Watchdog Report Vol.19 No.23 July 21, 2019 – EST: 05.05.00 – I go when you cannot – Celebrating almost 20 years of weekly publishing – 50th Anniversary issue of Apollo 11 moon landing

>>> Today is the Watchdog Report’s 22 issue and when I started back in 05.05.00 I never imagined I would be doing this weekly publication now closing in on 20 years. I am not a big chest thumper and just try to be an informational electrolyte, between the many large public entities (That in total is about $16 billion and Miami $1 billion). that make up Miami-Dade County. For many times it is at the lower level of government that deals, and other beefs are discussed and to my early supporters thank you for putting your trust in me.

This is my 10^th report after my surgery (Thank you Dr. Jorge Rabaza at S. Miami hospital), a few weeks ago and while still weak I am trying to get back in the saddle on a normal basis and I apologize to my supporters for this unexpected break.

What about the Super Bowl and sex trafficking and the Guardian Litem Program (GAL)?

At a school board meeting a few months ago a human trafficking expert and prosecutor said with the big event traffickers are building “capacity of young girls,” and many of the 7^th and 8^th graders are in foster care. Further the pimps use 7^th and 8^th graders to recruit these new young girls and this was brought into focus after N.E. Patriots owner Robert Kraft was busted in a Broward massage parlor. Further state attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle also busted some people doing sex trafficking and this dark side of the community will only intensify up to the Super Bowl next year.

State attorney Rundle in a Sunday editorial noted some 570 people over years have been arrested for human trafficking and her office is working with Super Bowl host committee chair Rodney Barreto. And the state attorney this week busted a couple, and this is an ugly scourge on our community with many retirees on break the Guardian Ad Litem program is looking for children advocates.

The organization provides training for these children representatives. For more call Victoria Harris at 786.469.3840.https://guardianadlitem.org/

>>>> James S. and James L. Knight CEO Alberto Ibargüen awarded the 2019 Beacon Council Jay Molina award, foundation has changed Miami from a cultural dessert to a prosperous cultural mecca

Alberto Ibargüen was honored with the Beacon Councils most prestigious award the Jay Molina Award for leadership and the former attorney, Peace Corps member and past publisher of The Miami Herald has been a mentor to me since 2000. As well as executive editor Tom Fiedler who is retiring as dean of Boston University’s communication department and a longer story on Fiedler is below and he is leaving the newspaper business for the first time in his career to work on Sen. Corey Booker’s, D-NJ., presidential campaign. The man is more akin to a boy scout with a strong ethical streak and was a moral campus sometimes at the Herald. But drew flack when he fired featured columnist Jim De Fede after he taped a phone call with now deceased Miami Commissioner Arthur Teele who shot himself in the paper’s lobby years ago.

The 2019 Jay Malina Award for Leadership, presented by OPKO Health and Phillip Frost, recognized to Alberto Ibargüen, President and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. From his days as Publisher of The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald, to the Knight Foundation (and everything in between), Alberto’s commitment to empowering people and communities has transformed Miami as we know it.

CORRECTION: Tom Fiedler did not fire Jim De Fede it was publisher Jesus Diaz, Jr. I apologize for the error.

>>> What about the issue of the 947 homeless children in Miami-Dade only Lotus House Village can take children Chapman has adults?

The Miami-Dade County 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.” For more on lotus House go to https://lotushouse.org/contact-us/   https://lotushouse.org/childrenfirst/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1J22jC2bBY

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 state 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: JFK challenged the country to go to the moon in a decade, sent engineers scrambling to develop technology involved 400,000 problem solvers, the landing was a global event and mankind Across the globe felt a certain satisfaction and oneness among residents of planet earth, technology spin off created first programmable pacemaker in 1973 digital IC by Miami company Cordis Corp, big deal for 100,000 getting the life saving devices back then Investigative reporter Brown’s deep dive of Epstein plea no bond gets sec. Acosta out with resignation, more to follow? — 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.

STATE of FLORIDA: Gov De Santos taps veteran Barreto for FFFW conservation commission t –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: MIA directed to do study of impact of Melreese soccer stadium deal on runways and if in “safety zones,” for runways > Mayor Gimenez fires back to Trump tweet telling ‘squad’ to go back home if you don’t like America

Deputy mayor Hudak says sayonara after 30 years was a good governance model, Mayor Gimenez says “she’s a killer,” when it comes to Zika eradicated after panic a few years back, calm hand on the county’s tiller- 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: School Board Budget Review Advisory committee meets Tuesday, is the taxpayers firewall, made up of CPAs & tax attorneys, not always the case until 2004, when chair Hank Mack finally steps down reluctantly, two schools named after the man on in Dade another in Broward – 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, has dementia Parkinson– 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: state funding cut proposed $58 million versus $1.5 million JHS trustee Rep. Duran R-Miami worked across party lines to mitigate cuts

Joint PHT BCC meting goes smoothly love fest versus the past CEO Migoya says, “Doral west on budget and on time by Nov. 2020,” can be seen from landing MIA planes 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: Influential attorney Diaz de la Portilla, not prepared is denied a zoning exemption for Montessori village school off Coral Way, associations not notified they say, Little Havana, Silver Bluff, his brother Alex running for commissioner , police policy to have a sergeant -of arms travel with mayor, WDR has made some 80 trips to Honolulu in my corporate capacity on my way to Japan, Suarez named a trustee out of 500 city mayors — 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: “civility oath goes out the window,” says Mayor Suarez — S. Florida’s political vendettas hold back what could be Miami’s greatness, Failure to move on costs all S. Florida residents, in quality of life? -! – 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

>>> JFK challenged the country to go to the moon in a decade, sent engineers scrambling to develop technology involved 400,000 problem solvers, the landing was a global event and mankind Across the globe felt a certain satisfaction and oneness among residents of planet earth, technology spin off created first programmable pacemaker by local company Cordis Corp

With the 50^th Anniversary of the moon shot Apollo 11 I have talked to many young people who think it was faked and we didn’t have the technology to pull it off and after president John F. Kennedy made it a priority to land on the moon in the 1960s decade. I was born in 1951 and young people today don’t know what the space race was with the Russians. We had with duck and cover drills in schools and of course the frightening sound of the wailing air raid sirens, civil defense groups, since nuclear bombs were being redevelop[ed by both America and Russia and building a bomb shelter was the discussion of the day in the late 1950s and after the Russian launch of sputnik and then a man it looked like the U.S. was losing the space race and I used to watch sputnik in the dark Solebury township, Pa. sky as a kid and Kennedy when he ran against Nixon in 1960 claimed there was a missile gap.” That annoyed president Dwight Eisenhower and WWII was still fresh in people’s minds and people with artificial limbs hocks were seen on service men after the war. And check out all the rockets that blew up and made the flight in some ways a suicide mission live on TV and you would listen on a cheap a.m. transistor radio at the time. Check out the rocket explosion videos to see what the public was seeing, and a crewcut was the hair cut of the day along with a slide rule. Moon pies and Tang the drink of astronauts.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/nation-celebrates-50th-anniversary-of-1st-lunar-footsteps/ar-AAEBUo7?ocid=spartandhp  

>>> Investigative reporter Brown’s deep dive of Epstein plea gets Sec. Acosta out with resignation, more to follow?

Local boy Sec. of Labor Alex Acosta resigns Friday after the Miami Herald investigative series Perversion of Justice after a secret plea deal for billionaire Jeffrey Epstein and the story broken by Julie K. Brown could well win a Pulitzer prize for investigative journalism now that Epstein has been charged again in New York. Further looking at letters to the paper it could be a boom for the paper’s subscribers. Since it highlights the need for in depth investigative stories and badly needed in South Florida. To subscribe where “Journalism that makes a difference,” go to www.miamiherald.com/subscribe

What about Tom Fiedler the past dean at BU?

Tom Fiedler, the former executive editor at the Miami Herald objected to his portrayal in the recent move ‘Front runner,’ detailing how candidate Gary Hart who was dating Donna Rice ( and they met on a cruise of a boat named Monkey Business) and the Miami Herald political reporter broke the story after they followed Rice on a plane to D.C. and staked out the senator’s townhouse. Fiedler is portrayed to have a dark beard but is always clean shaven and resembles a boy Scout and I got to know the man in 2000 when I was an editorial columnist for the daily paper of record.

Further, Fiedler is a fitness junky and does Iron Man competitions and he is a graduate from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (68, a service academy requiring a congressional appointment and a strict honor code), with a degree in engineering and he later at BU got his master’s in journalism. Check out this video of Fiedler discussing the new David Carr journalistic chair at BU. Go to http://www.bu.edu/articles/2014/david-carr-journalism-is-still-serious-just-differenthttp://www.bu.edu/articles/2014/david-carr-journalism-is-still-serious-just-different Here’s more on Kings Point: https://www.usmma.edu/about/communications/us-merchant-marine-academy-graduates-200-officers-class-2019

Fiedler in retirement is going to work on Sen. Corey Booker’s campaign which will be the first time he is not in the newspaper business but wants to now stay in the political arena. For more go to: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/05/23/retiring-dean-tom-fiedler-reveals-his-next-act-working-cory-booker-campaign/9EoXG3BpWNcC1eOuEr1S0N/story.html

Mueller is set to testify Wednesday to congress will any new info come out?

>> 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.

>>> 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

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 Trump will not add a citizenship question on the long form?

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

>>> Gov De Santos taps veteran Barreto for FFFW conservation commission

Tallahassee, Fla Press release: Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointments of Steven Hudson and Rodney Barreto to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

“I am pleased to appoint Steven Hudson and Rodney Barreto to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to help advance our state’s conservation mission and help preserve Florida’s natural resources for the enjoyment of all,” said Governor DeSantis. “These individuals have a proven track record of public service and professional experience working to protect Florida’s environment and wildlife.”

“Governor DeSantis continues to demonstrate his commitment to protecting our environment and wildlife through the appointment of strong leaders such as Rodney Barreto and Steven Hudson to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,” said CEO of the Everglades Foundation Eric Eikenberg. “Both Barreto and Hudson are proven leaders in their own right who have demonstrated a care, depth and knowledge for the preservation of wildlife and habitat conservation, including the Everglades, to the benefit of future generations to come.”

Steven Hudson

Hudson, of Fort Lauderdale, is the president and chief executive officer of Hudson Capital Group. He is also a board member and former chairman of the Humane Society of Broward County and a founding board member of the Marine Research Hub, an alliance of marine research universities and community supporters headquartered in South Florida. Hudson owns Quail Creek Plantation in Okeechobee, Florida, a nearly 5,000-acre preservation dedicated to sporting clays, as well as quail, turkey and pheasant hunting. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business economics from Southern Methodist University. Hudson is appointed to the remaining three years of a term.

Rodney Barreto

Barreto, of Coral Gables, is the president and chief executive officer of Barreto Group. He served on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for 10 years under Governor Bush and Governor Crist. He is a member of the Guy Harvey Foundation Board, the Bone Fish Tarpon Trust and the Costal Conservation Association. Barreto received his bachelor’s degree in professional studies from Barry University. Barreto is appointed to a five-year term.  These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

>> 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.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> MIA directed to do study of impact of Melreese soccer stadium deal on runways and if in “safety zones,” for runways

The county will do a study on the proposed MLS stadium at Mel Reese golf course that includes a stadium and hotel and if it would fall into a “runway safety zone,” that The FAA could not certify said MIA director Lester Sola and he is trying to get the study done in 90 days since Miami voters in November will be asked to vote on the controversial project since it is proposed by private interests and commission vice Chair Rebeca Sosa wants nothing to put the largest economic engine MIA in any jeopardy she believes and requested the study.

When it comes to transportation planning Organization (TPO) chair Oliver Gilbert,III thinks more technology international trips should be done with a larger group including professors from UM FI,U should be included and Broward county is sending a second delegation to Asia with some 70 people going on the research trip and may be looking at monorail technology.

>>> Further, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez made a motion for a new $1.2 million in office lease space for the Citizens Independent Transit trust from their current cubicle office in government center and after it was approved, he left for MIA and fly to Honolulu. However, Javier Souto objected to spending this much money, but it passed.

Below is a tweet from Miami-Dade mayor Carlos Gimenez on President Trumps disparaging and hate full language to the group known as the ‘squad,’ and telling the group to go back to where they came from even though a number of the women of color were born in America and elected members of the House of Representatives.

>>>> Mayor Gimenez fires back to Trump tweet telling ‘squad’ to go back home if you don’t like America