Watchdog Report Vol.19 No.21 June 30, 2017 EST 05.05.00 – I go when you cannot – Celebrating almost 20-years of weekly publishing

Alan Abramowitz

Executive Director

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What about the issue of homeless children in Miami-Dade?

 

The Miami-Dade Count point count recently was 947 kids on streets since this most recent count? “The count found 49 percent were ’homeless the first time,” 65 percent were non-Hispanic, and 40 percent were LGBT and 180 people were moved into new homes and the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust participated in the 100 Day challenge and above is some of the results I asked trust chair Ron book about the program discussed at the trust meeting Friday and he responded: “The 100 Day Challenge relates to ending youth homelessness, and we were 1 of 5 Communities identified nationally. We accepted the challenge, and there are now 15 Communities in the Country that have accepted it. We are considered probably if not the most successful to complete the 100 Day Challenge ranking in the top 2 or 3.”

 

We did things to create new best practices, and if you had the opportunity, which you may already have seen the video from the Chicago Summit, you would see that the other 4 that participated in this 100 Day Challenge were truly taken by our efforts, commitment, and our success. We blew our goals out of the water, and we will continue to push, and pursue every youth that are on our streets until we have everyone out, and taken care of,” wrote the long-time chair.https://www.wesh.com/article/desmond-meade-on-time-100-speaks-to-what-this-country-is-all-about/27185500

 

>>>>What about Friday’s trust meeting and why was $150,000 donated to the trust of which $50,000 was from the city of Surfside?

 

Sen Oscar Braynon, D- Miami Gardens and state Rep. Nick Duran, R-Miami were both honored by the trust board as well as the manager of Surfside a former county employee. The $100,000 was from the state and the two legislators made it happen. Further, the trust signed a MOU with the stat attorney’s office re human trafficking cases the trust finds on the city’s streets.

 

> the 2020 Census Task force and the bureau are looking for census takers who are paid between $16.00 to $18.00 and include health benefits.

 

What about water in the school district?

 

During Wednesday’s school board meeting the student advisor asked about getting water for students and noted what happened in ‘Flint Michigan schools,’ and lead in the water system as Miami-Dade which pays for schools’ water is under-going a massive replumbing under a federal consent decree. This caught my eye because there may be a rumor that the county water is suspect and here are a couple reports on the matter

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article148112799.html

https://www8.miamidade.gov/global/water/water-quality-reports.page

 

I am trying a new format and will go back to the usual format next week

>>> 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.

 

WATCHDOG REPORT

Miami-Dade, Fla.
Vol.19 No. 21 June 30, 2019 Soon Celebrating almost 20 years of weekly publishing! www.watchdgreport.net & Former Miami Herald news & editorial columnist. EST: 05.05.00, I go when you cannot, for 1almost 18 years & a trusted community education resource & news service, without the attitude

 

CONTENTS

 

ARGUS REPORT: Harris comes to debate ready to rumble, Biden acts smug to his past racial positions, after Harris response, thought “he did not need a moment,” NPR reported last week. Miami Civil Service board violates Sunshine Law with extensive discussion while on coffee break after commissioner Carollo testifies about firing of aide claiming whistle blower status, all caught on city television — 2020 Census complete count top priority $177 million lost in 2010 count only,82 percent, says census bureau outreach coordinator Diaz a former Little Havana resident $675 billion annually at stake nationwide $29 billion goes to Florida commissioner Bovo leading the charge, school district must work closely to ensure accurate count students’ best way to explain to parents what the 2020 Census is, undercount costs millions, maybe even a new future house seat like in 2010, 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.

OBITUARY: Iconic community leader Sister Jeanne O’Laughlin passes at 90, made Barry University powerhouse in so many ways and S. Florida will miss her grace, integrity

STATE of FLORIDA: Governor Ron DeSantis Signs the Bold Vision for a Brighter Future Budget –UM Ryder sign MOU with Hebrew University, over half of all Israeli trauma surgeons trained at UM Ryder – Check out Children’s Trust heart gallery, kids needing forever homes, will break your heart when you see their smiles – Disruptive pre-k children getting “suspended,” new challenge for Children’s Trust — Complete 2020 Census count critical to get our share of $675 billion annually, some $29 billion in 2010, undercount costs $1,400 in lost revenue

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: Will new HUD program RAD help with affordable housing crisis, could create some 10,000 units in five to seven years in S. Florida?–With Miami-Dade #1 in HIV infections UM Idea program showing results needs second mobility van for dispensing HIV preventative drugs Prep doses “middle school students,” at “risk,” too says county commissioner Rebeca Sosa an educator. At the disparity committee Monday, a sobering presentation was done on the rising HIV infections IDEA the UM needle exchange pilot program needs dedicated mobile van may get surplus county van suggests, commissioner Jordan: -The Miami-Dade property Appraiser Thursday released his estimates and countrywide property tax value rose “5.9 percent,” with a value of $307,213,billion and this revenue bump is because of the new development to see the report by municipalities go to: http://www.miamidade.gov/pa/reports.asp

Will county commission spend this new tax revenue wisely while new commissioners are termed out, how much in rainy day fund? — M-D County Youth Commission finds “rampant,” bullying and “code reds,” climate change, vaping new issues, body creating the leaders of the future, and note Miami is one of the first “cities to run out of water say,” studies show- Will the county float a new GOB for infrastructure, getting thousands off septic tanks, suggests commissioner Jordan? –Commissioner Souto says with humongous county government mayor should “crack the whip,” believes, running slower, “wants more eyes on major contracts”– 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: District saves $68 million in COP bond refinancing, IG busts electrical contractor and minority “front” –Community leaders in shock after M-DC public Schools former chair Dr. Solomon Stimson charged with felony after shooting at police in Broward– School district will get property appraiser funding on time after value adjustment board met Monday and whittled down the time for appeals with more hearing masters, loss years ago was $171 million hit to district– School District Impact Fees audit Check out the audit and what the county owes to the public– http://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_May_14_2019/Agenda.pdf — Charter schools 134 of them are asking to receive some of the $1.2 billion GOB proceeds passed by county voters, teacher raises and facilities upgrades, is running into protests.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST: The new AOA agreement calls for health trust to pay $130 million to UM for a host of medical services and below is a complete breakdown of the services and payments.

http://www.seiu1991.org/files/2011/07/AOA-Payments-Rationale-and-Distribution-3.pdf

CITY OF MIAMI: Suarez administration runs into headwinds on MRC development project, Carollo calls it “sweetheart deal,” worse “than Marlin’s stadium deal,” the former mayor claims, only small # of city’s 4,400 employees work in building, mayor will deal after back from Honolulu — Unacceptable to hold public meeting in private venue excluding public Miami Parks Dir. Lara Hamway, needs ethics and Sunshine law class, I once went to Fischer Island MAC and was welcomed, mayor talks transparency, we need to see it. – A behind the look at F1 race negotiations done by county ethics commission, no charges since attorney did not accept getting “full VIP credentials,” went diving instead memo closed out, but fascinating read, Commission Chair Ken Russell tapped by Florida DNC as “chairman of their statewide Municipal Victory program,” in Orlando–Commission Dist. 1 candidate Alex de la Portilla trying to bounce back has $167,000 in war chest leads pack of candidates since Gort termed out, ex Miami commissioner Hernandez plying the halls of city hall was disbarred attorney for mortgage fraud – Mayor Suarez needs to get commission under control law practice gives Carollo a huge opening and now we find he is a lobbyist for ritzy Fisher Island, he is a well-paid mayor, causing his own problem by not fighting acknowledging the potential conflict — Will commission turbulence affect bond ratings, “you are not the chair,” says Carollo, says he “knows one Harvard idiot [referring to mayor’s father and political nemesis], commissioners tooling around in new $73,000, SUVs with massage chair button — Is Omni CRA public records request suggest Sarnoff will run for Dist. 2 seat? Man is known to be vindictive aloof, I was polled again– Commissioner Carollo attacks staff and administration for dereliction of duty and code enforcement, end of meeting like a Tchaikovsky sympathy’s climax — Mayor Francis Suarez gave his first state of the city speech at the Miami Freedom Tower and the high energy young man and attorney was received by quests almost like a rally as he detailed the administrations goals in the coming year, but can he deliver? – 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 commissioner scholarship programs?

Community Events: Arsht Center function; Future of Miami Arts

EDITORIALS: Commissioner Carollo calls blogger Crespo “scum,” irony he was created when Harry Gottleib named Miami film czar, not qualified patronage job came with SUV, Herald did story on the man and department and it “was not a positive story,” said Regalado after it was published, “civility oath goes out the window,” says Mayor Suarez — S. Florida’s political vendettas holds back what could be Miami’s greatness, Failure to move on costs all S. Florida residents, in quality of life?

Carollo claims extensive corruption in code enforcement, verbally beats down mayor Suarez and administration, not a good look for commission, political daggers out – 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 gaov. 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

 

>>> 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.)

 

ARGUS REPORT: Heard Seen on the Street

 

>>> Harris comes to debate ready to rumble, Biden acts smug to his past racial positions, after Harris response, thought “he did not need a moment,” NPR reported last week.

 

The Adrianne Arsht Center for the performing Art’s was the globally center of the political world as the 20 Democratic Party candidates faced off on the crowded stage on Wednesday and the real fireworks were on Thursday when Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders were side by side on the stage in the center and Biden did not bring his A game and seemed distant in his remarks. Further Kamala Harris the California senator and former state prosecutor landed a solid blow to the perceived front runner and moderate compared with Sanders. And Biden looked caught off guard given his front runner status in the field and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. Made her case but was the Harris exchange that had twitter abuzz.

 

What about candidates speaking Spanish?

 

A few of the candidates looked shocked when a number spoke in Spanish. And their fluency was on national display

 

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/election/article232051582.html

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/election/article232051582.html

 

>>> It’s showtime the Democratic Party candidate debate comes to the Arsht Center, party selling tickets to the event, will any verbal mortal blows dislodge leader Biden?

 

How will the major candidates fair in the rough and tumble debate forum with five moderators from a host of mainstream media and Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-VT trailing vice president Joe Biden and Sanders rose in the polls in 2016 after it was discovered Hillary Clinton was trying to tip the scale and she is not in the fray this year and Sanders does not have the energy he did in the past. Further, Biden continues to have verbal gaffes most recently how he worked across the aisle with some segregationist southern lawmakers who had racists histories and had Biden saying “there is not a racist bone in my body,” when asked about it and refused to “apologize,” to African American senators (Like Sen. Corey Booker, D- N.J. ) running for the,” presidency.

 

Further, policy wonk Sen Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. is eating into some of the Sanders voters in the polls and her being on the first day of the debate could help her make her case on how she could beat President Donald Trump which is the only goal of the Democrats   when pundits ask voters who they like “anyone that can beat Trump,” is the refrain but with such a large field that will be winnowed down as the primaries begin and ultimately the campaigns run out of campaign funds. The ultimate decider in these primary races and Biden in political office since the 8 track needs to breakout of his 1970s 1980s mindset as the younger American electorate weighs in and has a different outlook on technology and where the country should be going. If he has a chance to prevail Election Day next year.

 

>>> Dueling mayors on WLRN, Suarez Gimenez discuss the fate of the Coconut grove historic Playhouse theater, clock is ticking with state milestones by 2020

 

Former Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas is considering returning to the political world not since 20004, when he was termed out. After healthcare executive Mike Fernandez contributed $100,000 to the man’s campaign pace Fernandez a veteran U.S. Army Air Borne Ranger has been an outspoken critic of some Republican rhetoric, and immigration policies and called out past campaign staffers making ethnic slurs against Hispanics.

 

Further, I ran into a longtime Penelas confidant banker and builder Sergio Pino and I asked him if the mayor was going to run and he indicated he thought he would and as a Democrat Penelas will be facing a host of Republican candidates in a crowded field.

 

However, his time in office was controversial and after numerous scandals at MIA the Miami Herald was pushing for an airport authority and Penela set up a Blue-Ribbon Task Force to study the issue. He also created a task to study the plight of the around 400,000 residents without health insurance that was taxing Jackson Health Systems resources.https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article230383894.html

 

Further, Penelas’ choice of county manager after he fired long time and respected county Manager Merritt Stierheim and replaced him with former Homestead Mayor Steve Shiver who was way above his depth and did try to be transparent like allowing a number of reporters to have complete access to his emails and the WDR was one of them back in 2000.

 

What happened at the Grove Playhouse county sues city of Miami?

 

While passions ran high Thursday at the Miami commission meeting regarding the fate of the historic Playhouse in Coconut Grove, the objectors to the county’s plan did not realize the battle and fate happened long ago at the selection committee meeting at Miami-Dade County, here is the county’s description of the process and its members one of which had to get an ethics commission ruling that found a conflict with the FIU member https://www.miamidadearts.org/news/coconut-grove-playhouse-update-february-2015

 

Update

 

The Coconut Grove Playhouse was the topic last week on Sundial and Miami mayor Francis Suarez had the first crack at their position and the county’s smaller controversial plan. Suarez vetoed the commission decision approving the county’s plan and here are the radio show’s links to each of their side on the issue that has Suarez believing all remedies must be considered and Gimenez who wants to get the project done since there are state milestones that have to be met or the property could revert back to the state and be sold as surplus in an action. Here’s Suarez’s showhttps://www.wlrn.org/post/demolishing-grove-house-miami-mayor-francis-suarez-says-we-need-exhaust-all-remedies Here is Gimenez’s response and discussion on the radio show

https://www.wlrn.org/post/we-need-get-project-done-miami-dade-mayor-carlos-gimenez-coconut-grove-playhouse

 

OBITUARY:

 

>>> Iconic community leader Sister Jeanne O’Laughlin, Ph.D. passes at 90, made Barry University powerhouse in so many ways

 

Sister Jeanne O’ Laughlin passes at 90. The iconic community leader broke a number of molds and was the first woman on the Orange Bowl Committee and tried to broker a resolution when the community was divided over if the young Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez should go back to Cuba or stay with his Miami relatives and after the meeting Spanish media erupted in criticizing her efforts and at the time in 2000. She was chair of a blue ribbon task force debating whether MIA should be run under a authority versus the county after numerous scandals detailed in the Miami Herald series called “The wheel of Fortune,” that detailed how friends of then mayor Alex Penelas were given sweetheart concession deals at MIA. She was picked as chair for her fairness and community leadership. Further, she changed Barry University from a small institution to the booming one that has a sprawling campus and her civic leadership will be missed and should be emulated by all in public service given her grace, humor and vision. Sister Jeanne may you rest in peace and you left your mark in South Florida. For more go to:

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/obituaries/article231431338.html

 

>> Will inconclusive Mueller report satisfy anyone or will congress, and House be the determining factor?

 

With the Robert Mueller III report released on the Trump campaign. The report portrays a campaign that did not conclude (while not definitive will probably not satisfy either of the political parties) and is why this is the first time I am writing about the investigation that was kept very close to the vest by the Mueller team. What the report suggests while no collusion the Russians GRU was trying to help the Trump campaign after Hillary Clinton caused a nightmare during the Arab Spring and could have spread to Russia especially after the Ukraine invasion by the Russians. Further it highlights the number of conflicting contacts during those years and suggest naiveite or new to the political world of global spying and the efforts adversarial countries to try to influence the nation’s politics, something America has a long history of doing from Vietnam to Panama. An invasion that Barr bought into in a position paper under President George H. Bush during Iran Contra when Cap Weinberger was pardoned by Bush, but Barr wrote the memo that the nation could take out a leader Daniel Noriega. Here are some of the stories on the matter and other media comments on the report and there is a wide range of views. Editor’s note: readers please don’t go crazy with this story because it will in the end be decided by the congress. Further let’s see how this plays out.

https://politicalwire.com/2019/04/15/barr-misled-congress-in-1989-summary-memo/

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/19/opinion/mueller-trump-russia-report.html

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/19/opinion/mueller-report-barr-trump-russian-disinformation.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/18/opinion/mueller-report-corruption.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article

 

Here is a great story on Mueller’s wartime record in Vietnam after he graduated from Princeton University and was a Marine Corps platoon captain in the conflict.

 

https://medium.com/@Smalltofeds/the-untold-story-of-robert-muellers-time-in-combat-6fde3bd69d18

 

>>>> Miami Civil Service board violates sunshine law with extensive discussion while on coffee break after commissioner testifies about firing of aide claiming whistle blower status, all caught on city television ethics commission needs to review this violation

 

The Florida Sunshine Law and open public records is being assaulted in the municipalities in a variety of ways and since many public meetings are being televised it is easy to see board members talking among themselves as was the case at a City of Miami Civil Service board meeting April 2^nd and 3^rd just after commissioner Joe Carollo testified concerning the firing of a former staffer Steven Miro who was claiming a whistle blower status in front of the five member board where one member had to recuse himself.

 

At this meeting around 11:40 a.m., there was a long animated conversation between the members and chair and finger pointing to make a point and it also had the chair moving the mic away even though it was turned off while they were waiting for someone to bring them coffee but it was so blatant I later went down to the commission to cover this blatant disregard for the law and to get the names of the board members since they are not on the city’s webpage for this board. Editor’s note: The Miami-Dade County Ethics and Public Trust should review this meeting because the Sunshine law was so clearly violated, right after Carollo had testified and their final deliberations.

 

Rerun because so important: 2020 Census complete count top priority $177 million lost in 2010 undercount, says census bureau outreach coordinator Diaz a former Little Havana resident $675 billion annually at stake nationwide $29 billion goes to Florida

 

The Miami-Dade County Community Relations board (CRB) met Wednesday in the county commission chambers and the topic was community “fear,” when it came to the upcoming 2020 Census. Where some $1,400 is lost in federal funding across the board through federal agencies and in the 2010 Census only “82 percent” of the community was counted and nationwide the percentage was “74 percent,” said Ana Maria Diaz with the Census bureau outreach coordinator.

 

The importance of the Census is not only financial but is key to reapportionment of congress and in 2010 south Florida picked up two congressional seats.

 

What about community outreach and education?

 

Further, while many residents may not be eligible to vote these people must be counted for the federal funding helps these possible undocumented and the citizenship question is what many residents and while many residents fear that ICE or HSH might raid and arrest them. The count since 1790 has been sealed for 72 years and a president cannot unseal the information and that can only be done by an act of congress said the Census Bureau outreach coordinator who grew up in Little Havana populated with seniors and may have their kids living with them and they all must be counted she said and “a 3 percent increase in the count,’ would be a major achievement for the county and while it is a year away now is the time to educate. For many residents who don’t understand the Census that starts April 1 next year. The WDR spends so much time on this subject since I interviewed many people working on the 2000 Census and the count was terrible after the young Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez was extracted from his Little Havana home after federal authorities raided the home and chaos erupted in Miami with extensive ethnic divisions and curb sitting counting was a problem where there were many people living in homes or apartments and the undercount was considerable and had to be adjusted later but that may not happen again so it has to be done right because as Diaz said “It starts and cannot be stopped,” despite weather or any other issue. She noted when challenged about “doing damage control, ” for the Trump administration and her boss U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilber Ross and the fear in the community which is a minority majority committee that keeps many people afraid to even go to a bank and use check cashing stores where there are lines but that is the reality of South Florida and is why getting a complete count is so important. Update: in 2010, under the Obama administration which employed extensive minority outreach it is estimated in that count some 2 million children were missed in the final count.

 

>>> Census 2020 kickoff April 1, “all hands must be on deck,” billions at stake in a minority majority community, commissioner Bovo leading the charge, school district must work closely to ensure accurate count students’ best way to explain to parents

 

April1, is the kick off of the Miami-Dade County census efforts that include a taskforce that includes the public school district since students area key information electrolytes with their parents and since Miami is a minority majority community an accurate count is the top priority and the county is sending out some 90 community speakers and county commissioner Estephan Bovo, Jr.’ is heading up the county commission’s efforts commissioner Barbara Jordan is concerned that multiple families are sharing homes and could be worried of county code violations, she noted “there is fear in this population” and that fear is somewhat similar to the 2000 census after young Elian Gonzalez was extracted from his Little Havana home by federal agents in an early morning raid. And the community erupted and hated the federal government and attorney general Janet Reno.

 

>>>The Knight Foundation releases commission report on restoring trust in media

 

The John. S. and James L. Knight Foundation has released a report looking at restoring trust in the media and its corrosive effect to Democracy to read the commission’s report go to: http://csreports.aspeninstitute.org/Knight-Commission-TMD/2019/report

 

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is funding programs and films documenting Miami blocks and Dennis Scholl discussed the program on PBS show Your South Florida Friday night. The foundation has been the cultural Miracle Grow for the arts and is seen throughout Miami from Wynwood to the walls and I could not find the shows link on the shows webpage but one filmmaker looked at the MLK bike celebration wheels up guns down that is locally considered a protest the film maker found out. Further the Knight Arts Challenge is going on and artists should check out the application process at www.knightfoundation.org

 

>>> Wings over Miami a real treat for aviation lovers, former WASP pilot Fran Sergeant and nuclear bomb dropper Tibbets have all been quests over the years

 

Aviation lovers need to discover the aviation jewel in Miami. Wings over Miami in west Dade at Tamiami Executive airport where all the planes fly and has quests luminaries such as Fran sergeant a WASP in WWII and ferried planes to Europe. Further, Paul Tibbets who commanded The Enola Gay was there in 2000 and I interviewed him back then and he believed using the atomic bomb to end the war in Japan was the right thing after the Bloody island invasions were so costly and here is an interview with colonel Tibbett.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=paul+tibbets+hiroshima&view=detail&mid=732AEEA6A1E52B397EFC732AEEA6A1E52B397EFC&FORM=VIRE

 

For more on the museum go to: http://www.wingsovermiami.com/wings-over-miami-golf-classic-sponsors/

 

>> 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 (the choice is Gus Barreiro a former state representative) 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. Further he counts maybe asking people of their immigration status which is expected to diminish the count. However, the last time the government did this was during World War II with the Japanese internment.

 

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

 

>>> 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.

 

FLORIDA

 

>>> Governor Ron DeSantis Signs the Bold Vision for a Brighter Future Budget

 

Press release: Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Bold Vision for a Brighter Future state budget for fiscal year 2019-2020. The budget totaled $90.98 billion and provides nearly $400 million in tax relief.

 

“When I took office, I wanted to ensure that we would present a bold budget to Floridians that is both aspirational and attainable,” said Governor DeSantis. “I am pleased that we have accomplished this goal with the Bold Vision for a Brighter Future budget that includes the highest level of per student spending ever, record investments in our Everglades and water resources, and much needed funding for hurricane recovery, mental health, opioid abuse, public safety, and transportation and infrastructure. Although this budget includes increased investments in several areas, it is also respectful to Florida taxpayers, providing them nearly $400 million in tax relief. We can be proud of this budget knowing that we are protecting the interests of the men, women and children of Florida.”

 

The 2019-2020 Bold Vision for a Brighter Future budget provides unprecedented investment in a range of policy areas, as outlined below:

 

Environment and Water Resources

 

The budget supports major reforms implemented by Governor DeSantis in Executive Order 19-12 to ensure the protection of Florida’s environment and water resources. Most notably, it includes more than the $625 million the Governor requested for Everglades restoration and initiatives to protect the state’s water resources, a major first step toward Governor DeSantis’ goal to invest $2.5 billion in those areas over the next four years. Within the over-$625 million investment, the budget includes more than $400 million for Everglades restoration – the highest amount of Everglades funding ever, as well as $100 million for springs restoration, $50 million for targeted water quality improvements, $40 million for alternative water supply, and $25 million to combat blue-green algae and red tide.

 

K-12 Education

 

Governor DeSantis believes that every student, regardless of their zip code or family circumstances, should have the opportunity to receive a great education. That is why the budget includes key investments in K-12 education, including per student funding of $7,672, an increase of current year spending by $242 per student. The budget also funds K-12 public schools at the highest amount ever with $21.8 billion in total funding and $12.5 billion in state funding.

 

Hurricane Recovery

 

Upon taking office, Governor DeSantis made hurricane recovery a top priority, even visiting Mexico Beach to tour Hurricane Michael damage on his first day as Governor. Although Florida was prepared and responded immediately to limit the loss of life and property, the aftermath of the storm continues to impact a great number of Floridians. For the two most recent hurricanes to strike Florida, including Hurricanes Irma and Michael, the state of Florida is projected to spend $2.9 billion on hurricane preparedness and recovery. $1.1 billion for Hurricane Irma and $1.8 billion for Hurricane Michael.

 

Transportation and Infrastructure

 

Florida’s ability to be able to grow and prosper is large in part due to having one of the most reliable transportation systems in the country. To ensure this, $9.7 billion has been appropriated for the State Transportation Work Program. This provides $2.7 billion for the highway construction, which includes 125.7 new lane miles to expand transportation system capacity, $1.1 billion for bridge repairs and replacements and $40 million for the Tamiami Trail Restoration Project, which will assist with drawing down a $60 million federal grant to fully fund the project.

 

Health and Human Services

 

Governor DeSantis hopes that all Floridians can lead long, healthy and productive lives and understands the importance of helping those in need, including our most vulnerable who are unable to help themselves. With that in mind, the budget includes more than $123 million in total funding to fight the opioid epidemic and $106 million to provide funding for services to children and families who depend on Florida’s child welfare system. Furthermore, the budget provides more than $70 million to serve individuals on the Agency for Persons with Disabilities home and community-based waiver program.

 

Public Safety

 

Keeping Florida safe is one of Governor DeSantis’ most important responsibilities as Florida’s highest elected official. With that, the Bold Vision for a Brighter Future budget invests more than $18.6 million to expand and enhance Florida’s crime databases, provides more than $28 million to fund prevention programs for at-risk youth and appropriates $22.5 million for Florida’s military presence and families.

 

Reserves

 

Florida continues to maintain strong reserves.  Reserve amounts included in the budget are:

$1.17 billion in unallocated General Revenue

$1.57 billion in the Budget Stabilization Fund

$1.61 billion in unallocated Trust Funds

$0.88 billion in Tobacco Reserves

$0.18 billion in anticipated Hurricane Reimbursements

$5.41 billion Total Reserves

 

For the transmittal letter and details on the budget, click HERE and HERE.

 

To view the veto list, click HERE.

 

>> Check out Children’s Trust heart gallery, kids needing forever homes, will break your heart when you see their smiles

 

The Miami-Dade County Trust is featuring its heart gallery on children looking to be adopted into lifetime homes and to see the gallery that will break your heart go to Miami heart Gallery https://www.miamiheartgallery.org/children

 

>>>> Disruptive pre-k children getting “suspended,” new challenge for Children’s Trust Miami-Dade County

 

During a Children’s Trust television show on the cunty cable channel a speaker said when it comes to pre-K early learning programs many minority and other children are being “suspended,” for their behavior and since it is proven that these early programs put children in a readiness state to learn. And this a new challenge among these troublesome children age “3 to 5,” the expert said.

 

>>>> Complete 2020 Census count critical to get our share of $675 billion annually, some $29 billion in 2010, undercount costs $1,400 in lost revenue

 

The state of Florida must also gear up for the 2020 Census since the federal government will be allocating some $675 billion and for the state that is $29 billion annually and in Miami-Dade the undercount cost us some $177 million and this has got to be a top priority for the state’s leaders.

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

 

>>> Will new HUD program RAD help with affordable housing crisis, could create some 10,000 units in five to seven years in S. Florida?

 

A new U.S. HUD program called RAD was presented at a county commission committee meeting and it could over 4 to 5 years increase rental housing stock to up to 10,000 units said Michael Liu the county’s housing director and could be a boon in South Florida where housing and affordable housing is a crisis.

 

https://www.hud.gov/RAD/program-details

 

>>> With Miami-Dade #1 in HIV infections UM Idea program showing results needs second mobility van for dispensing HIV preventative drugs Prep doses “middle school students,” at “risk,” to says county commissioner Rebeca Sosa an educator.

 

At the disparity committee Monday, a sobering presentation was done on the rising HIV infections IDEA UM needle exchange pilot program needs dedicated mobile van may get surplus county van suggests, commissioner Jordan,

 

Miami-Dade is #1 in new HIV infections Idea syringe exchange pilot program going statewide, mobile van needed to deliver HIV medicine

 

The UM Miller Medical needle syringe exchange program was a major discussion at the community disparities committee chaired by county commissioner Eileen Higgins who has part of Miami Beach and is a “hot zone,” for new infections that cuts across all ethnic lines black or Hispanic and has one person getting AIDs daily and last week and the controversial exchange program has shown positive public health outcomes said Dr. Hansel Tookes, III, M.D., M.P.A. http://medicine.med.miami.edu/ideaexchange

Tookes who took the needle exchange program to the state legislature and high rates of HIV infections are found in Broward and Palm Beach Counties and a traveling Prep mobile unit donated by Sylvester Cancer is going into the community and giving testing and antiviral drugs. However, reaching some of the infected runs into stigmas that includes blacks and Hispanics who are sometimes reluctant to be tested and one hot spot is on 14^th street in Miami and Higgins is trying to get a dedicated van to increase the coverage and help for infected patients.

 

>> M-D County Youth Commission finds “rampant,” bullying and “code reds,” climate change, vaping new issues, body creating the leaders of the future, and note Miami is one of the first “cities to run out of water say,” studies show

 

A joint meeting with county commissioners and the Miami-Dade County Youth Commission created by the body in 2011 is always an eyeopener. These young members say what they mean with the bark on and in the past years school violence and bullying was a number one concern and after the tragedy at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas students expressed concerns when it comes to “code red,” drills that they need the teachers to explain more what the “procedures,” should be and that these drills “should end after some six minutes the students,” on the council said.

 

Further the issue of vaping and e cigarettes is a big concern since some 2.3 million students in the county are vaping and has a variety of Side effects that still need to be studied more but it has become increasing number the student representatives said.

http://www.miamidade.gov/youthcommission/prindex.asp?year=2017&web=youthcommission

 

These members also did community service like Books for Tots where they give out children’s books like Vegetable Soup and others to get preschoolers reading early.

 

They also traveled to Washington, D.C. PAMM and a school board meeting where they believe “zoning changes should be modified where vaping stores in strip malls should be outlawed in the county code close to schools. Further, each member talked about the programs impact on them from a roundtable meeting with Miami-Dade County Police Department and changed people’s perspective about officers that was different from what you see on social media.

 

>>> Summer Youth intern program funding running into trouble with school district “that has problems accepting the funding,” says Gimenez

 

Summer Youth Internship program is facing obstacles with the county school board said Gimenez and involves the Children’s Trust funding and the school district. It may be something “bureaucratic,” and will continue to fund it and maybe next year figure a way to resolve it said Gimenez. In the past years 5,000 to 7,000 kids have participated in this program for at risk youth during the summer break. Part of the problem is a new requirement for “audits,” said sponsor Barbara Jordan. The mayor said, “they [the school district] has problems accepting the funding in this cycle. He is continuing to negotiate with the district since this an important youth program.

 

>>>>What about the Homeless Trust and this year’s number of who had died on the street, a new high many opioid related, last year 138 passed this year 201 passed state’s medical examiner confirms.

 

The watchdog Report contacted Book about the solemn but stirring meetings after the students spoke and he wrote back, “It was even more because we had the vigil for an hour and a half before in the lobby and it was extremely emotional and painful. Last year, 138 individuals died on our streets. The number jumped up this year to 201, which is the highest year yet and 77% are confirmed by the medical examiner to have died from opioid overdoses. That is simply unconscionable and unacceptable and disheartening.

 

Secondly, if that’s not bad enough, the national average from a life expectancy perspective on someone who lives on the streets is 79 years of age nationally. Our average this year amongst the 201 was 55 years old. Think about it, our average is 24 years younger than the national average and we don’t have minus 44-degree weather. It was very emotional and very hard and draining. Then we go to the Trust Meeting and it just becomes a high, but it was a high after one of the worst downers in the 25 years I’ve served this Board. Then right after the Board meeting, I had to judge with four of my team members, our annual essay and poster contest amongst elementary, middle school and high school kids. Just a hard day around on homelessness, wrote the long-time chair. For more on the Sadowski trust go to;https://www.bradenton.com/opinion/editorials/article48810155.html

 

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 Dade end the shell casings showed the gun was “used five times before,” in a crime said Perez

 

GMCVB press release: During May 2019, cruise passengers through PortMiami increased by +30.5% compared to the previous year. Growth is due in part to the addition of new ships offering year-round service and the extensive cruise options offered by PortMiami.  New ships sailing from PortMiami include Carnival Horizon, Carnival Magic, Norwegian Bliss, Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas.

Record PortMiami Passengers May 2019 May 2018 % Change 490,545 375,980 +30.5%

 

Will elections and sheriff be political patronage havens, or repositories for termed out elected officials to land?

 

Lack of competency in candidates in new elected offices, highlighted during the last election cycle has many concerned what the future of key elected officials will be. For example, Miami-Dade state attorney in office since 1992 has said she was not running again back in 2015 her last election and there is no current successor of an organization that handles some 250,0000 cases. This highlights the problem when offices are 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 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

 

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.rg/rentconnect.asp

 

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

 

>>> Joint PHT BCC meting goes smoothly love fest versus the past CEO Migoya says, “Doral west on budget and on time,” can be seen from landing MIA planes

 

The PHT board had its joint meeting Tuesday with the county commission and it was a love fest versus years in the past where people were talking about selling the public hospital after years of mounting debt serving the uninsured and residence confidence was plummeting after all the bad fiscal news and leadership changes that included the county commission periodically weighing in and had a past CEO Marvin O’Quinn telling me after he arrived. This “place is so political,” and I responded back no kidding. Or more see the better build.ng bond webpage. Doral east “is own time and budget,” CEO Carlos Migoya tells commissioners. For more go to https://jacksonhealth.org/jackson-bond-program/

 

>>>> The AOA agreement calls for health trust to pay $130 million to UM for a host of medical services and below is a complete breakdown of the services and payments.

http://www.seiu1991.org/files/2011/07/AOA-Payments-Rationale-and-Distribution-3.pdf

 

This is a breakdown of the payments and a graph is on the pdf above

 

Distribution of AOA Payments Direct Patient Care, $20,057,576 Residency and Fellowship Program Administration, $5,704,521 Residents and Fellows Clinical Instruction Support, $22,941,836 Residents and Fellows Direct Expense Stipend, $587,640 Residency and Fellowship Program Coord and Admin, $1,391,611 Hospital Administration Support, $10,143,812 Recruiting Support, $11,752.

 

The 50-year affiliation with the UM Miller school of medicine is a tremendous boon for the community and ends the tag line. “You go to Jackson to die,” was a frequent refrain, but that medical synergy has made the health trust one of the top medical health systems in Miami-Dade and is rebooting after a GOB bond was passed allowing for new updated facilities.

 

>>> New continuum of care center coming for homeless with mental issues, JHS involved one stop center, upcoming special PHT board meeting to ratify new committee chairs

 

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/

 

>>> Last girder to state-of-the-art Christine E. Lynn rehabilitation facility fitted Friday $175 million rehab, home to UM Project to Cure Paralysis

 

On Friday the last girder was added to the new state of the art rehabilitation facility and it is dearly needed after the previous one was inadequate and antiquated and was always a hot topic with county commissioners especially commissioner Sally Heyman who had a back issue and had to get rehab there. The $175 center will also be home for UM’s the Miami Project to cure Paralysis and the fundraising got a jolt when Christine E. Lynn donated the first $25 million and was augmented with proceeds from the $830 million GOB approved by county voters.

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

 

>>> District saves $68 million in COP bond refinancing, IG busts electrical contractor and minority “front”

 

The school board is refinancing some Certificates of Participation (COP) bonds and the maneuver suggested by a treasury advisory board is saving the public district 468 million and the nation’s second largest district has an extensive bond portfolio and has been refinancing since interest have been so low especially a few years ago.

 

An electrical contractor was busted by the county’s IG for being a front when applying and complying with the district’s minority contract policies to read the report click on

http://www.miamidadeig.org/2019MDCPS/OIGFinalReportofInspectionGOBIG0015.pdf

 

http://www.dadeschools.net/schoolboard/agenda/e35.pdf

 

>>> Community leaders in shock after M-DC public Schools former chair Dr. Solomon Stinson charged with felony after shooting at police in Broward

 

Community leaders are in shock after long time schoolboard chairman Dr. Solomon Stinson was charged with a felony and no bail after he shot at police and ended up crashing and his Cadillac on fire. The man an icon in the Afro American community and a mentor to hundreds over the decades was on the board. For ten years before retiring in 2010. He was given a mental evaluation and prominent attorney H.T. Smith is representing him in the case. Stinson was first introduced to me back in 2019 when I started to attend the unrecorded school board committee meetings and I started to tape them while some had consternation and Dr.Michael Krop said to me once “if we tape the meetings people and staff will not be able to speak freely,” he said back then and I still have all these committee meeting tapes and Stinson was a behind the scenes powerbroker. I responded back then “that was the problem,” I believed

 

Stinson on the two minutes to speak limitation kept public comments short and to the point and one-time county commissioner Katy Sorenson came to the podium gave her name and said she represented some 165,000 people in her district. The chair shot back “you have a minute and a half,” sternly and the former principle ran more than a tight ship

 

>>> School district will get property appraiser funding on time after value adjustment board met Monday and whittled down the time for appeals with more hearing masters, loss years ago was $171 million

 

Last Monday he county property appraiser’s office ’s office cleared faster the appeals process that historically delayed the school district getting the property tax funding and put a squeeze on the nation’s fourth largest public schools district.

 

Monday The Value adjustment board met, and commissioners Jose Pepe Diaz attended along with commission chair Audrey Edmonson a and school board member Lubby Navarro and this year there is no delay in money owed to the district that in the past was roughly $171 million. For more on that funding conflict with the county go to:

https://miami.cbslocal.com/2014/12/05/dade-teachers-union-files-lawsuit-against-mayor/

 

School District Impact Fees audit Check out the audit and what the county owes to the public district http://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_May_14_2019/Agenda.pdf

 

>>> Charter schools 134 of them are asking to receive some of the $1.2 billion GOB proceeds passed by county voters, teacher raises and facilities upgrades, is running into protests.

 

Charter schools are asking for a portion of a 1.2 billion property tax that was expected to raise teacher pay and upgrade some schools and the district has 134 charter schools that are managed by private firms and upgrade private property with public funds and these entities do not have to follow the same rules and do not have to accept all students versus the public district and the legal battle is occurring in Tallahassee during the session, and these local tax dollars should go to the public district the fourth largest in the nation with 350,000 students. for more go to: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article229066424.html

 

CITY OF MIAMI

 

>>>> Suarez administration runs into headwinds on MRC development project, Carollo calls it “sweetheart deal,” worse “than Marlin’s stadium deal,” the former mayor claims, only small # of city’s 4,400 employees work in building, will deal after back from Honolulu

 

The lease for a new city of Mimi administrative center and a deal with Adler development ran into an iceberg in the form on controversial commissioner Joe Carollo.

Carollo called the deal the “worse since the Miami Marlins stadium,” he proclaimed and did not buy the current administrative building built by FPL as needing to be replaced and would save the city having to issue a $150 million bond that Adler wants to use to fund the project. The issues went in front of the voters and passed but the question did not highlight that the city would need an over 30-year $150 million bond be sold and would ultimately cost city residents some $238 million over that time.

 

The Suarez administration negotiated the deal and Carollo has used this to egg on the new administration and noted the new special counsel to the mayor Eddy Leal, III whose salary is $110,000 would have to be approved by the commission and Suarez when he gets back from Honolulu will have to deal with these pressing issues. Further, the city has 4,400 employees and only 1,33 employees work at the headquarters and it remains to be seen if this development deal moves forward and includes two condominium towers and the former Miami mayor believes it is a “sweetheart deal,” and his wing man commissioner Manola Reyes agrees with much of Carollo’s concerns and the two men are both republicans and have a ongoing beef with commission chair Ken Russell a dye hard democrat and the political schism is very plain to see during commission meetings.

 

What about Ultra?

 

On Thursday at the commission meeting an extended public hearing on Ultra returning to Bayfront Park Trust was held and from a tourism standpoint GMCVB CEO William Talbert, III, said for the “first time all the downtown hotels wanted the event back,” and hotels previously booked during the event had vacancies this past year.

Further another attraction coming to the park is a Ferris wheel to be constructed for the Super Bowl and will take some “4 to 5 months,” to assemble said an attorney representing the Ferris wheel that ill be no higher than 70 feet.

>>> Unacceptable to hold public meeting in private venue excluding public Miami Parks Dir. Lara Hamway, needs ethics and Sunshine law class, I once went to Fischer Island MAC and was welcomed, mayor talks transparency, need to see it.

,

Parks director Lara Hamway needs to go through an ethics course after she held what was said to be on a public park but was held in a conference room in a condo development and a number of people were denied access and that is wrong and should not be tolerated and it came up at Thursday’s Miami commission meeting and was pooh phoohed by the mayor as not being a breach of the sunshine law.

 

Years ago I covered a meeting on ritzy Fischer Island and they took very good care of me and just followed my car in golf carts with their lights on but the lack of outrage is what concerns me and over the last 20-years people have tried to keep me from a public meeting once holding it in Naples but I drove there and the look on their faces was priceless. The city manager Emilio Gonzalez should make sure this kind of antics is unacceptable. Here are the latest candidates for the Miami commission and their campaign war chest from the clerk’s office.

 

https://www.voterfocus.com/CampaignFinance/candidate_pr.php?op=cv&e=2&c=muncitymiami&ca=24&rellevel=3&committee=N

 

>> A behind the look at F1 race negotiations done by county ethics commission, no charges since attorney did not accept getting full VIP credentials, went diving instead memo closed out, but fascinating read

 

What about the new bomb squad handheld x-ray device that was deferred but needed recently after a suspected baggage was found on Biscayne Blvd.?

 

If Miami residents want to see the behind the scenes process for the formula F1 races negotiations check out this Miami-Dade County ethics and Public trust investigation dealing with a city of Miami Ast. Attorney who did nothing wrong but shows the efforts of the promoters to get a favorable contract that brought VIP passes to the race, but the attorney Rachael Dooley was going snorkeling and had to pass the offer. To read the report go to: http://ethics.miamidade.gov/library/closed%20investigations/2019/pi_19-17_dooley.pdf

 

>>> Commission Dist. 1 candidate trying to bounce back has $167,000 in war chest leads pack of candidates since Gort termed out, ex commissioner Hernandez plying the halls of city hall was disbarred attorney for mortgage fraud

 

Former state Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla leading in the fundraiser bracket at $167,000 in his war chest and he is a controversial candidate and has lost a number of recent races and is drawing more attention by his having a relationship with convicted Miami Commissioner Humberto Hernandez since disbarred and Hernandez’s claim to fame was mortgage fraud. However, Alex had a controversial divorce is a chain smoker and got into it at a Boston hotel where he was smoking and interfaced with a police officer

 

What about Carollo verbally pounding Suarez like a punching bag?

 

At the last commission meeting Carollo verbally decimated the mayor and the mayor’s nonresponse has made the young man and scion of his father former Miami mayor Xavier Suarez an arch enemy of Carollo after a disputed mayoral election.

 

County Mayor Carlos Jimenez’s son C.J. Jimenez, an attorney and registered lobbyist continues to ply the halls of Miami and has his sister Tanya Jimenez ( not a registered lobbyist with the city was spotted on Thursday and the sister and daughter team are trying to maximize the time their father is office who refers to his kids lobbying that they have the right to make a living he many times has said and is not a conflict.

 

https://mugshots.com/US-Counties/Florida/Miami-Dade-County-FL/Tanya-Jimenez.38374580.html

 

Community Events

EDITORIAL

>>> Commissioner Carollo calls blogger Crespo “scum,” irony he was created when Harry Gottleib named Miami film czar, not qualified patronage job came with SUV, Herald did story on the man and department and “was not a positive story,” said Regalado after it was published, “civility oath goes out the window,” says Mayor Suarez

“Get this scum out of her,” bellowed Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo to blogger Al Crespo and is a thorn in his side. Al Crespo who publishes the mature adult themed Crespo gram and Carollo once again railed the former bank robber is brave when he has a gun and Carollo shot back if the man wants to take him own “He will “need two guns,” said Carollo. I emailed mayor Francis Suarez and Commission chair ken Russel about this incident and the mayor responded while he had missed the exchange his staff showed it to him and wrote back, I did see the clip.  “What I said [earlier] was I was not there when it happened.  Would be happy to discuss with you in person if you like.  I think decorum has been lost far too many times and there is very little adherence to the civility oath elected officials took at their swearing in,” wrote back Suarez.

 

I write about this because Carollo feels he and Cubans are being singled out for his harsh and critical stories on Miami “s government and possible corruption like restaurants opening without the proper permits but friends of the Mayor Tomas Regalado and the only reason Crespo is in the halls of government was because Regalado hired Harry Gottleib to be the city’s film czar and he was not qualified and would eat lunch at Scotty’s while reading a book and while a political patronage job. He would also get a city SUV to tool around in versus the avid bicyclist’s normal mode of transportation. Crespo was so mad he started to do extensive public record requests and what he uncovered pushed him into this focus on Miami even though he lives in Miami Shores. However, Carollo you should thank Regalado. [Editor’s note: I write about this for this kind of language should not be tolerated in the political discourse and has been seen too often in Miami. Further, Crespo is Cuban, and he published his U.S. passport to prove it.

 

Carollo also said the man spent some 17-years in federal prison and portrays himself as “some white knight, and a corruption buster,” after Crespo sitting in the press area apparently using hand gestures to bait Carollo and city Miami Manager Emilio Gonzalez said he had been watching Crespo and if he continued under commission rules “could be barred from the chambers if he continued” these antics and asked him to settle down but the exchange was another Miami moment and back in 2000 I gave Carollo some advice outside city hall. I told him a Gandhi saying, “Make it the strength of your argument not the stridency of your voice the great Indian leader mused.

 

However, Carrolo has blown off that advice and Suarez and Russell need to bring civility back to the dais.

 

>>> S. Florida’s political vendettas holds back what could be Miami’s greatness, Failure to move on costs all S. Florida residents, in quality of life

 

If Miami wants to reach its true heights its political leaders need to end political vendettas work together and remember why they originally ran for office and not to get absorbed with the trappings of political office that makes many politicians lack empathy and just focus on getting even or worse themselves. Regardless how constituents might be impacted.

 

This comes to mind after the contentious Miami commission meetings where commissioner Joe Carollo verbally slaps around city staff and its manager Emilio Gonzalez a retired colonel in the army who seems ill prepared for this disrespect by the elected commissioner and former mayor that when in office in 2000 would go on Spanish radio and gin up the community and the city story on the young rafter boy who lost his mother on the journey and resulted in an ethnic divide that allowed some one like saloon owner Jay Love to get some 19 percent of the vote over incumbent county mayor Alex Penelas and challenger Miguel Diaz de la Portilla in a countywide race Pinellas won., and it took the county years to heal from this ethnic divide that had blacks in Homestead with red necks and confederate flags protesting “f…ck the Cubans,” and the Miami Herald had a great photo of the demonstration that showed a black man looking at the flag thinking this is so weird and was a black eye for S. Florida.

 

>>> Carollo claims extensive corruption in code enforcement, verbally beats down mayor Suarez and administration, not a good look for commission, political daggers out

 

What happened last Thursday at the Miami commission meeting where commissioner Joe Carollo went after the mayor and city staff reminded me of the Sen. Joe McCarthy hearings since words like corruption possible incompetence were thrown around like confetti and it was only the police chief Jorge Collina who stood up to the inquisition by the former mayor, “saying he would not be bullied,” that had the moniker of “Crazy Joe,” it was Mayor Francis Suarez who had it worse and the man just got up and started to walk away (realizing anything he said was useless) under the tirade and has the magic city becoming one of the counties dysfunctional governments

 

>>> 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        

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

 

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

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ALFRED NOVAK

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

 

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

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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

 

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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