Watchdog Report Vol. 16 No. 22 October 11, 2015 EST.05.05.00 – I go when you cannot – Celebrating 16 Years of weekly publishing

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center www.knightfoundation.org   to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no pops-up and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

>>>> The Watchdog Report publisher is in trouble and needs fiscal help and new Sponsors. For 16 years now, I have reported back weekly how your billions of public dollars in local government are being spent. And how to do that is at the end of the WDR. Thank You. And to my Supporters and Sponsors, I thank you for your confidence over the past 16 Years. >>> I will also be on WLRN 91.3 FM on Nov. 2, Monday before Election Day on Topical Currents hosted by Joe Cooper and Bonnie Berman at 1:00 p.m. and the local elections will be one of the hot topics on the show.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> Greater Miami Chamber spreading its wings with trade mission to Shenzhen, Guagzhou and Shanghai

At the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce monthly Luncheon Wednesday, at Jungle Island, transportation was the order of the day and All Aboard Florida representatives talked about the company’s private investment that will link some 7.9 million people from three counties with the major hubs around the state from Orlando international Airport to Miami, a roughly four hour trip, and executives say it is a $6.4 billion investment when the,” direct   economic impact in Florida’s future,” is factored in and the train line, will not be “subsidized,” by any public funds they insist regarding the project. And the new stations are the most visible like the one going up at the Stephen P. Clark government center. Where vertical construction is popping up from the location in the very near future, they said. The company notes it is building on a “legacy and setting a new standard in passenger rail, where “hospitality,” and a pleasant quick traveling experience will be given to the millions traveling from Miami to Orlando airport and is the “first private service of its kind,” said Michael Reininger President of All Aboard Florida. He noted since it uses the “Flagler engaged infrastructure,” and is the “reintroduction of passenger transit,” in the Sunshine state and some 3 million vehicles will be taken off the road per year,” states a company brochure on the project, and will move residents away from the sole “reliance of cars,” and the company is “all around the key cities,” of the state. And a trip to Palm Beach from Miami will be cut to an “hour,” by the efficient and smooth Siemen’s trains being built the executive said. And the project is bringing in some $3 billion in “private investments,” and will create some “10,000 jobs,” the president predicted.

What was discussed about China at the luncheon?

Christine Barney the Greater Miami Chamber chair said in Miami there are “100 different types of trade missions,” based in Miami and Chinese trade officials were “shocked,” with the level of economic activity in Miami. And the Chamber is going on a trade mission in the coming months to Shenzen, Guangzhou and Shanghai on Jan. 16 to 26 in an effort to link up further with the Middle Kingdom. And she believes “China needs a permanent consulate in Miami.” And While the Chinese economy is cooling the nation still has $3.7 trillion in U.S. Treasury and foreign currency reserves, and a GDP of $10.4 trillion and while investments have gone to cities like New York and Los Angeles. Miami should be the next investment frontier and someone asked me how Miami might market itself to the Chinese. Since I lived in Asia for years and in thinking about it.

The Watchdog Report would emphasize its hub with South America but also the pristine environment and air quality, beautiful beaches and wholesome environment. Since that is a big issue in urban Chines cities like Beijing and Shanghai where the polluted air hangs heavy and most people wear surgical masks to filter the air they are breathing, but the issue is becoming a bigger issue with its political leaders as residents and families get more concerned about the environment and its effects on their children. That in years past took a back seat to economic enterprises but the pendulum is now shifting in China and Miami is a prime location for any business expansion and is a signature brand that just needs an injection of recreational restaurant infrastructure similar to what has been done for people from South America. Who can live here almost seamlessly, with very little problem. Given the bilingual nature of our community’s demographics that needs to grow in the Asian sphere. And medical tourism could be a future opening since patients in China, especially with different cancers are backed up in local hospitals, the media has reported in the past and once again the climate and beaches are a far cry from say the Yangtze River years ago that was highly polluted and would catch fire periodically.

>>> History Miami on Jun. 26 to Jan.17 2016 features a major and moving Operation Pedro Pan exhibit, and includes comments from U.S. Sen. Martinez, Miami Mayor Regalado to Codina, one of the many boys sent to freedom leaving their parents back in Cuba, unknown if parents were to be seen again and has changed the fabric of Miami since the 1960 airlift, and exodus of 14,000 Cuban children

And the History Miami Museum is celebrating its 75^th anniversary and an upcoming moving display of Operation Pedro Pan is being chronicled and includes interviews of the 14,000 children sent from Cuba to Miami. After Fidel Castro took over and it is a moving exhibit after the Watchdog Report saw the promotional piece on the exhibit including comments from former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla, Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and a host of other children who said good bye to their parents in the Havana airport’s “fish bowl,” not knowing if they would ever be seen again or would join them in Miami. Where many were welcomed by members of their extended families and for more go to http://www.historymiami.org/events/details/pedro-pan-at-55-lawyers-and-the-legal-profession-looking-back-and-looking-forward/2015-10-22/ and for more on the Pedro Pan airlift, exodus by the Catholic Charities go to http://www.pedropan.org/category/history

>>> Dan Marino Foundation teams up with Badia Spices to help support children with autism, something appearing across all ethnic groups kids

Webpage info: Badia Spices invites consumers to join their efforts in support of children and young adults living with autism. From now through December 31st, 2015, when you purchase a bottle of Badia (1 LT) Extra Virgin Olive Oil anywhere in the world where Badia Spices are sold, Badia Spices will donate 5% of the proceeds from that sale to The Dan Marino Foundation. Badia Spices believes that being a member of a community means giving back through charitable and community investment. As such, the company supports a variety of charitable and educational organizations. Through the course of the past ten years, Badia Spices and the Badia Family have contributed millions in financial contributions and in-kind donations to a variety of local and national institutions. The family’s efforts on a broad sense have focused on education, healthcare, women’s issues, youth sports, and underserved communities. For more than 23 years, The Dan Marino Foundation has been serving the autism community through unique, impactful initiatives, like Marino Campus – a post-secondary educational opportunity for young adults with developmental disabilities, ages 18-28. The Campus, which opened in 2014, was the logical next step in furthering the Foundation’s mission of “empowering individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.” Badia Extra Virgin Olive Oil has a rich nutty flavor with delicate notes of fruitiness. The Olive Oil is made from the first cold press of Manzanilla, Arbequina, and Lechin and Picual olives. Aside from all the attributed health benefits of olive oil, it is bottled with the promise of full aroma, freshness, rich flavor. “Badia Spices is looking forward to once again partnering with The Dan Marino Foundation,” said Joseph “Pepe” Badia, President of Badia Spices. “This partnership enables us to support the Foundation and Marino Campus, in providing state of the art programing and services for children, teens and young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities on their path to independence.”

Over the last three years with the support of its customers through the “Go the Extra Yard for Those with Autism Campaign”. Badia Spices has raised more than $300,000 for The Dan Marino Foundation and the Marino Campus programs for young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. “We are continually grateful for the friendship and support of Pepé Badia. It is a privilege for all of us at the Foundation to be a part of the Badia Spices family, stated Dan Marino, Chairman of The Dan Marino Foundation. I hope Badia Spices and their customers realize the significant impact they have in changing the lives of the young people we serve.” ABOUT BADIA SPICES: Established in 1967 by Jose Badia, Badia Spices is the world’s leading privately Hispanic-owned spice manufacturer with 2012 sales totaling over $100 million. Badia Spices has brought to market the finest ingredients from all corners of the world, making it a favorite among all types of cooks. More than 350 different products are prepared, packaged and shipped to 70 countries and the entire United States. In addition Badia Spices is committed to offering their consumers the highest quality. Badia Spices has added an Organic and Gluten-Free line, and is proud to have its products certified by Safe Quality Foods, an audit recognized around the world as being one of the most rigorous and credible food safety management systems in the marketplace today. For more information, visit the company’s website badiaspices.com.

>>> Miami Children’s Museum’s tenth Anniversary attractions getting renovation and update, thousands of kids flock to the venue

And the Miami Children’s Museum is celebrating its tenth year on the Watson Island site and all the exhibits are being renovated and the facility has been a fantastic draw to the site packed with Children. Whenever I stopped in over the years and it is a valuable community asset. And for the latest programs go to http://www.miamichildrensmuseum.org/ .

>>> Knight Foundation’s Cities Challenge grant program open, looking for big ideas for community engagement

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Cities Challenge Grant Program is open Oct.1 and program director Matt Haggman discussed the offering last week on Topical Currents hosted by Joe Cooper and Bonnie Berman on WLRN/NPR 91.3 F.M., https://www.newschallenge.org/ and to listen to the show got to http://wlrn.org/post/knight-cities-challenge-funding-innovators-ideas-making-cities-more-sustainable And the program is open to all even if you are not a IRS 501.C3 and all you need is a good idea to make your community more sustainable and informed, Given the Foundation is the premier organization for the Arts and innovative journalism in this changing world of the press in the digital age. Editor’s note: The Watchdog Report has been honored to have the Foundation as an initial Founding sponsor back in 2000, when Hodding Carter, III, a former Press Secretary for President Jimmy Carter. And the Princeton University graduate told me what I was doing was important and fundamental reporting. Since I was covering public meetings where other press was not there and that encouragement has been with me over the past 16-years and I am forever grateful for Carter’s words of encouragement especially when it came to security. An issue I was having in the early years. And for more on Carter who is a professor at UNC Chapel Hill go to http://www.tcf.org/experts/detail/hodding-carter-iii

>>> From the Knight Foundation’s web page: About Knight Cities Challenge

What is your best idea to make cities more successful? The Knight Cities Challenge seeks new ideas from innovators who will take hold of the future of our cities. From Oct. 1 to Oct. 27, 2015, we invited applicants from anywhere to tell us their ideas for making the 26 Knight communities more vibrant places to live and work. From a pool of $5 million, we’re looking to award grants at the city, neighborhood and block levels, and all sizes in between.

What is the goal?

The challenge is designed to help spur civic innovation at the city, neighborhood, and block levels, and all sizes in between. In particular, we hope to generate ideas that focus on one or all of three key drivers of city success: attracting talented people, expanding economic opportunity and creating a culture of civic engagement.

Who should apply?

The Knight Cities Challenge welcomes anyone with big ideas and the ability to realize them. Applicants may be activists, designers, artists, planning professionals, hackers, architects; everyone is welcome. You don’t have to live in one of the 26 Knight communities to apply, but your project must be located in and benefit one of those communities. No project is too small — so long as your idea is big. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article37161870.html

FLORIDA

>>> Judge Terry Lewis accepts plaintiff’s redistricting maps, are these finally set, Reps. Ros Lehtinen and Curbello get changes, leaning more Democratic, race may draw national attention, but still not finalized, will there be further court challenges?

Finally it looks like the Florida Legislature will finally get there new districts and congressional office holders are facing the same issue after years of protracted legal challenges to the original maps drawn by legislators but were admitted to be tainted and politically motivated and the new maps, drawn by the plaintiffs, locally changes a couple of congressional districts including the ones held by U.S. Reps Ileana Ros- Lehtinen and Carlos Curbello the newest member of the local GOP congressional delegation. And his district is said to lean slightly Democratic Party and he is facing former Lt. Gov. Candidate Anette Toledo in the anticipated race and with the redraw is gaining national attention as a battle ground seat in the GOP controlled congress. However, Ros-Lehtinen who has been in the office since 1989 has said in the past she represents all her constiuents in any new district and will run and represent all in any district she is representing, and years ago included her district adding Monroe County and Key West into the mix. And in a press release on the redistricting the long serving congresswoman and past chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee. She has rolled with the punches when it came to redistricting and is likely to prevail again though she has never taken a race for granted and speaks to voters herself on Election Day. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article38398038.html nd for more on the recent story on Florida redistricting maps go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article38398038.html

>>> Pres release: U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) made the following statement regarding news that a Florida Circuit Court judge has ruled on a proposed map apportioning Congressional districts. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “As Pharrell sings, ‘bring me down, can’t nothing’ and that’s the truth since I feel great about today and every day because I love our community. Every part of South Florida and every neighborhood feels just like home to me. Artificial lines make for great headlines but they don’t tell the real story: whether you live in Homestead or Hialeah, West Brickell or West Dade, you’re worried about the same issues. My priorities continue to be fixing our economy, making sure our nation leads on democracy and human rights around the world, and helping our community innovate so that our children will have more opportunities than their parents. Lines or no lines, I work hard for South Florida every day because I know that our strength lies in unity. No matter whose Congressional district you’re in, I’m honored to share my vision for the future with all South Floridians.”

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Will former Miami Mayor Suarez jump into the three candidate race for Miami-Dade County mayor in 2016?or continue to tease and be arm chair quarterback?

By Saturday night we might know if former Miami Mayor Xavier is in when it comes to him running for Miami-Dade County mayor in 2016 and he would join the pack of candidates running against incumbent Mayor Carlos Gimenez, and two term school board member Raquel Regalado both whom have filed their candidate paper’s, Gimenez’s the most recent. Since the school board member, filed a while ago and while having a smaller war chest her face has popped up on bus benches in Miami and other areas and she has a Spanish radio program which gives her an opportunity to discuss community issues and she is a patent attorney. However while Suarez held the packed fund raising event for his reelection to his District 7 commission seat, last night. He continues to tease the community with his possible entry into the race and he most recently won reelection unopposed and the attorney might face Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner or Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, who is termed out in 2016 for his upcoming district 2 reelection campaign.

But Suarez, as time goes by is becoming an armchair quarterback with his continued sniping at Mayor Gimenez and some of his administration staff, and the former Miami mayor was desperate to get back in office after a 1997 elections was invalidated because of widespread voter fraud, but the Harvard trained attorney was never implicated and when he tried to run for the commission seat back in 2004 and ran against Gimenez. He used public financing in the race he lost. And Suarez had to cool his heels until 2011 when Gimenez left the seat and ran for mayor and won.

What about the County’s possible phasing in electric buses in the years ahead?       

The Gimenez administration is starting to introduce electric buses possible, into the County’s public transit bus system and the vehicles are not cheap coming in at $270,000, but maintenance and fuel costs also disappear and the air is cleaner and free of noxious fumes. And Michael Putney of www.local10.com did a nice story last week on the new electric buses and the County which has been slow in acting when it comes to climate change. But the recent continued flooding on Miami Beach validates it is not going away. However politicians are getting political cover from millenniums who are more demanding when it comes to protecting the environment and are showing a new wave of interest in making South Florida sustainable in the decades to come. And when it comes to transit, all modalities and options are starting to appear on the menu for mass transit that should include new solar charge stations like the Tesla Power Wall http://www.teslamotors.com/powerwall to power possible mass transit technologies that are being tried around the world and frequency of the transport is an important factor. And Maurice Ferre at a Metropolitan Planning Board meeting Thursday said in the case of MDX and the tolls issue, that has become a “nightmare,” for commissioners. Ferre said “60 percent of the tolls,” go “to pay for bond obligations,” and “40 percent of the MDX authorities projects, is pay as you go,” said Ferre. He said Gov. Rick Scott’s budget has some $6.5 billion on transit through 2020 and the only thing Scott wants to talk about is pay as “you go express lanes,” said Ferre. The former Miami mayor and is close to Scott said when it came to discussing transit. “He does not want to talk about it,” and state representatives also “don’t want to talk about transit,” Ferre opined. And Gimenez is also preparing the county for driverless cars http://www.local10.com/news/miamidade-mayor-carlos-gimenez-talks-driverless-cars-with-call-christina/35748702

What happened at Thursday’s MPO meeting?

The Miami-Dade County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) had an animated and spirited meeting discussing a variety of options for public transportation, realizing money is the critical component to anything that might actually be built. Further at the MPO strategic planning meeting Thursday the discussion was considered “a competition of ideas,” said County Commissioner Dennis Moss. And MPO co-chair Francis Suarez noted the Miami Commission was set to vote in the near future on creating a transportation trust that will help fund the maintenance of any mass transit system in Miami like “water taxis, or trolleys,” and the fund is in “reconition we have to start planning for maintenance,” in the municipality’s budgets, the newly reelected Miami Commissioner said and on first reading it had passed by a 4-1 vote, Suarez said. And while the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority has been the brunt of critics with the bump in tolls commuters are paying and the backlash included drawing state legislators into the fray that now has MDX giving refunds and toll credits to address the “most frequent users,” said Ferre on the MDX board and a gubernatorial appointee.

What do we know about Suarez’s finances?

Suarez (2014 net worth $303,000), has ben teasing Miami-Dade voters with his contemplation of running for the office and the Harvard trained attorney continues to snipe at the mayor and his administration and the past mayor frequently is impatient with the County Attorney’s office and all the County’s “acronyms,” like “Unification,” which pertains to the absorbing of half cent sales tax revenues for transportation enhancements, done by the county commission back around 2006. And Suarez through a PAC has run ads proclaiming this PTP money should be returned, which will start to be done over the next few years but he acts sometimes as an arm chair quarterback. And the man after being in the political wilderness for over a decade. When he won in 2011 the District seat his speech after being sworn in went some 29 minutes and the Watchdog Report dubbed him the rambling man and while Gimenez has run a large bureaucracy with some 25,000 employees. It is unknown if Suarez has that same ability that also applies to Regalado, since the public schools District is run by Superintendent Alberto Carvalho who has done a remarkable job in the pressure cooker job. And to read Suarez’s financial disclosure form go to http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/Forms/2014/241635-Form6.pdf And to read Regalado’s financial disclosure go to: http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/Forms/2014/234873-Form6.pdf

What about County Commissioners wanting to modify the Florida Sunshine Law?

County Commissioners recently discussed asking the Florida Legislature via a resolution to modify the open meeting law that makes meetings open to the public, must be advertised, but does not cover state legislators and Commissioner Juan Zapata, a former state Rep. thinks modifying the law would make the local legislature more efficient and effective. And Bruno Barreiro, also a former state representative called the Sunshine Law, “the lobbyist empowerment Act,” from his experience in the House but it was a legislative urging on the County’s agenda with the state and would exclude any judicial cases like zoning said Zapata. But critics hope it does not open the door to less transparency and concern of insider deals on issues. And Commission Chair Jean Monestime brought up the issue at a MPO meeting Sept 30 where he hoped the Florida legislature “would relax the law a little bit,” when it comes to the Florida Sunshine laws where officials on the same body have to hold an advertised public meeting and is seen by commissioners as being cumbersome. And when it came to transportation’s some “$7.7 billion,” in funding when state and federal money is included Commissioner Dennis Moss believes the discussions on the body, “should be a vision and a competition of ideas and consensus,” he believes and transportation has been a priority for him since being on the dais since 1993.

>>> County Commission debate on who would be body’s liaison in Tallahassee, settles on Zapata and Sosa

A discussion of who would be the County Commission’s liaison in Tallahassee took an odd turn and Chair Monestime did not want to get into specifics, saying “It was what it was,” and he has appointed former state representative Juan Carlos Zapata to the task of representing the body’s “priorities,” in the state capital and Commissioner Dennis Moss said the liaison representative must support only the priorities of the commission and if they don’t “I would have a real problem with that,” the long serving commissioner said. And Monestime suggested a compromise and he asked Commissioner Rebeca Sosa I f she would be the copilot in the effort to have the County’s priorities addressed and she has very good relations at the state capital and its leaders.

>>> Over 82,800 SunPass Accounts Registered for MDX Cash Back Toll Dividend Program Authority Plans to Return Cash Rebates to MDX Customers

Press release: MDX announced today that over 82,800 SunPass accounts have been enrolled in the MDX Cash Back Toll Dividend Program (CBTD). This initiative, believed to be the first of its kind in the United States, is the agency’s free customer loyalty program. “We are thrilled that our cash rebate program has connected with our commuters,” said MDX Executive Director Javier Rodriguez, P.E. “Simply by registering for the CBTD during our open enrollment period, which ended on August 31, members will see their overall toll costs lowered if they meet the requirements of the program.” The 2015 dividend distribution will be announced at the agency’s next board meeting scheduled for September 29, 2015 at 4 p.m. in the MDX Headquarters Boardroom, 3790 NW 21^st Street, Miami, Florida 33142. >>> The MDX Board of Directors will declare a distribution of dividends to members of the CBTD program each fiscal year, which occurs from July 1 through June 30, after the agency has closed its financial books. This distribution of dividends is declared after MDX meets its financial obligations, including making its annual principal and interest payments, meeting its senior debt coverage ratio and covering its operation and maintenance costs. The agency will begin issuing rebate checks to MDX customers in December. >>> About MDX operates and maintains five user-supported expressways in Miami-Dade County – SR 112/Airport Expressway, SR 836/Dolphin Expressway, SR 874/Don Shula Expressway, SR 878/Snapper Creek Expressway, and SR 924/Gratigny Parkway. MDX expressways are funded by toll revenue, which is reinvested back into the community and funds the construction of projects that alleviate traffic congestion, create thousands of local jobs and provide new opportunities to small and local businesses. The agency also gives back a portion of its annual revenue to drivers through the MDX Cash Back Toll Dividend Program.

>>> And to read the Miami-Dade County’s 2015-2016 budget go to http://www.miamidade.gov/budget/fy15-16-proposed.asp

>>> County Committee moves ahead on Honor Code, great idea and should be considered by the BCC

Ethics Commission press release: A Miami-Dade County Commission committee today took a step forward to adopting a Public Service Honor Code for elected officials and employees.  The Strategic Planning and Government Operations Committee voted 5-0 to approve the proposal, initiated by the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust (COE). If the resolution, implementing order and ordinance – all sponsored by Commissioner Rebeca Sosa — are adopted by the full Commission and implemented by the County, all officials and employees would be obliged to follow an honor code of conduct that revives a long-ignored 1964 County Administrative Order requiring that they report criminal government misconduct to appropriate authorities when they know about it.  It adds directives that employees monitor their workplaces for misconduct, place the public interest ahead of personal loyalties, and cooperate truthfully with investigations.  Failure to abide by the code could result in disciplinary action. “It is time to bring a public service honor code into all levels of Miami-Dade County government,” said COE Executive Director Joseph Centorino.  “No one whose primary duty is to serve and protect the public may be said to perform that duty adequately by remaining a bystander after becoming aware of corrupt practices by a colleague or supervisor.” Also today, the BCC Committee adopted a resolution proclaiming Thursday, October 22^nd as Ethical Governance Day 2015.  The resolution echoes the Ethics Commission call for all public and private institutions and residents to participate in appropriate civic or educational ethics programs.  In addition, for the fourth year in a row, the COE will place community leaders in almost every 12^th grade government and economics class on that day to emphasize the importance to high school seniors of civic engagement.   For more information or to volunteer, visit www.ethics.miamidade.gov

GMCVB press release: During the months of Jan. – August 2015, domestic passenger arrivals into Miami International Airport (MIA) increased by 9.1% compared to 2014. International passenger arrivals increased by 6.1% while total passenger arrivals increased 7.6% compared to the same time last year.

Record MIA Passenger Arrivals
DOMESTIC ARRIVALS
Jan. – Aug. 2015	Jan. – Aug. 2014	% Change vs. 2014
7,740,012	7,069,919	+9.1%
INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS
Jan. – Aug. 2015	Jan. – Aug. 2014	% Change vs. 2014
7,394,753	6,969,434	+6.1%
TOTAL ARRIVALS
Jan. – Aug. 2015	Jan. – Aug. 2014	% Change vs. 2014
15,134,765	14,066,355	+7.6%

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> CHIEF OF MIAMI DADE SCHOOLS POLICE IAN A. MOFFETT SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN FBI PROGRAM

Press release: Chief Ian A. Moffett has been selected to participate at the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy Program at Quantico, Virginia.  This program provides advanced training for upper level managers in law enforcement from around the world.  Four times a year, more than 250 leaders from local, state, and federal agencies go to this training program.  The participants spend 10 weeks immersed in courses such as leadership, management, and communication.  This is the first time that a member of our police organization will be attending and representing the School Police since the inception of this prestigious program in 1935.

The Academy was created in response to a 1930 study by the Wickersham Commission that recommended the standardization and professionalization of the law enforcement departments across the U.S. through centralized training. With strong support from the International Association of Chiefs of Police and with the authority of Congress and the Department of Justice, the “FBI Police Training School” was born. Courses at that time included scientific aids in crime detection, preparation and organization. Over the years, this training program became known as the FBI National Academy. Participants are drawn from every state in the union, from U.S. territories, and from over 150 international partner nations. Invitation is extended to leaders and managers of state and local police, sheriffs’ departments, military police organizations, and federal law enforcement agencies.

>>> OIG Cagel report on VAB, makes 16 recommendations, that board member Regalado says one year ago, “All have implemented at VAB

The Miami- Dade County Public Schools Audit and Budget Review Committee met Tuesday and the audit of the Miami-Dade County’s Value Adjustment Board (VAB) was the talk of the day. After the Inspector General of Miami-Dade County Mary Cagel gave her report on the property appraisers delay in the appeal process at the VAB which shot up some “152 percent,” from 20007 to 2009 and was costing the nation’s fourth largest public schools system some $35 to 60 million in delayed funding while this backlog existed of 69,888 property tax appeals back in 2013. Which is down from a high of 103,310 appeals back in 2010 and was why the audit was requested by the audit committee and school board members, and the OIG office reviewed the process and state revenue laws and the office makes eight recommendations on improving the process and one perceived error by the public was the belief that people were filing appeals for homeowners which Cagel said was a canard and not the case at all and represented a small percentage of the appeals her office found. And to read the full report go to http://mca.dadeschools.net/auditcommittee/AC_September_29_2015/item4a.pdf and for the overall agenda go to: http://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_September_29_2015/Agenda.pdf And the audit committee had another smooth leadership transition Tuesday and attorney Roland Sanchez-Medina, Jr., Esq. was reelected chair and Rayfield McGee, Jr., Esq was reelected vice chair on the volunteer body. And the board made up of citizens that are tax attorneys, or accountants is one of the best functioning volunteer boards in the county and the body keeps the administration’s feet to the fire and is one of the community firewalls when it comes to how public money is being spent. And the ABRC now after years of not being up to snuff. But that changed in 2004 when a past chair in the office after a decade resigned from the position after the Watchdog Report busted him for a Sunshine violation and an inappropriate email back then.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Dr. Greer says FIU Herbert Wertheim College of medicine, “integration,” with Jackson Health System, going well, physician is a community treasure, and FIU President Rosenberg agrees

UPDATE: Florida International University President Mark Rosenberg, Ph.D., last week confirmed the assessment that the integration of the public medical school with Jackson Memorial Hospital is going well. After Dr. Pedro Greer, Jr. the Associate Dean for Community Engagement. Professor and Chair Department of Medicine, Family Medicine, and Community Health at the Florida international University Herbert Wertheim College of medicine told Trustees that the “integration,” with the new medical College with Jackson Health System and the health trust is going well and Trust Chair Joe Arriola, gave the physician a shout out since his father Dr. Pedro Greer, Sr., had done a liver transplant at the University of Miami Miller Medical School on his brother and that surgery, “was a big deal,” back then when such a surgery was a very rare event. And Greer, a “legacy gastroenterologist,” at the Miller Medical School is a community legend and over a decade ago. He was raising the alarm of the plight of the uninsured in the community, that was set to overwhelm the healthcare delivery system in Miami-Dade and the physician was a member of a large panel of healthcare experts created by then Miami-Dade mayor Alex Penelas studying the issue of the over 500,000 uninsured residents. And he has received a host of awards including a presidential award. And for more on Dr. Greer, Jr., go to http://medicine.fiu.edu/about-us/directory/profile.php?id=1064

Dr. Greer, Jr.

>>> County Commissioner Barbara Jordan aide Hawkins goes to PHT, health trust must be careful with County’s pipeline of transfer employees, less politics has made the hospital a better public medical health system,3^rd year in the black, after hemorrhaging millions in losses in years past

Ryan Hawkins, a Miami-Dade County Commission aide to Commissioner Barbara Jordan is leaving her office and joining the health trust, she told commissioners last week and she joked “good riddance.” And the Watchdog Report writes about this because. The commission over the years has a history of transferring county employees there and can have a political undertone for some of the jobs including back in 2000 when a former assistant County manager’s wife suddenly began working in the CEOs executive office at the time and I am not suggesting the man is not qualified. But the trust’s independence, is always on my mind when it comes to this community jewel that after years hemorrhaged red ink but more recently has gone three consecutive years in the black, no easy task when you deliver the amount of charity care Jackson Health System does over $400 million of such care and gets about $340 million in public money, and other hospitals like Baptist Health South Florida a not-for-profit pastoral health system also take charity and uncompensated care patients to the tune of $268 million in 2014 of charity and uncompensated care state’s the health system’s webpage. So all the health systems are navigating this challenge of the around 500,000 residents still without health insurance in Miami-Dade. And Mt. Sinai Medical Center also gives over $100 million in uncompensated and charity care demonstrating the volume of patients in the County that are uninsured and being absorbed by the other community health systems.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Teresa Sarnoff runs her first campaign ad, features her mother and sister how low will she and the other candidates go for Miami District 2, seat being vacated by her termed out husband Marc?

Teresa Sarnoff kicked off her first campaign ad, with a shot of her mother and one of her ten sisters speaking about how she had to get along with her siblings in the crowded family of females and the spot ends with that people should vote for her “because she is ready to serve,” and the airwaves will burn with attack ads claiming she is just another Sarnoff, a controversial figure, and while she insists she would be independent of her husband. Nine year Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff who is termed out and his wife is trying to follow him in office, but she is getting mauled for her lack of public participation prior to announcing her candidacy , saying she was ‘reserved,’ and wanted to be behind the scenes of her husband’s political career. However the couple who went to China with the world Champion NBA Miami Heat team a few years ago when LeBron James was with the team and they both were wined and dined as only the Chinese can do on the trip.

And another trip to Brazil, she took with her husband Marc caught the eye of the County’s Ethics and Public Trust Commission and in her campaign pieces she does not mention any interest in transparency and openness in government. Since her husband comingles his emails doing public business, with his law firm account. And she does not address if she will follow his past policy of talking transparency but doing something else once in office. And that fact has some wondering if she has the same Machiavellian attitude on how to govern as her attorney husband, saying she is supporting all the “Sarnoff initiatives.” She also has not discussed why she went to Guatemala years before marrying her second husband and while emphasizing her large family she does not have a family of her own. And her first campaign piece a partial biography of her life called ‘Teresa’s Story,’ on the second page she proclaims ‘Family is everything,’ but she is an enigma like her husband is. To many people that have dealt with him and he has a fatigue and trust deficit with District 2 voters that she has to overcome, but has yet to address the matter and she is leery of the press and voters should ask. If she respects the institution or will be secretive when around the media like her husband was when he chaired the Center Grove homeowners Association at Coconut Grove Sailing club meetings before he ever ran for office. And he was visually uncomfortable when the Watchdog Report came into the meeting and at the time I blew it off. But he would later be reticent with the press and she needs to address this openness to the press or will she be just a public relations commissioner and have a press aide who will interface with the media.

And her sudden entry into the political world caught many people by surprise, and while she is trying to project clear sails on her political voyage, where she has raised $979, 0000, to $1 million for her run for public office. There are shoals expected ahead and a runoff in the crowded race is expected in the low turnout race for the district that snakes along the Miami coast from Coconut Grove to parts of Morningside, cut out of the district during the 2010 redistricting process. And in the last reporting period Oct. 10 she has raised $659,436 for the period and her overall war chest is around $970,000 when her husband’s Pac ( cutely named “Truth is the daughter of time,”) is included and with his help she is a fundraising juggernaut. Candidate Ken Russell has $123,000, plus endorsements from former Mayor Maurice Ferre and former Miami Commissioner Johnny Winton and in his campaign for the period, and Javier Gonzalez has $61,220 for the reporting period and Grace Solaris is reporting $175, 210 that includes a $6,000 loan to her campaign and Lori Woods trails with $23,005. For her upcoming campaign. That will likely result in a runoff race where if the winner gets one vote plus one them win the winner take all race. And to read all the campaign reports for all the candidates’ go to: http://www.ci.miami.fl.us/City_Clerk/Pages/Elections/CampaignReports15/CampaignTreasurersRpt_G1_Teresa_Sarnoff_Oct09_2015.pdf

What about candidate and activist Grace Solaris?

And longtime activist and candidate Grace Solaris got a nice write up in http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article38679564.html and the longtime activist has worked in the trenches for years challenging the status quo at Miami in her own way but is the candidate that probable best knows some of the shenanigans that have gone on at the city over the decades and she is getting support from Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and County Commissioner Daniela Levine-Cava for her race.

When does early voting start?

Early voting in the City of Miami starts Oct. 24 and ends Nov.1. And absentee ballots will be going out soon so readers should expect the airwaves to heat up as the candidates try to make their case why they are the best candidate for the important office.

>>> Sarnoff growing war chest raising eyebrows, With PAC contributions, grows to $900, 0000, from developers, special interests, and vendors,  

With almost continuous debates going on between all the candidates running for the Miami District 2 race some of the candidates are getting their verbal licks in and the perceived front runner Teresa Sarnoff, 60, (with $560,000, or around $900,000. If her husband’s PAC is included in her campaign war chest) is trying to follow her termed out husband Marc in the office and if she is elected could extend his influence for another 16 years and in her campaign piece entitled ‘Teresa’s Story.’ She mentions she went to the University of Miami but does not say if she graduated (she did not The Herald reports). Since her father apparently died suddenly and I contacted the candidate, who says she is ‘reserved,’ by email three times asking if she had gotten a degree but as of my publishing date. She has not responded and given the benign nature of the question, since I used both email addresses including the one on her qualification documents to run for office. For this is the big league and Miami commissioners over the years have a mixed reputation, of ignoring media inquiries and is why voters are so skeptical about their commissioners, their temperament and ability to not go nuts with the trappings of power that the commissioner wants to keep in the family.

But she is trying to run a stealth election and condones everything her husband has done and how he treats people, over the past nine years. She claims to be a “listener,” to his my way or the highway attitude, but she is running a muscle political race given the resources available to her. But Miami voters are wary since her husband has a trust deficit. First manifested when he claimed to be the grandson of Gen. David Sarnoff the founder of NBC and made RCA a powerhouse and has his own library at Princeton University. However when contacted by reporters. The family had no idea who Marc was and before a WLRN show on public private partnerships he was asked about the connection. And he responded it is “part of my linage,” he replied at the time and I put the comment in my reporter’s notebook, And Teresa has never addressed some of these inconsistencies at any of the debates and while she says she is her own woman she also says she wants to continue the “Sarnoff initiatives,” And she needs to clear the air on some of her husband’s performances including challenging someone to a “fight,” from the dais. And whether her husband is the template for how she would govern but she is mute on these haunting issues. http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/marc-sarnoff-lies-about-his-lineage-6551033 and to watch one of the more recent debates go to http://www.crespogram.com/index_public_html/INTRO_PAGE.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGfdVyv4NNE

And why is the grandfather thing an issue?

When Marc first ran after he chaired the Coconut Grove Village Council (that used to be televised) the buzz around the man was did I know who he was related to. And I heard this often prior to his running and at his first inauguration, held outside of Miami City Hall he spoke extensively about how his grandfather instilled his deep commitment for transparency, openness, and good government. Further, he referenced quotes from JFK, RFK, and MLK, at the time in 20006 and it was a moving speech. But as one admired former attorney who retired at 92, and has since passed. When I told her the embellishment of the family line, she remarked “that is such a fundamental defect in someone’s soul,” and did not understand why someone would do that. And Teresa, who says she has made three walking sweeps through the district listening to residents’ concerns, but she seems to be condoning all her husband’s past actions, even though it is hindering her race that is expected to be a low turnout race, and absentee ballot brokers will be hard at work, and these votes will essentially assure the winner, and since her husband is knocking on doors, people challenging her commitment she says are “sexist,’ she tells the Miami Herald. But it is difficult separating the candidate from her husband. And for an updated story on the Sarnoff brand and campaign go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/downtown-miami/article37528581.html

What questions would the WDR have asked?

Voters should get on the record that any candidate elected will not use the Commission Sargent-of Arms like a chauffeur, especially since they get a $1,100. Monthly car allowance and whether they will only use only one email account, under the City’s control so the integrity of the messages is protected. When someone might do a public records request of past email traffic, yet has not been followed by Sarnoff. And will the candidates crank back the imperial aspect of being a commissioner, never seen before over the past 16 years of watching Miami government. Further, the candidates need to start going to some of the internal meetings like the Finance Committee meeting if they are to have a clue what is going on. And to read the candidate’s reports go tohttp://www.ci.miami.fl.us/City_Clerk/Pages/Elections/CampaignReports15.asp   And the outgoing commissioner maybe the wife’s biggest hurdle to clear for he is considered a “bully,” and could even become her chief of staff, though people admit that would be political suicide. But she needs to be asked what role her husband might play? And her past response was that “I’m my own person,” is not enough. If she were to win the office in what will be a low turnout race. Where absentee ballot brokers will be the key vote machine and allowed her husband to win back in 2011 by a few votes, which was different from when he first ran and beat then Miami Commissioner Linda Haskins by a two to one vote, even though she had a much larger campaign war chest. Thanks to then Mayor Manny Diaz and his fundraising machine in action. She raised some $750,000, to Sarnoff’s around $350,000 for his campaign at the time. And the man changed after he won his first full term and became a totally different person, very high maintenance and he loves to make demeaning remarks about other people at their expense and Teresa is facing this blowback, as a candidate and she needs to address it, as she campaign’s the Watchdog Report believes.

What about Sarnoff’s email and will it bleed into his wife’s campaign effort?

Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, whose wife Teresa says “He is trainable.” He noted at a recent Miami commission meeting. And the Watchdog Report has become aware that the commissioner uses two email accounts when he conducts public business. And I asked his law partner Jay H. Solowsky, if his “server was secure?” last Wednesday and he said the salaw account was supposed to be used “only for business,” but that is not always the case. And Solowsky said the firm’s server “was as secure,” as one can be in today’s world he noted referencing all the cyber-attacks that have hit the nation. And at a Miami Exhibition and Sports Authority (MESA) meeting that Solowsky sits on with Commissioner Sarnoff, Willie Gort and is chaired by Mayor Tomas Regalado. A speaker making a presentation noted the people in the room were very “erudite,” and Sarnoff, quipped he must be talking about only “Solowsky,” but it was a snarky comment the others in the room did not deserve. Update: Sarnoff at Thursday’s commission meeting honored Solowsky with a proclamation saying he is one of the “five smartest people he knows,” and he is the number five,” of them and the snarky comments keep coming from the man who is clearly going to miss the life of an elected Miami commissioners and all the perks that come with it, after voters approved a salary bump for them but included commissioner term limits, something his wife is trying to get around with this election maneuver.

And later at this same meeting when Regalado started to give an update on the MLS David Beckham new stadium, Sarnoff asked if it was on the agenda and since no, was the response. He and Gort left the meeting because Sarnoff saw “press [was] in the room,” including David Smiley of The Miami Herald whose beat is Miami. And voters should watch what Sarnoff does as his time on the dais winds down, “and there is only 60 more days,” of him on the dais, he joked. For Sarnoff is not a happy camper about stepping down from the five member body, that when he first chaired it, there was only one other commissioner. After two commissioners were picked off, later acquitted by the Miami-Dade State attorney’s office for corruption and the commission was in turmoil, until elections settled on who was to be on the body. Further during a budget discussion. Sarnoff took a joking shot at activist Elvis Cruz, calling him a “despicable,” person and Cruz was once a close friend to Sarnoff when he first ran, but that was in the past. But residents should expect more of these sophomoric shout outs at people before he departs the dais and rides off into the sunset, yet has people wondering why his wife would want to run, and she is seen as a continuation of his own administration that many consider very autocratic and his Coconut Grove base has changed and many people are no longer supporting him like past years. And the Watchdog Report got the following link to District 2 candidate Ken Russell talking about the Yo-Yo Mafia, that his family distributed around the world and he is very good with the popular toy. http://www.lipservicestories.com/stories/lip-service-31-power-stories-miracle-theatre-may-9-2015/ And I asked him for a comment to the video and he wrote back, “You asked for a comment on the yo-yo video. “It’s true.  In high school, I became a professional yo-yo player.  It was a great experience, and it really showed me that I always wanted to be involved in a fun business that people enjoy,” wrote the District 2 candidate back but with the election heating up and qualifying closed. The race is expected to get nasty.

What about the Brickell District 2 debate last week?

The Miami Commission District 2 candidates made their pitch to the Brickell Homeowners Association, moderated by former Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Gongora who failed in his mayoral bid. But Brickell is a powerful new voting bloc for a seat that stretches along the coast and the urban downtown and is the largest contributor to the City’s property tax base and general fund and Teresa Sarnoff appeared flat, Grace Solaris, and Lori Woods, and Russell made some headway and to watch the other candidates make their pitch and thanks to investigative reporter and blogger Al Crespo, the event can be seem on video at http://www.crespogram.com/index_public_html/INTRO_PAGE.html and voters can make up their own minds who looks like a candidate they will want to support. And the pack of candidates all said they would be “listeners,” of residents’ concerns and a higher resident satisfaction rating should be achieved. And Ken Russell is calling for developer “impact fees,” to stay in “the District” and he believes we don’t have accountability on how this money is utilized, he said. Candidate Javier Gonzalez said we are in “the service,” business and you are not voting on someone’s staff. You are voting for me. And Teresa Sarnoff is; heading the fundraising race with $563, 0000 and Solaris, Russell all have enough money to run a campaign but the fiscal edge of Sarnoff gives her a ability through television to reach voters in the high rise condominiums, where many voters reside and cannot be entered by candidates as long serving Congresswoman Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami found out a few years ago during an election cycle.

What about the Miami Commission District 2 race?

>>>PAST WDR: Campaign reports through Sept 10^th have been filed and Grace Solaris has $156,999 in her campaign war chest, Teresa Sarnoff is posting $561,236 and Ken Russell has $103,000 in his war chest and Javier Gonzalez is trailing the pack with $50,545 in their race for the District Commission seat now occupied by termed out Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff.

Further, Sarnoff the husband knocked on my door last week and he left a canvas bag emblazoned with his name and the seal of the City of Miami, and inside was a book on his achievements in office and what he did to clean up Merri Christmas Park that was contaminated with ash. But the bag was probable bought with public funds since his office has been giving them out for some time, but the man is blurring the line of who is the candidate running for office, she or the husband, and the very official looking bag has no markings that it is a campaign give away item. And Sarnoff, an attorney was once a big President Barack Obama supporter, but in 2012, the man openly supported Florida Gov. Rick Scott and he is an enigma to many people and voters are just getting to know his wife Teresa who has the financing to by-pass voter interaction and just use the television airwaves to make her case in the District 2 commission race. And some of the candidates coming on strong are Grace Solaris and Ken Russell, Lori Woods, and all the candidates are first time runners and excluding Solaris, and Russell are rarely seen at Miami City Hall and that also applies to Teresa. But the race is expected to get nasty, some candidates are expected to drop out. Further, people are getting annoying robo calls and they sent to the Watchdog Report some comments on the calls, “I’m getting very robust and annoying robo-calls from the Miami Fraternal Order of Police endorsing Teresa Sarnoff. How did she get the endorsement? Was it paid for through her campaign funds? And if it was a through a contribution to the Miami Fraternal Order of Police how much was paid? (No not paid said the union representative, and she was the only candidate that reached out to him, he said during a press gaggle), last week. And the emailer was concerned about retribution because “I’ve been told Marc is vindictive!” the emailer wrote but that fear and concern of her husband is an obstacle candidate Teresa has to face and overcome if she is too successful in her own campaign that is sure to bank heavily on the absentee ballot brokers in what is expected to be a low turnout race. And Solaris is getting help from incumbent Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado raising money for her campaign. And for more on the go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article35858511.html

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> press release: Beach leaders show off new convention center plan, construction starts Dec. 14, 2015, will be a shot in the arm for tony city’s tourist trade, after a number of false starts over the years – Miami Beach Convention Center Shows Off its Expansion and Renovation Project as it Journeys to the Modern Age — Construction Commences December 14, 2015, Following Art Basel Miami Beach —

When:             Thursday, October 22, 2015

10 a.m. (Ceremony)

11:30 a.m. (Individual interview availabilities)

Where:            Miami Beach Convention Center, Hall B Lobby (Washington Ave side)

1901 Convention Center Drive (Valet at Hall B entrance from Washington Avenue)
NOTE: Media trucks are to park at The Fillmore Theater driveway (NW corner of Washington Avenue & 17 Street)

What: Government officials and development and industry partners invite the public, partners and media to partake in this monumental occasion celebrating the commencement of the Miami Beach Convention Center Expansion and Renovation Project. Attendees will see an animation of the finished project and a scale model of the new facility, created by students from FIU’s School of Architecture. The $596 million project will transform the facility into a state-of-the-art convention center in hopes of attracting new national and international events and conventions. This expansion and renovation will offer 505,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, a 60,000 square foot grand ballroom, three 20,000 square feet junior ballrooms, 67,000 square feet of breakout meeting spaces, 802 on-site rooftop parking spaces and 12 acres of surrounding parks and landscaped areas. The Miami Beach Convention Center will continue to host Art Basel in 2015 and 2016. The exhibition space will be completed for Art Basel Miami Beach 2017.

>>> Three and a half foot tides causes more flooding after earlier king tides, Mother Nature is not letting up on tony island community

And a 3’ and a half foot tide last week has bedeviled residents again with flooding on the tony island and while the city is trying to mitigate the issue Mother Nature is not cooperating with the city’s efforts to get this problem under control and is likely to become an issue in the upcoming mayor’s race that is heating up with a number of commission seats open and Mayor Philip Levine facing challenger David Weider for the top post, but will be up to voters in what is expected to be a low turnout race.

>>> Candidates Arriola and Weithorn going head to head for Commission V seat on the dais, how low will they go to win coveted spot, but risky political maneuver from Weithorn, whose wife is termed out on the commission

The race for the three open commission seats on the dais is getting heated and candidate Ricky Arriola who has a contract with the city says if he is elected. He will terminate the relationship http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article36330018.html and he is facing Mark Weithorn whose wife Deede is on the dais, but is termed out   http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article34974060.html and because there are just two candidates in the race Arriola, a former Chair of the Arsht Center of the Performing Arts and is a businessman well known in the community. And Weithorn is trying a similar political maneuver as Teresa Sarnoff, trying to follow her husband in office and Deede has been very active on the County’s Homeless Trust board, where she notes the Beach commits considerable resources to the effort and the Certified Public Accountant is well respected and was a good addition to the commission and she has done a solid job, but her husband Mark, a real estate broker will have to convince voters he will be just as vigilant as she was.   http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article17132219.html   and with three commissioners leaving the dais Weithorn, Ed Tobin, and Jonah Wolfson because of term limits. Beach residents will have new faces something voters wanted when they voted for term limits.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Gables residents at Biltmore Hotel weigh in on future of city regarding developments slated in the coming years, residents are getting mobilized, and Commissioner Slesnick is in the forefront

Over the past decade there has been tension among residents who wanted to keep the City Beautiful as it was years ago and ultimately propelled past Mayor Donald Slesnick, II into office when it was proposed to close a street and build a new building, behind City Hall, and now his wife Jeanette Slesnick is a Gables Commissioner and real estate agent held a listening meeting at the Biltmore Hotel, owned by the city and it was an animated affair and a host of people discussed some of the planned development in the municipality and this is not the only municipality where residents are wary of runaway development and what their elected officials are doing for there is growth and progress, but also smart progress and development and that is the dilemma, but at least residents are engaged in the tony community. And for more on the Biltmore meeting go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/coral-gables/article38260707.html

CITY OF HOMESTEAD

>>> Ethics Commission needs to investigate where Homestead Councilman Williams’s lives, after Miami Herald stories, issue needs to be clarified, not the first time an elected leader might not live in a district

A council member Jimmy l. Williams, III in Homestead is suspected of not living in the municipality and his involvement with a car dealership is raising eyebrows and http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/homestead/article36633684.html And   http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/homestead/article36633684.html   to read the 2015 lobbying registration forms for the year go to:   https://www.cityofhomestead.com/DocumentCenter/View/862 And the Pasteur needs to set the record straight about where he resides and this is a common practice in South Florida where people are found living outside of their elected boundaries and the County’s Ethics and Public Trust commission has done past investigations over the years.

Williams III

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Press release: Florida International University Presents

Miguel “Mike” Benito Fernandez
Monday, October 12, 2015 | 2:30 p.m. Graham Center Ballrooms
Modesto A. Maidique Campus (MMC)
Florida International University
11200 S.W. 8th Street | Miami, FL, 33199 Complimentary Parking will be available inside Lot 33 for external guests.
About The Author: Mike Fernandez is the founder of MBF Healthcare Partners, a private equity firm that invests in healthcare service companies nationwide. Mike has been honored frequently for his business achievements, named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, from St. Thomas University, a degree that acknowledges and celebrates his outstanding achievements as a humanitarian, leader and philanthropist. A gifted storyteller with a terrific sense of humor, he lives in Miami with his wife Constance and their family. HUMBLED BY THE JOURNEY is his first book.
About the Early Childhood Initiative Foundation:

All proceeds from HUMBLED BY THE JOURNEY go to The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) focused on early childhood education, development initiative and “universal readiness” — that is, making available and affordable high quality health, education and nurturing for all children between birth and age 5 in Miami-Dade County, population 2.6 million, Florida’s largest county, with more people than 16 states. In doing so, the initiative works toward the social, physical, emotional and intellectual growth of all children so that they are ready and eager to be successful in the first grade and, indeed, in life.
For more information visit: http://www.teachmorelovemore.org/ECIF.asp.
Complimentary copy of the book will be provided to all guests in attendance.
Click Here to RSVP by October 2, 2015.

Editorials

>>> Field of District 2 candidates heating up, ads hitting the airwaves, but the question is will you vote as pathetic electoral turnout mires candidates sacred bond with voters?

With the Miami District 2 Commission race coming down to the wire on Nov. 3, voters have a choice to change the commission culture and start to curtail the Imperial nature the commission has become. Further since most of the candidates running have been activists in some manner over the years they all probable share something in common and that is an event. In the Watchdog Report’s case. It occurred when a major political operative, who was running the 29 year veteran Commissioner J.L. Plummer campaign, outside Miami City Hall in 1998 said. “You F…ing little people we are going to crush you,” he threatened and the man later passed about five months later. And no I did not kill him as some people suggested at the time, and Plummer lost the election. But that exchange is what started me to dive into the deep end of our local and county politics for most people have no idea or the time to find out what is going on at their public institutions and how their billions of public dollars are being spent. And who voters chose to be their elected leader is a decision that has repercussions in the years to come and the biggest challenge is will voters turnout something in the past has been pathetic around six to 10 percent of the electorate in any given race. And when voters back in 2002 passed paying Miami commissioners a decent salary some $90,000 and up from $5,000. They also passed term limits because they wanted the option of new faces on the dais over the years and even with term limits. For example Commissioner Willy Gort is still in the mix and he was first termed out in 2001, when he lost his bid for Miami mayor to Manny Diaz. But the orderly transition of leaders in office is one of the fundamental things about America.

Leaders, from the President on have to actually leave when they are termed out and professional politicians who go from office to office are out of style and their UBD is passed and voters are also looking for the authentic candidate, and even money is becoming a lightning rod with voters since the candidate appears to be bought or paid for and is one of the reasons Donald Trump, who is self-financing his campaign, is so high in the polls. While the more traditional candidates are flat, because people want to elect people that are not self-absorbed prima donnas. And restrain their use of the trappings of power, and hopefully don’t require an entourage like Commissioner Marc Sarnoff did when the commissioner showed up, at a meeting where three separate cars were used, including his media person driving one of them versus Congresswoman U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R Miami who drove a black Ford Taurus, put money in the meter and had a meeting with Sarnoff, about the cutting of the tress at the Coconut Grove Post Office Parking lot, a federal facility. But I marveled at the difference since she at the time was chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, versus a municipal local leader. So Miami District 2 voters have a choice to either continue “The Sarnoff initiatives,” says his wife in a campaign television ad hitting the airways, but the real question is now what? You did not run yourself, will you at least vote in the municipal elections because local government is the most important form of government representation one gets and determines your own local quality of life?

LETTERS

>>>> Local Grove residents believes it is time for Miami to consider Community Composting, would create incredible rich soil bank, maybe vegetables the size of small children?

Community Composting: Let’s look at Coral Gables/ Coconut Grove: I believe many people in this area eat fruits and vegetables and have a lot of compostable waste that is thrown in the garbage. Because there is so much garbage, the trash is picked up once a week, recycling every other week. I am under the impression that people would make the effort to separate their compost from trash if there was somewhere to bring it (if they do not want to or don’t have enough space to compost at home/ apartment building). This is where community composting comes into play. There is much effort that goes into properly layering the compost with different materials and mixing it regularly which people don’t want to do themselves. But if there was a community compost in which dedicated members agreed to take care of it for rich soil benefits, then people would start making the effort to separate compost from trash. If community members contribute to the compost pile, they can take some of the soil, and if they just want to compost without gardening themselves, then the community gets more soil, and the person feels good about composting. This idea needs dedicated environmentally conscious community members and a local place to bring the compost. This could work in Coconut Grove area because the community is so lush and many people garden.

Compost Pickup: If yard debris was separated from big trash such as tables, metals, etc that is thrown in the ‘big trash pickup pile’ collected by the city, then collecting compost could be simple. Compostable plastic bags could be distributed by the city to encourage in-home separation of Recyclables, waste and compost. The bags filled with compost could be thrown on the piles of ‘Yard debris’ to be collected, or have their own bins maybe colored Brown for compostable materials. They would have to be collected once a week. It would actually be great if compost and recycling could be picked up once or twice a week, and regular trash once every two weeks (the amount recycling is currently being picked up).  This would encourage people to separate their compost and recycling for regular pickup because so much of our waste is either compostable or recyclable. If people are not participating, they should be encouraged, and also be given to those who do not separate house items from compostable yard debris in the “big trash pickup pile” for easy pickup and/or who are not using the brown bins & compostable bags given out by the city.

An images like this could be on the bins:

It’s not rocket science for people to separate their trash. They just need to be educated on why and be given the tools to do it. Why: To decrease the size of landfills, create nourishing soil from compostable materials, and recycle to reduce and reuse. The earth’s resources are running out fast and it’s time to act. I will be proposing this for the Knights City Challenge,

Cynthia Fleischmann & Jackie Gobi

Coconut Grove

>>> Great story on the Pets’ Trust.  I’d love to speak with you and tell you more.  You are right…..it will be an issue in the Mayor’s race.  

Please watch this…      Pets’ Trust…the Story    password is     movie         

 And read this……..  http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/joe-cardona/article2087823.html

Michael Rosenberg

President Pets’ Trust

Rita Schwartz Cofounder

>>> We are having an incredible exhibit at the Warehouse of Anselm Kiefer, one of the foremost artists this century. Anselm will be here October 21st for an intimate dinner with the proceeds to benefit Lotus House. It is the best exhibit we have ever had in our fifteen years. Please make sure you see it when we open in late October.
Marty Margulies

>>> The Watchdog Report is Celebrating 16 years of weekly publishing since May 5^th 2000 and when I started back then I never thought I would be doing this so

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog. And while I have taken a licking over the years including some medical issues I have kept at the job thanks to my supporters who I thank so very much over the many years. And the community’s public institutions are better when it comes to them knowing what the other is doing and why I have tried to be an information electrolyte for these giant institution’s leaders and things and here is a national story done on why I started to watch government back in 2000 http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog and to all the people along the way that have helped me I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Publisher’s Statement on the mission of the Watchdog Report and the special people and organizations that make it possible:  Government Subscribers/Corporate Subscribers/Sustaining Sponsors/Supporting Sponsors

***** LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & Initial sponsors since 2000

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

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

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com .

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

ARTHUR HERTZ

WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)

ALFRED NOVAK

LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)

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

THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE

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

Mr. NORMAN BRAMAN http://www.bramanmotorcars.com/dealership/normanbraman.htm

BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com

RONALD HALL

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov

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

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

COLSON HICKS EIDSON, PA www.colson.com

BERKOWITZ POLLACK BRANT Advisors and Accountants www.bpbcpa.com

JEFFREY L. BERKOWITZ TRUST

RON BOOK

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

WILLIAM PALMER www.shutts.com

Rbb PUBLIC RELATIONS www.rbbpr.com

ROYAL MEDIA PARTNERS www.royalmp.com

SHUBIN & BASS www.shubinbass.com

WILLIAMSOM AUTOMOTIVE GROUP http://williamsonautomotivegroup.com/

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

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

CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION OFFICE OF THE CHAIR www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST: www.miamidade.gov/homeless/

MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE www.mdc.edu

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

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPT. http://superintendent.dadeschools.net/

MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY www.miamidda.com

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

THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

THE GOOD GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE http://goodgov.net/

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

THE MIAMI FOUNDATION www.miamifoundation.org

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

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

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

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

CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION OFFICE OF THE CHAIR www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST: www.miamidade.gov/homeless/

MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE www.mdc.edu

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION ON ETHICS and PUBLIC TRUST www.ethics.miamidade.gov  

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

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPT. http://superintendent.dadeschools.net/

MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY www.miamidda.com

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

THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

THE GOOD GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE http://goodgov.net/

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

THE MIAMI FOUNDATION www.miamifoundation.org

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

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

Publisher’s Statement on the mission of the Watchdog Report and the special people and organizations that make it possible:  Government Subscribers/Corporate Subscribers/Sustaining Sponsors/Supporting Sponsors the Watchdog Report covers a few of the meetings attended weekly. It remains my belief that an informed public will make better decisions. Therefore, I go to meetings, make the presence of an informed citizen known, and bring the information to you.   The Watchdog Report is in the fourth year of publication and it has been an honor to be able to send this information to you. It is sent to readers in Miami-Dade, Florida, the U.S. and the world. The Watchdog Report is sent to thousands free and while readers have been prodded to subscribe the results have been mixed. Over 250 reports and Extras have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events.  The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain. I welcome letters via e-mail. Letters may be edited for length or clarity and must refer to material published in the Watchdog Report.  Please see address and contact information. Please send any additions and corrections by e-mail, fax or snail mail. All corrections will be published in the next Watchdog Report. If you or your organization would like to publish the contents of this newsletter, please contact me. Please send your request to watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2015, Daniel A. Ricker

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

Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, the (FL)

CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS

Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, the (FL)

MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED

Published on January 20, 2003, Page 1E, Orlando Sentinel, PAPERWORK TIGER, Miami’s citizen watchdog piles up government files in his quest to keep the “little people” informed. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog

>>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times

The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored.  Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517

From the spring of 2003:  U. North Carolina, Chapel Hill:  Southeast U.S. Media Report lists Watchdog Report publisher as leading Florida commentator >>> Selected excerpts from the report on Florida’s media sources-Those who do read the newspaper in Florida have a bevy of options for state government and political coverage. The dominant newspapers in the state are Knight-Ridder’s The Miami Herald (Acquired by the McClatchy Company in 2006) and the Poynter Institute’s St. Petersburg Times. Both papers endorsed Gore in 2000 but split on the 2002 gubernatorial race, with the Herald endorsing Republican incumbent Jeb Bush and the Times backing Democratic challenger Bill McBride. Daniel Ricker of The Miami Herald also writes an influential column as well as an email newsletter called the Watchdog Report that goes out to more than 100,000 subscribers. FEBRUARY 2004 – Florida: Columnists in Abundance —ERIC GAUTSCHI, graduate student, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill – D) LEADING COMMENTATORS – Resource Commentator Organization Type Web site –Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/bousquet.shtml -“First Friday” WPBT TV (Miami) TV Show www.channel2.org/firstfriday/issues.html –Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/morgan.shtml  –Daniel Ricker Miami Herald/Watchdog Report Newsletter –www.miami.com/mld/MiamiHerald/news/columnists/dan_ricker/

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

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