Watchdog Report Vol.12 No.45 March 11, 2012 Est.05.05.00 – I go when you cannot

>>> 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.

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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

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Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

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>>> 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.

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