Watchdog Report Vol.19 No.63 December 9, 2018 EST:05.05.00 – I go when you cannot Celebrating 18 years of weekly publishing

See you next week and hope you will consider supporting a reliable news service and keeping me in the field and I think over the years I have done my best work covering Jackson health System and the school board and these still need to be monitored and hope you will help. If you are no longer getting the WDR please send me an email after my internet service earth link account was hacked by a foreign actor a few months ago and the cost for the IT was not cheap. Thanks for all the past support!

>>> This national story ran in all the Tribune papers around the nation and covers the early years of the WDR: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog and here is a different versionhttp://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american

Further, if this works the WDR will go back to my original schedule over the last 18 years. bailed me out of this IT nightmare that coincided with my 18th anniversary of weekly publishing since May 5, 2000. However, this hack has deleted several my email addresses and hope those readers just go to the web page to see the latest issue

>>> And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account that is easy to use and right now would be a great time: 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

>>>And having a member of the press at public meetings gives teeth to the Florida Sunshine Law (and why you get a Flu Shot) and open meetings tape recorded keeps good governance in place and reduces waste fraud and abuse, and public corruption, and is why you don’t speed in front of a state trooper for example. And hope you can support the WDR efforts to have informed residents to public institutions issues, in our community.

>>> Further thewww.watchdogreport.net  in South Florida is an established news service presence, because most people are too busy to go to these important meeting, and all the information comes through me as a central point allowing me to see things at a 100-mile altitude and being an early warning system when projects have overruns or other issues. But my job is to sound the alarm and I have done so many times over the past years in a host of ways.

 

CONTENTS

ARGUS REPORT: A icon of a past time: President George H.W. Bush, 41, passes, as young aviator believed life was a CAVU Day, diplomate, spymaster, keen competitor, Gulf War I 22 nation coalition, in four-day war, was work of a global statesman.

STATE of FLORIDA: 16 states have strong cyber stalking laws but not Florida, Legislators should look at this before it happens to them!

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: commission taps two veterans on body, chair Edmonson & Sosa, again vice-chair

Miami-Dade County Public Schools: Board taps Tabares Hantman & Dr. Martin Karp for leadership positions, will WLRN license controversy come to an end?

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST: JHS like a phoenix rebuilds itself, Bariatric and transplants two areas for growth girders rising on the campus

CITY OF MIAMI: Mayor Francis Suarez updates Greater Miami Chamber, I had jury duty and missed it, has been heading into headwinds especially with Carollo

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

EDITORIALS: Mayor Suarez’s strong mayor proposal flawed should not allow outside income for either mayor or manager, not about him but future mayors – Politicians don’t realize voter’s frustration is they are such hypocrites, many times (like now when congress gets paid but no other federal departments with a gov. shut-down) in their own actions Florida Constitutional commission should insist on transparency, not darkness as Sunshine law gets diluted — Most politicians hate the press- Florida needs Sunshine Amendment many municipalities out of control and get little press coverage or oversight, legislators are on wrong side of this one

 

Community Event: Lotus Village gala https://lotushouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2019-Gala-Sponsorship-Package-final.pdf

 

>>> If you wish to be deleted, just e-mail me with that message.

 

knight-logo-300

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

 

>>> And here is the story done by Miami New Times when they named the publisher as the community’s Best of Miami and Best Citizen and to read the story go to: http://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517      

 

>> Given his dedication and perseverance, this new honor, Best Citizen, is well deserved. Ricker goes to 2500 mind-melting meetings annually, from the Public Health Trust’s purchasing subcommittee to the Efficiency and Competition Commission to the Alliance for Human Services’ nominating council to the school board’s audit committee. Sometimes he’s the only public observe

 

Object: to be the Public Citizen for all those out there who can’t attend, and to connect and serve as an information bridge[electrolyte] among the special-interest-dominated Miami-Dade governmental institutions that seem newsletter, The Watchdog Report, celebrates its [18h] Anniversary. In a former life Ricker made a handsome living as an international salesman of heart pacemakers. As the hard-working publisher of Watchdog, though, he’s struggling financially — this even though his weekly compendium of meeting summaries, analysis, interviews, and commentary has become essential reading for anyone involved in public affairs. What his written work may lack in polish, it more than makes up for in comprehensiveness. So, raise a toast to the man whose official slogan says it all: “A community education resource — I go when you cannot!”

 

ARGUS REPORT: Heard Seen on the Street

 

>>>> A icon of a past time: President George H.W. Bush, 41, passes, as young aviator believed life was a CAVU Day, diplomate, spymaster, keen competitor, gulf War I 22 nation coalition, in four-day war, was work of a global statesman.

 

America got a three-day civics class with the passing of President George H W Bush, at 94 and the nation’s 41 president and the statesman, diplomate and navel aviator provided a compass of what public service looks like and his kindness civility and duty to country and not pounding one’s chest is a hallmark legacy a word he hated to use. His career included being the special envoy to the People’s Republic of China where he and his wife Barbara rode bikes in Beijing getting to know the Chinese’s people many of whom had never seen a westerner and he was the last vestige of the Greatest Generation and had Sen. Bob Dole getting out of his wheel chair and giving the president one last salute after he was wounded in the Italian campaign and would go on to lead the senate.

 

What about the U.S. Custom’s Blue Monster speed boat designed by Don Aronson? And later murdered?

 

Customs boat

Vice President Bush who was given the task to end drug shipment’s in Miami and review deregulation and stop drugs coming into the nation by President Ronald Reagan. Bush who had his own cigarette speed boat in Kennebunkport called Fidelity and he took out the super-fast customs Blue Monster with two 165 hp inboard motors on the Miami River and Biscayne Bay back in the early 1980s. The man considered a Renaissance man by many was the most prepared one-term president in our history. He exemplified Duty. Honor, Country in his public service and president Jerrie Ford appointed him to the head the CIA after it was mired in controversy like experiments on people given LSD and after Watergate congress was clamoring for the CIA to get its act together and go back to its mission. The assignment was considered a political dead end at the time but Bush would later say it was the most interesting job he had ever done: For more on the drug era go to:http://18aedmunds.wixsite.com/miamicocainecrisis/federal-government

And here is further story on Bush, a man whose temperament is missed in the world of President Donald Trump:https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2018/12/03/i-love-you-precious-george-hw-bushs-moving-funny-inspiring-letters/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.22d88938d867

 

>>> The Miami Foundation is starting a program where people can tell their Miami story and to tell your story go to :https://miamifoundation.org/mymiamistory/https:

 

Give Miami Day was a rousing success with donations topping a new record and Camillus House did very well and shows that Miami is a very giving city something that was always not the case.

 

> October is Rett Syndrome Awareness month “I am her voice she is my heart,” and to support Julianne Espinosa at http://events.rettsyndrome.org/goJulianne Espinosa2018

 

What about the internet back in 2000?

 

Back then everyone was using e-mail and would say to people at the time “my email is on the card,” very proudly and even then, there was a question if this would stay around but later exploded to what it is today. Further the community’s major public institutions were like giant ships in the night not knowing what each was doing in an aggregate way. Wasting millions in public tax dollars since they operate in a discrete fashion.

 

>>> I also pushed to have schoolboard committees taped. Since I had the only tapes of these and contained what was said about a variety of land purchases sold by politically connected individuals with one piece needing some $49 million in demucking given the containments.

During the 1990s one trick in Miami was to sell contaminated land to a public entity which would in one deal involve some $44 million to demuck and clean up the site but the land was owned by a politically connected man. Now deceased school member Betsy Kaplan once said to me “Dan your trying to keep us out of jail,” she said. I responded, “no kidding.” And to read the early years go to Maya Bell’s long profile in the Orlando Sentinel and she spent weeks with me in an old BMW without air and it captured my journey in this endeavor and to read the national story go to:http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american

 

>>> Connect Miami is a new program trying to get residents to engage with their neighbors and friends to broaden community interaction something that at times may be difficult to do. And for more go to www.connectmiami.org And Many of the events are free.in the future.

 

STATE OF FLORIDA

 

>>> 16 states have strong cyber stalking laws but not Florida, Legislators should look at this before it happens to them

 

The upcoming Florida legislature must pass legislation strengthen laws regarding cyber stalking and such laws are common in 16 states and with cameras in dorms and many other sites even a home is capable of being hacked Floridians need greater protections. For it is clear this threat is not going away. Here is what some states are using re legal laws and the Florida legislature should beef up the statutes. For more go to http://www.ncsl.org/

 

>>> Scott on Friday signs last death warrant now off to the senate, did them at a brisk pace 28 death warrants over the two terms as governor

 

Gov Rick Scott signed his last death penalty bill for a man that stabbed a woman in Miami Dade and the press release came Friday as he transitions to be a senator and will be one of his last acts as governor. For more on this go to:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-jose-jimenez-death-warrant-20180718-story.html

 

Further, Children’s 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 children’s trust annual report:

 

What about the Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County?

 

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.

 
https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/sites/default/files/kcfinder/files/providers/analytics/reports/BOCC_2015-16_Statutory_Format_012317.pdf
Haj
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/

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

 

>>> Commission taps two veterans on body, chair Edmonson & Sosa tapped again as vice-chair

 

The county commission elected new leadership and Commissioner Audrey Edmonson was elected Chair for the second time and Commissioner Rebeca Sosa was elected vice-chair and the two women have worked well in the past. Edmonson cam e to the body after being mayor of El Portal and Sosa was a mayor in West Miami.

 

>>> Mayor Carlos Gimenez tells commissioners that the new LNG buses, if the technology is suitable may end up being pollution free electric buses. Commissioner Joe Martinez questioned if any cost savings and noted the LNG buses were bought because gas was high a few years ago and while reducing the carbon footprint. It was the fuel savings that tipped the scale toward LNG d

 

A county employee was honored after he created a way to save some $93,000 and chair Bovo noted that could pay for an employee. The man shot back “that he was taxpayer as well,” and the program over the past decade has resulted in several very good ideas on how the county can save money in its $78 billion budget.

 

At the infrastructure committee a discussion on a smart water meters a large contract was discussed versus retrofitting the older “dumb meters,” and is expected to save the county money while getting a more accurate reading. Commissioner Joe Martinez said he has had the department check his meter twice since he got a $700 water bill.

 

What about the 2009 IG report?

 

Years ago the county’s OIG office checked some 30,000 water meters on residences and in the fields where fire hydrants were supplying free water to farmers and in homes investigators found 15,000 private meters had been bypassed and was a local cottage industry costing the county “$35 million,” the report found in loss revenue an these smart meters will be introduced in the coming years.

 

What about weather concerns?

 

However, a previous visit had to be rescheduled because of a storm and that may weigh on their decision. The national convention is expected to bring some $300 million in economic impact and there are numerous facilities to hold the political convention. For more go to:https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami- beach/article220176635.htmlhttps://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article220176635.htmlhttps://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article220176635.html

 

What is the new elderly crisis coming?

 

Homeless seniors are becoming the biggest threat facing the county in the future and it is a “Crisis, said Ron Book,” the Homeless trust chair. At past trust meeting and the need for permanent housing for this emerging group is critical and he is on a crusade to find permanent housing the trust can buy but in Miami the inventory is small an expensive he has said in the past.

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

Ron Book has been making the political rounds speaking at Thursday’s Miami commission meeting Thursday about a new encampment in the inner city that has been blocked off by the health department after open sexual acts and drug dealing has resulted in a spike of AIDs cases and the finding of drug paraphernalia around the local schools and the trust gas gone into emergency mode to get these people into rehabilitation and other programs and those coming back are being addressed where one Women had “black lips,” gangrene and was “spotted having a rat eating the food in her mouth,” in her stupor condition said Book to city commissioners and she was taken into rehabilitation but this is the challenge the county’s homeless trust faces. For more go to https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/downtown-miami/article219921130.html

 

What about shot spotter technology 80% of shots residents hear do not call 9/11? Going to be combined with license plate readers in Miami and Miami Gardens, along with Ring security systems helping

 

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/ Update: In Miami Gardens which along with Miami are getting license plate readers one resident said large number of residents are using Ring security systems as well and hope all these efforts will reduce the violence facing the two municipalities.

>>> 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

 

GCVB: Press release: From January-October 2018, international passenger arrivals at Miami International Airport (MIA) reached a new record, increasing by +1.0 percent compared to the previous year. Domestic passenger increased by +2.3 percent compared to January-October 2017, contributing to record-breaking passenger arrivals with an increase of +1.6 percent.

RECORD MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ARRIVALS FOR
JANUARY-OCTOBER 2018
MIA Passenger Arrivals
Domestic Arrivals
January-October 2018 January-October 2017 % Change vs. 2017
9,522,443 9,312,820 +2.3%
 
 Record International Arrivals
January-October 2018 January-October 2017 % Change vs. 2017
9,211,556 9,,124,047 +1.0%
 
Record Total Arrivals
January-October 2018 January-October 2017 % Change vs. 2017
18,733,999 18,436,867 +1.6%

 

 

>>> 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

 

Chapman, Jr. partnership go to: https://www.chapmanpartnership.org/about-us/leadership/ https://www.chapmanpartnership.org/wpq_events/nextgen-gala-party/

 

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

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

 

>>>> Board taps Tabares Hantman & Dr. Martin Karp for leadership positions, will WLRN license controversy come to an end?

 

The school board voted its new leadership and long serving chair Perla Tabares Hantman was reelected and Dr. Martin Karp is the vice chair on the nine-member board. That years go voted over 100 times on new leadership but Hantman who believes in diplomacy versus fighting with the Florida legislature or by suing the state she has said in the past. She also asks for civility among the board and has a great memory when it comes to past board legislation and is also on the county’s Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) as a long-time member with great attendance.

 

Karp in the past has been on the WLRN oversight board that is slowly working on an operating agreement that keeps the station independent of the administration and includes an advisory board of prominent media professionals working to craft a satisfactory agreement with the district that holds the station’s license. Critics believe the schoolboard and the station should be independent and not require staff to be school district employees. Supt. Alberto Carvalho has argued that the district when it comes to this should be with consistent with other such agreements, especially approving the general manager and his level of pay.

 

>>>> District’s referendum for additional funding will have oversight board similar but different from 2012 GOB oversight since a shorter duration, says Carvalho

 

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

 

>>> JHS like a phoenix rebuilds itself, Bariatric and transplants two areas for growth girders rising on the campus

 

Residents need to drive by the public Health trust campus as girders and new construction is occurring on the campus

 

What about Bariatric surgery and the UM transplant program?

 

The health system is running ads for the bariatric surgery and a woman gave a testimonial at a committee meeting saying her weight was the same as her weight when “she was 22 and can now do exercise and climb stairs. The trust is also running television ads,” she said, and the system is great and a big supporter.

 

>>>> Miami-Dade residents benefiting from FIU working and training at JHS, says community icon DR. Joe Greer

 

The PHT and Jackson Health System is holding its own and the dashboard that years ago was mostly red but in many areas green is becoming the new norm though the public system is still under fiscal pressure and in talking to Pedro “Joe” Greer, Jr, M.D. on Friday he says the relation between JHS and the FIU Weithorn College of Medicine has gotten much better and the new medical students are doing community medicine something that Greer for decades was promoting and is a community icon who was born at Jackson and the new physicians are getting rave reviews by their peers and around Miami-Dade County along with UM’s Miller Medical school top flight medical services are being available to the public and the alliance is only making health outcomes better and that is a good thing. To read the trust’s upcoming meeting and finances go to:

https://www.jhsmiami.org/WebApps/publicDocs/docLib/PHT_BOT_Meetings_Current/PHT_BOT_OneDayCommittee/2018-10-31%20-%20PHT%20BOT%20ONE-DAY%20COMMITTEE%20MEETINGS%20AGENDAS.pdf

 

>>>> Jackson Health System: has a “lock on charity care,” internal report says $884 million given past year, new high also hitting all hospitals

 

The JHS system has the “lock on indigent care in the county” said, CEO Carlos Migoya,” state’s a recent charity report generated by Jackson Health System and it highlights the amount of uncompensated care countywide and Commissioner Daniel Levine-Cava who represents South Dade. She noted in her district that Baptist Health in Homestead does a significant amount of charity care at the new state of the art hospital that replaced an outdated 1950 hospital flattened after Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

 

What about the $884 million in charity care report at JHS?

 

A new charity care report has been released and a consultant’s study says the public health system does some $884 million in charity care and with cutbacks in LIP. The lower income pool the costs are expected to rise and over the years all the hospitals in Dade have had issues with charity care and years ago Mt Sinai Medical Center did some $130 million in uncompensated care and Baptist Health also gets hit with some $250 to $300 million in charity care or 24 percent of the community’s charity care and JHS is still saddled with $78.8 million in uncompensated mandates to the county that began in early 2000 and includes costs for jail inmates and a host of other expenses and to read the complete report go to: the report was requested by county commissioners Barbara Jordan and Daniella Levine-Cava go to http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/legistarfiles/Matters/Y2018/181871.pdf

>>>> The PHT closed its last quarter in the black and continues a six-month trend of operating in the black ($55 million cash on hand) 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# >>> 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

 

>>> County OIG report on Career Source and workforce development in Monroe and Miami-Dade; to read the report go to: http://www.miamidadeig.org/Reports2018/FinalAuditReport-CareerSourceSouthFlorida.pdf

 

CITY OF MIAMI

 

>>> Mayor Francis Suarez updates Greater Miami Chamber, I had jury duty and missed it, has been heading into headwinds especially with Carollo

 

The Watchdog report was unable to attend the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon Wednesday whose administration has gotten off to a rocky start and featured new Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. Suarez who was denied by voters to become a strong mayor has been cruising on his 75 percent election win and seems hesitant to embrace the many cultures of Miami a Minority majority community and fire brand Commissioner Joe Carollo words harkens back to 2000 up this community tension and had the community split with people in Homestead and blacks protesting the Cubans

 

What about The Waterfront Advisory Board and staff reductions?

 

The Miami waterfront board wants some staff help after liaison Robert Weintraub left the city and the concern was a FINE grant application and losing the money, but his board needs some help

 

What about the Miami Finance Committee meeting?

 

The WDR attended the Miami Finance committee but was late after the managers office receptionist was gone and I went through the mayor’s office, but I lost some 20 minutes and that should not happen.

 

http://ethics.miamidade.gov/library/closed%20investigations/2018/pi_18-10_bayfront-park-ultra.pdf

 

What do his financial disclosures look like since 22014 to 2017?

 

Suarez said he had no income since he had just started to work at a law firm so I checked his financial disclosure forms from 2014 where through June he was worth $13,018.44 and in 2016 it jumps to $100,163 the same net worth he had back in 2016 and in 2017 his net worth was $245,015 and I only checked this information since he is seeking to become a strong mayor and since his salary in that initiative is referenced to be 75 percent the county mayors salary. Suarez got a significant raise since in the county budget there was a pay raise of $250,000 in the budget passed Thursday night for Carlos Gimenez and could even grow higher for Suarez and will be cherry on the compensation cake for the young real-estate attorney who will not confirm he will have no outside income with this bump and is od since most senior officials focus only on their duties ( ask ex Broward Sheriff Ken Jenne about this after he went to prison on tax evasion).Editor’s note: My biggest issue is not the banning of outside income.

 

COMMMUNITY EVENTS

 

Lotus Village Event

 

Join    Us       at         the      2019   Gala   Benefiting      Lotus  House            and     celebrating    All            Things            New    at         Lotus  House,           most   importantly,   new    lives    and     brighter            futures            with     your    help.   Your    sponsorship  provides         essential        programs            that     heal,   support,         nurture,          educate,        and     uplift   women,         youth, and            children         to         improve         the      quality            of         their    lives    on       every   level            and     build   the      foundation     for       a          safer,  healthier,       brighter          future.

 

2019   LOTUS           HOUSE          GALA 

 

ALL     THINGS         NEW!  New    Village,           New    Programs,     New    Clinic, New    Lives

 

Thursday,  April  18,    2019,         at      The   Margulies  Collection  at      the         WAREhOUSE      Wynwood   Arts   District:      591   NW    27th  St.,    Miami,         33127       

 

6:00pm          VIP      Reception                                         7:00pm          Dinner            and     Program        6-9pm    Silent  Art       Auction

 

EDITORIAL

 

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

 

>>>

 

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        

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

>>> 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 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

 

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2018, Daniel A. 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. ************

Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form Thank you

 

Supporting Sponsors $5,000

Sustaining Sponsors $2,000

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

Large Business Supporters $500

Small Business Supporters $250 

Individual Supporter $150

Make Checks payable to Daniel Ricker

3109 Grand Ave, #125 Miami, Florida 33133

 


Tags:

 
 
 

Comments are closed.