Watchdog Report Vol 19 No.53 April 26, 2020 – EST:05.05.00 – I go when you cannot – Celebrating almost 20-years of weekly publishing
Editorial: When to start the economy is the proverbial rolling the dice (let’s hope it’s not snake eyes) and while people are demonstrating at government capitals and the Don’t Tread on Me flags are being flown at rallies and yes the nation is antsy. But now more than ever are we needing our public institutions and all the people working the service industries have risen in esteem with the public and lets hope it makes us a nicer friendlier society as many will be touched by the COVID-19 death toll and it is a tough bug at 68 and I had a mild version but it resurfaces like last Sunday when aches and lower back pain laid me low and I still not had fevers and people are trying to determine if immunity is granted or can be reacquired.
Further, politicians need to be careful when talking about COVID-19 that had Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo Thursday say he found there were “32 permutations of the evolving virus,” a slight exaggeration since it consist of some 5 families oft this type of virus.
MY dad Arthur J. Ricker, M.D. used to say, “You are either a physician or you’re not,” and was not something you could say which is legal in Florida until you do something clinical but in Miami I have heard people say they were when chatting up a woman generally
The good news is social distancing is working, something that the nation did not know with new cases down but deaths for the vulnerable Americans are slowing but have taken a great human toll. The term thinning out the boomers is a new catch phrase ( being promoted by people who want to open the nation before testing is more prevalent) and makes me wonder why so many millennials still gather in groups many times on bicycles and why their generation’s death rate is lower.
Some young people have passed and nature is coming back in many different ways with Earth Day this past Wednesday and at my school the topic of the earth and the environment was my topic as I talked about the environment and my mother an early recyclable person in the mid- 1950s that included multiple compost piles and vegetables from a very active farm with, corn beans, zucchini, asparagus, raspberries and she would can peaches for the winter since she was a “depression kid,” who graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Michigan State University in Lansing. She would also become of the local district school board president. Check out the: See the Coral Gables Biscayne Bay camera: it is incredible
https://www.facebook.com/CoralCityCamera/
What about Arriola and the PHT?
PHT Chairman Joe Arriola is termed out and the Watchdog Report recommends the Board of County Commissioners waive this requirement given the state of the community. Arriola is in some ways is Miami’s Trump after selling his printing business for over $100 million and has been extensively on Spanish radio and television trying to reassure the public that JHS would be there for them even in these tough times. What is ironic is that Arriola is the only person to strike me on the head like a father would at a public meeting and Commissioner Rebeca Sosa after his nominating council interview along with Commissioner Bruno Barreiro voted no to keep him off the larger trust board that was reduced to 7 trustees. However, he has mellowed thought he still teases one senior member of the Carlos Migoya administration for his short stature though the man attended a top university. The other incumbents up are all moving forward and should be retained until the crisis is over
What about the homeless Trust?
Friday the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust held a very depressing virtual meeting and the needs are outstripping the funding. Further, if the homeless were put in vacant hotel rooms and these staff members under CDC guidelines would have to be tested and staff said some 40 percent of homeless are asymptotic I Asked long time chairman Ron Book about the meeting and he wrote back:
“Thanks, and it was a depressing meeting today. It was just painful for me as every day has been. As each day passes, we simply get more challenges. I have been going at its night and day and day and night as has my team. To say that Trust work is eating up 12 to 14 hours out of every day, including Saturdays and Sundays, would not be inaccurate. But this is the time to lead and that is why I am here, and I am supposed to do what I am doing. I am just hopeful that we have seen the worst of it. The Knight Foundation was mentioned at the trust meeting, and I asked Book about that help. He wrote back “As for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, I’m sure they help my partners at Chapman. but if they do for Chapman, it is the equivalent of doing for us., wrote Book. Thank you for your help.
Here are needs during this pandemic
What is the story with the bursting county water and sewer pipes?
The county’s water and sewer department are studying why “older pipes are doing better than newer pipes,” said the director at an infrastructure committee mating. He noted “50 percent of pipe breaks,” are the result of contractors. Further the “county does not know where all its pipes are,” and contractors only pay a $500.00 fine, said the director
What about Michael Wolfson?
The Watchdog Report saw a show of Lt. Col. Mitchell Wolfson and the history of WTVJ
Channel 6 and the role the station played in the community. Who knew Miami Commissioner Manola Reyes was the first Spanish reporter for the station though he later became an economist. For more on this history go to:http://miami-history.com/the-capitol-theatre-wometco-and-wtvj/ And Arthur Hertz the past CEO of Wometco was my first supporter along with Florida Prepaid college program, point of the spear Stanley G. Tate who also kicked in a grand and here we are today 20-years later April 5.
>>>The search for a new president of MDC is on hold see the announcement:
https://www.mdc.edu/presidential-search/
Opening the nation early
May you and your family have a safe and reflective week while the globe tries to work through this new normal that has killed some 100,000 people around the planet. IO currently have a mild case oofof Covid -19, (no fever but a wet cough and a little tired along with pink eye) and that could help you diagnose if you also have contracted it. As well as the CDC at www.cdc.gov with the synptomssymptoms.
Further, local government are having meetings virtually and whilenotwhile not perfect given the circumstances elected leaders appear more somber given the dramatic financial reductions of reveeeenuerevenues and while MiMiMiami-Dade has 34 muncipiliatesmunicipalities, it is the county that is the big challenge with some 22 billion in bond debt (an estimate) and some $1million a day in debt payments for the MIA bonds after the forever $6.2 billion MIA expansion started in the mid 1990smid-1990s and almost killed MIA director Jose AbreauAbreu, who once said “I am out of gas,” after county commissioners pounded him verbally and he was trying to clear up past mistakes, that were overruns in the millions.
Further, the nation is seeing the important work of first responders, nurses and physicians and when this health disaster is over many of these hard-working people will need some PTSD treatments given these professionals unable to wind down after their shift. However, the lack of PPE is unacceptable and clearly the national emergency stockpile of protective gear was inadequate and needs to be beefed up. “Social distancing is the new watchword,” and “shelter in place,” fist conceived in the 1950’s during the cold war on Civil Defense and included the jingle when you see the flash duck and cover. But with an aggressive virus keep your distance and face covered is the new fashion trend. While the county’s Homeless Trust is dipping into it reserves The trust chirr Ron book is trying to get tests to the Chapman homeless Assistance Center that a few weeks ago had no one testing positive yet at the facility said the organization’s CEO but that may have changed since.
Also with collapse of the American economy the printed media is under the gun and The Miami Herald is fighting to continue and while many people complain about the paper The loss of this tremendous and important institution would be devastating to Miami and South Florida as a whole and needs are support as reporters are exposed to perhaps asymptomatic people or using a ten-foot boom pole microphone as was the case recently with Miami Commissioner Ken Russell.
Baptist Health South FlridaFlorida is offering tele-medicine and coronavirus information on lineonline https://baptisthealth-coronavirus.com/covid-19-testing
Baptist Health South FlridaFlorida is offering tele-medicine and coronavirus information on lineonline https://baptisthealth-coronavirus.com/covid-19-testing
Here are the histories of past pandemics and both my father Arthur J. Ricker, M.D. and my grandfather, Otto Lee Ricker, M.D. dealt with past pandemics including the one from 1957 1958 and my dad used to talk to me about the quarantine process and why is was necessary and if you violated it I believe back then someone from the county’s health department might intervene and included diseases like small pox or the dreaded polio virus. Here are links to those past epidemics.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1957-1958-pandemic.html
Here is one from 2009:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/2009-h1n1-pandemic.html and here is the timeline for that more recent one
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/2009-pandemic-timeline.html
WLRN and its fundraising arm Friends was hit with a $1.1 million fine for using a wrong formula to draw down federal CPC funds.
>>> What about WLRN Friends of WLRN fined $1,1 million in fines for incorrect federal funding draw down funding calculations?
The Watchdog Report has finally got an answer about what a federal IG discovered with the funding formula to draw down federal funds for the station and in the audit and budgetary advisory board committee The following is in the meeting minutes and had Friends of WLRN paying a $1.1 million fine for using an incorrect funding formula and was discovered after a federal IG audit for CPB. Here is what the minutes of the agenda’s past meeting Feb.4th …. state
Presentation of the Special-Purpose Financial Statements and Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants Operation of WLRN Television and Radio Stations for the year ended June 30, 2019 (ACTION)__________________________ The Chief Auditor introduced the subject report and explained that the external audit firm of C Borders-Byrd, CPA, LLC was engaged to perform this audit and the audit report presented a clean opinion. The Chief Auditor then turned the presentation over to Ms. Borders. Ms. Cynthia Borders-Byrd, Managing Member of C Borders-Byrd, CPA LLC stated that the report presented an unmodified opinion and that she is currently working with the Administration on the stations’ Annual Financial Report. This information is to be filed electronically to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) by February 13th as required by CPB’s statutory requirements. She then pointed to the schedule on pages 51 and 52 of the subject report and noted that this information was very important because this schedule combines the financial information of both WLRN and Friends of WLRN, Inc. (FRIENDS) and provides a complete picture of the stations’ financial activity. ABAC member Mr. Isaac Salver requested from Ms. Borders to provide a brief synopsis of the financial issues surrounding WLRN during the past one-two years and how those issues have been resolved. To address the request, Ms. Borders stated that in a previous audit, there had been a misreporting in the apportionment of WLRN’s revenues earmarked for the TV and Radio stations. She said that FRIENDS was involved with this issue and had agreed to pay about $1.1 million dollars, the amount that was repaid to CPB in reference to the TV/Radio revenue misreporting. Then the OIG-CPB auditors continued reviewing the reporting of WLRN and found additional reporting errors. These required a repayment to the CPB including a penalty totaling approximately $862,000 that the District paid in July 2019. Mr. Salver requested the clarification because he wanted to ensure that these [current] financials were real-time and presented no issues whatsoever. Ms. Borders pointed to the Balance Sheet where there are no outstanding receivables and stated that all prior issues have been resolved. ABAC member Mr. Juan del Busto inquired whether this audit had drilled down on the financial information provided by FRIENDS. Ms. Borders clarified that the WLRN audit performed by her firm relies on the audited information of FRIENDS reported by Marcum LLP, the external auditor hired by FRIENDS to perform their certified external audit. Referring to the past misreporting of revenues for the TV and Radio stations, Ms. Borders clarified that during the time of the misreporting, an external audit of FRIENDS to verify that financial information had not taken place. She pointed that this issue has been corrected since, and her audit can rely on the external audit report of FRIENDS and the financial information that it presents. Board member/ABAC member Ms. Mari Tere Rojas was pleased that there are no findings or deficiencies and no instances of non-compliance in the report, and thanked staff for the work performed. There being no additional questions or comments, a motion was made by ABAC member Mr. Juan del Busto and seconded by School Board member/ABAC member Ms. Mari Tere Rojas, which carried unanimously, to recommend that the Presentation of the Special-Purpose Financial Statements and Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants Operation of WLRN Television and Radio Stations for the year ended June 30, 2019, be received and filed by the School Board. ABAC Meeting of February 4, 2020 March 6, 2020 Page 4 of 14 4. Presentation of the Financial Statements. Here the link to the meetings agenda.http://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_March_17_2020/item2.pdf
>>> Today is the Watchdog Report’ 53 issues this year and when I started back in 05.05.00, soon having a 20-year platinum anniversary. I never imagined I would be doing this weekly publication for 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. However, many times it is at the lower level of government that deals are made, and other beefs are discussed and to my early supporters thank you for putting your trust in me. Further, the Esserman family gave $2.5 million to help The Miami Herald do investigative journalism and is asking for not-for-profit news organizations to apply to the Miami Foundation for possible grants, and these investigators should look at all the public institutions simultaneously for after 20-years many are all related and reporters need to know the many players and lobbyists to help understand the story and the WDR would be happy to help in any way I can in explaining the lay of the political landscape.
Further, the antics at the City of Miami by commissioner Joe Carollo is why I started the WDR back in May 05, 2000 and a recall effort is gaining steam with former manager joe Arriola kicking in $100,000 to help get the signatures needed to call for a recall of the Dist. 3 commissioner who has commission meetings a must watch affair, unfortunately since Miami needs stability given are diverse and poor sections of the city.
>>>> Democrats rally around Biden, like a phoenix rises from the ashes of another failed campaign, but what will Tuesday bring, Sanders drops out can Biden win?
E sports coming to a local private school near you apparently and the gamer tournaments are big time events and can include $110,000 prizes and endorsements
What about a future Super Bowl in 2025/2026?
Super Bowl Host chair Rodney Barreto gave Miami-Dade commissioners a update on the Super Bowl and the reviews for MIA and port of Miami suggest Miami could get another Super Bowl by “either 2025 or 2026,” he told commissioners and the Human trafficking initiative rescued “22 women,” he said.
Check out the Knight Foundation’s forum for engaged communities and news sources a great read.:https://knightfoundation.org/articles/knight-media-forum-how-to-strengthen-local-news-serve-communities-and-support-democracy/
PHT CEO Carlos Migoya in a special annual commission briefing said the health trust was prepared for the corona virus and that the county had “three testing centers,” The administrator noted “This is what we do,” and staff has “daily huddles,” he told commissioners Tuesday. He noted the organization was prepared. Further the health trust for the eighth time “had clean audits,” something that in 2004 was not the case and the PHT took a $84 million adjustment that went back to the 1970’s. So clean audits are a big thing for the public hospital. >>>Further next week read what happened at Friday’s PHT Nominating Council meeting where several trustees are up including PHT Chair Joe Arriola.
The Miami-Dade Community Relations Board was founded in 1963 and its primary mission is to intervene and contain community tensions, as quickly as possible. The secondary mission of the Community Relations Board is to work proactively to identify and relieve intergroup conflicts before crises arise; to develop bridges of understanding and support programs in the community; to foster understanding, communication, and mutual respect; to develop and support local or city based Community Relations Boards throughout the county; and to assure that resources are in place to respond to community crisis.
For more information, please contact Miami-Dade County Community Relations Board Director Shirley Plantain, EJD at 305-375-1406.
WHO: Community Relations Board’s Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Committee, Office of Community Advocacy?
WHAT: Active Shooter Training for faith leaders
WHEN: At noon, on Saturday, March 14, 2020
WHERE: Islamic Center of Greater Miami – Masjid Miami Gardens, 4305 NW 183rd Street, Miami, FL 33055
The Office of Community Advocacy is charged with making Miami-Dade County “One Community” that embraces our diverse and unique population. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow @Advocacy DC on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Gov. Press release: Governor Ron DeSantis Directs the Division of Emergency Management to Activate to Level II to Coordinate Statewide Response to COVID-19 in Florida
Tallahassee, Fla.— Today, Governor Ron DeSantis directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management to activate to Level II to coordinate the state’s response to COVID-19 and provide critical support to the Florida Department of Health and county health departments.
The Governor’s directive follows last night’s announcement from the Florida Department of Health (DOH) that two individuals have died, and two new presumptive positive cases were confirmed in Broward County. Additionally, today DOH announced a new presumptive positive case in Lee County. The individual is isolated and being appropriately cared for. For the total case count, visit http://FloridaHealth.gov/COVID-19.
Please visit the Department’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage at www.FloridaHealth.gov/COVID-19. This remains the best and most up-to-date resource for information and guidance regarding COVID-19 in Florida.
For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Department’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-866-779-6121 or emailing COVID-19@flhealth.gov. The Call Center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In addition, please visit http://www.floridahealth.gov/all-county-locations.html to locate and obtain contact information for your local CHD.
The CDC also has a website with information related to COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
What about Miami Mayor Francis Suarez?
Mayor Suarez has tapped long serving Miami Parking Authority CEO has been tapped by Suarez to be the city manager and was confirmed Monday by the body unanimously and it is hoped he change the political dynamics on the dysfunctional board, where there is an effort to recall controversial commissioner Joe Carollo adding to the fire and the man with a moniker crazy Joe. However, Noriega is well known, and the Northwestern University graduate attended the Kellogg Business school and has an economics degree from the University of South Florida for his full bio go to:
https://www.miamiparking.com/management-team/
Further, Carollo,64, is battling back regarding a recall petition on Jim DeFede’s television show and the commissioner outlined a number of irregularities that have gone on with current administration and went after blogger Al Crespo on the show highlighting he is a “seven time felon and bank robber.” To see the show go to: https://miami.cbslocal.com/video/4459265-facing-south-florida-1-on-1-with-miami-city-commissioner-joe-carollo-part-1/
What about the Underline and alcohol for county special events at transit nodes?
For a special event the county is allowing kiosks BE set up along the underline and some could be near schools and churches given the county’s definition of what a special event is and did not involve a permanent structures and would not be near residential homes said a underline Lobbyist.
What about the scooters that terrorize pedestrians and race around the streets and cause some thousands of head injuries in ER’s?
Further, on Wednesday at the Greater Miami chamber luncheon someone thought it would be funny and come up behind me and punched my shoulder which is making typing painful and I am a handshake type of person and the worse of this was when I had two cracked ribs and County commissioner Jose “”Pepe” Diaz (gave me a bear hug) and I ended up in the ER, because I had trouble breathing. Since I did not have healthcare insurance at the time the hug cost me $5,000. I will return next week with a normal report. (however, my shoulder blade still hurts. Making it painful to type) I had hoped after 20-years. People would realize that reporters and the police are very averse to being touched for a variety of reasons.
I would be in the endzone for me, but that goal is showing to be elusive as supporters retire and the support contributions are in doubt and hope you will consider pitching in during this time of need. Thank you, Dan
>>> Further in May. I had a surgery and the attendant bills have depleted my funds so if you feel the WDR is an asset to the community I need your help to continue with this faced this time of need and I know you have many demands but hope if you have been a past sponsor you could step up one more time to help me keep this endeavor going for another decade.
Thank you Unfortunately, last week that did not happen, though some may be the mail even though I just must hang in there to March when new funding becomes available. But surviving to that month. I have not dealt with since 2004, after using some $300,000 of my own money,
In this 20-year journey and all my historical knowledge. Especially since in Miami Commissioner joe Carollo has reverted back to his crazy self and is determined to destroy the Miami commission where he has a new ally Alex Diaz de la Portilla ( who is getting a private bathroom in his commission office) and is not the calm commissioner Miami hoped for but is just another proxy on the dais for Carollo. On Thursday a whole new political dynamic has emerged with Carollo, 62 and DLP, 54 the new lions on the Miami plains and Mayor Francis Suarez is the gazelle and while Carollo keeps mentioning he has two degrees from FIU one in international relations there is no mention of these on his biographies that I have searched twice. Further, Carollo suggested there was a concerted effort to embarrass him as a commissioner citing tweets between assistant city manager. Including not being invited to a United Way check presentation event and believes Suarez is orchestrating this disrespect to the body.
What about Commissioner Ken Russell?
Russell a progressive is in the GOP doghouse where both Carollo and DLP,54, are hard core Republicans and while Carollo,64, was a past mayor. DLP was a long serving state representative in the Florida Senator making him the senior political figure on the municipalities local commission. Further Carollo is trying to introduce legislation to eliminate the mayor’s outside employment and his salary for what is essentially a no show job with great flexibility that includes a sgt-of arms at all times and a per given his use of twitter that also ticked off Carollo regarding resigned manager Emilio Gonzalez.
However behind the scenes is former commissioner Marc Sarnoff now a lobbyist and DLP told Russell he “made it political when he “contributed to opposing candidates campaign $150,000 and the person lost and was a bad political gamble he made because he liked the candidate who had worked in his office but had caused controversy also suggested Russell “grow up,” when he seemed hurt by some of the comments.
>>> 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
Miami Mayor Manny Diaz tried to get back into politics by campaigning with him in Little Havana, however after a poor showing and $500 million spent his friend Mike Bloomberg dropped out of the race.
What about Thursday’s outrageous Miami commission meeting and the mics were turned off reminded me why I started the WDR in 2000?
The commission meeting reminded me of why I started the WDR back in 2000. The meeting went off the rails when Super Bowl host Committee Chair Rodney Barreto had a public appearance scheduled on the agenda. Barreto and Carollo have had a beef since 1995. When the man a major political fundraised ran five parking lots round the old Miami Arena of which Carollo through code enforcement had three closed by the city, had Chris Korge fired as a capital lobbyist and was an enemy of then commissioner Victor De Yurre. Carollo called Barreto’s partners the “three amigos,” they were former Alex Penelas chief of staff Brian May, Barreto and Courtney Cunningham and the three were major democratic party fundraisers including the mayor. However, Carollo also had a beef with county mayor Stephen P. Clark who was a close Barreto ally.
With Korge hosting President Bill Clinton who was vilified locally after the young Cuban Boy Elian Gonzalez was returned to Cuba with his father and ripped the community apart along ethnic lines partially hyped by Carollo on the Spanish airwaves. On Thursday Miami Clerk said he was trying to schedule a Jan.17 commission meeting and the 58-page agenda that got spiked last week will be addressed.
What about the Sunshine Law regarding public documents?
Recently at Miami-Dade County an RFP by the county’s Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), last month. For state lobbying services and the selection committee was controversial because a tape of the discussions was unable to be provided to one of the qualified applicants Ron Book with an audio tape of the discussions resulting in the selection and recommendation of the lobbying firm Becker Poliakoff getting the $75,000 lobbying contract in Tallahassee that under TPO Chair Mayor Oliver Gilbert, 111. He suggested that with billions of state transportation at stake, that the TPO should hire both firms. However, the lack of being able to provide a link that works to hear the proceedings and the selection committee used checked boxes rather than a numerical grading process that Book said was unlike any selection committee he has seen and these type of meetings must be taped and available to the public.
What about the Cultural Affairs department where I have asked for a link for Frost Science Museum’s deposition by CEO Gillian Thomas and ended with a $4.5 million settlement of legal fees after she fired all the contractors abruptly and ran out of money, see below for more on that.
This also includes all 34 municipalities that do not get the press they deserve
With the City of Miami being one glaring example in resisting providing public documents that are not launch codes and has once had the DDA paying a bloggers legal fees after the body resisted providing them and here is a press release from the James S. Knight and John L. Knight Foundation supporting investigative journalist program: https://knightfoundation.org/press/releases/new-journalism-prize-reporting-fellowship-will-be-big-boon-to-investigative-journalism-in-south-florida/
What about the rise of Domestic Violence and the number of homicides 44 in 2018 representing 14 to 15 percent of all homicides countywide?
On Wednesday, the county’s Domestic Oversite board met, and the body gets a percentage of the county’s food and beverage tax that also helps fund the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust. Ron Book the chair of the homeless trust is on the 15-member board and the DVOB members want a better understanding of programs that can be used by the organization.
>>> Here is a press release on the DVOB: The Domestic Violence Oversight Board was established by Miami-Dade County Ordinance in 1994 and on Oct. 1, 2019, it was moved to the Office of Community Advocacy by County resolution. The board’s first meeting of the year will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 8 from 10 a.m. – noon at the BCC Chambers, 111 NW 1st Street, second floor.
The Domestic Violence Oversight Board serves in an advisory capacity to the Board of County Commissioners with respect to all issues affecting or relating to domestic violence. The 15-member board appointed by the Miami-Dade County Commission and County Mayor includes survivors of domestic violence, service providers, judges, law enforcement, victim advocates, and other stakeholders.
In the past decade, the board has seen some important gains in Miami-Dade County’s response to domestic violence. For example, the number of reported domestic violence related offenses county wide decreased by approximately 23% from 2008 through 2018. That said, 2018 was one of the deadliest years on record in recent history, with 44 domestic violence related deaths, representing 14-15% of all homicides countywide. Despite important strides in our community’s response, it is clear domestic violence and sexual assault remain a pressing public health issue, on all levels.
The public is invited to the meeting where the board will discuss the needs of domestic violence victims and survivors, gaps in community response to intimate partner violence, and additional steps needed to prevent and end domestic violence. That is increasing under this new normal.
CITY OF MIAMI
>>> Another hot Miami commission meeting Thursday, 5G poles, bring license plate readers, video and facial recognition, Carollo wants FBI, FDLE to investigate any corruption cases, not Miami PD
City commissioner Joe Carollo is wanting any investigations of city employees or elected officials be handed by FDLE or the FBI and not the Miami Police department that currently dealing with senior staff employee charged with sexual contact with a minor and a Broward prosecutor is handling Rene Pedrosa case after the local state attorney recused herself. Police chief Jorge Collina said the secret service is analyzing the electronic devices for any more salacious photos or contact with the subject and other people my come forward as well and the department already works closely with multiple enforcement agencies said the chief.
The issue of scooters was a hot topic with commissioners concerned about safety issues since thousands of people are being sent to the ER’s mostly forehead injuries and commissioner Manola Reyes “does not want that on his conscious,” he insisted at the committee meeting.
What about “big brother” privacy, with new 5G technology?
with the new 5G network infrastructure that includes a platform for license state readers, video and other sensors and the information will be stored in the Miami police department but understands it could “wig,” people out personal freedom said Chief Colina. In the future these could include facial recognition used widely in China.
This technology allowed the police to identify a shooter in 30 minutes after a shooting at Kush in Wynwood and that is impressive.
Gimenez will have to dispel the perception he is aligned with ethics issues since his son J.C. is a major lobbyist and has represented a host of companies and the man’s taking some Super Bowl tickets after an ethics commission ruling I still being seen by the public as a problem and will haunt him in this congressional race.
M-DC: Special trustee meeting trustees give qualifications for search committee for a new president
Gonzalez a security and intelligence trained colonel retired from the army has faced some challenges with the commission and with his contacts in Tallahassee could try to get an inside track with the College’s trustee board with members mostly selected by Gov. Ron de Santis and trust chair Bernie Navarro says he is seeking “transparency in the process,” but info like the agendas can be hard to find and the board needs to really get more transparent for actions speak louder than words. And below is the info on upcoming meetings http://mdc.edu/presidential-search/minutes.aspx. The board has scheduled a special to discuss the requirements for the search committee Jan.16:here is the link https://news.mdc.edu/press_release/public-notice-notice-of-meeting-presidential-search-committee/And here is the Miami-Herald’s take on the search that many thought the fix was in a possible politician rather than an academic leader was thought to be in the wings. Padron with his passion butted heads with legislators who short circuited his attempt to pass a half-cent-sales tax for the college that passed in Miami-Dade but failed statewide. Hence the call for someone political to tackle state legislators and here is the Mimi Herald’s take on the process. Further, in the future the WDR is going to take an interest if Navarro does not keep his transparency pledge and do the right this for this educational jewel that produces the executives and leaders of the future.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article238460178.html Preview of Where Oceans Meet
https://news.mdc.edu/where-the-oceans-meet-at-moad-named-among-top-20-exhibitions/
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
>>> IG Cagle report claims school board member Dr. Martin Karp and staffer pressured administration to keep bogus after school program getting free use of district facilities a program was not free and open to the public as stated in school documents to district, and the IG office was just reaccredited
A recent IG report found school bord member Dr. Martin Karp and his staffer pressured the administration to provide free space in a school for the Chabad Chayil After school program and the school said it was open to the public but it was not and fees were charged and had Karp over a decade helping to keep this arrangement in place writes IG Mary Cagle and to review the report go to: http://ethics.miamidade.gov/library/2020-complaints/c-20-01-01-nunez.pdfhttp://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_December_3_2019/Item15.pdfhttp://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_December_3_2019/Item15.pdf
After 20-years I need community help to keep at this and know you have many demands on your finances but if you can please keep me going when you cannot. Thank you!
I was once asked by county commission chair Barbara Carey -Shuler what I thought in the press room in the chamber? I said it was a blend of announcer and umpire occasionally like when MPO was going to give $10 million to an obscure a.m. station to do traffic up-dates that are already being done as a community requirement for free. The commission shot it down, but it had commissioner joe Martinez saying to the board member “you’re on fire, bail out,” and the commission did not pass it.
Further, I write about the homeless since back in 2002. I was one of the people laying on the government center plaza and learned these people were essentially looked on as trash.
Further, for some reason September has traditionally been a tough month when it comes to fundraising. So, if you appreciate what I have done for almost 20-years weekly using thousands of my own money go to: The WDR report will return next week. I need a break thank you for your support over the past 20-years.
>>> 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
>>> Homeless dying on streets in Miami-Dade drops to 188 versus a high of over 200 souls last year
The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust met and there was some good and bad news. Last year over 200people died on the streets many by opioids and fentanyl and the hard life on the street. For the past year that number dropped to 188 people passing and getting people a job and housing is the goal and the Chapman Partnership placed 158 people in jobs and an apprentice program pilot is being tested with FIU learning construction skills.
>>> The public safety committee at the county passed a MOU with Pinellas County that has one of the, largest facial recognition data bases in Florida
A woman with Miami-Dade County police Department said the technology was a useful tool. Though county commissioner Daniella Levine Cava was concerned about “false positives,” many times happening “to people of color,” she said. For more on the technology go to:https://www.terabitweb.com/2019/11/08/florida-police-want-access-to-faces/ https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/florida-police-want-access-to-faces/ and here is the mayor’s memo on the matter.
http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/legistarfiles/Matters/Y2019/192442.pdf
Voter apathy high at municipal elections, corrosive to the republic
The low turnout of the municipal elections last week shows voter apathy is a continued problem in Miami races only 14.96 percent of eligible voters voted and while there are some runoffs this lack of turnout is corrosive to our republic and local government has more impact on ones lives and family and while it could cost more too schedule these elections with the governor races or other high turnout elections and while the off year election theory is television ads would be cheaper. Which is valid but local government has a history of trying to slip an issue on a low turnout date like at Miami-Dade county in 1989 when the county tried to get a one-cent transportation sales tax passed with the election in late July that year and it failed by 2 to one back then.
The City of Miami employees and lobbyist went through ethics training on Monday in the commission chambers and these classes should be broadcast on the city’s station. Robert Thompson teaches the course as the outreach coordinator. He gives hypothetical situations and asks the group of some 30 people if they know the answer, some of which are trick questions.
However, a segment should apply to city attorney’s to intervene when board members during a recess might be discussing an earlier case after commissioner Joe Carollo testified a in front the civil service board members during a recess had an extensive conversation on the dais and the city attorney should discourage this sort of off the record communication that they attend in their city capacity and includes county attorney’s given the some 90 boards the county has where designated attorney’s attend.
Sunshine violations need to be investigated happening all over the municipalities some examples need to be found
Here’s an introduction to the ethics commission’s new executive director Jose Arrojo, who came from the state’s attorney’s office.: http://miamidade.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=53238d78-7bf5-11e9-a084-0050569183fa
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article238460178.html
>>> With wide swath of County mayoral candidates, trying to be non-partisan, will it stay that way? I believe no
With the pool of candidates running for Miami-Dade county mayor to replace termed out mayor Carlos Gimenez increasing with former commission chair Jean Monestime, a family man with a MBA from F.I.U. and the county’s first Haitian commission chair and succeeded past commissioner Dorrin Rolle in the district seat after a number of ethical Lapses and the man has been straight on the 13 member commission creating a committee to look at economic disparities in the county.
The dark horse is former Mayor Alex Penelas, a Democrat, who burned President Al Gore’s campaign and ‘did not lay a finger,’ to help Gore after being reelected in 2000 and disbanding his campaign and going to Spain. However, now it will be the runoff during the presidential race with larger voter turnout that may play the critical role.
Trump should look at the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust model to end homeless in Ca., a national model of good practices. No boulders on the swales like San Francisco
With President Donald Trump highlighting the homeless in Los Angeles (Where 3 people a day die on the streets,) “says trust chair Ron Book,” and San Francisco being indicative of what happens when Democrats are in control, says Trump.
Both major cities should look to the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust model where prior to the creation in 1993.We actually had a mayor of the homeless encampment and some 8,000 homeless on the streets of Miami that has dropped to some 800 on the street at the last point in time account that includes a continuum of care and includes facilities like the Lotus House Village that takes in homeless children and is a jewel for this desperate population of needy souls. Here are some numbers on the city’s homeless issue.
>>> Miami Loomis Park “hot zone,” for HEP A transmission, city employees being asked to get vaccinated
Further the medical crisis of Hep A is still being dealt with the Florida Department of Health and is impacting Miami employees and Loomis Park is a “hot zone,” and employees are being asked to get voluntarily vaccinated by health professionals of this contagious virus that is transmitted by human waste and rather than having public restrooms. The trust says the solution is “permanent housing,” via the trust’s rent connect program. Further, cleaning of sidewalks making, and the cities are paying for the clean-up and sanitizing
Miami has become a premier cancer care destination, UM & $400 million Proton therapy celebrates 500 proton treated patients, at Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida all cutting edge cancer centers, community residents are lucky when it comes to new cancer therapies, Baptist giving low cost mammogram tests during breast cancer month.
Miami has become an area destination for cancer care with University of Miami’s new Federal designation as a National Cancer Institution (NCI) and The Baptist Health South Florida Miami Cancer Institute is the health system with a Proton beam device. The only one in South Florida and a $400 million investment in cancer care, especially for children, and patients who no longer must go to north Florida to get this less damaging treatment than chemotherapy and is more precise for more go to: The institute just celebrated its 500th Proton treatment recently and the technology was highlighted on PBS Friday night and is used for a variety of cancers something I did not know and leave nearby tissue alone versus radiation : https://baptisthealth.net/cancer-care/treatments-and-services/radiation-therapies/proton-therapy—https://umiamihealth.org/sylvester-comprehensive-cancer-center for more on Baptist go to:https://www.baptisthealth.com/pages/services/cancer-care/treatments/proton-treatment-for-prostate-cancer.aspx https://baptisthealth.net/cancer-care/treatments-and-services/radiation-therapies/proton-therapy Further Baptist has a low cost breast cancer screening program that is only $50.00 and for more go to https://baptisthealth.net/cancer-care/adultpatients/cancer-types/breastcancer/about
And when it comes to medical care early detection is key and as I age, I am becoming more cognizant of that fact.
What about President Trump pardoning a woman convicted of over $200 million in Medicare fraud?
Miami with two separate FBI Medicare fraud task forces and is “the graduate school of fraud,” and where new fraud beta sites are proven past U. S. attorneys have asserted over the years.
And here is Dr. Stephen D. Nimer’s message on the new Miami’s NCI designation:https://umiamihealth.org/sylvester-comprehensive-cancer-center/research/message-from-the-director
For more on lotus House go to https://lotushouse.org/contact-us/ https://lotushouse.org/childrenfirst/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1J22jC2bBY
> the 2020 Census Task force and the bureau are looking for census takers who are paid between $16.00 to $18.00 county commissioner and include health benefits. In the recent federal job creation report is 25,000 new census workers. Miami is appointing Jacqui Collyer to the census task force headed up by Bovo. He updated the commission last week on the census task force that includes the 34 municipalities participating and with the new year the census count really ramps up he said, t state level Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez I heading up state complete count efforts, which is great! For more go to www.2020census.gov
Bovo gave county commissioners an update on how the county is working with CBO’s that received county outreach funding for the count kicking off April 1.
What about Bovo’s run for county mayor?
Bovo in a campaign flyer is trying to qualify by voter petition and on his campaign team I mega fundraiser Rafael Garcia-Toledo and Jesse Manzano both who worked on term limited mayor Carlos Gimenez campaigns and Garcia a lobbyist on his form lists all things Miami-Dade as his issues and was married to high profile zoning attorney Vicki Garcia Toledo and the power couple now divorced are still plying their trade.
What about the county commission Dit.7, race that is pitting former school board member Raquel Regalado against former state representative and attorney Cindy Lerner? She has $221,629 in her campaign account to Regalado’s,88,410 and the former school board lost her race for county mayor years ago and is trying to become a player again. Lerner also a past mayor of Pinecrest is a democrat drives a Tesla and has strong environmental credentials and would replace commissioner Xavier Suarez if she wins
>>>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,
I am a fanatic about having an accurate public record with no gaps in the conversion after I had an attorney challenge such a gap saying, “IS that God speaking from a burning bush?” He asserted.
>> 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. 53 April 26, 2020 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: Heard Seen on the Street
>>>Miami taps MPA CEO Art Noriega as manager, hopes to bring calm to dysfunctional commission, Northwestern University grad from Kellogg Business school, – Suarez who is about to go to France along with commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla and will return Feb. 29th – After Friday’s Democratic Party debate and the chaos of the Iowa caucus and no clear candidates emerging and Vice President Joe Biden taking a “gut punch,” after his poor showing in Iowa, and low energy campaign what will Bloomberg’s candidacy do for the race? – Feds scrambling “crisis,” to find .5 million census workers by August, low unemployment, background checks making it harder, exemptions for non-citizens, community outreach is key, Staff tells U.S. House Oversite and Reform committee Monday, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, very concerned native Americans will not be counted – Elderly phone scam uses fear, persistence to try to take advantage and get personal information, hang-up, most government concerns come in the mail not by phone– Commissioner Reyes believes Miami should administer the Miami Dade County homeless Trust, 25th anniversary, he is not interested on serving on board, does not understand the homeless needs, drugs, mental health, people with crack pipes, on the streets,” continuum of care the trust provides a national model of best practices, in 1993 8,000 homeless, now 3,000. Community leader Alvah Chapman, Jr. led the charge for a public private partnership – f Bahamas shows depth of charity after Dorian flattens the Bahamas, similar to what Andrew brought to south Dade, and took a decade to recover-Local Grand Jury report says Biscayne-bay on life support, septic tanks poor infrastructure, plastics deadly to bays survival, past attempts to turn bay around have not been successful, but at tipping point, says jury report – Miami Civil Service board violates Sunshine Law with extensive discussion while on coffee break (just happened again), 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: The Children’s trust request for bids gets investigated the Miami-Dade Ethics commission for $270,000 PR contract for “young talent big dreams competition,” http://ethics.miamidade.gov/library/2020-complaints/c-20-01-01-nunez.pdfT — Help Fight the Opioid Crisis and Teen Vaping Epidemic by Participating in the 18th National Drug Take-Back Day, returned drug numbers are staggering – Threat calls into schools get amped attention as state attorney Fernández-Rundle notes such calls are a second-degree felony, not a student resume builder will be prosecuted -disruptive pre-k children getting “suspended,” new challenge for Children’s Trust — Complete 2020 Census count, outreach workers 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 director Sola gets commission proclamation for smooth running MIA after the Super Bowl, 46 million passengers and 3 million tons of cargo says mayor Gimenez — Homeless dying on Miami-Dade streets drops to 188 versus a high over 200 souls last year, domestic violence homicides rise to 14 -15 percent of homicides countywide –Zoo Miami is looking for someone to adopt a Rhino 14-15 percent ceros and a host of other animals, naming rights, and the county Zoo has some great gifts– One Heritage: The state of black Miami forum 2019 Thursday a major forum held by the Miami-Dade County African American Advisory Board created in 1974 under a push by the first black Miami commissioner Althea Range, includes the Black World guide for Miami-Dade see below a report on the black community, out of “16,000 section 8 vouchers, 40% go to blacks,” that shocked Fair, “creating dependency, not homeownership.” –F1 race at Hard Rock gets vetoed spiked at county commission meeting, mayor vetoes BCC cream of Miami Gardens leadership all against, citing noise and medical risks to residents left out of process- Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust wants to achieve “100 percent HEP A, vaccination rate,” JHS, agreement being worked on to have vaccinations given at Camillus and Lotus House in near future, statewide epidemic among homeless, drug abusers, preventable with vaccination, sweeping state– County Commissioners want to tighten up municipal whistleblower laws, will it run into municipal resistance like what happened with county IG office? –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: record number of resource officers highest in nation “Historic,” three state football champions, quarterback tells Supt. Carvalho, don’t worry “we have it covered,” school board honored teams achievements Booker T. Washington, Miami Central, Miami Northwestern – Miami Dolphins super star receiver Nat Moore tells school board without opportunity to attend Dolphins training camp, “he would have been a truckdriver like his father,” Edison High graduate 1969,
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST: Christina Lynn rehabilitation facility opens March 20, Cure for paralysis was electrolyte getting this done, JHS ready for any corona virus outbreak, protocols reviewed, Mayor Gimenez calls for more test kits, and local labs have been approved. JHS and Florida Dept of Health coordinating county response with other hospital systems, hygiene and hand washing key to avoiding infectious disease experience after Zika, and anthrax attacks after 9/11 PHT, gives Jackson unique perspective, after dengue fever tuberculosis — has 8-years of clean audits — Here is an update of the $830 million Jackson Miracle Bond program that is moving right along and changing the JHS in 2009.Jackson has 8th year of clean audits not always the case years ago. I did a fraud issue. However, Jackson Health System was fined for some wayward employees selling or leaking medic medical records and I interviewed the FBI’s Special Agent in Charge(SAC) John Gillies and to read the story go to: https://www.watchdogreport.net/2011/09/page/2/ -Joint PHT BCC meeting 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: Mayor Suarez taps MPA CEO Art Noriega as manager degree from North western University: Former congressman Carlos Curbelllo has been appointed by Mayor Francis Suarez as an advisor, former GOP congressman Lincoln Diaz-Ballart would have been better choice, given age difference – Another hot Miami commission meeting Thursday, 5G poles, bring license plate readers, video and facial recognition, Carollo wants FBI, FDLE to investigate any corruption cases, not Miami PD- The arrest of the mayor’s media spokesman Rene Pedrosa, for groping a minor will have Carollo verbally clubbing Suarez like a baby seal, after amended job application listing two DUI’s, validates Carollo’s criticism of lax administration, and favoritism- The city’s negotiations are dark and deep when it comes to a deal on a MLS stadium on Melreese golf course with no public meetings occurring and not appearing the city agenda so when mayor Francis Suarez says commissioners can drop in any time that is not the case and makes his push for “transparency, “ a bogus claim since I have been trying to attend one of these meetings and have only gotten silence to my questions to the mayor and Eddy Lean on this blackout where replacing new parkland is a sticking point. –— A Peacock population bomb has the Kampong under FIU offering three interns to study the fowl’s population roughly 1 Peacock per 2 hectors in Grove, “600,” est. says scientist from Kampong — Bike scooters rentals causing concerns it’s like “Dodge. City, with the freewheeling riders also includes kids on the scooter’s pedestrians dodging the fast-moving devices that jam sidewalks, over 1 million users since pilot program started, says Commissioner Russell, no one killed versus bicycles and cars — In a campaign flyer for Dist.2. candidate Javier Gonzalez asserts “I can’t win because I was born in Cuba, the piece state’s adds ethnic element to race? He was spotted directing traffic and closed road with yellow Jeep-Commission district 2 race gets more crowded with new entry Rosy Palomino, who ran in the past for house Dist. 112 —Commissioner Reyes calls mayor’s stalling tactic “Machiavellian,” since Reyes and Gort oppose deal and 4/5th vote deal with Beckham and MLS — Further, this continues the turmoil in the District 3 commission office that has major staff members being fired because of a hostile work environment and Carollo responded after hearing the charges. He was just glad there were no injuries but the political turmoil in the office should be monitored by manager Emilio Gonzalez for the lawsuits will likely be coming from some of these past employees including one claiming whistle blower status which ultimately was declined. – . — Influential attorney Miguel 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 commission , 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 a 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 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 Humberto 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 — 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- New Knight Foundation programs strengthening democracy and a strong free media – Martin Z. Margulies Warehouse open: See new photographic works: https://www.margulieswarehouse.com/
EDITORIALS: – “civility oath goes out the window,” says Mayor Suarez — Suarez’s strong mayor proposal flawed should not allow outside income for either mayor or manager, not about him but future mayors – Politicians don’t realize voter’s frustration is they are such hypocrites, many times (like now when congress gets paid but no other federal departments with a gov. shut-down) 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
>>> “You may not take an interest in politics, but politics may take an interest in you.”
Pericles (430 B.C.)
ARGUS REPORT: Heard and Seen on the street
>>> After Tuesday’s food fight Democratic Party debate and the chaos of the Iowa caucus and no clear candidates emerging and Vice President Joe Biden taking a “gut punch,” after his poor showing in Iowa, but bounced back in South Carolina what will Bloomberg’s candidacy do for the race?
The debate is getting mixed reviews and while Pete Buttigieg is rising in the polls and many believe Sen. Amy Klobuchar had a good night but none of the candidates on the crowded stage are the goldilocks candidates and with New Hampshire voting on Tuesday the winnowing of candidates should begin and
Miami-Dade commissioner Estephan “Steve Bovo,” gave county commissioners an update Tuesday on his 2020 Census Task Force that has financed with CBOs for outreach efforts to get a complete count. He was also appointed to the Florida Census Task force and noted the state is not “providing any money,” But is using state counties to provide the outreach to get a complete count
>> Feds scrambling “crisis,” to find .5 million census workers by August, low unemployment, background checks making it harder, exemptions for non-citizens, community outreach is key, Staff tells U.S. House Oversite and Reform committee Monday, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston very concerned native Americans will not be counted.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article240069403.html
EDITORIAL
The state legislature is once again trying to dilute the advertising of public meetings instead of newspapers and have them go on line and this is a disservice to the electorate knowing what their local governments are doing and the legislators should remember they also live in these counties and municipalities and this also applies to having a secret search for state university or college presidents a process being done in Miami at Miami-Dade College doing a search for a new president and is becoming highly political.
What is Miami-Dade County Mayor thinking when he bought some Super Bowl tickets at a reduced price while the FI race controversy is still going on and is flash point for Miami Garden residents the largest black community in Florida and residents’ medical concerns.
He must not realize the perception issue with this. Something he dismisses when challenged on this and will be used against him in his congressional race in the GOP primary where his opponents will use these lapses of ethics and public perception with voters makes the former county mayor appear swampy. Here is more on the tickets and the ethics commission ruling.
https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/super-bowl/article239853208.html
>>> Political partisanship splits 5-member commission along republican and democratic lines, Russell gets the brunt while others pound city staff including Chief Jorge Collina,
The vindictive and partisan governance at Friday’s Miami Commission meeting was why I started the WDR back in 2000 and the commissioner’s pounding of staff is going to have a profound effect on the city’s over 4,0000 employees, and with the Super Bowl in early February the timing for this bickering commission is terrible that has stripped Vice Chair Commissioner Ken Russell, Of chairing the DDA an independent created authority that’s members were highly critical of the commission in the press and may be replaced for this insubordination.
What about Mayor Suarez and his legacy with 3 commissioners and conflicts will bond rating go down?
Commissioner Joe Carollo is dominating the five-member board and Russell is getting payback on the body for loaning a challenger to Carollo some $150,000 from his campaign but while losing the DDA chair to Commissioner Manola Reyes. Russell’s new appointments creates a power vacuum in his District 2 office that covers most of the DDA area. Further, Suarez has lost total control on the body and is putting his administration in limbo and while Carollo calls the administration based on the Roman saying giving residents “bread and circuses,’ as an administration.
Suarez must figure a way to assert his leadership on the body and his next choice as city manager now that Emilio Gonzalez has resigned. MPA Dir. Art Noriega’s name has been floating but Noriega on Friday told the WDR when I asked if he would be interested, he responded it “was complicated.” So the community will find out who jumps in to lead the city that has a commission that is dividing up city entities along party lines in a nonpartisan body but that has been thrown out the window since Alex Diaz de la Portilla,55, a Republican and former state senator. Further, given the city’s GOB exposure the rating companies tend to downgrade the city’s municipal bonds, when turmoil occurs at a time money is needed for sea-level rise mitigation that has significant flooding issues and will devalue housing values.
Here is Census 2020 info. Finding census enumerators, a ‘Crisis,” staff tells a house oversight and reform committee on Monday has Rep. Wasserman Schultz concerned of under count of native Americans. Here are some links to the census process
https://2020census.gov/en/jobs.html
https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/2019/comm/2020-everyone.html
People are asking me what I think about the Democratic Party presidential candidates and after 20-years it is clear no candidate has yet to get into his stride and history has taught us candidates either have the it factor or they don’t and Presient Barack Obama had this political magnetism as a new comer and did not have a UBD like Hillary Clinton whose time was 2006 but was pushed out by Obama and Joe Biden is running a utility campaign after two past attempts at the presidency but the parties voters have been split on the field and none have yet to really catch on fire with the party’s faithful.
>>> U.S. $23 trillion debt clock, not being discussed by candidates, is a fiscal time bomb the nation will one day have to face!
With the nation’s debt climbing to $23. trillion none of the candidates from either party are discussing this fiscal time bomb on the campaign trail. I first became alarmed back in 2004 when it was just $4 trillion but the wars and Great Recession added new fuel to the rising debt and increased interest rates and the link shows the nation’s debt clock and please sit down given the velocity of the numbers. https://usdebtclock.org/
I was at George Washington University’s Sino-Soviet Institute from (1971-74) and was able to watch the Watergate proceedings since I worked at a high-end audio shop with Sony televisions at the time. This lack of bringing the public along is what has both sides so hyper partisan. And the sooner the proceedings and transcripts are released the better. To stop the speculation hemorrhaging that is tearing the country apart and is also seeping into local elections like in Miami where the nonpartisan races have become partisan. Editor’s note: Keep any hate emails to a minimum please.
Jerry Springer and George Will (Will NPR) were on the media talking about the nation’s hyper partisan political world and Springer a television shock show host said what is going on in Washington was evolutionary and had Will saying he has been hard on Trump
Repeat: because so important to Miami: Feds scrambling to find .5 million census workers by August, low unemployment, background checks making it harder, exemptions for non-citizens, community outreach is key
The federal government is scrambling to hire census workers which begins in April next year, but with unemployment at an all-time low census enumerators are harder to find that qualify the background check to find the 2.5 million workers to go to people’s homes’ when they did not respond to the census document and will hurt minorities and other groups hard to count out of “fear,” a number one issue in Miami-Dade County. For more on this shortage go to:https://census.gov/library/stories/2019/03/2020-census-hiring-thousands-of-workers-ramps-up.html
Knight Foundation study on local media: https://knightfoundation.org/articles/local-news-is-more-trusted-than-national-news-but-that-could-change
>>>> Elderly phone scam uses fear, persistence to try to take advantage and get personal information, hang-up, most government concerns come in the mail not by phone
I am starting to see how the elderly can fall for a scam given what they may be personally dealing with (perhaps a surgery) at the time. The current one is a phone call saying a bank transfer is occurring or that you are going to be charged with drug and money laundering charges and the FBI may be at your door. Part of this variation is that you will lose your social security and that your number has been compromised and cancelled and need to meet at a “target or CVS,” says the scammer and is very insistent asking “are you in your car yet,” since he has spent so much time and even asked you to write down his federal badge number. Most federal agencies contact you by mail and you should hang-up immediately despite their persistence.
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 do not 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 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 and 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
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 but will check state driver’s license info that is being fought by the states.
>>> 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
>>. The Children’s trust request for bids gets investigated the Miami-Dade Ethics commission for $270,000 PR contract for “young talent big dreams competition,”
Here is the investigation and cone of silence violation
http://ethics.miamidade.gov/library/2020-complaints/c-20-01-01-nunez.pdf
https://www.actorsplayhouse.org/young-talent-big-dreams-competition/
annual report 2019 https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/sites/default/files/kcfinder/files/2019_Annual_Report_022020.pdf
Lourdes Gimenez is a trustee the mayor’s wife.
To learn more about how to identify and report human trafficking, visit YouCanStopHT.com. Anyone who suspects or witnesses an occurrence of human trafficking should contact local law enforcement or call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1(888) 373-7888.
January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. To view Attorney General Moody’s message on National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, click here. To see the Attorney General present the Florida Cabinet resolution recognizing the observance, click here.
Recently, Shared Hope International gave Florida a 94-A grade in the group’s Protected Innocence Challenge for the state’s human trafficking laws and resources for law enforcement officers. For more information, 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
https://www.miamiheartgallery.org/
The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County is funding a anti human trafficking campaign to the tune of $200,000. And Kristi House is getting $180,000 as well for their mission
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>>> MIA director Sola gets commission proclamation for smooth running MIA after the Super Bowl; 46 million passengers and 3 million tons of cargo says mayor Gimenez
The commission awarded Lester Solas a proclamation Feb. 19 for the smooth running of MIA after the Super Bowl where lines were no longer than ten minutes and the facility last year had “46 million passengers which was a record. Mayer Carlos Gimenez also noted 3 million tons of cargo had passed through MIA and was a 2prcent increase
>>> Traffic light contract for synchronization hits choppy water after bid protest pitting de Grandy against Diaz de la Portilla, Sosa calls reverse lanes on Flagler a “terrible idea,” re FDOT proposal for street
A discussion item Tuesday at the county board of commission had two veteran lobbyists facing off for a county wide traffic light synchronization and will enhance traffic issues by some “5 to 15 percent,” of traffic flow, said county mayor Carlos Gimenez. Turned into a bid protest on a contract for traffic synchronization of the 6,900 traffic lights countywide. The battle on the contract debate had former state senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla versus former state representative Miguel de Grandy who helped pass the legislation creating funding for the homeless trust and domestic violence program at the county. The two men over the years have crossed swords many times and the county are going to rebid the process.
What about TPO workshop and the use of reverse lanes on Flagler street by FDOT that commissioner Rebecca Sosa called a “terrible plan,” and wanted the idea fleshed out more
A discussion item Tuesday at the commission meeting
>> At Friday’s Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust meeting Friday a number of homeless success stories were heard and one man who could barely spell his name after continuum of care side he now has over 120 employees and was in the process of creating a trust for his children and now owns a home. Many of the other speakers had a similar story with two of them getting degrees from Mimi-Dade Community College and chair Ron Book said its these stories that drive the trust that helped some 400,000 homeless people over the past 26 years
>>> One Heritage: The state of black Miami forum 2019 Thursday a major forum held by the Miami-Dade County African American Advisory Board created in 1974 under a push by the first black Miami commissioner Althea Range, includes the Black World guide for Miami-Dade see below a report on the black community, out of 16,000 section 8 vouchers, 40% go to blacks,” that shocked Fair, “creating dependency, not homeownership.”
County Black Affairs Advisory Board Chair Stephen Hunter Johnson ran a tight forum and even cut off T. Willard Fair a community icon and a major developer investing in Overtown. One of the startling observations was the fact that of the 16,000 county Section 8 vouchers, “40 percent go to African Americans.” That number shocked T. Willard Fair and when it comes to homeownership the aspiration is to get a voucher, and not a home that is out of reach for many and is “creating a dependency,” when it comes to black homeownership. Fair suggested there “needs to be a plan,” and not to just bi…ch but “we have plan. He noted he started with “one house,” now the developer said he has 50.”
Michael Liu the director of housing and development said a single-family home at $100 to $250,000 is not attractive for a millennial and that a lower cost” condo should be considered and that is a start at homeownership he noted to the panel
https://www.miamidade.gov/advocacy/library/black-world-guide.pdf
Wakanda effect: https://www.miamidade.gov/advocacy/library/reports/baab-findings-recommendations-report.pdf
>>> Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust wants to achieve “100 percent HEP A, vaccination rate,” JHS, agreement being worked on to have vaccinations given at Camillus and Lotus House in near future, statewide epidemic among homeless, drug abusers, preventable with vaccination, sweeping state
The Hepatitis A epidemic in Florida has real world consequences in Miami-Dade and the need for vaccinations against the highly infectious disease is at a crisis level explained at Friday’s Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust meeting. After the local Florida health Department director told trustees its impact and numbers are less in some of the smaller counties but Miami with1.2 million residents are a whole different story. The disease afflicts homeless, and drug abusers has risen sharply statewide and the goal for the trust is to get “100 percent,” vaccinated not the “58 percent” around the state said long time trust Chairman Ron Book at Fridays trust board meeting.
Further an agreement with Jackson Health System is being worked on so that vaccinations can be given at the Chapman Partnership and Camillus House and Lotus Village where many residents fall into this vulnerable population that leads to liver damage a serious disease that has exploded recently in the Sunshine state. State wide: #s http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/vaccine-preventable-disease/hepatitis-a/surveillance-data/index.html https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2019/08/01/hepatitis-a-florida-public-health-emergency#interactivehttps://www.wptv.com/news/state/hepatitis-a-outbreak-adds-65-cases-in-florida For more go to:https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article230131439.html
A workshop last week the Miami-Dade County Commission on MIA was held, and airport concessions and earnings was the talk of the day something commissioner Estephan Bovo, Jr., calls a “social experiment,” “where concessions are gotten by political contributions,” he believes at MIA.
Rebeca Sosa repeated her call “for no more expired,” contracts that limits the changing competitive economic environment return she suggests. She is a big supporter of the “process,” and she has been a solid member on the changing 13-member body.
>>> MIA directed to do study of impact of Melreese soccer stadium deal on runways and if in “safety zones,” for runways, could impact MLS stadium at golf course
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.
>>> 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 and Hepatitis A is surging in the county as well and the health department is urging people who are at risk get the vaccination.
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 14th 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 eye-opener. 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.
>>>>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.
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 homeless 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
Here is an update of the Jackson Miracle Bond program that is moving right along and changing the JHS, with virus hemorrhaging tax revenues county gives health trust $150 million line of credit, in November institution had only 50 days cash on hand
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article241867016.html
https://jacksonhealth.org/blog-bond-progress/
Mentorship protégée program for JHS bond discussed at forum Erick Knowles Wednesday after T Willard Fair looks at all the contracting in County water & sewer
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article235641862.html
Fined https://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article236598618.html
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, with grand opening March 20, JHS burn unit gets national accreditation, many patients need psychiatrist, outreach to children part of unit, not to start fires crawl above the smoke, and stop and roll to put out fire. Rehab opens March 20th
Telling athletes yes, we want to win 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.
And here is a complete CDC list of things you should do if you think you have coronavirus https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html
Further, with the community having the Jackson Health System public healthcare institution along with UM the WDR has seen their preparedness in the past and it is top notch whether it was the anthrax scare after 9/11 and fear of a smallpox attack the system beefed up its resources and has kept up with critical protocols. And tests can now be done at local labs reducing the time for a diagnosis versus days if sent to CDC in Atlanta. Given a drop in paying patients because of the virus and tourist taxes down The institution received a $ 150 million line of credit from the county during these tough times. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article241867016.html
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article240761096.html#storylink=mainstage
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
>>> The nation’s fourth largest public schools district is supplying hand sanitizers and beefing up cleaning and disinfecting the schools to curb any corona virus outbreaks, will be shut down for the year, with pandemic fears on-line courses
http://www.miamidadeig.org/2019MDCPS/TheOIGFinalReportSB-17-1006-SIissued9.25.19.pdf
With the increased security needs the Miami-Dade County Public Schools have achieved an all-time high of officers in the district with around 400 schools. These resource officers are much needed and is the largest school police force in the nation.
>>> Miami Dolphins super star Nat Moore tells school board without opportunity to attend Dolphins training camp, “he would have been a truckdriver like his father Edison High graduate 1969, Dr. Karp sings Dolphins fight song to audience, includes team doing baseline concussions on students
>>> The Miami Dolphins were honored by the school board Wednesday and the team needed some good news after the bruising battle at county hall and bringing F1 racing to the stadium and Miami Gardens. That brought out a host of residents against the race. A number of Dolphins and management attended the meeting and star player Nat Moore said if it were not food the chance to attend a Dolphin training camp “he would have been a truck driver like his father and is an Edison High 1969 graduate.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat_Moore
He said the experience gave him confidence is doing something different and the team at Edison High recently replaced football gear destroyed by a freak fire when no one else was in the building.
What about the school board Leadership election?
Long time Chair Perla Tabares Hantman continues to chair the nine-member board and Dr. Stephen Gallon, III is the boards vice chair and since his arrival he has been strong advocate for his district
>>> District pays Miami $1.195 million to provide law enforcement to “17 schools in Miami,’ part of GOB proceeds for greater student safety
The school district is paying the city of Miami$1.195 million to provide law enforcement officers at 17 public schools located within the city at a cost of $70,337.00 per school says the Miami resolution passed by the commission accepting the money to the “police general fund account.”
The RFP on how to oversee WLRN is said to be coming to the school board at its December school board meeting a reliable source to me recently and the oversight that includes an affiliation with the Miami Herald has been a contentious community issue the came out after federal Ig report found a discrepancy in a station grant funding formula and had the school board audit committee raising concerns when a state audit was late
>>> 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
here is the link to the audit agenda: http://www.dadeschools.net/schoolboard/agenda/e35.pdf
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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieaqsiupMSI 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 https://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODN/MiamiHerald/ https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article229066424.html
CITY OF MIAMI
What do peacocks have to do with the media?
If you ever wondered why NBC uses the spread peacock logo it is from Greek Mythology and evolved from the 100 foot hundred eye colossus Argus that protected the fawn Io and morphed into ancient capitals back the to protect against snakes o the peacock all seeing and the fowl were used and they are a predator and will take on a cobra check out this video: cobra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieaqsiupMSI
>> Commissioner Reyes calls mayor’s stalling tactic “Machiavellian,” since Reyes and Gort oppose deal and 4/5th vote needed for no bid deal with Beckham and MLS
The Miami Freedom Park discussions Thursdays was a drama with Miami commissioner Manola Reyes calling Mayor Francis Suarez “Machiavellian” given the mayor’s slow progress with The David Beckham groups $1 billion development deal and MLS soccer stadium on the Melreese golf course. Reyes and Wilfredo Gort suggest the delays are to allow for the upcoming elections to add new commissioners in support of what many calls a sweetheart deal of a billion dollar give away to the politically connected Mass brothers. Since both Gort and Reyes are against the deal. Former Miami commissioner Marc Sarnoff is part of the negotiating deal and his law firm Shutts & Bowen. Sarnoff noted that the traffic and environmental studies have yet to be done and won’t be ready till close to the Nov. election and the commissioners believe it is a stalling tactic by proponent Suarez who notes it was overly passed by Miami voters but the devil is in the details and the commission o them as commissioners put some form time lines for the administration to present a contract while Gort is still on the dais.
In one sharp exchange Reyes does not call Suarez and the mayor hot back that he should be called “mayor,” since he refers to them as commissioners, but the heated meeting highlights the divisions on the five member body as Suarez tries to wrap-up the deal expected in the coming months and the value of the golf course has yet to be established.
What else happened?
Carollo reached into his old toolbox when people were asking about 4 new parks in his district. He said the people complaining just did not want people outside the neighborhood using the parks and one person actually “grabbed his wife’s arm.” And he suggested this was racially or anti Hispanic rhetoric from elites in his district and he used this tactic back in 2000 but now is a different time and he may not get the ethnic divide traction he is looking for and had people throwing bananas in front of Miami City Hall back then.
Speeding boats on Miami River scarring manatees in river
What about the speeding boats on the Miami River and these hitting manatees? The river with a dubious history has restaurants dotting the shores and residents are asking for a more robust police marine patrol and say the fast boats are scarring the slow-moving sea cows that swim along the shore to avoid these boats
>>>>The sea Level Rise committee wants a bump in funding for resiliency officer’s office, an extra $500,000 in the upcoming budget would help for “most important Miami committee,” manager has said.
“The most important committee the sea level rise committee,’ is going to ask for more public funding for studies and members going to conferences and after much debate is asking the commission to fund $500,000 to the resilience and sustainability officer’s office and the chair will be speaking at a upcoming commission meeting since budget hearings are in September. To read the budget go to:
https://www.miamigov.com/Government/Departments-Organizations/Management-Budget
EDITORIAL
Further, with multiple municipalities, hospitals utilities have been held hostage and cyber ransom blackmail to regain access to encrypted computers. To read more about these hacks and technology go to these two links and it will open your eyes on the danger of these actors including North Korea and is only evolving in complexity and even the CIA has been penetrated along with the ultra-secret NSA. https://www.wired.com/story/2017-biggest-hacks-so-far/?verso=true
https://decideconsulting.com/5-recent-cyber-security-threats-in-2018/
And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account http://paypal.me/WatchdogReport Further, if you would rather send a check send it made out to Daniel Ricker and mail it to 3109 Grand Ave., #125 Miami, Fla. 33133. Thank you, Dan
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
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 Timesfor bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored. Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517
The homeless 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
Daniel A. Ricker
Publisher & Editor
Watchdog Report
Est. 05.05.00
Copyright © of original material, 2019, 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
Publisher’s Statement on the mission of the Watchdog Report and the special people and organizations that make it possible: Government Subscribers/Corporate Subscribers/Sustaining Sponsors/Supporting Sponsors
***** LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & Initial sponsors since 2000
Mr. ANGEL ESPINOSA – (Deceased) owner COCONUT GROVE DRY CLEANER’S
HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr (The first contributor)
FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com .
THE MIAMI HERALD www.miamiherald.com (2000-2007)
ARTHUR HERTZ
WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)
ALFRED NOVAK
LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)
JOHN S. and JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION www.knightfoundation.org
THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE
>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $2,000 a year
BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com
RONALD Hall
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov
UNITED WAY OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.unitedwaymiamidade.org
Weiss Serota Helfman & Cole & Bierman
>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $1,000 to $5,000 a year
BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com
BERKOWITZ POLLACK BRANT Advisors and Accountants www.bpbcpa.com
JEFFREY L. BERKOWITZ TRUST
BERCOW RADELL FERNANDEZ & LARKIN www.brzoninglaw.com
RON BOOK
BENEDICT P. KUEHNE http://www.kuehnelaw.com/
LINDA MURPHY: Gave a new laptop in Oct. 2001 to keep me going.
Rbb www.rbbcommmunications.com
WILLIAMSOM AUTOMOTIVE GROUP http://williamsonautomotivegroup.com/
>>> Public, Educational & Social institutions – subscribers at $1,000 or less
CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.
CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov
CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu
THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov
GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com
GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov
MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION OFFICE OF THE CHAIR www.miamidade.gov
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST: www.miamidade.gov/homeless/
MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE www.mdc.edu
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL www.miamidade.gov/ig
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPT. http://superintendent.dadeschools.net/
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST & JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM www.jhsmiami.org
THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org
THE MIAMI FOUNDATION www.miamifoundation.org
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA http://www.firstgov.gov/
>>> 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 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
>>> 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
>>>>> 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
Large Business Supporters $500
Small Business Supporters $250
Please make checks out to Daniel A. Ricker and send to 3109 Grand Ave. #125 Miami, Fla 33133