Watchdog Report Vol.20 Vol.04 EST:05.05.00 – Celebrating almost 20 Years of Weekly publishing – I go when you cannot
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!
>>>>Further today is my Vol.20, 04 weekly edition since 05.05.00 of publishing the Watchdog Report and while I have had a variety issues over the past years, I thank my supporters again for the privilege of doing this free news service along with the internet.
May you and your family have a great, safe New Year in 2019 and let us pray we learn to have a civil discourse in the nation’s political universe in this coming year.
>>> 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 the www.watchdogreport.net in South Florida is an established news service presence, because most people are too busy to go to these important meetings., 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: Conservatives say Trump ‘caved’ on opening government, concern over plane safety may have tipped the scale? – With the federal government shut down in day 21, the life blood of Miami-Dade County and Florida is “tourism,” and is the golden apple of South Florida but between snow storms in the north which is our get out of jail card when any social turbulence hits our community – – The super bowl is not the big enchilada of upcoming events, but the 2020 Census is, undercount costs millions, maybe even a new future house seat like in 2000, the worse count ever after Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez sent fear through the Cuban community of the federal government, some $800 billion at stake for some counties around the nation.
STATE of FLORIDA: First DeSantis head Ertel falls on sword, after black face photo surfaces – taps judges’ luck & Lagoa to supreme courts, benign financial disclosures, see below
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: Domestic violence takes a new twist, “strangulation,” new issue, difficult for cops to see since bruising takes a couple of days, may being underreported in Miami-Dade – Last week’s hot topics were, vehicles & furniture, “4 to 10 police,” vehicles a week can be processed by county in new police cars, $84 million contract, $38 million from previous year “1,006 new cars from that amount
Miami-Dade County Public Schools: OIG finds principle used staff as a nanny, shows importance of office in watching over publics tax dollars, also on Monday the school board approved an agreement with the FOP that will result in police officers at all the district’s public schools
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST: Son of former PHT Chair Amadeo Lopez Castro, Jr., tapped for PHT board, along with Dr. Richardson reappointed —
JHS like a phoenix rebuilds itself, Bariatric and transplants two areas for growth girders rising on the campus
CITY OF MIAMI: mayor Suarez moving on up now sitting on dais between manager and attorney, make it seem he is a strong mayor though voters rejected that idea, not stopping him – Bayside Foundation Willy Gort scholarship to get $250,000 anti-poverty funding from his dist.1 fund, foundation gives $200,000 in scholarships, odd taxpayer money being used, will it start a trend of scholarship programs?
EDITORIALS: Elected leaders’ foreign trips, could determine if they are Marco Polo, to county and city voters! – 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.
>>> 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
>>> Conservatives say Trump ‘caved’ on opening government, concern over plane safety may have tipped the scale
After 35-days the government shut down is over and people are saying President Donald Trump caved to the Democrats since no border wall funding was achieved and Washington leaders now have 30-days to come -up with a more permanent budget.
However, the cost of the shutdown is considerable and the problems with planes since the air controllers were in short supply seems to have convinced trump with the public, he would be held responsible, however, his demand for wall funding is a nonstarter for Democrats. Trump knew during this time if an air disaster happened the blame would fall at his feet. However, Trump is being pillared in conservative circles for doing the shut-down but getting nothing in return and conservative commentators are saying “We voted for trump, but got Jeb,’ after his rose garden press conference
What about Roger Stone?
The FBI raided flamboyant Roger Stone’s home last week. The man who has a tattoo of Richard Nixon on his back and consider himself as a dirty trickster and a darling over the decades with a certain fringe of political people.
Locally during November 2000, he helped organize the “Brooks Brothers,” disturbance when DNC Chair Joe Geller was spotted with what people thought was a real ballot in the hallway and the disturbance resulted in the canvassing board ending the recount early back then but gave Stone new cachet in political GOP circles. His attorney Bruce Rogow, a major first amendment attorney, seen at many government meetings challenging some legislation generally is representing Stone.
Who is becoming political commentators?
Former congressman Carlos Curbelllo, R-Miami and pollster Fernand Amandi are becoming frequent quests on CNBC as commentators and the pollster was a big supporter of Donna Shalala’ congressional campaign that she won and was appointed to the very powerful Rules committee in the house, and was the first committee created in the nation’s history and congressional women Debbie Wassermann Schultz is again a cardinal in the house a very important status when it comes to directing federal monies in the nation.
What have I learned being a watchdog of our community’s public institutions?
Since 1997 I have watched the interaction of all our public institutions and there is still a need for an information facilitator between these public institutions and while these institutions are communicating and are not like ships passing in the night saying essentially to each other drop dead we will do what we want regardless if its redundant or counterproductive. That has been my goal to be information nervous system. “
What about the county mayor’s race in 2020?
The word on the street is that former county mayor Alex Penelas is thinking about jumping into the race and has mega fundraiser Brian Goldmeier is doing his fundraising and while the former mayor a Democrat, has been out of politics since he lost a bid for the senate back in 2004. Former vice presient candidae Al Gore called Penelas the most distrustful politician he has ever met, and a host of mayoral candidates is emerging. Since several county commissioners and Gimenez are termed out in this election cycle.
>>> Who knew that there was a Trump Teddy Bear and it comes with an American flag in the front and an ad has a biker with the bear on his handle bars cruising down the road. I only became aware because of a television ad I saw. See the ad here for trumpy Bear
What about women and equal pay?
The Miami -Dade County Commission on the status of women after a FIU study was done and it shows there is still a wage gap that has some 27 percent of the women living in poverty but that number would drop to if women were paid the same wages as men and more women are now college graduates in the county and for more on the study go to https://equalpaymiamidade.org/
>>>> Further, the League of Women Voters was honored at the county and school board and who knew the voter information organization once had a man as president, Sandy Leone, for a period.
>> The super bowl is not the big enchilada of upcoming events, but the 2020 Census is, undercount costs millions, maybe even a new house seat like in 2000, the worse count after Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez, sent fear through the Cuban community of federal government, Chair Bovo wants to help this important event, All hands-on deck activity
While Miami-Dade county is preparing for the Super Bowl next year a bigger event is coming in the 2020 U.S. Census that in Miami the count has been generally a flawed process and the worst count was the 2000 Census after the young boy Elian Gonzalez was extracted from Little Havana and the community erupted in ethnic tensions and fear for many residents since even though the count is done by the commerce department many saw a “federally,” and would not participate and years later the numbers had to be revised and south Florida got an extra congressional seat that was later filled by U.S> Rep. Mario Diaz Ballart, R-Miami and the census count per person back then brought some $23,000 in federal funding and was in stark contrast to other counties around the nation where very high count was achieved. Further for some counties the undercount could result in some communities losing some $800 billion in lost federal funding that includes Medicare funding and a host of other programs.
School Board member Lubby Navarro is part of the 2020 census taskforce being assembled an she spoke in front of the county commission about the important matter and noted residents will get a form with a number on it and they can file online using that number. She also noted there will be Major outreach at schools’ libraries and other sites with NGOs to get an accurate count and the community’s fair share of representation and federal funding. She also noted we might get a new house seat if the census is done accurately.
Update?
County Commissioner Dennis Moss asked to put a representative from the United Way of Miami-Dade, The Children’s Trust on the 2020 Census Task Force given the importance of children to explain to parents what the national census is and is not used to target illegal people.
Back in 2000 I watched and wrote a lot about the undercount and how it starts and then stops, though the county did get an extension back then but that is no longer assured.
https://www.naco.org/articles/2020-census-what-counties-need-do-now-prepare
>>> 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.
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
>>> First DeSantis head Ertel falls on sword, after black face photo surfaces
Gov. Ron DeSantis has lost his secretary of state Mike Ertel after a photo surfaced of hm wearing black face and a bandana saying Katrina victim and is the first appointee in his administration to have to fall on his sword. However, the governor is starting to get good and hopeful reviews many in contrast to his successor Rick Scott now in the senate. For more go to:https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2019/01/24/floridas-top-election-officials-resigns-amid-blackface-scandal-811762
>>> Two more supervisors of elections out, Palm Beach Bucher, Snipes gets retirement pension, DeSantis taps two GOP replacements in Democratic leaning counties, taps luck & Lagoa to supreme courts, benign financial disclosures, see below
Gov. Ron DeSantis is wasting no time as he suspends Pal Beach Elections supervisor Susan Boucher and accepts Broward supervisor Brenda Snipes resignation letter allowing her to have her pension after decades ago when she was elected in 2004 after Miriam Oliphant was removed from office for dereliction of duty and Jeb Bush appointed Brenda Snipes a school administrator with a Dr. in education> Further the purge goes on and a swath of members of the SFWM board are gone.
What about the new Florida Supreme Court judges?
De Santis also has appointed another Florida Supreme court Judge Robert Luck and Barbara Lagoa and both are highly respected jurists, both from third court district appeals court
What about their finances?
Luck has a net worth of $1.098 million through Dec. 17 and Lagoa comes in at $1,153,265 through May 31, 2018.
What about the Governors financial disclosure form?
De Santis through Dec.31, 2017 had a net worth of $310,971, and his home is worth $480,000, and has two loans one with JP Morgan $205,000 and with Wentworth he owes 267,500. The rest of the disclosure is begin and to read it go to; http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/Forms/2017/275100-Form6.pdf
>>> DeSantis in course of term will make 4,000 board appointments, not happy with a few water district board members and some of their deals
Florida Tax Watch has estimated that an incoming governor in the course of one four year term will appoint some 4,000 people to a host of boards around the state and incoming Gov. Ron De Santos is said to be looking closely at a number of people especially in the water management districts that have done some unusual land deals and the man is softening some of his past rhetoric since winning the close race.
>>> 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/
What about the Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade Count funded by taxpayers and nurtures our children?
Check out all the programs the Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade
https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/
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
>>> Domestic violence takes a new twist, “strangulation,” new issue, difficult for cops to see since bruising takes a couple of days, may being underreported in Miami-Dade
When it comes to domestic violence a new way is being reported, strangulation said county commissioner Sally Heyman during a discussion at Tuesday’s and presentation about the county’s domestic violence board and its need for another safe house for abused residents. The police when it comes to strangulation may not file a report since versus being hit where a bruise is easily visible but with strangulation it may take days for the trauma to be seen said Heyman. She noted the issue was being discussed at a national county organization national association of counties (NACO).
.
The board of county commissioners voted on two Jackson memorial trustees on Tuesday and one new member is a relative to a past PHT chairmen Amadeo López Castro and it is his son an attorney Amadeo Lopez Castro, III and the commission also reappointed Dr.
Commissioner Dennis Moss has suggested a representative from the Children’s trust and the United Way of Miami be on the 2020 Census taskforce because the correct count is so important to the community and there is concern given the possible question of one’s immigration status and will have a chilling effect
>>> Last week’s hot topics were, vehicles & furniture, “4 to 10 police,” vehicles a week can be processed by county in new police cars, $84 million contract, $38 million from previous year “1,0006 new cars from that amount
Last week at the last committee meetings for a number of county commissioners Chair Rebeca Sosa and Jean Monestime, and Javier Souto all had their last meeting and Souto who has been chair of the parks and recreation committee that commissioner Barbara Jordan called a lifetime and. Souto thinks parks are “scared like a church,” and is a big tourist draw the life blood of the counties revenues that pay for all the cultural perks including helping fund the county’s homeless trust.
What about a furniture and vehicle contract costing millions?
Commissioner Joe Martinez a former police officer took the administration to the wood shed after the administration missed deadline when ordering new police cars and some fire apparatus and garbage trucks that leave a sheen of oil when thy pass by in neighborhoods because they’re so old. And the r
What about the furniture contract?
Commissioners at a committee challenged the administration’s request for some $84 million in a variety of furniture that is needed in many county facilities commissioners and the word “furniture is a misnomer, said budget director Jennifer Moon to commissioners on explaining what the contract involved.
What about the chairs on the commission?
Joe Martinez noted the last time new chairs came up it was being pushed by past commissioner Bruno Barreiro when there many years in use and in the media, there was a firestorm and Martinez said eventually the commissioners will be at floor level, he suggested and wondered why some county employees got ergometric chairs but not the commission
What about Suarez after he said he lost a button off his blazer?
Xavier Suarez was dressed casually the first time without a tie since he lost a button on hi blazer and his wife apparently nixed him getting a new blue blazer he noted. Suarez sis also unsatisfied with the $6,000 in commission pay and must answer his phone on the dais if it’s a client. Found out he got his wife Rita only allowed him to run when she found out he got “free health insurance, he said after being sworn in in 2011 in a rambling 27 minute long speech and the WDR dubbed him the rambling man.
>>>> Chair Edmonson & vice chair Soda take the helm Friday, continue collegiate dialogue tone set by outgoing chair Bovo, term limits and institution history leaving body in mass
County Commission Chair Audrey Edmonson was sworn in Friday in a packed chamber in government center along with Vice Chair Rebeca Sosa, a process supporting reform maven given the unenviable job at; looking at procurement process at the county and her reforms have served well. Edmonson is on a host of county boards at the Jackson Health system (where she is on the nominating council and the oversight board for the system’s GOB committee, and the Adrianne Arsht Center for the perming Arts)
What about shot spotter more cameras and extra police for school safety.?
Mayor Gimenez told commissioners recently shot spotter and their use by police that someday drones may be found “on police cars in the future,” after commissioner Javier Souto went into a discussion about the need for police “to have eyes in the sky,” he thought and would decrease gun violence.
Further the county has “three dome areas,” which is what the shot spotter areas are called and the Ring security camera on people’s homes i reducing crime and Gimenez at his home has one and he can keep track of his home.
Gimenez said the one-time funding to have county police guard schools cannot be sustained and will approach school district Superintendent Alberto Carvalho in January since the district had a bond passed to enhance teacher pay and more school security that the county cannot cover any longer. MDPD director Juan Perez that shell casings collected by ATF is an invaluable tool along with license plate reader technology. He noted two officers killed in south dad end the shell casings showed the gun was “used five times before,” in a crime said Perez.
>>> Sidewalks on Flagler street like mountain trails in Pyrenees mountain paths, says commissioner Higgins said an older woman fell when she was watching pedestrians on the street, has found with state county commissioners have very little leverage
FDOT Flagler street work puts pedestrians at risk County Commissioner Eileen Higgins said she an older lady fell on sidewalk under construction and a path like trail similar “the Pyrenees,” mountains,” she maintains
The recent Orange Bowl recently is said to have generated some “220 million in economic development,” said past chair Donald Slesnick, II to the count commissioners in December and the Orange Bowl football game was to showcase South Florida and competed with the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Each commissioner was given a split team helmet and these need to be listed as gifts because they are well worth more than the $100.00 gift threshold and need to be reported
>>> Dr. Frost settles civil SEC case with $100,000 penalty, legal bill at museum continues to rise
Dr. Philip Frost the benefactor of the Dr. Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science settled with the security exchange commission for a stock pump and dump scheme with a few men and is paying a $100,000 fine in the civil case and he still must deal with investors who lost money. For more go to: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article223637625.html
What about legal bills mounting at the Frost?
Extensive litigation is going on with the many vendors after then CEO Gillian Thomas fired abruptly the lead construction company Suffolk Construction and legal costs are coming into the $5 million range and still climbing said a reliable source. The only reason I write about this was during the construction the county IG nor the press could cover the meetings and the public had to rely on Michael spring the cultural director at Miami-Dade County. At a time when it was suddenly announced the organization would run out of money.
Will elections and sheriff be political patronage havens, or repositories for termed out elected officials to land?
This highlights the problem when offices r e political like a supervisor of elections, sheriff and a host of others recently created by statewide voters and create political patronage rather than competency is one of the reasons Broward elections supervisor Brenda Snipes had problems in November’s elections
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 is the new elderly crisis coming seniors & children housing money their lack of permanent long-term homes?
Homeless seniors are becoming the biggest threat facing the county in the future and it is a “Crisis, said Ron Book,” the Miami-Dade County 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 and has some elderly having to live in shelters for up to “1,000,” s and that number qualifying will only increase in the future.
Ron Book has been making the political rounds speaking at a Miami commission meeting 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 has 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
IG Report affordable housing contractor investigation?
>>> 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
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PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST
>>> Son of former PHT Chair Amadeo Lopez Castro, Jr., tapped for PHT board, along with Dr. Richardson reappointed
The son of former PHT chair Amadeo Lopez Castro, Jr., has been appointed to the PHT board when the county commission Tuesday approved his nomination to the seven-member board along with the reappointment of Dr. Walter T. Richardson currently serving on the seven-member oversight board. Amadeo Lopez Castro, III is a real-estate attorney in coral Gables and went to Suffolk University law school and Loyola university as an undergraduate
>>>>Dr. Lilian Rivera, the head of the Florida Health Department in Miami Dade, was honored, dealt with Zika, Dengue, AIDs and a host of other health issues, made her mark as a health professional
Was honored on her retirement from the Florida Health department and the woman working with Jackson health System has dealt with a host of medical challenges over the years ranging from the appearance of Zika, Dengue Fever and a host of other infectious diseases including AIDs and she is a competent public health official who is retiring back to her Puerto Rico homeland rebuilding after the hurricane and she gave a shout out to Jackson Memorial CEO Carlos Migoya and her expertise and compassion will be missed by the community. For more on her go to:http://miamidade.floridahealth.gov/about-us/senior-leaders/lillian-rivera.html
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
>>> OIG finds principle used staff as a nanny, shows importance of office in watching over publics tax dollars -OIG report principle hires nanny on district money
http://www.miamidadeig.org/Reports2017/DOC102717.pdf
CITY OF MIAMI
>>> Mayor Suarez moving on up now sitting on dais between manager and attorney, make it seem he is a strong mayor though voters rejected that idea, not stopping him
Well Mayor Francis Suarez may have failed in his bid to become a strong mayor rejected by city voters, but he is moving ahead any way and now sits between the city attorney and manager with a sign below his seat on the dais proclaiming the occupant is mayor Francis Suarez on the commission dais and that is a first. Further we will see over the weeks if he takes a more aggressive tone in his battles with commissioners and was seen on the questionable deal for a new city government center that commissioner Joe Carollo believes is a terrible deal and hammered Suarez during the commission discussion Thursday.
What about the student savings accounts?
Miami is creating a savings account for every kindergarten student on free food at schools and the program from San Francisco is expected to “triple the number of students,” that go to college and is being administered by the Miami Foundation, united Way of Miami-Dade, catalyst Miami, and a number of other not for profits and has the full backing of public schools superintendent Alberto Carvalho’s program was brought to the commission by mayor Francis Suarez.
The city for the Willie Gort scholarship approved the $250,000 grant to the Bayside Foundation to administer. However, the WDR is curious if all the other four commissioners want their own name scholarship’s as a legacy.
What about the dedication of museum Park after Maurice Ferré, the ceremony comes the same day that Miami-Dade Cunty mayor Carlos Gimenez is giving his state of the county speech?
>>> Bayside Foundation Willy Gort scholarship to get anti-poverty funding from his dist.1 fund, foundation gives $200,000 in scholarships, odd taxpayer money being used, will it start a trend of commissioner scholarship programs?
Who knew there was a Willie Gort scholarship managed by the Bayside Foundation and the commission is asking to approve some funding ($250,000) from the commissioner’s anti-poverty fund from his District 1 allocation? Gort termed out in 2020 has been a fixture on the commission for decades but recently is taking trips on trade mission junkets along with mayor Francis Suarez and CAMACOL paid for the trip but when elected leaders get termed out this is when these trips multiply and yeas it is to promote the city these delegations after often feted and have a great time.
What happened back in 2000?
A man claiming to be the vice-mayor of Miami In Paris was wined and dined, staying in Villas as and when they came to Miami they could stay at Viscata to the point the state department was getting concerned and sent a fax to the mayor of Hialeah of the man’s card that listed a Miami Beach address and the mayor sent the info to then Mayor Joe Carollo and I wrote about back then and after that he disappeared even though the incident did trigger an ethics commission investigation. Further these traveling elected leaders are increasingly bringing a sergeant of arms and ads extra costs
https://miamibaysidefoundation.org/education/scholarships/mbfwilly-gort-scholarship/
http://www.mdc.edu/financialaid/documents/Gort-Scholarship.pdf
>>>> MESA Chaired under former mayor Regalado hires and supports questionable director, audit report finds major lapse of city code, some $170 million not included in city budgets from a host of organizations and CRAs
The Miami independent auditor gave Miami a gift for the new Year and the detailed audit of the obscure Miami agency Miami Exhibition Sports Authority (MESA) shows under former Mayor Tomas Regalado rules and procedures were bypassed and the former mayor’s aide Lourdes Blanco,62, did not have the skill sets (only a AA) for the job as Director and a combined salary of $112,976 since she was also paid out of a second budget. She claims the audit is a ‘witch hunt,’ and did nothing wrong but lack of oversight and violation of city policies is disturbing and the audit Theodore Guba, C.P.A. report shows a failure of responsibility while also identifying some $170 million in an assortment of other accounts not included in the city budget. Further Blanco who is seeing the city told me months ago she was innocent, and she did not “write any checks,” that was done she said, “by an auditing firm,” she insisted and suggested she was being set up since a hot of lawsuits are coming from deals with MESA like a heliport or seaplane airport base. Further Regalado attended the last MESA meeting even though he was no longer mayor. The audit brings up the fact that minutes were not available, even thou Blanco had a stereo tape recorded in the middle of the table and she assured it was being taped years ago and I have minutes from past MESA meetings but back then there was a different director, and many have occupied that position.
Here is a sentence from the audit:
“We also found that approved budgets totaling $170 million for 14 authorities, agencies, and trusts were not included in the City’s adopted budget book.” Wrote the auditor and to see more go to
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article215641790.html
or to read the actual report go to:
What about internal [promotions and Reyes?
Miami Commissioner Manola Reyes wants the administration to look at asst. directors when it comes to promotions in the administration. He believes their loyalty to the job should be rewarded and gives an incentive. Currently there is a lot of changes in personnel as some members retire like the park’s director Kevin Kerwen.
>>> Lotus Village Event April 18
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
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EDITORIAL
>>> Elected leaders’ foreign trips could determine if they are Marco Polo, to county and city voters!
Since Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez is termed out next year he is a lame duck and he is using this time to become the community’s Marco Polo as he travels the globe with his wife in tow and while he pays for her trip it comes across to the public as someone with entitlements and is his reward for being the strong mayor since 2011 and while luckily the region is booming people are wondering what is being accomplished on what used to be called junkets in the congress. However, Miami is not some unknown place throughout the world, and I used to joke. I could be with headhunters in Borneo and say Miami and they would come back with a response. The man a former Miami Fire and Rescue Chief should consider what his legacy will be in the twilight of his political career and these types of trips are little dings, especially since he never admits he might be wrong and bristles when challenged with is lobbyist son C.J. Gimenez his biggest liability as he ply’s the halls of the municipal governments.
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 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
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Daniel A. Ricker
Publisher & Editor
Watchdog Report
Est. 05.05.00
Copyright © of original material, 2018, Daniel A. Ricker
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
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