Watchdog Report Vol.22 No.43 October 30, 2022: EST:05.05.00 – I GO when you cannot for 22-years free – A community education resource
>>> Voting so far smooth, neighbors working as poll workers, county has spent millions updating voting machines, from Chad era in 2000.
One of the great joys of being an American is voting, and meeting your neighbors at the polls, and maybe being a poll worker. I voted Saturday by absentee ballot and dropped off my ballot. The man checked my license and ballot signature and I watched it go into the secure ballot box.
Since the 2000,2002 elections the county has spent millions beefing up the elections department and has performed well over the past decade and confidence in our elections has been a hallmark of America, because many times our fellow citizens participated as poll workers.
The recent attack of Paul Pelosi is terrible, and people are asking where the home security was most of the nation has in urban settings at the speaker’s residence, which has a security detail most of the time but does not apply to immediate family members.
>>> Jackson Health System closes year with $83 million surplus, including $350 million in FEMA funding, supplemental funding ending, warns treasurer Argiz
The Miami-Dade County Public Health Trust closed the year with a $83 million surplus that was revealed Wednesday at the trusts televised meeting that approved a new agreement for CEO Carlos Migoya.
The governing board of Jackson Health System, the county’s public hospital just finishing a $830 million bond passed in 2013 by county voters and the funding updated the aging campus with a variety of major projects. Included in the surplus was $350 million in FEMA funding and this “supplemental funding,” helped the public health system have the surplus, said treasurer Tony Argiz, a CPA on the trust. However, he noted it was supplemental one-time funding from the federal government.
Carlos A. Migoya, M.B.A. the CEO of Jackson is having an updated salary agreement heard by the trust board Oct.26. The new agreement is a second renewal agreement starting June 17, 2023, and 2024.
The man who has led the turnaround of the beleaguered public hospital working closely with the hospital’s unions, especially during the pandemic which stressed the hospitals many staff. When he took over JHS was on its last legs and county commissioners were thinking of selling the public health system losing millions at the time and was considered by the uninsured as “The hospital you go to die to,” given the reputation at the time.
Since then, Migoya convinced the voters to approve a elusive bond to update the aging infrastructure and completed that task with Jackson West, a prime example of the bonds success that also engaged local minority venders with a successful mentorship program.
Starting in 2023 his new salary is $1,124,219.25 and the next year he gets a 3% increase to $1,157,945. And is based on an increase in “fund assets,” state trust documents. For more go to go to:https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/jacksonhealth/2276b19a-4be4-11ed-95a3-0050569183fa-6872cee3-98a7-4865-85f1-4b68344022ed-1666379320.pdf
Further, a county commissioner is on the compensation committee per ordinance, and the man has earned the compensation based on results and the dedication of the medical staff and roughly 12,000 employees at the public hospital.
Where back in 1979 I once had to get a certified check before I could give the surgeon Richard Thurer, M.D. a cardiac pacemaker from Cordis Corp, a major biomedical employer in Miami at the time. Further, Migoya has been enabled to do this without much political influence something that plagued the institution in the past.
Carlos A. Migoya, M.B.A. the CEO of Jackson is having an updated salary agreement heard by the trust board Oct.26. The new agreement is a second renewal agreement starting June 17, 2023, and 2024.
The man who has led the turnaround of the beleaguered public hospital working closely with the hospital’s unions, especially during the pandemic which stressed the hospitals many staff. When he took over JHS was on its last legs and county commissioners were thinking of selling the public health system losing millions at the time and was considered by the uninsured as “The hospital you go to die to,” given the reputation at the time.
Since then, Migoya convinced the voters to approve an elusive bond to update the aging infrastructure and completed that task with Jackson West, a prime example of the bonds success that also engaged local minority venders with a successful mentorship program.
Starting in 2023 his new salary is $1,124,219.25 and the next year he gets a 3% increase to $1,157,945. And is based on an increase in “fund assets,” state trust documents. For more go to go to:https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/jacksonhealth/2276b19a-4be4-11ed-95a3-0050569183fa-6872cee3-98a7-4865-85f1-4b68344022ed-1666379320.pdf
Further, a county commissioner is on the compensation committee per ordinance, and the man has earned the compensation based on results and the dedication of the medical staff and roughly 12,000 employees at the public hospital.
Where back in 1979 I once had to get a certified check before I could give the surgeon Richard Thurer, M.D. a cardiac pacemaker from Cordis Corp, a major biomedical employer in Miami at the time. Further, Migoya has been enabled to do this without much political influence, something that plagued the institution in the past.
>>> Miami Commission shuts-down any public discussion on historic Virginia Key Trust, says Chair King, modifies rules to only items on agenda versus any subject, bans Virginia Key Trust, comments
Miami Commission chair shut down any public discussion on historic Virginia Key trust and board members during public comment period, says Chair Christine King, who modified the rules.
Further, The city reneged on contributing $1 million to the not-for -profit Circle of brotherhood promised last October after a press conference with mayor Francis Suarez, proclaiming the success of the organization in the community. This has to corrected after the big check ceremony with Mayor Suarez.
>>> S. Dade getting economic shot in arm, NASCAR, agro tourism promotion, brings millions to region
South Miami-Dade County is getting a revenue bump in the coming weeks. First the NASCAR race at Homestead Speedway Oct.22, and an aggressive marketing campaign promoting the scenic faming and agricultural Tourism in the area and ads are running in Canada promoting the area.
However, the race is estimated to bring $300 million in economic benefits and is a mini–Super Bowl.
The area flattened by Andrew has slowly come back and hosts a variety of venues including a winery, and a new Baptist Health South Florida hospital augmenting healthcare along with Jackson South Hospital with its trauma center affiliated with Ryder Trauma Center.
It’s showtime early voting starts Monday and the supervisors of election prayer is “may it not be close.”
Political attack ads are nonstop, and voters need to get educated with early voting starting Monday. Now what, you didn’t run yourself will you at least vote in these important midterm elections?
>>> After another fish kill on Biscayne Bay, I rerun this article
>>> Re do, because so important: The heavy rains are a “wake-up call,” to Miami-Dade, said Mayor Levine-Cava Friday, and is an answer in front of our nose? With scavenger vessel, resuscitating Biscayne Bay, working only 40-hours a week with only one vessel, picks up gas drums, and other garbage, while oxygenating the bay, is a technology marvel that should be expanded
The Biscayne Bay Watershed Management Advisory Board members, Friday saw a video on the propriety vessel the scavenger, which cleans and infuses oxygen into the bay after the extensive fish kills and the bay is at a tipping point and is a major economic generator.
There is only one vessel being used only 40-hours per week because limited funding from the county and the city of Miami. However, more funding and another vessel costing $1.5 million is needed and could be a substantial solution to helping the bay back to health. I have taken an interest in the bay since 2000, after I was asked by Capt. Miller, the head of the Army Corps of Engineers. If I knew anyone that could contact U.S.Rep. Bill Young, chair of the House appropriations committee. And by accident at a luncheon, I heard someone talking about the man and playing golf with him. The congressman was approached on a green about funding the dredging of the Miami River, and with the help of Rep. Ileana Ros Lehtonen -Miami. The first $8 million in funding was included in the upcoming federal budget, which was later assisted by state, federal, and local funding.
For more on the scavenger go to: https://scavengervessel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/city_of_miami_report.pdf and
>>> To see the damage to the bay go to https://www.miamichamber.com/news/pollution-killing-biscayne-bay-theres-very-little-time-save-it-and-its-going-cost-lot-moneyhttps://www.miamichamber.com/news/pollution-killing-biscayne-bay-theres-very-little-time-save-it-and-its-going-cost-lot-money
Here is a national story on me and the reporter spent a month riding with me in 2003: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2003-01-20-0301190341-story.html
>>>> Will mayor Suarez, hot potato issue of commissioners being on the board of the historic black Virginia Key Trust, will he veto legislation later in month? Now that he is considering running for president in 2024.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez,42, had a mixed week after being honored at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Alva Chapman Jr, luncheon Wednesday, but had a explosive dilemma Thursday when commissioners decided to appoint themselves to the historic Virginia Key Trust board, enraging the Miami black community after a city audit that showed no malfeasance by the board but sloppy record keeping.
I talked to attorney N. Patrick Range, II, about the audit, and he said, the issue of minutes was because they changed from tape to digital and updated their policies in regard to reporting what was being said timely. I asked the attorney why the county which had $20 million for the creation of a African American museum and cultural center on the key site was stalled for 18- years.
Since approved by county voters in 2004.But was held up because funding to sustain it was not available even though the Miami commissioners had approved a few years ago a ten year commitment to help fund the facility and is a community flash point since it was the first beach ( in segregated Florida) allowing blacks to swim and includes a train and vintage carrousel.
The park also has a historic tree planted by M. Athalie Range, Miami’s first black commissioner, and congresswoman Carey Meek, and I photographed it at the time and sent it to the congresswomen. Range a groundbreaking commissioner was referred to as “Mother Range,” by many politicians, in total deference. For more on the remarkable women go to : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Athalie_Range#:~:text=M.%20Athalie%20Range%20%28born%20Mary%20Athalie%20Wilkinson%3B%20November,Florida%20state%20agency%2C%20the%20Department%20of%20Community%20Affairs.
>>> City of Miami commission approves putting 20’ by 20’ LED billboards in Ferre Park & Virginia Key. A city that once considered a condo on Peacock Park years ago, to raise revenue for parks, but is it a slippery slope, for all the other parks. In a city, always seeking revenue.
>>>> Man sentenced 20-years for fentanyl death by feds, last week, for more go to: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/fentanyl-dealer-s-product-kills-man-sentenced-20-years-prison
>>> Trailblazer Dr. Barbara Carey-Shuler gets street named appointed in 1980, after McDuffie riots, by Gov. Graham
Former Miami-Dade County Commission Chair Dr. Barbara Carey- Shuler unanimously had a street named after her for her years of service on the commission first appointed by Gov. Bob Graham after the Mc Duffie riots, in 1980, the worse in the nation She pushed the committee system, televising the public health trust and a office for county I.G., and a dedicated area for the press at the trust, after the WDR began sitting at the large trust board table, and made trustees uncomfortable, she joked, “why should we have all the fun,” re the changes. For more on the riots go to:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_Miami_riots
When she spoke she reminded people that Leroy Jones of the Mom & Pop grants fame was one of her first actions county funding $50,000, to get the program started and she was severely criticized for giving public funds to “a felon,” and getting their life back and the program exists today thanks to Jones success with the small businesses funding.
Shuler a senior school administrator before joining the commission pushed to have the nation’s fourth largest school districts district work with the county closer. Something I saw later firsthand when I started going to school board committee meetings. And you had the district buying all this land in west Dade.
>>> At a time of horrible disasters, it is more than necessary to have a F.M. radio station like WLRN after 75-years and a NPR affiliate with an agreement with the stationer’s owners the school board of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. After Hurricane Ian destroyed Fort Meyer on the west coast the station from Palm Beach to Key West is a reliable information platform free to the public, and fund drive at www.wlrn.org
Will Hurricane emergency equipment now include life preservers, sleeping bags, and a flare gun, after west coast devastation?
Everyone is revaluating their emergency kit after Ian’s killer surge drowned so many in Lee County. First is the need for a life preserver flare gun, sleeping bag for emergency shelters. Residents studying evacuation zones, with warnings often ignored, has residents revaluating leaving or not and I for one if the storm hit would likely be no more after such a surge, even on the edge of my zone.
Lee county voters will us post offices for ballots etc. https://www.lee.vote/Vote-by-Mail/Vote-by-Mail-Information/Request-a-Vote-by-Mail-Ballot
Mail in ballots have hit the mail and I got mine for the midterm elections and hard-hit Lee County after Ian is using select U.S. Post offices to send ballots for the thousands without a address. For ,more go to https://www.lee.vote/Vote-by-Mail/Vote-by-Mail-Information/Request-a-Vote-by-Mail-Ballot
>>> Miami-Dade County jumps into action to help S.W. Florida neighbors, Baptist Health, after Hurricane Ian, flattens the west coast with many dead, Jackson Health System admits “30-patients, including pediatric patients,” from Lee health, large not-for-profit health system in western Florida. First responders arriving from around the nation, Coast Guard doing yeoman’s job rescuing stranded residents. This is so much worse than Andrew with biblical damage, our community steps-up to help with Broward County.
The storm different from Hurricane Andrew a wind event, brought a deadly destructive storm surge, flattening many communities with years of infrastructure bridges being rebuilt. Ian possible the most destructive storm in the nation, has shook Florida residents to their core, and thanking God we were spared Ian’s wrath in Miami from the storm that only flooded some streets. Editor’s note: latest JHS trustee minutes: https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/jacksonhealth/7238a7aa-3c24-11ed-95a3-0050569183fa-6872cee3-98a7-4865-85f1-4b68344022ed-1664293038.pdf
But did not spare Lee County and will take years to rebuild including condo foundations, that may be weakened after the storm. Further Miami Mayor Francis Suarez oddly left for New York to attend a fundraiser leaving his family here after we were out of the cone. But contradicts his family man image he promotes with his son and daughter in mailers to residents.
Further if Andrew is any indication contractors from around the nation will tell residents they can do the job but not up to code which will be new to them. And insurance fraud may become a big issue as was found here. Also, the state may see some new building codes as the scoop of this disaster unfolds. And donations should only go to reputable organizations
>>> Rerun as this will only get worse after Ian strike: “We are at a pivotal point in this body, because we have limited resources,” said long time chair Ron Book, at Miami -Dade County Homeless Trust meeting Friday.
The Trust is dealing with a “flawed immigration system,” Book said, and immigrants are coming from Venezuela and Columbia, and we are not getting federal funds for these people and had the latest census at 2,400 people which is a significant up tick from the 900 usually counted. This in flux has Camillus House with “no vacancies,” said CEO Hilda Fernandez. Further, “the vast amount of people we are seeing have no family members here, said Fernandez. These people need attorneys to resolve immigration help and [many]don’t know why they got here,” as well as working with partners, she said. Further, the trust won’t send people anywhere there is no one to receive them. Said CEO Vickey Mallette. Camillus is also experiencing “lengths of stay,” at the facility and along with Lotus Village they are running full.
Book also noted Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo’s interview on WPLG 10 with Michael Putney also helped raise the trust’s issues with Miami Beach contributing $3 million in their budget and what would really help. Is to rescind the exemption to remove beach cities on the food and bed sales tax with the Florida legislature. That includes Miami Beach and Surfside and would bring in extra revenue to the Trust’s coffers.
Book noted that in 1980 during Mariel boat lift with Cuba that the federal government helped cover the costs of resettlement of the exiles. The trust had a 25% growth with the last count and cannot sustain these numbers since it won’t go into debt.
Book said the trust will not go back to housing the homeless as in warehouses years ago. Editor’s note: I write about this because I have had rough patches and for some it’s not easy to recover once they slide into it his condition, and I am hoping my supporters renew again keeping the community and county watched that passed a flush $9 billion budget supplemented with federal funding that is ending next year and will likely produce a hole and result in many cuts in social programs in the county next year without this supplemental funding.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>> How did commissioner raise their salaries from around $6,000 to around $70,000, without a county wide vote approving the deserved bump in pay?
The Miami -Dade County Commission raising their salary during the final budget hearing is causing controversy since county voters 13 times have shot down any increase in their $6,000. Annual salary and about $50,000 in benefits and expense account. Commissioner Javier Souto remarked in the discussion he had “seen 10 commissioners removed in his time on the body,” and is termed out himself. The charter says such an increase must be approved by voters and there are questions how this came about said commissioners, with one noting it was not attached to the electronic document she had gotten, said commissioner Eileen Higgins during the hearing.
Miami commissioners at Tuesday’s commission meeting faced a host of hostile residents objecting to the closing of the Virginia Key outdoor center and a suggested little house homeless complex. The issue was “commingled” with the black historical Virginia Key beach, and Chair Christian King said the homes were not on the historical beach as reported in the media and caused a fire storm, around the nation
The outdoor organization, renting paddle boards, kayaks was suddenly closed for back rent and code issues that was in retaliation to being outspoken on the idea of little homes for the city’s homeless, and part of the problem is the city’s high staff turnover. Also, an issue in the code department over the past administrations and includes the unsafe structure board staff. “blame is shared by both sides,” said Commissioner Reyes. About the whole affair that included a political “sweetheart deal,” at $700. A month in rent in the beginning said Carollo and are now trying to do it politically again after demonstrations at city hall protesting the closing of the facility in August.
EDITORIAL
With the nation and our community so divided and threats to lawmakers in candidates’ minds. The community faces a dilemma of will good honest candidates run or stay on the sidelines in future races. Currently Miami Commission District 2,represented by Ken Russell that snakes along the Miami coast and host to high rises and hotels, law firms is leaving Jan.3 after a failed run for congress in the democratic primary in August and while commissioners have not decided whether to appoint a replacement or call a special election that costs money.
The commission historically appoints getting the appointee to pledge they wouldn’t run for a first term, which cannot be enforced, and the promise has been broken a number of times. In this case Russell if he wants could run again.
But my concern is there are many elected officials coming up in the months ahead and while apathy is always a problem, security is now a new concern for candidates with families… and in their hearts have the right moral compass to and not exploit their office for personal benefit.
That had the county commission creating a paid ambassador program to pay19 past commissioners a $25,000 stipend a year to do ceremonial events. A program tucked quietly in the county’s budget and is a terrible idea and only highlights that the retired elected leaders just want to exploit their past service that was paid and with benefits and retirement. We are in turbulent times and good governance and candidates is demanded as voters are inundated with political ads non-stop. Thus, will you be a informed voter or just a bench warmer since you didn’t run yourself, will you at least vote?
>>> PHT upcoming budget $2.94 billion, closes year with “57-days cash on hand ahead of budget, still has “significant threats throughout system, “says CFO Knight
The Public Health Trust had a budget meeting Aug.31 and the trust and Jackson Memorial Hospital is reporting a $2.94 billion budget for the coming year and while challenges remain for the public hospital system that is the envy of many counties and has benefited from a 2013 capital bond of $837 million they would leverage to over $1 billion has updated the ageing campus and expanded the public system throughout the county, though CFO Mark Knight reported the system still had $1 billion in “unfunded capital needs.” Further Knight noted that the institution was closing the year with “57-days cash on hand and was ahead of the target.” This cash on hand is a big turnaround from 2009 when it was down to 7 to8 days. And would begin the new administration under CEO Carlos Migoya whose leadership helped to get the voter approved $837 million bond passed.
>>> Mayor Levine Cava needs non county ethics advisor after Qatar sponsored trip to Kingdom with political operative doesn’t see problem, she tells press but public sees different
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava missed an opportunity to strengthen ethics at county hall and much is a result of perception. She hired a new chief of integrity officer recently even though the county has an ethics commission well-funded. She picked Brenda Kuhns Neuman a former assistant county attorney with little ethics credentials. However, the mayor should have picked a neutral officer like from FIU or other public institutions for an ethics officer.
What about the controversial trip to Qatar on the country’s dime, which included political operative and lobbyist Ulvert
She also had a controversy when she took a delegation to Qatar, paid for by the nations embassy and included county commissioners and some from the city of Miami. But also included a political operative and lobbyist Christian Ulvert and such a trip is a real boost for the man’s firm. She should have known how such a choice would be perceived as blatant favoritism ( and was why in 1999 every county employee had to go through ethics training after county voters created the county’s ethics and public trust commission.) for more go to : https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/miami-dade-mayor-levine-cava-s-free-trip-to-qatar-smells-she-should-have-stayed-home-editorial/ar
>>> With all the robust public budget hearings county property appraiser Pedro Garcia warned county commissioners that the property values and taxes “are going down, “in the future and curb spending levels he suggested, and municipalities need to keep this in mind that has Miami with a $1.5 billion budget and the county at $10.37 billion this upcoming budget year.
>>> Homeless ticks up 23 percent, “the end is in sight,” says Chair Book, with lifting of exemption in Fla. Leg. of beach cities of food & bed tax creates extra $45 million in revenue Camillus House should lobby leg., “Jackson physicians” may see homeless on street, says trustee judge Leifman, landlords wanted WPLG ad gains 30 landlords
The Trust’s Friday monthly meeting examined the uptick in homeless population with only Miami Beach showing a 9 percent drop, versus the overall county census of 1100 increase to 23 percent. trust chair Ron Book said much of this new population are refugees and immigrants. He also thanked former Miami mayor Joe Carollo for his recent advocacy of the homeless on television and his pilot plan of tiny homes.
Chapman Partnership interim CEO Peter Pruitt filling in after being a partnership board member
What about the Ryder Trauma Center 20th anniversary?
Ryder a community jewel after hospital and community leaders agreed on one incredible trauma center after the late 70s when emergency rooms were jammed up and malpractice insurance costs were staggering. The center is a state-of-the-art trauma facility and a Level 1, and community leaders including Jay Weiss, a JHS benefactor at the hospital helped create this medical jewel in car accidents or gunshots.
Chapman Partnership CEO Symeria T Hudson, M.B.A., has moved on to the Miami-Dade United Way as its new CEO. The talented woman with a Harvard M.B.A, and a Uncle Billy who was homeless and had mental issues which has guided aspects of her work. The woman before leaving Chapman, got Oprah Winfrey to tape a segment on the partnerships work with homeless and she will be missed
Miami-Dade the epicenter of fraud may have a new problem, fake credentials of contractors, and jumper cables used in elevators; one commissioner Martinez “says it should be criminal,” since the public is at risk, fake degrees and credentials have been a persistent issue, from the school board to the county, to Miami’s unsafe structure committee meetings, muck work being done non credentialed pr licensed
The issue of jumper cables at MIA and Port Miami was the topic of the day. And while the county has a “red flag, “to warn commissioners it was not followed and committee commissioner Rebeca Sosa ,the chair, noted her big concern, was “licensing [credentials] were a huge concern,” and she is waiting for county’s inspector general’s report on the issue, she said.
The issue brought out in the media years ago. And the jumpers were shown. One looked like picture hanger wire, no insulation with an alligator clip attached versus a real one fully insulated with the clips and should only used for “diagnostic tests that included elevators and escalators. Commissioner Joe Martinez said, “tampering with this type of equipment should be a crime.”
>> Miami mayor and commissioners net worth through June, Carollo leads pack with $2.3 million, mostly real-estate
The financial disclosure forms are in for Miami elected leaders are in and their net worth has increased mainly through real estate owned below are the net worth, as of June Commissioner Joe Carollo,, net worth was $2.3 million, Alex Diaz de la Portillo net was $1.6 million, Christina King net was $543,938, Manolo Reyes was $930,000,Ken Russell came in at $993,872 and mayor Francis Suarez net worth was $1.338 million and includes a number of properties and in future weeks I will be looking at the elected leaders debt, and income streams.
>>>> Miami-Dade County holding $21 million of transit sales tax revenue for Miami after beef with Carollo and commissioner Higgins over bike lanes.
Miami Dade County is withholding $21 million in citizens independent transit trust funding because of a dust-up with Miami Commission Joe Carollo and county commissioner Eileen Higgins and has to do with funding the trolley program in Miami. The county commission has “declared war on me,” said Carollo. He further went on about the need for bike lanes on a controversial street.
>>> I was wrong when I thought the WDR was good for another year, as contributions have been few and far between and with inflation raging supporters are, I am sure hurting in this treacherous financial time. .I will keep you posted in the future but after 22-years and major political changes the need for public institutions to be watched has never been more critical if we want good governance and public money being wisely spent.
Miami-Dade Public Schools
>>> School board workshop documents show $17 million for security cameras, but zero spent for critical school safety measures
The school board had its first 2022-2023 budget workshop untelevised and I did not attend since, every time I have gone to such meetings some staff hassle me and I will be at Wednesday’s board meeting. However, I reviewed the workshop’s documents and one number jumped out $17 million was budgeted for 360-degree security cameras, but none of that money has been spent state the documents and to see the report go to:
http://pdfs.dadeschools.net/Bdarch/2022/bd061522/budget-workshop-presentation.pdf
Candidates for a host of offices are running political ads and citizens need to carefully review the candidates for the county, schoolboard, and judiciary. To see the candidates, go to list candidates and campaign https://www.voterfocus.com/CampaignFinance/candidate_pr.php?c=miamidade&c=miamidade
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust
>>> Rentals needed at county’s homeless trust, has 700 HUD housing vouchers, Oprah Winfrey interested in Chapman Partnership’s work, says CEO Hudson
Oprah Winfrey has approached The Chapman Partnership for Homeless, since the homeless population in places like L.A., SF, have risen, to incredible levels never seen, said Chapman CEO Symoria T. Hudson, to the trust.
The trust has been under financial strain, and with immigrants flooding the southern border and many coming to Miami immigration funding is up 7 percent and cannot be sustained. Further the trust needs new rental units and has seven hundred housing vouchers that are paid directly to landlords including first and last deposits said trust staff. With state funding ending, the trust is stretched for funding as an immigration surge is anticipated until the nation up-dates its laws with many coming to Miami given our demographics. Further, food and bed taxes are up finally by 40 percent with a $19.8 million collection rate in April.
CITY OF MIAMI
>>> May 5th be the WDR’s 22-year anniversary, and I never thought back then that I would reach such a milestone, and thanks to community support, I achieved that, and I thank my supporters from the bottom of my heart.
WATCHDOG REPORT
Miami-Dade, Fla.
Vol.22 No.43, October 30, 2022, Celebrating 22 -years of free weekly publishing! www.watchdogreport.net & Former Miami Herald news & editorial columnist. 05.05.00, I go when you cannot, for almost 22-years & a trusted community education resource & news service, without the attitude
>>> Just because you do not take an interest in politics does not mean politics will not take an interest in you. –Pericles (430 B.C.)
What about Lotus Village?
The nation’s premier social service agency that assists families and women with children is doing an expansion called The Children’s Village. The organization founded by Constance Collin’s with her own money after she saw a need for women’s social services that were being unmet in Miami-Dade and it has been a huge success, for the women. She is also on the county’s Homeless Trust and is a solid provider of these important social services allowing women and children to get back on their feet. For more on the expansion and a look at the project click the link. https://lotushouse.org/lotus-village-a-miami-homeless-shelter-that-feels-like-home-set-for-ambitious-expansion/?msclkid=12ae3ebeceee11ec89415ac1e34cd820
What about the city of Miami’s mid-year budget?
The city’s budget director said the municipality had a $18 million surplus, but only $1.7 million in the fund balance. The city has been riding high given all the federal funding after Covid and its economic impact, to fill budget gaps, for a host of services during the pandemic.
>>> What about the county commission’s discussion on creating a new constitutional Sheriff’s office like the 57 others in Florida, and the problems it can create are showcased in Broward County
That had Commissioner Manolo Reyes trying to tamp down the divisiveness of the discussion.
I first came to Miami in 1975 when I joined Cordis Corp. in a new executive program that sent me to California, Tokyo, and later to Sydney for five-years, before returning to Miami in 1990. I mention this because ethnic tensions in Miami have always simmered below the surface, with some Grovites believing a sense of entitlement versus other residents and in 2000 had the county push the Mosaic initiative trying to bring the community together after the explosive Elian Gonzalez affair. That had rednecks with confederate flags and Black people shouting “F…” the Cubans,” and was caught by The Miami Herald in a photo back then.
What about the annual Miami-Dade Domestic Violence Annual Board report?
The domestic violence trust has opened a new 60-bed shelter in South Miami and with Covid domestic violence cases have been on the rise. Further, there is new software that allows a caller to use facetime if approved and is great for prosecuting domestic violence.
>>> Clean-up efforts of Biscayne Bay kick into high gear with “120,000,” homes on septic tanks countywide, county commissioners “want to see specifics, one by one,’ since the first Bay study in 2015.
On a different note: than above. The county’s Biscayne Bay task force is revving up its efforts since the first study of the bay in 2015. Funding finally has been surging from the state and federal government. The one main polluter of Biscayne Bay is the est. 120,000 septic tanks countywide and converting septic to sewer can cost up to $20,000, and the desire is to reduce that amount to around $1,000, and there is new septic tank technology, that uses baffles in the interior of the tanks but the bay is at a tipping point say environmentalists and chair Commissioner Daniele Cohens Higgins, wants to see “specifics,” and true goals and time lines. Further, one of the first conversion areas is Schenley Park area in commissioner Rebeca Sosa’s district next year, after years of delays.
Past WDR: What about the issue of homeless children in Miami-Dade?
The point count recently was 947 kids on streets since this most recent count? “The count found 49 percent were ’homeless the first time,” 65 percent were non-Hispanic, and 180 people were moved into new homes and the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust participated in the 100 Day challenge and above is some of the results I asked trust chair Ron book about the program discussed at the trust meeting Friday and he responded: “The 100 Day Challenge relates to ending youth homelessness, and we were 1 of 5 Communities identified nationally. We accepted the challenge, and there are now 15 Communities in the Country that have accepted it. We are considered probably if not the most successful to complete the one hundred Day Challenge ranking in the top 2 or 3.”
We did things to create new best practices, and if you had the opportunity, which you may already have seen the video from the Chicago Summit, you would see that the other four that participated in this one hundred Day Challenge were truly taken by our efforts, commitment, and our success. We blew our goals out of the water, and we will continue to push, and pursue every youth that are on our streets until we have everyone out, and taken care of,” wrote the long-time chair.https://www.wesh.com/article/desmond-meade-on-time-100-speaks-to-what-this-country-is-all-about/27185500
>>> Further today is my Vol.22, No.42 and 22-years of weekly editions since 05.05.00 of publishing the Watchdog Report and while I have had a variety of health issues over the past years, I thank my supporters again for the confidence and privilege of doing this free news service along with the internet. Further, during that time I have had no scandals or personal controversies and sometimes returned money like I did with ex-judge Martin Zilber, who resigned after abusing his judicial staff.
>>> And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account that is easy to use and right now would be a great time: http://paypal.me/WatchdogReport
Further, if you would rather send a check send it made out to Daniel Ricker and mail it to 3109 Grand Ave., #125 Miami, Fla. 33133. Thank you, Dan
>>> And having a member of the press at public meetings gives teeth to the Florida Sunshine Law (and why you get a Flu Shot) and open meetings tape recorded keeps good governance in place and reduces waste fraud and abuse, and public corruption, and is why you don’t speed in front of a state trooper for example. And hope you can support the WDR efforts to have informed residents to public institutions issues, in our community.
>>> Further the www.watchdogreport.net in South Florida is an established news service presence, because most people are too busy to go to these important meetings., and all the information comes through me as a central point allowing me to see things at a 100-mile altitude and being an early warning system when projects have overruns or other issues. But my job is to sound the alarm and I have done so many times over the past years in a host of ways.
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>>> 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)
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