Watchdog Report Vol.19 No.48 July 29, 2018 – EST:05.05.00 – I go when you cannot – Celebrating 19 years of weekly publishing

Miami Chief Colina
 

>>> The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade Annual Report is out and to see what the organization has done over the years go to; https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/ and is seen when children have to repeat a grade and results in a large community bubble and County Commissioner Dennis Moss noted when he was in school there was a “Truancy officer,” and they would pick you up take you to school and also “call your mama,” said Moss but that oversite is hard since a parent may be taking care of multiple kids and not able to ensure her children are in school and the lack of literacy was brought home when the County’s Police Department Director Juan J. Perez told a committee when he was in school he spoke no English and was held back an d he said he learned to read ‘real fast after that,” wake up call. And at a county commission meeting the issue of literacy and the lack of it among certain parts of the community had Jean Monestime wondering how he can do more in his own community to foster literacy and the Children’s trust has a host of reading programs throughout the county including in the summer free books being sent to eligible students. Further since its creation in 2002 there have been no scandals and the entity fended off county commissioner Natacha Seijas who years ago wanted to tap in the trust’s reserves, but the large board rebuffed her attempt to raid the body.

 

Further Trust CEO Jim Haj told and updated county commissioners recently and Commissioner Sally Heyman suggested they put more articles in the Community newspapers that are free and cut a wide swath in communities explaining some of the upcoming programs and here is the latest trust annual report: https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/sites/default/files/kcfinder/files/providers/analytics/reports/BOCC_2015-16_Statutory_Format_012317.pdf
Haj
 

What about the United Ways new program?

 

United Way of Miami-Dade County has several programs for-not for-profits with good ideas fostering their growth for more go to: https://unitedwaymiami.org/contact-us/media-kit/

 

Maria Alonso the new CEO of the United Way of Miami-Dade County thanked the county commissioners for their fundraising efforts to the organization that also fills in with the county after natural disasters like Irma and county employees raised some $1 million and the mayor’s ball raised another $1 million.

 

What about the Children’s Trust?

 

The county commission voted on new trustees for the children’s trust and they are Lourdes Gimenez, Constance Collins, Jose “Félix” Diaz, and Dr. Kate Callaghan our youth and the trust is a community treasure nurturing our youth to excel in life.

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

 

>>> The Miami-Dade County Home less Trust held their televised monthly meeting percent Friday, costs will continue even after 3 percent homeless, “elderly in Miami huge problem,” looming says Book, historic community event Aug. 2 at Fire memorial in Doral, HUD Sec. Dr. Carson attending, all hush hush says Chair Book

 

>>> Commission after charter review task force focuses on upping salary to state formula of $90,000, shot down nine times before, critical to limit outside income that has caused problems with some past commissioners

 

A discussion of the Charter Review task force recommendations at the BCC was debated and the usual topic was paying commissioners a decent salary (roughly $47,000 with benefits but was set at $6,000 in 1957) and the issue of a raise has been put on the ballot nine times and always shot down. Further, the main blocking point though is outside employment not being eliminated and when commissioners carp about their salary. I ask why you ran then if you’re that disgruntled about the compensation.

 

Former County Attorney Robert Cuevas chaired the large and diverse Charter task force. Audrey Edmonson said she wanted to support the task force recommendations ‘since they were criticized,” by the press for not following the task force recommendations. Jordan asked why we have recommendation’s and if they are ignored if that was the case “why have the task force?” she considered along with Edmonson.

 

And to review the task force recommendations: go to http://www.miamidade.gov/charter/library/2018-02-26-meeting-materials.pdf

 

>>>> Press release: Property Appraiser numbers press release: Miami-Dade County Property Values Continue to Increase in 2018

Miami-Dade County, FL –

 

Property Appraiser Pedro J. Garcia has released the 2018 Preliminary

Certification of Taxable Values to taxing authorities in Miami-Dade County. The countywide taxable value

for 2018 is $290,087,138,467, a 6.5% increase from 2017. The increase was fueled by over $5.6 billion

worth of new construction value countywide.

“As the real estate market continues to strengthen, many new home owners will find it more difficult to find

affordable single-family homes. However, we are seeing a slight decrease in the condominium values,

which may provide some relief to first time home buyers,” said Property Appraiser Garcia.

The following municipalities experienced a double-digit growth, primarily driven by new construction:

 Surfside (43.5%)

 Bay Harbor Islands (17.8%)

 West Miami (15.7%)

 North Miami Beach (15.6%)

 Florida City (13.4%)

 Biscayne Park (11.5%)

 Opa-Locka (10.4%)

 Hialeah Gardens (10.3%)

The 2018 Preliminary Certification of Taxable Values allows the taxing authorities, such as county

government, municipal governments, the school board and The Children’s Trust, to prepare their 2018-2019

fiscal budgets, and adopt proposed millage rates, which will appear on the Notice of Proposed Property

Taxes mailed to all property owners in late August.

Individual property assessments are available online at the Property Appraiser’s website. Property owners

are encouraged to look up their 2018 assessments. If they have any questions or would like to review them

assessment, they may visit our office in Downtown Miami (111 NW 1st Street, 7th Floor) or the South Dade

Government Center (10710 SW 211th Street, 2nd Floor), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For

their convenience, they can also schedule an appointment online or call us at 305-375-4712.

The Notice of Proposed Property Taxes (TRIM Notice) will be mailed by August 24th, which will provide

property owners with their proposed property tax and exemption benefits information.

# # #

2017 2018 2018

Preliminary Taxable Value Preliminary Percent

Taxable Before New Percent New Taxable Change

TAXING AUTHORITY Value Construction Change Construction Value FROM 2017

01 MIAMI 49,621,309,999 52,023,346,394 4.8% 1,333,758,639 53,357,105,033 7.5%

0101 MIAMI (DDA) 18,781,633,588 18,816,013,856 0.2% 653,890,413 19,469,904,269 3.7%

02 MIAMI BEACH 37,397,062,490 38,701,545,195 3.5% 186,115,906 38,887,661,101 4.0%

0201 MB NORMANDY SHORES 198,161,758 209,647,105 5.8% 2,458,268 212,105,373 7.0%

03 CORAL GABLES 15,172,014,090 15,851,139,422 4.5% 172,237,874 16,023,377,296 5.6%

04 HIALEAH 9,500,349,638 10,241,580,234 7.8% 139,304,482 10,380,884,716 9.3%

05 MIAMI SPRINGS 1,121,725,782 1,188,519,599 6.0% 10,182,668 1,198,702,267 6.9%

06 NORTH MIAMI 2,839,843,057 3,055,020,779 7.6% 46,675,273 3,101,696,052 9.2%

07 NORTH MIAMI BEACH 2,535,675,965 2,695,580,360 6.3% 236,877,849 2,932,458,209 15.6%

08 OPA-LOCKA 803,622,462 871,429,709 8.4% 16,003,016 887,432,725 10.4%

09 SOUTH MIAMI 1,793,210,812 1,894,230,849 5.6% 23,935,936 1,918,166,785 7.0%

10 HOMESTEAD 2,608,632,678 2,772,844,913 6.3% 84,656,141 2,857,501,054 9.5%

11 MIAMI SHORES 1,052,123,341 1,116,908,344 6.2% 1,124,616 1,118,032,960 6.3%

12 BAL HARBOUR 5,314,206,510 5,284,281,171 -0.6% 214,540,918 5,498,822,089 3.5%

13 BAY HARBOR ISLANDS 1,031,587,742 1,087,806,096 5.4% 126,932,233 1,214,738,329 17.8%

14 SURFSIDE 2,150,458,492 2,074,568,427 -3.5% 1,011,452,107 3,086,020,534 43.5%

15 WEST MIAMI 475,308,716 505,848,790 6.4% 44,220,679 550,069,469 15.7%

16 FLORIDA CITY 466,739,387 509,594,438 9.2% 19,840,698 529,435,136 13.4%

17 BISCAYNE PARK 195,190,024 216,078,634 10.7% 1,644,926 217,723,560 11.5%

18 EL PORTAL 147,250,932 158,416,286 7.6% 785,622 159,201,908 8.1%

19 GOLDEN BEACH 1,035,263,421 1,077,923,234 4.1% 17,842,214 1,095,765,448 5.8%

20 PINECREST 4,595,327,858 4,760,890,312 3.6% 49,595,183 4,810,485,495 4.7%

21 INDIAN CREEK 570,381,417 607,895,284 6.6% -7,476 607,887,808 6.6%

22 MEDLEY 2,093,417,657 2,226,614,579 6.4% 37,364,984 2,263,979,563 8.1%

23 N. BAY VILLAGE 1,037,240,053 1,079,815,372 4.1% 43,542 1,079,858,914 4.1%

24 KEY BISCAYNE 8,646,769,884 8,499,831,052 -1.7% 32,794,648 8,532,625,700 -1.3%

25 SWEETWATER 1,664,458,925 1,741,049,510 4.6% 18,035,788 1,759,085,298 5.7%

26 VIRGINIA GARDENS 261,912,040 267,701,461 2.2% 830,310 268,531,771 2.5%

27 HIALEAH GARDENS 1,165,367,342 1,252,645,122 7.5% 32,771,247 1,285,416,369 10.3%

28 AVENTURA 10,098,997,863 10,138,634,036 0.4% 227,206,140 10,365,840,176 2.6%

30 UNINCORPORATED 71,679,964,217 75,936,775,674 5.9% 835,466,071 76,772,241,745 7.1%

31 SUNNY ISLES BEACH 11,097,893,299 11,089,118,428 -0.1% 31,417,157 11,120,535,585 0.2%

32 MIAMI LAKES 3,017,332,354 3,147,005,348 4.3% 66,873,140 3,213,878,488 6.5%

33 PALMETTO BAY 2,808,998,560 2,925,759,513 4.2% 4,953,098 2,930,712,611 4.3%

34 MIAMI GARDENS 4,206,824,771 4,521,533,157 7.5% 55,436,433 4,576,969,590 8.8%

35 DORAL 12,080,554,247 12,592,820,904 4.2% 592,964,296 13,185,785,200 9.1%

36 CUTLER BAY 2,371,190,614 2,512,237,601 5.9% 5,472,391 2,517,709,992 6.2%

COUNTY-WIDE 272,431,699,283 284,432,623,061 4.4% 5,654,515,406 290,087,138,467 6.5%

FIRE AND RESCUE 152,301,861,642 159,309,275,618 4.6% 3,794,418,542 163,103,694,160 7.1%

LIBRARY 249,257,422,242 260,167,025,410 4.4% 4,015,671,692 264,182,697,102 6.0%

SCHOOL BOARD 305,125,757,799 316,534,110,043 3.7% 5,658,905,044 322,193,015,087 5.6%

S FL WATER MNGT DIST 274,675,558,823 286,679,122,370 4.4% 5,658,893,326 292,338,015,696 6.4%

FL INLAND NAV DIST 274,675,558,823 286,679,122,370 4.4% 5,658,893,326 292,338,015,696 6.4%

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST 274,675,558,823 286,679,122,370 4.4% 5,658,893,326 292,338,015,696 6.4

 

>>> Fla. SPCA and animal abuse & cruelty needs help, cares for 77 malnourished horses, county hot bed for butchered animals, needs more funding to do mission

The Florida SPCA has a contract with the county’s animal services and cruelty to animal’s department but sent a letter to Commissioner Sally Heyman and the organization did a heart wrenching video of abused and starving animals from 77 horses currently, but the funding is lagging after Hurricane Irma impacted the facility where the animals are fed and brought back to health. The SPCA complained of slow payments and the county budget for this service by the SPCA is $68,000 and is not keeping up with the volume of abandoned animals and are requesting bumping it to $175,000. More consistent with the cost of the SPCA providing these large animal services that is a chronic plaque in Miami-Dade with the butchering of horses being a persistent problem and involve the county’s PD. Th video was heart breaking and gruesome and everyone thanked Heyman for bringing it to the county’s attention. Heyman said. I am working on a new agreement with the SPCA that will be beneficial for all parties involved.

 

What about the animal shelter? That is not a no kill facility and advocates have a host of stories with a hold on the dog by one owner but is killed. I hear these stories on a Dailey basis and I think county commissioners may lose votes after the public overwhelmingly voted for a Pet Trust that was blown off by commissioners and the animal advocates are passionate and I expect will be reflected in some commission campaigns.

 

What about shot spotter technology 80% of shots residents hear do not call 9/11?

 

A presentation by a regional rep of shot spotter which employs sensors around the county and the facts show only a small number 80 percent of people who hear shots” will not call 9/11 when they hear shots and many families have a “protocol,” when they hear shots and the rep believes they are afraid of being known as a “snitch,” and residents why call after hearing shots and no police coming. Commissioner Dennis Moss suggested they think “the police just don’t care.” One thing the shot spotters is good at is recovering shell casings which helps law enforcement on who the shooter might be. Further county police will soon be equipped with “license plate readers’ already in use in a variety of municipalities. And for more on the technology go to: http://www.shotspotter.com/

 

>>> The county’s OIG issued its report on a P3 proposal leak by KPMG and concluded it was accidental. To read the report go to: http://www.miamidadeig.org/Reports2018/CourthouseDisclosureIncidentAssuranceReview7.3.18.pdf

 

>>> A group of passionate speakers spoke against the extension of 836 at the County’s PAB Wednesday claiming it will only cause more congestion and would result in disrupting the community.

 
During the first six months of 2018, Greater Miami’s hotel market ranked at the top of STR’s Top 25 Hotel Markets in the U.S., ranking #4 in RevPAR (revenue per available room), #4 in ADR (average daily room rate) and #5 in Occupancy.

>>> GMCVB press release: RevPAR in Greater Miami and The Beaches increased by +12.6%, ADR increased by +9.2% and Occupancy increased by +3.0%.

January – June 2018
Record Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR)
Jan – June 2018	Jan – June 2017	% Change vs. 2017	Rank among Top 25 Markets	Rank for Rate of Growth
$179.14	$159.08	+12.6%	#4	#2
Record Average Daily Room Rate (ADR)
Jan – June 2018	Jan – June 2017	% Change vs. 2017	Rank among Top 25 Markets	Rank for Rate of Growth
$220.58	$201.94	+9.2%	#4	#2
Record Occupancy
Jan – June 2018	Jan – June 2017	% Change vs. 2017	Rank among Top 25 Market	Rank for Rate of Growth
81.2%	78.8%	+3.1%	#5	#4

 

>>> It was revealed last week at a County Commission meeting that there is “15,000 frozen county employees,” and the reason for this is in the next two years the County will face a “$95 million gap,” said budget Director Jennifer Moon.

 

And these unfilled positions are going unfilled because of legislation changing the Homestead Exemption and governments are having to adjust budgets before this kick in in two years and this is a significant gap that the county’s administration must close in the months ahead n why some of these steps are in place.

 

>>> Further, last year’s IG annual report is out, and it is a fascinating read and the office has saved millions since its creation 20-year ago and to read the report go to:   http://www.miamidadeig.org/ANNUALREPORTS2.htm

 

>>> New continuum of care center coming for homeless with mental issues, JHS involved one stop center

 

The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust along with Jackson Health System is opening a one stop public facility for homeless who qualify for a new diversion program with a mental illness and includes many veterans on the streets and is an old facility previously used by the state, but it will offer a continuum of care and was briefly discussed at the trust board meeting Friday. The whole community has been seeking ways to resolve the mental health issues of the homeless now drawing in people with opioid addiction and a drop of fentanyl can kill and many times is cut with cheap yellow Mexican heroin that appeared years past and is causing thousands of overdoses and the city of Miami spent $150,000 in procuring the miracle drug Narcan that can revive a overdosed person almost immediately and these people cut across all ethnic lines and the issue was discussed Sunday on “This Week in South Florida,” and to see the show go to https://www.local10.com/this-week-in-south-florida/this-week-in-south-florida-oct-29

 

>>> And here is a broader explanation on the new facility Health System – Public Health Trust.

 

“Progress is being made to create a first of its kind mental health diversion and treatment facility which will centralize, coordinate, and provide a seamless continuum of care for individuals, including homeless individuals, who are frequent and high cost users of taxpayer funded services in the criminal justice and acute care treatment systems. South Florida Behavioral Health Network, Inc., DCF’s Managing Entity for administering state substance abuse and mental health funding in Miami-Dade County, will lead the renovation of a former state forensic hospital in Miami which will bring together community-based treatment and social services providers under one roof.

 

The project will include an integrated crisis stabilization unit and addiction receiving facility, various levels of residential treatment, day treatment and day activities programs, intensive case management, peer support and mentoring services, outpatient behavioral health and primary care treatment services, and vocational rehabilitation/supportive employment services. All services will be designed to address the complex and co-occurring needs of the target population, including mental health, substance abuse, physical health, histories of physical and emotional trauma, and risk factors for future criminal justice involvement.

 

The facility will also include space for the courts and for social service agencies such housing providers, legal services, and immigration services that will address the comprehensive needs of individuals served.  By housing a full array of services and supports in one location, it is anticipated that many of the barriers and obstacles to navigating traditional community mental health, substance abuse, and social services will be removed; and individuals who are currently recycling through the justice system, crisis units, hospitals, and other deep end services will be more likely to engage in ongoing and sustainable treatment and recovery services. The Mental Health Diversion Facility is championed by Judge Steven Leifman, who chairs the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust’s Finance & Audit Committee.  The project has been developed with input from the Department of Children and Families and the Agency for Health Care Administration, which will be responsible for designating and licensing service providers at the facility.  The Miami-Dade County Legislative Delegation spearheaded efforts to occupy the building based on a 99-year lease at $1/year.  The facility is funded, in large part, with county General Obligation Bond funds, with additional funding provided by the Jackson Health and The Public Health Trust.

 

What about the Homeless Trust’s Rent Connect program with landlords?

 

The trust has a new program where people with rental housing can register their rental with the county and for more on the program go to: http://www.homelesstrust.org/rentconnect.asp

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

 

>>>BCC puts on ballot: Four-year funding referendum for teacher pay raise and new security costs after state’s unfunded mandate for more police presence at schools, once ramped-up significant ongoing cost for district, needs voter approval, about 75 cents on tax bill, with independent over sight board, past GOB bond 50 percent expended, “projects on time no scandals,” says, Supt. Carvalho to county commission

 

It’s a go Miami-Dade County approves putting a referendum to help fund teacher’s salaries increased police costs for school safety after the state passed legislation requiring districts to have police in every school after 17 people were killed at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

 

The unfunded mandate is just another reminder that the state legislature does not get the size of Miami-Dade’s public-school district (where school police can only cover only 90 schools), An A District but with 70,000 students English learners (and 5,300 students in the autism spectrum in the district) and the demographics of Miami-Dade are such “That the county has the smallest percent of Angelo’s in the nation,” said board member Marta Perez and why the A grade for the district is so special in comparison to other districts around the nation without such a high level of diversity.

 

>>> County press release from Barbara Jordan Commission votes to place school district tax on November ballot

 

MIAMI-DADE – The Miami-Dade County Commission on July 24 approved a resolution to place a proposed school district ad valorem tax increase on the Nov. 6, 2018 ballot.

 

If approved by the voters, Miami-Dade homeowners would pay an additional 75 cents per thousand dollars of their home’s taxable value to pay for higher teacher salaries and increased school safety. The special tax would be levied for four years from 2019 to 2023.

 

The ballot measure was requested by the school board and was placed on the County Commission agenda at the request of Commissioner Barbara J. Jordan.

 

“This will give Miami-Dade voters the opportunity to decide whether to tax themselves more to pay for teacher salary increases and increased safety,” Commissioner Jordan said.

 

The school board says it needs more money to attract and retain quality teachers and hire more School Resource Officers and security personnel in the wake of the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and a new state mandate for schools to beef up security. In addition to the school board’s plans to increase security through the proposed school district tax, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s proposed 2018-19 budget sets aside about $20 million to place a police officer at more than 100 schools across the county. His proposal also includes funding new response teams and additional training for officers.

 

>>> DASH school project tells peers with stickers and help # regarding mental health. “Don’t stall call,” for help it suggests.

 

A DASH school project had students come up with a way to remind students if they need mental health ‘don’t stall make the call,” a slogan that will be found on the sides of toilets and the issue of lonely aggrieved students lashing out has been brought home after the Parkland shooting.

 

>>> After checkered history A&M charter school terminates District contract, conflict of interest highlighted in 352-page forensic audit: sent to IRS

 

The board of the Charter school Arts & Minds is asking to terminate its agreement with the School board and the school on Commodore plaza has been highly controversial since its inception in 2004 and is known as a “related transaction,” since the building’s owner Manuel Alonso Poch was what caught the WDR attention charged the district $29,000 in monthly rent, however, that number in 2008 had jumped to just over $90,000. In monthly rent and caught the eye of the District’s auditors and a 352-page forensic audit was released and was sent to the IRS, and the school became a poster child of an attorney using a charter school to enrich his own pockets and here is some of the media on A&M and its compliant board and the District Audit committee received a voluntary letter of A&M terminating the charter school agreement. And here is the letter: http://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_July_17_2018/ItemOld%20Business.pdf and here is another story on A&M. hhttp://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/manuel-alonso-poch-wont-fix-conflicts-of-interest-at-his-charter-school-new-audit-finds-6390328

 

>>>> Up to 3,000 students could get summer jobs, funded by a host off organizations, gives a boost to a resume as well, and in some cases hired

 

A summer job program pushed by county commissioner Xavier Suarez has blossomed to some 3,000 summer jobs in the wings with funding coming from the county, school district and the Children’s Trust

 

 

The school district along with Miami-Dade County and the Children’s Trust along with some banks expects to provide some 3,000 students with summer jobs and this is program started a few years ago, said Gus Barreiro on Your South Florida show on www.wptb.org For more on the trust go to: https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/content/careers

 

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

 

>>>> The PHT closed its last quarter in the black and continues a six-month trend of operating in the black despite Jackson Health System (JHS) having a “lock on the charity care market,” quipped CEO Carlos Migoya at a joint BCC meeting and the PHT board.

 

>>> Annual PHT joint board meeting smooth and an upbeat discussion after the county once thought of selling Jackson Health System to Boston investors, now while challenges is public community “jewel,” says chair Bovo

 

The Annual Joint meeting with the county’s commission was a night and day presentation. BCC Chair Estephan Bovo, Jr. said it was a “leap of faith,” when the body reduced the size of the board from 21 members to seven and, but the commission passed and instituted some reforms that at one point some investors from Boston wanted to buy Jackson Health System. Bovo thanked Migoya for the remarkable job and gave a shout out to union leader Martha Baker. for working closely to make the hospital more efficient while keeping the world class medical care. Migoya noted Jackson did over $300 million in charity care and JHS has “cornered that market.” Though other hospitals have the same problem of uncompensated care.

 

>>> Chair of citizens GOB $830 million Making Miracles bond, says on track, low administrative costs, clinics popping up all over Miami-Dade, CEO Migoya gets rave reviews from BBC, though commissioner Jordan was “skeptical,” and gave the banker a “tough time,” that’s changed

 

The chair of the Citizens oversight board Jose Luis Gomez for the $830 million JHS making miracles bond, gave an upbeat report and the low administration costs for the major capital program that includes a host of community clinics. The voters approved this bond back in 2013 overwhelmingly under the leadership of CEO Carlos Migoya who has worked closely with the unions and was a key to getting the public hospital.

 

He also created a “protégé program,” that helps SBAs qualify for contracts and the capital plan is moving at a brisk rate. Ron Frazer an architect said the county should consider doing its own protégé program, he told commissioners on Tuesday where the body got an update on the bond’s progress. For more go to: https://www.jhsmiami.org/webApps/JHSGOBCitizen/getFiles.cfm?MeetingType=c_CitizensMeetingAgenda#

 

>>>> Florida Legislature needs to fund Ryder Trauma, the communities crown jewel for Trauma

 

What about Ryder Trauma?

 

Florida Legislators need to reaffirm the importance of the Ryder Trauma Center and keep funding for the medical center. One of the finest in the world and is the only Class I Center in South Florida and should be nurtured by law makers. I reminded Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R Monday of this fact. He noted when a Florida State Trooper was badly injured it was Ryder that saved his life and he seemed to understand what a jewel the center is to the community.

 

>>> Trust continues to have clean audits, challenges continue ahead, closed the year with $30 million budget surplus, 50 days cash on hand, new rehabilitation Center property prepped Friday

 

The PHT trustees meeting was short and sweet Wednesday with the health trust having a “clean,” KPMG audit for last year and the auditing firm has been the trust’s auditor for 7 years but having no audit exemptions is a big deal and back in 2004 under previous management the trust took a $84 million chargeback on past audits going back to the late 1990s.

 

>>> New report on how JHS spending $830 million bond monies, going well

 

Here is the most recent update on the $830 million GOB passed by County wide voters to update the ageing facilities at Jackson Health System and the projects are going very well and includes minority vender participation similar the public schools oversight system and this public money is key to the communities’ health since there is a big push toward prevention and wellness has FIU physicians doing primary and family medicine and is a real boon in keeping healthcare costs down. To read the report go:

file:///C:/Users/DAN%20RICKER/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/8UMCRP67/Mayor-BCC-PHT%20-%20CAC%20Quarterly%20Report%20-%20July%20to%20September%202017.pdf

 

CITY OF MIAMI

 

>>>> MESA, The Miami Exhibition and Sports Authority is in the news again after its staffer Lourdes Blanco was found to be getting two paychecks and the city employee is calling it a ‘witch hunt, ‘also $10,000 promotion check, given and then rescinded to wrong Jazz Festival, former mayor Regalado attended last MESA meeting June 31

 

The board founded years ago is the back-door entity for deals on Watson Island waterfront and is an obscure board that was funded by the old Miami Arena and had commissioners wining and dining with no; limit on the charges said one city intern back then, while the elected official hit on them and the women rebuffed by laughing at the thought. However, that was years ago and more recently MESA was supposed to have given $10,000. For the Miami Jazz Festival, when it was supposed to be for the DDA’s downtown Jazz festival with a similar name and afterwards the director told the wrong organization, the city wanted the $10,000 back immediately even though it had already been spent on promotion of the earlier event but it shows some of the chaos, and while a very visible tape recorder tapes the meetings rarely are there meeting minutes in the handout documents many of which I have from the past meetings and the board is run by the mayor in this case Tomas Regalado and past staff have included a attorney or any administrator or connected employee an is one of Miami’s sweetheart jobs with car allowance and other perks.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article215641790.html

 

>>> Will MSL stadium on golf course open floodgates on other developments on waterfront public properties Dist. 2 “in Harm’s way,” says one attorney, because of all the waterfront park land that could now be developed

 

“What’s the rush?” said Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber at a Miami commission meeting debating the controversial Flagstone project on Watson Island. And both Gelber and Suarez (Net worth through 6/30/17 $245,015) went through the Good Government program run by former county commissioner Katie Sorenson. And one of the tenets of good government was following the process with transparency. However, when it comes to the soccer village. MLS stadium and retail plus a hotel on the city’s Melreese International Country Club for David Beckam’s MLS team and the deal where numbers were changing on Suarez’ dais was poorly presented to commissioners and shows Suarez’s leadership style while he seeks a strong mayor form of government where at the county people are having second thoughts about having a strong mayor calling Mayor Carlos Gimenez “King Carlos.”

 

Why is commission Dist. 2 “in Harm’s Way?”

 

While city voters must approve this project city leaders know with the right political ads it wall pass easily, perhaps with a dash of scare tactics bid. In the case of the stadium it was a not a competitive bid but very little of the deal was known with an army of lobbyist before the commission meeting a 14-hour affair with supporters of The First Tee organization whose home is the golf course and has changed the lives of a host of low income and handicapper kids get outdoors and are taught fundamental life skills and a host of graduates have gone to Ivy League schools

 

However, young Suarez could be taking a Greek Icarus political trajectory and believes given his overwhelming election that anything he wants should be on autopilot. And while he talks “Transparency and trust,” Manolo Reyes wants “to trust but verify,” but given support documentation available only at the last hour it appears the mayor and administration were winging it on the fly. Further commissioner Joe Carollo went after the mayor on details and he verbally clubbed Suarez, like a baby seal and the lack of study and transparency he believed going into the meeting and how the deal was crafted was the point of the spear of his criticism and Suarez asked the public to “trust,” him but after raising some $3 million for his mayoral campaign he is a believer the ends justify the means when I hinted out the amount he raised was “obscene,” for a municipal mayor’ s race, and he did that to challenge any opponents when in fact he ran against five unknown candidates who raised no money for their own races.

 

Francis the eldest son of former Miami mayor Xavier Suarez is the chosen one and he is said to be eying a run for governor in the years ahead. However, he is making a political calculation on this stadium deal and he believes he can make it a done deal with little commissioner input as Wilfredo Gort pointed out and Gort was looking for some attention since the stadium would be in his District.

 

The problem with unsolicited proposals is that Miami could have park waterfront land become developed and this could be that precedent even with city voter’s approval for development on Miami waterfront parks something eyed by the city in years past and is a third rail with many voters but the city does have some underused waterfront land that to the city is just an avenue for money after the city’s boom and bust property value history and has Carollo during these boon times spending city funds Like a drunken sailor.” Why is sophomore mayor Francis Suarez being verbally pummeled by Commissioner Joe Carollo? Suarez blows off the lack of transparency and insufficient documentation and details before the commission discussion and on “trust” says it is a great deal for the city since it’s a $1billion investment deal with Jorge Mas of MAS TEC and an investment group doing the financing and will “not involve any public funding.” Mas noted a stadium is not a “economic engine developer unless there is some retail and an entertainment complex,” and the renderings show a fair amount of green space. Further MAS TEC had a subsidiary JASCO that got an IG audit years ago and to go to that go to: http://www.miamidadeig.org/Archived/01-124jasco.pdf

 

But the administrations info was half baked and reflected on Suarez who also got mauled by the other commissioners for the lack of “specifics,” and Manola Reyes who ran “nine times,” said his “dream was to bring transparency to Miami,” and he is not giving up on that dream,” he told his peers at the dais.

 

>>> Commissioner Carollo and Reyes wants commission auditor to audit BayFront Park Trust, where there is a “$1.5 million” variance said Carollo, brother Frank former chair and CPA headed the trust, Carollo has no trust in CFO and director, back in 2000 major scandal at entity with the director Ira Katz being arrested, case fell apart after federal, state and FDLE agencies lost the evidence, CFO tried to hide laptop in bathroom ceiling tile

 

Newly minted Commissioner Joe Carollo is maintaining his reputation of being a divisive force on the commission and an item trying to abolish the Bayfront Park Trust and the board Carollo chairs was being pushed by Commissioner Ken Russell who later withdrew it to promote peace on the dais and Carollo followed his brother Frank Carollo, CPA.

His brother believes there are a variety of irregularities regarding the Trust’s finances and he told commissioners when he met with the director and CFO he was told there was some “$1.5” million variances. Carollo the senior said he did not know these people and wanted the trust to be audited by the commission auditor Ted Guba who is very busy with other audits since commissioner Manola Reyes wants every city trust to be audited. However, outside audits are done for all these organizations already, but the former Miami Mayor thinks some of these could be cooked

 

What about the park’s scandal back in Jan. 9, 2000 when the then director Ira Katz was arrested after Miami herald reporter Tyler Bridges did an extensive investigative series of stories and when the trust was raided by federal and state authorities and the then CFO tried to hide his laptop in a ceiling panel. Further, back then the trust was getting some $500,000 from the city in subsidy and longtime Commissioner J.L. Plummer chaired the trust like a little fiefdom. The reason the city has so many trusts is the commission periodically raids any money in them and see the trusts as piggy banks. Further, the way joe about sunshine meetings the city could be under fiscal siege since a judge ruled in favor of a flagstone project on Watson island and the developers sued the city $120 million and another lawsuit is MESA is said to be coming.

 

What about the city’s finances?

 

Commissioners have been holding private “shade meetings,” where the administration and their attorney’s discuss legal suits and Carollo brought up the need for revenue a number of times and “hard times,” could be coming since a court ruled on a $120 million lawsuit for the city terminating the Flagstone project on Watson Island and another suit is going on for discussions leaders has at Miami Expedition Sports Authorities meeting that I have attended for years and involved a helicopter dean and seaplane base that was run by Chalk’s Airlines until a high profile crash shut down the service.

 

>>> Miami Mayor Suarez petition for strong mayor form of government getting close, but will voters trust all powerful mayor?

 

Mayor Suarez is coming off as the fraternity mayor posing in many photos on the web one being him walking in a parade for the nation’s national mayors conference in Boston and with sash saying mayor and former Miami mayor Manny Diaz with his own sash was next to him but what was odd was the Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina and two sergeants-of arms accompanied them. Along with Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert, III and this entourage looks ridicules and a waste of Miami taxpayers money and the younger Suarez doesn’t seem to be able to play it straight for he is a social media animal and tends to use people and children as props rather than being sure the city is providing the proper services, especially after all the Miami police shootings under investigation. Further, people are suggesting he might run for governor of Florida and he will have to raise his performance bar to pull that off and while he raised $3 million for his campaign. He is very Machiavellian politically. He is also becoming an incubator for new lobbyist as they rotate through the city as staff.

 

What about Paella Gate and Carollo?

 

An aide Steven Miro to Carollo recently fired is turning on the commissioner and is talking to the state attorney’s office about some of the commissioners use of public funds for food and paella meals served at senior centers and while a time-tested ritual to get these voters vote. And of the Diaz de la Portilla brothers Alek was also serving while he was running for county commission District 5 to replace outgoing commissioner Bruno Barreiro whose wife Zoraida is running and is being challenged Aug 5 for the commission seat and is facing Eileen Higgins, a Spanish speaking former Peace Corps volunteer who actually rides public transportation and while a non -partisan race she is getting support from democratic party organizations like Emily’s list that supports women candidates. For more go tohttp://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article212725789.html

 

What about the Code Enforcement Board?

 

Carrolo made a big stink re the use of special master’s believing they favor certain attorneys for the frequent mitigation of code violation fines many times much lower than the original fines and Gort noted many of the “ordinary” people were old and did not understand what code enforcement the fines were where sometimes are astronomical but wacked down.Newly minted Mayor Francis Suarez wants to be a strong mayor form of government andThe county, Hialeah, Sweetwater, all have such strong mayors. Suarez’s father Xavier tried the same thing and it failed in the courts, but the new father thinks the city manager is a redundant position and the mayor does not have the power to resolve constituent issues.

 

However, several Miami commissioners think this is a power grab and makes the mayor omnipotent. Suarez responds the mayor can be recalled a lengthy process though and I suspect he will face headwinds on this matter. Further in talking to Suarez about the obscene amount of money $3 million he raised for his campaign. He noted some of the money came from a previous campaign and the whopper War chest was to discourage any challengers, like “Frank Carollo,” he ran against some unknown candidates. I concluded after the discussion where he did not seem to understand my point that in his mind “the ends justify the means.” I thought and is an interesting overlay given the strong mayor push. Voters will have to choose in the future about this governance experiment in the state’s largest municipality.

 

The commission once again asked for cash donations from the dais to an attorney and the developer originally said the public benefit payment $40,000, got bumped to $100,000 continues bad tradition of shake down

 

Carrolo believes the city of Miami has been “taken as chumps,” when it comes to developers and after all the development all “the big fish,” did not make the public benefit he believes some of the zoning changes granted by the commission the city deserves. The issue was an affordable housing project that includes two units of workforce housing wanting a fifth story and when the attorney proffered $40,000. However, The commissioner Carollo pulling out his calculator doing some calculation thought a much higher number was deserved and that’s when the attorney talked to his client and then changed the contribution to $100,000 and returns a shake down policy that had the Ritz Carleton project having to pay $500,000 for every zoning variance to complete the complex and former Commissioner J.L. Plummer was pushing this policy that fly’s in the face of good government and is a horrible habit when done at the public dais to get into.

 

Residents on the Venetian Causeway want attention from the Miami Police department and the issue came up at a Miami zoning board meeting where the residents live in a co-op and they complained of frequent car break-ins and are looking for some attention since many residents are retires many said.

 

Arts maven Lewis “Mike” Eidson has kept his word and raised some $11 million for the coconut Grove Playhouse Foundation and is still pushing his plan for Richard Heisenbottle historic plan and is the one favored by Grove preservationist versus the County’s plan that is described as mixed retail that happens to have a theater. Eidson the former Chair of the Adrianne Arsht Performing Arts Center has said the county’s plan was not bold enough and would not draw top order acts and theater to the area in the Grove that sits empty since 2006 when it closed under fiscal pressure and debt and the county must 2020 to open the facility and could be sold as state surplus property and will revert to the state.

 

What about all the mayor’s travel?

 

Carollo also is taking digs at all the travel the Mayor is doing and he noted when he was mayor he did not do that much but Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado did extensive travel, many times with his children in tow. Further, Carollo and Suarez had a sharp exchange when discussing the creation of the Miami Forever oversight board and Carollo lectured Suarez on the city’s form of government and that it was not a strong mayor form that Suarez is pushing but meeting resistance.

 

What about the Watson Island Flagstone project?

 

Suarez Friday told the WDR that he believes the city appeal of a local court ruling will be successful saying past administrations due diligence for the Flagstone Development on Watson Island was flawed and the developer never had the financial where with all to get the project done and the company “had been shopping the deal,” he said, and the final verdict will be determined by the District’s Third Court of appeal. However, this deal has always been political and was selected by the financial urgency board created by the state and at the time was chaired by banker Adolpho Henriques and the Flagstone project was to pay the most of three proposals that were put on the ballot. The selection committee back in 2001 met at the Miami outboard motor club. Further, the city was sued $120 million for it claiming the development was in default and along with pension concerns the city is dealing with a variety of fiscal obligations.

 

What about soccer fields on Virginia Key? However, Bruce Matheson told me recently that a 116acre land fill could be cleaned up and mitigated for some $5 million, a Hollywood firm did similar site in St. Lucie County, he said

 

Miami Commissioners are starting to express an interest in putting soccer fields possible on Virginia Key and it was suggested by Commissioner Joe Carollo and Commissioner Manolo Reyes who also noted the need for such facilities as did Mayor Francis Suarez. However, the Key is an ecological treasure and includes a major landfill dump that the county has $40 million from a bond to clean it up but says that is short. However, Matheson had an outside engineering firm Hazel & Sawyer, from Hollywood look at it and they believed the 116-acre landfill could be capped and mitigated for some $5 million and the firm did a similar project in St. Lucie County near their airport. Further, in this landfill is an earthmoving machine that was sucked into the toxic dump decades ago. But if cleaned up it is prime waterfront property and this dump should be addressed once and for all for Virginia Key needs to no longer be a Miami stepchild asset,

 

What about the new commissioner staffers and Gonzalez snares Napoli from MIA?

 

Miami Commissioner Manola Reyes has hired Jose Regalado as a staffer in his office and he is an underwater photographer and his brother Tomas lost to Commissioner Joe Carollo in the past election. However, it continues the political patronage of children of polls living off the public dole and Jose is the one that convinced his father climate change was real and had the city passing a $430 million bond last year.

 

>>> Commission balks at rubber stamping board for Bayfront Park trust, at large members all Carollo’s choice

 

Commissioner Joe Carollo when it comes to the Bay Front Park Trust, he chairs a watchdog board. He wants to be able to pick all the at Large members on the relatively small board which he says is the “commission’s tradition,” but Commissioner Ken Russell balked at that and he wanted to see resumes” to see Carollo’s appointments. And back in 2000. This trust caught my attention and was then chaired by long serving Commissioner J.L. Plummer and the executive director Ira Katz was later arrested. However, Carollo shot back that he doesn’t remember of needing resumes with past candidates and suggested maybe the “CRA,” chairs not appoint their own board members if an exception can’t be made.

 

Carollo also during a budget update warned given some of the city’s possible liabilities and a potential $120 million settlement with the police and fire unions could send the city in a fiscal spiral and frugality should be the watchword. Further, and of course the Flagstone development suit on Watson island another $120 million liability facing Miami.

 

What about good governance at Bayfront Park Trust?

 

The WDR ears perked up when I heard this about the trust board members and was surprised. Carollo was so serious about having essentially a rubber stamp board. Since he is such a stickler on other matters, but this trust and the MESA board are a Miami back door entity to do projects on the waterfront. That rarely come to fruition such as the Flagstone project. Further his brother Frank had been pushing for an over $1 million German playground set that was a no bid contract and caused discussion among many the board members. Russell also suggested FIU professor Nathan Kurland be on the board. The man has been on it for some time and readers will see if Carollo changes his mind.

 

Carollo

Russell

 

What about the Miami Children’s Museum (MCM)?

 

Carollo also went after the MCM director because the not for-profit was seeking some city land about a half-acre for a new Autism wing and is offering to also make a park in the land left and would be maintained by MCM saving the city money. Editor’s note: Carollo said his wife had an autistic boy and one Miami Charter school once they heard the “A” word never called his wife back, he told his peers on the dais, and he thought that was deeply wrong he said. Without naming the school. He also reminded commissioners when he left there was $100 million in reserves back in 2001 when Mayor Manny Diaz was elected and blew through a lot of this reserve with the Marlins stadium and the Global Agreement with the county being the final strain on the Miami budget.

 

What about the Forever Miami bond Oversight Board?

 

However, Carollo wanted with MCM to see three property appraisals part of legislation known as “the Carollo Amendment,” that sates any projects on waterfront land must get voter approval and was passed by voters back in 1984. The city’s finances were very aggressive saying. Miami is dependent on real estate and when things are good the city “spends money like a drunken sailor,” and rarely socks anyway in a “rainy day” fund.

 

 

EDITORIALS

 

>>>> Now what you did not run yourself will you at least vote?

 

Monday is the last day to register to vote and voting is the hall mark of a democracy and while millennials lag the over 50 voters are very dedicated to this pattern of consistently voting and while these young people are starting to find their political voice they need to use their feet and vote if they ever hope to become the transformation generation that they espouse in many cases.

 

>>> The Florida Legislature should keep its hands off the 20 counties that have Home Rule Charter local government is better with local leaders but yes not perfect, at least we arrest our own

 

Thank you, Florida Legislature, for requiring at local meetings the public has “a right to be heard,” and at the county commission and at local municipal meetings law makers are hearing a host of matters many times with the bark on and usually deal with a local community dilemma that might be heard without this new opportunity to be heard. However, the legislature is wrong to dilute the powers of Home Rule Counties and try to put a state overlay of laws that don’t represent the diversity of the state’s communities and since there are 20 Home Rule Counties local government is always better for residents and voters should let their legislators know they should keep their hands off parenting local government since counties already get beat up in the capital and since Miami-Dade is the state’s largest county with 2.5 million residents and a donor community by some 34 percent of the state’s budget, said the Florida CFO years ago. The state lawmakers should keep that in mind and let local government decide their own legislation regarding issues that affect the local communities.

 

>>> Mayor Suarez needs to lead by example, and be careful who he hob nods with, city needs to tighten-up

 

New Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has a unique chance to change the permissive culture of the city where practically no Miami employee wears their city ID or carries cards. Further, city leaders have to tighten up with whom they associate with and if someone is a convicted felon one might want to steer clear because the mayor sets the tone of the administration and after the last few years things were very loose and who you knew versus your competency, was many times over rode and Miami residents deserve better and every city employee represents all and should never forget that you are a public figure and a public servant something many employees seem to forget.

 

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

 

Politicians are always asking for our trust but it is the hypocrisy of their actions that has gone on for years that makes voters jaded and even if voters pass something they then renege on any promises made and the Pet Trust is one such example and for many local politicians who are high maintenance they forget they work for the people and voters should not have to say thank you for running for office which periodically raises its ugly head and that it is a privilege that just sometimes is based on someone getting their resume punched and the idea of political dynasties in the coming 2017 election is not the way to elect our local representatives and the public can only hope that their true colors will not be seen during their time being a public servant. Further, with municipal elections coming. Since you did not run yourself will you at least vote Nov. 7 and make your community a better place with quality elected leaders or have a small minority chose your leaders. It is up to you.

 

>>> The Watchdog Report is soon Celebrating 18 years of weekly reliable publishing since May 5^th 2000 and when I started back then I never thought I would be doing this so this is a national story in all the national Tribune papers: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog. And while I have taken a licking over the years including some medical issues I have kept at the job thanks to my supporters who I thank so very much over the many years. And the community’s public institutions are better when it comes to them knowing what the other is doing. And Why I have tried to be an information electrolyte for these giant institution’s leaders and things and here is a national story done on why I started to watch government back in 2000 http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog and to all the people along the way that have helped me I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

 

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

 

>>>> The Watchdog Report publisher for almost 18 years now, has reported back weekly on how your billions of public dollars in local government are being spent. And how to help support me providing this information is at the end of the WDR. And I hope you will consider supporting keeping an independent news service out in our community, where what is going on with all our government entities is of critical benefit for both the public institutions but voters as well l. Thank You.

 

And to my Supporters I pledge to keep ‘going when you cannot.’ And we have about $9 billion in GOB funds being spent through a variety of public institutions and that is no small number and in the past I have broken the story on Cuban refugees coming in droves and also the Oriental fruit fly quarantine and its huge economic impact to name just a few of the more recent stories in past WDR’s.And I also keep watch for the all-important tourism industry and with the Zika Virus people are starting to understand how vital these tourists are for a host of amenities like culture and the arts, Jackson health System and transportation dollars all entities that benefit from tourism sales tax dollars.

>>> And while the Watchdog Report has reached19 years of using my own money to survive in the costlier Miami community. And while I have cut expenses I need my readers help. In this fast-changing world and with Pay Pal now you can easily use a credit card to contribute and I hope you will consider helping to keep someone out in the field. And I have not wanted to be a lobbyist but rather a lobbyist for everyone and is why I use the tag line ‘I go when you cannot’. But things were made worse after spending 18 days in the hospital with a badly infected finger. And is why I am behind sending my traditional thank you letter to any supporters contributing and hop to catch up soon. And I thank these people from the bottom of my heart for the past financial help.

>>> I just ask any reader, once a year who thinks this community resource is valuable to contribute via my Pay Pal account for the fiscal issues sometimes keeps me from going to a meeting sometimes, and the stress also affects my health and only with my readers support can “I go when you cannot,” thank you and hope you will help so the WDR can celebrate 18 years on May 5^th. 2018.

>>> And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account http://paypal.me/WatchdogReport Further, if you would rather send a check send it made out to Daniel Ricker and mail it to 3109 Grand Ave., #125 Miami, Fla. 33133. Thank you, Dan

However, it is no easy task to do the WDR weekly. And years ago, the county Ethics Commission did a report that suggested over the past decade some $50 million had been spent fighting waste fraud abuse and public corruption and having the press at public meetings (some very obscure) changes the tone of the meeting (and is why you don’t speed past a state trooper, if you’re smart) Further, I have tried to be an information electrolyte available to all free between these large public institutions when I first started back in 1997. And many public meetings back then were not being recorded except by me and that is no longer the case. For an accurate public record is key and diminishes future legal action. For you either have an accurate public record or you don’t. And I hope you will consider helping me in this effort to keep the community informed and saving taxpayer monies in the process. And I thank my supporters over the last 17 years. And to read a national story and profile of the WDR publisher in the early years and background back in 2003 go to: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american        

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

 

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

 

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

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr (The first contributor)

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com .

THE MIAMI HERALD www.miamiherald.com (2000-2007)

ARTHUR HERTZ

WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)

ALFRED NOVAK

LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)

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

THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE

 

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

 

BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com

RONALD Hall

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov

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

Weiss Serota Helfman & Cole & Bierman http://www.wsh-law.com/ elfHehhh

 

 

>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $1,000 to $5,000 a year

EIDSON, COLSON & HICKS www.eadisoncolsonon.com

BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com

BERKOWITZ POLLACK BRANT Advisors and Accountants www.bpbcpa.com

JEFFREY L. BERKOWITZ TRUST

BERCOW RADELL FERNANDEZ & LARKIN www.brzoninglaw.com

RON BOOK

BENEDICT P. KUEHNE http://www.kuehnelaw.com/

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

WILLIAM PALMER www.shutts.com

Rbb www.rbbcommmunications.com

ROYAL MEDIA PARTNERS www.royalmp.com

SHUBIN & BASS www.shubinbass.com

WILLIAMSOM AUTOMOTIVE GROUP http://williamsonautomotivegroup.com/

 

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

 

CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov

CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov

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

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION

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

MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE www.mdc.edu

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

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

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

MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY www.miamidda.com

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

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

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

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

THE MIAMI FOUNDATION www.miamifoundation.org

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

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

 

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

CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov

CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov

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

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

MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE www.mdc.edu

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

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

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

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

MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY www.miamidda.com

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

THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

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

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

THE MIAMI FOUNDATION www.miamifoundation.org

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

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

Miami Parking Authority   www.mpamiami

 

>>> 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, 2018, 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