It’s not over until the fat lady sings when it comes to Mgr. Gonzalez, preview on Tuesday at Breakfast Club meeting featuring Commissioner Wolfson

While four commissioners are calling for a special commission meeting Mayor Mattie Herrera Bower is holding firm and Manager Jorge Gonzalez isn’t calling one and a preview of what might be coming will be discussed at a civic breakfast club meeting on Tuesday. Gonzalez has been under pressure to step down after a variety of scandals and Wolfson was the first to call for his dismissal after over a decade in the top city administration spot. The commissioner now is running for the House District 113 seat and is facing Republican challenger Bryan Avila. After state Rep. Richard Steinberg, D-Miami Beach resigned amid a texting scandal with a married federal prosecutor he knew a few months ago. Wolfson has raised $49,625.00 for his campaign and Avila has $9,650 in his campaign war chest. Months ago, Commissioner Deede Weithorn seconded Wolfson’s call for the removal of Gonzalez and now www.miamiherald.com is reporting that two other commissioners on the body, Michael Gongora and Ed Tobin are also jumping into the fray and will likely be discussed at the upcoming May 9 commission meeting.

However, Gonzalez has incredible political staying power since being appointed over a decade ago, that he seemed to have blunted the earlier movement for his removal but now with the arrests of seven Beach employees in code enforcement, and fire safety. The cry for his removal has raised its head again. However, Commissioners and the residents sometimes react in such a manner but then the issue dies down and some insiders speculate that after these recent fireworks, the matter will die down in the coming weeks. Further, Bower and Gonzalez both say he is rooting out the bad apples in a press release last week, the investigation continues, and they are fully cooperating with FBI investigators to get to the bottom of the issue of public corruption on Miami Beach.

>>> Press release: Miami Beach Commissioner Jonah Wolfson is the Breakfast Club speaker, Tuesday, April 24, 8:30AM – 10:00AM, David’s Cafe II, 1654 Meridian Ave., Miami Beach. 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

>>> Mayor Cason supports parks in City Beautiful, working to create two more, to “improve the quality of life” for residents

The Watchdog Report spotted Mayor Jim Cason at the Miami-Dade County Parks Summitt held at Fairchild Botanical Gardens on Thursday and I emailed him asking what he thought of the meeting, since the Garden is in the Gables, is a community treasure and a place I have dubbed South Florida’s version of Camp David. In an email back he wrote, “The Parks Summit is an important meeting where stakeholders gather to discuss and further the initiatives of the Miami-Dade County Parks and Open Space Master Plan.

The plan initiatives address issues and goals that directly affect Coral Gables residents, including access to parks, bike trails that connect the entire parks system and land acquisition for park use. The Parks Summit highlights some of the pressing issues in the County that the Miami-Dade County Parks and Open Spaces Master Plan is addressing. The acquisition of parkland is a priority in the City of Coral Gables. We are currently in the process of developing two new neighborhood parks, which is one of the significant ways by which a City can improve the quality of life for its residents,” wrote the former U.S. Ambassador.

>>> City Extends Grace Period Until July 15th For Compliance With Truck Restrictions

The City of Coral Gables has extended the grace period until July 15, 2012, for enforcement of the restrictions pertaining to trucks parked in residential and commercial areas. The City has granted this extension to provide more time for residents to come into compliance with the law. Enforcement would begin after expiration of the grace period if compliance has not been achieved. Fines are $100 for the first violation, and up to $500 for each subsequent violation. The City of Coral Gables has prevailed in the legal court case challenging the City’s ordinances restricting the parking of trucks. The Third District Court of Appeals previously upheld the constitutionality of section 4-411 and 4-412 of the Coral Gables Zoning Code pertaining to trucks parked in residential and commercial areas. The Florida Supreme Court has decided not to review this decision. For more information, please contact Code Enforcement at 305-460-5226.

VILLAGE OF PINECREST

>>> Mayor Lerner supports county’s park initiative and its “vision,” hopes Village is part of the process

The Watchdog Report contacted Mayor Cindy Lerner last week after she attended the 4th Miami-Dade County Parks Summit and asked her what she thought about the event and she wrote back. “I applaud the Parks Department’s vision for and commitment to identifying distressed properties and revitalizing the surrounding communities by creating a new identity using green spaces as the anchor for healthy and livable communities. I am sure all of the cities in Miami Dade would love to partner with the county in identifying properties and planning together. I hope we will be invited to the table. In addition, I will now be looking within our village with a new eye for green space opportunities as well,” wrote the mayor and former state legislator.

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Commissioner Lieberman gets challenger in county court Group 6 race; Commissioner Ritter faces off against Sutton

Long time Broward Commissioner Ilene Lieberman (Net worth $921,309) who is termed out in 2012 on the nine-member body has qualified for county court judge Group 6, along with Kathleen McHugh and they will face off in November. The commissioner is reporting raising zero money for her campaign through March but that is likely to change in the future. Lieberman a long time elected official in Broward has been the county mayor while on the body but she also works as a lobbyist while being paid $92,000 as the commissioner of District 1. She and I verbally got into it years ago when I wrote about one of her lobbying gigs. She said at the time I “had a problem with lobbyists,” and I responded only when they were also elected leaders in another capacity. Now she is seeking a spot on the bench, and she is considered a solid fundraiser. McHugh has $33,125.00 in her war chest but this countywide race is expected to heat up. But Lieberman also has quite an extensive past political narrative, and given Broward’s past brush with public corruption at the county commission, school board and municipalities it is unknown if that will be a factor in voters minds in November.

Further, the Watchdog Report reviewed Lieberman’s past gift disclosure forms and on the whole the report was benign though a physician gave over $200.00 in free medical care and she got a trip to Israel worth $2,800 states the disclosure forms. However, it is unknown if Broward’s 1.07 million voters will support her effort to jump over to the courts, of which Democrats represent 561,000 voters, Republicans come in at 254,000 and “other” accounts for 263,900 of the county’s electorate states the supervisor of elections webpage.

Lieberman

What about Commissioner Ritter?

Former Democratic Party state representative and now Broward Commissioner Stacy Ritter (Net worth $150,000) has also got a challenger for another term on the dais with Republican Robert Sutton throwing his hat into the ring. Ritter has $92,170 in her campaign war chest, has spent $27,100 and Sutton has $300.00 state campaign documents. Ritter has been a past county mayor, is close to President Barack Obama but she also has carped over the years that the press is after her as has Lieberman. But Ritter also had some campaign reporting irregularities in her unopposed 2008 race for her commission seat and some of the media criticism may be justified. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-12-03/news/fl-ritter-violations-20101203_1_campaign-law-violations-campaign-funds-russ-klenet She told the press back then it was a bookkeeping error and not personal enrichment said the attorney about the issue. Further, the sometimes-flamboyant woman when she was mayor even did a dance in a red dress that for some people was considered risqué in nature during a mayoral ball she held. Ritter first began her political career in 1996 when she was elected to the Florida House and in her case when it comes to gift disclosures over the years. She lists getting some Mikimoto pearls from the Janaenese general consul and she also attended a Super Bowl VIP media event party state the forms.

Ritter

>>> Press release: Broward Woman Pleads Guilty in Identity Theft Tax Fraud Scheme Involving U.S. Marine Victims

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and José A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), Miami Field Office, announced that Dorothy Boulin, 29, pled guilty yesterday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft in connection with an identity theft tax fraud scheme.

According to the documents filed in Court, sometime prior to January 2012, the defendant received a list of military personnel (United States Marines) with names and social security numbers for identity theft tax fraud purposes. The defendant knew that the list contained names of military personnel. On January 17, 2012, the defendant, from a computer in her residence in Broward County, caused six fraudulent tax returns to be submitted online to an online tax filing company. Five of these six returns were submitted without the authorization of the individuals whose social security numbers appear on the returns. These five returns sought approximately $21,301 in fraudulent refunds. Several of these victims were marines.

On January 19, 2012, the defendant caused eight fraudulent tax returns to be submitted online. Seven of these eight returns were submitted without the authorization of the individuals whose social security numbers appear on the returns. These seven returns sought approximately $32,627 in fraudulent refunds. Several of these victims were marines. Boulin is scheduled to be sentenced on July 5, 2012. At sentencing, she faces a maximum statutory sentence of 22 years in prison. >> Mr. Ferrer thanked the FBI and IRS-CID for their work on the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael N. Berger. 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.

>>> 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

>>> Press release: Another Defendant Sentenced in Broward and Palm Beach Pill Mill Operation

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, and José A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), announced the sentencing of an additional defendant on charges stemming from Operation Oxy Alley, a coordinated investigation into pill mills in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth A. Marra sentenced defendant Gino Marquez, 30, of Wellington, to 84 months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. Marquez pleaded guilty in February 2012, to one count of racketeering conspiracy. Including Marquez, 27 defendants have been sentenced on an indictment unsealed on August 23, 2011, charging 32 defendants, including 13 doctors, in this pill mill scheme.

The indictment alleges that defendants Christopher and Jeffrey George, twin brothers, operated, managed and financed four pain management clinics in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. According to the indictment and statements made in court, from 2008 to early 2010, these pill mills distributed approximately 20 million oxycodone pills and made more than $40 million from the illegal sales of controlled substances. Christopher and Jeffrey George are among those who have pleaded guilty. They were sentenced earlier this year. The investigation and prosecution was the result of work by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The FBI, DEA, IRS-CID were assisted by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the Hollywood Police Department, the Boca Raton Police Department, and the Davie Police Department. Coordination efforts also included cooperation by the Palm Beach State Attorney’s Office and the Delray Beach Police Department, Jupiter Police Department, West Palm Beach Police Department, Boynton Beach Police Department, Medley Police Department, Homestead Police Department, North Miami Beach Police Department, and Sunny Isles Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul F. Schwartz, Lawrence D. LaVecchio and Strider Dickson. >>> 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.

SEMINOLE COUNTY

>>> Circuit Court Judge Lester now in the hot seat, presiding over Zimmerman trial, jurist had $2.27 million net worth through June 2011

Circuit Court Judge Kenneth R. Lester Jr., has taken over as the judge that will preside over the George Zimmerman second-degree murder charge trial when he killed Trayvon Martin back in late February after a scuffle and the case has become the poster child for the Florida Stand Your Ground Law. The Seminole County judge got the appointment after the previous judge had a conflict of interest in this national high profile case and Zimmerman’s bond was set Friday at $150,000.

What do we know about Lester’s finances?

Lester through Jun. 1, 2011 had a net worth of $2.27 million and there is $270,000 in household goods. Two rental properties owned with others brings in $500.00 per month each, there is $170,000 in deferred compensation and another $110,000 in two bank accounts. He and his wife’s personnel real estate holdings and homes are valued at $930,000 and $250,000 and the two rental properties are valued at $400,000 and $100,000. He lists total assets $2.23 million and the only listed liability on his financial disclosure is $40,000 owed to GMAC. He lists receiving no gifts last year, but he did not list his judicial salary on the Form 6 on file with the state, which was odd and may be just an oversight by the judge.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Jennifer Gabbard, of Tampa, to Hillsborough County Court.

Gabbard, 39, has been an assistant state attorney with the State Attorney’s Office for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit since 1997 and served as chief of the county court division for two years. Gabbard received bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Florida. “As a prosecutor for 14 years, Jennifer has gained valuable experience with the county court system,” Governor Scott said. “During that time, she has handled a wide variety of cases and gained a reputation as a tough, fair and able prosecutor. I am confident she will continue to further the rule of law from the bench.” Gabbard will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Nick Nazaretian to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court.

MANATEE COUNTY

Press release: Gov. Scott reappoints Carlos M. Beruff to the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota District Board of Trustees.

Beruff, 54, of Parrish, is a developer with Medallion Home Gulf Coast. He is a member of the National Home Builders Association and the Home Builders Association Manatee-Sarasota. He has served on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement Sarasota/Manatee and the Boys and Girls Club of Manatee. Beruff attended the University of South Florida. He is reappointed for a term beginning June 1, 2012, and ending May 31, 2016. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> It’s prom season again and we are currently collecting gently worn dresses for our Mentees attending prom this year and we need your support to make this year’s event, even more successful than last year’s! Long and short dresses are welcome, as well as any other clothing/accessories that you are interested in donating. Items can be dropped off Monday – Friday between 8:30am-5:00pm at WOT offices located at 22 East Flagler Street, 6th Floor, Miami, FL 33131 – we are located on the 6th floor of the Macy’s building. Due to timing, we ask that all items be in WOT offices by no later than Thursday, April 19th. If you need the items picked up, please contact Beatrice Arias at 305-371-3330 or b.arias@womenoftomorrow.org to make arrangements and we will gladly have a WOT staff member pick up the donated clothing at your convenience. You will receive an acknowledgement letter after the event for your tax purposes. Thank you in advance for your donations and support – we are able to continue doing what we do, because of you! Warmest Regards, Women of Tomorrow

>>> www.downtownbayforum.org THURSDAY APRIL 26, 2012–11:30 AM -POLITICS AND ETHICS CAN THEY CO-EXIST? PRODUCED BY JOSEPH M. CENTORINO

SPEAKERS JOSEPH M. CENTORINO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION ON ETHICS AND PUBLIC TRUST: DAN GELBER, FORMER DEMOCRATIC STATE HOUSE LEADER AND STATE SENATOR: KATY SORENSON, PRESIDENT & CEO -GOOD GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI – MODERATOR, DR. SEAN FOREMAN, DEPT. OF HISTORY & POLITICAL SCIENCE-BARRY UNIVERSITY >>> WOLFSON AUDITORIUM @TEMPLE ISRAEL, 137 NE 19th STREET, MIAMI FREE SELF PARKING AVAILABLE Call ANNETTE EISENBERG (305)757-3633 Fax (305)754-2015 Membership Application &/or Luncheon Reservation

EDITORIALS

>>> PAST WDR MAR.2007: Public confessions then rehab seems to be the new cottage industry for fallen community & elected officials

Public confessions by elected leaders of their sins only after they have been confronted with hard facts of what they did has created a cottage industry of people denying responsibility of their actions until caught and they are filling the nation’s rehabilitation centers with political outcasts fallen from grace. On a national scale, the general theme is similar and politicians seem to get either involved with money and kickbacks, or an affair of some variation. But what is surprising is how hard people fight the guilty admission hoping it would go away, rather than just face the music, admit it, and actually inoculate themselves for the story’s legs are taken away from the media.

Locally, the community saw this with the elected leaders of Cooper City who were video taped at a restaurant eating and drinking before a commission meeting. They denied the accusations vehemently and it was only after being confronted with the video that they admitted they were eating and drinking. Further, in this town everything seems to be the fault of The Miami Herald. A double barrel of this theme occurred Thursday at the city of Miami and Miami-Dade Commission meetings and commissioners carped constantly about the papers stories over the past week.

Elected leaders in today’s world of video phones and other small devices face scrutiny their predecessors never experienced, and overall the technology has been a good thing. But leaders must realize that it also raises the bar and questionable actions will eventually come to light, which is a good thing when it comes to public tax dollars and regaining the trust of taxpayers and elected leaders should always keep that in mind.

Miami-Dade must do something about the 500,000 unlicensed drivers on the county’s highways and roads

A local Miami-Dade county judge in charge of the traffic division of the court has estimated that in Miami-Dade, there are 500,000 people driving without a valid license in the county and that is just unacceptable. The county with 2.4 million people cannot sustain such a large number of non-licensed drivers on the highways and local law enforcement must step up efforts to get these people off the roads before they kill someone or themselves.

The city of Miami has an accident occur every 24 minutes and along with this fact, it also drives up car insurance rates for those people that want to be compliant with the law and the privilege of driving a car. Further, car accidents many times results in serious injuries and this adds to the public cost for healthcare moving it up another tick. I certainly do not have the answer but when almost 20 percent of the county’s population is driving without a valid license, something must be done to address this driving insanity that is highlighted by the fact we kill more people by vehicular homicide, than murder. Something every resident and lawmaker in South Florida should ponder for the community’s streets and highways are a killing field only made worse by these illegal drivers.

Experience counts when it comes to the media covering South Florida

In Miami, if you are the press, time served covering this community gives you a major edge over the new less experienced reporters. How many television or print reporters can name all the Miami and Miami-Dade County Commissioners, 18 in all? I thought about this since I am coming up to ten years (soon to be 13 years in May) of watching South Florida and see many new media personnel in the field and they are many times just covering the story rather than giving any real past or current analysis of what is going on at a public meeting. This is not about young or old people for there are both in the longevity field when it comes to reporters. But it does highlight when you are dealing with such a complex community, as South Florida is, that past historical experience counts, and unfortunately, that is in short supply for many of the local media outlets.

>>> Check out the past national story in the Tribune papers: Paperwork Tiger
By Maya Bell, Miami Bureau, January 20, 2003 — MIAMI – Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. It’s not by choice. Miami’s self-anointed citizen watchdog depends on the people he writes for and about to finance his quixotic quest to attend nearly every government meeting in Miami-Dade County. That’s a lot of mind-numbing meetings — as many as 2,500 a year — but not a lot of income. So Ricker is always teetering on bankruptcy. He dashes to his post-office box daily, hoping subscribers to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks.

LETTERS

>>> Herald guest editorial: South Florida’s Muslim bashing By SHABBIR MOTORWALA

Last year U.S. Rep. Peter King of New York had a congressional hearing on “Radical Muslims in America.” One of the issues debated most during that hearing was assimilation of Muslim youth in American society.
What is assimilation, exactly? How is assimilation defined? One positive that emerged from the hearing was that Minnesota law enforcement officials praised the Muslim community’s outreach as well as cooperation with law enforcement.
Locally, U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer and John Gillies of the FBI praised the outreach by local Muslim organizations going so far as to specifically mention that the outreach by the Coalition of South Florida Muslim Organizations (COSMOS) should be a model for the entire country. Read More…

>>> Reader on Miami-Dade Property Appraiser story last week

This is wrong – so wrong – and state Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera knows it – PA Pedro Garcia was not about to “rule” – Garcia was imposing the law of the land.
The Sebring decision says “public property leased for private use shall be subject to ad valorem tax” – their lease said the City pays – it would require a constitutional amendment to overturn the court decision. His own staff told him that and it was in the Miami Herald reported to the world. But that wouldn’t have made a good campaign issue for him. and he played right into your hands and all those who have reported this. It’s unconstitutional – and as he said, “a judge will have to rule so.” The judge in Sebring already did.

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000
ANGEL ESPINOSA – (Deceased) owner COCONUT GROVE DRY CLEANER’S
HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr.
THE MIAMI HERALD www.miamiherald.com (2000-2008)
ARTHUR HERTZ
WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)
ALFRED NOVAK
LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)
JOHN S. and JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION www.knightfoundation.org
THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE

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

BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com
FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com
RONALD HALL
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov
UNITED WAY OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.unitedwaymiamidade.org

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

AKERMAN SENTERFITT www.akerman.com
RON BOOK
LINDA MURPHY: Gave a new laptop in Oct. 2001 to keep me going.
WILLIAM PALMER
SHUBIN & BASS www.shubinbass.com

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

CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC. www.camillushouse.org
CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.
CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.cph.org
THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov
GREATOR MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com
GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com
HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov/ethics
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL www.miamidade.gov/ig
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST & JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM www.jhsmiami.org
THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com
THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org
THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES www.mdclc.org
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA http://www.firstgov.gov/
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

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 600 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 www.watchdogreport.net
Est. 05.05.00
Copyright © of original material, 2012, Daniel A. Ricker

>>> The Watchdog Report are now available to television stations web pages, and all the newspapers and other media in South Florida if the publishers have an interest to run part or all of the stories. Further, in 2000, I used to have some paper’s running the report in the Spanish press, that option is available again, and publishers should contact me. The news content will not be free, but you can pick and chose the stories of interest, edit them if necessary but you must still keep the general story intact. If you are a news outlet and would like to learn more about, the Watchdog Report and this offer contact me at watchdogreport1@earthlink.net for further information.

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

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years. >>> Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, The (FL) CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS >>> Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, The (FL) MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED >>> >>> To read the full section large two page front page story, but without the photos and smart box graphics, go to: `I Go When You Cannot’ – Sun Sentinel 20 Jan 2003 … Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. … to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks. … http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american >>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times –The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored. Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2003-05-15/citylife2.html/1/index.html

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

Those who do read the newspaper in Florida have a bevy of options for state government and political coverage. The dominant newspapers in the state are Knight-Ridder’s The Miami Herald (Acquired by The McClatchy Company in 2006) and the Poynter Institute’s St. Petersburg Times. Both papers endorsed Gore in 2000 but split on the 2002 gubernatorial race, with the Herald endorsing Republican incumbent Jeb Bush and the Times backing Democratic challenger Bill McBride. Daniel Ricker of The Miami Herald also writes an influential column as well as an email newsletter called the Watchdog Report that goes out to more than 100,000 subscribers. FEBRUARY 2004 – Florida: Columnists in Abundance –ERIC GAUTSCHI, graduate student, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill – D) LEADING COMMENTATORS – Resource Commentator Organization Type Web site –Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/bousquet.shtml -“First Friday” WPBT TV (Miami) TV Show www.channel2.org/firstfriday/issues.html –Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/morgan.shtml –Daniel Ricker Miami Herald/Watchdog Report Newsletter >>> 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.
********************************************************************

Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form

NOTE: Invoice is for Yearly supporter/sponsorship Rates: Thank you.

Supporting Sponsors $5,000
Sustaining Sponsors $2,000
Corporate Sponsors $1,000 (All levels above will be listed in the report with web-site link if desired)
Large Business Supporters $500
Small Business Supporters $250
Individual Supporter $150
Student Supporter $ 75
Any amount $

Name & Address

Please make checks payable to: Daniel A. Ricker

Send to: 3109 Grand Avenue, #125
Miami, FL 33133
Fax 305-668-4784 -To contact the Publisher please e-mail watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center for International Media http://knight.miami.edu within the University of Miami’s School of Communication www.miami.edu to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no ads, pops-up and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

>>> HELP: I NEED FINANCIAL HELP IF THIS IS TOO CONTINUE AFTER 12-YEARS AND HEADING INTO 13-YEARS IN MAY:  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 and I hope you or your organization will consider helping in a small or larger way and help keep another voice on line in the media. 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.

>>> I was on Joseph Cooper’s show on WLRN/NPR, Topical Currents on Apr. 9, from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m., to hear the show go to http://www.wlrn.org/radio/programs/topical-currents/archive/

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> FBI Dir. Mueller leaves Miami Beach with a gift; eight people are nabbed for shaking down club owner, including one M-DPD giving security for fake cake delivery in Aventura

When Robert Mueller, III, the Director of the FBI spoke at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce luncheon recently he did mention he was leaving a gift for the community when it came to public corruption of officials. The community on Wednesday found out about this gift with the arrest of a host of high-ranking Miami Beach code enforcement employees, fire inspectors and even a Miami-Dade cop in a marked cruiser giving cover for well over five Kilos of sham cocaine, part of an undercover operation done by the Bureau. Mueller in his speech stressed the need to tamp out public corruption and public officials that abuse their positions that destroys “trust” and, “impacts the health and safety of our communities, and takes a significant toll on our pocketbooks, wasting untold tax dollars every year,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Dena E. Choucair at the press conference announcing the arrests. The FBI agent went on to say, “Public corruption erodes the public’s confidence in government institutions and public servants” and when these “corrupt officials break the law for their own personal gain. They violate the principles they are sworn to uphold” and these public corruption investigations serve as a “reminder to all public officials that no one is above the law,” the veteran special agent said. >>> To report corruption at any level to the FBI call 305.944.9101.

>>> Press release: Eight Individuals Charged and Arrested in Two Separate Corruption investigations ~ Miami Beach Code Compliance Officers, Miami Beach Firefighters, and a Miami Dade Police Officer among those Charged in Corruption Probe

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Dena E. Choucair, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Miami Field Office, announce that eight individuals have been charged in two separate complaints involving public corruption allegations.  The first complaint, 12-2494-Garber, charges the lead code compliance inspector for the City of Miami Beach (Jose L. Alberto), four Miami Beach code compliance officers (Willie E. Grant, Orlando E. Gonzalez, Ramon D. Vasallo, Vicente L. Santiesteban), and two Miami Beach firefighters (Henry L. Bryant and Chai D. Footman), for their participation in a scheme to extort cash payments from a South Beach nightclub.  The second complaint, 12-2495-Garber, charges Daniel L. Mack, a Miami-Dade police officer, and Henry L. Bryant (who was also charged in the first complaint), for their participation in a drug trafficking conspiracy in which they agreed to transport and protect what they believed to be multiple kilograms of cocaine.  The defendants are expected to make their initial appearances in federal court today at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Garber.

U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “When government officials misuse their offices and abuse their power to line their own pockets and satisfy their greed, they erode the public’s trust in good and efficient government.   It is incumbent upon all of us to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for corruption, at any level of government.  I encourage victims to come forward, report shakedowns of this kind, and help us shine a light on backroom corruption.” “When corrupt officials break the law for their own personal gain, they breach the public’s trust and violate the very principles they have sworn to uphold,” said Dena E. Choucair, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Miami Division.  “This should serve as a reminder to all of our public officials that no one is above the law.” The first complaint (the extortion complaint) charges Alberto, 41, of Miami Beach, Grant, 56, of Miami, Gonzalez, 32, of Miami, Vasallo, 31, of Miami Beach, Santiesteban, 29, of Miami, Bryant, 45, of Miami Gardens, and Footman, 36, of Miramar, with one count of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a).  If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of up to twenty years’ imprisonment.

Miami Beach nightclubs are subject to inspection by both the City of Miami Beach Code Compliance Division and the City of Miami Beach Fire Department for compliance with municipal code regulations.  Both the Fire Department and the Code Compliance Division can issue citations for code violations.  According to the extortion complaint affidavit, in early June 2011, Alberto, the lead code compliance inspector for the City of Miami Beach, solicited a cash pay-off from a Miami Beach nightclub owner in exchange for not enforcing a large fine for a code violation.  The nightclub owner reported the alleged extortion to the FBI, which commenced an undercover investigation.  During the investigation that followed, an undercover FBI agent posed as the manager of the nightclub and, along with the nightclub owner, made a series of cash pay-offs to Alberto and co-defendants Grant, Gonzalez, Vasallo, Santiesteban, Bryant, and Footman.  The purpose of the cash pay-offs was to allow the nightclub to continue operating and to avoid any future potential code violations.  According to statements made by Bryant in a recorded conversation, he and Alberto had worked together “for about twelve years on every little gig that [they] had.”  Bryant also bragged that he and Alberto had kept another business open despite multiple code violations because the business had paid them “four grand.”  Over the course of the investigation, which lasted seven months, the undercover agent paid more than $25,000 in cash pay-offs to the various Miami Beach public employees.

The second complaint (the drug trafficking complaint) charges Mack, 47, of Miami, and Bryant, of Miami Gardens, with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 846.  If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of up to life imprisonment. According to the affidavit filed in support of the drug complaint, in early December 2011, the undercover agent and Bryant discussed the possibility of recruiting police officers who could provide protection for the movement of cocaine.  Over the following weeks, during recorded meetings and conversations, Bryant explained that he knew police officers that would escort the cocaine and that he would personally move the cocaine in his own vehicle.  After reaching an agreement with the undercover agent, Bryant transported what he believed to be cocaine from the nightclub in Miami Beach to pre-determined drop-off points in Miami-Dade County on two separate occasions:  on December 21, 2011, the defendants moved approximately nine (9) kilograms of sham cocaine; on January 14, 2012, the defendants moved approximately ten (10) kilograms of sham cocaine.  On both occasions, Bryant picked up the sham cocaine and returned for cash payment.  On both occasions, Bryant’s vehicle was escorted by the Miami-Dade Police Department police cruiser assigned to defendant Mack, who had been introduced to the undercover agent as a police officer who would be providing security for the movement of cocaine.  At that meeting, Mack wore his Miami-Dade Police Department uniform, was armed, and drove his Miami-Dade police cruiser.  For these two transactions, the undercover agent paid the defendants a total of $25,000 in cash pay-offs. >>> The case was investigated by the FBI Miami Area Public Corruption Task Force, assisted by the Miami-Dade Police Department Professional Compliance Bureau and United States Customs Border Protection Office of Internal Affairs.  These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared E. Dwyer and Robin W. Waugh. A complaint 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 www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. >>>  For more go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/11/2742513/feds-bust-miami-beach-code-inspectors.html

>>> “New Low At The UN”, With Passage Of Weak Security Council Resolution On Syria, Says Ros-Lehtinen

Press release: U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement today regarding passage of a resolution at the UN Security Council regarding the ongoing brutal crackdown in Syria by the Assad regime.

Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “The United Nations appears to have reached a new low by placing the Assad regime squarely in the driver’s seat, and preserving Russia’s ability to continue to arm the Syrian regime. “Instead of doing what is required—increasing the full scope of sanctions against the Syrian regime—this resolution seems doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.  The people of Syria deserve more and need more in order to stop the bloodshed spearheaded by the Assad regime”

>>> Knight Center for International Media newsletter: One Water Continues to Reach Audiences Globally with Eight Screenings this World Water Day
The film continues to cross borders, physical and cultural, by showing at a variety of settings this World Water Day 2012.  With screenings spanning the globe, from British Columbia to Hungary, One Water continues to be a popular choice in media for discussing the world’s water crisis.  All screenings of the film are free.  If you are interested in organizing or holding a screening, large or small, please contact Lauren Janetos. For more about the film and related educational projects, visit http://onewater.org/education. www.knightfoundation.org

>>> All photos in the Watchdog Report are taken from public government sites, and the Report goes on line at www.watchdogreport.net on Monday sometime during the day usually. >>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for I am a low cost news service, yet I do have to live, thank you! Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times and was Best Citizen in the 2003 Best of Miami of The Miami New Times, profiled twice in The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel ran a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003, and UNC Chapel Hill named me one of the top columnists in Florida in a  multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on the WLRN/NPR showTopical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also numerous times over the past decade. Further, I am a frequent guest on WWW.WPBT2.ORG on Helen Ferre’s show Issues, and have also appeared on  Eliott Rodriguez’s show News & Views on www.CBS4.com .

FLORIDA

>>> State Rep. Lopez Cantera throws his hat into M-DC Property Appraiser race, faces incumbent Garcia Aug. 14

State Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami (Net worth $1.75 million) after he said sayonara to the Miami Commission on Thursday at their monthly meeting. He then released a press release that he is running for the Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser taking on incumbent Pedro Garcia (Net worth $1.1 million) elected a few years back to the countywide Charter Office. For decades the county had a property appraiser who was part of county government and was not elected but that changed in 2009, and Garcia beat out now state Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Miami (Net worth $5.17 million). Garcia in his seventies after a past Watchdog Report indicating his age and possible being vulnerable to a challenger. He joked with me last week at the commission committee meeting about the story and the comment, but Lopez-Cantera is a formable campaigner and fundraiser, and he was the Republican majority leader in the Florida House before being termed out in 2012. He is also involved in real estate investments and development, is married with a child and his supporters include Norman Braman, the billionaire auto magnate, who said on WPBT2 Issues hosted by Helen Ferre recently. He thought there should be a place for Lopez-Cantera locally in elected office now that he is leaving the state legislature.

Further, the state representative did the City of Miami a favor when he inserted language exempting the new Miami Marlins baseball stadium garages of  county property payments, excluding the commercial part of the garages. Garcia was considering ruling that county property taxes should be paid on the parking facilities that had Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff (Net worth $2.08 million) on Thursday saying he was in multiple meetings with senior county official’s years ago, and he said it was clear the city built lots costing around $100 million, but when financed comes out significantly more over the years. Sarnoff said during he was assured by the county leaders the lots would be exempt he told fellow commissioners while thanking Lopez-Cantera for the sweet legislative move when the representative inserted the exemption in a large state transportation bill at the end of the session that got the city off the hook.

>>> Former Miami Commissioner DeYurre tests the judicial waters, faces former state prosecutor Pooler for circuit court judge Aug.14

Former Miami Commissioner Victor DeYurre is stepping back into the political world and is running as a Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge for the Group 049 slot on Aug. 14 against attorney Teresa Pooler and for both of them, this is the first time they are trying for the judiciary. DeYurre, a low profile attorney since he left political office in 1995, was one of Mayor Xavier Suarez’s campaign supporters in the 1997 race. However, that election was thrown out and nullified after an investigation discovered wide spread voter fraud including Manuel Yip voting for years after he died and Mayor Joe Carollo in 1998 was installed in the office. The former commissioner, the son of a Havana mayor, is a Star Trek fan and for years was married to his wife Betty, but they divorced a few years ago. After it was revealed, he had a daughter by another woman, now a prominent municipal attorney, and years ago. (Editor’s note: I only write about something like this because I hold judges to a Special Status in the community, given the role they play in a democracy, and this fact is a widely known by many people, and is what I consider a public secret).

Further, DeYurre also chaired a Miami Charter Review Committee in the late 1990s that had the sole goal to put a ballot issue to the electorate, to force a new election and oust Carollo from office. Coconut Grove zoning attorney Tucker Gibbs at the time was the only one on the charter panel that voiced any dissent to this targeted legislation at the mayor. And these Charter Review proceedings were only televised six months later, even while the charter panel members talked to the public as if the cameras were on in the old commission chambers. When in fact the proceedings were actually not being televised. At the time, I was the first citizen to speak once the cameras were on and I detailed essentially what had just occurred and how commissioners were acting as if they were talking to the people by camera, and nothing was farther from the truth.

So far, in this race, DeYurre has raised $183,419 but $150,000 of that is a loan to the judicial campaign and he raised another $37,375 from contributors. Pooler, a Smith College and University of Miami law school graduate is a former state attorney, who went into private practice in 1991. She has $105,835 for her campaign war chest and she loaned the campaign $100,000. >>> Here is a local blog’s take on DeYurre: http://justicebuilding.blogspot.com/2011/11/election-central.html

>>> Will state Atty. Fernandez-Rundle & PD Martinez sail to victory unopposed?

The 11^th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle (Net worth $1.75 million) in office since 1993 and Public Defender Carlos J. Martinez seem to be cruising to reelection and neither Democrat has a challenger yet. Fernandez-Rundle has $413,000 in her campaign war chest that includes a $48,000 loan to the campaign and she has expended $13,400 of this money. Martinez has raised $112,800 for the campaign of which $40,000 is a loan and he has spent $15,100 to date, state campaign records through Mar. 31. He was first elected in 2008.

>>> Children’s Trust approves $13.9 million for five Healthconnect programs

The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade is chugging along and the over 30-member board has resulted in the trust being insulated from many political pressures that come into play with smaller boards of this type since its creation in 2002 by county voters. The organization has a around $100 million budget now and is the only significant funding source to help children to develop and flourish from birth to when they reach 18 years old. On Monday at their board meeting, the group approved a $13.9 million contract with five providers for the Trust’s Healthconnect in Our Schools program state backup documents. One of providers is the Public Health Trust, Jackson is getting $1.5 million in funding, and these contracts will run through June 30, 2013.

What about some of the members on the Trust?

The 33-member board has a wide variety of people being appointed from the governor’s appointments to the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation and the state lawmakers’ appointment is state Rep. John Patrick Julien, D- North Miami, and he currently represents House District 104. However, with redistricting, the man is slated to run for House District 107 in 2012 and he has raised $41,800 for his campaign war chest and has spent $31,200 for the race. He has a Republican challenger Zoraida Barreiro but the man has yet to raise any money for his campaign through Mar. 31, 2012.

What do we know about Julien’s finances?

Julien through May 31, 2011 had a net worth of $125,000 and he lists $50,000 in household goods. His 2006 Mercedes Benz is worth $19,000, there is $26,377 in investments, and two properties are valued at $160,000 and $147,000. His liabilities are $134,000 with Bank of America, SCCU is owed $108,521, his income for the year was $25,000 from Bique International, and the state of Florida kicked in $29,000.

>>> Press release: Florida TaxWatch Releases the 2012 Turkey Watch Report ~ The annual budget analysis identifies $170.9 million in projects

For the second year in a row, despite another multibillion budget shortfall, a surprisingly large number of member projects and other projects historically referred to as “turkeys” found their way into the FY 2012-13 state budget.  Florida TaxWatch identified 159 appropriations (the largest number of projects since 2007), costing taxpayers $170.9 million.  This includes 16 economic development projects worth $21.3 million for which a veto is not recommended, but requiring further review and clearer accountability. (please see “Economic Development Projects” below). The annual Florida TaxWatch Turkey Watch spotlights legislative projects placed in the budget without the proper opportunity for public review and debate, which circumvent lawfully established procedures, or which non-competitively benefit a very limited special interest or local area of the state. Last year, Governor Rick Scott vetoed over 90% of the items identified as turkeys, and over the more than two decades of the Turkey Watch Report, Florida Governors have vetoed approximately $2 billion in projects that have appeared on the Florida TaxWatch turkey list. The “budget turkey” label does not necessarily judge a project’s worthiness, but instead is focused on the budget process, mainly instances where the Legislature has not followed its own policies and procedures to ensure the highest standards of accountability and government efficiency.

“Despite sometimes contentious budget debates of relatively small amounts of money, a large number of member projects found their way into the budget,” said Dominic M. Calabro, President & CEO of Florida TaxWatch. “While the legislature should be commended for making state government leaner and more efficient, and making, unpopular decisions in the best interest of Floridians this year, their achievements make the high number of Turkeys disappointing. In yet another budget year requiring substantial cuts, our legislators should have been as disciplined and consistent with taxpayer money as Florida families are forced to be with their own budgets.” There were some bi-partisan protests when member projects, some vetoed last year, starting showing up in the budget drafts of appropriation subcommittees.  But more kept getting added. Many of the items on the Florida TaxWatch turkey list were added in the budget conference process, after the full House and Senate had voted out their spending plans.  Even more were added after the conference committees had finished their work and unresolved issues were “bumped” to the leadership.  This year, 72 turkeys worth $82.6 million were added during conference. The report highlights several areas of the budget where questionable processes lead to numerous turkeys.  The legislature largely ignored the priority lists of the Board of Governors and Division of Florida Colleges in funded $100 million of higher education facilities.  Nineteen local water projects worth $19 million were put in the budget without review or input from the Department of Environmental Protection, despite a law requiring such a review.  Twelve projects worth $7 million were added to the economic transportation, most of them added in conference, without review of either the Department of Transportation or the Department of Economic Opportunity.

A Note about Economic Development Projects

The legislature provided funding for numerous economic development projects.  These projects were specified in proviso in the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO).  Any of these projects that were added during conference received the “turkey” designation.  Several of the projects were included in either the House or Senate budget.  Due to the focus of this legislature and the Governor on economic development and job creation, and because there is no established process for selecting these types of projects, Florida TaxWatch is allowing for some legislative discretion for these projects that surfaced earlier in the process.  For all these economic development items, Florida TaxWatch is not recommending a straight veto, but recommends that the Governor, along with the Department of Economic Opportunity and Enterprise Florida, make an assessment of each project.  The assessment should determine if the projects are consistent with the goals of DEO and the state economic development program, that there is a reasonable assurance that they will provide new jobs and a positive return on investment, and that there are accountability and performance measures in place to safeguard the taxpayers’ investment.  If any of these projects do not meet those standards, the Governor should veto them.  There are 16 of these projects, totaling $21.3 million. >>> To see what else a turkey could buy, and to see the entire list of 2012 turkeys, download the entire report here and turkey lists (one sorted by county) here and here (counties).

>>> Kristi House needs your help to ensure legislation signed by Gov. Scott ~ The Florida Safe Harbor Act Needs Your Help!

The clock is ticking! As you know, both the Florida Senate and House of Representatives have unanimously passed the Safe Harbor Act. The new measure will provide services and protection rather than punishment to underage children caught up in a world of pimps and johns. Once again, this would not have been possible without your support! We need a last push from dedicated supporters like you! House Bill 99 is on Governor Rick Scott’s desk and we need to urge him to sign this bill into law. We have TEN days left to have this bill signed. Please cut and paste the following message and email to Gov. Scott’s office or call the office with the following message: rick.scott@eog.myflorida.com

1-850-488-5603

Dear Governor Scott,

On behalf of the child-victims of sex trafficking we all serve, I would be most grateful if you would sign House Bill 99. This law will allow Florida to become one of a few states in our union who truly address the dire need children caught up in a world of pimps and johns face. These children are victims of child sexual abuse and we need to end this epidemic. Please help us recognize commercially sexually exploited children as victims – not criminals. Please do not allow a lapse in time to stop this bill from becoming law. Thank you for your support and expeditious signing of this most needed law. (You’re Name)

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Ordinance giving PA Garcia subpoena power moves forward at committee, but what of Clerk Ruvin’s role in process?

An ordinance sponsored by Miami-Dade Commission Chair Joe Martinez (Net worth $238,000) to allow the county Property Appraiser to issue subpoenas moved forward from a commission committee last week since it is “somewhat ambiguous,” said the number two staff member in the PA office. He said there “is no procedure to authorize this” action and the only way was to go through the state attorneys office. The issue comes up when the Miami-Dade Charter Office tries to see if homeowners who file for Homestead Exemptions are actually living there and it is their primary residence. It will also help the property appraiser to ascertain that same status in condominiums who are resistant to that intrusion by the new elected office created by voters a few years ago. However, a brisk discussion occurred on the dais among the five commissioners on the Internal Management & Fiscal Responsibility Committee. Committee chair Lynda Bell (Net worth $308,000) noted she was concerned about the item because “more and more power is going to the Property Appraiser” and even includes “procurement” and she said the commission was supposed to be the “checks and balances,” and “I have concerns about this.”

Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz (net worth $64,200) thought the PA Pedro Garcia, Jr., “needs to get the job done,” getting the county’s fair share in property taxes and we are only “handicapping” the man from doing his job. He noted Martinez said when he brought up the issue in the past that everyone on the dais is “under more scrutiny” than ever before and Diaz was not concerned about some of the comments he heard from other commissioners. Further, Commissioners Barbara Jordan (Net worth $1.97 million) and Xavier Suarez (Net worth $328,500) both expressed they would “Like to have the Clerk [Harvey Ruvin] (Net worth 1.4 million) here,” said Jordan. Suarez agreed with her thoughts and wondered, “Who was going to be asked to sign a lot of subpoenas,” and it “seems to make sense to have the clerk issue the subpoenas,” the former Miami mayor said. However, the commissioners passed the legislation 5 to 0 with Commissioner Esteban Bovo (Net worth $25,800) absent and spending time with his family, but there was no committee recommendation on the item, and the legislation now goes to the full board where Ruvin is expected to attend and clear up the best way for the PA to issue subpoenas.

>>> Legislation: 120384 ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE PROPERTY APPRAISER OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY; AMENDING SECTION 2-70 OF THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA TO AUTHORIZE THE PROPERTY APPRAISER TO REQUEST THE ISSUANCE OF A SUBPOENA FROM THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES, SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE CODE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE

Jordan

Martinez

Bell

Garcia

Diaz

Suarez

>>> Republican’s tap Ben Powell as new local GOP chair, vote unanimous, replaces state Rep. Fresen who no longer had time for office

The Miami-Dade Republican Party voted recently to select a new local party chair after state Rep. Eric Fresen, R-Miami (Net worth $330,000) stepped down amid the party’s faltering finances and questions if he had the time required to give to the party committee. Republican Ben Powell, a Palmetto Bay resident, is replacing Fresen by a unanimous vote and he is said to be up and running with the presidential election coming on Nov. 5. Fresen took over in 2010 after U.S. Rep. David Rivera; R-Miami (Net worth $301,000) went to Congress and had been in that capacity for the last two years ending in 2009. Rivera back in 2008 fended off a try by now school board Member Carlos Curbelo for the party post by one vote, and prior to that in 2006 former Miami Mayor Xavier Suarez tried to become the top Miami-Dade Republican in the party, that had Suarez’s daughter speaking in support of her dad, and the attorney had gathered a small slate of supporters including his son Francis to vote for him. However, that effort did not pan out, Republican Party Chair Mary Ellen Miller was retained in the position, and Suarez since May 2011 is now the county District 7 Commissioner. He is up for reelection on Aug. 14 and has yet to get a challenger, and the elder Suarez is having his first big fundraiser on May 11.

>>> Press release: Commissioner Javier D. Souto will propose a new ordinance at the April 18 Miami-Dade Commission meeting prohibiting camping and laying across bus passenger benches or within bus shelters serving Miami-Dade Transit.

According to Commissioner Souto, the law would prevent inappropriate use of mass transit passenger facilities. The commissioner particularly noted persons that have taken up permanent residence in some bus shelters, refusing housing assistance from the Homeless Trust. “We live in a free country whereby everyone is entitled to choose his or her own lifestyle.  However, we have one of the best programs in the nation for homelessness, and yet we have persons who continuously refuse offers of shelter or rental apartment units,” said Commissioner Souto. “This loitering cannot infringe on the rights of transit users for whom we strive to provide clean and decent structures to shelter them from the elements. Our bus benches are meant to serve as a convenience to travelers, not as a bed or a personal office.”

Under this ordinance, camping  would be defined as the use of the bus passenger bench or bus passenger shelter for living accommodation purposes, including but not limited to, setting up any tents, shacks, or shelters for sleeping activities or making preparations to sleep. Bus passenger benches are to be used exclusively as seating areas for Miami-Dade Transit patrons. Standing on or lying across bus passenger benches is prohibited.

If someone continues the prohibited activity after given a verbal warning, a Miami-Dade Transit official, authorized security officer, or a law enforcement officer may direct the individual to leave the train, bus, bus passenger shelter, bus passenger bench or premises of the station. Any individual, who does not leave as directed, shall be subject to arrest for trespassing pursuant to Chapter 810.09 Florida Statutes and subject to a fine not to exceed $500. Violators can also be imprisoned for up to 60 days. In lieu of any fine or penalty, the court may order any person convicted of violating any provision of this chapter to participate in transit public service for a minimum of 10 hours. Such service may include graffiti removal, cleaning of transit vehicles, and maintenance of transit right-of-way. For more information, please contact Commissioner Souto’s office at 305-222-2116.

Souto

>>> GMCVB press release: RECORD ARRIVALS AT ‘THE NEW MIA’ (MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT) FOR THE SECOND  MONTH OF 2012
Passenger arrivals at MIAMI International Airport (MIA) increased in February 2012 with international passenger arrivals up +13.2% and domestic arrivals up +7.4% when compared to the same month last year. Total arrivals increased in February 2012 by +10.0%.

INTERNATIONAL MIA Passenger Arrivals

February  2012	February 2011	% Change
733,373	647,962	+13.2%

DOMESTIC MIA Passenger Arrivals

February  2012	February 2011	% Change
839,885	782,267	+7.4%

TOTAL MIA Passenger Arrivals

February 2012	February 2011	% Change
1,573,258	1,430,229	+10.0%

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> TASKFORCE ON DIGITAL LEARNING SET TO EXAMINE FLORIDA’S PATH FORWARD – Group of state educators, parents, business and community leaders will work with national and international policy experts to help shape education’s digital future -

Press release: Florida Department of Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson today announced the members of the Florida 2.0 Digital Learning Group, a new taskforce that will focus on digital learning in Florida. Following a series of presentations at the State Board of Education meeting on March 27 in Miami, the board voted to set up a taskforce to develop a comprehensive plan to make certain that the state has the infrastructure, instructors and institutional reforms in place by the 2014-15 school year to ensure that Florida remains a national leader in digital learning.

“Technology has changed the world we live in, the way we get our information, and the way we learn,” said Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. “Many of today’s top careers did not even exist 10 years ago. Digital learning plays an important role in education in our state and it will become even more critical as we prepare students for college and challenging new 21st century careers.”

State Board of Education Chair Kathleen Shanahan stated, “The State Board urges the taskforce volunteers to think big and broad in the compressed timeline as we seek to move Florida forward on digital education. We look forward to hearing clear, directional recommendations at our May meeting.”

The Florida 2.0 Digital Learning Group includes 30 members, each of whom is assigned to one of three subcommittees: Infrastructure, Quality Instruction, and Institutional Reform. Similar to the approach used successfully with the Commissioner’s Taskforce on Inclusion and Accountability, each subcommittee will focus on a specific assignment and the entire group will convene to discuss all recommendations.  The digital learning group includes educators, parents, organization and business leaders, and legislative representatives from across the state.

Florida 2.0 Digital Learning Group
Name	Affiliation	Location	Subcommittee
Shirley Baker	Principal	Bay	Infrastructure
Pam Benton	Teacher	Pinellas	Quality Instruction
Jennifer Chapman	Business	Duval	Infrastructure
Marti Coley	Legislative	Multiple	Quality Instruction
Connie Collins	Principal	Seminole	Institutional Reform
Jimmie Davis	Organization	Leon	Institutional Reform
Erik Fresen	Legislative	Dade	Institutional Reform
Frank Fuller	Legislative	Leon	Institutional Reform
Sharyn Gabriel	Principal	Orange	Quality Instruction
Luis Garcia	University	Orange	Quality Instruction
Richard Hartshorne	University	Orange	Quality Instruction
Angela Holbrook	Teacher	Dade	Infrastructure
Lisa Jones	Organization	Clay	Quality Instruction
Nancy Kelley	Organization	Leon	Quality Instruction
Kim Kendall	Parent	St. Johns	Infrastructure
Steve Knopik	Business	Manatee	Institutional Reform
Michael Lannon	Superintendent	St. Lucie	Quality Instruction
Bill Law	State College	Pinellas	Institutional Reform
Michelle Licata	Teacher	FLVS	Institutional Reform
Jorge Martinez	Organization	Dade	Infrastructure
Lowell Matthews	Organization	Leon	Institutional Reform
Jim Miller	Business	Lake	Quality Instruction
Joe Pickens	State College	St. Johns	Infrastructure
Jeremy Ring	Legislative	Broward	Institutional Reform
Katrina Rolle	Parent	Leon	Institutional Reform
Robert Runcie	Superintendent	Broward	Institutional Reform
Cynthia Stafford	Legislative	Dade	Infrastructure
Kelli Stargel	Legislative	Polk	Infrastructure
Tom Townsend	Superintendent	Putnam	Infrastructure
Steven Wallace	State College	Duval	Quality Instruction

Commissioner Robinson also named the members of a Policy Advisory Group, comprised of national and international experts in digital learning, who will serve as a resource for content, policy and technical aspects as the Digital Learning Group develops their recommendations.

Members of the Policy Advisory Group include: Peje Emilsson, Founder and Chairman of Kunskapsskolan Education Sweden; Mario Franco, President of Mobile Communications Foundation – Portugal; Michael Horn, Executive Director of Education of the Innosight Institute and coauthor of Disrupting Class

Doug Levin, Executive Director of the State Educational Technology Directors Association; Susan Patrick, President and CEO of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning; Tom Vander Ark, Author of Getting Smart and CEO of Open Ed Solutions; John Watson, Founder of Evergreen Education Group, which produces Keeping Pace with K12 Online Learning. Subcommittee members will meet via webinar between April 18 and 20. The group will meet in person April 24 and 25 at the Collaborative Labs of St. Petersburg College. The intent is to present a plan to the State Board of Education at their May 10 meeting.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> BCC committee defers plan to dissolve Jackson Memorial International, Commissioners Heyman & Jordan had questions

A Miami-Dade County resolution sponsored by Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz to dissolve the controversial Jackson Memorial International Inc. a Florida not-for-profit after a critical county inspector general’s report was deferred by commissioners sitting in the Public Safety & Healthcare Administration Committee after some critical comments from Commissioners Sally Heyman (Net worth $425,000) and Barbara Jordan objected to the legislation. Diaz saying he had been briefed on the item and it would bring the international program under the wing of the Jackson Health System (JHS) administration, not as a separate entity, that the IG report said lacked accountability. However, Heyman and Jordan had problems with the legislation and Heyman was tired of waiting to “get answers to “many of my questions” and when it came to new community clinics being opened. She was tired of being invited to healthcare competitors’ new openings of primary care centers but not Jackson’s. Jordan also carped she was tired of being told that the health trust’s emerging strategic plan could not be discussed in public with commissioners since it would alert the health system’s competitors of there plans. “I want to see the strategic plan [for JHS] and if we have to have a [closed] executive session, let’s do it,” she said.

Commissioner Javier Souto who has sat in the PHT board for years prior to the new seven member Financial Recovery Board established in the spring of 2011 to make for a more nimble governance of the health trust. He said the international program was important revenue generator since it many times brought in paying patients from around the world, and especially from the Caribbean, Central and South America nations but ultimately the item was deferred. Here are the IG reports: http://www.miamidadeig.org/Reports2011/09.82.2CloseOut.pdf >>>
Audit of the Management Services Agreement Between the Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County and Foundation Health Services, Inc., IG09.98.2, July 14, 2011.

What about the Commission Auditor’s work plan for next year?

Charles Anderson, CPA, the Miami-Dade Commission Auditor is planning to look at the cost of charity care and patient bad debt that the county’s Inspector General believes is well over $1 billion and is causing the fiscal hemorrhaging at Jackson Health System and Commissioners approved his work plan for next year and includes this review of the health trust.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Commissioner Carollo completes negotiations with Auditor Guba, gets trimmed down compensation package of $145,000, confirmed by commission

Commissioner Frank Carollo (Net worth $707,000) completed the task of negotiating a salary for Ted Guba he told his fellow commissioners Thursday after about a four hour meeting with the man. The commissioners before they voted unanimously to bring the experienced auditor on board at their commission meeting asked what the compensation was. Carollo, a CPA, said the compensation package was considerable lower than the former Miami Commission Auditor Victor Igwe, Ph.D. Carollo said; Igwe was paid $183,000 in salary, $800 a month in car allowance and other benefits, including a month of vacation time that could be saved. Guba is getting $145,000 plus $500 for his car allowance, any leave time is “use or lose,” and he is getting only 20 days of leave a year, Carollo said. Guba will move and live in Miami and the commission approved him starting May 7. The position is a four-year term and the Commissioner Auditor can only be removed for gross incompetence or moral turpitude. Guba will be only the second Auditor and reports directly to the commission since voters created the Charter position in 1999 in a citywide election when it was approved.  After Miami had been rocked with scandals landing two ex commissioners in jail, Humberto Hernandez and Miller Dawkins along with ex City Manager Cesar Odio.

The Miami scandals politically also cost almost three decade long and then Commission Chair J.L. Plummer in a election in 1999, where the mortician lost to commercial real estate businessman Johnny Winton decisively in the race. However, after the vote creating the auditor’s post, there was an around 18-month lull before the commission set out to fill the job that had dropped through the legislative tracks. I remember this because I had a conversation about the oversight with now deceased Commissioner Arthur Teele, Jr., and he and the other commissioners had just forgot about it, and I wrote about it back then. This time around it took 10 months to find and hire Guba and the Watchdog Report wishes him good luck in his new capacity to be the commissioners and taxpayers independent firewall regarding oversight of the almost $500 million Miami yearly budget.

Carollo

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Beach officials stunned by shake down arrests of seven code and fire officials by FBI; will there be more?

Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera Bower, Manager Jorge Gonzalez and Attorney Jose Smith sat stunned at a press conference held by U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer that culminated with the arrest of seven Beach code enforcement officials and fire inspectors, plus another Miami-Dade police officer on Wednesday. Bower said the charges were ‘horrible’ that had these people shaking down a club owner for payoffs, but the businessman went to the FBI and an undercover sting was done resulting in the arrests last week. And when one reads the government report and what was recorded these people were saying, it was the casual nature of the conversation that caught the Watchdog Report’s eye, even though the men were asking for bribes. And federal authorities are saying the case is ongoing suggesting other Beach employees might have gotten caught up in this undercover net. Gonzalez released the below press release on the topic but it is a body blow to the city and readers will have to see if this bust is it, or is just the tip of the iceberg and there are more wayward officials that might have been complicit as well.

>>> Press release: Statement from Miami Beach City Manager Re: Employees Arrested on Corruption

I am extremely disappointed by today’s events. Abuse of the public trust by our employees simply will not be tolerated. As I have always done in the past, I will swiftly and aggressively pursue allegations of misconduct and corruption within our organization, and continue to work steadfastly with law enforcement to hold individuals accountable and restore the public trust. Today, I am ordering a full investigation into code and fire prevention cases handled by the accused beyond those targeted by this investigation. At the same time, we are undertaking a thorough review of policies and procedures in our code compliance and fire prevention operations in order to implement any necessary reforms needed to protect against future such incidents. We will work with law enforcement to determine if there are other issues that require action.

It is important that employees, residents and business owners alike report conduct that is not consistent with the integrity we expect of our public servants. To assist in that regard, in coming days we will establish an abuse hotline for anonymous tips to be reported, so that they may be turned over to appropriate authorities for investigation.

Jorge M. Gonzalez

City Manager

>>> Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club Meeting Date: Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

Meeting Time: 8:30 AM, Meeting Place: David’s Café II, 1654 Meridian Ave., South Beach

“Bobbie” Ibarra, Executive Director of the Miami Coalition for the Homeless, will be this week’s guest speaker at the April 17th meeting of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club.  The Coalition for the Homeless was organized in 1987 to promote community efforts to prevent and end homelessness in South Florida by establishing alliances with agencies and organizations. The Coalition is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of community leaders who have demonstrated a strong commitment to eliminating homelessness. The Coalition concentrates its efforts in three main areas: 1. Advocating for the rights of the homeless.2. Coordinating available resources.

3. Developing and supporting prevention initiatives. There is no charge and everyone is welcome to attend. David Kelsey, Moderator for the Breakfast Club.

Visit our web site at www.MBTMBC.com

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Truck moratorium extended to Jul. 15, commission waiting for zoning Bd. recommendations, says Mayor Cason

Coral Gables is extending the moratorium on trucks parked outside Gables homes to Jul.15 and the Watchdog Report contacted Mayor Jim Cason and commissioners about the further delay last week. The mayor wrote back, “It’s a courtesy to owners until the commission receives recommendations from the zoning board after its April 24 meeting to discuss possible changes to the existing truck ordinance. It’s possible the matter will come before the commission in the May/June time frame,” wrote Cason. Commissioner Frank Quesada wrote, “The Planning and Zoning Board is currently reviewing the ordinance as well as listening to public input from residents.  However, they have not yet finished their review of the ordinance and that is why the grace period was enlarged. When the board has completed their review of the ordinance, they will present their findings to the City Commission.  We will then review their findings and decide whether to keep the law as is, or modify the law based on their input and the input of residents,” wrote the attorney who won his office in Apr. 2011.

Commissioner Maria Anderson wrote, “I am hopeful that thoughtful modifications to the law will change this spring. It was never about trucks per se, just commercial vehicles, but over time, it was interpreted as all trucks.  It would be nice that trucks will hold equal status with army-vehicle trucks, the Hummers. It’s only fair…,” wrote the veteran commissioner. And Commissioner Ralph Cabrera Jr., weighed in writing, “For now, I am simply watching the process unfold.”

>>> City Extends Grace Period Until July 15^th For Compliance With Truck Restrictions

The City of Coral Gables has extended the grace period until July 15, 2012, for enforcement of the restrictions pertaining to trucks parked in residential and commercial areas. The City has granted this extension to provide more time for residents to come into compliance with the law. Enforcement would begin after expiration of the grace period if compliance has not been achieved. Fines are $100 for the first violation, and up to $500 for each subsequent violation. The City of Coral Gables has prevailed in the legal court case challenging the City’s ordinances restricting the parking of trucks. The Third District Court of Appeals previously upheld the constitutionality of section 4-411 and 4-412 of the Coral Gables Zoning Code pertaining to trucks parked in residential and commercial areas. The Florida Supreme Court has decided not to review this decision. For more information, please contact Code Enforcement at 305-460-5226.

CITY OF DORAL

>>> Press release:  Miami-Dade County, in partnership with the City of Doral and Dream in Green, is holding a Home Energy Savings Workshop on Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm (registration begins at 6:00pm) at the City of Doral Council Chambers. The workshop is being held to educate residents on energy efficiency and conservation and provide homeowners with information, resources and incentives to reduce their utility costs. Participants will receive a free energy savings toolkit valued at over $100 and learn to track household energy consumption/reduction. More importantly, residents will save money by learning how to reduce energy use in their homes by 20-30 percent. “This is a great opportunity for our residents to save money in the long run,” said JC Bermudez, Mayor of the City of Doral, “and a great example of how the Federal, County and Municipal governments can work hand in hand to benefit the community at large and protect our environment.” The free energy savings toolkit includes items such as a programmable thermostat, hot water gauge, LED sensor nightlight and compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs). According to ENERGY STAR, if every American home replaced just one light with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, we would save enough energy to light more than three million homes for a year, save about $700 million in annual energy costs, and prevent nine billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to the emissions of about 800,000 cars.

To register and for additional information, residents can call 3-1-1 or visit http://green.miamidade.gov. The workshop has limited space, and is open to the first 50 registered residents. Each participant will receive the free energy savings toolkit, limit one per household. The Home Energy Savings Workshops are part of the County’s award-winning Communitywide Energy Efficiency Campaign, an education program managed by the Office of Sustainability that engages residents to gain support for energy conservation, renewable energy, recycling, and waste reduction, and serve as a catalyst for long-term behavior changes resulting in reduced energy usage. To date, the campaign has resulted in a reduction of 4,041 metric tons of CO2e or $742,000 a year in energy savings. Other elements of the campaign include: showerhead and light bulb exchanges, $750 Savings Challenge, residential appliance rebate program and commercial rebate program. Learn more at http://green.miamidade.gov. On September 14, 2009, Miami-Dade County was awarded $12,523,700 through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and administered through the Department of Energy. The Countywide Energy Efficiency Campaign is one of 12 projects funded through EECBG. A complete project list is available at http://green.miamidade.gov.

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> IG Scott getting some notches on his investigative belt, more critical reports in the future expected given political landscape

John Scott, the new Broward Inspector General brought in during the summer of 2011 has started to ramp up its released reports and the office was recently elevated in law enforcement circles http://www.broward.org/InspectorGeneral/Documents/CJAStatus.pdf and as the former federal prosecutor and his team dig into the county and its 31 municipalities. The organization is likely to find a mother load of new cases to investigate given the lack of resources directed in public corruption and waste fraud and abuse of public tax dollars in the past. Broward when it comes to corruption has always been in the shadow of Miami-Dade where voters established an ethics commission in 2006 and the county commission created the Miami-Dade Inspector General during a similar timeframe. But the state’s second largest county lagged behind with its elected leaders saying everything was fine in the county, but recent history over the years has proved that to be false, with the removal and jailing of a number of sitting County Commissioners and Broward school board members.

Back in 2010 when this office’s creation was going to voters. The Watchdog Report called for voters to rise-up and vote for this post, and at the time referenced for around $5.00. I had gotten copies of financial disclosure forms for municipal elected leaders and wrote about these politician’s information at the time. Voters on Nov.2 by 52 percent of the vote did approve the inspector general’s office back then, a national search was done, and Scott was tapped. He has been involved for many years as a federal prosecutor dealing with public corruption cases, and prior to being selected for this new job. He was an attorney in the Miami-Dade IG office and Scott received his undergraduate and law degree from Georgetown University. http://www.broward.org/INSPECTORGENERAL/Pages/Reports.aspx >>> http://www.broward.org/InspectorGeneral/Pages/Default.aspx

Scott

>>> Press release: Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced the arrest today of a Miami shell company owner accused of creating more than 250 fraudulent certificates of insurance to help uninsured contractors avoid $2.1 million in workers compensation premiums.

Yucet Batista, 29, was arrested following a joint investigation by the Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud and the Broward Sheriff’s Office. The investigation determined that Batista created a shell company, Y&L Construction Services, Inc., and used money service businesses to carry out the scheme.  She was arrested on multiple felony charges and was booked into the Miami-Dade County Jail. “I am proud of the work of my Fraud Division and this first-of-its-kind collaborative effort between the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the division,” CFO Atwater said. “As a result of bringing all stakeholders to the table, we are protecting the responsible players in the marketplace while ensuring those who are diverting more than a billion dollars from Florida’s economy are caught and held accountable.”

Just last week, Gov. Rick Scott (Net worth $103 million) signed HB 1277, sponsored by Rep. Daniel Davis (R-Jacksonville) and SB 1586 sponsored by Sen. John Thrasher (R-Jacksonville), aimed at curbing this complex form of workers’ compensation fraud.  In addition, CFO Atwater convened a working group in August 2011 to review the practices of certain bad actors in the check cashing services industry who were aiding in a complex workers’ compensation premium fraud scheme. The new law is based on recommendations from a work group convened in August 2011 by CFO Atwater to review the practices of certain bad actors in the check cashing services industry that aid in workers’ compensation premium fraud.  The work group released its report in November.

“This is the first time that we have detached detectives to work a task force with the Department of Financial Services and it proved worthwhile,” Sheriff Al Lamberti said.  “Fraud impacts and undermines honest businesses and the criminals who perpetrate it need to be pursued and prosecuted.  I look forward to future joint enforcement operations with DFS.” After Batista set up her shell company, she told her workers’ compensation insurance company, Ascendant Commercial Insurance, Inc., that she had been in the construction business for 10 years and that she had five employees. Investigation revealed that Batista had never been in the construction industry, but rather she created the company and obtained the workers’ compensation insurance policy for the purpose of “renting” it, or making it available to dozens of uninsured subcontractors for a fee. In her tax return last year, Batista reported $14.7 million in payroll. Ascendant determined, as a result of her underreporting her payroll, she underpaid premiums by $2.1 million. >>> This case is being prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office of the 20th Judicial Circuit and the dedicated workers’ compensation fraud prosecutor in the State Attorney’s Office of the 11th Judicial Circuit. The Department of Financial Services to date has awarded almost $275,000 to more than 40 citizens as part of its Anti-Fraud Reward Program.  The program rewards individuals up to $25,000 for information that directly leads to an arrest and conviction in an insurance fraud scheme. Anyone with information about these or any other incidents of suspected insurance fraud is asked to call 1-800-378-0455. Citizens who provide tips can remain anonymous.

>>> 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.

SEMINOLE COUNTY

>>> Judge Recksiedler’s conflict in Zimmerman shooting case of Martin drawing press and concerns, jurist had $487,548 net worth through May 31

Circuit Court Judge Jessica Recksiedler is in the hot seat now that she is presiding over the trial of George Zimmerman who shot dead Trayvon Martin in a gated community Feb. 26, while he was a neighborhood watch volunteer and the killing of the Miami-Dade 17 year old student has reverberated around the nation and world. State Attorney Angela Corey, a law and order prosecutor was chosen by Gov. Rick Scott to take over the case and she charged Zimmerman last week with second-degree murder. But a hic-up has already come up since the judge’s husband’s law partner Mark NeJame, a defense attorney has been providing legal analysis for CNN on the case but is being asked by the Zimmerman family to get involved as well.

The judge brought up the issue in her courtroom on Friday, but Zimmerman’s defense attorney Mark O’Mara called the conflict and the time NeJame had with family members ‘significant,’ www.miamiherald.com and given the scrutiny on a national basis by the public, attorneys and law enforcement and the case highlighting the Florida Stand Your Ground Law that allows someone to shot someone if they are threatened is being tested on a national scale. In this case Zimmerman, after getting out of his car and approached the boy, apparently got into a tousle with Martin and ultimately fired his 9mm handgun killing the teenager dressed in a hoodie in the drizzling rain after the student came back from buying some Arizona Tea and Skittles at a near by convenience store near his father’s townhouse in the community.

What do we know about Recksiedler’s finances?

Recksiedler’s financial disclosure form with the state after her 16- months in office since being elected to the 18^th Circuit Court in 2010 states, she had a net worth of $487,548 through May 31, 2011 and she lists $50,000 in household goods. The jurist’s assets are $49,636 in a joint account with her husband, an IRA has $99,545 in it, there is $93,029 with Wells Fargo, her home in Stanford is valued at $305,000 and a 2005 Ford Explorer is worth $12,295. She lists liabilities that include a mortgage owed $129,929, Sallie Mae is owed $25,041 and a SunTrust equity line is a $7,287 obligation. Her income for the year was $117,198 from her old law firm, the state of Florida kicked in $58,676 and a 15 percent interest in her old law firm sold back to the partners in the fall of 2010 generated $40,000.

Recksiedler Bio: http://www.flcourts18.org/bio_recksiedler_sem.html

MONROE COUNTY

>>> Press release: SOUTH DADE AND THE FLORIDA KEYS OMBUDSMAN COUNCIL HOLDS ITS MONTHLY MEETING ON April 17, 2012

The South Dade and The Florida Keys Ombudsman Council will hold its April 2012 monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 17th, at Chamber South Conference room, located at 6410 SW 80th ST, Miami, FL 33156.  All interested parties are encouraged to attend. The South Dade and The Florida Keys Long-Term Care Ombudsman Council is a part of Florida’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.  The council is made up of local ombudsmen whose goal is to improve the quality of life and care of residents of long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult family-care homes.  An ombudsman is a specially-trained and certified volunteer who has been given authority under federal and state law to identify, investigate and resolve complaints made by, or on behalf of, long-term care facility residents.  The South Dade and The Florida Keys Long-Term Care Ombudsman Council serves South Miami-Dade County, and the Florida Keys. WHEN: Tuesday, April 17, 2012, Time 12:00 p.m., WHERE: Chamber South Conference Room, 6410 SW 80th Street, MIAMI, FLORIDA  33143 FOR IINFORMATION: Individuals may call Enrique Valdes at 305-671-7245 or email valdese@elderaffairs.org For information on Florida’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, visit http://ombudsman.myflorida.com.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Press release:  305-358-9572 dadeheritage@DHT.comcastbiz.net Dade Heritage Trust Celebrates 40 Years of Saving Miami’s Historic Places

Since its founding in 1972, Dade Heritage Trust (DHT), Miami’s largest nonprofit historic preservation organization, has defended Miami’s historic buildings and sacred sites from neglect, indifference, and destruction by vandals and developers. When bricks were falling on tourists’ heads in 1988 from a decaying Cape Florida Lighthouse on Key Biscayne, Dade Heritage Trust led a million dollar campaign to restore it. When the Historic Miami City Cemetery was being desecrated, Dade Heritage Trust made it safe and beautiful. When the 2000-year old Miami Circle was going to be bulldozed for a high-rise condominium in 1999, DHT led a massive legal and PR campaign to save it. When the Miami Marine Stadium was slated for demolition in 2008, Dade Heritage Trust secured its historic designation to ensure its future.

DHT will celebrate 40 years of preserving and promoting Miami’s architectural, cultural and environmental heritage with a fundraiser April 20th at the Coral Gables Country Club. The black-tie event is chaired by Judy Pruitt. Themed Dancing through the Decades, the evening will include a Bacardi cocktail reception, silent auction, recognition of Lighthouse Legend donor Robert J. Fewell, and dancing. Entertainment will feature former Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick as emcee and performances by World Champion Ballroom Dancers Vera and Vladimir Kosarev. ($200 per person; Call DHT for reservations, 305-358-9572.)  This celebration is part of DHT’s Dade Heritage Days, a two-month long festival of events at Miami’s historic sites. >>> Dade Heritage Trust, Miami’s largest nonprofit historic preservation organization, was founded in 1972 by Dolly MacIntyre as a 501(c)3 organization.  Dade Heritage Trust works to preserve and promote Miami’s architectural, cultural and environmental heritage through advocacy, education and restoration. With over 1000 members, Dade Heritage Trust is the leading voice for saving Miami’s endangered historic places.

>>> It’s prom season again and we are currently collecting gently worn dresses for our Mentees attending prom this year and we need your support to make this year’s event, even more successful than last year’s! Long and short dresses are welcome, as well as any other clothing/accessories that you are interested in donating. Items can be dropped off Monday – Friday between 8:30am-5:00pm at WOT offices located at 22 East Flagler Street, 6th Floor, Miami, FL 33131 – we are located on the 6th floor of the Macy’s building. Due to timing, we ask that all items be in WOT offices by no later than Thursday, April 19th. If you need the items picked up, please contact Beatrice Arias at 305-371-3330 or b.arias@womenoftomorrow.org to make arrangements and we will gladly have a WOT staff member pick up the donated clothing at your convenience. You will receive an acknowledgement letter after the event for your tax purposes. Thank you in advance for your donations and support – we are able to continue doing what we do, because of you! Warmest Regards, Women of Tomorrow

>>> www.downtownbayforum.org THURSDAY APRIL 26, 2012–11:30 AM -POLITICS AND ETHICS CAN THEY CO-EXIST? PRODUCED BY JOSEPH M. CENTORINO

SPEAKERS JOSEPH M. CENTORINO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION ON ETHICS AND PUBLIC TRUST: DAN GELBER, FORMER DEMOCRATIC STATE HOUSE LEADER AND STATE SENATOR: KATY SORENSON, PRESIDENT & CEO -GOOD GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE AT THE

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI – MODERATOR, DR. SEAN FOREMAN, DEPT. OF HISTORY & POLITICAL SCIENCE-BARRY UNIVERSITY >>> WOLFSON AUDITORIUM @TEMPLE ISRAEL, 137 NE 19th STREET, MIAMI FREE SELF PARKING AVAILABLE Call ANNETTE EISENBERG (305)757-3633 Fax (305)754-2015 Membership Application &/or Luncheon Reservation

EDITORIALS

>>> FBI Dir. Muller is right, ending public corruption & all forms of fraud require residents help, you can call in info vital to ending this scourge

Public corruption in South Florida has been a brisk business over the last two decades and from Palm Beach South. The arrests of public officials have continued with federal prosecutors leading the way. Back in 2000, Guy Lewis the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida told the Watchdog Report that when it came to “public corruption,” when it came to the U.S. Southern District of Florida’s emphasis. It was the federal prosecutor’s “number one priority,” he said at the time before 9/11 changed everything. Since then many things have changed but it highlighted the local nature and scale of the public corruption issue that has only gotten bigger with subsequent arrests in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties in the coming years since then. It was also this open nefarious activity in public institutions that helped create the Watchdog Report back in May 2000, since I began watching public institutions in a big way at roughly the end of 1997 and saw first hand how widespread it was and I realized the internet could create a public institution news nervous system that would be free to all that would detail some of this activity. And while some areas down here like healthcare and mortgage frauds have mutated and grown in how scammers try to corrupt the system. And these wayward individuals develop new scams, like watering down cancer drugs, or billing Medicare and Medicaid for limb prosthetics that people don’t need, or homes bought by people with no job or income getting bank mortgages, but the fraud has grown almost exponentially in size and scope and while federal assets here in the Southern District are formidable.

FBI Director Robert Mueller, III is right that only with the American public’s help can this scourge and waste of taxpayers dollars be stamped out, and while identity theft in Miami has now also hit the number one spot in the nation. Ending that identity theft fraud cannot be done by law enforcement alone because the federal agencies will never have the human assets to pursue every fraud case and this is where the public comes in. It is up to each of us to do what we can when you see extortion, intimidation, or waste fraud and abuse of the public’s dime for the limited tax dollars are all of South Florida resident’s money, not a select few. And given the economic circumstances of South Florida, every dollar counts, and when it comes to wayward politicians and other public servants crossing the line for personal gain.

If the public steps up, and augments the FBI’s efforts in reporting the graft by phone or with a cell phone video camera. Elected leaders or public servants trying such a shake down maneuver not only will have to worry about if the person they are talking too is an undercover federal special agent, but what if they are also a responsible resident with a cell phone who just calls the information in? And that identity doubt of who another person is, can be just enough to stop a public servant or official from doing the wrong thing and is why, if you are smart. You don’t speed in front of a state trooper in a highway for example and is why these undercover investigations are so valuable, because such a resource raises doubts in the bribe takers mind, and this physiological deterrent element works with many people that might be tempted going to the dark side of the law, and that is a good thing. >>> To notify the FBI of any form of public corruption call 305.994.9101.

>>> Check out the past national story in the Tribune papers:  Paperwork Tiger

By Maya Bell, Miami Bureau, January 20, 2003 – MIAMI – Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. It’s not by choice. Miami’s self-anointed citizen watchdog depends on the people he writes for and about to finance his quixotic quest to attend nearly every government meeting in Miami-Dade County. That’s a lot of mind-numbing meetings — as many as 2,500 a year — but not a lot of income. So Ricker is always teetering on bankruptcy. He dashes to his post-office box daily, hoping subscribers to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks.

LETTERS

>>> Thank you for your mention. As far as I know, Rueben Young’s status has not changed. Also – we will file on Tues, showing just under $140,000 for the campaign.

Clerk Harvey Ruvin

M-DC Clerk of the Courts

>>> The United States Supreme Court took my floating home case. Check out the following AP story http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/25/fane-lozman-houseboat_n_1378142.html

Fane Lozman

>>> Thanks for the report – I read quite a bit of the “news” and thought it quite good. I graduated from NMSHS years ago and then moved on…. Again, thanks for the Watchdog report – good luck with continued fundraising. It appears you have some heavy hitters behind you.

Charlene

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

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

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr.

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

ARTHUR HERTZ

WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)

ALFRED NOVAK

LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)

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

THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE

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

BADIA SPICES    www.badiaspices.com

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com

RONALD HALL

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY  www.miamidade.gov

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

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

AKERMAN SENTERFITT   www.akerman.com

RON BOOK

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

WILLIAM PALMER

SHUBIN & BASS     www.shubinbass.com

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

CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC.   www.camillushouse.org

CITY OF MIAMI  www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.cph.org

THE STATE OF FLORIDA    www.myflorida.gov

GREATOR MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA  www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY  www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov/ethics

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

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

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

THE BEACON COUNCIL   www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

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

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

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI             www.miami.edu

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 550 reports and Extra’s have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events.  The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain.

LETTER POLICY

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

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2012, Daniel A. Ricker

>>> The Watchdog Report are now available to television stations web pages, and all the newspapers and other media in South Florida if the publishers have an interest to run part or all of the stories. Further, in 2000, I used to have some paper’s running the report in the Spanish press, that option is available again, and publishers should contact me.  The news content will not be free, but you can pick and chose the stories of interest, edit them if necessary but you must still keep the general story intact.  If you are a news outlet and would like to learn more about, the Watchdog Report and this offer contact me at watchdogreport1@earthlink.net for further information.

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

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years. >>> Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, The (FL) CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS >>> Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, The (FL) MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED >>> >>> To read the full section large two page front page story, but without the photos and smart box graphics, go to: `I Go When You Cannot’ – Sun Sentinel 20 Jan 2003 … Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. … to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks. … http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american >>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times –The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored.  Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2003-05-15/citylife2.html/1/index.html

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

Those who do read the newspaper in Florida have a bevy of options for state government and political coverage. The dominant newspapers in the state are Knight-Ridder’s The Miami Herald (Acquired by The McClatchy Company in 2006) and the Poynter Institute’s St. Petersburg Times. Both papers endorsed Gore in 2000 but split on the 2002 gubernatorial race, with the Herald endorsing Republican incumbent Jeb Bush and the Times backing Democratic challenger Bill McBride. Daniel Ricker of The Miami Herald also writes an influential column as well as an email newsletter called the Watchdog Report that goes out to more than 100,000 subscribers. FEBRUARY 2004 – Florida: Columnists in Abundance –ERIC GAUTSCHI, graduate student, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill – D) LEADING COMMENTATORS – Resource Commentator Organization Type Web site –Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/bousquet.shtml -“First Friday” WPBT TV (Miami) TV Show www.channel2.org/firstfriday/issues.html –Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/morgan.shtml –Daniel Ricker Miami Herald/Watchdog Report Newsletter >>> 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.

********************************************************************

Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form

NOTE: Invoice is for Yearly supporter/sponsorship Rates: Thank you.

Supporting Sponsors $5,000

Sustaining Sponsors $2,000

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

Large Business Supporters $500

Small Business Supporters $250

Individual Supporter $150

Student Supporter $ 75

Any amount $

Name & Address

Please make checks payable to: Daniel A. Ricker

Send to: 3109 Grand Avenue, #125

Miami, FL 33133

Fax 305-668-4784 -To contact the Publisher please e-mail watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center for International Media http://knight.miami.edu within the University of Miami’s School of Communication www.miami.edu to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no ads, pops-up quickly and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

>>> HELP: I NEED FINANCIAL HELP IF THIS IS TOO CONTINUE AFTER 12-YEARS AND HEADING INTO 13-YEARS IN MAY:  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 and I hope you or your organization will consider helping in a small or larger way and help keep another voice on line in the media. 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.

>>> May you and your family have a happy, safe and reflective Passover and Easter Holiday.

>>> The Watchdog Report will be on Joseph Cooper’s show Topical Currents on Monday, Apr. 9, from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m., and readers should listen in if you get a chance. www.wlrn.org

>>> Correction: The City of Lake Wales is in Polk County, FL.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> FBI Dir. Mueller asks business community to rise up and help fight fraud and public corruption across S. FL

Robert S. Mueller III, the Director of the FBI since September 4, 2001 when he was appointed to the post by President George W. Bush a week before 9/11 took a road trip to Miami Wednesday and asked the local business community to rise up in arms and help federal authorities tamp down the rampant fraud and abuse of public taxpayer dollars that has Florida ranking number one or two around the nation when it comes to fraud. Mueller, a veteran Vietnam Marine officer with a host of medals including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, went to Princeton, before going to Southeast Asia, later got a Masters from New York University and his law degree is from the University of Virginia. He has served in a number of federal positions under a number of different president’s administrations and prior to being tapped for this top FBI post. He was the U.S. Attorney in San Francisco.

Mueller, attending the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Jungle Island joked at first he was “intrigued” by the location that featured animals that were predators. He said half jokingly that when he testifies in front of Congress he is in a similar environment and “predators are not just here,” but the man then shifted his talk to the War on Terrorism and the “economic predators” in our nation’s midst. He said some “of the most prominent frauds” the FBI is investigating have been spawned in South Florida, which had the first FBI Healthcare Task Force detail established in the nation in 2002-2003. And since Medicare represents 18 percent of America’s budget going to healthcare, these frauds cost “tens of billions of dollars a year,” he said. The man cited a case of healthcare fraud that involved a company called American Therapeutic Corp where they “preyed on people with mental disorders” and a host of people getting “Kickbacks” helped perpetuate the fraudulent acts. He said one person got 50-years and another person is “serving 35 years in prison.”

Mueller said the FBI is beefing up the fraud and intelligence staff involved with healthcare, mortgage, identity theft, or cyber-terrorism and in the case of Medicare fraud. “All of us are victims and the money is to be used to care for the sick, not line someone’s pocket,” he said. He also noted there were 2,600 active mortgage fraud cases each over $1 million, where buyers lied about their income, or the “appraiser inflated the homes price.” He also said people running “rescue services for people in mortgage default or underwater with their properties” are being scammed as well and “charged thousands of dollars in fees” and it is a “false hope” and the federal bureau “recognizes the impact [vacant homes] have on a family and community.” And when it came to SEC fraud and “self dealing insider trading,” they are committed too root it out and he cited the fact Raj Rajaratnam the CEO of the Galleon Group is now serving 11 years for $17 million in insider trading and the sentence is “the longest time in SEC history,” said the long serving director.

The Director set to retire in Sept. 2011 was asked by President Barack Obama in May 2011 to stay on for another two-years and the U.S. Senate approved that request on July 2011 since the office has a mandatory ten-year retirement clause that in this case was overridden. He said here in South Flroida we had are own poster child of fraud in the Scott Rothstein’s $1.6 billion Ponzi scheme with the former Broward attorney now serving 50-years in the federal Big House. The case had Rothstein and a host of associates “forging federal judge’s signatures” and it is these types of cases that had the FBI adding “250 forensic accountants,” that he likened to “SWAT teams of accountants” with their calculators and computers “but without the body armor,” he said. The attorney also said the FBI has “special agents imbedded within the SEC that helps the organization “identify fraud early on” before these scams “bilk investors of their lifetime savings.” He carped in the movies like The Sting, with Paul Newman and Robert Redford. The con artists are portrayed as good guys and charming. However, “in real life these people are not so charming” and when people are “putting trust in others like buying a home and healthcare” and then they are scammed it impacts “are whole way of life since it [the American economy] is built on trust.” And when we find these “Big cons” we all lose and why he said to the business community “your help is so vital” and that includes “protecting yourself and your company because it really is a jungle out there,” he closed before taking a variety of questions from the 350 people or so attending the affair.

>>> FBI website bio: Robert S. Mueller, III Director September 4, 2001- Present Robert Mueller was nominated by President George W. Bush and became the sixth Director of the FBI on September 4, 2001. Born in New York City, Mr. Mueller grew up outside of Philadelphia. He graduated from Princeton University in 1966 and later earned a master’s degree in International Relations at New York University. After college, he joined the United States Marine Corps, where he served as an officer for three years, leading a rifle platoon of the Third Marine Division in Vietnam. He is the recipient of the Bronze Star, two Navy Commendation Medals, the Purple Heart, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. Following his military service, Mr. Mueller earned a law degree from the University of Virginia Law School in 1973 and served on the Law Review. After completing his education, Mr. Mueller worked as a litigator in San Francisco until 1976. He then served for 12 years in United States Attorney’s Offices, first in the Northern District of California in San Francisco, where he rose to be chief of its criminal division. In 1982, he moved to Boston as an Assistant United States Attorney, where he investigated and prosecuted major financial fraud, terrorist, and public corruption cases, as well as narcotics conspiracies and international money launderers.

After serving as a partner at the Boston law firm of Hill and Barlow, Mr. Mueller returned to public service. In 1989 he served in the United States Department of Justice as an assistant to Attorney General Richard L. Thornburgh. The following year he took charge of its Criminal Division. In 1991, he was elected Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. In 1993, Mr. Mueller became a partner at Boston’s Hale and Dorr, specializing in complex white collar crime litigation. He again returned to public service in 1995 as senior litigator in the Homicide Section of the District of Columbia United States Attorney’s Office. In 1998, Mr. Mueller was named United States Attorney in San Francisco and held that position until 2001. Mr. Mueller and his wife, Ann, have two daughters.  http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/directors Mueller below

>>> What about Special Interest Aliens (SIA), known terrorists using drug lanes to get into America?

John V. Gillies, the Special-Agent-In-Charge of the U.S. Southern District of Florida for the Bureau in South Florida, who arrived in South Florida the fall of 2009, gave the Watchdog Report an exclusive interview Wednesday on the issue of SIAs. These people and the countries they come from are known terrorists committed to doing harm in anyway they can to the United States of America and its friends and allies. Gillies with over 450 other special agents under his charge alone with support staff has a huge area to cover that includes Mexico, Caribbean, and Central and South America as well as South Florida from Fort Pierce to Key West. The veteran agent when I asked him about terrorists using the drug trafficking lanes to get into the nation or to bring in material for bombs or deadly Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). He said it was a real problem and when it comes to these drug lords. It’s all about the money and if the terrorists will pay up, nothing is a logistical problem for the drug cartels. “Certainly the potential exists for those routes being used by the drug trafficors could be used for other nefarious means, i.e., bringing in terrorists and the drug dealers will do anything for a dollar, they don’t care,” said the federal agent.

When I asked about the large territory his office is in charge of, he said, “it was a huge area we have to cover and we are very busy dealing with kidnapping and murder of U.S. citizens because of the drug trade.” He said that also includes being in the top tier for healthcare fraud in the nation and we are in the “top two in mortgage and security fraud.” He said about the volume of cases and prosecutions being handled in this office, one of 56 FBI Field offices. The veteran FBI agent at the end concluded by saying, “If this was a business venture today, unfortunately, business is very good for us,” he closed.

>>> Press release: U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to discuss several policies of the Brazilian government, which run counter to U.S. interests.  For a signed copy of the letter, please click here.  Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

“As Brazil continues to emerge as a global power, it is important that its actions and policies reflect those of a responsible nation.  I am concerned about a number of foreign policy stances by Brazil, which run counter to U.S. interests and the interests of global security and human rights, and aid repressors and extremists. “It is disappointing that Brazil has not shown leadership in standing up for basic rights for the Cuban people, and instead is expanding business with the Castro regime. Similarly, rather than standing with Israel, the only true democracy in the Middle East, Brazil has backed unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state, which threatens any chance at true peace between Israel and the Palestinians. “Further, Brazil’s unwillingness to harshly penalize the Iranian and Syrian regimes for their dangerous policies and human rights abuses is deeply disappointing. “I urge President Obama to raise these issues when he meets with President Rousseff next week, and hope that Brazil revisits these policies.”

>>> White House press release: The Employment Situation in March Posted by Alan B. Krueger on April 6, 2012 at 9:30AM

There is more work to be done, but today’s employment report provides further evidence that the economy is continuing to recover from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. It is critical that we continue to make smart investments that strengthen our economy and lay a foundation for long-term middle class job growth so we can continue to dig our way out of the deep hole that was caused by the severe recession that began at the end of 2007. Employer payrolls increased by 121,000 jobs in March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ establishment survey. The unemployment rate ticked down to 8.2% in March, according to the household survey.  However, employment was virtually unchanged in the household survey.

Both surveys indicate the continuing challenges facing construction workers, as a result of the collapse in homebuilding following the bursting of the housing bubble.  The unemployment rate for construction workers stands at 17.2%, more than double the national average.  Because of weak private sector demand for construction investment and the nation’s continuing need for improved infrastructure, including maintenance of existing highways, bridges, and ports, the President’s Budget proposal to increase and modernize the nation’s infrastructure is well targeted to support the economy today and in the future. Despite adverse shocks that have created headwinds for economic growth, including weak construction investment, the economy has added private sector jobs for 25 straight months, for a total of 4.1 million jobs over that period.

Manufacturing continues to be a bright spot and added 37,000 jobs in March.  After losing millions of good manufacturing jobs in the years before and during the recession, the economy has added 466,000 manufacturing jobs in the past 25 months—the strongest growth for any 25 month period since September 1995.  To continue the revival in manufacturing jobs and output, the President has proposed tax incentives for manufacturers, enhanced training for the workforce, and measures to create manufacturing hubs. Other sectors with net job increases included leisure and hospitality (+39,000), professional and business services (+31,000), and financial activities (+15,000).  Retail trade lost 33,800 jobs, construction lost 7,000 jobs, and government lost 1,000 jobs.  State and local government job losses have moderated in recent months.  Almost three-quarters of the slower job growth in March relative to February was due to slower growth in temporary help services and health care and day care services. As the Administration stresses every month, the monthly employment and unemployment figures can be volatile, and employment estimates can be subject to substantial revision. Therefore, it is important not to read too much into any one monthly report, and it is helpful to consider each report in the context of other data that are becoming available.

>>> Press release: FORMER EXECUTIVE OF MIAMI-BASED OCEAN BANK SENTENCED TO SERVE 37 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR PARTICIPATING IN BRIBERY SCHEME AND FILING FALSE TAX RETURNS

A former executive of Ocean Bank, a financial institution headquartered in Miami, was sentenced today for participating in a scheme to accept bribes and for failing to report income on federal income tax returns, the Department of Justice announced. Danilo P. Perez, a former vice president of Ocean Bank, was sentenced today in the U.S. District Court in Miami by District Judge Donald L. Graham to serve 37 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release.

On Jan. 25, 2012, Perez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit or demand money and other things of value to influence an employee of a financial institution and three counts of tax offenses. The charges against Perez stemmed from his accepting nearly $500,000 in cash and other items from co-conspirators in connection with his supervision of certain customer business with the bank. As vice president, Perez generally oversaw Ocean Bank’s lending relationships with corporate customers of the bank.

Perez admitted to accepting bribes, including payments for expensive watches, Super Bowl tickets and other items for his personal use, as well as substantial amounts of cash. Perez accepted the payments intending to be rewarded and influenced in connection with his role in approving Ocean Bank’s issuance of letters of credit, loans and overdraft privileges to his co-conspirators. Perez also admitted that he failed to report income from those bribes for tax years 2005, 2006 and 2007, resulting in lost tax revenue of approximately $91,000 to the federal government. >>> The investigation was conducted by the Antitrust Division’s Atlanta Field Office and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation in Atlanta and Miami, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. Anyone with information concerning anticompetitive conduct in the banking industry is urged to call the Antitrust Division’s Atlanta Field Office at 404-331-7100 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.htm.

>>> Knight Center for International Media newsletter: One Water Continues to Reach Audiences Globally with Eight Screenings this World Water Day
The film continues to cross borders, physical and cultural, by showing at a variety of settings this World Water Day 2012.  With screenings spanning the globe, from British Columbia to Hungary, One Water continues to be a popular choice in media for discussing the world’s water crisis.  All screenings of the film are free.  If you are interested in organizing or holding a screening, large or small, please contact Lauren Janetos. For more about the film and related educational projects, visit http://onewater.org/education. www.knightfoundation.org

>>> All photos in the Watchdog Report are taken from public government sites, and the Report goes on line at www.watchdogreport.net on Monday sometime during the day usually. >>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for I am a low cost news service, yet I do have to live, thank you! Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times and was Best Citizen in the 2003 Best of Miami of The Miami New Times, profiled twice in The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel ran a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003, and UNC Chapel Hill named me one of the top columnists in Florida in a  multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on the WLRN/NPR showTopical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also numerous times over the past decade. Further, I am a frequent guest on WWW.WPBT2.ORG on Helen Ferre’s show Issues, and have also appeared on  Eliott Rodriguez’s show News & Views on www.CBS4.com .

FLORIDA

>>> Eleventh Circuit Clerk of the Courts Ruvin loses opposition candidate for countywide office, will he coast to victory in August?

Long serving Miami-Dade Clerk of the Courts Harvey Ruvin, (Net worth $1.45 million), 74, just got a political break when challenger Ruvin Young dropped out of the race in August 14^th leaving Ruvin running unopposed for his countywide elected office to date. The attorney and former county commissioner has $45,650 in his campaign war chest and he was easily reelected in 2008. He is a big proponent of the environment and using IT to make the office more efficient and user friendly, but critics wonder if after Ruvin being in office for decades. They question if it is time for new blood in the office, though it has been fairly scandal free over these years.

Ruvin last year was in the political hot seat when County Mayor Carlos Alvarez (Net worth $1.74 million) faced a recall after Norman Braman, a billionaire auto magnate, funded getting over 100,000 county voters to sign a recall petition that triggered a recall election and had Alvarez and County Commissioner Natacha Seijas (Net worth $617,000) being tossed out of office by 85 percent of the around 16 percent of the county’s voters that participated in the special election. Braman charged that Ruvin could not be trusted to certify the petitions at the time since the county funds some of the Constitutional office but Ruvin countered that was not the case and he followed the law and ultimately signed off on the recall initiative.

>>> Clerk’s webpage bio:  Harvey Ruvin is a graduate Industrial Engineer (University of Florida 1959).  He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami Law School, 1962.  He is an avid exercise, fitness and health devotee, having been ranked as high as 16th in the nation by the American Amateur Racquetball Association.      He was first elected to public office in 1968 at the age of 30.  Serving as Mayor of the City of North Bay Village, he became one of the youngest mayors in Miami-Dade County history.  In 1972, Ruvin was elected to the Metro Dade County Commission where he served till 1992, becoming the only person ever to serve five consecutive 4-year terms on the Commission…

In 1992, he was elected to the Office of Miami-Dade County Clerk, was re-elected without opposition in 1996, 2000 and 2004.  In 2008 was again re-elected with a countywide 76+% majority, leading the total Ballot with 542,469 votes, the most ever for any office or issue in the history of Miami-Dade County… In 2008, he received the “Defender of the Everglades Award” by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Friends of the Everglades.  In 2009, he was named the Inaugural Recipient of the “Reitmeister-Abess Award” for environmental advocacy by the University of Miami Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy.

Full bio: http://www.miami-dadeclerk.com/clerk_biography.asp

>>> AG Pam Bondi press release: Florida Recovers More Than $54 Million From WellCare in Medicaid Fraud Settlement

Attorney General Pam Bondi (Net worth $472,000) announced that Florida has recovered more than $54 million in an agreement with WellCare that resolves allegations of accounting fraud and the falsification of records. A National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Unit team, led by the Florida Attorney General’s Office, investigated the allegations and negotiated with WellCare on behalf of the settling states. Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New York, Ohio, and the federal government also joined the total $137.5 million settlement. This settlement is in addition to an $80 million deferred prosecution agreement that the Florida Attorney General’s Office and the federal government entered into with WellCare in May 2009. The DPA required WellCare to pay $40 million in civil forfeiture and $40 million in restitution for damages to Florida Medicaid and the Florida Healthy Kids program. Click here to read more.

>>> Press release: In the spirit of a weekend so sacred to so many, you might like to see just 60 words from what I said at a prayer breakfast this morning before 500 people in Homestead on Good Friday and the first evening of Passover: “I do not wanted to be reminded that everyone loves children. I already know that. But what does such ‘love’ really mean? If everyone really loved children, loved everyone’s child in God’s world, we would do so much better and so much more…. We see in Psalm 127: ‘Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord.’ Let us never forget that.” The Movement is growing because of so many. Last week contributions came in ranging from $5 to $2,000. I would hope everyone would find a way to give something. It’s easy. Just click here. I wish for you a blessed weekend. Dave Lawrence Jr., Chair, The Children’s Movement

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Kathryn E. Starkey to the Florida Humanities Council.

Starkey, 54, of New Port Richey, is the director of the Starkey Land Company.  She succeeds Ellen Vinson and is appointed for a term beginning April 6, 2012, and ending January 1, 2015.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> It’s beginning 1.1 million residents in UMSA will debate future incorporation, to be or not to be

It is beginning after five-years of dormancy; Miami-Dade Commissioners Tuesday approved 11 to 0 to lift the incorporation moratorium for the 1.1 million residents living in the Unincorporated Municipal Service Area (UMSA) that has been in effect since 2007. The county commissioners had a protracted debate on the legislation pushed by Commissioners Esteban Bovo, (Net worth $25,898) Sally Heyman (Net worth $425,000) and Jean Monestine, but when it came to the final vote. The new legislation sailed through the legislative body. Bovo said municipalities service residents better, and the issue will be “how much it will cost?” If people form cities and he believed that financial issue “will be the driver” and “we need to at least have the conversation.” He also believes the commission is better served if they focus in the future on “regional issues.”

Commissioner Javier Souto (Net worth $658,000) said when it came to incorporation the “thing is to let the people vote and represent themselves” and this “is what this country is all about” and “Justice delayed is justice denied,” he said. Monestine noted some “people may be happy,” while others disagree and “could have higher taxes” but it must at least be looked at, he thought. He said when it came to “leaders” one of the goals is to “build independence” and “not dependency” to “build a better community” and let the people make the decision. Jose “Pepe” Diaz, (Net worth $64,200) on the dais since 2002 said the commission has “dealt many years with incorporation and annexation” but he was concerned he “does not have all the information to move forward” and noted “county cops have major problems” if incorporation expands and reduces the countywide police presence. He also objected to “certain municipalities getting together” to discuss what areas “they will take or not,” he said. Commissioner Xavier Suarez (Net worth $328,500) said, “The cherry pie [the wealthy UMSA areas] is a lot bigger than we tell people and there are areas that don’t want to be incorporated,” he said. The attorney believes the word “subsidiarity” sums up his feelings and philosophy about how people should be represented by their government. Editor’s note, here is an explanation of the word: (Subsidiarity (Catholicism) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Subsidiarity is an organizing principle that matters ought to be handled by the smallest, lowest or least centralized competent authority. Political decisions should … en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsidiarity_(Catholicism) ) But his comment also took the tone of Suarez reminding everybody how smart he is, something that is getting old on the dais and that was compounded when he left the dais before the vote was taken.

Commissioner Dennis Moss (Net worth $342,000) questioned “how do we fund these regional activities?” And he expected the new municipalities “to come back and ask where is mine, where is mine,” when it comes to their share of the countywide half cents sales tax for transportation for example where 20 percent of the money is allocated for those cities in existence in 2002, and the new cities would be expected to get money from the county’s 80 percent share, he thought. He said in his district’s case, “I have a large area in my district” and if incorporation was to occur. I want “to create one huge new city.”

Esteban

Monestine

Heyman

Moss

Souto

Diaz

What about Suarez?

Suarez seems to believe he has “special status” when it comes to public office as one long time veteran Republican said to me last week. He does not seem to realize what he has done in the past is not particularly relevant in the here and now and when it comes to his voting record. He apparently wants to keep it to a minimum, and in the past. He did not vote on a range of items including a controversial taxicab issue to others like the incorporation vote last week. And he just gets up from the dais and does not vote, though he often says his vote was not needed, but it is odd behavior to his colleagues and is being noticed.

What about his fundraiser on May 11?

Suarez has reported raising no money for his campaign war chest that had around $250,000 in it when he ran for the commission District 7 seat in the spring of 2011 and he is pinning his hopes on racking in the money next month, and if he does well. This funding may prompt the man to decide to run for Miami-Dade mayor, though to date, he has no challenger for a full four-year term on the 13-member commission. But insiders are speculating the commission is not providing enough of a challenge for the man, one of 14 children, where he is ninth born, and a former city of Miami mayor. However, his past history with elections since 1997 when he was briefly Miami mayor again but that election would later be nullified by the courts after widespread voter fraud was found to have taken place, including Manuel Yip continuing to vote, even though the man had died years earlier. Suarez was cleared in that election but it has been a cloud over his head politically since then and he lost another attempt to be the Magic City’s mayor in 2001, lost to now Mayor Carlos Gimenez (Net worth $923,000) in 2004 for the county commission seat before winning the seat in 2011 in a low voter turnout special election. After Gimenez decided to run for mayor and the seat became vacant. His son Francis (Net worth $81,131), now the Miami Commission Chair and an up and comer has helped the father get back into the political fray but the father needs to be careful that in his come from the past career. He does not hurt his son’s nascent political career.

Francis Suarez

Xavier Suarez

>>> With over $6 billion in water & sewer infrastructure needed, Beach pipe least of worries in the future

At the Miami-Dade County internal budget meetings, the Department of Water and Sewer has more than just the problem of replacing a large underwater pipe that takes sewage from Miami Beach and other communities to a plant on Virginia Key and is dangerously weak. John Redfern the director told attendees that there is actually over 100 miles of defective pipes throughout Miami-Dade that was installed in the go-go years of the 1970s when South Florida was in a building boom that later went bust to a great extent in 1979. The director and staff estimate about $6 billion would be necessary to fix the ageing system and he was suggesting up to a nine percent increase in water and sewer rates would be necessary to pay for the bonds to finance the infrastructure, but that is seen as a non starter, when it came to the commission approving such a rate hike in the current economic climate.

>>> M-DPD requesting $22.7 million in new budget for ageing police cruisers, whole engines and transmissions are being changed out

The county police department is asking for $22.7 million for new police cars since the ageing fleet has 30 percent (1,018 cars) of its vehicles with “well over 100,000 miles,” and another 731 vehicles will pass that millage figure in the coming year. The department notes the repairs alone are beginning to be not worth it. Since there are also 150 police cruisers with 180,000 miles, the life of the car’s frame is 150,000 miles, and the issue is a “point of grave importance,” state police budget documents.

Police Department Director James Loftus called the old high millage cars “dogs with fleas,” and he said about eight vehicles are in accidents or retired a month. He also made clear the cost of gasoline was becoming a major issue for the police and noted the new Dodge Chargers do not have a large block Hemi engine like many in the public believe, but are the more fuel frugal V6. The current budget for the county’s largest department for the year is $548.5 million, but is projecting coming in at $581 million and this $32.5 million, or 5.9 percent negative variance is because “some employee concessions per Collective Bargaining Agreements,” were delayed in implementation and is causing this overrun.

>>> Press release: Ethics Commission supplements guidelines on free event tickets

As a follow up to guidelines it issued earlier this month for the official use of complimentary tickets by public officials, the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust (COE) today adopted internal guidelines that clarify when a politician appears at a function in an “official capacity.”  The list of recommended public purposes for attending ticketed events includes hosting dignitaries, visitors and certain residents or groups and performing actions related to the official’s position, such as introductions, presentations, ribbon cuttings and speech making.

The addendum to the guidelines* also suggests how public officials should distribute tickets that are received through a contractual agreement with a private entity in order to avoid possible misuse of public resources and bolster confidence in the integrity of government.   Distribution may be first-come, first-serve or by a lottery.  The tickets could be sold, with the proceeds designated to a public purpose.   They could be allocated to non-profit agencies, schools, children’s groups or community organizations.  The tickets also could be used as rewards for citizens or employees making substantial contributions to the community or local government.  The COE will continue to provide opinions to inquiring officials regarding whether other uses are ethically acceptable.

>>> Ethics Commission press release: In other action at today’s meeting, probable cause was found that a bus maintenance technician for the Miami-Dade Transit Department violated the “prohibition on outside employment” provision of the Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance.  An investigation by the Inspector General’s Office had found that Niranjan Seepersaud also worked for American Coach Lines from March 2007 through June of 2010, but failed to obtain authorization for outside employment and did not file financial disclosure forms each year as required by the Code.  After the case was turned over to the Ethics Commission, Seepersaud was told that if he complied with the filing requirement by the end of 2011, no action would be taken. He has failed to do so, and the complaint (C 12-08) will proceed.

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Press release: UM Seeking High School Students for Free Journalism & New Media Summer Workshop

The University of Miami School of Communication is seeking high school juniors and senior to apply for the 2012 Peace Sullivan/James Ansin High School Workshop in Journalism and New Media, July 8 – 28, 2012, a free summer workshop at the University of Miami. For three weeks during the workshop, students live on campus and produce a tabloid newspaper called the Miami Montage, along with a news web site featuring student-produced videos and blogs. Meals are provided throughout the workshop.

Now in its 28th year at UM, the workshop, underwritten through the generosity of Peace Sullivan and James Ansin/Ansin Family Foundation, attracts students from across South Florida who get a taste of college life, while learning advanced skills in news and new media production.    Students also take field trips to The Miami Herald, the Sun Sentinel and WSVN-Channel 7 to see first-hand how news is produced. To apply, students should fill out an application; provide a personal essay, copies of their journalistic work and a letter of recommendation. The application is available at http://workshop.com.miami.edu/2012/application.pdf. *The deadline for applications is May 4, 2012.  To learn more, visit the workshop’s 2011 website, http://thestatus.org or call 305-284-3694.

>>> Press release: Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) honored its finest principals and assistant principals at an awards ceremony on April 5 at Jungle Island. Dr. Pablo G. Ortiz, provost of Miami Edison Senior High School, won top honors as the District’s Principal of the Year.

Ortiz has led the most dramatic two-year turnaround of any school in Florida, successfully maintaining the school’s “C” rating for two consecutive years.  He has served for 15 years as an assistant principal and principal in schools throughout Miami-Dade.  This is his second win for Principal of the Year, earning him the distinction of being the District’s first double winner. He is an M-DCPS alumnus, having graduated from Southwest Miami Senior High School.

Denise P. Barrett-Johnson of Lake Stevens Middle School was recognized as Assistant Principal of the Year.  Barrett-Johnson is also a distinguished M-DCPS alumna, having graduated from Miami Norland Senior High School. Also recognized at the ceremony were Agenoria T. Powell of Linda Lentin K-8 Center, named Principal of the Year runner-up, and Dr. Contessa S. Bryant of Homestead Senior High, was named Assistant Principal of the Year runner-up.

>>> Press release: Miami-Dade County School Board Chair Perla Tabares Hantman recognized the lifetime achievements of her longtime friend and Florida’s statesman, former U.S. Senator. Bob Graham at the dedication of a permanent collection featuring important objects from his 38 years of distinguished public service. The Bob Graham Living Educational Exhibit will be located at the Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes, 15901 NW 79 Ave., Miami Lakes, FL 33016.

“At a time when our youth needs to be inspired by those in the public limelight, Bob Graham serves as a prime example of outstanding service and dedication combined with a solid character and a strong sense and adherence to personal and public ethics,” said Ms. Hantman. Additionally, two new endeavors were unveiled: the creation of an Academy for Citizenship Studies and Public Service, and the inception of the Bob Graham Excellence in Civic Engagement Award to honor exceptional eighth-grade students from the school.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> FRB Lapciuc on JHS challenges, $1.1 billion in charity and bad debt makes balanced budget difficult

Marcos Lapciuc, the chair of the seven member Financial Recovery Board (FRB) and involved with the Public Health Trust board since 2005, before the oversight board was reduced in number to seven members last year spoke to the Elephant Forum last month and he detailed what Jackson Health System is trying to do to become a sustainable public hospital system. He said the health system has “taught me about healthcare in America, there are competing views on healthcare and Jackson Health System is the epicenter of the healthcare debate,” he said.

Lapciuc, an attorney, with an undergraduate degree in business both from the University of Miami said when it came to politics and the issue. “Democrats and liberals seem to have a lock on compassion, and Republicans are always portrayed as uncaring and cold,” and when it comes to this subject. “The [political] party’s are not the issue because the healthcare system is totally broken and represents 14 percent of the nation’s GDP.” He said that percentage is expected to explode to 25 percent when the rest of the baby boomers enter retirement. He says the current model is “uncompetitive” and is disappointed that the Republicans had not taken a lead to this crisis, especially what are the good and bad points of the [President Barack] Obama plan, saying the “government is already involved with healthcare,” though supports the states suing the federal government at the Supreme Court, he said.

Lapciuc said patients must have a “medical home” and the only way to drive down costs is by more primary care trying to mitigate more severe illnesses and keeping patients out of the emergency room where the costs are almost ten times higher for these patients presenting. He also said Jackson gives the same level of medical care to all patients “irrespective of ability to pay,” but that is a financial drain as well. The Financial Recovery Board chair said he would “have liked to see a competing plan by Republicans but he noted that has not jelled out, and in the case of Jackson that gets $380 million in public funding and its sustainability. He said the “people of Miami want a hospital operation that’s independent and given the current situation at the health system. The recent employee reductions of over 1,140 members have to be done. For “if we don’t take these steps, the health of the community and jobs will be imperiled,” as JHS fights to fiscally break even after over $400 million in loses over the past three years.

Lapciuc

>>> Press release: The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners voted today to approve the labor agreement between AFSCME Local 1363 and Jackson Health System. This agreement immediately puts an end to the system’s furlough initiative with no additional furlough days required this year for employees. The BCC approval of the three-year labor contract agreement coincides with the announcement that the overwhelming majority of AFSCME members approved the new contract that runs through September 20, 2014. AFSCME represents about half of the workers at the public health system. The Public Health Trust Financial Recovery Board voted to approve the agreement during a special meeting on Thursday, March 29. The agreement includes more than $27.3 million a year in salary and benefit concessions.

The terms of the agreement include: AFSCME employees will keep half of their prior cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), AFSCME employees will begin contributing 3 percent of their salary toward their pension plan for retirement benefits, AFSCME employees will not receive automatic raises during the contract period, AFSCME employees will not receive flex payments during the contract period, AFSCME employees will receive six fewer days of personal leave (PL) per year, AFSCME employees’ guaranteed 40-hour work week will continue, AFSCME employees work schedules and  rest periods will continue, AFSCME employees will no longer be required to take furlough days this year.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Former Mayor Diaz takes snarkey shot at old commission, loved to have “disappear” though mayor never vetoed any of the body’s legislation

Manny Diaz (net worth $1.8 million), the former Miami mayor is feeling his oats and he crowed that during his eight years in office from 2001 to 2009 the number of new buildings that went up was ‘Ninety-nine! Not bad, right?’ he said under his watch and he was quoted saying this in a Gossip Extra in www.miamiherald.com last week. Diaz also took a whack at his Miami commission during his time in office after a magician at the event made a stack of cards disappear into thin air. He said he wished he had met the man earlier in his political career because he ‘Could have made the whole City Commission disappear,’ which was odd since he never vetoed any legislation the body passed during his eight years in office. Diaz was elected in 2001 after beating Maurice Ferre in a runoff election started out his political career with high hopes from many Miamians. Since he brought a new calm face to the quirky Miami political landscape that had the community in many ways split along ethnic lines and tensions were high.

The attorney broke his political public persona chops after being one of Elian Gonzalez’s legal team headed up by former U.S. Attorney Kendall Coffee in 2000, and from that event. He would later jump into the local political world of Miami politics offering a calm hand on the leadership tiller while he had a smoke and a Pinch on the rocks on the balcony of the mayor’s office overlooking the Dinner Key Marina over the years. The Watchdog Report back then when I was asked how Diaz was doing after being elected? I would say he puts a sentence together, the city’s bond rating was going up and he did not scare children, as I saw with the past mayor. He would later bring on Miami Police Chief John Timoney in Jan. 2003 and the controversial department at the time went over 20 months after that without an officer discharging their weapon and was hailed at the time. However, Diaz did not criticize Timoney when he received a free Lexus SUV to drive that become known as Timoney Gate for over 18 months, though Timoney finally admitted it was a “bonehead” thing to have done.

But Diaz also had his own ethical bypass when he bought a house in the south Coconut Grove area with three other men. The local street was to get some infrastructure improvements for flooding by the city in the future but the real conflict was the real estate deal involved what was dubbed in the media as “The three Amigos.”  Diaz along with Miami Manager Joe Arriola and Commissioner Johnny Winton, all friends at the time, bought the house on Badersea but Arriola put up the over $400,000 cash down payment, and that created the conflict since Diaz appointed the manager and the commission confirmed the appointment.

The Miami-Dade County Ethics and Public Trust Committee investigated the issue and the body issued a stinging reprimand of Diaz saying from the moment the deal was consummated. He was in conflict though his attorney during the closed ethics hearing said Diaz had given up so much to be in the office, deprived his wife and family of his time, and essentially the city’s residents were lucky to have him in office, the attorney asserted. However, senior Judge Seymour Gelber, an ethics commissioner upon hearing this heartbreaking argument about the trials Diaz has had to endure by attorney Richard Lydecker. Gelber had a different take to the former prosecutor’s tact. “This is outrageous,” said Gelber who was also a former Miami Beach mayor. The ethics commission then issued the multi-page public reprimand of Diaz and along with that document and not responding to the Watchdog Report for over a year where he got over $400,000 on his 2008 financial disclosure for the year. These two items along with others were some of the significant reasons he was not tapped by the new President Barack Obama administration to come to Washington back in January 2009.

Diaz with Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho

>>> Commissioner Carollo to negotiate with potential Auditor Guba

Ted Guba, the Miami Commission Auditor is meeting with Commissioner Frank Carollo (Net worth $707,000) this week to discuss his four-year contract after commissioners tentatively nominated him for the voter created post. Guba was doing a good job at the City of Doral said Doral Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez to the Watchdog Report last week at county hall. However, Guba was the only candidate that did not list his salary range on the application and Carollo, a CPA himself, is considered tight fisted when it comes to public money. And the public will get to see if the two men will strike a deal on the auditor’s new salary.

Carollo

>>> Ethics commission press release: In a related matter, Ethics Commissioners found No Probable Cause to a complaint (C 12-07) that officials in the City of Miami violated County and City Ethics Ordinances by failing to report tickets they had received to events at the Knight Center, Bayfront Park and the Mayor’s Ball, but also approved the drafting of a general Letter of Instruction for future reference.   That letter will cite the clarification of “public purpose” and emphasize that officials are not entitled to the use of public benefit tickets as a matter of right.  Public officials will be reminded they have an obligation to report gifts (which include tickets to events) and that when an official receives two tickets for use with a spouse or partner, they must be disclosed as the total value of the gift.

>>> Royal West Owner Cantens Sentenced To Five Years’ Imprisonment

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announce that Gaston E. Cantens, 73, of Miami, was sentenced today to five years’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, in connection with a fraud committed at Royal West Properties, Inc. (Royal West).  United States District Judge Kathleen M. Williams imposed the statutory maximum term of imprisonment.

According to documents filed with the court and statements made during the sentencing hearing, Royal West was a Miami-Dade corporation that promised to pay investors a fixed rate of return on investments made with the company.  Gaston E. Cantens was the president of Royal West Properties, Inc.  In this capacity, Cantens allegedly recruited individuals to invest in Royal West by promising investors that their investments would be guaranteed by properties or mortgages that acted as collateral. Cantens used his extensive ties to the South Florida community, including his ties to Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, to recruit investors to the fraud.

Cantens misappropriated money from investors by making materially false representations and concealing and omitting to state material facts concerning, among other things, the financial condition of Royal West, the manner in which mortgages and properties were assigned as collateral to investors, the assignment of non-performing mortgages, the assignment of mortgages that were paid in full, the proper recording of mortgages, and the recording of investors’ interests in properties and mortgages.  Specifically, Cantens told investors that their moneys were collateralized by individual properties but failed to inform them that the collateralized properties had previously been assigned to other investors.  Cantens received moneys from investors based on these misrepresentations, and used the moneys for his personal benefit and to further the fraud scheme.

U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “The defendant abused his friends and his ties to the South Florida community to enrich himself.  When, as in this case, greed becomes the primary business motivator, corruption is sure to follow.”

“Gaston E. Cantens has 5 years to think about how he violated the trust of unsuspecting investors,” said John V. Gillies, FBI Special Agent in Charge.  “Our business environment flourishes on a foundation of trust and those who violate that trust must be held accountable for their unscrupulous actions.” >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI.  Mr. Ferrer also commended the efforts of SEC for their contributions to this investigation and its successful prosecution.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney H. Ron Davidson. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Sen. Margolis makes her case with constituents, faces three challengers including former Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla

State Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Miami is speaking at a Beach breakfast club on Tuesday and the first women Florida Senate President is facing three challengers in her bid to keep representing Senate District 35 she currently holds after being elected back into the seat in 2010. Margolis is facing former state Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami (Net worth $31,643) who was termed out in 2010 and Stephen Starr Jr., another Republican and Samuel Berthram who has no party affiliation are challenging her for the office. Margolis a former Miami-Dade Commission chair when Mayor Alex Penelas was in office before she went back to the upper house in 2003 and later stepped down in 2008 to allow State Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach to run for the office. After he was termed out in the Florida House. When Gelber ran for the Florida attorney general post in 2010, Margolis came back to the seat.

However, the Florida Supreme Court has yet to certify new Senate District maps required after redistricting based on the 2010 Census numbers and that final map could benefit or possible hurt Margolis. Though jurists noted the first reiteration of the map was one of the better examples of what the Fair Districts amendments was calling for. She has $39,800 in her campaign war chest to date and Diaz de la Portilla and the others have yet to report any contributions.

>>> Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club – PRESS RELEASE Meeting Date: Tuesday, April 10th, 2012 – Meeting Time: 8:30 AM Meeting Place: David’s Café II, 1654 Meridian Ave., South Beach

State Senator Gwen Margolis, a Democrat, will be this week’s guest speaker at the April 10 meeting of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club.  Senator Margolis was elected to fill the unexpired term of Dan Gelber in 2010 and is running for reelection in 2012.  She has two Republican challengers. Senator Margolis has had a long and distinguished career in Florida politics, starting with her election to the Florida House of Representatives in 1974.  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 woman 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, serving until 2008.  In 2010, she was elected to fill the unexpired term of Dan Gelber and is running for reelection in 2012. There is no charge and everyone is welcome to attend. David Kelsey, Moderator for the Breakfast Club. Visit our web site at www.MBTMBC.com (Miami Beach Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club). For more information contact David Kelsey.  To be placed on the Breakfast Club’s mailing list, contact Harry Cherry.  Both can be reached at www.TuesdayMorningBreakfastClub.com

CITY OF NORTH MIAMI

>>> Council Member Galvin press release: Biscayne Landing:  What the Heck is Goin’ On?

Swerdlow

At two separate City Council meetings in March, we voted to end negotiations with Michael Swerdlow’s Oleta Partners group. Swerdlow had long been the only bidder for the land, and approval of his contract was assumed to be a slam-dunk.

On March 13, the Council voted 3-1 to reject a Swerdlow contract. I opposed it on many levels, the greatest of which was a $500,000 set-aside for a non-existent City non-profit.  Without parameters, I felt it could become a slush fund.

That same night, we directed City Staff to re-bid the land. But on March 27, an attempt to again move forward with Swerdlow was put forward. Councilman Blynn motioned that we finalize a lease with Oleta Partners and Mayor Pierre offered a second.  But that motion failed in a 2-2 vote, with myself and Councilman Marcellus opposing. Councilwoman Steril has voluntarily recused herself from votes involving Swerdlow’s proposal. At this point, we’re officially planning to re-bid the project.  Staff is putting together new development parameters.  Will Swerdlow’s Oleta Partners still make a play at the next Council meeting?  In North Miami, almost anything seems possible.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Habitat for Humanity CEO Artecona at Gables luncheon Apr. 16

Press release: Keeping you abreast of the pressing issues affecting Coral Gables.” We meet the first and third Mondays of the month at JohnMartins restaurant (253 Miracle Mile – 2nd floor) at noon.  Lunch is $20 for members and $25 for non-members >>> Mario Artecona – CEO for Habitat for Humanity Miami Everyone: Please join us for lunch on Monday, April 16th.  Our guest speaker will be Mario Artecona, CEO for Habitat for Humanity Miami.  We meet at noon at JohnMartin’s restaurant (253 Miracle Mile – 2nd floor).

Habitat for Humanity Miami transforms lives and communities by providing low-income families with affordable homeownership opportunities.  They build and renovate decent homes, with the family’s assistance, which said families than purchase at cost, with a 0% interest loan. The Miami affiliate started in 1989.  With a small but dedicated workforce, the new Miami Habitat completed four homes in West Perrine its first year.  Over the next few years, the addition of volunteers and partners enabled the new organization to build more extensive bonds within select communities in Miami-Dade County.  Habitat communities now exist in Liberty City, Little Haiti, Overtown, Highland Park, South Miami, Homestead and Florida City.  Over 800 low-income families have been able to fulfill their dreams of becoming first-time homeowners. Artecona, the current CEO for Habitat Miami, will be discussing the current and future goals of this organization.

CITY OF HOMESTEAD

>>> Mayor Bateman ethics complaints dropped & Council Members Shelly & Waldman cleared of ethics charges or under state law

Ethics commission press release: Two complaints (C 12-09 and C 12-13) accusing Homestead Mayor Steven Bateman of misspending campaign funds at a liquor store were found “not legally sufficient.”  The charges are based on state law, which is outside the Ethics Commission’s jurisdiction.

The same citizen accused Homestead Councilman Stephen Shelley of “exploitation of official position” by using a photo of himself on the city website for his business website.  The city did pay for the original photograph.  However, works of government are excluded from copyright protection, are considered in the public domain and can be used by anyone.  For that reason, the complaint (C 12-16) was deemed “not legally sufficient.”

Seven complaints were filed against Homestead Councilwoman Judy Waldman relating to her re-election campaign last fall.  Four of them (C 12-17, C 12-18, C 12-19 and C 12-23) were deemed “not legally sufficient” because they don’t violate any laws.  Two complaints (C 12-20 and C 12-21) were found “not legally sufficient” because they allege violations of state election laws, which is outside of the jurisdiction of the COE.  The final one (C 12-22) does not allege an action that violates the Ethics Code.

CITY OF DORAL

>>> Press release:  Miami-Dade County, in partnership with the City of Doral and Dream in Green, is holding a Home Energy Savings Workshop on Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm (registration begins at 6:00pm) at the City of Doral Council Chambers. The workshop is being held to educate residents on energy efficiency and conservation and provide homeowners with information, resources and incentives to reduce their utility costs. Participants will receive a free energy savings toolkit valued at over $100 and learn to track household energy consumption/reduction. More importantly, residents will save money by learning how to reduce energy use in their homes by 20-30 percent. “This is a great opportunity for our residents to save money in the long run,” said JC Bermudez, Mayor of the City of Doral, “and a great example of how the Federal, County and Municipal governments can work hand in hand to benefit the community at large and protect our environment.” The free energy savings toolkit includes items such as a programmable thermostat, hot water gauge, LED sensor nightlight and compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs). According to ENERGY STAR, if every American home replaced just one light with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, we would save enough energy to light more than three million homes for a year, save about $700 million in annual energy costs, and prevent nine billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to the emissions of about 800,000 cars.

To register and for additional information, residents can call 3-1-1 or visit http://green.miamidade.gov. The workshop has limited space, and is open to the first 50 registered residents. Each participant will receive the free energy savings toolkit, limit one per household. The Home Energy Savings Workshops are part of the County’s award-winning Communitywide Energy Efficiency Campaign, an education program managed by the Office of Sustainability that engages residents to gain support for energy conservation, renewable energy, recycling, and waste reduction, and serve as a catalyst for long-term behavior changes resulting in reduced energy usage. To date, the campaign has resulted in a reduction of 4,041 metric tons of CO2e or $742,000 a year in energy savings. Other elements of the campaign include: showerhead and light bulb exchanges, $750 Savings Challenge, residential appliance rebate program and commercial rebate program. Learn more at http://green.miamidade.gov. On September 14, 2009, Miami-Dade County was awarded $12,523,700 through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and administered through the Department of Energy. The Countywide Energy Efficiency Campaign is one of 12 projects funded through EECBG. A complete project list is available at http://green.miamidade.gov.

TOWN OF MIAMI LAKES

>>> Ethics charge dismissed regarding Councilman Pulido, no probable cause found

Ethics Commission ruling press release: No Probable Cause was found to a complaint (C 12-06) accusing a Miami Lakes Council member of exploitation of official position.   A resident of the city alleged that Richard Pulido demanded that, as a part of a municipal beautification project, trees be planted in front of his home first, and that he pressured the Town’s park staff to provide free use of public land to a flag football league.  The investigation found no substance to the charges, and the complaint was dismissed.

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Operators of Check Cashing Store Plead Guilty in Treasury Check Tax Refund Scheme

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Paula Reid, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, Miami Field Office, and Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), announced that defendants Wilson Lau, 75, and his wife, Kate Yuee Lau, 54, formerly of Coral Springs, FL, pled guilty today to one count of conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §371.  In addition, Wilson Lau pled guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1028A. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 20, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in Miami, before U.S. District Judge Robert Scola.  At sentencing, both defendants face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison on the conspiracy charge and, with respect to the aggravated identity theft conviction, Wilson Lau faces an additional two years in prison consecutive to any sentence imposed on the conspiracy charge.  The defendants also agreed to the forfeiture allegation in the Information, which seeks, among other things, a money judgment against both defendants in the amount of $5,262,297.

According to court documents filed in connection with today’s guilty plea, Wilson Lau was the operator of a check cashing store called American Quick Cash Depot, located in Oakland Park, FL, where his wife Kate Yuee Lau also worked.  From January 1, 2009 until approximately June 22, 2011, the defendants conspired to buy, sell and receive U.S. Treasury checks bearing forged endorsements and to receive and conceal U.S. Treasury tax refund checks and tax refund anticipation loan checks, knowing that the checks had been embezzled or stolen.  In addition, on June 22, 2011, Wilson Lau transferred, possessed and used the social security number belonging to the rightful payee of a tax refund check cashed at American Quick Cash Depot. According to court documents, Wilson Lau participated in a recorded conversation during which he cashed three U.S. Treasury tax refund checks knowing that they bore forged endorsements.  In addition, the Laus are heard to instruct the individual who brought them the checks with forged endorsements to obtain fraudulent Florida drivers licenses in the names of the purported payees so that the defendants could falsely document the transactions.

In all, the defendants cashed approximately 4,000 U.S. Treasury tax refund checks and tax refund anticipation loan checks from January 1, 2009 through June 22, 2011, each of which was issued based upon fraud or bore forged endorsements, and each of which was accompanied by a false Florida drivers license.  The face value of these checks was $5,262,297. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Secret Service and IRS-CID.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard P. Murad. >>> 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.

>>> 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.

UNION COUNTY

>>> Two arsonists arrested for three fires in Lake Butler

Press release: Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jeff Atwater today announced the arrest of Davario Watkins and Michael Stitt of Lake Butler, after investigations led by the State Fire Marshal’s Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations (BFAI) working with the Union County Sheriff’s office (UCSO), and the Lake Butler Volunteer Fire Department (LBVFD) determined that they were responsible for three intentionally set fires in Union County. “Arson terrorizes communities and puts innocent lives in harm’s way,” CFO Atwater said.  “I applaud the work of the arson investigators in my State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Union County Sheriff’s office, and the Lake Butler Volunteer Fire Department for putting a stop to this string of crimes.”

Between November 17, 2011 and November 30, 2011, there were fires at a storage building at the City of Lake Butler Water Treatment Facility at 410 SW 11th St., a vacant residential structure at 110 SE 5th Ave. and a public restroom within a community park at 155 N. W. 3rd St. all located in Lake Butler. Investigations revealed that all three fires were arson. On March 23, 2012, the UCSO arrested Watkins for armed robbery. Watkins confessed to involvement in setting the 2011 fires. Watkins was booked into the Union County Jail and charged with three counts of first-degree arsons, armed robbery, and two counts of petty theft, aggravated battery, armed burglary and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted on all charges, Watkins could face up to 171 years in prison. On April 4, 2012, Stitt was arrested and booked into the Union County Jail. Stitt was charged with first-degree arson, armed robbery, two counts of petty theft and armed burglary. If convicted on all charges, Stitt could face up to 91 years in prison. To report arson, call 1-877-No-Arson (1-877-662-7766).  A reward of up to $5,000 may be paid for a tip that leads directly to an arrest and conviction.

EDITORIALS

>>> Watchdog Report reaching 13^th Anniversary milestone in May, I thank all who have helped me over the years

With only a few weeks to go to May 5, 2012 and the Watchdog Report’s 13^th Anniversary. I would like to thank all the people who have supported me financially over all these years, been a mentor in the many areas of government and the community as a whole, for without that help. I would not be here today. Back in 2000, right after the young boy Elian Gonzalez was extracted by federal agents over the Easter Holiday and Miami blew apart in protests and outrage and split us a mile deep in how we were ethnically divided as a whole. I realized that someone had to try to make sense of the extensive government and public institutions that seemed to have no idea what the other large public institutions were doing or how the roughly $8 or $9 billion in public monies were being spent after this traumatic community event. The aggregate fiscal number when it came to taxes and public funding for all of Miami-Dade’s public institutions is now around $13 billion. And is down from a high in 2006, but it is still a considerable sum and anything I can do to stop waste, fraud, abuse and public corruption gets thrown into the Watchdog Report’s weekly reporting mix.

Readers and others ask me all the time why I put elected officials net worth next to their names most weeks and it is to remind these people that there are people looking at these required financial disclosure forms due on July 1 of every year and one gets to see and review a variety of financial factors. I look for people with large debts, a low-income stream but seem to live the high life, or the sudden listing of a large amount of cash. For these indications are many times a tip off that all may not be right and when it comes to fighting public corruption. Unpaid bills and other pressing obligations can push a once straight arrow politician into being tempted to go to the dark side for fiscal relief. Another is the presence of a woman or man in the picture, and the draw of someone when it comes to elected officials to someone else was once described as stronger than gravity, when it came to taking them to a place where they know they should not go too.

Further, during these years, I hate to say it, but I have seen pretty much everything when it comes to bizarre or unlawful acts by people in public positions. It ranges from being so self absorbed in ones own self importance though not illegal, to selling out and stealing clients money, to maintaining a false opulent life style, while wiping out elderly of all their worldly savings and these people are of all types in our community. Further, many people ask how much staff I have and it is just me every week writing on my laptop. But I am very efficient in the scheme of things and for the first time ever since I started back then. I expect to publish 52 weekly issues by my anniversary and I have never been able to do that physically before, but this year there have been no breaks, vacation or down time over the year while I also try to raise money at the same time. And this has been no easy task for me. However, with a little luck, I will reach the 13-year milestone and I want to thank all that have helped me achieve that landmark over the years, and I pledge for as long as I can, to keep going when you cannot and report back the local, state and national news in a straightforward and generally unbiased way.

>>> Check out the past national story in the Tribune papers:  Paperwork Tiger

By Maya Bell, Miami Bureau, January 20, 2003 — MIAMI – Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. It’s not by choice. Miami’s self-anointed citizen watchdog depends on the people he writes for and about to finance his quixotic quest to attend nearly every government meeting in Miami-Dade County. That’s a lot of mind-numbing meetings — as many as 2,500 a year — but not a lot of income. So Ricker is always teetering on bankruptcy. He dashes to his post-office box daily, hoping subscribers to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks.

LETTERS

>>>linkhttp://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20120405_Is_public_option_the_last_one_.html to an interesting article titled “Is public option the last one?”

The article emphasizes that IF the Supreme Court decides to strike down the entire health care law it might create a predicament for our legislators to resolve the healthcare quandary: Congress wouldn’t be able to rely on the private market, because that would require a mechanism to force healthy people into the risk pool. And it would have trouble relying on a federal-state partnership, because that might be considered coercive. Ironically, striking down the individual mandate, or the entire law, would create an inevitable choice: a federal insurance program that would clearly pass constitutional muster. Medicare represents such a model, which currently covers the elderly and is run entirely by the federal government. Medicare gives no role to the states and therefore does not coerce them into anything. An expansion of this program to all Americans funded by a payroll tax would be a  workable solution. In my opinion, it would be fiscally and morally irresponsible to continue the status quo. Happy Passover and Happy Easter

Bernd Wollschlaeger, MD,FAAFP,FASAM

Web Site: www.miamihealth.com

>>> Thank you for your very nice write up. I appreciate the comments.

Mayor Jim Cason

City of Coral Gables

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

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

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr.

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

ARTHUR HERTZ

WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)

ALFRED NOVAK

LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)

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

THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE

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

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com

RONALD HALL

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY  www.miamidade.gov

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

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

AKERMAN SENTERFITT   www.akerman.com

RON BOOK

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

WILLIAM PALMER

SHUBIN & BASS     www.shubinbass.com

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

CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC.   www.camillushouse.org

CITY OF MIAMI  www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.cph.org

THE STATE OF FLORIDA    www.myflorida.gov

GREATOR MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA  www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY  www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov/ethics

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

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

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

THE BEACON COUNCIL   www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

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

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

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI             www.miami.edu

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 550 reports and Extra’s have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events.  The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain.

LETTER POLICY

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

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2012, Daniel A. Ricker

>>> The Watchdog Report are now available to television stations web pages, and all the newspapers and other media in South Florida if the publishers have an interest to run part or all of the stories. Further, in 2000, I used to have some paper’s running the report in the Spanish press, that option is available again, and publishers should contact me.  The news content will not be free, but you can pick and chose the stories of interest, edit them if necessary but you must still keep the general story intact.  If you are a news outlet and would like to learn more about, the Watchdog Report and this offer contact me at watchdogreport1@earthlink.net for further information.

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

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years. >>> Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, The (FL) CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS >>> Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, The (FL) MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED >>> >>> To read the full section large two page front page story, but without the photos and smart box graphics, go to: `I Go When You Cannot’ – Sun Sentinel 20 Jan 2003 … Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. … to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks. … http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american >>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times –The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored.  Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2003-05-15/citylife2.html/1/index.html

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

Those who do read the newspaper in Florida have a bevy of options for state government and political coverage. The dominant newspapers in the state are Knight-Ridder’s The Miami Herald (Acquired by The McClatchy Company in 2006) and the Poynter Institute’s St. Petersburg Times. Both papers endorsed Gore in 2000 but split on the 2002 gubernatorial race, with the Herald endorsing Republican incumbent Jeb Bush and the Times backing Democratic challenger Bill McBride. Daniel Ricker of The Miami Herald also writes an influential column as well as an email newsletter called the Watchdog Report that goes out to more than 100,000 subscribers. FEBRUARY 2004 – Florida: Columnists in Abundance –ERIC GAUTSCHI, graduate student, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill – D) LEADING COMMENTATORS – Resource Commentator Organization Type Web site –Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/bousquet.shtml -“First Friday” WPBT TV (Miami) TV Show www.channel2.org/firstfriday/issues.html –Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/morgan.shtml –Daniel Ricker Miami Herald/Watchdog Report Newsletter >>> 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.

********************************************************************

Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form

NOTE: Invoice is for Yearly supporter/sponsorship Rates: Thank you.

Supporting Sponsors $5,000

Sustaining Sponsors $2,000

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

Large Business Supporters $500

Small Business Supporters $250

Individual Supporter $150

Student Supporter $ 75

Any amount $

Name & Address

Please make checks payable to: Daniel A. Ricker

Send to: 3109 Grand Avenue, #125

Miami, FL 33133

Fax 305-668-4784 -To contact the Publisher please e-mail watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center for International Media http://knight.miami.edu within the University of Miami’s School of Communication www.miami.edu to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no ads, pops-up quickly and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

>>> HELP: I NEED FINANCIAL HELP IF THIS IS TOO CONTINUE AFTER 12-YEARS AND HEADING INTO 13-YEARS IN MAY:  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 and I hope you or your organization will consider helping in a small or larger way and help keep another voice on line in the media. 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.

>>> Check out this week’s ISSUES on www.wpbt2.org hosted by Helen Ferre

>>>  This Week on Issues – 3/30 & 4/01 Mayoral Recall: One Year Later
This March marked the one-year anniversary of the recall of Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Commissioner Natacha Seijas.  Philanthropist and activist Norman Braman joins us on the program to discuss this and his ongoing fight to reform the County charter. Guest: Norman Braman, Braman Management Association. >>> Week-in-Review: Pope visits Cuba, Trayvon Martin Saga – We gathered a panel of journalists to discuss some of the week’s top stories, such as Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Cuba and new developments from the Trayvon Martin saga. Guests: Patricia Mazzei, The Miami Herald, Tim Padgett, TIME Magazine, Daniel Ricker, Watchdog Report This Week on Issues http://channel2.typepad.com/issues/

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> MAM & Science Museum moving forward, 180 giant sheets of Hurricane proof glass for Art Museum a challenge, Science wants extra $30 million next year

The senior staff of the Perez Art Museum and the Frost Science Museum that have new buildings going up on Museum Park in Miami’s Bicentennial Park and receiving a good chunk of public money from the $2.9 billion 2004 Miami-Dade County GOB made their presentations to county budget staff last Thursday. And both institutions want more Convention Development Tax (CDT) money in the future and the Frost Museum of Science is looking for a cool $60 million, not the $30 million in GOB money the county is planning to commit for the upcoming 2012-2013 budget year that has to be approved in September by county commissioners. The two organizations in total will get $265 million in public bond money and while being not-for-profits. The organizations governance model does not allow anyone but their board members to attend the board meetings. And for the general public and press it is a matter of a wing and a prayer whether the tens in millions in pledges are actually rock solid and will be fulfilled from a public verification perspective. They argue this is necessary for many large donors do not like it to be known of their contribution and an open meeting could inhibit philanthropic gifts.

The Perez Museum of Art has gotten $5 million in January of Jorge Perez’s $35 million contribution over ten years and the contribution includes $15 million of his own art. The new building is two weeks ahead of schedule is working to finish construction including the installation of 180 hurricane proof “sheets of glass” that was considered the “biggest hurdle” for the building expected to be completed at the earliest around September 2013, said Thom Collins, the executive director of Miami Art Museum (MAM). MAM has already received the bulk of its $100 million allocated of the public bonds but will receive the final $26 million in the coming budget year. The new $220 million structure currently under budget also includes $120 million in private funding. However, MAM staff noted the Perez donation is in the bank earning interest, and they have been “paying bills with the GOB” money and they are looking for “a construction bridge loan.” And the organization wants to raise more money since we “need $70 million to sustain the museum once built,” said Collins.  For more on the museum construction and donations go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/07/arts/design/jorge-m-perezs-name-on-miami-museum-roils-board.html?pagewanted=all

What about the Science museum?

The Frost Science Museum is also relying on private donations to augment the $165 million that is financed by the county’s GOB bonds for the new cutting edge design costing $275 million and includes the Frost donation of $35 million and $10 million from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org and there is “$25 million in transitional costs,” in the future said senior staff. Executive Director Gillian Thomas, first hired in 2003 has been a persistent advocate of a new museum and leaving the much smaller site in Coconut Grove that was once part of Historic Vizcaya Museum and Gardens that is located across the street. And she once carped at a county commission meeting back then that the museum would strike out on their own with a proposed bond, but held off after the organization was included in the massive bond program approved by voters in 2004. For more on the project got to:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/23/2658056/new-science-museum-to-break-ground.html

>>> Zen Village Master Tsai looking to help make Miami-Dade a better place

Master Chufei Tsai, the spiritual leader of Zen Village in Coconut Grove would like to reach out to people around Miami-Dade who would like to help to improve the quality of life of the community in the County. Master Tsai already has thousands of volunteers that have become members of Zen Village, which, among other interesting features, houses the only Stupa in South Florida. Zen Village in Coconut Grove was founded in 2005 after first becoming a non-profit organization in South Miami in 2000.

Master Tsai is a gentle soul and has an inner intensity and goodness that almost envelopes you when you talk to her. She believes one must take a holistic approach when it comes to trying to make society a better place for everyone. >> For more on the Zen Village or to participate in trying to make your community better go to: www.zenvillage.org

>>> Press release: Ros-Lehtinen Condemns Arbitrary & Wanton Arrests of Peaceful Pro Democracy Activists During Pope’s Visit to Cuba

Asks Red Cross to investigate, take appropriate actions against regime for masquerading its thugs as Red Cross volunteers

As His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI prepares to leave Cuba, U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, strongly condemned the arbitrary and wanton arrests of peaceful pro-democracy activists throughout the island before and during the Pope’s visit. Ros-Lehtinen has also written to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) asking for a thorough investigation into media reports that an individual wearing a Red Cross shirt attacked a man who was protesting against the Castro dictatorship.  Click here for a signed copy of the letter.  Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:  “During His Holiness’ first papal mass in Santiago de Cuba, a man shouted ‘down with communism’ and was promptly detained and beaten by Castro’s thugs.  One individual who attacked him was wearing a Red Cross shirt and savagely punched and threw a stretcher at the unknown individual who simply dared to say what is on the mind of freedom-loving Cubans.  As a consequence of this heinous action against one unarmed man, I have asked for an investigation from the IFRC and for swift and appropriate action to be taken.

“Pope Benedict XVI ‘s message of peace and reconciliation has fallen on deaf ears among the aging dictators who have misgoverned Cuba for more than half a century. “Reports from the island indicate that the leader of the Ladies in White, Berta Soler, has been missing since last night and that the rest of the Ladies were holed up in their homes surrounded by agents of the dreaded Cuban State security services so they could not attend today’s mass.  There have also been arrests throughout Cuba with hundreds of pro-democracy activists being detained and beaten and SMS text services and internet access has been shut off to prevent the activists from communicating with each other. “Clearly, the repression by Cuban security agents has increased during this papal visit and it is sure to be more violent now that His Holiness has left the island nation. The Castro brothers should be wary of their future actions because the world, now more than ever, is watching. Their disregard for human rights and freedom will not go unanswered.”

>>> Press release: Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) proposed the “FFC FOIA Transparency” amendment. It was adopted and included in H.R. 3309, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Reform Act of 2012. Diaz-Balart’s amendment would require the FCC to implement new policies and practices to promote greater public disclosure of how the agency handles the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) requests. “My amendment was in response to overwhelming data demonstrating the FCC’s apparent lack of transparency and openness with the American people. In FY 2011, the FCC denied more than 46% of the FOIA requests it processed, compared to about 7% across the entire federal government.

“President Obama and Chairman Genachowski have publicly stated that they will be the most open and transparent administration in history, which is a goal I think we all share. My amendment will provide accountability and shed light on controversies like the one dealing with LightSquared, which appears to have political ties. “Requiring the FCC to take additional steps will help bring the agency in line with its responsibilities for openness, transparency, and public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.  More importantly, these steps will give the American public confidence that the FCC is responsive to requests made by citizens and is in fact sharing information the public is entitled to receive.”

>>> Does how one drive reflect on a candidates fitness when running for office in Aug., especially with campaign signs on the car?

A note to candidates in the Aug. 14 elections, if you have magnetic campaign posters on your car, you might not want to drive like a maniac on major arterial highways. I watched a blue Audi convertible weave and zoom past on their way to the area around the county’s criminal court where I lost them on my way to Jackson Memorial Hospital Thursday morning, but it left an impression on me. Candidates should realize all it takes is one video of the way they drive or handle themselves in public to destroy a campaign and with the internet. Candidates should beware of such transgressions because it may come back to haunt you.

>>> Knight Center for International Media newsletter: One Water Continues to Reach Audiences Globally with Eight Screenings this World Water Day

The film continues to cross borders, physical and cultural, by showing at a variety of settings this World Water Day 2012.  With screenings spanning the globe, from British Columbia to Hungary, One Water continues to be a popular choice in media for discussing the world’s water crisis.  All screenings of the film are free.  If you are interested in organizing or holding a screening, large or small, please contact Lauren Janetos. For more about the film and related educational projects, visit http://onewater.org/education. www.knightfoundation.org

>>> All photos in the Watchdog Report are taken from public government sites, and the Report goes on line at www.watchdogreport.net on Monday sometime during the day usually. >>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for I am a low cost news service, yet I do have to live, thank you! Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times and was Best Citizen in the 2003 Best of Miami of The Miami New Times, profiled twice in The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel ran a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003, and UNC Chapel Hill named me one of the top columnists in Florida in a  multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on the WLRN/NPR showTopical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also numerous times over the past decade. Further, I am a frequent guest on WWW.WPBT2.ORG on Helen Ferre’s show Issues, and have also appeared on  Eliott Rodriguez’s show News & Views on www.CBS4.com .

FLORIDA

>>> How many dominoes will fall with FL House & Senate new districts, pitting peers, and what of FL Supreme Court’s possible maps for Senate?

While the Florida House redistricting maps have gotten the green light from the Florida Supreme Court, a redo of a past thrown out Senate redistricting map insiders say will have difficulty getting judiciary approval and since it is the upper body’s legislature’s second attempt. If these new proposed districts are not approved by the high court this time. The Court will draw the districts and it must be done soon since the candidates filing deadlines are fast approaching the June 8 deadline.

One veteran political statewide operative last week said once the maps are approved there will “be a lot of political dominoes” falling because some state legislators will face a opposing legislator or they may no longer live in the district after these final maps are drawn. The Court and legislators now have to work within the confines of the Fair Districts Amendments added to the Florida Constiution in 2010, after the legislation passed by over 60 percent of statewide voters that went to the polls back then. The new amendments call for legislative districts in both the state and Congress to be more compact and less political in nature but achieving that goal has been elusive in the Florida Senate. Now candidates can only wait to hear the high court’s decision, but it is safe to say. Many state lawmakers and congressional candidates are sitting on pins and needles to see if they have a political future or not, and once these maps are finally settled. It remains to be seen what the elected field will produce in some of these contested future races in the Florida House and Senate.

>>> Press release:  Gov. Scott announced the designation of David Wilkins as Florida’s Chief Operating Officer for Government Operations.  Wilkins will serve in this role in addition to his role as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

“I have asked David to serve in a chief operating officer role for the state, taking an enterprise-wide approach to improving agency productivity and reducing government bureaucracy,” said Governor Scott.  “David is uniquely qualified for this new role and I have asked him to replicate many of the operations, improvements and cost-cutting initiatives he has implemented as Secretary of DCF.  While Wilkins will serve as the lead, I have also asked all agencies and agency heads to actively participate in this state productivity and efficiency initiative.”

In his first year as secretary of DCF, Wilkins reduced the agency’s overall administrative costs by nearly $59 million and streamlined the delivery of administrative services by eliminating redundancies and standardizing processes.  He also enhanced organizational performance through the implementation of financial, technology and human resource management improvements.  Wilkins also introduced performance measure scorecards and launched operational redesigns of the child protection investigation and welfare eligibility programs. “I look forward to this additional role and am committed to increasing efficiencies in state government and protecting tax-payers hard earned money,” said Wilkins. Wilkins has more than 30 years of management experience and has served in numerous management roles throughout his career. Wilkins, his wife and their three daughters reside in Tallahassee, Florida, and are active in numerous charitable and community organizations.

>>> Press release: State Sen. Margolis press release: We have all heard about the tragic death of 17 year old Trayvon Martin.  At the center of his shooting is Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law.  One month since the tragic death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, the Sanford Police cite Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law as the reason for not arresting the shooter, George Zimmerman

Passed in 2005, the “Stand Your Ground” law was intended to help protect a person who had a reasonable fear of imminent death.  No one could have anticipated the law would be used to defend the actions of Mr. Zimmerman.  From the facts we know, after being explicitly told by the Sanford Police not to follow, Mr. Zimmerman pursued and shot Trayvon.  Both Former Governor Jeb Bush, who signed the bill into law, and Former Senator Durell Peaden, the bill’s sponsor, have said that the law was not intended to let an armed person pursue and shoot an unarmed teen.  How can you have a reasonable fear for your life when you disobey the police and chase after an unarmed child?

Stand your ground does not mean you can disobey the police, pursue, and confront an unarmed teen. I am officially announcing to you, my constituents, that changing or repealing Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law will be my top priority next legislative session. Protecting an individual’s rights to defend themselves in their home is extremely important to me, however not at the sacrifice of our kids.  This was not the intent of the law I supported and I will not stand idly by when I have the power to help protect my constituents. I have a grandson the same age as Trayvon Martin and could not imagine this happening in our back yard.  However, if this were to happen in one of the cities in District 35 and the Police negligently failed to investigate, I will personally call upon the Governor and State Attorney to step in immediately.  Let me be perfectly clear, no teen, whether black, Hispanic, or white should be placed in a position of harm when we have the ability to change the law. As always, I am grateful that you allow me to continue representing you!

>>> Press release: Volunteer Opportunity – Florida’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program needs volunteers to join its corps of dedicated advocates who protect the rights of elders who live in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult family care homes.  The program’s local councils are seeking additional volunteers to identify, investigate and resolve residents’ concerns.  Special training and certification is provided. All interested individuals who care about protecting the health, safety, welfare and rights of long-term care facility residents — who often have no one else to advocate for them — are encouraged to call toll-free 1-888-831-0404 or visit the program’s website at http://ombudsman.myflorida.com.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> When it comes to lifting incorporation moratorium, BCC Tuesday “will beat this to death,” says Bovo

Incorporation will be the watchword of the day at Tuesday’s Miami-Dade County Commission and the number of people on the 13- member dais in support of creating new municipalities has been growing after the issue was put into a moratorium in 2007. The Miami-Dade Unincorporated Municipal Service Area (UMSA) has been an ongoing issue with county commissioners but shelved back then but with recalled Commissioner Natacha Seijas being one of the ringleaders against the idea, a counter movement has grown. However, this is no small move since UMSA has over 1.07 million residents and is 43.6 percent of the county’s total 2.5 million residents that includes 30.1 percent of the county’s property tax rolls coming in at $57.9 billion in the area. It is the 800 lb. gorilla political issue that the commission has yet to fully address over the decades. Yet the area is larger than any current municipality that exists and has split local residents over incorporating new cities and towns or keeping the status quo.

County Commissioner Esteban Bovo, Jr., at a preliminary budget department meeting concerning the Miami-Dade Police Department last week when the issue of incorporation came–up and its impact on the county’s overall budget. He said the legislation lifting the moratorium while controversial he is introducing, the former state legislator said.  He “believes there may be a lifting of incorporation on the commission” since there are new members on the dais. He asked budget staff. “If that step is taken” he wanted to know if “that will reduce financial revenue for the county and [if that happens] can we still accomplish serving that area?” he wondered. However, Bovo moved on after a brief explanation saying in his experience on the county commission since being elected in May after serving in the state House. “We will beat this to death on Tuesday,” he thought and the 13-member Commission probable will just do that when it comes to this matter that has a broad range of policy ramifications. Bovo, and Commissioners Sally Heyman and Jean Monestime are sponsoring the new incorporation legislation lifting the moratorium.

Esteban

>>> Here is the agenda item:   PDF ORDINANCE RELATING TO INCORPORATION; REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 07-120 OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA; DELETING PROVISIONS THAT SUSPENDED PROCESSING AND CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED INCORPORATIONS; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY, EXCLUSION FROM THE CODE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE

>>> Historic Vizcaya needs some help in funding, Crown Jewel structure of the Americas

Miami-Dade’s most treasured cultural institution’s including one of the worlds 30 most important structures that include the Forbidden City in the list is teetering on losing its accreditation in the fall if a more constant revenue stream is found and has staff down to a skeleton crew, with pumps installed in 1910s still in operation. The Historic Vizcaya Mansion and Gardens in Coconut Grove has been hammered with county funding cuts over the last few years and with a new glass roof being installed.  The number of events like weddings and coming of age events and the attendant revenues has slowed, said Joel Hoffman the historic property’s curator.  He said soberly that the crown jewel of Miami-Dade historical sites needs help and most recently hosted the Congressional Black Caucus as well as a host of presidents of over nations over the decades.

A Vizcaya Trust member also told county budget staff that the complex is “internationally know” and “is the most perfect home ever built” in the Americas and if they lose accreditation there “will be grants” they will not be able to apply for, the attorney and volunteer said. Also Vizcaya is anticipating a $817,000 deficit, that includes $189,000 in carryover funding in its $5.3 million budget for next year and any further funding cuts “would devastate maintenance and presentation of this Nation Historic Landmark and tourist attraction,” state budget documents. Thus, Vizcaya needs fiscal help and if there are any philanthropists out their in preserving this historic structure and gardens go to http://www.vizcayamuseum.org/

What about the Science Museum property next door?

The Science Museum, which is getting a new building on Bicentennial Park and will be vacated, is part of the Deering Estate and is hoped to become again part of Vizcaya that has some county GOB money in it to restore the buildings, but the public school district is also looking at the buildings. However, deed restrictions favor the Vizcaya absorption of the facilities but some discussions have taken place about it becoming a school. However, the Watchdog Report contacted public schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho on the subject and he wrote back. “There were some discussions regarding an internship program at the museum to start this year. The concept of a school at that site is impeded by deed restrictions associated with the property,” he wrote back.

>>> Kendall soccer field to get 28 foot tall soccer trophy, will be easily seen by residents

The Miami-Dade Art in Public Places Trust has authorized a 28-foot high trophy with a black and white checkered soccer ball at the top to be assigned to the new Kendall Soccer Fields. The giant trophy in the future will be an iconic and easily visible marker of the playing fields that will be illuminated at night for all to see in the surrounding area. This occurred because any time county money is used for major capital projects, a small percentage of the money goes to pieces of public art to be installed. Some of the commissioned past projects over the decades range from pieces at the new Miami Marlins stadium and at Jackson South where over a million in art was commissioned for the hospital that had a over $100 million expansion. In the case of the soccer trophy, the cost was around $60,000 and it did look good when it was shown during a presentation to trustees a few weeks ago.

>>> Press release: Miami-Dade Community Relations Board urges positive change in wake of Trayvon Martin’s death – Dr. Walter T. Richardson, chair of Miami-Dade’s Community Relations Board (CRB), distributed a position paper to the community at large calling for justice for Trayvon Martin’s family, as well as supporting the re-examination of Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. CRB officials, who seek to dispel and prevent community tensions and conflict, have already sent their condolences to the Martin family, including Ronald Fulton, Trayvon’s uncle and member of the CRB Executive Committee. In the paper, Dr. Richardson expressed that while the call for justice has been heard loud and clear in Miami-Dade, he urges residents not to let their outrage turn to revenge and violence. He praised local high school and college students who have led movements for peace in honor of Trayvon.

Dr. Richardson also outlined actions the CRB supports in the aftermath of Trayvon’s death: review of the “Stand Your Ground” law by state officials, full cooperation by the Sanford Police Department in the state’s investigation of the case, Sanford officials being receptive to the recommendations of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Community Relations Service, and DOJ prosecutors protecting the civil rights of both Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman fairly.

“I’d like to be exposed to a credible investigation, a blind carriage of justice, and a comprehensive review of all laws that affect this case,” said Dr. Richardson. >> For more information, please contact the Miami-Dade Community Relations Board at 305-375-5730.

>>> GMCVB press release: RECORD LEI$URE AND HO$PITALITY JOB$ IN GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES DURING MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2012 AND 21ST CONSECUTIVE MONTH OF JOB INCREASES

Greater MIAMI’s Leisure and Hospitality Industry JOBS reached a RECORD high with an increase of +4.6% in February 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. This is the 21st consecutive month of increased employment in Greater MIAMI’s Leisure and Hospitality industry.  In February 2012, a RECORD 115,000 people were employed in Greater MIAMI’s Leisure and Hospitality sector compared to 110,000 for February 2011.

GREATER MIAMI LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY JOB$

February 2012	February 2011	% Change
115,000 jobs	110,000  jobs	+ 4.6%

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Supt. Carvalho goes for the gold, raises $7 million in federal challenge, district gets $70 million back says board Vice Chair Feldman

Alberto Carvalho, the nation’s fourth largest public schools top administrator hit the bulls eye by raising $7 million in funding that is matched by $70 million from the federal government in a funding education challenge created by the President Barack Obama administration. Carvalho has used every opportunity to get this challenge out to the public and donors, and he was successful in bringing home the federal bacon for public education, said school board Vice Chair Lawrence Feldman last Wednesday while attending the Miami State of the City delivered by Mayor Tomas Regalado.  Carvalho has been a dynamo since taking the reins of the public school district in Sept. 2008 replacing Superintendent Rudy Crew.

And he saw the fiscal issues hitting the district, state and local government way ahead of others and he immediately started paring down employees, reviewing every single contract, and for the last few years. He has mitigated some of the draconian funding cuts that have come from state officials, though this year there is a $1 billion increase at the state level, but after three years of cuts, funding still lags behind. The public schools under Carvalho’s watch have created a variety of Magnet Schools and has expanded charter schools edging to about 100 in number but that has cut some 50,000 students from the public schools since the 1990s when these were first started, and has decreased the attendant per student state funding.

>>> Press release: The State Board of Education announced today that Holmes Elementary School and Booker T. Washington, Miami Central, and Miami Edison senior high schools have demonstrated adequate progress to exit “Intervene” status under the state’s Differentiated Accountability compliance requirements. The schools have met state-mandated requirements related to school improvement planning, educator quality, curriculum alignment, Florida’s Continuous Improvement Model, and monitoring processes and plans. “Three short years after a threat of closure by the state, these iconic schools today stand as beacons of hope and opportunity for the communities they represent,” said Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho.  “Perseverance, determination and a laser-like-focus on instruction, at the hands of expert teachers and leaders and with grassroots community support, have transformed not only the quality of education in these environments, but the future standard of living their students will enjoy.”

The schools will officially exit intervene status on July 1, and will not be at risk of closing. “This is wonderful news for our students and teachers who have worked incredibly hard,” said School Board Chair Perla Tabares Hantman. “This is the right decision for our children, our schools, and our community. It’s important that students and teachers have every opportunity to demonstrate that they can meet rigorous instructional standards and excel academically.” School Board Member Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall said, “I am delighted that our team of educators, parents, and community leaders banded together to show love, dedication, and respect for our children. When that commitment is shown our children are successful. They no longer have to feel that they are not learners.”

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> JHS gets strategy body blow with death of VP Szaro, last thing Migoya needed at this critical transformation stage

The death of Donn Szaro on Saturday, 61, the chief strategy officer of Jackson Health System is a body blow to the organization since he was deeply involved in the crafting of a recovery strategy at the health trust that is currently laying off or not filling over 1,100 positions, a large number are nurses, and his death in the middle of this transition impacts all of South Florida residents. Szaro, who came out of retirement to join President and CEO Carlos Migoya as part of the new management team last year in the early summer had settled into the job and an important strategic retreat was being planned in the future that he will now not be a part of. I sat next to Szaro on Thursday morning at a special Financial Recovery Board meeting and while a big man and over weight. He had good color and the cause of death is unknown at this point but it has devastated anyone that has known him.

In my case, I am shocked and saddened at the man’s death especially during this critical time that has the health system with only 15 days of cash and having lost well over $420 million over the last three years, and will do over $1 billion in charity care including bad debt losses. Migoya has lost a friend as well, the two men were a team one year during the United Way of Miami-Dade’s yearly fund raising drive, and they were comfortable with each other and their thought process. Now Migoya a former banker brought in this past May has to quickly cast a new net to find a top-notch replacement for this critical role at a time the president already has his hands full.

Jackson is a colossal health system with a relationship with the University of Miami Miller Medical School and Florida International University new medical school. The institution had 9,800 employees in February, but also lost $3 million for the month, and will “be still tight for cash in June,” said staff at the monthly FRB meeting Monday. However, their was some good news last week after state legislative Medicaid cuts could have cut state funding by around $40 million were averted with the Florida Legislation session over. And State Rep. Michael Bileca, R-Miami, a FRB board member told his colleagues that part of this success in keeping the Miami-Dade delegation together on Jackson which accounts for 17 percent of the state legislatures representatives. He said it was the new management team Migoya had assembled. And that fact created, “A fundamental change [during this Legislative] session showing it was not business as usual at Jackson,” said Bileca, a CPA.  Now Migoya has to act adroitly since this void exists in his management team going into this critical juncture for the health trust.

>>> Press release: JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM MOURNS LOSS OF CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER DONN SZARO

The Jackson Health System family is mourning the death of executive vice president and chief strategy officer Donn Szaro, who died March 31 in Sarasota, Fla. Szaro, one of the nation’s leading experts on healthcare accounting and strategic management, was 61. Szaro came out of retirement in 2011 to join Jackson’s transformation team because he believed in the health system’s mission and recognized its potential for long-term success.

“Donn was more than a partner; he was friend,” said Carlos A. Migoya, president & CEO of Jackson Health System. “At a time when Jackson – and me personally – needed a champion, Donn put his retirement aside to join in our important work.”

Prior to joining Jackson in 2011, Szaro had a distinguished 35-year career with Ernst & Young LLP, founding its Global Health Science Industry Practice. He twice led practices into billion-dollar annual revenues, first with domestic health care and later with the global health science practice. He was service partner for some of the nation’s largest hospitals, a coordinating partner at major biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and captain of the team that audited the largest-ever American healthcare company. Prior to that, he worked as an independent hospital consultant and was often recruited to speak as an expert on hospital business strategy throughout the United States and in Europe, China, India, Singapore and Australia.

Szaro’s storied career was dedicated to reinventing modern healthcare for a new era. In doing so, he worked with more than 500 hospitals across the country providing strategy, financial advice and operational assistance. He touched countless trendsetters in the industry and he made a lasting impact on the healthcare industry. A third-generation Floridian, Donn is a former Florida State University Seminole football player who graduated with an undergraduate degree in accounting. He completed advanced executive studies at Yale, Northwestern, Duke and Harvard universities – and then went on to serve in leadership roles at some of the state’s most prestigious civic organizations: the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Miami-Dade, the FSU College of Business and the FSU Seminole Boosters. He has also been an advisor to the healthcare board of governors at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “Jackson Health System sends our deepest condolences to the Szaro family and we recommit ourselves to honoring Donn’s legacy in the work we do each and every day,” Migoya said. Memorial services are pending.

>>> FRB looking for professional liaison for board & administration

Marcos Lapciuc, the FRB chairman is creating a “board liaison to management” for the oversight board and he has asked FRB Member Mojdeh Khaghan, an attorney to head the subcommittee doing the search for the person. The chair believes this new position in the future will “improve board governance” and the person will be allowed to have “full participatory powers” in management discussions. He wants the person to have hospital expertise and wants Khaghan to draft a job description after consulting with the other six board members. She will act as the headhunter in getting the word out for people to apply, then review the people’s resumes along with two other FRB members, and they would then bring five finalists to the board for their consideration in the months ahead.

Khaghan

Lapciuc

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Whirly birds coming back to Watson Island base with MSEA vote last week

The Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority Thursday voted on a new contract after ten years of discussion to allow a company to run a helicopter service on Watson Island, something done in the past but discontinued years ago. Linden Services Corp., will manage the heliport but will not fly the whirly birds themselves and the representative noted this is a first step. And in the future will include getting approval for the base by a number of government agencies before the flights start. And Miami-Dade’s “DERM Department is one of the difficult ones,” when it comes to these approvals said the companies top official when it came to getting the aircraft back into local service. Linden will be investing $250,000 initially and another $100,000 in the coming years and that is why the rent to the city is only $2,200 a month for the first two-years for the waterfront location.

Rick Guthrie, a member of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department said that the new base was needed in the county speaking as a citizen and supporter. He noted over the decades  Watson Island and the aerial service has been used in past television shows like “Miami Vice and CSI Miami,” he said and facility would highlight the Miami skyline and the city’s image as a World Class City. Commission Chair Francis Suarez during the discussion noted “we debated the rent for a few of the past meetings” saying “no one wanted to give away the farm” and they had spent $20,000 “on our own appraisal,” he said. In addition, Commissioner Willy Gort during the discussion noted when it came to the value of the site. “It depended on the use of the land,” when it came to any valuation.

Gort

Suarez

>>> Gov. Scott announced the reappointment of Nola A. Garcia de Quevedo and the appointments of Dr. Michelle D. Ramba-Roddenberry and Richard C. Wohlfarth to the Board of Professional Engineers.

Garcia de Quevedo, 54, of Miami, is the president of Star Bot Inc. She is reappointed for a term beginning March 27, 2012, and ending October 31, 2014.

Dr. Ramba-Roddenberry, 40, of Tallahassee, is an assistant professor at

Florida A&M University – Florida State University College of Engineering. She is appointed for a term beginning March 27, 2012, and ending October 31, 2013.

Wohlfarth, 60, of Lake Mary, is a site civil engineer and chief operating officer for IBI Group Inc. He is appointed for a term beginning March 27, 2012, and ending

October 31, 2013. >>> The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

CITY OF HIALEAH

>>> Press release: Sixteen South Florida Residents Charged with Operating Hialeah Commercial Aircraft Cockpit Window Repair Company without FAA Certifications

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Marlies T. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, Region 4, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Richard Walker, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, Alysa D. Erichs, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Cynthia R. Lorenzo, Interim Executive Director, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, and Sergio Lopez, Manager, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) South Florida Flight Standards District Office, announced the unsealing of a twenty-one count indictment charging sixteen defendants in connection with the continued operation of ATR Aircraft Transparencies Repair Inc., a Hialeah-based company that overhauled large commercial aircraft cockpit windows, despite having had their Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificate to operate revoked.

Arrested today were defendants Rangel Fernandez, 41, of North Miami Beach, Ivan Fernandez, 66, of Miami Lakes, Dennis Romero, 48, of Hialeah, Lisbet Gonzalez, 43, of North Miami Beach, Luis Balarezo, 48, of Miami Lakes, Saul Hernandez, 46, of Hialeah, Hermes Reyes, 58, of Hialeah, Pedro Leon, 47, of Hialeah, Aileen Bermudez, 57, of Hialeah, Geovanni Hernandez, 29, of Hialeah, Francisca Diaz, 53, of Hialeah Gardens, Chabela Aneiros, 57, of Hialeah, Ivonne Portales, 43, of Hialeah, and Diego Garcia, 65, of Hialeah, and Myrian Cobo, 39, of Orange Park.  One defendant, Jerry Frystak, 67, of Seminole, remains at large.

The indictment charges Rangel Fernandez, Ivan Fernandez, Jerry Frystak, Dennis Romero, Lisbet Gonzalez, Luis Balarezo, Saul Hernandez, Hermes Reyes, Pedro Leon, Aileen Bermudez, Geovanni Hernandez, and Francisca Diaz with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349.  Rangel Fernandez, Dennis Romero, Saul Hernandez, Pedro Leon, and Hermes Reyes were additionally charged with aircraft parts fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 38.  Dennis Romero, Lisbet Gonzalez, Geovanni Hernandez, Chabela Aneiros, Myriam Cobo, and Ivonne Portales were charged with wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343.  Hermes Reyes and Diego Garcia were also charged with mail fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341.  Finally, Rangel Fernandez was charged with visa fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1546.  If convicted on the conspiracy count, the defendants each face a maximum statutory sentence of up to twenty years in prison.  If convicted of aircraft parts fraud, the defendants face a maximum statutory sentence of up to fifteen years in prison.  If convicted on the wire and mail fraud counts, the defendants face a maximum statutory sentence of up to twenty years in prison.  If convicted on the visa fraud count, defendant Rangel Fernandez faces a maximum statutory sentence of up to five years in prison.

According to the indictment, between August 2009 and August 2010, the defendants falsely certified to commercial aviation customers that the aircraft cockpit windows they sold were airworthy.  In fact, however, the defendants knew that they were not authorized by the FAA to certify the airworthiness of aircraft cockpit windows.  To execute their scheme, the defendants purchased “as removed” aircraft cockpit windows in the open market and then backdated numerous documents, including FAA Form 8130-3’s, work orders, and traceability documentation, to make it appear that the aircraft cockpit windows had been retrieved from ATR’s inventory while its FAA Repair Station Certificate was still valid.  As well, the defendants allegedly altered the serial numbers on the aircraft cockpit windows that had been sent to ATR by the commercial aviation customers to make it appear that the aircraft cockpit windows had come from inventory rather than from the true commercial aviation customers.

Lastly, the indictment alleges that the defendants created at least three different internal accounting records and logs to misrepresent the true business practices and financial condition of ATR to make it appear as if ATR was no longer in the business of repairing and certifying the airworthiness of aircraft cockpit windows.  Additionally, some of the defendants filed false unemployment compensation requests with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Unemployment Compensation Program, to further the illusion that ATR was out of business.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Inspector General, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General, ICE-HSI, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, and the FAA.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Anton is prosecuting this case. An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent 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 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

>>> Libbin calls condo Presidents and residents to rise-up and call for Beach Condominium Ombudsman, vote on position in Aug.

Commissioner Jerry Libbin continues on his mission for a Condominium Ombudsman position within the city of Miami Beach administration and has drafted a letter he suggests be sent to the other commissioners, the mayor and the city’s administration. He believes given the large number of condominiums in the municipality with around 90,000 residents such a position is necessary. However, critics say in these tough times, the money could be used better and there is concern the position could become political given some of the charged internal battles that occur in some of these condominium associations, that also includes people renting some of the units, and have a different perspective. But he wants the position to be put on the August 14 ballot for Beach voters to weigh in on the necessity. Below is Libbin’s letter to condominium president and managers requesting they get involved in the matter.

>>> Libbin press release: Below is a letter I have drafted for your residents about the creation of a Condominium Ombudsman position in the City of Miami Beach. This is a position needed in our government to better serve our residents in condominiums and cooperatives.  The position would mediate and facilitate your condominium and cooperative service requests to the city pertaining to the Building, Code Compliance and Fire Departments, eliminating a lot of time and frustration and resulting in a more beneficial outcome for residents. I have provided a sample letter that residents can send the Miami Beach Commission requesting that a question be placed on the August 2012 ballot about whether or not the Ombudsman position should be created.  The emails for the Mayor and Commissioners have also been listed below for their convenience. Please forward this letter to all residents so that they may contact the Mayor and Commissioners to urge their support of the Condo Ombudsman’s position.  You may contact my office at 305 673 7106 or jerry@miamibeachfl.gov should I be of additional service to you. I look forward to working with you toward this essential goal.

>>> Here is the suggested letter: I am writing to urge you to support the Condominium Ombudsman position in the City of Miami Beach.  This is a much-needed position, which will assist residents and associations of condominiums and cooperatives with city services.  The position is designed to walk residents through procedures relative to Building, Code Compliance and Fire Department issues.  It will alleviate a lot of the frustrations currently experienced by residents and will expedite measures which are currently lengthy for even the simplest of requests relating to those departments.

I encourage you to establish the appropriate ballot question which if approved by the voters in the August election would create the position of Condominium Ombudsman as stated below: “There is hereby created the position of Condominium Ombudsman who shall assist condominium and cooperative owners and condominium associations in addressing issues relating to the City’s Building, Code Compliance, and Fire Departments and who shall submit written reports to the City Commission through the City Manager on a quarterly basis with regard to his/her findings. The Condominium Ombudsman shall be appointed by and report directly to the City Manager according to personnel regulations pertaining to unclassified service.” As a voter of Miami Beach, I request that you accept the above language and approve my request for it to be placed on the August 2012 ballet so that I, along with other residents, may vote to have this crucial position created.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Mayor Cason wrapping up first year, a fine example of what a leader should be

Mayor Jim Cason in April will celebrate his first year in office and residents I talk to say he has done a solid job, especially getting the Historic Biltmore Hotel to update its contract with the city and settle back rent payments to the tune of around $5 million. Cason a former diplomat with the U.S. State Department and Ambassador ran a insurgent campaign back in April 2011 against incumbent Donald Slesnick, II and attorney Tom Korge but the winner take all race had Cason prevailing.

Cason, an Angelo who is fluent in Spanish since the election and was given a two year term, has run efficient commission meetings when I have stopped by over the past year, and the man handles the public discussion very well. He is married with a family and this was his first swipe at political office and he has kept his humble down to earth roots style and he is impressive and I once described him as a man and his principles that are like “still water that runs deep,” when it comes to integrity and political humbleness. The Watchdog Report wishes him another positive and productive year as head of the City Beautiful and he is a positive example of a person just trying to be a public servant trying to serve all the residents and taxpayers of the Gables.

CITY OF DORAL

>>> Press release:  Miami-Dade County, in partnership with the City of Doral and Dream in Green, is holding a Home Energy Savings Workshop on Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm (registration begins at 6:00pm) at the City of Doral Council Chambers. The workshop is being held to educate residents on energy efficiency and conservation and provide homeowners with information, resources and incentives to reduce their utility costs. Participants will receive a free energy savings toolkit valued at over $100 and learn to track household energy consumption/reduction. More importantly, residents will save money by learning how to reduce energy use in their homes by 20-30 percent. “This is a great opportunity for our residents to save money in the long run,” said JC Bermudez, Mayor of the City of Doral, “and a great example of how the Federal, County and Municipal governments can work hand in hand to benefit the community at large and protect our environment.” The free energy savings toolkit includes items such as a programmable thermostat, hot water gauge, LED sensor nightlight and compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs). According to ENERGY STAR, if every American home replaced just one light with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, we would save enough energy to light more than three million homes for a year, save about $700 million in annual energy costs, and prevent nine billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to the emissions of about 800,000 cars.

To register and for additional information, residents can call 3-1-1 or visit http://green.miamidade.gov. The workshop has limited space, and is open to the first 50 registered residents. Each participant will receive the free energy savings toolkit, limit one per household. The Home Energy Savings Workshops are part of the County’s award-winning Communitywide Energy Efficiency Campaign, an education program managed by the Office of Sustainability that engages residents to gain support for energy conservation, renewable energy, recycling, and waste reduction, and serve as a catalyst for long-term behavior changes resulting in reduced energy usage. To date, the campaign has resulted in a reduction of 4,041 metric tons of CO2e or $742,000 a year in energy savings. Other elements of the campaign include: showerhead and light bulb exchanges, $750 Savings Challenge, residential appliance rebate program and commercial rebate program. Learn more at http://green.miamidade.gov. On September 14, 2009, Miami-Dade County was awarded $12,523,700 through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and administered through the Department of Energy. The Countywide Energy Efficiency Campaign is one of 12 projects funded through EECBG. A complete project list is available at http://green.miamidade.gov.

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Press release: Fort Lauderdale Investment Advisor Arrested in Las Vegas

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announced the arrest of defendant George Elia on a criminal complaint alleging that the defendant committed wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343.  If convicted, Elia faces a maximum of twenty years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a potential fine. According to the criminal complaint, starting in 2000, Elia owned and operated various companies, including International Consultants, based out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  From at least 2005 through 2011, Elia claimed to invest in publicly-traded stocks on behalf of investors.  As a result of these claims, investors gave Elia money to invest in common stocks that investors believed were trading on the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, and others.

The complaint describes how, in August 2010, Elia met with an investor at the Ritz Carlton in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  At this meeting, Elia showed the investor a three-ring binder, which purported to contain Fidelity account statements and a summary sheet for Elia’s various investment accounts.  Elia assured the investor that the investor would recover money in about a year through Elia’s investments.  The investor agreed to wire money to Elia.  During the meeting, the investor used a telephone to photograph the Fidelity statements that Elia showed the investor. FBI agents reviewed the Fidelity records for Elia’s companies, which revealed that the actual balances in the Fidelity brokerage accounts that Elia controlled did not match the balances on the statements that Elia showed to the investor in August 2010.  According to Fidelity records, the total value of the trading accounts for the respective period was approximately $111,432.27, not the $8,241,923.38 that was set out in the documents that Elia showed the investor.

By the summer of 2011, Elia stopped sending investors quarterly statements, returning calls and emails to investors, and paying regular payments to investors.  Elia was arrested in Las Vegas on March 27, 2012, after arriving on a flight from London. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI.  Mr. Ferrer also commended the efforts of the SEC for their contribution to this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney H. Ron Davidson. A Criminal Complaint is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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.

>>> Gov. Scott names Debbie L. Kohl to the Board of Commissioners, North Broward Hospital District.

Press release: Kohl, 53, of Tamarac, is the chief financial officer of Broward Bank of Commerce.   Previously, she was the vice president of finance of Capital Business Credit from 2006 to 2009 and chief financial officer of First Choice Credit Union from 2003 to 2006.  Kohl has been a member of the Florida Institute of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs since 2000 and the National Association of Professional Women since 2011. She also helped form and served as treasurer of Acts of Kindness for Kids and served as chairman of the CFO Council of the Florida Credit Union League.  Kohl received an associate degree from Broward Community College, bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida, master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University and a graduate degree in banking from Louisiana State University. She succeeds Rhonda Calhoun and is appointed for a term beginning March 29, 2012, and ending May 7, 2014.

>>> 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

>>> Press release: Defendant Charged in Superseding Information in Broward and Palm Beach Counties in Pill Mill Operation

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, and José A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), announced the filing of a Superseding Information against Steven Goodman, 67, of St. Petersburg, FL, in the continuation of Operation Oxy Alley, a coordinated investigation into pill mills in Broward and Palm Beach Counties.  To date, twenty-seven defendants have pled guilty, twenty-six have been sentenced, and one is pending sentence on an indictment unsealed on August 23, 2011, which charged thirty-two defendants, including Goodman. The indictment alleged that defendants Christopher and Jeffrey George, twin brothers, operated, managed and financed four pain management clinics in Broward and Palm Beach Counties.  According to the indictment and statements made in court, from 2008 to early 2010, these pill mills distributed approximately 20 million oxycodone pills and made more than $40 million from the illegal sales of controlled substances.  Thirteen of the thirty-two defendants were doctors.

Today, the United States Attorney filed a one count Superseding Information charging Steven Goodman with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.  Goodman is a pharmaceutical wholesaler who owned and operated Medical Arts Pharmacy, Inc., in St. Petersburg, Florida.  According to the Superseding Information, Goodman used the U.S. mail to devise and carry out a scheme to defraud and deceive the Drug Enforcement Administration.  To execute the scheme, Goodman shipped large quantities of controlled substances to clinics owned and operated by the George brothers without first conducting due diligence activities as required by federal law.

The investigation and prosecution was the result of work by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  The FBI, DEA, IRS-CID were assisted by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the Hollywood Police Department, the Boca Raton Police Department, and the Davie Police Department.  Coordination efforts also included cooperation by the Palm Beach State Attorney’s Office and the Delray Beach Police Department, Jupiter Police Department, West Palm Beach Police Department, Boynton Beach Police Department, Medley Police Department, Homestead Police Department, North Miami Beach Police Department, and Sunny Isles Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul F. Schwartz and Lawrence D. LaVecchio. An information is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent 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 www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

>>> Gov. Scott taps Tamara Jones McKee to the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board.

McKee, 41, of Boca Raton, is a self-employed actress. She is appointed for a term beginning March 29, 2012, and ending October 31, 2012. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

DUVAL COUNTY

>>> Gov. Scott taps Matthew F. Carlucci to the Commission on Ethics.

Carlucci, 55, of Jacksonville, has been the owner of Matthew F. Carlucci Insurance Agency Inc. for 31 years. He served on the Jacksonville City Council from 1999 to 2003 and from 1987 to 1994, serving as council president from 2001 to 2002. He served on the board of directors of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors from 1996 to 1998 and was president of the Jacksonville Police Council from 1995 to 1997. His community involvement includes membership in the Southside Businessmen’s Club and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and the Jacksonville Historical Society. Carlucci received a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Florida. He is appointed for a term beginning April 1, 2012, and ending June 30, 2014. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

LAKE WALES COUNTY

>>> Gov. Scott reappoints MaryLeigh “Mimi” Hardman and names Kathy A. Fleming to the Florida Historical Commission.

Hardman, 76, of Lake Wales, is the president of Historic Lake Wales Society. She is reappointed for a term beginning March 28, 2012, and ending December 31, 2014.

Fleming, 50, of Jacksonville, is the chief administrative director of the First Light Maritime Society. She succeeds Nancy H. Maddox and is appointed for a term beginning March 28, 2012, and ending December 31, 2015.

SOUTH LAKE COUNTY

>>> Gov. Scott names Kasey C. Kesselring to the South Lake County Hospital District Board of Trustees.

Kesselring, 44, of Montverde, has been the headmaster and chief executive officer of Montverde Academy since 1999. He served on the South Lake County Hospital District Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2011, and served as chairman from 2010 to 2011.  Kesselring currently serves on the board of the South Lake Chamber of Commerce.  He received a bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College and a master’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University. He succeeds Robert Hebeler and is appointed for a term beginning March 29, 2012, and ending July 5, 2013.

OSCEOLA COUNTY

>>> Gov. Scott taps Kimberly Hennecy as Osceola County Clerk of Court.

Press release: Hennecy, 41, of St. Cloud, has been the chief deputy clerk of the Osceola County Clerk of Court since 2009. During her 15 years serving in the clerk’s office, she has held various positions including accounting administrator from 2007 to 2009, chief accounting assistant from 2004 to 2007, Article V compliance officer from 2003 to 2004 and accounting assistant from 1997 to 2003. She received a bachelor’s degree from Liberty University.  Hennecy will serve during the suspension of Malcom Thompson.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> Press release: Keys Case Results in Jail Time for Lobstermen

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Otha Easley, Acting Special Agent in Charge, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement, Southeast Division, announced that Rush C. Maltz, 36, of the Saddle Bunch Keys, Florida and Titus A. Werner, 36, of Little Torch Key, Florida, were sentenced yesterday in Key West for conspiring to receive, purchase, sell, and transport lobster for distribution, in violation of federal and state licensing and catch limit laws, all in violation of  Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.

U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez sentenced Maltz to 18 months imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release and Werner to a term of imprisonment of one year and one day, followed by one year of supervised release. In addition, Judge Martinez ordered Maltz to forfeit $62,000, representing the proceeds of the sale of two fishing vessels owned by Maltz and his charter fishing company.  The vessels were used in the commission of the crime.  In addition, at their own expense and under NOAA’s supervision, defendants Maltz and Werner are removing over 200 “casitas” that they had illegally placed in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. “Casitas” are structures placed on the ocean floor to lure and concentrate spiny lobster for harvesting. In January 2012, a third defendant in the case, Scott A. Greager, 48, of Stock Island, Florida, was also sentenced to a prison term and supervised release for his role in the conspiracy.

According to court records and statements made in court, from as early as May 28, 2007, through about March 2009, Greager owned Holiday Seafood Key West. Using a Florida Wholesale Dealer’s License issued in the name of Conch Republic Seafood Company, Greager made numerous purchases of spiny lobster from Maltz and Werner, knowing that the purchases involved the harvest and sale of lobster that were illegally obtained through the use of unlicensed structures and were over the daily limit of 250. The defendants attempted to conceal the purchases from the State of Florida by falsifying documentation submitted to the state regulatory agency. To further conceal the crime, the defendants regularly attributed lobster landing numbers to harvests from two different vessels — although both were owned by Maltz and operated by Maltz and Werner. Over just two commercial seasons, the three defendants made 113 landings of spiny lobster harvested from illegal casitas.

During the relevant period, Florida law set strict requirements for commercial harvest limits on Florida spiny lobster. Florida law also required certain licenses and endorsements for a seafood product harvester to lawfully operate in the State. Wholesale dealers, such as Greager and his business were prohibited from purchasing lobster without first confirming that the seller possessed all required licenses and endorsements, and making truthful and accurate reports of the transactions to the State.  Divers were required to hold a series of endorsements, including a highly restricted “CD” endorsement that was assigned to a specific licensee and a specific vessel. >> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Special Agents of the NOAA Office for Law Enforcement and thanked the Officers of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission who assisted in bringing the case to our office. The criminal case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Watts-FitzGerald and Antonia Barnes. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> April 2 – Women’s Chamber of Commerce – wine and social 5 PM Seasons 52 32l Miracle Mile Coral Gables $l5 – info@womenschamberofcommerce.org

>>> April 7 – National Coalition of l00 Black Women in Leadership breakfast – 8:30 Jungle Island $30 800-658-l282

EDITORIALS

>>> Public money oversight for Museum Park is entrusted to the two boards, members; they must be vigilant oversight firewall

Public Trust is what is being debated today, Jackson Health System is going through a major restructuring, but it is being done in the Sunshine and in a transparent way. However, when it comes to the Miami Science Museum and the Miami Art Museum (MAM), for the public it is a wing and a prayer since citizens, the press and the Miami-Dade Inspector General are kept in the dark. Taxpayers are contributing some serious public coin to the new museums that are not-for-profit entities, costing hundreds of millions of dollars combined and the county GOB money contributed to the projects is already being spent.

And frankly, the only fiscal firewall overseeing how this public money is being spent is Dan Bell, the chair of the Science Museum Board and Aaron Podhurst, the chair of MAM and their boards and the Watchdog Report hopes they are keeping a tight watch of this money. For the community cannot afford another repeat of the Arsht Performing Arts Center (whose meetings were open to the public, had a assistant inspector general present and the Watchdog Report covering the construction committee meetings) that originally was to cost $255 million. But the two halls would later have over $100 million in disputed changeovers, and finally came in at $472.9 million and 20 months late in 2006.

Further, while the top administrators of both organizations, Gillian Thomas and Thom Lewis told county budget officials last week in their internal meetings that private fundraising was going well and the millions in “pledges” were solid. The community has to trust them at their word on this issue, but what happens if private and philanthropic funding falls short, and leads to one or both of the museums to require more public money to complete the projects? Thomas when I asked that question said they would deal with that “if and when it occurred,” which is one way to look at the problem that will be possible looming in a few years ahead, if it occurs at all.

However, it is that possibility of needed future funding that concerns the Watchdog Report and while I strongly support the arts and science. It is still taxpayer’s money and we should pray all that is said by the organizations administrators comes to pass. For there is no more public money to be had for such cultural endeavors of this magnitude like with the Arsht Center. Especially while Jackson Health System; the public medical crown jewel of Miami-Dade having over $1 billion in badly needed capital infrastructure upgrades, and given the life and death nature of the hospital system, and its importance to the community. If there is any extra public money available in the future, it must be directed at Jackson and I hope the museums board members understand that fact. Since the press and public are kept in the dark on the fiscal and fundraising progress of the organizations while these new impressive structures go up on a good chunk of Bicentennial Park that is public property as well.

>>> Check out the past national story in the Tribune papers:  Paperwork Tiger

By Maya Bell, Miami Bureau, January 20, 2003 — MIAMI – Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. It’s not by choice. Miami’s self-anointed citizen watchdog depends on the people he writes for and about to finance his quixotic quest to attend nearly every government meeting in Miami-Dade County. That’s a lot of mind-numbing meetings — as many as 2,500 a year — but not a lot of income. So Ricker is always teetering on bankruptcy. He dashes to his post-office box daily, hoping subscribers to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks.

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

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

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr.

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

ARTHUR HERTZ

WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)

ALFRED NOVAK

LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)

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

THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE

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

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com

RONALD HALL

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY  www.miamidade.gov

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

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

AKERMAN SENTERFITT   www.akerman.com

RON BOOK

LEWIS TEIN  www.lewistein.com

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

WILLIAM PALMER

SHUBIN & BASS     www.shubinbass.com

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

CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC.   www.camillushouse.org

CITY OF MIAMI  www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.cph.org

THE STATE OF FLORIDA    www.myflorida.gov

GREATOR MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA  www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY  www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov/ethics

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

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

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

THE BEACON COUNCIL   www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

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

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

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI             www.miami.edu

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 550 reports and Extra’s have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events.  The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain.

LETTER POLICY

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

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2012, Daniel A. Ricker

>>> The Watchdog Report are now available to television stations web pages, and all the newspapers and other media in South Florida if the publishers have an interest to run part or all of the stories. Further, in 2000, I used to have some paper’s running the report in the Spanish press, that option is available again, and publishers should contact me.  The news content will not be free, but you can pick and chose the stories of interest, edit them if necessary but you must still keep the general story intact.  If you are a news outlet and would like to learn more about, the Watchdog Report and this offer contact me at watchdogreport1@earthlink.net for further information.

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

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years. >>> Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, The (FL) CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS >>> Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, The (FL) MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED >>> >>> To read the full section large two page front page story, but without the photos and smart box graphics, go to: `I Go When You Cannot’ – Sun Sentinel 20 Jan 2003 … Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. … to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks. … http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american >>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times –The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored.  Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2003-05-15/citylife2.html/1/index.html

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

Those who do read the newspaper in Florida have a bevy of options for state government and political coverage. The dominant newspapers in the state are Knight-Ridder’s The Miami Herald (Acquired by The McClatchy Company in 2006) and the Poynter Institute’s St. Petersburg Times. Both papers endorsed Gore in 2000 but split on the 2002 gubernatorial race, with the Herald endorsing Republican incumbent Jeb Bush and the Times backing Democratic challenger Bill McBride. Daniel Ricker of The Miami Herald also writes an influential column as well as an email newsletter called the Watchdog Report that goes out to more than 100,000 subscribers. FEBRUARY 2004 – Florida: Columnists in Abundance –ERIC GAUTSCHI, graduate student, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill – D) LEADING COMMENTATORS – Resource Commentator Organization Type Web site –Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/bousquet.shtml -“First Friday” WPBT TV (Miami) TV Show www.channel2.org/firstfriday/issues.html –Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/morgan.shtml –Daniel Ricker Miami Herald/Watchdog Report Newsletter >>> 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.

********************************************************************

Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form

NOTE: Invoice is for Yearly supporter/sponsorship Rates: Thank you.

Supporting Sponsors $5,000

Sustaining Sponsors $2,000

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

Large Business Supporters $500

Small Business Supporters $250

Individual Supporter $150

Student Supporter $ 75

Any amount $

Name & Address

Please make checks payable to: Daniel A. Ricker

Send to: 3109 Grand Avenue, #125

Miami, FL 33133

Fax 305-668-4784 -To contact the Publisher please e-mail watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center for International Media http://knight.miami.edu within the University of Miami’s School of Communication www.miami.edu to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no ads, pops-up quickly and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

>>> HELP: I NEED FINANCIAL HELP IF THIS IS TOO CONTINUE AFTER 12-YEARS AND HEADING INTO 13-YEARS IN MAY:  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 and I hope you or your organization will consider helping in a small or larger way and help keep another voice on line in the media. 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.

>>> CORRECTION: On the Lincoln Town Car story last week, that is being donated to a Hialeah charity by Miami-Dade County, I made an error. “Dan, as you can see in the attached item that was presented to the committee, the vehicle has 148,708 miles.  The vehicle does leak, with water accumulation significant enough to require the use of a wet vacuum and causing a musty odor.  This vehicle was slated to be auctioned with other vehicles determined to be surplus; however, in accordance with Board policy, the Commissioner [Jose “Pepe” Diaz] requested that the vehicle be donated to this not-for-profit organization.  Let us know if you have any additional questions.

http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/legistarfiles/Matters/Y2012/120348.pdf ,” wrote Wendy Norris, the director of the Miami-Dade General Services Administration last week. The Watchdog Report apologizes for the error.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> Obama calls Martin’s shooting “tragic,” issue is searing America’s conscience about race & profiling

The killing of seventeen-year-old black teen Trayvon Martin in Sanford Florida near Orlando is reverberating around the world and President Barack Obama weighed in Friday saying if he had a son, instead of their two girls. The young man would have looked just like Martin shot dead by a neighborhood watch organizer George Zimmerman and the president called the shooting “tragic.” Further, Zimmerman, 28, who has yet to be arrested or seen since then, his lack of arrest by police has prominent black leaders demanding his being thrown into jail, citing had it been the other way around, and a white man had died. Martin would have been thrown into a police car and hauled off to jail. They and many other people believe, and this lack of local prosecution has created this charged debate, especially within the minority communities.

Martin an A/B student who attended Dr. Michael Krop Senior High in Miami Gardens, doing a ten-day suspension from the school, was killed Feb 26, and the shooting that slide initially under the national media radar, has since exploded on the national scene highlighting the Florida “Stand You Ground” law. Where a person only has to feel threatened to use any force available to protect oneself. The law signed into law in 2005 has been controversial since it was passed by the state legislature by a wide majority of House and Senate members and Gov. Jeb Bush signed it into law. Critics at the time warned it gave carte blanche to potentially questionable shootings but only a few Florida legislators voted no. Since they did not want to be seen as soft on crime and the NRA was pushing the legislation. Now, seven years later, students in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties last week are walking out of schools and throughout the state in protest, and while school administrators are going along with the past protests. They expect kids to stay in public schools on Monday, but officials are holding their breath if that will be accomplished this coming week.

However, the incident now has the FBI looking into the investigation, looking at the forensic cell phone evidence to see if this could have been a hate crime, but the vague state law could be a problem in a prosecution. Zimmerman whose father and attorney say he is not a ‘racist’ and had mentored black kids in the past state’s www.miamiherald.com. But a national firestorm has been ignited about the law and whether the young man is dead just because he was black.  The boy had gone to a convenience store at half time of the NBA All Star Game, to get some Skittles and an Arizona ice tea drink, when Zimmerman spotted him. Who called 911 and said there was a suspicious black person in his gated community, while Martin at the same time was on his cell phone talking to his girlfriend, but something then happened after that, and Zimmerman, with a semiautomatic handgun shot the 11^th grader dead.

Now it has become a national debate and Republican Presidential Candidates Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich have all weighed in on the shooting. Romney called for a ‘thorough investigation’ and the other two candidates thought ‘it appeared Zimmerman acted outside the bounds of Florida’s controversial Stand Your Ground law.’ Black leaders around the nation for years have accused law enforcement and white citizens of profiling African Americans and other minorities or religious groups, but this topic has now come center stage in the national debate. And demonstrations are occurring in Miami-Dade and in other cities and had the Miami Heat basketball players wearing hoodies in photos and putting the boy’s name on their sneakers for a game in his memory last week.

>>> U.S. Rep Ros-Lehtinen press release: Each March we celebrate National Women’s History Month – a month during which we highlight and celebrate the many contributions of women. This year, we focus on women’s education. In fact, this year’s theme “Women’s Education – Women’s Empowerment”, has struck a special chord with me. As a former teacher, I know the critical role education plays in the development of a new generation of women leaders.  Receiving a quality education undoubtedly offers a vital opportunity to succeed in life.

Less than 100 years ago, the 19th Amendment was signed into law, giving women the right to vote.  However, the trajectory and struggle for women’s rights did not end with suffrage.  Indeed, suffrage opened the door for women to fully participate in the democratic process and use it to further the cause of equality.  The women who led the suffrage movement were not asking for any special rights or privileges.  They simply wanted to be counted as equal and full citizens of this great nation.  They wanted to do their part and help our country.  South Florida has had its fair-share of incredible trailblazers.  Women like Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, Audrey Finklestein, Athalie Range and Teresa Zubizarreta have been leaders and pillars of our community.  They did not set out to break barriers, they simply wanted to use their talents and have the opportunity to follow their dream.

While women have made great strides securing rights, it is important to remember the young women who need strong role models and an encouraging environment so that they can take advantage of educational opportunities and grow up to become strong women of character. Investing in women’s education is an investment in our future, as the young women of today will lead the charge to transform themselves, their communities, and the world.  I am incredibly proud that in my home state of Florida, so many concerned citizens have recognized the importance of educating, encouraging, and empowering young women.

South Florida is home to several remarkable organizations that encourage young women to reach their maximum potential. One such remarkable organization is the Honey Shine Mentoring Program, which seeks to empower young women by providing mentorship and leadership opportunities in an encouraging and supportive environment.

Another great South Florida organization is Strong Women Strong Girls, which utilizes the lessons learned from strong women throughout history to encourage girls and young women to become strong women themselves.  This model aids the girls and young women in developing strong skills, building leadership and forming goals for future success. These organizations, and many others, are the result of concerned citizens taking action to better their communities. I applaud these and countless many more Floridians who have responded to the challenges facing women and girls in our country. As we commemorate Women’s History Month, we must continue to honor the tremendous contributions women have made and renew our commitment to advancing the rights of women everywhere. I also encourage you to take the time to consider the ways you can better the lives of those living in your community. >>> For more information on National Women’s History Month, and upcoming events in your area, please visit: http://womenshistorymonth.gov/

>>> Press release: Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) applauds the Florida East Coast Industries, Inc.  (FECI), for announcing their plans to develop a privately owned, operated, and maintained passenger rail service to connect South Florida and Orlando. Diaz-Balart comments:

“I commend Florida East Coast Industries for their leadership and dedication to South Florida. This new privately owned passenger rail will create approximately 6,000 much-needed jobs, create new economic opportunities, and provide an alternative mode of transportation as gas prices continue to skyrocket. This project will not only benefit those living in Florida, but also the millions of people who visit South and Central Florida annually. This is truly a ‘shovel ready’ project, and further proves Florida is becoming one of the best places for businesses to invest and grow.”

>>> Press release: Rep. Wasserman Schultz Amendment Protects Seniors in Nursing Homes

As the House Budget Committee began debate today on the Republican budget proposal for 2013, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) introduced an amendment to prevent cuts that would be detrimental to seniors across the country. “My amendment would stop the Republican’s proposed reckless and shameful cuts for seniors in nursing homes,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “In gutting Medicaid, their budget proposal jeopardizes health security for 5 million seniors, 10 million individuals with disabilities, and 28 million children.” Her amendment would ensure that funding does not run out for seniors and people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid assistance to help with the costs of their nursing home care and other necessary services.

In addition, the amendment accounts for low-income Medicare beneficiaries who are also eligible for Medicaid, and works to ensure that they would receive assistance for paying their premiums and out-of-pocket costs. “The harmful spending cuts incorporated into this budget proposal go further than simply damaging a fragile recovery,” continued Wasserman Schultz. “These cuts pull the rug out from under our most vulnerable – our seniors, our children, and those with serious illness. We must not allow these backward policies to prevail, and instead our goal must be to work toward a future where we prevent our country’s families from falling into poverty.”

>>> Knight Center for International Media newsletter: One Water Continues to Reach Audiences Globally with Eight Screenings this World Water Day

The film continues to cross borders, physical and cultural, by showing at a variety of settings this World Water Day 2012.  With screenings spanning the globe, from British Columbia to Hungary, One Water continues to be a popular choice in media for discussing the world’s water crisis.  All screenings of the film are free.  If you are interested in organizing or holding a screening, large or small, please contact Lauren Janetos. For more about the film and related educational projects, visit http://onewater.org/education. www.knightfoundation.org

>>> All photos in the Watchdog Report are taken from public government sites, and the Report goes on line at www.watchdogreport.net on Monday sometime during the day usually. >>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for I am a low cost news service, yet I do have to live, thank you! Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times, twice in The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel which ran as a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003 and UNC Chapel Hill naming me one of the top columnists in Florida in a  multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on the WLRN/NPR showTopical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also numerous times over the past decade. Further, I am a frequent guest on WWW.WPBT2.ORG on Helen Ferre’s show Issues, and have also appeared on  Eliott Rodriguez’s show News & Views.

FLORIDA

>>> Gov. Scott faces first racial firestorm with shooting death of Martin, after a month, calls for task force to have public hearings on “Stand Your Ground” law

Gov. Rick Scott (Net worth $103 million) has named a special state prosecutor to get to the bottom of the shooting death of Trayvon Martin and the governor is facing his first statewide ethnic crisis since being sworn in January 2011. Since then Scott has focused on business and government regulations and creating jobs but this tragedy puts him and the state in the eye of the hurricane when it comes to race relations, including the long simmering issue of “driving while black,” and the profiling of minorities by law enforcement. The “Stand Your Ground” law passed seven years ago allows someone to defend themselves, if they feel threatened but that is a grey area, and Scott now is in the middle of this legal and social quicksand debate. He has called for a task force and to have public hearings on the issue of racial profiling and the state law and whether it should be modified and this action has caught Scott critics off guard.

And when it comes to the current and past state legislators who sponsored the bill. They claim Zimmerman seemed to have violated the intent of the law since he got out of his car and pursued the boy, before the struggle and shooting took place. However, since the man has not been arrested, was allowed to keep the gun because of the state law. National black leaders including Rev. Al Sharpton have demanded stronger action and the prosecution of the neighborhood watch member, but the investigation is continuing. And all Floridians know is another young black man is dead for what appears to be no apparent reason, except being an African American.

>>> Gov. Scott press release: Governor Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi (Net worth $472,000) today worked together to appoint Angela B. Corey (of the 4th Judicial Circuit) as the newly Assigned State Attorney in the investigation into the death of Trayvon Martin. The Governor and Attorney General reached out to State Attorney Norman Wolfinger today. After the conversation, Wolfinger decided to step down from this investigation and turn it over to another state attorney. The Governor has also announced the formation of a task force which will convene following the conclusion of the investigation by State Attorney Corey. The Governor and General Bondi have full faith in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the U.S. Department of Justice and State Attorney Corey that a full and thorough investigation will be conducted. See below a statement from Governor Scott regarding the formation of the task force, and attached the Executive Order appointing Angela B. Corey as the Assigned State Attorney and a letter from State Attorney Norman Wolfinger requesting the assignment of another state attorney to the investigation.

>>> Statement from Florida Governor Rick Scott Regarding the Creation of a Task Force on Citizen Safety and Protection

“As law enforcement investigates the death of Trayvon Martin, Floridians and others around the country have rightly recognized this as a terrible tragedy.  Like all Floridians, I believe we must take steps to ensure tragedies like this are avoided.  After listening to many concerned citizens in recent days, I will call for a Task Force on Citizen Safety and Protection to investigate how to make sure a tragedy such as this does not occur in the future, while at the same time, protecting the fundamental rights of all of our citizens – especially the right to feel protected and safe in our state.

“To this end, I have asked Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll to lead the Task Force, conduct public hearings, take testimony and recommend actions – legislative and otherwise – to both protect our citizens and safeguard our rights.  Reverend R. B. Holmes, Jr., the pastor of the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee has agreed to be the vice-chair of the Task Force.  I have also reached out to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Speaker Dean Cannon, President Mike Haridopolos and incoming presiding officers Don Gaetz and Will Weatherford who all agree that a Task Force needs to be assembled.  They will be recommending individuals for me to appoint to the Task Force, which will thoroughly review Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law and any other laws, rules, regulations or programs that relate to public safety and citizen protection.

“It is my intention to have the Task Force on Citizen Safety and Protection convene immediately after the investigation into the death of Trayvon Martin by the newly Assigned State Attorney Angela B. Corey (of the 4th Judicial Circuit) formally ends.  At that time they can define their mission and scope as well as set a timetable for a report, with recommendations to be delivered to my office and to the Florida Legislature.  The Task Force will hold public hearings, take testimony, solicit ideas and review all matters related to the rights of all Floridians to feel safe and secure in our state.  As we exercise our right to be free and secure both in public and in the privacy of our own homes it is important that we have an open and honest discussion on these issues so that we might help avoid such tragedies in the future.”

What about the new senate redistricting maps?

While the Florida Senate met last week to draw a second new senate redistricting map after a earlier version was thrown out by the state supreme court and if the court’s don’t approve this version. The judiciary will do it for the legislature and still has to get passed in from the state House. State Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami (Net worth $486,000) had been seeking a fourth Hispanic senate seat in South Florida but that did not happen in this reiteration and state Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami (Net worth $1.74 million) told the Watchdog Report last week that he was not happy about that fact. His party’s majority leader and termed out in 2012 said he had not made up his mind whether he and others local legislators would fight this lack of a fourth senate seat but the issue is heating up.

What about the Watchdog Report? People ask me all the time if I am armed?

And I just change the subject because it is none of their business whether I am or not armed. But the Martin shooting highlights the vagueness in the law that is obliviously on display in this case, and both the sheriff and state attorney handling the case have either been removed or stepped down from the now expanding investigation.

>>> Press release: Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater Warns Consumers about ‘National Sweepstakes’ Scam

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater (Net worth $1.63 million) today warned consumers about an emerging scam related to requiring payments to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in order to collect “lottery winnings.” A company calling themselves National Sweepstakes has contacted a senior consumer in Palm Beach County claiming to require payments to the IRS in order for the consumer to collect her $1 million-plus prize. “Our department was able to keep this Floridian from giving away her life savings to these scam artists because an insurance professional acted on her instinct and made a call to our department,” CFO Atwater said. “I am proud of my department for acting quickly to avoid a much worse situation for this consumer, and I urge consumers to be on high alert for this and other such scams.”

Legitimate lotteries do not ask for money up front to collect winnings, and it should always be a red flag if you have been notified of winning a lottery for which you never submitted an entry. Daily callers who identified themselves as Western Union employees stated that, in order to claim her winnings, the consumer needed to send $20,000, in the form of a personal check, to the IRS. Because the entire amount was not readily available in her account and had to be transferred from another source, the “company” said they would accept installment payments. The consumer then wrote personal checks in the amounts of $2,000 and $7,500 and mailed them to an address in Washington. She had also written a $20,000 check and mailed it to a Maryland address. That check was being held until funds were in place.

An employee from the annuity company contacted the Department of Financial Services’ Division of Consumer Services helpline because she knew something was amiss. An investigator from the Division of Insurance Fraud was at the consumer’s home within 30 minutes to explain the scam and assisted her in closing her bank account to secure her remaining savings. Consumers who are contacted by this company are encouraged to contact the department’s Division of Consumer Services by calling 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236) to report the scam.

>>> Press release: Volunteer Opportunity – Florida’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program needs volunteers to join its corps of dedicated advocates who protect the rights of elders who live in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult family care homes.  The program’s local councils are seeking additional volunteers to identify, investigate and resolve residents’ concerns.  Special training and certification is provided. All interested individuals who care about protecting the health, safety, welfare and rights of long-term care facility residents — who often have no one else to advocate for them — are encouraged to call toll-free 1-888-831-0404 or visit the program’s website at http://ombudsman.myflorida.com.

>>> Press release: A weekend is a good time for taking a look at something special – and I promise this won’t take much time.

A real movement is built on the voices of its supporters and followers –  voices of vision, voices of frustration, voices of insistence on behalf of children. Today, thanks to the generosity of Rob Gidel and the Gidel Family Foundation, we introduce “Voices of Florida.” There you will find Floridians from so many walks of life telling, in their own words, why building a movement for Florida’s children is essential to their future and the future of our state and country. Here’s what I hope you will do: Visit the “Voices of Florida” website. Watch the videos (none more than two minutes). Read the stories. Tell us what you think. Share your story. Tell us why The Movement is important to you and your family. We are eager to feature more stories in “Voices of Florida.” Share “Voices” with others. That fuels The Movement. We each have a voice. What a difference we could make if we really — insistently and purposefully — used our voices. Wrote Dave Lawrence Jr., Chair The Children’s Movement

>>> Kristi House Press release: The Florida Safe Harbor Act Passes Unanimously! Thank you all!

Both the Florida Senate and House of Representatives have unanimously passed the Safe Harbor Act which is now on its way to Governor Rick Scott for signing. The new measure will provide services and protection rather than punishment to underage children caught up in a world of pimps and johns. This would not have been possible without your support! Thank you all for every call, email and letter sent on behalf of Kristi House. Today, because of your determination and dedication, commercially sexually exploited children will be recognized as victims – not criminals. We are incredibly thankful for the tireless efforts of our legislative leadership in Tallahassee – Senator Anitere Flores, Representative Erik Fresen and Representative Jeanette Nuñez. Your commitment and advocacy for these children has been nothing short of heroic! Thank you all so much!

With their leadership, we received an overwhelming amount of support from our state legislators. I know Sen. Flores, Rep. Fresen and Rep. Nuñez join me in thanking each and everyone of them for their support. We would like to especially thank Sen. Alexander, Sen. Storms, and Secretary Wilkins for their leadership and guidance in getting this bill to the Senate Floor with unanimous consensus. We are deeply thankful to you all. And finally, we must thank Kristi House Board Vice President Nelson Diaz, who has served as Kristi House’s pro bono advocate for the past three years of pushing for this legislation. In your words, Nelson – “It has been a long and, at times, arduous road, but it has certainly been a victorious conclusion and the beginning of many, many success stories for the children we serve.” We look forward to sharing these success stories with all of you! Trudy Novicki, Executive Director, Kristi House: Please read our Press Release http://www.kristihouse.org/pdf/SafeHarborPasses.pdf

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Federal courts shot down county Cuba ordinance, new state law has Atty. Cuevas sticking to past federal court rulings, Esteban & Souto fight decision

A variation of the past Cuba Ordinance passed by the Miami-Dade Commission in the 1990s but thrown out by federal courts in 2000 because foreign policy is the sole prerogative of the federal government, and not determined by state or local laws, is back on the front burner with some commissioners. Back then long serving legendary county Attorney Robert A. Ginsburg after the federal court ruling told sitting commissioners “don’t go there” when they tried to think of ways to avoid the restriction. And the discussions by commissioners went on for hours with Commissioner Javier Souto (Net worth $658,000) one of the members leading the discussion. But the top county attorney from 1980 to 2005 and a Harvard University law school graduate remained firm in his advice that the commission’s options were zero, the discussion was over and the federal judiciary had spoken. Now, fast forward to Tuesday where Souto during a discussion of what occurred in the state legislation session, where legislators passed a bill barring public money going to companies that do business in Cuba or Syria but flies into federal laws. Even though some counties around the nation are allowed to have such restrictions for Iran and the Sudan but that is only because the federal legislation allowed that local government involvement in a foreign policy.

And while the state bill got widespread support in the state legislature and was sponsored and supported by local legislators and is on Gov. Rick Scott’s desk to sign, veto or could let it become law July 1 without his signature. Ginsburg back then, while deeply appreciating the sensitive nature of this legislation within the exile Cuban community of the policy here. He totally shut down the notion that the county had the ability to make foreign policy and in this case, the same argument would apply to the state.

On Tuesday, Commissioner Esteban Bovo, Jr., (Net worth $25,800) a former state representative who’s farther is a hero in the Cuban Exile community said he wanted Scott to sign the bill. And in a Mar. 22 memo he sent to county Attorney Robert Cuevas, he cited multiple cases where states were doing similar actions and he is also sponsoring a commission resolution on the matter. And Souto in a passionate speech said a trade show on Miami Beach recently included a “big picture of Chairman Mao Tse-tung.”  He said, “It was an insult to the Cuban people to have Mao” there at the event without a competing booth showing the horrors the man committed to his own people. Souto a former soldier in the Bay of Pigs failed operation along with Esteban’s father believes, “Some people will sell their soul to the devil,” referring to companies that did business with Cuba or China, both communist nations, and it “deeply hurts our community” and is a “deep problem,” he said.

Souto then referenced a past crane scandal around the mid 1990s at the port of Miami that involved Port honcho Carmen Lunetta and bond salesman Calvin Grigsby and how Grigsby had “taken the German companies [crane] plans and copied them.” And then he gave these to the Chinese, where Miami Port cranes 11 and 12 are now in use but were “made with slave labor and it was just about money,” he said. The former state senator also noted that Mao before his death in 1976 “had killed millions of people,” and essentially asked why did America trade with the nation given the human rights record within the Middle Kingdom. He closed saying he knew people and thousands of others that were executed by the Fidel Castro regime and he suggested it was a question of “Human Rights” versus “Freedom of Speech” and urged “the courts to debate,” the issue and make a ruling, he closed.

Souto

Esteban

>>> Does Commissioner Suarez have time for the political office?

The Watchdog Report is watching the political performance of Miami-Dade Commissioner Xavier Suarez,(Net worth $328,500) elected to Commission District 7 last May and it is beginning to appear he might not have enough time to do the job the high maintenance constituents are used to, along with his private law practice.  He has yet to get a challenger for his race with the election on Aug.14 and he seems to think he is a shoe in for a full four-year term. And the engineer and Harvard trained attorney missed another Tuesday Commission meeting when he left around noon on Thursday in the middle of the commission hearing for the Jackson Health System employees. He said he had to leave to do a deposition with a federal judge and didn’t want to be late, he told his commission peers, prior to his departure from the dais.

Suarez, a former mayor of Miami that had his son Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez (Net worth $81,000) earlier in the day saying he understood what it was like to be related to a iconic figure of Miami politicos, while he gave recognition to Jorge Mas Canosa’s son Jorge R. Mas at a Miami commission meeting that he chaired. However, the son is 180 degrees different from the father that had the elder county commissioner saying in the past months. He had learned from Francis to “be more deliberate and conciliatory” in his dealings with people and colleagues. But his discomfort on the dais is almost visible and he asked Commission Chair Joe Martinez (Net worth $238,000) to be taken off his commission committee assignments, though Martinez declined that request.

County Commission District 7, snakes along the coast of Biscayne Bay and has a hefty tax base that Suarez calls like representing “Texas,” and he gets to “say yes a lot,” but the residents are high maintenance. And there is grumbling about his aloof nature and not being all that out going with new constituents, though he treats his friends with kid’s gloves. And a planned fundraiser on May 11 is promoted as the political event of a lifetime and is allowing him to test the fundraising waters where a chair goes for $100.00 and a table is a grand says the invite. This fundraiser if successful will allow Suarez to continue to “make invaluable contributions to our community,” states the invitation email. And if the event is highly successful, could propel him to jump into the mayoral race, already with around 12 candidates including incumbent Mayor Gimenez, County Commission Chair Joe Martinez and a host of others, ensuring there will be a runoff race in the November General Election.

Francis

Xavier Suarez

>>> What about the Coconut Grove Playhouse?

While Suarez has been rattling the cage of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez (Net worth $923,000) and the administration’s supposed foot dragging on the shuttered Coconut Grove Playhouse after the property was turned over from the state to the county. Gimenez on Thursday said he was only authorized by the county commission in February to review what the liabilities and lines are before he makes any move. He said he was going to be sure “due diligence” was done on the property before accepting the structure that has been hit by vandals, has a variety of liens on it and a number of past investor issues on some of the property. However, there is a Grove protest going on that involves tying yellow ribbons on trees and signs have popped up asking, “Take it back,” the Playhouse but the yellow ribbon is raising eyebrows since it usually applies to hostages or soldiers fighting in oversea wars. And Gimenez met with Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff (Net worth $2.08 million), a critic of the slow pace the theater is preceding Thursday afternoon at Miami City Hall but what was said is unknown, but he did meet with the local commissioner after he drove himself to Dinner Key. >>> The county has $15 million from a 2004 $2.9 billion countywide bond and another $5 million is available for the theater that closed in 2006, but experts think $30 to $40 million may be necessary to restore the structure in its current or another form in the years ahead.

>>> It has begun, MIA fires up automated baggage handling system

The Watchdog Report last week contacted Miami International Airport (MIA) aviation director Jose Abreu asking about how the new Baggage Handling System (BHS) fired up on Tuesday in the North Terminal was going. In an email back Abreu wrote, “American Airlines and us have agreed on a criteria to evaluate the performance of the BHS during this trial period.  We will work together with AA in a cooperative manner in order for us to determine which is the best course of action after the trial period. We began our third day at about 4:30am.  Very minor issues so far.  All fingers are crossed,” wrote the professional engineer who plans to retire in November.

>>> PAST WDR:  MIA baggage system to start up on “trial basis” in April, MDAD & AA to review performance in May, says Abreu

After four weeks of past Watchdog Report stories covering the new $215 million, 13 mile automated security screening and baggage system’s implementation at Miami International Airport (MIA) North Terminal and the haggling between American Airline (AA) officials and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez (Net worth $923,000). Miami-Dade Aviation Director Jose Abreu said Friday night that a deal has been made with AA and the new Baggage Handling System (BHS) will be fired up on a “trial basis” starting in late March or early April he said. He noted there would be roughly a month of this trial run and then the “Miami-Dade Aviation Department and AA will evaluate the system for reliability in May,” he wrote Saturday. Abreu has had to pull the activation trigger despite AA concerns the system was not reliable, after the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in late January demanded it be implemented and would improve not only passenger’s baggage screening but also the customs and immigration process at the facility that processed 38.2 million passengers last year.

Since then some terse letters had come from AA senior management in February to MIA officials but as was reported last week the two entities leaders shook hands and agreed not to sue each other. Abreu said the meeting this week was also cordial and while the airline was concerned about another Apr. 1 “crisis” when the BHS was first briefly activated. They agreed the current aging legacy baggage system would stay in place until any kinks in the system were worked out and the county aviation guru noted. “We know now how to spot a crisis,” since it has been dealt with before. And since this April meltdown, two subsequent BHS tests were acceptable and the one occurring in October that had 7,500 bags tested, only resulted in the “mis-placing of four” of the bags, and now Abreu feels confident that the time has come to fire up the system, he said. >>> The Miami Herald weighed in on the issue last week and to see veteran county reporter Martha Brannigan’s story go to http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/28/2666234/mia-in-heated-feud-with-american.html

Abreu

Gimenez

>>> Vizcaya grappling with some fiscal issues

The Watchdog Report heard there were some issues with accreditation and funding at the Historic Vizcaya House and Gardens and I contacted Joel Hoffman, the curator of the community jewel last week. He wrote back in an email, “Vizcaya is accredited by the American Association of Museums. And, by the way, I am the only member of AAM’s Board of Directors from the Southeastern United States—something I consider an honor. However, we are in the middle of our re-accreditation process and the AAM Accreditation Commission, while acknowledging many positive developments over recent years, tabled our re-accreditation, principally because of concerns about Vizcaya’s long-term financial stability. Our projected shortfall for FY2012-2013 is larger than $600,000 at this very preliminary stage in the budget process,” wrote Hoffman.

>>> Press release: This past February, Miami-Dade Commissioners authorized the extension of an amnesty period for homeowners who have been unable to pay fines on their property due to building code violations. The item was brought before the Commission by Chairman Joe A. Martinez, who initiated this effort last year to assist residents during a difficult economy. In a recent report released by County Administration, the Department of Permitting, Environment and Regulatory Affairs has settled 36 cases since August 2, 2011, saving homeowners over $475,000 in fines. Chairman Martinez introduced the amnesty ordinance last July, with his colleagues passing the item on August 2.   The ordinance allowed homeowners a six-month grace period to bring their homes up to code and address any violations brought forth from the County.  After monitoring the success of the ordinance, Chairman Martinez asked to extend the amnesty period for an additional six months.

“This ordinance is allowing residents to fix existing issues with their homes without the stress of mounting fines from the County,” said Chairman Martinez. “Residents save money, a plus in a rough economy, and we can ensure that more homes are in compliance with our building standards.” Homeowners interested in seeing if they qualify for amnesty can contact the Department of Permitting, Environment and Regulatory Affairs at 786-315-2000.   To view the latest amnesty report click here.

>>> Press release: Miami-Dade County will have until July 1, 2013 to amend its scrap metal ordinance by incorporating changes to be made by the Scrap Metal Task Force created by Vice Chairwoman Audrey M. Edmonson to combat rampant and recent scrap metal and copper wire theft. In addition, scrap metal recyclers will pay higher penalties if they buy stolen copper or other metals for cash and without proper documentation, according to the legislation passed by the State Legislature in March. The law preempts new local ordinances but grandfathers existing ordinances. “I am very pleased that the State has recognized illegal scrap metal purchases and copper wire theft as a serious plague on our community and changed the law to reflect its concern,”  said Vice Chairwoman Edmonson.  “Every time a light pole goes dark because someone has ripped out the copper wire a citizen is put in danger because our streets become dark and dangerous. “I am looking forward to attacking this problem with the Task Force, relying on the expertise of not only municipalities and law enforcement but of the honest scrap metal dealers,” Vice Chairwoman Edmonson added.  “Our intent is not to cripple legitimate businesses—we just want to make it economically painful for those who unscrupulously buy and sell stolen goods.”

On October 4, 2011, the Miami-Dade County Commission passed an ordinance creating a task force to combat the rise of scrap metal and copper wire theft in the community.  The legislation, sponsored by Vice Chairwoman Edmonson, stipulates that the new task force will formulate recommendations to the Board on the enforcement of ordinances regulating junk dealers and scrap metal processors. The task force will be comprised of 21 members appointed by the Miami-Dade Commission, various municipalities and Miami-Dade department heads, the League of Cities, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, Florida Power & Light, and residents. In April, 2011 Vice Chairwoman Edmonson sponsored legislation which strengthened local regulations on scrap metal processors and junk dealers.  The ordinance combines state statutes and existing County code provisions, while strengthening provisions regarding the sale of “restricted regulated items.” Skyrocketing prices for metals, especially copper, have resulted in a significant increase in the theft of copper, aluminum, and other ferrous and nonferrous metal material in Miami-Dade County.  Such thefts include metal materials from light poles, which create power outages and endanger the health, safety and welfare of the public particularly the elderly and children. According to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), 30 lights along I-95 between NW 30th and 79th Streets have been targeted in the past year alone. This has become economically burdensome to Miami-Dade since the County is required to expend funds to replace or repair the stolen or vandalized street lights it owns. It costs approximately $1,000 to $1,500 to fix each damaged pole.

>>> County economist press release: An economic briefing presentation updated on March 13th to reflect the latest annual BLS revisions to employment and unemployment estimates is available for downloading. The presentation provides an overview economic conditions in 2011, recent trends in macroeconomic indicators and an economic outlook for Miami-Dade County in 2012.  The recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revisions to 2011 and 2010 local employment estimates indicate that private sector added more jobs in 2011 than they previously estimated. The unemployment estimates were also revised showing that peak (seasonally adjusted) unemployment rates did not exceed 12.6% in 2011, well below the 13.5% reported last year. The unemployment rate for January was reported at 10.2%.

Recent economic data reveal a local economy that is slowly but steadily recovering. The outlook for 2012 is one of continuing recovery at a modest pace, although there are risks to the forecast from a deceleration of growth in Europe and the emerging market countries, an increase in world energy prices, and financial instability in the euro zone, wrote Robert D. Cruz, PhD Chief Economist

<< CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE PRESENTATION >>

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Press release: School administration asks students to respect wishes of Trayvon Martin’s mother in honoring her son’s memory

Miami-Dade County Public Schools administrators have advised students that while the district respects their sentiments regarding the death of Trayvon Martin, who was a student at Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School, students are encouraged to make their first emphasis education. “While we respect the expression of emotion by our students, we ask that they remain focused on their education,” said Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho. “Our most important mission is to provide a safe learning environment for students, and so we are asking them to respect the wishes of Trayvon’s mother by celebrating his memory not through walkouts, but through reflection and civic participation.”

Yesterday, Trayvon’s mother, Ms. Sybrina Fulton, contacted Miami-Dade County Public Schools to voice her disapproval of student walkouts and to encourage students to instead sign petitions, attend organized rallies, and pray.  Today, administrators at Miami-Dade’s secondary schools passed that information along to students, noting that respecting Ms. Fulton’s wishes is the best way to honor Trayvon’s memory in the most dignified manner. School administrators and Miami-Dade Schools Police, along with the police departments of local municipalities are working together to maintain vigilance and ensure safety as students demonstrate.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> FRB Vice chair Sharpton drops $900 million bombshell, that is Jackson’s liability to county if it goes down & Nurses get their day with commissioners

Daryl Sharpton, CPA, the Financial Recovery Board’s vice chair gave the monthly Jackson Health System report to the county commission Tuesday, and he noted they were still down to 15-days of cash on hand but stunned the public and commissioners when he said $900 million in liabilities were at risk if Jackson went bankrupt and closed. He said the bulk of the obligations are with bondholders but also included some $100 million in cost liabilities with Miami-Dade such as providing healthcare in the county’s jails and also includes leases of buildings and other such obligations. And he noted such a fiscal calamity would have profound affect on the local economy and since the county is backing the bonds could cause a cascading fiscal issue with other bondholders concerning the county’s own around $13 billion in issued paper.

What happened with the nurses and others commission presentation Thursday?

A marathon Miami-Dade Commission public hearing on the layoffs at Jackson Health System ended around 4:28 p.m., Thursday and while nothing changes when it comes to the 1,115 layoffs of a variety of staff, eliminating 195 vacancies, including a 20 percent cut of the administration. Commissioners after the lengthy discussion said it was a done deal even after Jackson employees warned of the medical danger of being short on nursing staff.  However, county commissioners did say there should be much more dialogue with the union representatives in crafting further changes or reductions in the future. Jackson has been in the news for decades concerning its fiscal health but got overwhelmed with uninsured and bad debt accounts from patients and the half-cent sales tax passed in 1991 could not keep up from 2000 on. With the first big fiscal warning coming back in 2004 when the health trust posted an $84 million loss, and made fiscal adjustments back to the late 1980s and paid a $42 million federal penalty.

Now, Jackson President and CEO Carlos Migoya, a former banker is faced with keeping the lights on at the venerable public hospital and the draconian action he says must be done to “right size” staff to patient volume that is down. The Watchdog Report contacted Miami-Dade Commission Chair Joe Martinez asking about the meeting and he responded by email. “We stepped out of their way. We heard the issues and I said many times, it wasn’t so much the layoffs, though they are devastating during these times, but we have to let them [the Financial Recovery Board] do their job or we may lose Jackson. And the state is banking on JHS failing. I will not allow that,” wrote Martinez first elected in 2000 and now running for county mayor in August.

Martinez

Sharpton

>>> Press release:  Monday’s FRB televised meeting: The March 26, 2012 Televised PHT Financial Recovery Board meeting agenda and supporting documents are available for view on the Jackson Health System website. As of June 2011 the Public Health Trust Financial Recovery Board committee and board meeting agendas and other supporting documents are now available for download in PDF format on the Jackson Health System’s website accessible at the following link:  https://www.jhsmiami.org/workfiles/wmApps/body.cfm?f_r=publicDocs&f_n=pDindex_PHT.cfm or http://www.jhsmiami.org/PHTmeetings

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Commissioners vote 5-0 that Guba is the “preferred” Auditor until pay package is set, Carollo to do negotiations

The Miami Commission tapped Ted Guba as the body’s new independent Auditor on Thursday by a 5 to 0 vote upon successful completion of his compensation package and the man currently is the auditor for the City of Doral. And his status is the “preferred candidate,” until his salary is negotiated by Commissioner Frank Carollo, (Net worth $707,000) also a CPA. Guba, who got the four-year post and cannot be removed without “just cause,” was considered the wiser choice by a selection committee made up of CPAs and attorneys and written about in last week’s Watchdog Report as the front-runner. He has been the auditor in years past at Florida International University (FIU) where he brought in the first IT auditor, and at the municipality there was “minimal turnover,” of staff, he told commissioners. Guba a consultant in his auditor function at Doral said he had solid “Management, technical and people skills,” and at Doral he had suggested to the five member mayor and council “seven recommendations.” But he also said Doral is different from Miami because given all the businesses in the area with only 34,456 residents and a property tax roll value of $8.92 billion, which is 4.6 percent of the county’s total property valuations. Doral was essentially a rich city and in there case, “They have too much money,” coming in from these different business entities which is far different from Miami’s tough fiscal situation.

What did commissioners say before the vote?

“I hate to hear about this [when it came to critical city department audits]” in the press and The Miami Herald said Commissioner Willie Gort (Net worth $226,000) during the discussion on the dais. He noted he has to “call his good friend Chuck [Rabin] the city beat reporter www.miamiherald.com if he wants to know “what is going on,” said Gort. However, Sarnoff said a better way to handle the Auditor notifying commissioners was “to follow generally accepted accounting principles.” And Commission Chair Francis Suarez chimed in that with the last Auditor Victor Igwe, there “were allegations [the Auditor’s office] was leaking reports to the media,” he said. Guba is expected to be in office in the coming days ahead and the expected salary is likely to be approved at the next commission meeting. The office had been vacant since June, Miami voters created the position over a decade ago and the office has played a key role over the past decade in identifying waste, fraud and abuse within the city.

Carollo

Gort

Sarnoff

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Mayor Bower & commissioners tap #2 Martinez as top cop, Tobin and Libbin give thumbs down

After some blistering comments from Miami Beach Commissioners Ed Tobin and Jerry Libbin about the need for an outsider to head the Miami Beach Police Department. The other commissioners and Mayor Matti Herrera Bower voted 4 to 2 to confirm Ray Martinez as the new Beach top cop. The department in the past has been plagued by a variety of instances including a major shoot out over Memorial Day. Martinez was the number two at the department at the time but since he temporarily took over the department the last four months. He was able to demonstrate he was changing the organization’s culture to “preventative policing,” accountability and “ownership” of police activities was the watchword of the day for the officers. He also introduced a new policing program that divides the city into eight sectors that will result in “accountability at all levels” and will “improve police and community relations,” states a handout document on the new sector program.

Martinez, a former Miami police officer before moving to the Beach in 2001 was doing the logistics for the department under Miami Police Chief William O’Brian during the federal extraction of the young Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez during the Easter Holiday in 2000. And many people in the community at the time believed Martinez was in the SUV federal agents used when the child was removed at around 3:00 a.m., Saturday morning. However, in fact the unidentified and mysterious man wearing a facemask in the seat was an ICE special agent and not the Miami officer, though he is said to have gotten some community blowback. And that controversy, plus O’Brian suddenly resigning after the April event may have contributed to his going to the new police force. After the highly controversial federal intervention that split the South Florida community into two distinct camps and tensions were charged between the local Cuban Exile community and the Anglos and African American communities.

>>> Clerk Parcher saying sayonara on Apr. 13, WDR gives him a Tip of the Hat for job well done

Robert E. Parcher, the long time Beach Clerk is saying sayonara on April 13 after filling the post back in 1996. He has been a great clerk and the Watchdog Report has never had a problem with him or how he treats the public. He said last week it “was his staff” that deserved the praise and the soft-spoken clerk will be missed with his retirement.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Gables residents get to weigh in on no truck law Monday night, has been a controversial issue for some

>>> Press release: The City of Coral Gables Planning and Zoning Board will hold a public hearing on Monday, March 26, 2012, and may make recommendations at this hearing on the regulation of truck parking in the City, as well as abandoned and junk motor vehicles. The purpose of the hearing is to allow the Board to review and discuss the current regulations and potential provisions related to trucks and abandoned and junk vehicles, and to allow the public an opportunity to comment as well. The hearing will begin at 6 p.m. in the Commission Chambers located at City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way. Watch the meeting live on CGTV or on www.CoralGables.com.

CITY OF DORAL

>>> Press release:  Miami-Dade County, in partnership with the City of Doral and Dream in Green, is holding a Home Energy Savings Workshop on Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm (registration begins at 6:00pm) at the City of Doral Council Chambers. The workshop is being held to educate residents on energy efficiency and conservation and provide homeowners with information, resources and incentives to reduce their utility costs. Participants will receive a free energy savings toolkit valued at over $100 and learn to track household energy consumption/reduction. More importantly, residents will save money by learning how to reduce energy use in their homes by 20-30 percent. “This is a great opportunity for our residents to save money in the long run,” said JC Bermudez, Mayor of the City of Doral, “and a great example of how the Federal, County and Municipal governments can work hand in hand to benefit the community at large and protect our environment.” The free energy savings toolkit includes items such as a programmable thermostat, hot water gauge, LED sensor nightlight and compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs). According to ENERGY STAR, if every American home replaced just one light with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, we would save enough energy to light more than three million homes for a year, save about $700 million in annual energy costs, and prevent nine billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to the emissions of about 800,000 cars.

To register and for additional information, residents can call 3-1-1 or visit http://green.miamidade.gov. The workshop has limited space, and is open to the first 50 registered residents. Each participant will receive the free energy savings toolkit, limit one per household. The Home Energy Savings Workshops are part of the County’s award-winning Communitywide Energy Efficiency Campaign, an education program managed by the Office of Sustainability that engages residents to gain support for energy conservation, renewable energy, recycling, and waste reduction, and serve as a catalyst for long-term behavior changes resulting in reduced energy usage. To date, the campaign has resulted in a reduction of 4,041 metric tons of CO2e or $742,000 a year in energy savings. Other elements of the campaign include: showerhead and light bulb exchanges, $750 Savings Challenge, residential appliance rebate program and commercial rebate program. Learn more at http://green.miamidade.gov. On September 14, 2009, Miami-Dade County was awarded $12,523,700 through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and administered through the Department of Energy. The Countywide Energy Efficiency Campaign is one of 12 projects funded through EECBG. A complete project list is available at http://green.miamidade.gov.

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Owner of Broward Tax Preparation Company Charged in Fraudulent Tax Return Conspiracy

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), announced the indictment of defendant Shingirai Kasu, 31, formerly of Coconut Creek, in connection with a scheme to obtain significantly inflated tax refunds.

More specifically, the indictment charges Kasu with conspiracy to submit false claims to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 286.  If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum statutory sentence of up to ten years in prison.

According to the indictment, the defendant was the owner and operator of Right Quick Tax Services in Sunrise, Florida.  The defendant and other co-conspirators allegedly prepared tax returns that contained false and inflated claims for deductions, specifically for substantially inflated income tax withholding credits and telephone excise tax refund credits, in order to grossly inflate the tax refunds due to their clients.  The defendant and the other co-conspirators unjustly enriched their clients and themselves by preparing fraudulent tax returns that resulted in significant tax refund payments for their clients in addition to fees and compensation to themselves.

Kasu’s co-conspirators, defendants Teresa Francis-Kasu, 36, of Coconut Creek, and Tendai Busuman, 30, of Pompano Beach, were previously charged on March 5, 2012 in a criminal Information with conspiracy to submit false claims to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 286. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the IRS-CID.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Katz. An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

>>> 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.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Filiberto Valero as chair of the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County. Valero, 46, of Tampa, is a financial centers manager for Fifth Third Bank. He is appointed for a term beginning March 21, 2012, and ending April 30, 2013.

ALACHUA COUNTY

>>> Gov. Scott taps Phillip Pena, of Gainesville to County Court.

Pena, 41, has been an assistant state attorney with the State Attorney’s Office for the Eighth Judicial Circuit since 2001, except in 2010 when he practiced with the Keller Law Office. Previously, he was an assistant state attorney for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit from 2000 to 2001 and the Twentieth Judicial Circuit from 1996 to 1999. In 1999, he practiced with Dell Graham. Pena received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and a law degree, with honors, from Florida State University. “Phillip has an excellent reputation as a skilled, hardworking and fair prosecutor,” Governor Scott said. “I am confident that he will bring these qualities to the bench, along with a deep respect for the role of the judiciary and the rule of law. He will serve the people of Alachua County well.” Pena will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Robert K. Groeb to the Eighth Judicial Circuit.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott names Marilyn A. Lawless and Candice L. Loupe to the Children’s Services Council

Lawless, 72, of Port St. Lucie, is a registered nurse with the St. Lucie Medical Center.  She succeeds Cynthia Angelos and is appointed for a term beginning March 19, 2012, and ending November 13, 2014.

Loupe, 42, of Port St. Lucie, is a regional manager and senior vice president with PNC Bank.  She succeeds Dennis Corrick and is appointed for a term beginning March 19, 2012, and ending November 13, 2015

LAKE COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Jeanie L. Rowin to the Early Learning Coalition

Rowin, 62, of Tavares, is a branch manager for RBC Bank. She is reappointed for a term beginning March 19, 2012, and ending April 30, 2015.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Alfonso A. Perez and Stacy F. Silvestri to the Early Learning Coalition of Indian River, Martin and Okeechobee Counties.

Perez, 43, of Port St. Lucie, is a branch manager and vice president for BankAtlantic. He is appointed for a term beginning March 22, 2012, and ending April 30, 2015.

Silvestri, 47, of Stuart, is the co-owner of R&M Fabrics Inc. She is appointed for a term beginning March 22, 2012, and ending April 30, 2016.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> Early Learning Coalition premier speaker Dr. Winsler on school readiness for children Apr. 2

Press release: The Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe is proud to welcome Dr. Adam Winsler, Ph.D., to our Board Meeting on April 2, 2012. Dr. Winsler is a professor of Applied Developmental Psychology at George Mason University and editor of the Early Childhood Research Quarterly. Join us for a discussion of several recently published studies that emerged from the Early Learning Coalition’s school readiness assessment and intervention program in collaboration with George Mason University and Florida International University.

Specific topics will include: Prevalence of, and factors associated with, children’s delayed kindergarten entry and kindergarten retention, Long-term outcomes for children who are retained in kindergarten, Stability of childcare and children’s school readiness, The school readiness of Latino children attending family childcare vs. center-based care, Associations between child school readiness assessments at age 4 and performance (FCAT and grades) in 3rd grade, The school readiness of children born to low-income adolescent Latinas, The school readiness strengths and early school success for children of immigrant families.

Regular attendance in early elementary school is associated with student achievement, Factors associated with English language acquisition among ELL students. We look forward to seeing you at the Early Learning Coalition on April 2 at 8:00 a.m.  2555 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables, FL 33134

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Amigos for Kids event: The Second Annual Celebration of Friendship Luncheon and Children’s Fashion show will be held on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Four Seasons. Many of you ask how you can get involved and help promote and support our mission of child abuse prevention & awareness. As you may know, April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Amigos For Kids spearheads a Blue Ribbon Campaign in Miami-Dade County, including this fundraising event. If you would like your child to participate as one of the models in this year’s event, please respond to us by Tuesday, February 28, 2012. Space is limited, and commitment to participate is required.  Please feel free to forward this information to friends with children that may be interested. Fashion Show Theme – Island Cruising In The Tropics – Commitment requirements include: $ 20 fee per child ages 4 – 13 to participate as one of the models  One  ( 1 ) fitting session Two ( 2 ) practice sessions – Adult tickets to attend the event are $ 100 per person – tables set 12 and cost is $ 1,200.  Sponsorship & runway tables available. The attached form should be sent via email to: events@amigosforkids.org Thank you for your support and interest in our mission.  Rosa Maria Plasencia Executive Director Amigos For Kids, 801 S.W. Third Av., Suite 300 Miami, Florida 33130 P:  305 279 1155 F:  305 858 0794 www.amigosforkids.org

EDITORIALS

>>> It’s a go, MIA fires up new baggage system, well over 30,000 bags handled daily, small hic-up, but things going smoothly so far

Miami-Dade and South Florida residents should keep their fingers crossed as Miami International Airport (MIA) ramps up the new over 13-mile long Automatic Screening and Baggage Handling and Distribution system in the North Terminal used by American Airlines that will handle well over 42 million bags in the course of a year. And over the weekend handled over 35,000 bags per day that included hundred of thousands of tourists coming to Miami for the Ultra Music Festival along with cruise ship passengers.  MIA after almost two decades of rebuilding, expanding its now $6.2 billion north, and south terminals that were originally thought to cost under $2.2 billion. But that initial cost number was based on flawed cost estimates say experts familiar with the construction and had Miami-Dade Aviation Director Jose Abreu saying doing the massive project over a year ago. He said it was “like taking a shower while you retiled the bathroom,” since it is a working high volume international destination.

The MIA bonds some of which is backed by Miami-Dade County were used to finance MIA’s capital improvements and payments are at around 332 days before these bond payments reach $1 million a day. And it is vital that not only does tourism grow and use of the airport increases, but that the facility flourishes like never before. If the county’s general fund is not to be tapped, or landing fees to go even higher than these are now. The Watchdog Report for weeks recently wrote about this new MIA baggage technological tour de force and its activation that cost well over $200 million but the rubber is now hitting the road.

Tourism is one of the few bright spots for the local economy and the Watchdog Report wishes MIA and American Airlines the best of luck with this new baggage system that fuels tourism, which is the lifeblood of the South Florida in so many ways. And while it is a calculated gamble for AA, with over 70 percent of the airports gates. It was time to try the system after it passed a couple of recent tests that has not resulted in the catastrophic “crisis” that occurred in April 2011, making the international carrier in bankruptcy, gun shy when it came to its activation. MIA is now moving into new technological territory with the system beginning to ramp up but so far, so good, with only a slight hic-up on Saturday, and the flying public unaware of this new system’s activation is finding that their bags are arriving at their destination not somewhere else, and that is a good thing for all South Floridians who depend on the international facility in so many ways.

>>> Check out the past national story in the Tribune papers:  Paperwork Tiger

By Maya Bell, Miami Bureau, January 20, 2003 — MIAMI – Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. It’s not by choice. Miami’s self-anointed citizen watchdog depends on the people he writes for and about to finance his quixotic quest to attend nearly every government meeting in Miami-Dade County. That’s a lot of mind-numbing meetings — as many as 2,500 a year — but not a lot of income. So Ricker is always teetering on bankruptcy. He dashes to his post-office box daily, hoping subscribers to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks.

LETTERS

>>> Local physician’s perspective on Jackson Health System staff cuts

Jackson Memorial Hospital, one of our finest teaching hospitals in the U.S., is stuck in a perpetual financial crisis caused, among other reason, by poor management. The proposed solutions do not follow surgical precision thinking but can only be compared with brute amputations threatening to destroy this great institution. The current management lacks strategic vision and obviously does not understand that the rapidly changing health care market demands flexibility and quick adaptation to evolving concepts of care delivery and reimbursement. This requires the development of team based care harvesting the creativity and experience of the highly skilled workforce.
Therefore, it is counter-intuitive to reduce the number of experienced health care workers who are needed to develop and sustain new care delivery systems such as the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH). Other hospital systems in the U.S. are successfully pursuing such concepts and are being rewarded financially. For example, all 11 hospitals and six large community health centers of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation have received medical home designation for delivering accessible, comprehensive and family-centered primary care to New Yorkers that aims to reduce avoidable healthcare costs over time.   The special designation was granted by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) to 616 primary care physicians who collectively care for nearly 100 percent of HHC’s primary care population of more than 477,000 adult and pediatric patients.  All of the HHC facilities received “Level 3″ designation, the highest ranking, which will qualify HHC for more than $15 million in Medicaid reimbursement rate increases every year.
The Patient Centered Medical Home is a model of care where each patient has an ongoing relationship with a personal clinician who leads a team that, together, takes responsibility for patient care. The clinician-led care team is responsible for providing all the patient’s health care needs and when needed, coordinating care across the health care system. The comprehensive care provided by the medical home leads to better health, longer lives, higher patient satisfaction and less expensive care. Jackson Memorial Hospital can lead the field in health care innovation and its not too late to implement changes. But we need a management team that can translate vision into reality.

Bernd Wollschlaeger, MD,FAAFP,FASAM

>>> Reader on Gloria Steinem’s 78^th birthday

Sunday is Gloria Steinem’s 78th birthday — and no Equal Rights on the U.S. Constitution or Equal Representation in Congress yet, 236 years after independence from the British Empire! Meanwhile, the U.S.A is now 78th in the world for electing women (tied with Turkmenistan) or #95 on the list if you count the ties!  In her book “Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions, Ms. Steinem wrote:  “I realize that, unless women organize, support each other, and force change, nothing basic is going to happen. Not even with the best of men. And I wonder: Are women — including me– willing to face that?” — As quoted in Chapter 1 (“Cutting to the Chase”) of my eBook “SMOKE & MIRRORS: The Truth About the Political Status of U.S. Women.”  In honor of Gloria Steinem, I am making that book available at no cost this weekend for your reading pleasure — if you are interested in the truth, that is…Click HERE to access the book and put in the discount coupon code XA38L when it asks you for one.  Have a great weekend, go U. Conn!  Paula Xanthopoulou (equalrepresentation.org) You can follow me on Twitter @paulax5050 and read my book Smoke & Mirrors -

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

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

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr.

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

ARTHUR HERTZ

WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)

ALFRED NOVAK

LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)

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

THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE

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

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com

RONALD HALL

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY  www.miamidade.gov

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

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

AKERMAN SENTERFITT   www.akerman.com

RON BOOK

LEWIS TEIN  www.lewistein.com

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

WILLIAM PALMER

SHUBIN & BASS     www.shubinbass.com

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

CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC.   www.camillushouse.org

CITY OF MIAMI  www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.cph.org

THE STATE OF FLORIDA    www.myflorida.gov

GREATOR MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA  www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY  www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov/ethics

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

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

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

THE BEACON COUNCIL   www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

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

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

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI             www.miami.edu

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 550 reports and Extra’s have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events.  The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain.

LETTER POLICY

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

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2012, Daniel A. Ricker

>>> The Watchdog Report are now available to television stations web pages, and all the newspapers and other media in South Florida if the publishers have an interest to run part or all of the stories. Further, in 2000, I used to have some paper’s running the report in the Spanish press, that option is available again, and publishers should contact me.  The news content will not be free, but you can pick and chose the stories of interest, edit them if necessary but you must still keep the general story intact.  If you are a news outlet and would like to learn more about, the Watchdog Report and this offer contact me at watchdogreport1@earthlink.net for further information.

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

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years. >>> Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, The (FL) CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS >>> Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, The (FL) MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED >>> >>> To read the full section large two page front page story, but without the photos and smart box graphics, go to: `I Go When You Cannot’ – Sun Sentinel 20 Jan 2003 … Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. … to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks. … http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american >>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times –The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored.  Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2003-05-15/citylife2.html/1/index.html

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

Those who do read the newspaper in Florida have a bevy of options for state government and political coverage. The dominant newspapers in the state are Knight-Ridder’s The Miami Herald (Acquired by The McClatchy Company in 2006) and the Poynter Institute’s St. Petersburg Times. Both papers endorsed Gore in 2000 but split on the 2002 gubernatorial race, with the Herald endorsing Republican incumbent Jeb Bush and the Times backing Democratic challenger Bill McBride. Daniel Ricker of The Miami Herald also writes an influential column as well as an email newsletter called the Watchdog Report that goes out to more than 100,000 subscribers. FEBRUARY 2004 – Florida: Columnists in Abundance –ERIC GAUTSCHI, graduate student, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill – D) LEADING COMMENTATORS – Resource Commentator Organization Type Web site –Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/bousquet.shtml -“First Friday” WPBT TV (Miami) TV Show www.channel2.org/firstfriday/issues.html –Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/morgan.shtml –Daniel Ricker Miami Herald/Watchdog Report Newsletter >>> 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.

********************************************************************

Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form

NOTE: Invoice is for Yearly supporter/sponsorship Rates: Thank you.

Supporting Sponsors $5,000

Sustaining Sponsors $2,000

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

Large Business Supporters $500

Small Business Supporters $250

Individual Supporter $150

Student Supporter $ 75

Any amount $

Name & Address

Please make checks payable to: Daniel A. Ricker

Send to: 3109 Grand Avenue, #125

Miami, FL 33133

Fax 305-668-4784 -To contact the Publisher please e-mail watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center for International Media http://knight.miami.edu within the University of Miami’s School of Communication www.miami.edu to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no ads, pops-up quickly and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

>>> HELP: I NEED FINANCIAL HELP IF THIS IS TOO CONTINUE AFTER 12-YEARS AND HEADING INTO 13-YEARS IN MAY:  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 and I hope you or your organization will consider helping in a small or larger way and help keep another voice on line in the media. 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.

>>> CORRECTION: Jackson Health System President & CEO Carlos Migoya whose salary is $590,000, has a bonus of 50 percent of that amount and if he gets that extra money this year for having Jackson breakeven. He is donating this bonus money to the Jackson Memorial Foundation.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> House Foreign Affairs Chair Rep. Ros-Lehtinen called massacre in Afghanistan “inexcusable” and notes Bales faces “the death penalty” for killing 16 villagers

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami told the Watchdog Report Friday that the American soldier killing 16 women and children in Afghanistan was “a tragic situation which is under investigation.” Ros-Lehtinen, the Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said as “more facts are coming out that the young man acted on his own” we will have a better understanding of what happened but after three tours in Iraq and this current one in Afghanistan. It appears he might have been perhaps “war weary” including perhaps having “some injury because of an IED or some concussion,” but she noted. “This is not to excuse it; it is to help explain what could have happened,” and the actions “are inexcusable and he is facing the death penalty.” She said the Afghans need to understand we have an “impartial judiciary,” branch that is “independent even in the military” and a defendant is “afforded rights,” but he is not “free of any culpability” just because he is in the military, she said.

The soldier on Saturday was identified in the press as “Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales” and he is being transported to the United States and an unknown military detention center awaiting a military tribunal. He is 38, has a dozen medals but no Purple Hearts after he is said to have had two significant injuries and that is a puzzle now being investigated. The combat soldier was also disappointed that he was not promoted after he had given so much to his country, and his narrative is getting more complex as more information surfaces. www.miamiherald.com

The long serving congresswoman elected in 1989, and reelected in 2010 by 70 percent of the vote said while the Afghans are out raged at the massacre of 16 people sleeping in their rural village, including nine children in the southern province of Kandahar. Afghans have to realize we have a process that has to be followed for every suspect. “We have a real process that is not corrupt, there is an independent judiciary” and this process has to be followed through on in a proper fashion. But she added the massacre makes “us skeptical about all the soldiers rotations” into harms way and its affect on the nation’s fighting forces.

And she took a verbal shot at Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai saying “people are getting fed up” with some of the comments of the president and gave an example of these comments. She said Karzai recently said, “Hey Pakistan, if you’re going to war with the United States, we will side with you,” the foreign affairs maven said. And suggested Karzai was forgetting all “the blood and treasure” America has sacrificed over the decade to make the country free from Al Qaeda. And this one rogue action by a soldier was “not indicative of the thousands that have served” overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan and she is so proud of the individual sacrifices of “these [soldiers serving] that she called “citizens of the world.”

What about Ros-Lehtinen’s political style?

Ros-Lehtinen before being elected to the Congress was a state senator and all through her career, that includes her getting a University of Miami Doctorate in Education. She has been very accessible to her constituents and is driven when it comes to constituent services, though she has her critics. But one thing she does is constantly showing up at local events in her white GMC SUV that she drives herself and more elected leaders in South Florida should take the hint to cut back on some of these perks. For in this new age of budget austerity, it looks over the top to have a Sergeant of Arms drive you everywhere and had Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff (Net worth $2.08 million) defending this mode of transportation after a challenging candidate said if she was elected last November. She would remember how to drive and that put the incumbent on the defensive, though he still won, and that activity is still a hot button with voters.

>>> Press release: Ileana will be honored during the 4th Annual Miami Beach Women’s Conference during their Lunch in the Garden event. Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera Bower hosts this popular event that gathers prominent women from South Florida such as the Honorable Elaine Bloom, Senator Gwen Margolis, Commissioner Sally Heyman, the Honorable Katy Sorenson, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and Beth Littrell, a local lawyer. Ileana is being honored because of her civic activism and legislative record in the Congress fighting for issues important to our community.

Said Ros-Lehtinen, “I am humbled by the recognition of so many worthy women in South Florida. The work we all do has as its main purpose the betterment of life for the residents of South Florida and the advancement of civil rights for all. It will be a wonderful event where our community’s women leaders come together to celebrate the work we have accomplished and the work that lies ahead.” The 4th Annual Miami Beach Women’s Luncheon will take place at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden (2000 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach).

>>> White House press release: Mar. 16: Commerce Secretary and former CEO John Bryson will travel to Miami, Florida, where he will tour Pavilion Furniture, a company that is working with the Department of Commerce’s Commercial Service to expand the exports of its products.  Following the tour, the Secretary will join with Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez and local business leaders for a discussion about how the private and public sector can work together to expand exports and create jobs.  Business leaders participating in the discussion will include Mike Buzzella, President and CEO of Pavilion Furniture, Raj Rangaswamy, President of Target Engineering, and Luis Arguello, CEO of DemeTech.

Target Engineering, an engineering services firm, will be joining a Department of Commerce trade mission to India at the end of the month that Secretary Bryson will lead.  DemeTech Corporation, a producer of surgical sutures and blades, has previously joined a Commerce Department trade mission to Saudi Arabia.  Luis Arguello, CEO of DemeTech also previously joined President Obama in an oval office ceremony for the signing of the U.S. Korea trade agreement – an agreement that goes into effect this week.  Under the new agreement, 80 percent of Korea’s tariffs on U.S. industrial products will drop to zero.  The agreement is expected to increase U.S. exports by approximately $11 billion, support tens of thousands of American jobs, and open up Korea’s $1 trillion economy for America’s workers and businesses.

This week also marks the two-year anniversary of the signing of the Executive Order creating the National Export Initiative, when President Obama set the ambitious goal of doubling U.S. exports over five years.  Earlier this week, the Commerce Department released new data, showing that jobs supported by U.S. exports increased by 1.2 million between 2009 and 2011, and in 2011 exports supported approximately 9.7 million jobs, and the value of U.S. exports of goods and services exceeded $2.1 trillion for the first time in U.S. history.

>>> All photos in the Watchdog Report are taken from public government sites, and the Report goes on line at www.watchdogreport.net on Monday sometime during the day usually. >>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for I am a low cost news service, yet I do have to live, thank you! Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times, twice in The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel which ran as a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003 and UNC Chapel Hill naming me one of the top columnists in Florida in a  multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on the WLRN/NPR showTopical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also numerous times over the past decade. Further, I am a frequent guest on WWW.WPBT2.ORG on Helen Ferre’s show Issues, and have also appeared on  Eliott Rodriguez’s show News & Views.

FLORIDA

>>> Ryder Trauma Center gets double hit, losing patients to Kendall Regional, pioneering Surgeon Augenstein passes in Feb.

The rise in new Class II Trauma Centers in South Florida is starting to take a fiscal toll on the Jackson Health System and University of Miami’s Class I Ryder Trauma Center that turns 20-this year. The Center is a community medical jewel and trains U.S. Army surgeons and staff before they rotate overseas into combat zones, an activity started in 2000 and has allowed these specialists to cut some of the Center’s costs since then. But cases coming in from West Dade have dropped off said Jackson CEO Carlos Migoya on Thursday, and these new trauma centers being opened it could “siphon away 50 to 60 percent of Ryder’s historical volume,” based on 2010 data states a Feb. 27 memo by Migoya. And while Jackson has applied for Trauma Centers for Jackson North and South Hospitals. Migoya said the organization just wants to get the paperwork in by a deadline and any expansion of the Centers would be only “if these would be profitable.”

Further, UM Miller Medical School Dean Pascal Goldschmidt, M.D. a couple of weeks ago when I asked about the fiscal impact of the Kendall Regional Medical Center, a for profit hospital, opening its new trauma center months ago. The cardiologist said financially it was “significant” and is putting a strain on Ryder that is fully staffed 24/7 versus Kendall Regional where specialists may not be on site but are called in for a trauma case. Further, Ryder gets the bulk of gunshot and stabbing cases or the severe car crashes and these injured people need significantly more medical treatment and have a longer hospital stay costing more if they survive. He noted that the loss of patients was “no small deal” and could “jeopardize the activities at Ryder” including the “training of Trauma surgeons,” and he noted the success of the past program is international in nature. Since, “two thirds of all the Trauma Surgeons in Israel were trained at Ryder,” he said.

>>> Passing of Ryder Trauma Surgeon Augenstein a real hit to institution

In addition, Ryder took a medical hit when Ryder co-founder Jeffrey Augenstein, M.D., passed in February and Migoya at Thursday’s monthly Financial Recovery Board (FRB) committee meeting showed a moving video honoring the pioneer surgeon that also worked with car companies over the years with designs to better protect drivers in accidents. He was a gifted teacher and medical advocate and he said in the video the challenge many times with trauma victims is they look okay, “but then die,” and knowing the difference in time is the real challenge. Dean Goldschmidt in the past described the man as “a giant and an extraordinary human being,” and his loss to the facility is significant.

The Watchdog Report over the years had an opportunity to talk to the landmark trauma medical pioneer and he was impressive, and what Ryder does in the medical field is world class and he was part of the creation of that vision since it was first created in 1992. >>> Here are some stories on his death: Dr. Jeffrey Augenstein, pioneeer trauma doctor, dead … – Miami Herald Feb 15, 2012 … The Miami Beach native improved highway safety and the treatment of … surgeon co-founded Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, which … At the time of his death, Augenstein was working on what Schulman … www.miamiherald.com/2012/…/dr-jeffrey-augenstein-pioneeer.html >>> Similar Ryder Trauma Center at the University of Miami – Department of Welcome to Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Services … geared toward lowering the preventable death rate by speeding up the delivery of trauma care during …surgery.med.miami.edu/trauma – Cached

>>> FL AG Pam Bondi press release: More than one year ago, Florida was given the notorious title of “pill mill capital of the nation.” With more than seven Floridians dying from prescription drug overdoses per day, I knew we needed to take swift action to save lives. Since taking office, we have worked with state leaders, law enforcement, health care professionals, and others to address this crisis. On Wednesday, I joined Governor Scott, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Bailey, and Department of Health Interim Surgeon General Dr. Harris to announce the progress Florida has made over the past year in fighting Florida’s prescription drug epidemic. The collaborative efforts on the local, state, and federal levels have had a tremendous impact on the fight against prescription drug abuse. Florida has gone from being the epicenter of the crisis to becoming a national model. The latest statistics on prescription drug abuse in Florida show the progress we are making.

In March 2011, there were 854 registered pain clinics in Florida, and today there are about 500 registered pain clinics, and the number is dropping steadily. In the last 12 months, more than 2,000 arrests have been made, including 34 doctors. Out of the top 100 prescribers of oxycodone nationwide, Florida has 11 who made the list – down from 98 in 2010. The 2011 Interim Drugs Identified in Decreased Persons Report shows the number of prescription deaths fell almost eight percent from the 2010 report. While we have made significant strides in this fight, we are not done. This legislative session I worked closely with Senator Joe Negron and Representative Kelli Stargel on a bill to create a Statewide Task Force on Prescription Drug Abuse and Newborns. The bill passed unanimously and will examine the scope of the problem, the costs associated with caring for babies with neonatal withdrawal syndrome, the long-term effects of the syndrome, and strategies for preventing prescription drug abuse by expectant mothers. It is great to share that all of our efforts have had a significant impact in this battle, and we will remain dedicated to stopping prescription drug abuse in Florida.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Committee tweaks Community Periodical Program, funding down from $750,000 last year, 27 free papers reach 800,000 readers, alternative to Herald

The Community Periodical Program is likely to be tweaked on Tuesday at the county commission meeting and 27 free papers participate in the countywide program that runs press releases from the county’s leaders, the administration and other stories important to local ethnic communities. The papers are said to reach “over 800,000 readers” around Miami-Dade and are important to many of the distinct local communities made up of the elderly or non-English reading residents. The program began in 1993, was modified in 1998 and 2005 and has fiscally grown in the proceeding years substantially to $750,000 for the 2010-2011 budget year, which is less than the peak of around $1.2 million before the economic collapse in 2008. The program is an alternative news outlet and a backlash response to The Miami Herald www.miamiherald.com that is accused by county commissioners to have its own agenda and perspective, that is generally negative when it comes to the county commission. The elected officials note they need these free local papers since recent 2010 Census data shows Miami-Dade has 84.6 percent of the population made up of ethnic minorities. The county’s population is 65 percent Hispanic, 70 percent of local residents speak a different language other than English in their homes, and there are 1.78 million minority representatives state county Census documents.

Commissioner Dennis Moss (Net worth $342,000) during the committee discussion said he “had no problem funding” these free local papers. He said when it came to funding these alternative papers, “everyone should have an opportunity to participate” and get a bite of the apple, not just The Herald . He said they all pay taxes, and currently this is a “one horse town” referring to The Herald. He carped the general circulation paper had its own agenda and issues and firmly believed the commission and public “needed to have an alternative voice out there.” And while Commissioner Lynda Bell (Net worth $308,000) was concerned the body was creating another “mandate,” with some of the new language. She along with all the other committee members voted unanimously to support the legislation sponsored by Commissioners Javier Souto (Net worth $658,000) and Rebeca Sosa (Net worth $439,000).

However, the program in the past years was subject to abuse that had a 2003 county audit of the program saying six such papers got around $20,000 each but did not exist and is why the Watchdog Report has watched this program over the past 13 years. And while the county commission did tighten the program up and its qualifications after that scandal, it continued because the publications are still feared by elected leaders given their local weight with voters and many are vehicles for political ads by candidates during election season. The program in the past at one point was funded by the county to the tune of over $1 million, but with budget cuts that has been scaled down to $375,000. >> For more on the legislation got to: http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/matter.asp?matter=120428&file=true&yearFolder=Y2012

Souto

Sosa

Moss

>>> Local Hialeah charity gets 2006 Lincoln Town car valued at $3,600 but in mint condition with only 80,000 miles

A 2006 Lincoln Town Car being donated to a charity in Hialeah by Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz (Net worth $64,200) is raising eyebrows since the car is in mint condition and does not have the 250,000 miles that Commissioner Lynda Bell suggested it might have when it passed at the Internal Management & Fiscal Responsibility Committee last Tuesday. The car valued at $3,600 by the county actually has around 80,000 miles and since it is what is called a “dignitary car,” used by the county’s Sergeant-of-Arms, the vehicles are maintained religiously. Critics suggest the county could have gotten significantly more (The minimum value the WDR found for the vehicle was $11,448 to a high of $14,200) and it had Commissioner Barbara Jordan (Net worth $1.97 million) saying. “I want to get one of these,” when the commissioners debated donating the vehicle to Charities Unlimited LLC.

The Watchdog Report periodically burrows down and looks at these donations and in this case. Charities Unlimited assists displaced Hispanic kids coming from South America and Cuba and was granted IRS charity status on Oct. 9, 2007 and Gisela Hidalgo is the organization’s CEO. The Watchdog Report did a search of the charity and I was unable to confirm its fiscal health with disclosure documents listed indicating there were zero assets. I emailed Hidalgo on Saturday morning but by my deadline Sunday, I got no response. Editor’s Note: I am not challenging the validity of the charity and its work, but this is all I could find online, and the thrust of the issue is the value of the car, and its future cost for service by the not-for-profit organization.

Jordan

Bell

Diaz

http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/matter.asp?matter=120348&file=true&yearFolder=Y2012 >>> http://www.corporationwiki.com/Florida/Miami/charities-unlimited-inc/27765606.aspx

>>> Here is the webpage: Organization Name: Charities Unlimited Inc Function, Activity: Human Service Organizations – Multipurpose Assets: $0 Income: $0 Contact Info: Giselia Hidalgo 14064 S.W 104th Ct, Miami, FL 33176
Charities Unlimited Inc was created in 2007 in response to the growing needs of the displaced children throughout Latin America. Our mission is to provide assistance, through education, employability skills training, medical and legal services to the impoverished children, elderly, and families of developing nations, especially Latin America and the Caribbean, including children living in Cuba. Toward this aim, the Foundation, a non-profit organization, seeks to foster and convey a message of humanitas in the Miami-Dade County community for social and economic empowerment of the present and future generations, at the dawn of a new millennium. We also support arts and culture especially emerging artists. >>> Here are some of the other Hidalgo firms: Chief Executive Officer, Director and President at Charities Unlimited, Inc Director at Ancient Research Society Inc Chairman and Secretary at Chef’s Paella Inc Director at Coalition to Aid Haiti, Inc Director and President at Doral Art & Culture Chamber of Commerce Inc Vice President at Havanair Inc Chairman and Secretary at Karca Inc Director at Natural Health Counseling and Services Inc.

2006 Lincoln Town Car

How is Commissioner Lynda Bell doing?

Lynda Bell, elected to the District 8 seat in 2010 after long serving Commissioner Katy Sorenson (Net worth $1.7 million) has been on a jag the last few months and pushed increasing the length former commissioners would be banned from lobbying the body (which was shot down 3/3 and dies) last week and another that codified that commissioner get a Ethics Commission opinion before voting on items that involve funding to a organization they are involved in.  Commissioner Barbara Jordan noted when it came to the legislation sponsored by Bell. We “are merely codifying what has already been done.” She noted Commissioner Dennis Moss already “recluses himself” because he is with a “not profit” that receives county money.

However, Bell is also a taskmaster on the dais when she chairs her committee meetings and is always a few minutes early of the starting time and begins the discussion almost right on the dot, even when a quorum might be missing. An example of this occurred last week at the IG&FRC she chairs and in the middle of the meeting. She lost a committee quorum and her answer to that was to direct the commission’s Sergeant of Arms to find and return Commissioners Jose “Pepe” Diaz and Xavier Suarez (Net worth $328,500),  to the dais and the men quickly reappeared in the commission chambers. Further, after a discussion on a CRA, Suarez gave her a shout out and thanked Bell for doing the research on the organization’s budget since he had not had the opportunity to drill down on the backup documents. Bell is a former Mayor of Homestead and has spent eight years in elected office. However, she has not given up on the lobbying issue with an editorial in www.miamiherald.com and below is a press release from her office on the issue.

Suarez

>>> Commissioner Lynda Bell press release: County Commission Fails to Pass Important Ethics Legislation — Our efforts to restore the integrity and accountability of our County government took a bit of hit this past Tuesday, March 13th. However, as long as I am your County Commissioner, I will not be deterred in my mission to bring about more transparent and accountable government to the residents of our community. I invite you to take a moment to watch this past Tuesday’s proceedings. Miami-Dade County Commission Internal Management and Fiscal Responsibility Committee Meeting – March 13, 2012

>>> M-DC IG report: Administrative Office of the Courts’ Approval of County Employee’s Reduced Work Schedule to Work an Unrelated Second Full-Time Job, Retaining Full-Time County Employment Status, and Drawing Maximum Florida Retirement Benefits; IG11-31, March 7, 2012, Final Report and Appendix. Exhibits.

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> FDOE: press release: 2012 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAP UP -State lawmakers approve $1 billion budget increase for education and bolster vital reforms-

On January 10, as legislators gathered to convene to 2012 Legislative Session, Florida Governor Rick Scott (Net worth $103 million) used his State of the State message to urge support for his budget, calling for a $1 billion increase in state education funding. Lawmakers heeded the Governor’s message, and education was a major focus of the legislative session, resulting in the allocation to education of the $1 billion sought by the Governor and the passage of many of the State Board of Education’s priorities.

“I want to thank the members of the Florida Legislature for their hard work to ensure that our children continue to have the opportunity to compete on a global level,” said Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. “The State Board of Education agrees with Florida’s parents, teachers, and taxpayers that improving education must be a high priority, and I commend our senators and representatives for their support of public education for the next generation of students. With this increase in funding and a streamlined accountability system, we will remain on the path of intelligent reform so that Florida may continue to lead the nation.”

HB 7127- School Improvement and Education Accountability

In an effort to provide more clarity while maintaining effective school accountability, this bill aligns Florida’s Differentiated Accountably (DA) system with changes to the state’s school grading system and Florida’s ESEA flexibility waiver. The changes strategically target struggling schools and increase support to school districts in closing achievement gaps for all students.

HB 7063- Digital Learning

This legislation continues to expand access to digital learning options for students in public schools. Allows students in grades K-5 to enroll on a part-time basis in the Florida Virtual School (FLVS) and expands part-time options for students in grades K-8 in district virtual instruction programs. The bill also authorizes FLVS full-time students to participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities. >> The proposed bills require the Governor’s signature before they become law. For more information, visit the Governor’s bill action website www.flgov.com/bill-action.

>>> Teacher of the Year Lopes is honored by county Commissioner Jordan

Press release: Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year, Alexandre Lopes, will be honored by Commissioner Barbara J. Jordan at the March 20th County Commission meeting in Downtown Miami. Lopez was selected among six finalists in the Miami-Dade area. Mr. Lopes teaches at Carol City Elementary School in the Learning Experiences: Alternative Program (LEAP) and educates autistic pre-kindergarten students. In addition, he is currently in his fourth semester as a doctoral student at Florida International University. For more information, please contact Commissioner Jordan’s office at 305-375-5694.

WHO: Miami-Dade County Commissioner Barbara J. Jordan Alexandre Lopes, Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year -WHAT: Presentation honoring Alexandre Lopes, Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year WHEN: Tuesday, March 20, 2012 Approximately 9:30 a.m. WHERE:  Stephen P. Clark Center Commission Chambers, 2nd Floor, 111 NW 1st Street, Downtown Miami

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Showdown with SEIU Nurses union at county hall Thursday, BCC in the hot seat when it comes to 1,117 layoffs, will commissioners override decision?

The SEIU Local 1991 union’s representatives and others who represent the nurses at Jackson Health System (JHS) will be making a presentation at the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Thursday at around 10:00 a.m., said union President Martha Baker, RN last Thursday. Commission Chair Joe Martinez granted the request and seven county commissioners signed off to hold the special meeting where the proposed 1,117 layoffs at Jackson Memorial Hospital will be discussed. The nurses are saying that patient safety and treatments would be compromised with these cuts but health system President Carlos Migoya says the reductions are necessary given the down patient census and patient safety would not be compromised. Migoya says this is to “right size” the public hospitals workforce that is hemorrhaging red ink to the tune of over $420 million over the past three years. Migoya, a former banker joined Jackson in May and the new seven member Financial Recovery Board created in the spring of last year has been struggling to right the beleaguered system but it is not easy task and the administration has found the nurses union is a formidable group of people. Further, a just released KPMG audit for the last fiscal year showed JHS losing 81.4 million for fiscal year 2011, but with these cuts and other changes is hoping to close out the current budget year ending in September with only a projected $20.5 million fiscal deficit.

However, this is also a test for the county commission that would have to override the cuts by a two-thirds vote and if the commission bends on these layoffs. The commission’s intervention could have a cascading affect with Migoya and his new administrative team that he brought in and it could even affect the FRB members, who have stayed out of the whole community discussion on the health trust governance. But the volunteers on the board might bail out if their decisions are overturned by the commission, At a time the hospital is down to 15 days of cash on hand and needs steady leadership so the stakes are great for all Miami-Dade residents when it comes to our community health and public hospital system.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Now there are three candidates for Commission Auditor, Guba likely to get the nod Thursday by commissioners

Last Monday a Commission Auditor Selection Committee met and the commission this Thursday is expected to select one person from a shortlist of three applicants. The Watchdog Report caught one of the interviews and the candidates for the important job vacant since June are Ted Guba, Kathleen Mathews and Lewis Blake and one of the finalist candidates Kirk Schazenback dropped out at the last minute, along with another whose mother was ill. Blake, currently running the Miami Auditor’s office said “teamwork” was important and he “wanted to assist management achieve their goals,” he told the group of attorneys and CPAs. He said the office currently has six auditors including himself but believes there is need for more staff. He also thought there was a need for more review how grants were handled, especially “the sheer volume” that are initiated in the Fire Rescue Department. “I’m their friend not their foe,” of the administration he thought of the job and while he gave a good effort in the interview.

The search committee thought he might be better suited after a few years under Guba who seemed to have the experience and background and was considered more mature. One member of the selection group said “I was very impressed with Guba” and he “Handles himself very well” and he seems to do things in an “orderly manner,” and “Blake needs to be tutored under Guba.” Another person chimed in that “words like advocate cuts you at your knees [after Blake used the term to explain the role of the office],” and while “there may be baggage for folks in the [auditor’s] office over the past year.” The consensus among members was “a new set of eyes is more effective than [sticking] with the old guard.” The process has been shepherded by Commissioner Frank Carollo (Net worth $707,000) and it appears after talking to the candidates. Commissioners will vote on the person and the Watchdog Report predicts it will be Guba.

Carollo

>>> Ethics Commission press release: Regalado’s settle campaign finance charges

Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado (Net worth $7,500) and his daughter, Miami-Dade School Board Member Raquel Regalado (Net worth $108,405), have agreed to settle charges of inaccurate campaign finance reporting associated with the 2009 Miami mayoral race following a joint investigation conducted by the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
As part of the agreement, Tomas Regalado, as candidate, and Raquel Regalado, as campaign treasurer, admit to violating Chapter 106 of Florida Statutes by filing inaccurate campaign finance reports on February 10, 2010, and on March 15, 2010.  Each will pay a fine of $1,000 for each violation ($2,000 per person) to the Election Campaign Financing Trust Fund of the State of Florida.  Additionally, they will reimburse investigative costs of $1,000 each to the Ethics Commission, State Attorney’s Office and Florida Department of Law Enforcement, for a total financial penalty of $10,000.

“This has been looked at by several agencies, including our auditor, and we concluded that there were serious deficiencies when it came to accounting for contributions in the final report,” said Ethics Commission Executive Director Joseph Centorino.   “However, we found no evidence of theft of funds and this is the appropriate means of settling that type of offense.”  Centorino added, “It is important for all parties to realize that in any campaign, the candidate and the treasurer are ultimately responsible for the financial reports.” The negotiated settlement will be presented to the Florida Elections Commission for final approval at its next meeting in May. >>> 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.

What did the two Regalado’s write to the WDR?

The Watchdog Report contacted the mayor and school board member last week and asked them if they had any comment about the matter. Mayor Tomas Regalado wrote back, “We feel relieved after the investigation since it showed that all monies were accounted for, contrary to the allegations that were made in the media. We understand that in the future we need to have professionals do the accounting and not depend on volunteers who only mean well,” wrote the mayor elected in 2009. His daughter Raquel, the campaign’s treasurer wrote, “Glad it’s over and that it is clear that there was no crime committed. He will be opening his campaign account for re-election soon, we are hiring a professional treasurer, and a CPA firm to do the accounting, wrote the Miami-Dade school board member elected in 2010.

Tomas Regalado

Raquel Regalado

>>> Press release: Miami-Area Resident Pleads Guilty to Participating In $200 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

A Miami-area resident pleaded guilty yesterday for his role in a fraud scheme that resulted in the submission of more than $200 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Frank Criado, 33, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry L. Garber in Miami to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive illegal health care kickbacks.  Criado was charged in an indictment unsealed on Feb. 15, 2011, in the Southern District of Florida.

Criado admitted to participating in a fraud scheme that was orchestrated by the owners and operators of American Therapeutic Corporation (ATC); its management company, Medlink Professional Management Group Inc.; and the American Sleep Institute (ASI).  ATC, Medlink and ASI were Florida corporations headquartered in Miami.  ATC operated purported partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), a form of intensive treatment for severe mental illness, in seven different locations throughout South Florida and Orlando.  ASI purported to provide diagnostic sleep disorder testing.

According to court filings, ATC’s owners and operators paid kickbacks to owners and operators of assisted living facilities and halfway houses and to patient brokers in exchange for delivering ineligible patients to ATC and ASI.  In some cases, the patients received a portion of those kickbacks.  Throughout the course of the ATC and ASI conspiracy, millions of dollars in kickbacks were paid in exchange for Medicare beneficiaries who did not qualify for PHP services to attend treatment programs that were not legitimate PHPs so that ATC and ASI could bill Medicare for the medically unnecessary services.  According to court filings, to obtain the cash required to support the kickbacks, the co-conspirators laundered millions of dollars of payments from Medicare.

Criado admitted to serving as a patient broker who provided patients for ATC and ASI in exchange for kickbacks in the form of checks and cash.  The amount of the kickback was based on the number of days each patient spent at ATC. According to his plea agreement, Criado’s participation in the ATC fraud resulted in $7.3 million in fraudulent billings to the Medicare program. Sentencing for Criado is scheduled for May 31, 2012, at 8:30 a.m.  He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. ATC, Medlink, and various owners, managers, doctors, therapists, patient brokers and marketers of ATC, Medlink and ASI, were charged with various health care fraud, kickback, money laundering and other offenses in two indictments unsealed on Feb. 15, 2011.  ATC, Medlink and 11 of the individual defendants have pleaded guilty or have been convicted at trial. Other defendants are scheduled for trial April 9, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Seitz.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer of the Southern District of Florida; Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; John V. Gillies, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Miami field office; and Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher B. Dennis of the HHS Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Office of Investigations Miami office. The criminal case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Jennifer L. Saulino, Steven Kim and Robert Zink of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.  A related civil action is being handled by Vanessa I. Reed and Carolyn B. Tapie of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted L. Radway of the Southern District of Florida.  The case was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG, and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. >>> Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in nine locations have charged more than 1,190 defendants that collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $3.6 billion.  In addition, HHS’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, is taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers. To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to:  www.stopmedicarefraud.gov

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Will Commissioner Wolfson layoff criticism of Mgr. Gonzalez, now that he is running for state House?

Miami Beach Commissioner Jonas Wolfson has decided to throw his hat into the ring to try to replace state Rep. Richard Steinberg, D-Miami Beach (Net worth $327,000) in his House 106 seat in the Florida Legislature after Steinberg suddenly resigned after a texting scandal with a married federal prosecutor. Wolfson an attorney, whose wife is a judge, had a fundraiser last week and Beach Commissioner Jorge Exposito who Wolfson helped when he ran for the commission hosted it. However, Wolfson has been the driving force behind the removal of 11 year on the job Manager Jorge Gonzalez and the item is on the agenda for this Wednesday’s commission meeting. Gonzalez started his public service with Miami-Dade County and cut his chops being part of the county’s team trying to rebuild Homestead right after Hurricane Andrew slammed into the community destroying it back in August 1992. He later was a manager of a state municipality and came to the Beach in 2001. And he has survived two past mayors and a host of commissioners since then and he is considered politically very adroit with commissioners but has had some setbacks including a couple of instances involving the police force that got a new chief this week.

However, it remains to be seen if Wolfson still has the passion to put up a big fight on the issue that had Commissioner Deede Weithorn seconding a motion by Wolfson months ago to review the manager and his past performance. Mayor Mattie Herrera Bower a strong supporter of the manager hates that the whole issue has become so “political” and just likes to go forward in a straightforward manner and avoid all this drama. However, the issue is up for public debate and it has been getting some ink, and critics call him “arrogant” but his supporters see another side, a professional manager. And Beach residents will soon see if there is a change of the management guard, but the Watchdog Report believes Gonzalez will survive this challenge.

>>> 4^th Beach Womens Conference brings prominent women together for political discussion

The 4^th Annual Miami Beach Women’s Conference and Luncheon was held Friday, around 300 prominent women attended the event held at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens, and it was a wonderful affair. The organization brought a number of prominent women in the community on two different panels that discussed “You’re elected. Now what?” and the other was titled “Protection for Women,” and state Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Miami, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Miami-Dade Commissioner Sally Heyman and former Commissioner Katy Sorenson and Beth Littrell a attorney rounded out the panelists having the discussion. Further U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami introduced the “Randle Hofer Scholarship Fund” recipient and she was accompanied at the podium with Miami Beach Mayor Mattie Herrera Bower and scholarship recipient.

>>> Apple store slammed Friday with new iPad intro on tony Lincoln Rd.

If you wondered what the large crowds on Lincoln Road were doing, they waiting in line to get the new Apple i pad today and the store when this new technology is introduced is a mecca for Apple enthusiasts.

>>>M. Gongora Press release: On Wednesday, March 21st we will have our next Commission meeting with numerous subjects of importance including consideration of ratifying a new Chief of Police for the City of Miami Beach. I do hope to hear your comments and suggestions as we prepare to discuss the hiring of this very important position, which provides for our safety. To review the full agenda for next week’s Commission meeting go to http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/cityclerk/scroll.aspx?id=66724

CITY OF NORTH MIAMI

>>> Press release: Two Convicted of Tax Refund Fraud That Used Stolen Social Security Information

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Guy P. Fallen, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), and Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), announce that Jean LaFrance, 28, of North Miami, and Carlos Orozco, 18, of Pembroke Pines, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Robert Scola, Jr., to one count of conspiracy to submit false claims to the government, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 286. LaFrance also pled guilty to one count of theft of public money, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641, and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A.  Sentencing is scheduled for June 15, 2012.

According to the Criminal Information and statements made in court, between April and October 2011, Orozco worked as a volunteer at the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office, in Pembroke Pines, Florida. In his position, Orozco had access to sensitive SSA documents that contained the personal identification information of SSA applicants, including their names, dates of birth, and social security numbers. Orozco stole sensitive documents from the SSA and, in exchange for cash payments and the promise of future payments from LaFrance, gave LaFrance the personal identification information of thousands of SSA applicants.

LaFrance then used the stolen information to file false federal income tax returns in the names of the SSA applicants. He filed the false tax returns over the internet, using Turbo Tax, an on-line tax filing program.  In the filings, LaFrance claimed IRS tax refunds to which he was not entitled. To execute the scheme and access the money, LaFrance directed the IRS to direct deposit the refunds onto Turbo Tax Green Dot reloadable debit cards and to either mail the loaded debit cards to Orozco’s home or to other addresses that LaFrance controlled. Alternatively, LaFrance directed the IRS to simply load the fraudulently claimed refunds onto debit cards that he already possessed.  Upon receipt of the loaded debit cards, LaFrance converted the refunds to cash.

On the conspiracy count, each defendant faces up to ten years imprisonment.  In addition, LaFrance faces up to ten years imprisonment on the theft of public money count and a mandatory consecutive prison sentence of two years on the aggravated identity theft count. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the SSA-OIG and IRS-CID.  This case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Kay and Marc Anton. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

CITY OF NORTH MIAMI BEACH

>>> Press release: North Miami Beach Resident Pleads Guilty to Filing False Income Tax Returns

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), announce the guilty plea of defendant Maurice Rodriguez, of North Miami Beach, Florida, to two charges that he willfully filed false personal income tax returns, and six charges that he aided in the preparation of numerous false federal income tax returns. Sentencing is scheduled for June 8, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Seitz. More specifically, Rodriguez pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry L. Garber in Miami, Florida to Counts 1 and 2 of the indictment, which charged him with knowingly making and subscribing a false Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns, for calendar years 2005 and 2006.  In this regard, Rodriguez admitted to inflating his wife’s income, and other business expenses in 2005 and 2006, and filing the tax returns with the IRS knowing that the returns were not accurate as to every material matter, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206 (1).

Rodriguez also pled guilty to Counts 3, 10, 15, 19, 23, and 39, which charged him with assisting and advising in the preparation and presentation of fraudulent income tax returns to the IRS, in violation of 26 U.S.C. Section 7206(2).  Rodriguez admitted that he prepared and caused the submission of U.S. Individual Tax Returns claiming tax refunds on behalf of various taxpayers, knowing that these returns contained materially false information.  Specifically, Rodriguez knew that the tax returns falsely represented, among other things, the taxpayers’ income, tax withholdings, and allowable deductions and expenses, including unreimbursed employee business expenses and other job-related expenditures. Rodriguez faces a maximum statutory term of imprisonment of up to three years for each count of filing false individual tax returns and three years as to each of the preparation and presentation of fraudulent income tax return counts. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CID.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Wood. 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 CORAL GABLES

>>> Spruce-up on the way with 358 new palms, city & UM splitting costs says, Mayor Cason

The Watchdog Report contacted Mayor Jim Cason and commissioners last week asking if there were any hot issues and how the city was doing? And Cason emailed back when it came to the City Beautiful, the landscape was going to get a major improvement. The mayor wrote, “We will be planting some 358 Alexander palms in the next few days along Ponce de Leon from Red Road to Le Jeune, replacements for similar trees once there, but that died over the years, and the University of Miami is sharing the costs with the city. And this is part of an ongoing beautification of Coral Gables. The trees will be 20 feet high and irrigated and the Commission approved this project this past Tuesday, wrote the former diplomat elected in April 2011.

And Commissioner Maria Anderson took a trip down memory lane since she was first elected in 2001, and has faced some tough reelection campaigns that were fairly nasty over the years but she is now term limited next year. She wrote in an email, “I’m looking back over the last eleven years (13 months to go) and I am proud of the work I’ve done in the areas of enhancing senior citizen issues.  We started with a program to mark and grow programs and services to an underserved population.  Since 2005, that effort has yielded overflowing classes and a need for a senior center.  We have appropriated funds for construction, so that should become a reality in the next 2-3 years.  I won’t be in office, but I will still carry with me that I kept my 2001 campaign promise to the seniors of Coral Gables.  All else in the city is moving fairly well, if my email volume is any indicator.  Stay tuned for the Wednesday, March 28 Planning and Zoning meeting dealing with the truck ordinance,” wrote the veteran commissioner.

>>> Local luncheon group hosts Miami-Dade Commission Chair Martinez, county mayoral candidate on Aug.14 — PONCE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 141651 Coral Gables, FL  33114 www.poncebusiness.com poncebusiness@gmail.com “Keeping you abreast of the pressing issues affecting Coral Gables.” We meet the first and third Mondays of the month at JohnMartins restaurant (253 Miracle Mile – 2nd floor) at noon.  Lunch is $20 for members and $22 for guests. >> Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners – Joseph A. Martinez – Please join us for lunch on Monday, March 19th.  Our guest speaker will be Joseph A. Martinez, Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners.  We meet at noon at JohnMartin’s restaurant (253 Miracle Mile – 2nd floor). Commissioner Martinez was first elected to District 11 in October 2000.  In November 2010, the Board of County Commissioners selected Mr. Martinez to serve as Chairman for a two-year term.

As Chairman, he presides over County Commission meetings, Miami-Dade’s legislative branch.  He represents West Dade’s unincorporated areas which include Country Walk, Hammocks, Kendall Lakes, Brent Tree and Lakes of the Meadows. Prior to his election to the County Commission, Joseph was a 17-year veteran with the Miami-Dade Police Department working his way up through the ranks, serving as a detective with the General Investigations Unit to becoming a Lieutenant with the Department.  During his tenure with the Police Department, he received more than 70 awards and commendations including two Gold Medals of Valor, the Silver Medal of Valor and the Lifesaving Award. Chairman Martinez has a bachelor degree from Barry University in Professional Studies in Public Administration and recently announced his candidacy for the position of Mayor of Miami-Dade County. Please RSVP for our luncheon at poncebusiness@gmail.com

Martinez

CITY OF DORAL

>>> Press release:  Miami-Dade County, in partnership with the City of Doral and Dream in Green, is holding a Home Energy Savings Workshop on Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm (registration begins at 6:00pm) at the City of Doral Council Chambers. The workshop is being held to educate residents on energy efficiency and conservation and provide homeowners with information, resources and incentives to reduce their utility costs. Participants will receive a free energy savings toolkit valued at over $100 and learn to track household energy consumption/reduction. More importantly, residents will save money by learning how to reduce energy use in their homes by 20-30 percent. “This is a great opportunity for our residents to save money in the long run,” said JC Bermudez, Mayor of the City of Doral, “and a great example of how the Federal, County and Municipal governments can work hand in hand to benefit the community at large and protect our environment.” The free energy savings toolkit includes items such as a programmable thermostat, hot water gauge, LED sensor nightlight and compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs). According to ENERGY STAR, if every American home replaced just one light with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, we would save enough energy to light more than three million homes for a year, save about $700 million in annual energy costs, and prevent nine billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to the emissions of about 800,000 cars.

To register and for additional information, residents can call 3-1-1 or visit http://green.miamidade.gov. The workshop has limited space, and is open to the first 50 registered residents. Each participant will receive the free energy savings toolkit, limit one per household. The Home Energy Savings Workshops are part of the County’s award-winning Communitywide Energy Efficiency Campaign, an education program managed by the Office of Sustainability that engages residents to gain support for energy conservation, renewable energy, recycling, and waste reduction, and serve as a catalyst for long-term behavior changes resulting in reduced energy usage. To date, the campaign has resulted in a reduction of 4,041 metric tons of CO2e or $742,000 a year in energy savings. Other elements of the campaign include: showerhead and light bulb exchanges, $750 Savings Challenge, residential appliance rebate program and commercial rebate program. Learn more at http://green.miamidade.gov. On September 14, 2009, Miami-Dade County was awarded $12,523,700 through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and administered through the Department of Energy. The Countywide Energy Efficiency Campaign is one of 12 projects funded through EECBG. A complete project list is available at http://green.miamidade.gov.

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Press release: President of Broward Title and Escrow Company Charged in Multi-Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Paula Reid, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, Miami Field Office, and Florida Office of Financial Regulation, announced that defendant Michelle Austin-Wilks, 38, of Parkland, Florida, was charged in an Information with four counts of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, for her participation in a mortgage fraud scheme.  If convicted, Austin-Wilks faces up to thirty years’ imprisonment on each count. According to the Information, Austin-Wilks was President and Director of Direct Title & Escrow Services, Inc., in Oakland Park, Florida.  Austin-Wilks and others allegedly engaged in a scheme to enrich themselves by fraudulently buying and selling residential real estate property in Broward County through straw buyers.  These straw buyers obtained high value mortgages based on fraudulent mortgage loan applications and closing statements.

According to the Information, after the lenders approved the loans based on the false loan applications, Austin-Wilks prepared false HUD-1 Settlement Statements that, among other things, falsely represented to the lenders that the straw buyers were bringing their own money to closing.  She also created and submitted duplicate HUD-1 Settlement Statements for the same real estate transaction to the mortgage lenders, reflecting different sales prices to the seller and to the lender.  The lender’s version reflected a significantly higher purchase price than the seller’s version of the HUD-1 Settlement Statement. After closing, the lenders wired a total of approximately $3 million in mortgage loan proceeds into Direct Title & Escrow’s bank account, which was controlled by Austin-Wilks.  Thereafter, defendant Austin-Wilks wire transferred $68,562 and $382,000, respectively, to a mortgage broker and a straw buyer for their assistance in the mortgage fraud scheme.  The mortgage broker, Jinnie Mathurin, has pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and was sentenced on March 7, 2012 to one year and one day of imprisonment, three years supervised release and ordered to pay $1.17 million in restitution by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks.  The straw buyer, Guhier Florvilus, also pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 17, 2012 before U.S. District Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Secret Service and Florida Office of Financial Regulation.  Mr. Ferrer thanked the U.S. Marshal’s Service for their substantial efforts in locating defendant Austin-Wilks in Jamaica and returning her to United States to face charges.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy 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 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.

>>> 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

>>> Press release: Boca Raton Resident Charged with Mail Fraud in Corporate Identity Theft Scheme

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, announced that defendant Rogerio Chaves Scotton, a.k.a. Roger Scotton, of Boca Raton, Florida, was charged in a twenty-six count indictment with mail fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341.  He was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robin S. Rosenbaum, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

More specifically, the indictment alleges that Scotton, a Brazilian national, offered merchandise for sale through his internet websites, including Brazil Express Import and Export and Sky Air Express.  In the websites, the defendant offered to ship the merchandise to Brazil and elsewhere at favorable shipping rates.  Scotton was able to offer lower shipping rates than his competitors because he fraudulently established new shipping accounts and/or subaccounts   with various different shipping companies, using the identity of existing corporations, such as Target, Apple Computers, and Walmart.  Scotton used these fraudulently obtained corporate accounts to ship thousands of packages throughout the United States and Brazil for his customers.  When the shipping companies discovered the fraudulent accounts created and used by Scotton, the shipping companies would credit the respective account of the legitimate corporate account owner.   As a result, the shipping companies suffered multi-million dollar losses because of Scotton’s activities.

If convicted, Scotton faces a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of up to twenty years for each count of mail fraud. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bertha R. Mitrani. An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty

BAY COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Neda C. Koehnemann to the Board of Psychology.

Koehnemann, 56, of Panama City, is a self-employed psychologist. She is appointed for a term beginning March 13, 2012, and ending October 31, 2012. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

COMMUNITY EVENTS.

>>> 24th Annual In the Company of Women Awards Celebration Recognizes 13 Miami-Dade Women - In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Department and the Miami-Dade County Commission for Women, in partnership with The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade, are hosting the 24th Annual In the Company of Women Awards Celebration presented by Macy’s, on Wednesday, March 21, from 6-9 p.m., at the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables.  Thirteen local women will be recognized for contributions in their fields and to the Miami-Dade community.  The event also provides lasting support to the Women’s Park and park programs throughout Miami-Dade County. >>> Tickets for In the Company of Women are $40, which includes the awards ceremony and pre-event reception, and can be purchased online at www.mdparks.org. Contributions of $250 and above also afford at-risk women an opportunity to attend the event. In the Company of Women is made possible by the support of generous sponsors including Macy’s, Baptist Health South Florida, Covanta Energy, Florida International University, Waste Services of Florida, Inc., and Univision Radio. For more information about the event, call Vivian Greer-Digon at the Women’s Park, 305-480-1717. >> The Miami-Dade County Commission for Women was created in 1971 as an advisory board to the Board of County Commissioners, the County administration and the public at large about issues pertaining to the status of women.  The Commission for Women also advocates for women in the community and strives to improve their quality of life.  For more information contact the Commission for Women at (305) 375-4967 or at Morilla@miamidade.gov; or visit the website at www.miamidade.gov/advocacy/CFW_home.asp.

>>> Amigos for Kids event: The Second Annual Celebration of Friendship Luncheon and Children’s Fashion show will be held on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Four Seasons. Many of you ask how you can get involved and help promote and support our mission of child abuse prevention & awareness. As you may know, April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Amigos For Kids spearheads a Blue Ribbon Campaign in Miami-Dade County, including this fundraising event. If you would like your child to participate as one of the models in this year’s event, please respond to us by Tuesday, February 28, 2012. Space is limited, and commitment to participate is required.  Please feel free to forward this information to friends with children that may be interested. Fashion Show Theme – Island Cruising In The Tropics – Commitment requirements include: $ 20 fee per child ages 4 – 13 to participate as one of the models  One  ( 1 ) fitting session Two ( 2 ) practice sessions – Adult tickets to attend the event are $ 100 per person – tables set 12 and cost is $ 1,200.  Sponsorship & runway tables available. The attached form should be sent via email to: events@amigosforkids.org Thank you for your support and interest in our mission.  Rosa Maria Plasencia Executive Director Amigos For Kids, 801 S.W. Third Av., Suite 300 Miami, Florida 33130 P:  305 279 1155 F:  305 858 0794 www.amigosforkids.org

>>> Strut your stuff on Sunday, March 25 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Shops at Midtown Miami (3401 N. Miami Avenue).  Participate in Miami Lighthouse’s fifth annual Walk, Waggle and Stroll Dog Walk, an exciting event that is dedicated to raising awareness for guide dogs and service dogs of all kinds. The walk will include dog guides, other service animals and regular pet companions, on a walk to pledge support for the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. This year’s event is hosted by Honorary ‘Dog’nitaries, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman and WPLG Chanel 10’s Sasha Andrade as emcee.

“In addition to raising much-needed funds for our programs at Miami Lighthouse, which provide rehabilitation and vocational training to thousands of people every year, our fifth annual Walk, Waggle and Stroll Dog Walk will be a wonderful way to raise awareness of the presence of service animals of all kinds in our community,” said Miami Lighthouse CEO Virginia A. Jacko, who is blind and uses a dog guide named, Kieran. Details’ include: “Bagels and Bones Breakfast” at 9:00am sponsored by Brooklyn Bagels and Miami Global Colombian Lions Club; the dog walk at 9:30am followed by contest prizes for “cutest,” “look-alike,” “most talented dog,” “Dog-Ummy,” “Musical Paws,” and Go Doggy Staying contests. You can also collect pledges to support the event from your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers for the grand prize that goes to the person who gets the most pledges. Free parking is available in the PetSmart garage, and walkers are welcome with or without dogs. On-site registration is $20; the fee is waived for visually impaired walkers. >>> The Miami Lighthouse Dog Walk is sponsored by The Shops at Midtown Miami, Brickell Motors, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman, Met Life, Gray Robinson, Banfield Pet Hospital, Frances T. King Insurance Agency, Milton and Patricia Wallace, Rugsies, BizSolutions, Britto, WPLG Local 10, Susan Conroy Design, Absolute Graphics, Brooklyn Bagels, Fuze and Miami Global Colombian Lions Club.

EDITORIALS

>>> When leaders or public servants stop talking around the press or the WDR, what is the secret? Hopefully not nuclear launch codes

As I travel and cover government and public events here in South Florida one thing has struck me over the years in the field and that is when people stop talking around the press, or me, for they look guilty as sin when they do this. Over the years it has happened constantly and people if they don’t walk away from me switch to Spanish or Creole for example, in my presence and it makes one wonder what the secret is, perhaps a road is getting new asphalt. But it is odd and most of the time one has to ask what the great secret is is that cannot be said in public. I know it is not NORAD nuclear launch codes and this queasiness to speak issues in public is more than strange, it is poor public policy and a corrosive affect with the public when it comes to residents’ confidence of their elected officials. Whose leaders can only hope voters have a memory problem since they consistently act as if people don’t remember the past and what they had said or done in their official capacity.

And while political leaders always carp about the press, its bias or agenda. They fail to realize that this is part of the medias job and to hold these people accountable for their decisions and only later do past elected leaders appreciate the role of the lowly scribe in the community, and how the medias role of providing more information only breeds voter confidence. And officials in the digital age better get used to that fact, and just get with it when it comes to public conversation at meetings. For the way it is now, so many leaders look like a cat that ate a canary when it comes to making public policy, and how they do their elected jobs, and that is not a good thing for any of us.

>>> PAST WDR: JUL.2005: Dade Home Rule Charter created to “protect the governed, not the governing” and the media has a role in that mission

The role of the press and the media in our society has been debated for centuries here in the United States but the rules have never changed so much since after 9/11 giving government a real edge in controlling what is or is not reported on. Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami are two local empirical examples of governments’ reactions to the press.  There are some elected leaders that embrace the role of the media, accept it as part of the territory coming with public office, versus other elected leaders and public servants, that disdain the role and oversight the profession plays in our Republic.

Government has numerous methods at there disposal to get their side of the story out ranging from local free community periodicals to the public institutions dedicated cable station.  However, when it comes investigative news stories that might keep some independent oversight of Miami-Dade’s $14 billion or so of public government or the $2.9 billion that will come with the county’s general obligation bond the local media resources are scant. Government understands that they actually have the advantage in the current wartime environment and as seasoned reporters with community history leave the field a large information and oversight void is being created giving public institutions a much looser political environment in which to govern the community’s 2.3 (Now 2.5) million residents.

The framers of The Miami-Dade Home Rule Charter adopted by the county in May 21, 1957 understood the edge that government has over the people they rule and the very first sentence of the Citizens’ Bill of Rights section of the charter got it right.  “This government has been created to protect the governed, not the governing.” Residents need to start focusing on the rapidly depleting media resources in Miami-Dade that are being directed at their public institutions because these assets are slowly being picked off, especially when you consider the financial size of the public entities.

Throughout the nation’s history, there has always been tension between the press and government and the nation’s founders understood that and embraced the idea because they knew they would not always be in power themselves.  Moreover, the last thing they wanted was to feel the pain of an arrogant government in their lives after leaving office, something many of our current public servants should reflect on.

>>> Check out the past national story in the Tribune papers:  Paperwork Tiger

By Maya Bell, Miami Bureau, January 20, 2003

MIAMI – Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. It’s not by choice. Miami’s self-anointed citizen watchdog depends on the people he writes for and about to finance his quixotic quest to attend nearly every government meeting in Miami-Dade County. That’s a lot of mind-numbing meetings — as many as 2,500 a year — but not a lot of income. So Ricker is always teetering on bankruptcy. He dashes to his post-office box daily, hoping subscribers to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks.

LETTERS

>>> It was good to see you and as always, I admire your dedication to good reporting.

Nancy

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

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

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr.

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

ARTHUR HERTZ

WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)

ALFRED NOVAK

LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)

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

THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE

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

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com

RONALD HALL

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY  www.miamidade.gov

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

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

AKERMAN SENTERFITT   www.akerman.com

RON BOOK

LEWIS TEIN  www.lewistein.com

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

WILLIAM PALMER

SHUBIN & BASS     www.shubinbass.com

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

CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC.   www.camillushouse.org

CITY OF MIAMI  www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.cph.org

THE STATE OF FLORIDA    www.myflorida.gov

GREATOR MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA  www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY  www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov/ethics

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

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

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

THE BEACON COUNCIL   www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

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

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

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI             www.miami.edu

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 550 reports and Extra’s have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events.  The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain.

LETTER POLICY

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

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2012, Daniel A. Ricker

>>> The Watchdog Report are now available to television stations web pages, and all the newspapers and other media in South Florida if the publishers have an interest to run part or all of the stories. Further, in 2000, I used to have some paper’s running the report in the Spanish press, that option is available again, and publishers should contact me.  The news content will not be free, but you can pick and chose the stories of interest, edit them if necessary but you must still keep the general story intact.  If you are a news outlet and would like to learn more about, the Watchdog Report and this offer contact me at watchdogreport1@earthlink.net for further information.

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

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years. >>> Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, The (FL) CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS >>> Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, The (FL) MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED >>> >>> To read the full section large two page front page story, but without the photos and smart box graphics, go to: `I Go When You Cannot’ – Sun Sentinel 20 Jan 2003 … Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. … to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks. … http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american >>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times –The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored.  Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2003-05-15/citylife2.html/1/index.html

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

Those who do read the newspaper in Florida have a bevy of options for state government and political coverage. The dominant newspapers in the state are Knight-Ridder’s The Miami Herald (Acquired by The McClatchy Company in 2006) and the Poynter Institute’s St. Petersburg Times. Both papers endorsed Gore in 2000 but split on the 2002 gubernatorial race, with the Herald endorsing Republican incumbent Jeb Bush and the Times backing Democratic challenger Bill McBride. Daniel Ricker of The Miami Herald also writes an influential column as well as an email newsletter called the Watchdog Report that goes out to more than 100,000 subscribers. FEBRUARY 2004 – Florida: Columnists in Abundance –ERIC GAUTSCHI, graduate student, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill – D) LEADING COMMENTATORS – Resource Commentator Organization Type Web site –Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/bousquet.shtml -“First Friday” WPBT TV (Miami) TV Show www.channel2.org/firstfriday/issues.html –Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/morgan.shtml –Daniel Ricker Miami Herald/Watchdog Report Newsletter >>> 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.

********************************************************************

Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form

NOTE: Invoice is for Yearly supporter/sponsorship Rates: Thank you.

Supporting Sponsors $5,000

Sustaining Sponsors $2,000

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

Large Business Supporters $500

Small Business Supporters $250

Individual Supporter $150

Student Supporter $ 75

Any amount $

Name & Address

Please make checks payable to: Daniel A. Ricker

Send to: 3109 Grand Avenue, #125

Miami, FL 33133

Fax 305-668-4784 -To contact the Publisher please e-mail watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center for International Media http://knight.miami.edu within the University of Miami’s School of Communication www.miami.edu to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no ads, pops-up quickly and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

>>> HELP: I NEED FINANCIAL HELP IF THIS IS TOO CONTINUE AFTER 12-YEARS AND HEADING INTO 13-YEARS IN MAY: 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 and I hope you or your organization will consider helping in a small or larger way and help keep another voice on line in the media. 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.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> FP&L CEO Olivera says sayonara after 40-years, “We’re clean, cheap and reliable,” but challenges remain in the future

Armando J. Olivera, the President and CEO of Florida Power & Light since  2003     gave his last major public speech Wednesday at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce luncheon and he gave a upbeat message to event attendees. The electrical engineer worked his way up the corporate ladder after forty years with the company that has 4.5 million customers and 10,000 employees. The man said that FP&L pays around $60 million in property taxes and buys around $220 million in goods a year, he said. And when it came to people’s electrical bill, it is “25 percent lower than the national average,” and is lower by $370.00 than other electric companies’ bills around the state in the course of a year, he said. The president joked when it came to the company that “We’re clean, cheap and reliable,” and most people don’t think much about electricity in the course of their lives and “only notice when the lights are out.”

The engineer said much has changed in South Florida since he first arrived in 1960, and with the population and business growth over the decades that has around 2.5 million people. The company has worked hard to keep up with the demand that includes a $9 billion investment “to strengthen and improve the electrical generation system” that is expected to save “$1.2 billion in fuel costs by 2016,” he said. However, the utility’s proposed expansion of Turkey Point, a nuclear power plant facility and a new grid line going through South Florida. This has created some controversy with local residents and the power company is trying to mollify these concerns that residents and environmentalists are voicing.

Olivera, with a B.S. from Cornell University and a MBA from the University of Miami joined the company in 1972 as an engineer trainee and is retiring on May 2 says the company’s webpage www.fpl.com . The man was also recently appointed by Gov. Rick Scott as a trustee to Miami-Dade College in February. >>> Editor’s note: FP&L is a $2,000 a year founding sponsor of the Watchdog Report since May 2000.

>>> White House press release: Alan B. Krueger, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, issued the following statement today on the employment situation in February. You can view the statement HERE. The Employment Situation in February – Today’s employment report provides further evidence that the economy is continuing to heal from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. It is critical that we continue the economic policies that are helping us dig our way out of the deep hole that was caused by the recession that began at the end of 2007, including measures to help the sectors that were most severely harmed by the bubble economy that misdirected investment and created too few durable jobs.

After losing millions of good manufacturing jobs in the years before and during the recession, the economy has added 429,000 manufacturing jobs in the past two years. For the first time since the 1990s, the manufacturing sector is adding jobs. To support a revival in manufacturing jobs and output, the President has proposed tax incentives for manufacturers, enhanced training for the workforce, and measures to create manufacturing hubs. Private sector payrolls increased by 233,000 jobs and overall payroll employment rose by 227,000 jobs in February. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.3%. The unemployment rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage point over the last 6 months. There was an increase in the size of the labor force last month of 476,000. Importantly, the increase in the labor force last month was due in large part to a reduction in the number of workers who exited the labor force between January and February.

Despite adverse shocks that have created headwinds for economic growth, the economy has added private sector jobs for 24 straight months, for a total of more than 3.9 million payroll jobs over that period. In the last 12 months, 2.2 million private sector jobs were added on net. In the last 6 months, 1.3 million private sector jobs were added, the most of any 6 month period in nearly 6 years.

Sectors with net job increases included health care and social assistance (+61,100), temporary help services (+45,200), leisure and hospitality (+44,000), and manufacturing (+31,000). Construction lost 13,000 jobs, reflecting a loss of 15,400 specialty trade contractor jobs. Employment in the Federal government fell by 7,000 jobs. The monthly employment and unemployment numbers can be volatile, and employment estimates can be subject to substantial revision. Therefore, as the Administration always stresses, it is important not to read too much into any one monthly report; nevertheless, the trend in job market indicators over recent months is an encouraging sign.

>>> Press release: Ros-Lehtinen Meets with Netanyahu, Reaffirms Unwavering Support for Israel On Iran Threat, Says All Options Must Be On Table

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement today expressing her unwavering support for Israel and discussing the Iranian nuclear threat following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to the U.S. comes at a time when Iran’s relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons casts a dark cloud over both of our nations and the world.   As the Iran threat looms more ominously each day, our support for Israel must remain unwavering, and all options for eliminating this threat must be on the table.

“The safety and security of the United States and Israel depend on our determination to do whatever it takes to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.  Talk of containment is an unacceptable admission of defeat, and new rounds of empty meetings will produce nothing except more time for Iran to attain a nuclear capability. “Time is not on our side.  We must impose the strongest possible pressure on Iran right now, without further delays and excuses.” NOTE:  To view remarks on the Iran nuclear threat delivered by Ros-Lehtinen at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference, please click here.

>>> All photos in the Watchdog Report are taken from public government sites, and the Report goes on line at www.watchdogreport.net on Monday sometime during the day usually. >>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for I am a low cost news service, yet I do have to live, thank you! Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times, twice in The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel which ran as a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003 and UNC Chapel Hill naming me one of the top columnists in Florida in a  multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on the WLRN/NPR showTopical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also numerous times over the past decade. Further, I am a frequent guest on WWW.WPBT2.ORG on Helen Ferre’s show Issues, and have also appeared on  Eliott Rodriguez’s show News & Views.

FLORIDA

>>> Florida Sunshine State Gov. Financing Commission takes road trip to Miami Friday, has sold over $3 billion in paper since 1985

The Florida Sunshine State Governmental Financing Commission met Friday morning in a back conference room in Miami City Hall and the organization has sold more than $3 billion in municipal and county bonds around the state since it was created in 1985. Rebecca W. Sutton, an appointee of the City of Orlando is the commission’s chair and one of the five appointed members on the body.  However, given the sluggish economy the organization when it came to new bond issuances, it is in the “dormant” stage for the moment, said commission staff. The organizations current membership includes 13 municipalities around the state and Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Polk Counties are also members state’s the webpage.

http://ssgfc.affiniscape.com//displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=3

The Watchdog Report for years has heard about these Sunshine loans but had never met the people that make up the board. Moreover, in watching their deliberations, they were responsible in the discussion and noted in Palm Beach County where some past bonds were sold, but were being scrutinized by the IRS. The feds came up with “no adverse findings” but they did get a “slap” on the hand because of some “inconsistencies,” and they effectively defended the sale “because we had all the records” in place, said commission staff. Further, the staff wanted to alert some of the county’s past commissioners, but decided not too since “so many [of past county commissioners] are in [federal] prison.”

>>> Press release: STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT ON ‘PIP’ AUTO INSURANCE FRAUD REFORM

“This is a triumphant moment for the residents of Florida. Members of the legislature heard our call to put Floridians ahead of special interests and combat the fraud that has become a billion dollar tax on drivers. I applaud Chief Financial Officer Atwater, Speaker Cannon, Senate President Haridopolos, Representative Boyd, Senator Negron and Senator Richter and the many Florida newspapers and media outlets for uniting the legislature behind a solution to the auto insurance fraud problem. “This is a bill that delivers on my promise to reduce the cost of living in this state by reducing fraud, stopping the growing cost related to accident fraud and ultimately saving Floridians money that otherwise would have found its way into the pockets of fraudsters, unethical providers and trial lawyers. I applaud the legislature for this decision that will help every Floridian policyholder. “With the passage of auto insurance fraud reform, my job creation agenda and $1 billion for K-12 education, it is safe to say this session has been a victory for all Floridians.

>>> League of Women Voters press release: This morning, the Florida Supreme Court gave real meaning to the new redistricting standards approved by voters and invalidated the Senate district plan passed by the Legislature. The Supreme Court gave a voice to the Florida citizens who gathered signatures, contributed their hard-earned dollars and voted for the Fair Districts Amendments in November 2010, sending a clear message to Tallahassee politicians that they cannot continue the unfair practice of designing districts to favor themselves. “From this day forward our elected officials are on notice that they cannot ignore the Constitution and abuse the public trust by drawing districts to favor themselves,” said Deirdre Macnab, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida. “The League of Women Voters of Florida has been working on redistricting reform for decades, and this is a historic day for all Florida citizens.”

Peter Butzin, president of Common Cause of Florida, echoed Macnab’s comments and said, “This is the first time in the history of Florida that the Supreme Court has had grounds to stop politicians from gerrymandering districts to favor themselves at the expense of the voters. In 2012, for the first time in our state, legislators will be running in districts where voters can fairly select their representatives rather than having politicians choosing their voters.” “We cannot overstate the importance of this ruling,” said Jared Nordlund, national field director for the National Council of La Raza. “The Florida Supreme Court has sent a message to Florida voters that their work in passing Amendments 5 and 6 means that every vote will count equally; trying to rig districts for political gain will no longer be tolerated.” All members of the Fair Districts coalition expressed the hope that in redrawing the map, the Legislature will scrupulously adhere to the fairness rules now in the Florida Constitution.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Marlins President Samson raises eyebrows with controversial comments, Mayor Gimenez says he should apologize on WPBT Issues

Dave Samson, the President of the Miami Marlins has been taking a victory lap at community events last week with the opening of the new baseball stadium in early April. But his outspoken comments about government officials around the nation (partially mis-quoted) and getting things accomplished within government has raised the ire of some state and local elected leaders. The attorney gave a frank assessment of the strategy the team used to “leverage” the professional teams position in negotiations with city and county officials for a new $634 million baseball stadium with a retraceable roof in Little Havana on the old Orange Bowl site and elected leaders bought into it. The five foot, five inch man, a motivational speaker on the side said the talks with elected leaders in Miami and Miami-Dade County had stalled back in the mid 2000s and why he went to Texas and bought a big cowboy hat to wear to a baseball game in the Lone Star State and caused a brouhaha locally that the team was selling out Miami.

However, Samson said the television shot of him wearing the hat and the reaction was what he anticipated and after that shock treatment. He said leaders recommitted to getting the stadium done that finances out to around $2.5 billion through the life of the bonds that were floated. However, it also cost recalled Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Commissioner Natacha Seijas their jobs partially after a small turnout of voters recalled the two officials. Samson also carped that Norman Braman; the billionaire auto magnate should run for office himself rather than just complaining about what elected leaders are doing. He said recalling leaders is not the best method and the fact voters are so apathetic only highlights the dysfunctional nature of government. Where people just complain but do nothing about it. Braman in the press after the remarks essentially ignored the comments made by the point man for the team.

Samson made a slightly toned down variation of the controversial speech he made at a Tuesday Beacon Council breakfast (to see the video go to www.miamiherald.com ) at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon on Wednesday. He said Miami-Dade is a great place to “do business” because “You can make a fortune in Miami” and in the case of the new ballpark. He said the 37,000 seat facility that broke ground 33 months ago that will feature 81 games will be a community game changer. He said he got a call from Pat Riley, the Miami Heat coach after a sports channel downgraded the channel for a Heat game that conflicted with a baseball game. Samson said Riley noted when it came to television ratings, “We crush you,” but Samson says that is changing. The father of three said that with the team winning two World Series in its essentially short history, he sees a bright future for the professional team and when it comes to South Florida. “Everything we do in Miami” is watched by the nation, we are a community that is “event driven”, and that is “who and what we are,” he said.

However, Samson’s exuberance at these meetings while understandable in some ways, gives the impression the team is poking the public in the eye given how then County Manager George Burgess who attended the Chamber luncheon structured the deal. The Manager at the time when it was being voted on said it was like buying a house and taking out a mortgage, but despite being asked the overall cost. The long time county employee brushed that off; as did Alvarez and county commissioners were never told the total future bond liability they were voting to approve when the stadium deal was consummated.  Critic’s carp the Marlins should have kicked in more equity and the bulk of the bond payments come in the back half of the multi-decade’s long bonds and with the team’s attendance the worst in the league. One fan said last week that you always know when the Marlins are playing on television because “all the seats are empty,” and while the Marlins are flying high now. The team management has to make sure that lack of attendance never happens if the county’s general fund is not to be tapped into to cover any revenue shortfall in the years ahead.

Burgess

>>> To see Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s comments on Sansom’s comments on Issues go to Watch this Week’s Issues >>> Interview with Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez
>>> Commissioner Suarez fires verbal shot at Mayor Gimenez, is Suarez warming up to mayoral race in Aug.?

Commissioner Xavier Suarez demanded Tuesday that Mayor Carlos Gimenez settle the issue of cleaning-up a 117 acre dump on Virginia Key at the county commission meeting and the attorney even went on to suggest that Commission Chair Joe Martinez take over the negotiations going on with the city of Miami on the matter. He railed since 2005 there has been money set aside of around $28 million for the restoration of the area but the bond money is just sitting in an account and the former Miami mayor cited a recent report by the county Inspector General’s office on the subject. OIG Final Audit Report Re: Landfill Closure Grants Administered by the Miami-Dade Department of Public Works and Waste Management, IG10-53, February 27, 2012. Suarez said the mayor’s administration is “linking” the landfill and the release of this money to Miami agreeing to a new multi decades long garbage contract with Miami-Dade and many municipalities participate in this activity with the county. Suarez said Miami is considering going elsewhere but Gimenez warned that had a cascading effect on the other municipal agreements  with the county and while a Miami resident. Gimenez could not give the city preferential treatment in the matter to the city and rejected Suarez’s assertions that it was “blackmail.”

Suarez also noted that when it came to a 3 million cubic feet, five story boat house Marina at Matheson Hammock Park. He brought a box filled with 5,500 signed petitions against the project and read part of a South Miami Commission Resolution against the proposed project. Gimenez responded to that blast saying it is by no means a done deal, has to go through multiple Coral Gables boards, the commission and in his opinion it is not a done deal, he thought.

Gimenez, already facing Martinez in the primary race for mayor is also having to fend off some of Suarez’s attacks on the dais as well. But the mayor told the Watchdog Report that he is also ready for Suarez if he decides to run for the top position and decides to enter the ring. And whether Suarez pulls that trigger and was reported in past Watchdog Reports is said to depend on how well he does at a May 11 fundraiser in the future, but the man is making all the moves indicating he may run. And as one person observed recently about the ongoing political posturing, “Once a mayor, always a mayor.”

Gimenez

>>> Commissioner Moss carps when it comes to Charter questions, “It will never be enough,” to satisfy the critics and press

“No matter what we do, it will never be enough,” observed Commissioner Dennis Moss when it came to the commission discussion on what Charter Changes should be put on the upcoming Nov. 6 General Election. Moss speaking to an empty commission chamber with less than five non-county employees in the audience voiced his frustration at the whole process. He said the public’s cynicism about government is at all levels from the federal government down and while the commission has put on a number of variations of questions regarding changing the charter. The bulk of them have been shot down by voters including bumping commissioner pay to around $92,000 that got a thumbs down by voters for the 13^th time most recently on Jan. 31.

>>> Use of acronyms drives Commissioner Sosa up the wall, should at least once be explained

County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa is right when it comes to the use of acronyms by county staff and commissioners at public meetings. She brought up the issue on Tuesday during a commission discussion concerning an agreement at Miami International Airport (MIA) and she is right. For the public watching the board meeting on television generally will not have a clue what is being said. The Watchdog Report over the past 13 years has written often about this lack of clarity in the public domain. And the former head of the John S. James L. Knight Foundation President Hodding Carter III, at a social services meeting he chaired once remarked back in 2001. He said at the time a sheet of paper should be included with the documents explaining what all the abbreviated acronyms meant because he said he did not have a clue what many of them meant and he is not the only one that finds these are difficult to decipher.

>>> Miami-Dade Inspector General’s report: Administrative Office of the Courts’ Approval of County Employee’s Reduced Work Schedule to Work an Unrelated Second Full-Time Job, Retaining Full-Time County Employment Status, and Drawing Maximum Florida Retirement Benefits; IG11-31, March 7, 2012, Final Report and Appendix. Exhibits.

>>> Press release: The Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Head Start/Early Head Start Program will host its 10th Annual Pregnant Women, Infant and Toddlers Conference on March 12-13, 2012, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The conference will provide holistic training for expectant mothers, increase awareness of infant/toddler development, review current trends in the area of childcare and provide information about available resources. This year’s keynote speaker, Dr. Wil Blechman, is a rheumatologist who developed a major interest in children’s issues as a result of his work with Kiwanis International. Dr. Blechman is the past President of Kiwanis International and was instrumental in the development of the Young Children: Priority One Worldwide Program; which focuses on pregnant women and children through age 5. Since leaving his medical practice, Dr. Blechman has served as Florida’s State Health Officer and as a consultant to the Department of Health and Children and Families.

Head Start is a federally funded comprehensive child development program, serving low–income families.  Services available through this program include health care, mental wellness, nutritional, disabilities, education, social services, and parent involvement. Miami-Dade County’s Head Start/Early Head Start Program annually serves over 6,700 children and families. For additional information about the conference or the Head Start Program, please call (786) 469-4622. Who: Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department Head Start Early/Head Start Program What: 10th Annual Pregnant Women, Infants and Toddlers Conference When: March 12-13, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Where: Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139  Why: Head Start/Early Head strives to keep the community informed of its programs and services

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Another smooth transition at Board Audit Committee, Vice Chair Kemp leaves, Sanchez-Medina fills spot, not always the case

The Miami-Dade School Board’s Audit & Budget Advisory Committee met Tuesday and had another smooth leadership transition with Roland Sanchez-Medina, Jr. Esq., becoming the new vice chair, replacing Willy Kemp, CPA. Committee member Jeffrey Shapiro is the current chair of the nine member volunteer committee that is the community’s fiscal firewall when it comes to the $4.3 billion public schools system and the only reason the Watchdog Report writes abut the event is this smooth changing of leadership was not the case for almost a decade since the mid 1990s. One man in the past, Hank Mack served on the body for a decade in the top spot well past the board rule guideline of only two years and in his case. He has a school named after him in both Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. However, when his retirement on the board was planned and the committee would select a new chair back in 2004 or so. The nominating process ground to a halt when Mack was supposed to nominate someone else but there “was an awkward pause” instead. And only a few days later did he resign after a Sunshine law violation by email and I wrote it up the violation in the Watchdog Report at the time.

>>> Press release: SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS APPOINTED TO FDOE TASKFORCE

The Florida Department of Education has appointed Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho to the Commissioner’s Taskforce on Inclusion and Accountability. The 18-member taskforce consists of superintendents, parents, teachers, principals, and school district administrators from Miami-Dade and other Florida school districts. The taskforce was created to develop an implementation plan to include students with disabilities, students who are learning the English language, and students enrolled in exceptional student education centers in Florida’ school accountability system and to create recommendations for consideration by the U.S. Department of Education regarding Florida’s Elementary and Secondary Education Act flexibility waiver.

“I am heartened by the level of comprehensive stakeholder inclusiveness and representation that the taskforce reflects and am hopeful that this statewide dialogue, in consultation with the Federal government, will result in policy recommendations that strike a balance between the best interest of ELL and ESE students and the respect and dignity afforded those who teach them,” said Carvalho. Agustin Grana, the 2012 Francisco R. Walker Miami-Dade County Teacher of the Year, was also appointed to the taskforce.

>>> Study on social network sites and children: http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Teens-and-social-media.aspx

Social media use has become so pervasive in the lives of American teens that having a presence on a social network site is almost synonymous with being online. Fully 95% of all teens ages 12-17 are now online and 80% of those online teens are users of social media sites.1 Many log on daily to their social network pages and these have become spaces where much of the social activity of teen life is echoed and amplified—in both good and bad ways.

We focused our attention in this research on social network sites because we wanted to understand the types of experiences teens are having there and how they are addressing negative behavior when they see it or experience it. As they navigate challenging social interactions online, who is influencing their sense of what it means to be a good or bad “digital citizen”? How often do they intervene to stand up for others? How often do they join in the mean behavior?

In our survey, we follow teens’ experiences of online cruelty – either personally felt or observed – from incident to resolution. We asked them about how they reacted to the experience and how they saw others react. We asked them about whether they have received and where they sought advice – both general advice about online safety and responsibility and specific advice on how to handle a witnessed experience of online cruelty on a social network site.

We also probed the environment around teens’ online experiences by examining their privacy controls and practices, as well as the level of regulation of their online environment by their parents. We further sought insight into more serious experiences that teens have in their lives, including bullying both on- and offline and the exchange of sexually charged digital images.

What follows are the main findings from a report conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project in partnership with the Family Online Safety Institute and supported by Cable in the Classroom. The data discussed in this report are the result of a three-part, multi-modal study that included interviews with experts, seven focus groups with middle and high school students, and a nationally representative random-digit-dial telephone survey of teens and parents. The survey was fielded April 19 through July 14, 2011, and was administered by landline and cell phone, in English and Spanish, to 799 teens ages 12-17 and a parent or guardian. Black and Latino families were oversampled.2 The margin of error for the full sample is ±5 percentage points. The margin of error for the 623 teen social network site users is ±6 percentage points.3

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Migoya defuses bonus issue by donating it to JMH Foundation in dueling opinion pieces with SEIU head Baker in Miami Herald

Carlos Migoya, the Jackson Health System (JHS) in a discussion with Miami-Dade Commissioners last Tuesday night verbally ran into Commissioner Xavier Suarez and in an animated exchange. The two men crossed swords regarding contracts at the health system and who was being laid off when it came to administrative staff. Suarez has railed about the high salaries at the county and he pushed that issue at Jackson as well. Migoya, a former banker is paid over $500,000 in his capacity, with a similar amount in a bonus if the public hospital closes in the black, and Suarez hoped the CEO was taking a cut as well and seriously looking at paring down administrative staff. Migoya fired back that the number of vice president is much less than a few years ago and cuts in non-medical staff was being done as well.

Suarez

What happened Sunday in The Herald?

In dueling opinion pieces in The Miami Herald, Martha Baker, RN and the president of the SEIU Local 1991 union argues that the over 1,100 people about to be laid off in April is going to cripple medical care at Jackson Health System and  Migoya in another piece argues that will not be the case. Baker takes a shot at the former banker’s $500,000 plus bonus if the organization that has lost hundreds of millions over the past three years makes a profit this year. She argues caregivers have an ethical duty to point out these clinical concerns when it comes to patient treatment. And Migoya argues he has no choice but to downsize the public healthcare system given patient census that is down and cannot support staff levels. However, Migoya has defused one glaring issue, his bonus if the institution is in the black. In his column, he says if he qualifies to receive this bonus money. He will donate it to Jackson Memorial Foundation to go towards the renovation of the labor and maternity facilities in the operating room since his son 30-years ago was born there and the young man recently got married. >>> Here is the two columns: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/11/2685478/union-assault-on-jobs-at-jackson.html >>>> http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/11/2685482/migoya-layoffs-at-jackson-wont.html

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> DDA looking for “long term strategy” from Homeless Trust to end chronic homeless population in downtown Miami

The Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Homeless Task Force met Friday afternoon and the members are wrapping up and recommending a number of changes with how the 352 chronic homeless people (the last census numbers in Jan.) in the downtown Miami business district are dealt with and how resources are directed toward the problem. Rolando Montoya, Ed.D, chairs the group. a Provost at Miami-Dade College and he said the consensus was they wanted a plan from the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust that “included a long term strategy to end homeless,” in the downtown area. DDA Executive Director Alyce Robertson noted the homeless in the area create a “unique problem in the downtown,” since these people “are the hardest population to reach [known as the chronic homeless].” And while Trust Executive Director David Raymond noted that the organization’s has a “10-year plan is not plan specific to the downtown area” though that part of the city is a standing discussion at the Trust’s executive committee meetings every month, he said. Raymond said they deal with the homeless on a countywide basis and if the trust targeted the downtown, why not more emphasis in Coconut Grove as well or some other part of the county, he said.

The task force is also suggesting a member of the DDA be on the Homeless Trust large board and since the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce has seven appointments to the organization’s board. Montoya and others suggested that be the route they take to get their concerns heard more directly and some Trust members terms expire in May, giving the DDA an opportunity to get someone in place with the help of the Chamber.

>>> CPA Carollo predicts new auditor voted on at end of March

Commissioner Frank Carollo said last week the applicants for the Commission Auditor post vacant since June have come in and the search committee is reviewing the candidates and they will provide a short list of people to commissioners to vote on at the last March commission meeting, he said. The five candidates will be interviewed this Monday at 9:00 a.m. in a conference room in city hall and a short list of three people will be presented to the commission at their last commission meeting at the end of the month. He said he expects the commission to vote on the executive at that time and realizes they are nine months without someone in that capacity, and is a Miami Charter position created by voters over ten years ago. Carollo, a CPA has been the point man on getting this new person in place, especially with the upcoming budget talks looming. And city voters created the position of a commission Auditor back in 2001.

Carollo

>>> Events at a restored Marine Stadium with new environmental rules with be dramatically different from decades ago

The Miami Commission voted three to two to an agreement with Friends of Miami Marine Stadium Thursday with the agreement being reviewed after six months and called one “of the most benign” contracts he had read in the eight years of being an attorney, said Commission Chair Francis Suarez. Suarez and Commissioners Marc Sarnoff and Willy Gort all gave the nod for approval of the document and Commissioners Michelle Spence-Jones and Frank Carollo were the dissenters.

What about past performances at the site?

The Marine Stadium, an iconic structure that opened in 1963 has had concerts, boat races and a host of other activities and shows including sunrise Masses up to Aug. 1992 when Hurricane Andrew blew through and smacked the structure that has been closed since then. However, at the county, people are wondering what could be performed there in today’s world since it is a ecologically sensitive lagoon that has Manatees congregating and mating and because of this pristine nature. The county’s Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) has yet to weigh in along with state environmental officials and many people suggest the type of shows that can be done in today’s world, will be drastically different from the old days, but people keep referring to past performances that may never again materialize given the new environment.

CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS

>>> Miami Gardens Man Convicted of Felon-in-Possession Charges

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announce that, after a 3-day trial before U.S. District Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley, a jury convicted defendant Tyrone Cross, 28, of Miami Gardens, of two counts of possessing firearms and ammunition after previously having been convicted of a felony offense, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). According to evidence presented at trial and court documents, the defendant, a convicted felon, illegally possessed firearms on January 20, 2011 and July 14, 2011.  On January 20, 2011, the defendant led officers from the Hialeah Police Department on a high-speed car chase through Hialeah, Opa Locka, and Miami Gardens.  The chase ended when the defendant crashed the car he was driving in the front yard of a residence in Miami Gardens.  After the crash, the defendant fled on foot for a short distance before he was caught and arrested.  Following the defendant’s arrest, officers from the Hialeah Police Department searched the car he was driving and found, concealed in bags and a locked box in the trunk, a loaded Glock 9mm handgun, a loaded .357 revolver, and a Draco assault pistol with a loaded 30-round magazine nearby.

On July 14, 2011, the FBI searched a residence in Miramar and found a locked safe.  After obtaining a search warrant and opening the safe, the FBI recovered a loaded .38 caliber revolver, a loaded Glock 9mm handgun, and an extended magazine for the Glock handgun.  Through DNA evidence recovered from the firearms, other items in the safe, and the defendant, the FBI was able to connect the firearms in the safe to the defendant. Sentencing has been scheduled for May 17, 2012.  At sentencing, the defendant faces a maximum statutory sentence of ten years in prison for each violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, and the Hialeah Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Strider Dickson and Mark Dispoto.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Press release: Miami Beach Government Access Channel is Now on AT&T U-Verse MBTV Now Available Across South Florida

Miami Beach has ongoing efforts to provide enhanced information about the City to the community. Effective March 5, 2012, the City’s government-access television channel is also broadcasting on AT&T’s U-Verse’s Channel 99. “With a growing number of Miami Beach residents subscribing to AT&T U-Verse, limited access to MBTV programming and City information became an increasing concern,” said Miami Beach City Manager Jorge M Gonzalez. By broadcasting on AT&T U-Verse, MBTV not only reaches the growing number of Miami Beach residents who use this service, but it also reaches AT&T subscribers throughout Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and northern Monroe County. There will be no fee to the City for broadcasting on AT&T U-Verse. MBTV continues to broadcast on Atlantic Broadband’s Channel 77 and is available live and on-demand on http://web.miamibeachfl.gov/mbtv77/ , as well as on the www.YouTube.com/CityofMiamiBeach.

>>> Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club Meeting Date: Tuesday, March 13th, 2012

Meeting Time: 8:30 AM Meeting Place:  David’s Café II, 1654 Meridian Ave., South Beach

Miami Beach City Manager Jorge Gonzalez will be this week’s guest speaker at the March 13th meeting of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club.  Mr. Gonzalez is now in his eleventh year as City Manager.  Some Commission critics contend that eleven years is too long and are calling for his contract to be terminated.  The City Commission is expected to discuss the matter at their March 21st meeting.  Meanwhile Mr. Gonzalez is moving ahead with his efforts to gain approval to greatly expand the Miami Beach Convention Center. There is no charge and everyone is welcome to attend. David Kelsey, Moderator for the Breakfast Club.

Visit our web site at www.MBTMBC.com

CITY OF NORTH MIAMI

>>> Galvin update on Biscayne Landing project, vote coming in the future

Councilman Scott Galvin update: Things are moving quickly in negotiations with Mike Swerdlow and his Oleta Partners group to develop the Biscayne Landing site. On Thursday, March 8th, we will have a Town Hall meeting to discuss negotiations.  It will be held at the Margolis Center, located at 1590 NE 123 Street, starting at 6:00 pm.  Please attend if you can. IT IS EXPECTED THAT A FINAL VOTE TO APPROVE A BISCAYNE LANDING CONTRACT WILL TAKE PLACE AT OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON TUESDAY, MARCH 13th.

At our last Council meeting, our City Manager told us that negotiations had hit a snag. But negotiations since have continued for long hours.

The final lease draft will be available at tomorrow’s Town Hall, but since it is not online yet, here is the latest draft I have, as of March 6th. Please keep in mind that there have been changes made to this draft.  I just don’t yet know what they are.  Please keep checking the City’s website for updates. Complicating the negotiations is a recent report from the Miami-Dade Ethics Commission. (scroll to the last paragraph of their report for pertinent info).  They “strongly recommended” that Councilwoman Marie Steril “not vote or participate in any discussion” regarding the Biscayne Landing negotiations.  That means that, apparently, only 4 Councilmember’s will make the final decision on this long-term lease. City Council Biscayne Landing Vote, Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 7:00 pm City Hall, 776 NE 125 Street.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Finance Dir. Gomez tapped as local rep. to Sunshine Financing Commission

Dianne Gomez, the new finance director of Coral Gables is a new appointment on the Sunshine State Governmental Financing Commission where the city has around a $30 million plus in bonds out under the program. The commission’s membership includes 13 municipalities and three counties around the state of Florida and the commission is a vehicle some public governments can use to finance infrastructure projects. The participating members elect a five-member board to oversee the program that since 1985 has bonded out about $3 billion in municipal paper and the commission is currently chaired by Rebecca W. Sutton, a appointee for the city of Orlando. Coral Gables in June 2011 let out another $22.2 million in bonds in a refinancing deal and the tony municipality has a total bond balance of around $78 million.

>>> SSGFC webpage: Coral Gables Loans Restructuring Completed

Using a combination of fixed and variable-rate, privately-placed bank loans, the Commission has completed the restructuring of various loans with the city of Coral Gables on June 30. The city’s Series E commercial paper loans and Series 1986 revenue bond loans, totaling approximately $30.2 million, were refunded on June 30. A fixed rate loan of $43.86 million was placed with SunTrust Bank, which included $22 million of new money used to finance capital projects in conjunction with the city’s new neighborhood renaissance program. Variable rate refunding loans, totaling $6.805 million ($2.44 million tax exempt and $4.365 million taxable), were placed with JP Morgan Chase. Public Financial Management served as the financial advisor on these transactions. In addition to the city’s other fixed rate obligations under the Series 2004 and Series 2009 loan programs, Coral Gables has approximately $78 million outstanding with the Commission. [Posted 7/1/11]

>>> Local luncheon group hosts Miami-Dade Commission Chair Martinez, county mayoral candidate on Aug.14

PONCE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 141651 Coral Gables, FL  33114 www.poncebusiness.com poncebusiness@gmail.com  ”Keeping you abreast of the pressing issues affecting Coral Gables.” We meet the first and third Mondays of the month at JohnMartins restaurant (253 Miracle Mile – 2nd floor) at noon.  Lunch is $20 for members and $22 for guests. >> Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners – Joseph A. Martinez – Please join us for lunch on Monday, March 19th.  Our guest speaker will be Joseph A. Martinez, Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners.  We meet at noon at JohnMartin’s restaurant (253 Miracle Mile – 2nd floor). Commissioner Martinez was first elected to District 11 in October 2000.  In November 2010, the Board of County Commissioners selected Mr. Martinez to serve as Chairman for a two-year term.

As Chairman, he presides over County Commission meetings, Miami-Dade’s legislative branch.  He represents West Dade’s unincorporated areas which include Country Walk, Hammocks, Kendall Lakes, Brent Tree and Lakes of the Meadows. Prior to his election to the County Commission, Jospeh was a 17 year veteran with the Miami-Dade Police Department working his way up through the ranks, serving as a detective with the General Investigations Unit to becoming a Lieutenant with the Department.  During his tenure with the Police Department, he received more than 70 awards and commendations including two Gold Medals of Valor, the Silver Medal of Valor and the Lifesaving Award. Chairman Martinez has a bachelor degree from Barry University in Professional Studies in Public Administration and recently announced his candidacy for the position of Mayor of Miami-Dade County. Please RSVP for our luncheon at poncebusiness@gmail.com

Martinez

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Local Halfway House owner gets 2-years in Federal Big House for fraud and Kickback scam

Press release: The owner and operator of a Broward County, Fla.-area halfway house was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for his role in a Medicare fraud kickback scheme that funneled patients through a fraudulent mental health company, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Barry Nash, 69, was also sentenced by U.S. District Judge James Lawrence King in Miami to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.  Nash pleaded guilty on Jan. 9, 2012, to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.  Nash was the owner and operator of Starter House, a halfway house operating in Broward County.

Nash admitted that, in exchange for illegal health care kickbacks, he agreed to refer Medicare beneficiaries who resided at Starter House to American Therapeutic Corporation (ATC) and American Sleep Institute (ASI), a company related to ATC.  Nash knew that ATC and ASI fraudulently billed Medicare for partial hospitalization program (PHP) services and sleep treatment purportedly provided to his referrals.  PHP is a form of intensive mental health treatment.

According to court documents, ATC’s principals paid kickbacks to owners and operators of assisted living facilities and halfway houses and to patient brokers in exchange for delivering ineligible patients to ATC and ASI.  In some cases, the patients received a portion of those kickbacks.  Throughout the course of the ATC conspiracy, millions of dollars in kickbacks were paid in exchange for Medicare beneficiaries who did not qualify for PHP services. Ultimately, ATC and ASI billed Medicare for more than $200 million in medically unnecessary services. According to the plea agreement, Nash’s participation in the fraud resulted in more than $959,901 in fraudulent billing to the Medicare program.

ATC, its management company Medlink Professional Management Group Inc., and various owners, managers, doctors, therapists, patient brokers and marketers of ATC, Medlink and ASI, were charged with various health care fraud, kickback, money laundering and other offenses in two indictments unsealed on Feb. 15, 2011.  ATC, Medlink and nine of the individual defendants have pleaded guilty or have been convicted at trial.  Other defendants are scheduled for trial April 9, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Seitz. Today’s sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer of the Southern District of Florida; Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; John V. Gillies, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Miami Field Office; and Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher B. Dennis of the HHS Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Office of Investigations Miami Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Steven Kim and Jennifer L. Saulino of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.  The case was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. >>> Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in nine locations have charged more than 1,190 defendants that collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $3.6 billion.  In addition, HHS’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers. To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to: www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.

>>> 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.

CITY OF COCONUT CREEK

>>> Local tax preparer charged in tax fraud conspiracy

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), announced the filing of an Information charging defendants Teresa Francis-Kasu, 36, of Coconut Creek, and Tendai Busuman, 30, of Pompano Beach, in connection with a scheme to obtain significantly inflated tax refunds. More specifically, the Information charges Francis-Kasu and Busuman with conspiracy to submit false claims to the Internal Revenue Service, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 286.  If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum statutory sentence of up to ten years in prison.

According to the Information, the defendants were employed as tax return preparers at Right Quick Tax Services, in Sunrise, Florida.  The defendants and another co-conspirator allegedly prepared tax returns that contained false and inflated claims for deductions, specifically for substantially inflated income tax withholding credits and telephone excise tax refund credits, in order to grossly inflate the tax refunds due to their clients.  The defendants and the other co-conspirator unjustly enriched their clients and themselves by preparing fraudulent tax returns that resulted in significant tax refund payments for their clients in addition to fees and compensation to themselves. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the IRS-CID.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Katz. An Information is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. 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: Gov. Scott taps Peter Antonacci as State Attorney for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County

“Pete’s distinguished legal career and experience as a prosecutor in complex cases has earned him a well-deserved reputation throughout the state,” Governor Scott said.  “I am confident he is well qualified to serve as State Attorney for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit.” Antonacci, 63, of Tallahassee, has practiced with Gray Robinson P.A. since 2000. He previously practiced with Rumberger, Kirk and Caldwell P.A. from 1997 to 2000 and Rogers Towers from 1978 to 1979.

Antonacci’s public service includes being Deputy Attorney General of Florida from 1990 to 1997 and Florida’s Statewide Prosecutor from 1987 to 1990. The Office of Statewide Prosecution, created by Florida’s voters in 1986, investigates and prosecutes multi-circuit organized crime and assists other law enforcement officials in their efforts against organized crime. Previously, Antonacci was an assistant state attorney with the State Attorney’s Office for the Second Judicial Circuit from 1979 to 1987, as well as a term as prosecutor with the Statewide Grand Jury Legal Unit from 1982 to 1984. Additionally, Antonacci served on the Northwest Florida Water Management District, Governing Board, from 2006 to 2012, as vice chair of the First District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission from 2007 to 2009, on the Second Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission from 2004 to 2006, and on the Florida Commission on Ethics from 2002 to 2006. He received a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree in health planning and a law degree from Florida State University. Antonacci succeeds Michael F. McAuliffe, whose resignation is effective March 16, 2012. He will serve the remainder of McAuliffe’s term, beginning March 16, 2012, and ending January 7, 2013.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott names Benjamin S. Guthrie and Ira U. Pyles to the E911 Board.

Guthrie, 46, of Bristol, is the E911 coordinator for Gulf County Board of County Commissioners. He is appointed for a term beginning March 8, 2012, and ending November 23, 2014.

Pyles, 48, of Tampa, is the 911 manager for Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. He is appointed for a term beginning March 8, 2012, and ending November 23, 2014.

DUVAL COUNTY

>>> Arsonists popped by state officials for apartment complex fire

Press release: Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jeff Atwater today announced the arrest of Christopher Koepke, of Jacksonville, after a joint investigation involving the Division of State Fire Marshal’s Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations (BFAI), Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department (JFRD), the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office (JSO), the Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms determined that Koepke set fire to five vehicles and an apartment building in an attempt to commit insurance fraud.
“This man intentionally endangered the lives of others in an attempt for personal gain through insurance fraud,” CFO Atwater said.  “Anyone who attempts any form of arson will be put behind bars. I’m proud of the work done by my office, the Jacksonville fire and law enforcement professionals to bring these individuals to justice.”

On Sept. 15, 2011, Jacksonville Fire Rescue responded to a fire at the Columns Apartment Complex on Laurina St. in Jacksonville. The investigation revealed that Koepke intentionally set the fires, hoping to collect insurance money on the damage to the contents of his apartment from the fire. The fires caused more than $200,000 in damage. Koepke was arrested and booked into the Duval County Jail on five counts of second-degree arson to a vehicle, one count of first-degree arson to a dwelling and one count of insurance fraud. If convicted, Koepke could face up to 135 years in prison. >>> To report arson, call 1-877-No-Arson (1-877-662-7766).  A reward of up to $5,000 may be paid for a tip that leads directly to an arrest and conviction.

LEE COUNTY

>>> Gov. Scott taps Matthew S. Simmons to the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board.

Simmons, 28, of Fort Myers, is the residential division manager of Maxwell and Hendry Valuation Services L.L.C. He succeeds Evalyn F. Oreto and is appointed for a term beginning March 8, 2012, and ending October 31, 2015. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

HIGHLANDS COUNTY

>>> Press release: Port St. Lucie Electrical Contractor and Wife Convicted in Kickback Scheme in Hurricane Wilma FEMA Fraud

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, David C. Nieland, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, Miami Field Office, Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), Miami Field Office, and Susan Benton, Sheriff, Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, announced yesterday’s conviction of defendants Jeffrey Wayne Aunspaugh, a Port St. Lucie electrical contractor, and his wife, Angela Aunspaugh.  Sentencing is scheduled for June 4, 2012 before U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore.  The defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of up to 30 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. More specifically, after a five-day trial, the Ft. Pierce jury convicted the Aunspaughs of conspiracies to commit honest services mail fraud, money laundering, and structuring financial transactions to evade currency reporting requirements.  The jury also convicted the pair of substantive charges of structuring financial transactions to evade currency reporting requirements.

According to evidence presented at trial, Jeffrey and Angela Aunspaugh, owners of Ener-Phase Electric, Inc., obtained more than one million dollars from subcontracts with Glades Utilities Services, Inc. for storm-related repairs following Hurricane Wilma in 2005.  According to the evidence, the pair paid more than $200,000 in cash kickbacks to their brother-in-law, Christopher Hale, who was the general manager of Glades Utilities Services, Inc., to obtain the contracts.  Christopher Hale earlier pled guilty to receiving the kickbacks.  Sentencing for Hale is scheduled for June 4, 2012. To get the cash for the kickbacks, the Aunspaughs engaged in a series of structured withdrawals from their corporate bank account in amounts just under the amount necessary to trigger reports of cash transactions.  In this way, the Aunspaughs withdrew $205,000 in cash in six months in 2006.  U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer stated, “This verdict reflects the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to combat fraud and waste in the federal government. We will continue to vigorously investigate and bring to justice those involved in defrauding the federal government.” David Nieland, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, stated, “We remain steadfast in our commitment to aggressively pursue all individuals exploiting federal government programs funded by hard working tax payers and intended to benefit victims of tragic natural disasters.  We encourage all persons with knowledge of fraudulent disaster claims to report them to our hotline at 1-800-323-8603.”

“Individuals who deliberately break down cash withdrawals into amounts less than $10,000, so as not to trigger a bank’s currency reporting requirement, are committing a financial crime,” said José A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation Division.  “In this investigation, IRS special agents used their financial expertise to uncover that the Aunspaughs intentionally structured cash withdrawals, in order to hide their kickback scheme.  These verdicts reflect our commitment and that of our federal and local law enforcement partners in aggressively investigating and prosecuting this type of financial crime.” Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton complemented her Detectives for working closely with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Attorney’s Office following a local investigation that uncovered this scheme. “This was a lengthy investigation where local charges were also prosecuted in a complicated financial investigation.”

COMMUNITY EVENTS.

>>> 24th Annual In the Company of Women Awards Celebration Recognizes 13 Miami-Dade Women – In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Department and the Miami-Dade County Commission for Women, in partnership with The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade, are hosting the 24th Annual In the Company of Women Awards Celebration presented by Macy’s, on Wednesday, March 21, from 6-9 p.m., at the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables.  Thirteen local women will be recognized for contributions in their fields and to the Miami-Dade community.  The event also provides lasting support to the Women’s Park and park programs throughout Miami-Dade County.

The honorees include: Mayor’s Pioneer Award—Scherley Busch – Noted commercial photographer, well known for her distinctive photographic vision and interpretations of Florida’s people, places and landscapes.  Founder, director and creative force behind the Florida Women of Achievement project. Mayor’s Pioneer Award—Kathleen Woods-Richardson – Director of the Miami-Dade County Public Works and Waste Management Dept. and longtime, dedicated United Way volunteer.  She is the incoming Chair of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council. Arts & Entertainment— Carol Damian, Director and Chief Curator of the Frost Art Museum at Florida International University. She is active in the local arts community through her leadership roles on the Miami-Dade Art in Public Places Trust and the ArtCenter/South Florida Board of Trustees and her involvement in many museums in South Florida. Business & Economics—Brenda Hill-Riggins – Owner and president of Mars Contractors, one of the largest women and minority-owned construction contractors in Florida. In an industry dominated by men, she is a successful entrepreneur and mentor to many who still finds ways to give back to the community.

Communications & Literature—Ninoska Perez Castellon – Prominent journalist and political commentator at Radio Mambi/Univision Radio. A fierce human rights advocate, she has over 25 years of experience in the communications field where her work has reached a wide-ranging audience not only in the United States but also abroad. Education & Research—Irma Becerra-Fernandez – Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and a fulltime professor at FIU’s College of Business Administration. She is considered the top South Florida educator and researcher on entrepreneurship.  Founder and force behind the Americas Venture Capital Conference, she advocates for the advancement of women to break through the venture capital “glass ceiling.” Government & Law—Lynda Bell, Miami-Dade County Commissioner from District 8 and the first woman Mayor of Homestead.  Her concern for her constituents is exemplified by her focus on education, children, and a streamlined efficient government that still manages to address the needs of the community. Government & Law—Bronwyn Miller – Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge who has committed herself to helping the community through philanthropy and mentoring.  She is a member of several organizations, but has a special passion for helping the homeless and has held leadership roles in the Chapman Partnership. Health & Human Services—Ivon Mesa – Director of the Coordinated Victims Assistance Center and longtime advocate for the rights of domestic violence survivors.  She has dedicated her professional life to addressing the problem of domestic violence and has dramatically changed the way in which services are delivered to thousands of women in Miami-Dade County. Science & Technology—Sarah Elizabeth Messiah, Ph.D. – Research Associate Professor and perinatal/pediatric epidemiologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine whose work has been focused on childhood obesity.  She has a community-wide reputation for her commitment as a professional and for her activism in reducing childhood obesity, and she is dedicated to improving general health and wellness among children both locally and nationally.

Community Spirit Award—Jennifer Adger Grant – Accomplished accountant and long-time community activist who has given of her time and talents in organizations such as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority-Dade County Alumnae Chapter, the United Way, Greater Miami Chapter of the Links, the Junior League, and the Community Partnership for the Homeless. Posthumous honors—Elizabeth Ann Juerling – Beloved teacher, women’s advocate, leader of several women’s organizations, and supporter of historic preservation through her roles in the Dade Heritage Trust and The Villagers. Posthumous honors—Mary Abreu – Female public servant in the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, who served the community for over 22 years, leaving a legacy within the Miami-Dade Parks Department. >>> Nominations were solicited from the general public from October through December 2011.  Nominees must have a history of continued accomplishments in their field and have met these five criteria: professional development, community responsibility, leadership and vision, contribution to women’s progress and promotion of pluralism.  Award recipients were selected by a panel, comprised of some of last year’s winners and the event’s organizing committee. >>> Tickets for In the Company of Women are $40 which includes the awards ceremony and pre-event reception, and can be purchased online at www.mdparks.org.  Contributions of $250 and above also afford at-risk women an opportunity to attend the event. In the Company of Women is made possible by the support of generous sponsors including Macy’s, Baptist Health South Florida, Covanta Energy, Florida International University, Waste Services of Florida, Inc., and Univision Radio. For more information about the event, call Vivian Greer-Digon at the Women’s Park, 305-480-1717. >> The Miami-Dade County Commission for Women was created in 1971 as an advisory board to the Board of County Commissioners, the County administration and the public at large about issues pertaining to the status of women.  The Commission for Women also advocates for women in the community and strives to improve their quality of life.  For more information contact the Commission for Women at (305) 375-4967 or at Morilla@miamidade.gov; or visit the website at www.miamidade.gov/advocacy/CFW_home.asp.

>>> Amigos for Kids event: The Second Annual Celebration of Friendship Luncheon and Children’s Fashion show will be held on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Four Seasons. Many of you ask how you can get involved and help promote and support our mission of child abuse prevention & awareness. As you may know, April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Amigos For Kids spearheads a Blue Ribbon Campaign in Miami-Dade County, including this fundraising event. If you would like your child to participate as one of the models in this year’s event, please respond to us by Tuesday, February 28, 2012. Space is limited, and commitment to participate is required.  Please feel free to forward this information to friends with children that may be interested. Fashion Show Theme – Island Cruising In The Tropics – Commitment requirements include: $ 20 fee per child ages 4 – 13 to participate as one of the models  One  ( 1 ) fitting session Two ( 2 ) practice sessions – Adult tickets to attend the event are $ 100 per person – tables set 12 and cost is $ 1,200.  Sponsorship & runway tables available. The attached form should be sent via email to: events@amigosforkids.org Thank you for your support and interest in our mission.  Rosa Maria Plasencia Executive Director Amigos For Kids, 801 S.W. Third Av., Suite 300 Miami, Florida 33130 P:  305 279 1155 F:  305 858 0794 www.amigosforkids.org

EDITORIALS

>>> Hail Florida Sunshine Public Records Law, helps keep elected leaders in the up and up!

This is Florida Public Records Law week and while The Miami Herald has a great piece on its importance. The Watchdog Report every day and every year since 1997 has made it my daily bread and butter activity and I could not have done this without that transparency of the public records in our state and local governments. Florida has one of the most liberal public records laws and the bulk of public servants get it, but there have been a few people over the years that have balked at this transparency of the public record, but many times this reticence has come back to bite them later.

Government and public institutions without any media and public informational restraint tends to run amuck squashing citizens rights and this law is one of the great levelers in keeping public servants in line while they go about their jobs. For human nature is such that if someone thinks they can get away with something. They many times will try, but open public records laws work as a governor in keeping this in check. A all the residents of Florida should salute with your beverage of choice this anniversary for without transparency and openness in the public domain when major tax dollars are involved. Only the corrupt officials will flourish and Floridians clearly deserve better than that and this is one of the major arrows in the quiver to ensure that does not happen. >>> To read The Herald’s take on the anniversary go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/10/2686874/how-public-records-laws-allow.html

>>> Check out the past national story in the Tribune papers:  Paperwork Tiger

By Maya Bell, Miami Bureau, January 20, 2003

MIAMI – Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. It’s not by choice. Miami’s self-anointed citizen watchdog depends on the people he writes for and about to finance his quixotic quest to attend nearly every government meeting in Miami-Dade County. That’s a lot of mind-numbing meetings — as many as 2,500 a year — but not a lot of income. So Ricker is always teetering on bankruptcy. He dashes to his post-office box daily, hoping subscribers to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks.

LETTERS

>>> Children are our future! Yeah, right. If people truly believe this, then why do we allow children to take a back seat (or no seat at all) in the political process?

I have to assume that most policies made through our political system are done so largely through ignorance. It’s not that I expect our policymakers to be experts in child development. Most politicians are generalists. What specialties they do have rarely include child or brain development at any age. Years ago such a lack of knowledge and understanding could be excused by the simple lack of scientific information available about these topics. That is no longer true. Beginning in the 1990′s, named by President George H. W. Bush the Decade of the Brain, research in brain development and understanding how the brain learns have increased exponentially. It’s true that this research is still going on, and there is much more still to be learned. However, that is no excuse for continuing to develop policy regarding children on the basis of lack of knowledge. This is especially true for our youngest citizens, since we now have powerful data on the importance of the earliest years of life on the outcomes for society years later.

This year in Florida, I would call some of the bills which were presented Legislative Malpractice. The fact that most did not pass is a tribute to the tremendous activism of some of our citizens who spent major amounts of their time at the Capitol meeting with legislators and their staffs. Yet, the very fact that such bills were brought forth to begin with reveals a weakness of our political system.

We need more advocates on behalf of children. While we need them for all ages, it is apparent that the greatest need is for children from before birth to kindergarten, the period of time when the brain in undergoing remarkable changes and development which are hugely affected by the environments in which these children live and are cared for. This is the time when the actual foundation of the brain in created, the foundation upon which the rest of development must occur. While it is recognized that the human brain is remarkably flexible, i.e. can be changed with changes in the environment, this flexibility steadily decreases with age. It is at its greatest in the earliest years.

We must get our politicians to understand this. Frankly, what is needed is for everyone involved in policy development to learn from neuroscientists and early childhood educators what is needed to improve the chances for our children to succeed in school and later in life. If they won’t bring in the experts to learn from them, it is up to as many of us to learn more about these subjects and meet with legislators ourselves. There are various organizations interested in this. I would suggest that, if you have not previously done so, you go the www.zerotothree.org and sign up for the Zero to Three Policy Network (See below). You can’t connect through links with this e-mail, so go to the web site and join. While there you will also find accurate information that may be helpful to you.

Wil Blechman M.D.

>>> National Parks Group Applauds Establishment of State-wide Everglades Day in Florida April 7 marks Everglades Day to honor Everglades activist Marjory Stoneman Douglas

“After working with several Florida lawmakers during the 2012 session, we are thrilled by today’s decision to establish an annual Everglades Day, which underscores the state’s acknowledgement and dependence on the importance of a healthy Everglades ecosystem for a clean water supply and a strong economy. For years to come, this special observance will take place on April 7th, in honor of Everglades’ activist Marjory Stoneman Douglas’s birthday.  The state’s support for an official Everglades Day will ensure that the Everglades ecosystem remains a top priority for elected officials and all Floridians while honoring Douglas’s legacy for protecting the “River of Grass.”

“Today’s exciting commitment by the state to recognize an annual Everglades Day will elevate awareness and urge our elected officials to pass legislation to restore historic funding levels and protect America’s Everglades for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.  We look forward to Governor Scott’s final approval of this important effort. “Each time we turn dirt on an Everglades restoration project, we are protecting our drinking water supply, creating jobs and fulfilling a promise to protect our national parks, wildlife, and family memories.

“Congratulations to the many members of the Everglades Coalition who worked side by side to make this designation a reality.  We also thank Senator David Simmons (Altamonte Springs) and Representative Steve Perman (Boca Raton) and the many cosponsors, including Florida Representatives Lori Berman, Matt Caldwell, Daphne Campbell, Bill Hager, Mark Pafford, Patrick Rooney, Darren Soto, Richard Steinberg, Barbara Watson and Florida Senators Gwen Margolis, Nan Rich, Ellyn Bogdanoff, and Jack Latvala for their bipartisan leadership and support of America’s Everglades.”

>>> This a lot of material covered. I hope you are getting help from somewhere. A tremendous job!
Rolando

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

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

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr.

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

ARTHUR HERTZ

WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)

ALFRED NOVAK

LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)

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

THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE

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

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com

RONALD HALL

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov

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

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

AKERMAN SENTERFITT   www.akerman.com

RON BOOK

LEWIS TEIN  www.lewistein.com

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

WILLIAM PALMER

SHUBIN & BASS     www.shubinbass.com

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

CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC.   www.camillushouse.org

CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.cph.org

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATOR MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA  www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY  www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov/ethics

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

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

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

THE BEACON COUNCIL   www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

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

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

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI             www.miami.edu

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 550 reports and Extra’s have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events.  The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain.

LETTER POLICY

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

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2012, Daniel A. Ricker

>>> The Watchdog Report are now available to television stations web pages, and all the newspapers and other media in South Florida if the publishers have an interest to run part or all of the stories. Further, in 2000, I used to have some paper’s running the report in the Spanish press, that option is available again, and publishers should contact me.  The news content will not be free, but you can pick and chose the stories of interest, edit them if necessary but you must still keep the general story intact.  If you are a news outlet and would like to learn more about, the Watchdog Report and this offer contact me at watchdogreport1@earthlink.net for further information. 

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

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years. >>> Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, The (FL) CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS >>> Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, The (FL) MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED >>> >>> To read the full section large two page front page story, but without the photos and smart box graphics, go to: `I Go When You Cannot’ – Sun Sentinel 20 Jan 2003 … Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. … to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks. … http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american >>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times  –The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored.  Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2003-05-15/citylife2.html/1/index.html

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

Those who do read the newspaper in Florida have a bevy of options for state government and political coverage. The dominant newspapers in the state are Knight-Ridder’s The Miami Herald (Acquired by The McClatchy Company in 2006) and the Poynter Institute’s St. Petersburg Times. Both papers endorsed Gore in 2000 but split on the 2002 gubernatorial race, with the Herald endorsing Republican incumbent Jeb Bush and the Times backing Democratic challenger Bill McBride. Daniel Ricker of The Miami Herald also writes an influential column as well as an email newsletter called the Watchdog Report that goes out to more than 100,000 subscribers. FEBRUARY 2004 – Florida: Columnists in Abundance –ERIC GAUTSCHI, graduate student, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill – D) LEADING COMMENTATORS – Resource Commentator Organization Type Web site –Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/bousquet.shtml -“First Friday” WPBT TV (Miami) TV Show www.channel2.org/firstfriday/issues.html –Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/morgan.shtml –Daniel Ricker Miami Herald/Watchdog Report Newsletter >>> 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.

********************************************************************

Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form

NOTE: Invoice is for Yearly supporter/sponsorship Rates: Thank you.

Supporting Sponsors $5,000

Sustaining Sponsors $2,000

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

Large Business Supporters $500

Small Business Supporters $250

Individual Supporter $150

Student Supporter $ 75

Any amount $

Name & Address

Please make checks payable to: Daniel A. Ricker

Send to: 3109 Grand Avenue, #125

Miami, FL 33133

Fax 305-668-4784 -To contact the Publisher please e-mail watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center for International Media http://knight.miami.edu within the University of Miami’s School of Communication www.miami.edu to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no ads, pops-up quickly and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

>>> RED ALERT: I NEED FINANCIAL HELP IF THIS IS TOO CONTINUE AFTER 12-YEARS AND HEADING INTO 13-YEARS IN MAY:  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 and I hope you or your organization will consider helping in a small or larger way and help keep another voice on line in the media. 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 has celebrated its 12th Anniversary since May 5, 2011.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> A win is a win, says Romney after squeaker in Michigan, carries Arizona as well, but many GOP voters still tepid about candidate

Mitt Romney politically lives another day after defeating former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., by a few points in Michigan on Tuesday when the younger conservative firebrand put the state in play the last few weeks of the primary in the polls. Romney grew up in the Wolverine State where his father was an auto executive and governor but his comments opposing the federal bailout of General Motors, a company that has now started to bounce back fell hollow to many voters. He also continues to make one gaffe after another that suggest he is out of touch, but the GOP voters are searching for a winner over President Barack Obama at all costs. And out of the current candidate field, that also includes former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and U.S. Ron Paul, R-Texas. Romney seems to be the one that could be elected, but there are still doubts among many of the party’s faithful and the all-important over 40 percent nationwide independent voters.

Even former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, 58, has weighed in on the tone of the sharp campaign rhetoric and as a Republican is feeling alienated from the party. He has been sitting on the sidelines this year but is questioning the long-term political damage that is being done in this GOB primary race that has harsh immigration law comments, and now contraceptive use by women is in the headlines. In interviews Bush has said this rhetoric is ‘a little bit troubling’ and seems to be feeding into peoples ‘fears and emotion’ instead of the presidential candidates articulating a future vision for the country. In the past Bush has said he believes a campaign based on ideas was a better strategy than just attacking President Barack Obama on his policies.

And Bush made a similar comment to the Watchdog Report right after the 2004 election at the Historic Biltmore Hotel, when I asked him about his brother’s win and put the story in my column in the www.miamiherald.com at the time. The younger brother of President George W. Bush suggested ideas were more effective in winning a campaign than just attacking an administration like Democratic challenger U. S. Sen. John Kerry; D-Massachusetts did in his losing race. And GOB leaders are seeing the same thing now with the Republican field and political pundits are weighing in if these attacks on each other and now women’s medical rights, will be a fatal political cocktail for the party’s ultimate champion in November.

>>> White House press release: President Obama nominated Judge Brian J. Davis to serve on the United States District Court.

“I am honored to put forward these highly qualified candidates for the federal bench,” President Obama said.  “They will be distinguished public servants and valuable additions to the United States District Court.” Judge Brian J. Davis: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Judge Brian J. Davis currently serves as a Circuit Judge for the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida, a position he has held since 1994.  He served as Chief Assistant State Attorney in the State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit from 1991 to 1994, having previously worked in the same office as an Assistant State Attorney from 1982 to 1988.  Judge Davis also worked at civil litigation law firms on two occasions during his legal career; he worked at Brown, Terrell, Hogan, Ellis, McClamma & Yegelwel from 1988 to 1991 and at Mahoney, Hadlow & Adams PA from 1980 to 1982.  Judge Davis received his J.D. in 1980 from the University of Florida College of Law and his B.A. in 1974 from Princeton University…

>>> Press release: Ros-Lehtinen Presses Clinton on Possible Cuba Invitation to Summit of the Americas, Iranian Activity in Western Hemisphere

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today asked U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton whether the U.S. would boycott the upcoming Summit of the Americas were Cuba to be invited and pressed Clinton on the Administration’s approach to addressing the threat of Iranian activity in the Western Hemisphere.  Click here to view the exchange.  Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

“Madame Secretary, I’ve heard from a number of my constituents, as you know I represent South Florida, the gateway to the Americas, who are worried that ALBA countries, led by Chavez, continue to pressure to invite Cuba to the Summit of the Americas in April, even though the Castro dictatorship does not meet the criteria to join the meeting as you know.  Will you pledge here today that if Cuba is invited that President Obama and you, Madame Secretary, will refuse to attend the summit meeting?

“On Iran and the Western Hemisphere: just last month Ahmadinejad’s Tour of Tyrants, as I called it, his trip to Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba, and Ecuador reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to undermine U.S. national security interests.  I’m concerned about Iran’s willingness to attack the United States homeland or our critical allies, such as Israel.  With the rising threat posed by the Qods force and its Iranian proxies, such as Hezbollah, in our region, will we dedicate more attention to these illicit activities in the annual terrorism report?  Lastly, what is the Administration doing to ensure cooperation from our allies in the Hemisphere with respect to Iran, and to hold accountable those countries that are supporting and enable Iran’s threatening activities? Thank you Madame Secretary.”

>>> All photos in the Watchdog Report are taken from public government sites, and the Report goes on line at www.watchdogreport.net on Monday sometime during the day usually. >>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for I am a low cost news service, yet I do have to live, thank you! Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times, twice in The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel which ran as a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003 and UNC Chapel Hill naming me one of the top columnists in Florida in a  multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on the WLRN/NPR showTopical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also numerous times over the past decade. Further, I am a frequent guest on WWW.WPBT2.ORG on Helen Ferre’s show Issues, and have also appeared on  Eliott Rodriguez’s show News & Views.

FLORIDA

>>> Does state Rep. Metz have too much time on his hands? Banning of Sharia law in FL odd issue to push, veteran marine had $541,228 net worth through Jun.

The idea that a Republican Legislator is pushing for legislation banning Sharia law in Florida boggles the Watchdog Report’s mind and I cannot believe with the clock running out during the current Legislative Session Mar. 9, that one lawmaker is spending his precious legislative time on such a far-fetched topic. The issue is being pushed by state Rep. Larry Metz, R-Eustis but when he was challenged by state Rep. Elaine Schwartz, D- Hollywood to give an example of its application in the state. The Republican state representative could cite no example state’s www.miamiherald.com in an editorial piece last week. The United States Constiution makes the issue crystal clear when it comes to theology and religion in the running of government and we are a seculiar nation that repects all religions and the freedom to worship as we wish. But that religious freedom does not apply to government that is made of men and women who swear to uphold the nation’s laws, but also the state of Florida’s. And this needless discussion is about an issue that does not exist and the state lawmaker is off the mark with this one.

What do we know about the state representative’s finances?

Metz through June of 2011 had a net worth of $541,288 and he lists $$55,000 in household goods. The attorney and Marine veteran was first elected in 2010 to House District 25, after serving on the Lake County school board since 2004 after former Gov. Jeb Bush first appointed him to that body. His home is valued at $327,000 and there is $405,764 in other assets including $109,000 in a Fidelity investment account. His only liabilities are with the Navy Federal Credit Union where he owes $196,936 and $25,424 in loans. And his listed income was $160,901 from Metz Law, the Lake County school board kicked in $29,844 and the state House paid him $4,825.

Schwartz through Dec. 2010 lists a net worth of $1.74 million and has $62,000 in household goods. The attorney elected to the House in 2006 is a past Minority Whip in the body and the former assistant city of Hollywood attorney assets include a home valued at $272,000, there is $451,000 in stocks, a portfolio of bonds are worth $887,000, there is $85,551 in a IRA, and a baby grand piano is worth $12,000. The lawmaker lists a joint mortgage with her husband owed $66,100, her total income for the year was $101,579 that includes $29,697 as a legislator, and social security kicked in $16,548.

Metz

Schwartz

What about state Rep. Lopez-Cantera?

The word on the street in Miami-Dade is that state Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera; R-Miami (Net worth $1.75 million) will run against Pedro Garcia (Net worth $1.1 million) for the Miami-Dade Property Appraisers office in the August 14 primary. Lopez-Cantera a developer and commercial property owner is termed out in 2012 and currently is the House Majority Leader. He was first elected to the House in 2004, he is married with a small child and he has talked about running for possible office locally allowing him more time with his family.  Garcia elected to the Miami-Dade Charter created office, not a Constitutional office was sworn into office on Jan. 2009 and he has been low key and kept his head down just doing the job in a professional manner and has not drawn any major criticism since then. However, while he is active, he is older, was married in 1959 and could be vulnerable to a high profile challenger, with name recognition and a decent political narrative. The Watchdog Report contacted Lopez-Cantera on the matter by email last week but I did not get a response by my deadline Sunday.

Lopez-Cantera

Garcia

>>> Press release: “In all the debate over education, one fact stands undisputed: Children who go off to their first year of school unprepared are likely to struggle throughout their school careers and life, always lagging behind those who got a proper start.” These words from yesterday’s Tallahassee Democrat editorial — appearing hours before The Children’s Movement, Florida TaxWatch and others joined on the steps of the historic Old Capitol to insist that quality remain in Florida’s early learning system. (You can read the editorial and see pictures from the press conference by clicking here.) With almost no time left in this legislative session, you and I must speak up — now. Please take the time to contact the legislators on the conference committee who are deciding these issues of early learning. Let them know that you insist on a high-quality program for Florida’s children. Just click here. Conference meetings are this evening (Thursday). Please act now. Dave Lawrence, Chair, The Children’s Movement of Florida

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> MIA baggage system to start up on “trial basis” in April, MDAD & AA to review performance in May, says Abreu

After four weeks of past Watchdog Report stories covering the new $215 million, 13 mile automated security screening and baggage system’s implementation at Miami International Airport (MIA) North Terminal and the haggling between American Airline (AA) officials and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez (Net worth $923,000). Miami-Dade Aviation Director Jose Abreu said Friday night that a deal has been made with AA and the new Baggage Handling System (BHS) will be fired up on a “trial basis” starting in late March or early April he said. He noted there would be roughly a month of this trial run and then the “Miami-Dade Aviation Department and AA will evaluate the system for reliability in May,” he wrote Saturday. Abreu has had to pull the activation trigger despite AA concerns the system was not reliable, after the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in late January demanded it be implemented and would improve not only passenger’s baggage screening but also the customs and immigration process at the facility that processed 38.2 million passengers last year.

Since then some terse letters had come from AA senior management in February to MIA officials but as was reported last week the two entities leaders shook hands and agreed not to sue each other. Abreu said the meeting this week was also cordial and while the airline was concerned about another Apr. 1 “crisis” when the BHS was first briefly activated. They agreed the current aging legacy baggage system would stay in place until any kinks in the system were worked out and the county aviation guru noted. “We know now how to spot a crisis,” since it has been dealt with before. And since this April meltdown, two subsequent BHS tests were acceptable and the one occurring in October that had 7,500 bags tested, only resulted in the “mis-placing of four” of the bags, and now Abreu feels confident that the time has come to fire up the system, he said. >>> The Miami Herald weighed in on the issue last week and to see veteran county reporter Martha Brannigan’s story go to http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/28/2666234/mia-in-heated-feud-with-american.html

Abreu

Gimenez

>>> GMCVB press release: RECORD ARRIVALS AT ‘THE NEW MIA’ (MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT) FOR FIRST  MONTH OF 2012
Passenger arrivals at MIAMI International Airport (MIA) increased in January 2012 with international passenger arrivals up +10.2% and domestic arrivals up +8.0% when compared to the same month last year. Total arrivals increased in January 2012 by +9.1%.

INTERNATIONAL MIA Passenger Arrivals

January  2012	January 2011	% Change
871,902	791,553	+10.2%

DOMESTIC MIA Passenger Arrivals

January  2012	January 2011	% Change
858,220	794,601	+8.0%

TOTAL MIA Passenger Arrivals

January 2012	January 2011	% Change
1,730,122	1,586,154	+9.1%

>>> Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez to Present Proclamation to Hispanic Achievers in recognition of Hispanics’ Contributions in Florida and U.S.

Press release: Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez will present a proclamation to the Hispanic Achievers on Monday, March 5, 2012, at 10:00 a.m., at the Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW 1st Street, Lobby, Miami, FL 33128.  The Mayor’s proclamation is in recognition of Hispanics’ valuable contributions in Florida and throughout the nation.  Hispanic contributions are also being commemorated by the Hispanic Achievers Specialty License Plate, which symbolizes the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the State of Florida by Juan Ponce de Leon. Additionally, leaders from chambers of commerce, health systems, associations, and other community organizations will be recognized at the event. Hispanic Achievers License Plate The Hispanic Achievers License Plate is a self-funded mechanism that supports the non-profit’s programs and other non-profit organizations throughout the State of Florida serving minority communities.  Revenues raised by the sale of the License Plates fund grants to Florida communities.  Proposals are evaluated and approved by the Hispanic Achievers Grant Council (HAGC) Members, which operates under Florida Law.  The License Plate is available at all Florida Department of Motor Vehicles and Tax Collector Offices.  For more information, visit www.HispanicAchievers.org.

>>> Press release: BCC Chair Martinez: I take this opportunity to provide you with the following information on road closures, activities and services that you may find useful.

Major ramp closure expected Starting Feb. 27, lanes are scheduled to be closed as work begins on the new left-side flyover ramp that connects the westbound Dolphin and southbound Palmetto expressways. Learn how you can help reduce traffic.

Registration is now open for Miami-Dade Parks Spring Break Camps Miami-Dade Parks Spring Breaks Camps are a great mini vacation for kids during the Spring School Recess, March 12-16. Parents will have peace of mind with fully-supervised, affordable programs for their kids to enjoy that include fitness, sports, nature-encounters, arts and crafts, field trips and more!

Free Paralympic Experience & Resource Fair The Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department in conjunction with several of its local Paralympic partners will present a FREE one-day Paralympic Experience and resource fair on Saturday, March 10th, at Tropical Park’s community center.

Second Saturdays are Free for Families

Adrienne Arsht Center AileyCamp Miami 2012 AileyCamp Miami is a summer day camp where middle school students are “turned on” to dance and come to respect the discipline of dance as a physical activity that requires athletic ability comparable to skills demanded by any sport. Also, campers will increase their leadership skills and enjoy a variety of social activities. Monday – Friday, June 25 – August 4, 2012; 8:30AM – 3:30PM. Ages 11-14, MDCPS Grades 6-8, SPACE IS LIMITED, NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

MIami Dade County Youth Fair Discounts The Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo will be in town March 15 – April 1. The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade and the Miami-Dade County Fair are teaming up to offer discounts on both rides and admission now through March 14. Enjoying The Fair at a fair price. Now that’s what we call fun!

Knights Art Challenge It’s your turn to inspire South Florida’s growing local arts scene. The Knight Arts Challenge is a Miami-based initiative to draw the best and most innovative ideas out of local organizations and individuals seeking to transform the community through the arts.  Take part in a community rising to new levels of artistic achievement and global recognition. In the last four years, 109 ideas were funded. Is this your year? Applications must be submitted no later than Monday, March 19, 2012.

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Perez tries to press case for school board waiver of activist Kairalla one last time, already given thumbs down 7 to 0 in Jan.

School Board Member Marta Pérez, Ph.D. (Net worth $2.18 million), continues her quest to get a school board waiver for a woman volunteer on four school board committees in violation of a board rule that was passed in October limiting the number of committee’s one person could serve on to two, without a school board two-thirds waiver vote. The issue involves Susan M. Kairalla and Pérez said at a board committee meeting Wednesday that she would like the board to grant her a waiver for the decade’s long public schools activist who also serves on the all-important School Board Audit & Budget Advisory Committee. However, in a past board committee vote in January the item went down in flames with a seven to zero vote and Pérez pulled if from the board’s monthly meeting agenda waiting for this second opportunity. Since the meeting date was changed and she could attend. Now the legislation goes in front of the school board at their monthly meeting Wednesday but people are puzzled why Perez is still making it an issue, after it was clear the board would not likely approve the request after the past vote, and had a number of sharp verbal exchanges between Perez and Board Member Raquel Regalado (Net worth $108,450).

UPLOAD PHOTO Perez

UPLOAD PHOTO Regalado

>>> District raises $1.8 million for United Way of Miami-Dade

The Miami-Dade Public Schools United Way of Miami-Dade Campaign for the year brought in $1.8 million of which $1.2 million was from the district’s employees, but overall there was an eight percent drop, said school staff last Wednesday. This represented a $106,000 drop from the previous year and was lower than in the past because of the reduced number of employees and the down economy. However, United Way was still thankful for the contributions “and still happy given the times,” said District staff.

>>> Jose F. Montes de Oca, the public schools district Auditor told the watchdog Report Wednesday that the forensic audit on a controversial Charter School in Coconut Grove should be done sometime in May or June. The Arts and Minds Academy is the charter school in question, and the owner of the building the school is in is Manny Alonso Poch. He started the school in 2004 and has been extensively reported on in the Watchdog Report since it opened on Commodore Plaza and he was getting $29,000 a month in rent from the nation’s fourth largest public schools district back then and this type of facility arrangement is known as a “related transaction.” Since then this rent payment has shot up to over $80,000 per month and the school was included in an extensive Miami Herald investigative story and there is a variety of the reasons why the audit has been initiated by the public schools district.

>>> The school board Audit & Budget Advisory Committee is meeting Tuesday at 12:30 p.m., and to read the agenda and back-up material go to http://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_March_6_2012/agenda.pdf

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> PHT looking to loosen up Miami-Dade Cone of Silence procurement policy that applies to RFPs and other service contracts

The PHT is reviewing the county’s Code of Silence ordinance for contracts at the Jackson Health System said Joe Centorino at the Miami-Dade Ethics and Public Trust Commission Thursday and the legislation should be before them in the future, the new director and former state prosecutor said. He noted a request for opinion on this draft legislation was asked for, but the new legislation was still being hammered out but “would exempt the Code of Silence.”  He said the County’s Attorney’s Office was working on the new language and the request had come from PHT President and CEO Carlos Migoya and the Financial Recovery Board Chair Marcos Lapciuc. They are trying to tailor the ordinance for its application in a public hospital environment, versus what the county does when it comes to letting contracts and bids out. And the health trust buys hundreds of millions of dollars in supplies and the Cone limits contact a procurement officer has with a variety of people once a request for proposal (RFP) has been let out for bids for a wide array of products and services.

Further, the people involved in these procurement functions at Jackson have an expanded list of prohibitory people they can be involved with and could cause a conflict of interest. This large list of people that fall under the list includes a fiancé, brothers and sisters and the list is about 13 types of possible relationships that are conflicts of interests for a participant. However, this expanded conflict of interest legislation came about after a controversy and scandal back in the 1990s and while that may be forgotten with a mayoral election year. Any modification of the Cone may not be as easy as it might look, and the ethics commission since it is the controlling body monitoring this issue will review the changes and make a pronouncement on what is being proposed versus the past policy in effect since the late 1990s.

>>> Mass layoffs is shock therapy for PHT, nurses against at possible medical consequences

The Jackson Health System management earlier in the week announced it is planning to layoff 920 workers and not fill 195 vacant positions on April 6 and the nurses union is flabbergasted after the SEIU Local 1991 just a short time ago approved a new three year contract for the nursing staff, the largest bargaining unit at the health trust. Martha Baker, R.N., the union’s president believes patient safety and treatment is being put at risk. But the administration says the cuts are “surgical” and necessary to right size the health system that has lower patient admissions than planned and this staff needs to be adjusted down if the trust is to close out the year Sept.30 in the black, said CEO and President Carlos Migoya.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Commissioners to discuss, elections date, change is a mixed bag

The City Commission will be discussing Thursday at their commission meeting whether to change when the electorate votes for the municipal elections. Currently it is in the odd years in November and about 80 percent of all cities around the nation have such a policy. However, a Miami election costs about $1 million and could include a runoff election since a 50 percent plus one vote majority is required to capture the elected prize. One Miami commissioner I discussed this with last week said they had “mixed” feelings about the date change and the body will deliberate on the issue this week.

However, critics charge the election date is not the big deal, but whether an election is clean without voter fraud, especially when it comes to the widespread use of absentee ballots that has created a cottage industry for political operatives collecting these ballots.

>>> CPA Carollo predicts new auditor voted on at end of March

Commissioner Frank Carollo (Net worth $707,000) said last week the applicants for the Commission Auditor post vacant since June have come in and the search committee is reviewing the candidates and they will provide a short list of people to commissioners to vote on at the last March commission meeting, he said. Carollo, a CPA has been the point man on getting this person in place, especially with the upcoming budget talks looming. And city voters created the position of a commission Auditor back in 2001.

>>> Ethics Commission press release: As part of the settlement Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado (Net worth $7,500) accepted after admitting that he filed incomplete and inaccurate financial disclosure forms in 2010 and 2011(C 11-34), the mayor paid a one thousand dollar fine, promised to correct the forms and accept a of Letter of Instruction.   The Ethics Commission approved the Letter today regarding Mayor Regalado that stated, as the city’s leader, “He, of all people, should be especially diligent in filing correct and complete financial disclosure forms in a timely manner.  He should set the tone of ethical and transparent behavior.”

>>> Ethics Commission press release: A complaint (C 12-01) filed against a member of Miami’s OAB/Overtown Community Oversight Board during 2009 who had not disclosed her finances as required by the Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance was dismissed after Andrea Copeland fulfilled the requirement today.

Regalado

Carollo

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Atty. Smith’s attack on Ethics Commission Dir. Centorino out of line say commissioners regarding report on free tickets to leaders

Jose Smith, a former Miami Beach Commissioner and now the city commission attorney blasted a report on free tickets to events done by Joe Centorino the new director of the Miami-Dade Ethics and Public Trust Commission and its staff. The report questioned whether the elected officials were using the free tickets for political reasons and he was livid at some of the language used in the report. The attorney also believed that the ethics commission was improperly moving into the affairs of municipalities and believed it was a matter for the city’s commission to take up, along with Mayor Mattie Herrera Bower. And he said there had been a planned discussion on the topic at an upcoming committee meeting.

However, ethics commissioners said it was just a report, and the tone Smith used they found offensive and the city attorney might have been better off to have just referenced his Feb. 28 memo he sent to the ethics commission. For the document laid out calmly in words, what the objections were versus when he was speaking. Smith said to commissioners “If you are going to involve yourself, what is the criteria and where does that end,” he said. Commissioner Nelson Bellido said to Smith “can’t you agree the report is a little more responsible [when it comes to handling these tickets] and can’t you see the positive input trying to improve this community, yet you are attacking the director,” the attorney said. Smith shot back these “are not allegations, but a statement of fact,” he said curtly.

However, the ethics commissioners noted they were just trying to improve the community and how these freebies were doled out trying to keep the political aspect to a minimum. Ethics Commission vice Chair Carleton Copeland echoed this advice saying, “We hope local governments will look at these recommendations,” because the practice can be perceived as out of line to the public as a whole. And the report has already resulted in Miami-Dade Mayor asking the County Commission this week to cut out the practice of getting around $102,000 worth of tennis and parking tickets for the upcoming Sony Erickson Tennis Tournament on Virginia Key, and he wants that money to go to the county parks department for kids programs. However, critics are crying foul because many of the tickets went to minorities who could not afford such an event in the past without these free tickets. >>> To see what The Herald wrote on this go to: Ethics commission votes to restrict doling out of free tickets to politicans – Miami Beach – MiamiHerald.com

>>> Press release: Ethics Commission approves guidelines regarding free event tickets for officials

After hearing comments by several speakers, the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust (COE) today approved a report that includes guidelines local governments may adopt to change how politicians and public administrators distribute complimentary admission tickets to events at facilities within their jurisdiction.  The report stemmed from a joint investigation last year by the Ethics Commission and the Public Corruption Unit of the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office, prompted by a dispute between the New World Symphony and the City of Miami Beach over allegations that city officials had demanded free tickets as a condition of their release of public funds for completion of the New World facility. While there was no violation of criminal law found, the probe exposed flawed policies that could result in unwarranted and inappropriate benefits for elected and appointed officials.

Representatives of Miami Beach told Ethics Commissioners that the situation was a departure from normal policies and objected to some of the wording in the COE report.  Miami Beach City Attorney Jose Smith said officials will meet to discuss revising the practice.  A survey of other municipalities uncovered similar practices.  City of Miami officials receive tickets for events at the James L. Knight Center, Bayfront Park and the Sony Ericsson Tennis Tournament.   Lease agreements with Homestead Miami Speedway and the Homestead Sports Complex require that skyboxes, parking passes and admission tickets be provided to that city’s officials.   When the Adrienne Arsht Center has “excess inventory,” representatives ask County Commissioners to suggest charities to which they should be donated.

The Ethics Commission report concludes there is “no good reason why event tickets received by a municipality through a contractual ‘public benefits’ clause… should pass through the hands of elected officials,” and recommends they be distributed to the public by an “objective, non-political mechanism,” that would deny elected officials the “unfair advantage of utilizing these tickets as an extension of their self-promotional or campaign activities.”  It also notes that politicians often attend events in what they call an official capacity, but “mere, passive attendance” should not be considered as an ”official function” and should be reported as a gift, under appropriate disclosure laws.   Ethics Commission members instructed staff to delve deeper into that issue to develop criteria for determining when a public official is attending an event in connection with official duties.

“We hope that local governments will take these recommendations seriously and expeditiously implement changes in accordance with this report,” said COE Executive Director Joseph Centorino, who promised the COE staff will closely examine ticket distributions  and investigate any instance where is appears that “public benefits” are exploited. Here is Herald’s take:  Ethics commission votes to restrict doling out of free tickets to politicians – Miami Beach – MiamiHerald.com

CITY OF NORTH MIAMI

>>> Leaders once again in the headlines, now Steril returns $6,000 donation from developer Swerdlow

People around the county are wondering what is going on with the elected leaders in North Miami that now has Mayor Andre Pierre’s home in bank foreclosure after he stopped making mortgage payments after realizing he was underwater. He financed the house bought for $353,000 in 2003 and later refinanced the house getting $560,000 in two loans in late 2007 using the home as collateral. However, the value of the house depreciated by $200,000 and he has been haggling with the bank trying to get a break on the notes outstanding but has yet to be successful and the mayor said he is trying to get a ‘loan modification,’ wrote the http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/02/2671560/north-miami-mayor-faces-foreclosure.html but he oddly said he did not know the bank was foreclosing. The mayor an attorney had a tough reelection race last year but he has been dogged by a variety of issues including driving a high end Porsche for months loaned to him by a friend and now this issue, which could suggest he is behind in his property tax payments as well.

What about Councilwoman Steril?

Further, Councilwoman Marie Steril received an Ethics and Public Trust ruling Thursday that when it came to accepting a $6,000 donation made with two checks from mega developer Michael Swerdlow to the none profit organization she runs and is the sole employee. The commission recommended she return the money (And was said to have done that, but when the WDR asked the lawmaker by email Friday if the check had cleared yet. I got no reply by my Sunday deadline).  Some of the comments by the five-member ethics commission included that while the donation was legal. But since she was the only employee and in the future would be voting on a 100-year development deal with Swerdlow. One ethics commissioner said this “did not pass the smell test.” And the commission recommended that she refrain from participating in the discussion and vote. Below is the press release on the issue.

>>> Ethics Commission press release: The Ethics Commission advised a North Miami City Council member to not vote or participate in any discussion involving developer Michael Swerdlow, who is negotiating a 100-year lease for the Biscayne Landing property, because of his recent contributions to her non-profit organization.  Councilwoman Marie Steril is the executive director of The Family Corners, Inc., which provides charitable work in Miami-Dade County and in Haiti.  Swerdlow recently contributed $6,000 to the organization.  Prior to receiving the response to Request for Opinion 12-03, Councilwoman Steril stated that she had returned the donation.   Still, Ethics Commissioners strongly recommended the councilwoman abstain from the issue since the donation indirectly benefited her and could be viewed as influencing her vote.  The opinion applies only to the unique circumstances involving a small organization receiving a benefit from a major developer close in time to a vote on a major project involving that developer.

Steril

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> M-DC Commissioner Suarez goes after Mayor Gimenez, budget cuts “did not do justice to the rank and file” county workers

Miami-Dade Commissioner Xavier Suarez (Net worth $328,500) spoke at the Ponce Business Association Luncheon on Monday and the former Miami mayor detailed what he has done in his first nine months in office representing Commission District 7 in the 13-member body. Suarez the ninth of fourteen children joked that the luncheon crowd was expecting someone “young and dashing” referring to his son Francis, the Chair of the Miami Commission but they got him instead. The father said he had learned some things from his son who preceded him into elected office in 2009 saying the young attorney was “very deliberate and conciliatory,” something different from his own past political style.

The attorney and engineer then described the county’s $7 billion budget that includes $2 billion in capital program funding. He said while county leaders have slashed some departments there is still a $4.4 billion operateing budget and he believes the way the cuts were done “did not do justice to the rank and file” county employees. He then railed that Mayor Carlos Gimenez brought in “five people” that were making around $250,000 each and believed that was “not a great idea when you are looking for union concessions,” he said. He also believes that county employees that were paid below $50,000 should not have had to take pay cuts, and punctuated the point noting that over 3,200 of the county’s 27,000 employees make over $100,000 he said.

Suarez further challenged Gimenez’s only whittling down county departments to 26 and he believed 10 departments would be more suitable, and once likened that number for being good enough for God and the Ten Commandments. He also challenged the concept of “span of control” which is the number of workers to management. At the county it is 4.9 people to a supervisor yet in the private sector that range of control is 10/1, he carped. When it came to the county’s $11 billion of debt, he believes “it all should be approved by county voters.” He noted had that been done with the new Marlins Stadium in Little Havana, that “would have gotten around the [property] tax issue,” he said.

When it came to $213 million in county GOB money for his commission district, Suarez said there is $45 million for the Virginia Key landfill restoration, a dump that once swallowed up a large earthmover machine. Another $20 million is available for the shuttered Coconut Grove Playhouse (Expected to be discussed at the BCC March 6 meeting), and $3 million is being set aside for the Miami Marine Stadium restoration project. He said he was meeting with Gimenez on Thursday and planned to have a “vigorous” discussion on these and other topics. The commissioner noted when it came to these projects that “We have not been moving very fast,” and “just to make a decision is another issue of government,” and believes the mayor waffles on many things way too much.

He said when it came to a controversial new 3 million cubic feet, five-story boathouse at Matheson Hammock Park (That has had 5,500 people signing a petition in opposition to the project in less than two weeks). He expects the county commission to discuss it at the March 6 meeting but said. “The problem with any discussion is because of the legal implications” saying the county commission “can’t influence the City of Coral Gables [commission] and violate the Jennings Law.” Further, Suarez invited the luncheon attendees to an upcoming fundraiser in May he is planning and will be a reasonable cost affair that will include food, music and dancing with his daughter Annie, an OBGYN physician singing at the event.

What about Suarez running for Miami-Dade Mayor?

Currently Gimenez and county Commission Chair Joe Martinez (Net worth $238,000) are registered candidates of the almost dozen candidates but there is talk that Suarez might throw his hat into the ring. People say the May 11 fundraiser will be a test for Suarez to see if he has the fundraising capability to pull off a countywide high stakes race on Aug. 14. And while he raised around $250,000 for the commission race, helped by his son, where he defeated former state Rep. Julio Robaina, R-South Miami (Net worth $661,000). It was a low voter turnout race, in a much more compact district, and the countywide electorate turnout and demographics will be totally different in this upcoming contest. Further, Suarez has past baggage that would be aired out again in public but when the Watchdog Report asked him Monday if he was running for mayor. “I have not ruled it out,” he said and this was the same reply he gave to www.miamiherald.com . He said the daily paper in the past suggested when he was running for reelection as mayor it was “Hypocritical” that he was trying to speed up projects, but he said that was not the case. “I was just taking advantage of an opportunity” back then and “we should always be speeding up projects” and if the mayor has a problem with this, “so be it.”

Further, the county commissioner and his son were no shows on Tuesday when Gimenez gave his State of the County speech in the Commission Chambers. Their absence, along with County Commissioner Javier Souto (Net worth $658,000), another Gimenez critic by the Suarez family is politically telling and the Watchdog Report believes the senior Suarez will run for county mayor, unless his fundraising efforts tank and he gets a tepid response from campaign donors. >>> Editor’s note: Suarez after the luncheon speech had lunch with John Rivera, the president of the county’s Police Benevolent Association (PBA) and also is a fierce critic of Gimenez.

What about Commission Chair Martinez?

Chair Joe Martinez is also in the mayoral race and this issue of Suarez joining the fray may help explain the snipping going on at the dais between the two men. That had Suarez at the last commission meeting bristling after Martinez made a comment about a group of homeowners in west Dade in a rural area that Suarez had represented years ago. And Suarez shot back that Martinez seemed to know more about his life in past years than he did. And it was an odd exchange between the two men at the time.

Suarez

Martinez

Souto

VILLAGE OF PALMETTO BAY

>>> Ethics commission suggests amendments to Cone of Silence law

Ethics Commission press release: Another Letter of Instruction approved today is directed to officials in Palmetto Bay as a result of a complaint (C 11-37) against the village manager and two other administrators who negotiated with a potential vendor before a contract award was issued.  The complaint was dismissed since it was determined that the negotiations were permitted by one portion of the town’s Code of Ordinances, but violated the section that established a Cone of Silence on the process to select private contractors.   The Ethics Commission strongly recommended that those ordinances be amended so they provide consistent and clear guidance to maintain the dignity of the procurement process.

CITY OF DORAL

>>> Clarification from the city of Doral press person on last week’s story: “I reached out to their [federal] Public Affairs Office.  So you know the [federal] prison is not located in Doral.  It’s east of the Palmetto,” wrote the city flack Natalie French.

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Feds charge three Ft. Lauderdale men in $3 million insurance fraud scam

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), announced the indictment of defendants Joel Steinger, a/k/a Joel Steiner, 62, Steven Steiner, a/k/a Steven Steinger, 60, and Henry Fecker III, 58, all from Fort Lauderdale Florida, on charges stemming from their efforts to defraud various insurance carriers through fraudulent applications for health insurance.  The indictment charges the three defendants with conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1349, and with substantive mail and wire fraud charges, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 and 1343.  If convicted, they face maximum statutory penalties of 20 years in prison for each offense charged. According to the indictment, the defendants made false claims of employment with a shell company, and then with a non-existent corporation documented through forged articles of incorporation.  Each defendant made the false employment claims on applications for group health insurance submitted to various carriers between 2006 and 2010.  The false insurance applications and other materials were transmitted through mailings and wire communications.

As a result of these false claims of employment, two insurance carriers provided the defendants with coverage which they were not qualified to receive and which the insurers would have otherwise declined.  After receiving coverage based on of their misrepresentations, the defendants submitted claims of approximately $3 million. The conduct alleged in the indictment occurred while defendants Joel Steinger and Steven Steiner were awaiting trial on charges stemming from their alleged involvement with Mutual Benefits Corporation (“MBC”).  Defendants Steven Steiner and Henry Fecker are also awaiting trial on separate charges of money laundering and obstruction of justice relating to MBC. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and the IRS-CID.  This prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jerrob Duffy and Karen Rochlin. An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

>>> 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.

CITY OF PLANTATION

>>> Press release: Former Plantation cop Guaracino gets 43 months in federal Big House for mortgage fraud scam

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Henry Gutierrez, Postal Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Tom Grady, Commissioner, State of Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation, and Addy Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Miami Field Office, announced today’s sentencing of defendant Joseph Guaracino, a former Plantation Police Department Officer.  U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn sentenced Guaracino to 43 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.  Guaracino was also ordered to pay $2,969,439.00 in mandatory restitution to financial institutions.  Guaracino was immediately remanded and taken into custody by the United States Marshals Service. In November 2011, Guaracino pled guilty to a one count Information that charged him with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.  His plea came after his trial on multiple counts of mail and wire fraud and false statement counts resulted in a mistrial in September 2011.

According to the charges and other documents filed with the court in connection with the plea, Joseph Guaracino engaged in a scheme to defraud mortgage lending institutions by making false statements in mortgage applications regarding income and occupancy.  Many of the homes purchased by Joseph Guaracino were flipped for a profit, but a substantial number went into foreclosure. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation, and FDLE.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laurie E. Rucoba and Jared M. Strauss, and Senior Litigation Counsel Michael Patrick Sullivan. 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.

TOWN OF DAVIE

>>> Three Memorial Hospital Vendors Convicted in Bribery Scheme

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), announce that, after a 6-day trial before United States District Judge Kenneth A. Marra, a jury convicted defendants Thomas Kennedy, 44, of Davie, Robert Andrei, 70, of Davie, and Thomas Pacchioli, 52, of Weston, of all charges against them.  Additionally, defendant Richard Cohen, 45, of Wellington, pled guilty during the second week of trial. The jury found the defendants guilty of participating in a bribery and kickback scheme in connection with the award of facilities maintenance contracts at Memorial Regional Hospital (MRH), in Hollywood, FL, and Memorial Hospital West (MHW), in Pembroke Pines, FL.  Both hospitals are part of the Memorial Healthcare System, an organization that receives more than $10,000 in federal assistance each calendar year.

According to evidence presented at trial, the defendants and companies they controlled were vendors for the Maintenance Departments at MRH and MHW.  The defendants and their companies paid kickbacks — in the form of cash payments, checks written to nominee corporations, and home generators — to hospital employees Elliott Gordon, Anthony Merola, and Adil Osman.  In return for the kickbacks from the defendant vendors, Gordon, Merola, and Osman provided the defendants and their companies with millions of dollars of construction, repairs, and maintenance work at MRH and MHW.  Gordon and Merola previously pled guilty to an Information charging them with conspiring to accept bribes.  Osman previously pled guilty to a substantive charge of accepting bribes.  Gordon and Merola were sentenced to 38 and 33 months in prison, respectively.  Osman is pending sentencing. Additionally, defendants Kennedy and Cohen participated in a scheme to defraud MRH and MHW by rigging the bidding process on numerous vendor contracts worth over $10,000.  Both defendants used the names of real corporations without consent and shell corporations they established in the names of other people to bid against themselves and guarantee their acquisition of lucrative maintenance contracts.

All the defendants were found guilty of a conspiracy to provide kickback payments to MRH and MHW employees in connection with the award of facilities maintenance contracts at MRH and MHW, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.  The defendants also were convicted of substantive violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(2), for paying bribes to specific hospital administrators in exchange for the award of vendor contracts.  Finally, Cohen pled guilty to, and the jury convicted Kennedy of, mail fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341, for their involvement in the fraudulent bid rigging scheme. Sentencing for Cohen, Kennedy, and Pacchiloi has been scheduled for May 18, 2012.  Sentencing for Andrei has been scheduled for May 25, 2012.  At sentencing, the defendants each face a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison for violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 371; 20 years for violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341; and 10 years for violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(2). >>>Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division.  Mr. Ferrer also thanked the management and security personnel at Memorial Healthcare System for their assistance and cooperation in this investigation.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neil Karadbil and Strider Dickson. 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.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

>>> Five Defendants Charged in Mortgage Fraud Scheme Attorney and Bank Vice President Among Those Charged

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Jeff Atwater, Chief Financial Officer, State of Florida’s Department of Financial Services, and Tom Grady, Commissioner, State of Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation, announced the filing of an criminal information charging defendants Jacinto Puentes, 53, West Palm Beach, Elinor Puentes, 52, West Palm Beach, Theodore Tarone, 43, West Palm Beach, Raul Salabarria, 55, Royal Palm Beach, and Rogelio Ramirez, 42, Port Saint Lucie, with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme.  If convicted, the defendants face a statutory maximum sentence of thirty years in prison. Friday, three of the defendants, Jacinto Puentes, Elinor Puentes, and Raul Salabarria, made their initial appearances and were arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge James M. Hopkins in West Palm Beach, Florida.  Defendants Elinor Puentes and Raul Salabarria were released on $250,000 personal surety bonds.  Defendant Jacinto Puentes was held on a $50,000 corporate surety bond.  The remaining two defendants are scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, February 29, 2012.

According to the information, the defendants engaged in a multi-million dollar scheme to fraudulently obtain mortgages through the use of false documentation.  More specifically, from November 2006 through November 2007, Jacinto Puentes and Raul Salabarria found seventeen properties in Florida and Tennessee for which they sought financing above the actual sales price quoted by the seller.  Defendant Jacinto Puentes prepared and submitted loan applications containing false information and false supporting documentation, including false verifications of bank deposits from Wachovia Bank’s then Assistant Vice President, defendant Rogelio Ramirez. According to the information, defendant Elinor Puentes and others required the sellers to use the services of co-conspirator attorney Theodore Tarone as the settlement agent.  Defendant Tarone prepared duplicate HUD-1 settlement forms to reflect the two different selling prices.

The lender received a HUD-1 with an inflated purchase price, while the seller received a HUD-1 with the actual sales price.  Through this scheme, the conspirators received approximately $8 million in loan proceeds for the purchase of those 17 properties.  Some of the defendants diverted approximately $500,000 of the loan proceeds for their personal benefit. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, the State of Florida’s Department of Financial Services, and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry S. Baron. An Information is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. >> 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.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Fred N. Roberts Jr. to the Ocklawaha River Basin seat on the Governing Board, St. Johns River Water Management District.

Roberts, 33, of Ocala, has been an attorney with Klein and Klein Law Firm since 2006.  His community service includes serving on the board of directors for the College of Central Florida Foundation since 2009 and the Boys and Girls Club of Marion since 2008. Roberts received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and a law degree from Stetson University. He succeeds Arlene Jumper and is appointed for a term beginning March 2, 2012, and ending March 1, 2015. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

DUVAL COUNTY

>>> Gov. Scott reappoints  Alia Faraj and taps Sean S. Hall to the Florida Elections Commission.

Faraj, 47, of Tallahassee, has been a partner and executive vice president of Ron Sachs Communications since 2007. Previously, she was communications director for Governor Jeb Bush from 2004 to 2007.  Before serving as deputy chief of staff for the Florida Department of State during the 2004 election cycle, she was press secretary for Governor Jeb Bush for 2003 and 2004 and communications director for both the Florida Department of Community Affairs and the Florida Department of Children and Families for seven months in 2002. She has served on the scholarship board of the American Association of State Troopers since 2008. Faraj received a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University. She is reappointed for a term beginning February 29, 2012, and ending December 31, 2015.

Hall, 42, of Jacksonville, has been an executive business development manager and national sales manager for Panasonic Computer Solutions Company since 2003. Previously, he was a manager with Exabyte Corporation from 1999 to 2003, with Pomeroy Computer Resources from 1997 to 1999 and with Ikon Office Solutions from 1996 to 1997. He served in the United States Army and the Army National Guard from 1989 to 2006.  His community involvement includes serving on the Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Board of Directors and on the Better Jacksonville Plan Citizens Oversight Committee from 2007 to 2011. He is a founding member of the Political Leadership Institute. Hall received a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Florida. He succeeds Jose Rodriguez and is appointed for a term beginning February 29, 2012, and ending December 31, 2015. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

ALACHUA COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott names Virginia Hipp Johns to the lay member seat on the Governing Board, Suwannee River Water Management District.

Johns, 57, of Alachua, is the president of John Hipp Construction.  Since 2011, she has been serving a second term on the City of Alachua Planning and Zoning Board.  She became a licensed underground and excavation contractor and a qualified storm water inspector in 2003. Johns received an associate degree from Santa Fe College and an interior design degree from Bauder College. She succeeds James Fraleigh and is appointed for a term beginning March 1, 2012, and ending March 1, 2013. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

COMMUNITY EVENTS.

>>> 24th Annual In the Company of Women Awards Celebration Recognizes 13 Miami-Dade Women – In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Department and the Miami-Dade County Commission for Women, in partnership with The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade, are hosting the 24th Annual In the Company of Women Awards Celebration presented by Macy’s, on Wednesday, March 21, from 6-9 p.m., at the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables.  Thirteen local women will be recognized for contributions in their fields and to the Miami-Dade community.  The event also provides lasting support to the Women’s Park and park programs throughout Miami-Dade County.

The honorees include: Mayor’s Pioneer Award—Scherley Busch – Noted commercial photographer, well known for her distinctive photographic vision and interpretations of Florida’s people, places and landscapes.  Founder, director and creative force behind the Florida Women of Achievement project. Mayor’s Pioneer Award—Kathleen Woods-Richardson – Director of the Miami-Dade County Public Works and Waste Management Dept. and longtime, dedicated United Way volunteer.  She is the incoming Chair of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council. Arts & Entertainment— Carol Damian, Director and Chief Curator of the Frost Art Museum at Florida International University. She is active in the local arts community through her leadership roles on the Miami-Dade Art in Public Places Trust and the ArtCenter/South Florida Board of Trustees and her involvement in many museums in South Florida. Business & Economics—Brenda Hill-Riggins – Owner and president of Mars Contractors, one of the largest women and minority-owned construction contractors in Florida. In an industry dominated by men, she is a successful entrepreneur and mentor to many who still finds ways to give back to the community.

Communications & Literature—Ninoska Perez Castellon – Prominent journalist and political commentator at Radio Mambi/Univision Radio. A fierce human rights advocate, she has over 25 years of experience in the communications field where her work has reached a wide-ranging audience not only in the United States but also abroad. Education & Research—Irma Becerra-Fernandez – Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and a fulltime professor at FIU’s College of Business Administration. She is considered the top South Florida educator and researcher on entrepreneurship.  Founder and force behind the Americas Venture Capital Conference, she advocates for the advancement of women to break through the venture capital “glass ceiling.” Government & Law—Lynda Bell, Miami-Dade County Commissioner from District 8 and the first woman Mayor of Homestead.  Her concern for her constituents is exemplified by her focus on education, children, and a streamlined efficient government that still manages to address the needs of the community. Government & Law—Bronwyn Miller – Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge who has committed herself to helping the community through philanthropy and mentoring.  She is a member of several organizations, but has a special passion for helping the homeless and has held leadership roles in the Chapman Partnership. Health & Human Services—Ivon Mesa – Director of the Coordinated Victims Assistance Center and longtime advocate for the rights of domestic violence survivors.  She has dedicated her professional life to addressing the problem of domestic violence and has dramatically changed the way in which services are delivered to thousands of women in Miami-Dade County. Science & Technology—Sarah Elizabeth Messiah, Ph.D. – Research Associate Professor and perinatal/pediatric epidemiologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine whose work has been focused on childhood obesity.  She has a community-wide reputation for her commitment as a professional and for her activism in reducing childhood obesity, and she is dedicated to improving general health and wellness among children both locally and nationally.

Community Spirit Award—Jennifer Adger Grant – Accomplished accountant and long-time community activist who has given of her time and talents in organizations such as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority-Dade County Alumnae Chapter, the United Way, Greater Miami Chapter of the Links, the Junior League, and the Community Partnership for the Homeless. Posthumous honors—Elizabeth Ann Juerling – Beloved teacher, women’s advocate, leader of several women’s organizations, and supporter of historic preservation through her roles in the Dade Heritage Trust and The Villagers. Posthumous honors—Mary Abreu – Female public servant in the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, who served the community for over 22 years, leaving a legacy within the Miami-Dade Parks Department. >>> Nominations were solicited from the general public from October through December 2011.  Nominees must have a history of continued accomplishments in their field and have met these five criteria: professional development, community responsibility, leadership and vision, contribution to women’s progress and promotion of pluralism.  Award recipients were selected by a panel, comprised of some of last year’s winners and the event’s organizing committee.

>>> Tickets for In the Company of Women are $40 which includes the awards ceremony and pre-event reception, and can be purchased online at www.mdparks.org.  Contributions of $250 and above also afford at-risk women an opportunity to attend the event. In the Company of Women is made possible by the support of generous sponsors including Macy’s, Baptist Health South Florida, Covanta Energy, Florida International University, Waste Services of Florida, Inc., and Univision Radio. For more information about the event, call Vivian Greer-Digon at the Women’s Park, 305-480-1717. >> The Miami-Dade County Commission for Women was created in 1971 as an advisory board to the Board of County Commissioners, the County administration and the public at large about issues pertaining to the status of women.  The Commission for Women also advocates for women in the community and strives to improve their quality of life.  For more information contact the Commission for Women at (305) 375-4967 or at Morilla@miamidade.gov; or visit the website at www.miamidade.gov/advocacy/CFW_home.asp.

>>> Amigos for Kids event: The Second Annual Celebration of Friendship Luncheon and Children’s Fashion show will be held on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Four Seasons. Many of you ask how you can get involved and help promote and support our mission of child abuse prevention & awareness. As you may know, April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Amigos For Kids spearheads a Blue Ribbon Campaign in Miami-Dade County, including this fundraising event. If you would like your child to participate as one of the models in this year’s event, please respond to us by Tuesday, February 28, 2012. Space is limited, and commitment to participate is required.  Please feel free to forward this information to friends with children that may be interested. Fashion Show Theme – Island Cruising In The Tropics – Commitment requirements include: $ 20 fee per child ages 4 – 13 to participate as one of the models  One  ( 1 ) fitting session Two ( 2 ) practice sessions – Adult tickets to attend the event are $ 100 per person – tables set 12 and cost is $ 1,200.  Sponsorship & runway tables available. The attached form should be sent via email to: events@amigosforkids.org Thank you for your support and interest in our mission.  Rosa Maria Plasencia Executive Director Amigos For Kids, 801 S.W. Third Av., Suite 300 Miami, Florida 33130 P:  305 279 1155 F:  305 858 0794 www.amigosforkids.org

>>> Press release: Coalition of South Florida Muslim Organizations Community Appreciation Dinner –  Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 6.30 PM Double tree Hotel- 711 NW 72 Ave., Miami – Emecee Jim DeFede, CBS 4 Miami

In order to recognize the following individuals for their leadership and community building contribution Media Outreach, Antonio Fins, Editorial Page Editor-Sun Sentinel – Humanitarian Outreach, Rabbi Solomon Schiff, Community Relations Board – Judicial Outreach Judge Scott Bernstein Life Time Community Award Dr. Moeiz and Mrs. Farzana Tapia – Key Note Speaker Howard Simon, Executive Editor-ACLU >>> For information please call, Shabbir Motorwala 305-283-2261 Mohammed Shakir  305-812-4824 Faisal Syed 305-606-5933 Nidal Hozien 305-799-0000 Khalid Mirza 305-904-0074 >> NO CHILDREN UNDER 10 -No Baby Seating provided—–Dress Code- Business Attire

EDITORIALS

>>> Officials had better realize free tickets to non-official events a hot button with disillusioned voters

The issue of free tickets given to elected officials or any kind of gifts is something the average voter understands and now that the issue is in the public domain, elected leaders had better realize it drives the regular Joe on the street nuts. First, it was Congress making investments and trading stocks based on the impact of legislation the body is considering or voting on and the Watchdog Report got a firestorm of emails on this subject months ago. Now it is the local freebees for officials and while if the gift is over $100.00 it should be disclosed. It can still look seemly though a 2008 report Miami-Dade Ethics Commission study found only an insignificant percentage of leaders or county and municipal workers actually submitted any gift disclosure forms and had ethics staff wondering if no gifts were being given, or the public servants were just blowing off the required submission.

The anger Miami Beach Attorney Jose Smith exhibited at Thursday’s Ethics and Public Trust Commission regarding a report and recommendation regarding the disposition of these free perks was unwarranted and he should have offered a possible solution or change in policy rather that attack the commission director and staff. For the issue is now on the front burner here in Miami-Dade and it is not going away. And if elected officials are smart about this issue, they should get in front of this and make the process transparent and not political because the way the debate is currently going suggests thou protest too much. And for something easily understood by the voting public like these complimentary tickets if it is disregarded it is at the official’s peril. At a time, many voters just want to throw out the bums and this is just another example of officials feeding at the public trough.

>>> Check out the past national story in the Tribune papers:  Paperwork Tiger

By Maya Bell, Miami Bureau, January 20, 2003

MIAMI – Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. It’s not by choice. Miami’s self-anointed citizen watchdog depends on the people he writes for and about to finance his quixotic quest to attend nearly every government meeting in Miami-Dade County. That’s a lot of mind-numbing meetings — as many as 2,500 a year — but not a lot of income. So Ricker is always teetering on bankruptcy. He dashes to his post-office box daily, hoping subscribers to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks.

LETTERS

>>> The new Fl. House Seat 106 drawn by the House Re-apportionment committee is a hybrid…it takes in all of the Beach but stops at Surfside and includes a large portion of east Miami…..Probably the strongest candidate would be an Hispanic…..look at Gus Barreiro to switch seats…no one on the Miami Beach commission could win this seat.

Rick

>>> Sen. Firestone made buildings accessible to the disabled ~ This morning I read that Senator George Firestone had died at the age of 80. As I read the Obituaries and article I cried. Not mentioned  is that in 1974, Senator Firestone sponsored the bill that would change the way Florida built buildings forever, a bill that would include, total access for the people with disabilities.

Getting this bill to the calendar, through killer committees, took unique lobbying and bill sponsorship. For instance, did not understand what Senator Baron and Senator Childers meant when they said they could not vote for the bill, but would not hurt me. When the bill came up in “killer” Commerce Committee these two senators, in unison, stood up and walked out the back door. I then understood their words. The bill passed out of committee. When we could not get it on the Senate Special Order Calendar, late in the session, Senator Firestone and Senator Graham requested to see me outside the Senate Door. Nikki Beare was the person sent to find me.

At the door, the Senators said that another bill I was lobbying was on the Special Order Calendar and they wanted to amend the big new construction bill onto that small bill. I asked why they needed my permission and they stated that we could lose both bills. I said that the big construction bill was more important and to go for it. Senator Graham hand copied the bill on amendment paper, and when the bill stood up Senator Graham, stood up, explained the big bill had been through

Committees and was on the calendar and the amendment was added. And it

passed with little opposition and was sent back to the House. The bill came up in the House the last night, took an amendment and was sent back to the Senate where it was accepted.

The bill was signed by Governor Askew in a private bill signing with me.

Governor Askew also signed 11 other bills I managed to get to his desk

that year. And we passed our constitutional amendment that session. And

our legislation, with the Firestone bill, now law shook the nation’s disabled and we woke up a sleeping “giant.” In the same year, S. Carolina passed an access bill with our language. In 58 days, we had passed legislation that shook the nation. The Firestone bill was the premier law that stopped building buildings with no ramps, no entrance access, no restrooms and no paths of travel in side

the buildings. The news today, did not mention the historic act, sponsored by Senator Firestone. People with disabilities, new and old, might want to remember

it was Senator Firestone who created that building access they take for

granted every day. Let his name never be forgotten. http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/02/2671649/former-florida-secretary-of-state.html

Denny Wood, President

Florida Paraplegic Association, Inc.

www.dignity4disabled.com

denny@dennywood.net

>>> Good job on WPBT2 show Issues today.

Carmen

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

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

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr.

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

ARTHUR HERTZ

WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)

ALFRED NOVAK

LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)

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

THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE

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

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com

RONALD HALL

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY  www.miamidade.gov

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

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

AKERMAN SENTERFITT   www.akerman.com

RON BOOK

LEWIS TEIN  www.lewistein.com

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

WILLIAM PALMER

SHUBIN & BASS     www.shubinbass.com

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

CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC.   www.camillushouse.org

CITY OF MIAMI  www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.cph.org

THE STATE OF FLORIDA    www.myflorida.gov

GREATOR MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA  www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY  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

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

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

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI             www.miami.edu

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 550 reports and Extra’s have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events.  The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain.

LETTER POLICY

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

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2012, Daniel A. Ricker

>>> The Watchdog Report are now available to television stations web pages, and all the newspapers and other media in South Florida if the publishers have an interest to run part or all of the stories. Further, in 2000, I used to have some paper’s running the report in the Spanish press, that option is available again, and publishers should contact me.  The news content will not be free, but you can pick and chose the stories of interest, edit them if necessary but you must still keep the general story intact.  If you are a news outlet and would like to learn more about, the Watchdog Report and this offer contact me at watchdogreport1@earthlink.net for further information.

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

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years. >>> Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, The (FL) CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS >>> Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, The (FL) MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED >>> >>> To read the full section large two page front page story, but without the photos and smart box graphics, go to: `I Go When You Cannot’ – Sun Sentinel 20 Jan 2003 … Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. … to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks. … http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american >>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times –The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored.  Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2003-05-15/citylife2.html/1/index.html

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

Those who do read the newspaper in Florida have a bevy of options for state government and political coverage. The dominant newspapers in the state are Knight-Ridder’s The Miami Herald (Acquired by The McClatchy Company in 2006) and the Poynter Institute’s St. Petersburg Times. Both papers endorsed Gore in 2000 but split on the 2002 gubernatorial race, with the Herald endorsing Republican incumbent Jeb Bush and the Times backing Democratic challenger Bill McBride. Daniel Ricker of The Miami Herald also writes an influential column as well as an email newsletter called the Watchdog Report that goes out to more than 100,000 subscribers. FEBRUARY 2004 – Florida: Columnists in Abundance –ERIC GAUTSCHI, graduate student, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill – D) LEADING COMMENTATORS – Resource Commentator Organization Type Web site –Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/bousquet.shtml -“First Friday” WPBT TV (Miami) TV Show www.channel2.org/firstfriday/issues.html –Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/morgan.shtml –Daniel Ricker Miami Herald/Watchdog Report Newsletter >>> 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.

********************************************************************

Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form

NOTE: Invoice is for Yearly supporter/sponsorship Rates: Thank you.

Supporting Sponsors $5,000

Sustaining Sponsors $2,000

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

Large Business Supporters $500

Small Business Supporters $250

Individual Supporter $150

Student Supporter $ 75

Any amount $

Name & Address

Please make checks payable to: Daniel A. Ricker

Send to: 3109 Grand Avenue, #125

Miami, FL 33133

Fax 305-668-4784 -To contact the Publisher please e-mail watchdogreport1@earthlink.net