Archive for December 2023

 
 

Watchdog Report Vo.24 No.37 December 3, 2023: EST:05.05.00: I cover when you cannot, a community education resource weekly

WATCHDOG REPORT

DRicker

Miami-Dade, Fla.

Vol.24 No.37, December 3, 2023, Celebrating May 5th,  24 -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.)

knight-logo-300

 
 

  
ARGUS REPORT: HEARD SEEN ON THE STREET

 

>>>GOP Congressman Carlos Gimenez calls for a “travel ban with China,” Sunday on Fox, after country’s children being hit with a respiratory illness. “Doesn’t believe President Biden will,” he says. He voted to expel ex-congressman George Santos, because, “no one in congress should be a thief,” he said. He also says there is a security threat with $2 million unknown immigrants and their intentions. The man has been a political fixture in Miami and FOX for decades with only his lobbyist son causing controversy over the years.

 

Miami commissioners Pardo, Gabela sign commissioner documentation in private Saturday, face $56 million budget dilemma, poor attorney ruling, could lose job?

 

The two new Miami Commissioners signed their election certification today in a private ceremony(Pardo got his named designed parking spot, and I couldn’t confirm Gabela’s spot ). They  will be sworn in publically Dec.16 at city hall.The new commissioners. The men are Miguel Gabela and Damian Pardo and the first thing they have too address is the state not reconizeing a budget vote exposeing a $59 million deficit’s blame of this fiasco is falling on city attorney Vickey Menendez, and both men have called for her removal from office. She is also mired in her own investigation along with her husband on some real estate deals. She denies any involvement

 

STATE OF FLORIDA

 

DeSantos gets mixed reviews in debate with Ca. Gov. Newsom

 

I’m still trying to get the webpage right, despite past troubles. Thank you. I have gone another week without any support checks, please do what you can. I know how tough things are since I live it. Thank you Dan

 

 

MIAMIDADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Audit committee meets Dec.4th will you be there? Is made-up of accountants C.P.A.’s not always the way it was. Very political, community & taxpayers accountability firewall, includes IG representative and WDR.


 

OBITUARY

 

Dr. Henry Kissinger passes at 100.He had a profound effect on my life  years ago. I dated one of his staff, in the typing pool Fox commentator K.T. Mc Farland. She later would be a deputy national security advisor in the Trump administration and was nominated to be the ambassador of Singapore. His secret trips to China was at a time  Iwas a Chinese Studies major, and told would have no career since China had been closed for 22-years, instead opportunities in the medical arena and I was with a heart surgeon Dr. Dryden Morse, grandson of Samuel in Shanghai testing pacing electrodes with a analyzer in 1976, just a few years after the opening of China. 

 

A time the Russians had a million solders on the Sino-Soviet border with the country and provided an opening for America and Kissinger who had a mixed reputation in South America after some CIA coups.

 

>>>Regalado as the county property appraiser, raises red flag of competence, journalist by trade, has poor executive hiring skills, many political choices, expect challengers.

 

The announcement that former mayor Tomas Regalado would run as the County’s property appraiser shocked me. The man a journalist by trade has no experience in real-estate. Further he has a history of political patronage and with this appraiser’s county budget of 60.83 million budget, and 412 positions. He will have a field day given the positions in the $60 million office budget. Regalado says he knows the community in all his years here since arriving as a Pedro Pan in the 1960’s. A Republican now in a partisan race is expected to get challengers.

 

>>>Will Miami commission & two newbies really root out the culture of corruption after only 14.49 % voter turnout, lobbyist slowly become “friends” said one candidate, recently, corruption not just a Hispanic trait, but many other groups around nation, we’re just more dramatic and colorful, with great beaches, & stone crab the size of small children, I have joked?

 

COMMUNITY EVENTS

EXTENDED HOURS FOR ART BASEL MIAMI BEACH 2023

Monday – Saturday, December 4 – 9, 9am – 5pm

Sunday, December 10, 9am – 2pm

Coffee served every morning.

 

COFFEE AT THE MARGULIES COLLECTION

Mon Dec 4 thru Sun Dec 10, 9am onwards

No RSVP required.

 

STATE OF FLORIDA

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

 

CITY OF MIAMI

 

14.49percent of Miami voters rose up and rejected two incumbents facing charges, two newbies, hoping for the best in the fight against corruption, and pay to play in politics.

 

Long serving state rep.and senator facing legal woes lost to Miguel Gabela, on his fourth try at office, and won beating Miguel Diaz de la Portilla in the runoff, And Darian Pardo defeated incumbent Sabrina Covo, in an expensive high stakes race for the district 2 commission seat.

 

Covo raised a considerable war chest and ran a standard incumbent kind of race using many door knockers, and campaign pieces. She also relied too much on her previous job as an investigative reporter and was sketchy about much of the past of the Miami government. Pardo worked hard and raised considerable money and got the surprise endorsement of veteran political reporter Michael Putney, who recently retired and was first time he supported a candidate that helped Pardo.

 

Both Pardo and Gabela want to fight the culture of corruption at city hall. They both have said they wanted to remove city attorney Vickey Menendez. The women has her own controversies, involving real estate deals.

 

How does the subtle corruption start, very slowly?

 

Over the years I have seen many people eating lunch or entertaining situations, and when I asked were “friends” when meeting with lobbyist or elected officials, one commissioner recently said about Joe Carollo, because of a previous job. Staff get asked to do personal tasks, from helping to get their Tesla taken to shop in front of city hall. Another was a city manager asking an auto magnate look at the rusted brake drums on his BMW, while the mayor was present and looking on. These friendships and connections could apply to then Chinese, and not just a Hispanic trait as many Anglos attribute to why Miami is seen as corrupt.

 

>>>Help PAST WDR after: For three weeks now I thought my 23 years of weekly work was in vain after a cataclysmic IT incident and for weeks I thought the extensive list was lost and  this is a test issue in communication after a fiscal disaster also has hit me after a decades long significant supporter, reduces support drastically and was impacted by Covid costs and inflation. 

 

I am one of the few people who report on all our public institutions weekly and have been honored to have been able to do this without scandal or favor except to keep the public informed, like the swearing in of Miami city commissioner Manola Reyes, Who raised $400,000 in political contributions to his challengers $1,000 in his war chest and Reyes got 68 percent of the vote Nov.7.

 

Another editor with historical knowledge Nany Ancrum is retiring as the editorial editor at the Miami Herald.

 

>>> Dade residents get numerous medical choices, from FIU & Baptist affiliation, to public JHS, preventative care main mission, reduces uncompensated care costs countywide for all institutions.

 

Miami-Dade County will be benefitting from the relationship with Baptist Health and FIU’s Wertheim College of Medicine, a school dedicated to preventative community-based medicine after its first dean Dr. Joe “Pedro” Greer instilled preventative medicine to the school’s students and has many FIU trained physicians doing  a good examination of the patient, given my own personal experience. 

 

This along with public JHS and UM affiliation will give residents top notch medical care, and keep more physicians in the community they train in. Further, it helps south Florida be a medical destination, offering specialized healthcare here. Jackson Health System is also benefitting from the approved county wide $830 million bond program that in the end financed almost $2 billion in capital projects drawing a host of new patients with a past campus that was frozen in time. For more go to:https://news.fiu.edu/2023/baptist-health-and-florida-international-university-to-begin-exclusive-negotiations-on-comprehensive-alliance :FIU medical school launches partnership with Baptist Health | Miami Herald

 

De Santos adds county clerk Barquin to his list, republican state legislator net worth $290,651 in 2020 $340,387.

 

With Gov. Ron DeSantis   populating the state with appointees, adds The Miami-Dade County Clerk Juan Fernandez Barquin to the mix. The former state legislator has been a supporter of the governor’s agenda. He is replacing long time clerk Harvey Ruvin who passed suddenly and was a democrat to Barquin a republican.

 

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HIS FINANCES?

 

The WDR pulled up his state disclsure forms. In 2018 his net worth was $290,651, and in 2020 it rose to $340,387. And the man has some real-estate investments but on the whole benign disclosures. He has a critical role as the co-controller of Miami-Dade with CFO Ed Marquiz, with the County’s $13 billion in bonds involved, that were floated when interest rates were low but have been creeping up. It will be interesting how he will change the generally compliant office to the administration with a democratic mayor.

>>>With the nation focused Tuesday with Trump’s 37 count indictment, at a federal courthouse, will Carollo co mingle his civil judgement, on Spanish media of the court’s bias in his verdict trial, loves ginning up the community’s emotions?

 

>>> Has Miami Commissioner’s Carollo’s $63 million civil judgement for owners of Ball & Chain in federal court, create a poison pill for mayor Suarez? 

 

Does he veto any city funding for Carollo’s defense, being appealed, and if commission agrees, he must not if run for higher office in the cards and will outrage national taxpayers.

 

What about his boyhood friend Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago and ethics questions?

 

Suarez’s longtime friend who he campaigned for at the precincts Vince Lago mayor of coral gables is facing questions re some real estate, relationship similar to his own questions in the press re a developer.

 

What is the story with Carollo?

 

>>> Carollo tells Republican luncheon in 2002, “he stopped a 747 from crashing into Turkey Point,” through his friends at the CIA. One person said you know how Joe gets if I had heard and taped what I heard but is insight to the man whose mouth is his worst enemy and a vindictive nature that earned him the monitor “Crazy Joe, To Suarez’s father’s moniker mayor loco.

 

I started the WDR after mayors Xavier Suarez and Joe Carollo were in office because of what I was seeing and hearing from them. And when Carollo was running for reelection facing Manny Diaz. He told a republican gathering at the Rusty Pelican. That after 9/11 he had personally “stopped a 747 from crashing into Turkey Point.” He told the party faithful. With one person saying you know Joe at least he’s honest. But this civil trial that opened up the inner working of the city was eye dropping. Carollo is appealing the $63 million judgement and only has a net worth of $2.3 million all in his Grove house, so the judgement is symbolic I suspect, with the city only paying a negotiated legal settlement between the attorneys. 

 

>>> Miami Mayor Suarez under the gun re outside income, net worth in 2014 $13,000, in 2023 estimated $5 million, year earlier $1.3 million, ethics & state attorney investigating young presidential hopeful. 

 

When it comes to Miami Mayor Francis X Suarez. He believes since the trolleys run on time he can moonlight to his heart’s content and residents should not worry. 

 

He also questions why the Miami herald is so obsessed with his outside employment claiming the recent stories about his outside income is a frivolous ‘smear,’ by the paper of record and is consistent with the paper of records history of trying, to “assassinate the character of Hispanic leaders, ‘he told the miamiherald.com. 

 

What do we know about his finances?

 

The WDR report has his financials since 2014 after he was elected as a commissioner. The young man,43, scion to a prominent Cuban political family. He went through The Good Government Initiative run by former county commissioner Katy Sorenson. 

 

However, the family man a potential presidential candidate who told Fox he knocked on “15,000 doors,” when he ran for office. His election helped his controversial father Xavier overcome his moniker of mayor loco, after his time in office as the first Cuban mayor of Miami, later elected to the county commission. The son has also received numerous VIP events undeclared re value and who paid. 

 

The Miami-Dade Ethics Commission and the state attorney’s office have opened an investigation into his outside income. He says he welcomes it to clear his name and he believes he always follows the law. Editor’s note: I am holding off on condemning this story until the investigation is over, but the Miami Herald has raised some serious concerns. The attorney growing up was treated like a prince in Miami’s Cuban community and used to spend time in his dad’s mayoral office growing up.

 

Here’s his financial rise.

 

Francis in 2014 had a net worth of $13,000 as he did in 2014 and it jumps to $100,163 in 2016 and in 2017. It jumps to $245,000. In Jan.2021 it increases to $1.338 million, with his home worth $1.4 million states his financial disclosure form for the year. He received $10,000 from Strike in income. 

 

He owes a Mr. Cooper, in Dallas $121,802.He also has a $1.4 million debt with City National Bank and another $422,000 debt to Centennial Bank. And the WDR continually asked him where he got the cash to put down on his tony home in the South Grove where a new McMansion is being built on the street that has a Miami police officer stationed there.

 

>>>Update: I believe total legal fees could end up being $5 million. With a Miami premier defense legal team costing $1.9 million through April the legal meter is at hyper speed given the civil court  defense team for controversial Miami commissioner Joe Carollo, whose worst enemy is his mouth, and is in civil court after being personally sued by the owners of Ball & Chain claiming Carollo was targeting him since they supported another candidate in his commission race.

 

He is being sued in federal civil court by the owners of the Ball & Chain restaurant on 8th street in his district. They are claiming he targeted the business that did not have a sprinkler system. They have responded with a suit, that city attorney Victoria Menendez says is frivolous and Florida courts have ruled the city must pay for any defense legal fees. 

 

The legal team of Benedict Kuehne & Davis includes former Miami commissioner Marc Sarnoff, Tom Scott a former US attorney for the Southern District of Florida and a federal district court judge. Scott also represented the city in an SEC investigation of the bonds sold to finance the Marlin’s stadium new garage, under the Regalado administration. (Editor’s note: Kuehne is a listed supporter of the WDR.) 

 

Sarnoff who is also representing the city in litigation for the Flagstone Islands project on Watson Island with a possible $20 million liability reduced from $120 million for a project since 2001 staled. Sarnoff an early Obama supporter who borrowed an antique fire truck taking voters to a voting site. He would later become a Governor Scott supporter and was appointed by the governor to the FIU trust board. He also embellished his family history telling voters he was the grandson of NBC founder David M. Sarnoff, which was disproved by the museum in Princeton, New Jersey by a relative.

 

HOW Could Carollo’s suit, Get ANY STRANGER?

 

Somehow an attorney brought in a camera into the federal courthouse, which is almost impossible given my experience when I had my mike and the marshals made me go back to my car, telling me “I should know better, firmly.” The federal Judge Rodney Smith is pondering how to punish the attorney involved said to be Jessie Stolow, an attorney in his 13th month practicing and part of the defense team. For more go to www.miamiherald.com. Smith will restart the trial at the end of May, reports Chuck Rabin, www.miamiherald.com  Further, if Carollo loses city insurance might not pay and taxpayers could be on the hook for what I predict could be up to  $5 million in attorney fees if all included, but we will see what the jury does in the federal civil trial. 

 

WHAT ABOUT THE PHT & Jackson Health System?

 

Unedited from April 26, 2023 Agenda minutes CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER REPORT Carlos A. Migoya, Chief Executive Officer, Jackson Health Systems reported that when he arrived to Jackson Health System (JHS) twelve years ago, he made a commitment to help rebuild Miami-Dade’s Public Health System and have succeeded exceptionally in many areas such as financial sustainability, long term growth, growing cash reserves and expanding JHS footprint throughout Miami-Dade County. The other highest priority was ensuring continued growth of services to meet the needs of the community, while positioning JHS as one of the leading destinations for healthcare in the United States. 

 

Mr. Migoya also reflected on the Miami Transplant Institute (MTI), which is one of JHS’ most prestigious institutions. He spoke highly about Dr. Rodrigo Vianna, lead surgeon at MTI who helped develop MTI into a world-class transformational transplant center, a well[1]renowned expert and a champion for quality care. An excellent clinical leader along with Dr. Luke Preczewski who joined the JJHS team in 2016. Together they have built MTI into one of the nation’s leading transplant centers and one of only a few in the United States that does every type of solid organ transplant on adults, children, and ranked in the 10 ten nationwide. Even though we pride ourselves, there is still opportunities for improvement, therefore, last week Mr. Migoya was left with the decision to place the Adult Heart Transplant Program at MTI on a temporary inactive status as they undergo an in-depth review of the care. Heart Transplants are on pause for adults who are not at the most critical level of need. This came upon receipt of some anonymous complaints that deserves to be investigated. The program will be reinstated upon completion of a thoroughly review for at least one month. The MTI team are working with each patient to create an individualized care plan that includes being transferred to another center waiting list if the patient chooses. Updates will be provided. Mr. Migoya mentioned that the Leapfrog Group will be releasing latest hospital safety grades and he his forecasting that Jackson might likely be affective negatively because data collected are from worst period of the pandemic and Jackson was the epicenter of COVID in Miami-Dade County during all three surges over the past two years. Key indicators and quality safety has initiated recovery in this post-pandemic period. He stated that this is the highest priority for him and looks towards the future under the leadership of Dr. Ghaemmaghami who joined the Jackson Team in December 2020 to lead this transformation process in the clinic and many of the areas. For 105 years, Jackson has been a beacon in the community and its mission will live on for generations to come. The doctors, nurses, therapists, technicians and others healthcare professionals who choose to work at JHS have a relentless ability to perform miracles daily. Any shortfalls on our performance are his responsibility as CEO and he is redoubling his commitment to empowering excellence.

 

What about the GOB bond for JHS?

 

Unedited from April 26 Agenda REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF JACKSON MIRACLE-BUILDING BOND PROJECTS QUARTERLY REPORT:

 

Isa M. Nunez, Vice President, Facility Construction and Design presented a slide presentation of the Miracle-Building Bond Projects during for the months of January to March 2022. The quarterly report highlighted images of the key projects ongoing construction for the year and design projects for the year at Jackson Memorial Hospital Medical Center Campus. Included in the report was a detailed overview and images of the work in progress (UHealth Jackson Critical Care Pavilion: Fourth Floor Buildout, DTC Market Place, Jackson Memorial Medical Campus: Interventional Radiology CT Scanner, Coral Gables Free Standing Emergency Department and Multi-Specialty Physician Office Building, and Jackson West Medical Center: Medical Office Buildout); and overview and images of completed projects: Jackson Memorial Medical Campus: West Wing 8 ICU Floor Modernization. As part of the quarterly update was a look at the Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center dedication on March 25, 2022, and images of the completed Jackson Miracle-Building Bond Program construction projects. As part of the Jackson Health System marketing campaign, members of the committee viewed a TV commercial highlighting the construction projects and expenditures. The TV commercial will also be featured on social medial channels. The purpose of the 30-second TV commercial, print ads and digital ads is to show accountability and thank Miami-Dade voters for their support. The campaign will run from February to May 2022. An updated bond brochure highlights large construction projects and expenditures. Members of the committee suggested that the community be informed how promises were kept with the use of bond funding; for the next meeting present an economic impact report with actual numbers not estimated costs; and suggested that a joint meeting be held between the Board of Trustees and Board of County Commissioners to present the final report along with an overview of the success of the Bond Program including the Small Business Enterprise Contractors final report.

 

To see the full agendas, go to: PHT BOT Meetings (jhsmiami.org)

 

 

>>> Dade residents get numerous medical choices, from FIU & Baptist affiliation, to public JHS, preventative care main mission, reduces uncompensated care costs countywide.

 

Miami-Dade County will be benefitting from the relationship with Baptist Health South Florida and FIU’s Wertheim College of Medicine, a school dedicated to preventative community-based medicine after its first dean Dr. Joe “Pedro” Greer instilled preventative medicine to the school’s students and has many FIU trained physicians are doing  a good examination of the patient, given my own personal experience. 

 

This along with public JHS and UM affiliation will give residents top notch medical care, and keep more physicians in the community they train in. 

 

Further, it helps South Florida be a medical destination, offering specialized healthcare here. Jackson Health System is also benefitting from the approved county wide $830 million bond program that in the end financed almost $2 billion in capital projects drawing a host of new patients with a past campus that was frozen in time. For more go to:https://news.fiu.edu/2023/baptist-health-and-florida-international-university-to-begin-exclusive-negotiations-on-comprehensive-alliance :FIU medical school launches partnership with Baptist Health | Miami Herald

 

>>> The Miami Herald won its 24th Pulitzer for the editorial series ‘Broken Promises’ involving government making bogus promises across decades of public promised projects never materializing and is one of the reasons for the WDR.

 

>>>County homeless trust seeing “increased traffic to hotline,” with ending of Title 42. says trust Chair Book, immigration and homeless help, “one in the same,” says Book.

 

With Title 42 being dropped I asked county Homeless Trust chair Ron Book have we seen a surge? He responded by text that there is “increased phone traffic.’ He noted that “immigration and homeless help are one and the same.”  

 

>>> Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser Pedro Garcia, office is one that notifies municipalities re overdue 40-year re certifications of buildings.

 

With the recent evacuation of unsafe condos recently. The City of Miami Unsafe Structure board sees a volume, property appraiser’s office notifies municipalities re overdue 40-year certification, says Miami housing ast. director, Friday.

Does Garcia need more resources for notifications earlier?

 

Editor’s Note: I mention this to check if Miami has the right answer re the property appraiser given the large number condominiums ageing in the county.

 

The county mayor should review the situation given the tight housing market.

 

>>> New, Florida state budget has $20 million for Biscayne Bay & septic to  sewer, 9,000 septic systems failing, says county DERM, after flooding rain bay shows hot levels of bacteria in bay, says www.waterkeeper.org  Rachel Silverstein. Miami only cleans drains once a year. Miami instructed to hire 3 more staff after Brickell Sea flooding, will it lower real-estate values? And what of insurance costs?

 

The Biscayne Bay septic to Sewar program is slated to be $20.million in the state house and senate budget, said county assist attorney Jess McClarty, at the Biscayne Bay Watershed Management Advisory board Friday. The members discussed the recent rain event that had all of the Waterkeeper test sites showing levels of bacteria in the bay.

 

The county has 120,000 septic tanks and 9,000 are failing, said DERM staff at the meeting. The good news is some 9,000 properties are close to existing infrastructure, said WASA Dir. Lourdes Gomez. The cost to convert varies but is not cheap for homeowners.

 

>>> WLRN celebrating 60-years on the air, is a vital resource in diverse south Florida from Palm Beach to Key West, needed now more than ever, helped create the WDR, in 2000

 

WLRN.org is celebrating its 60th year on the air and it needs the community’s help in delivering unbiased news. I was fortunate in 2000 through 2006 to be a regular radio quest, on Joe Cooper’s “Topical Currents,” but was stopped being asked after I said something that might not have been correct, claims Peter J. 

 

ARGUS REPORT: heard seen on the street.

 

>>> The Miami Herald wins its 24th Pulitzer for the editorial series ‘Broken Promises’ involving government making bogus promises across decades of public promised projects never materializing and is one of the reasons for the WDR.

 

>>>County homeless trust seeing “increased traffic to hotline,” with ending of Title 42.says trust Chair Book, immigration and homeless help, “one in the same,” says Book.

 

With Title 42 being dropped I asked county Homeless Trust chair Ron Book have we seen a surge? He responded by text that there is “increased phone traffic.’ He noted that “immigration and homeless help are one and the same.”  

 

>>Redo important: Miami-Dade County Alert: The county’s election department should mandate voter workers wear their county I.D. Since, the current Miami special election is a prime example of this problem. That I witnessed Saturday at 3:45 P.M. at the Miami city hall early voting site.

 

Men were loading Ryder trucks with one man wearing his ID, but many others had none as they brought out the voting machines and black trash containers. County employees not complying.  to reduce the public perception people might be tampering with the equipment. County employees not wearing identification has been a persistent problem around the county for years, except at JHS, since a hospital.

 

With all the voter conspiracy rumors going on the county’s Christine White the supervisor, should jump on this for the Miami Dist. 2 commission race has only some 4,000 votes so far and will likely be a close race that hopefully doesn’t elect disgraced judge Martin Zilber and his massive war chest for the race versus the challengers, and support from two commissioners Joe Carollo and Alex Diaz de la Portilla, big Zilber fans and is seen as an ally for them. 

 

Former mayor Miami commissioner Carollo once again suggests that any non-Miami resident should not be heard.

 

>>> Sen. Fetterman’s, D-Pa. addressing clinical depression after a stroke, very common, a godsend to public with similar symptoms, including me after my own stroke in 2013.

 

Sen. John Fetterman’s stroke and being treated for clinical depression, is something I personally felt after my stroke in 2013.My neurologist Dr. Ajay Pande, M.D., at Baptist Health, suggested I seek treatment for the subsequent depression, at the time and I am glad I did, and his advice, has kept me writing the WDR to this day. , 

 

>>> County’s use of herbicides on foliage reduction, variation of Round-up to control foliage run-off to Biscayne Bay, says county resiliency officer Murley, trying natural solutions, when possible, coastal storm surge walls out for now with corps new diagrams show.

 

Miami-Dade County with “30066 miles of canals,” uses pesticide to keep foliage trees later leaches into Biscayne Bay. The county is trying to use natural efforts but herbicide like Roundup is frequently used and shows up in fish and peoples urine state Florida universities’ studies on the chemical impact of such foliage removal compounds. Further cars in canals have been a persistent problem. They are also trying to reestablish the Balsam Torchwood tree, long extinct.

 

The issue came up Friday at the Biscayne Bay Watershed Advisory Board in the commission chambers and Chief Resilience Officer Jim Murley, in discussion with storm surge. The corps plan for surge walls along the water are being replaced with natural solutions if they fit the circumstances after the walls faced a huge public outcry and two charettes to discuss the plan are in the months ahead, with a final plan in 2027, anticipated. The cleanup of Biscayne Bay with state and federal governments, spending millions to clean up the bay.

 

Which is also should be using the scavenger vessel more with only one in operation and is a technological bargain at $1 million for a second such vessel, to help the bay and Round-up use should be reviewed in Miami-Dade County.

 

>>> Anniversary of life saving procedure when I was septic at South Miami, Baptist Health, hospital in 2009, and I thank you Dr. Jorge Rabaza for saving my life, back then.

 

The next few days is the anniversary of my almost passing in 2009. I was septic and operated on at 2;00 p.m., “because I could not wait,” not something you want to hear from a surgeon, said Jorge Rabaza,M.D. at South Miami Hospital back then and he said, “I was a flip of the coin,” that I survived, he said and since then every day is a free day.,

of the audit. Ms. Flaviani presented the audit results for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021. The audit centered around KPMG’s commitment to delivering an exceptional client experience for Jackson Health System (JHS) by focusing on quality, experience, productivity, and insights. An overview of the results of the yearend audit began with a summary of the audit results required communications and other matters, overview of significant accounting policies and practices, review of significant accounting estimate and summary of uncorrected audit misstatements. With there being no significant audit findings identified to report, Ms. Flaviani stated that the KPMG audit team appreciate the opportunity to work with JHS management and accounting team. Mr. Lopez-Castro, III recognized Mark T. Knight, Chief Financial Officer, and the accounting team for all of their hard work and working together with the KPMG managers in charge to timely and successfully complete the fiscal year end audit. Mr. Lopez-Castro, III requested a motion to accept KPMG Fiscal Year 2022 Audit Results with a favorable recommendation to the Fiscal Committee. Antonio L. Argiz moved to accept KPMG Fiscal Year 2022 Audit Results; seconded by Matthew J. Allen and carried without dissent. See the full agenda here:

EDITORIAL>>> You may not take an interest but that does not mean politics may not take an IN YOU

 

The news coverage in Miami is getting dangerously low, including the paper of record The MIami Herald. The WDR is also on the edge after a decades long supporter questions the continued support at the previous level and for anyone in the news business stress is becoming a real problem. In my case I have sometimes published out side of cityhall, in my car since there is Wi Fy.But it is the historical information we are loseing and the past mis deeds of our government leaders that will be missed with the contraction, and Miami needs the pillers of a free press to be the Magic City we wish to be.

 

 

SPONSORS:

 

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report published 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. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2003-01-20-0301190045-story.html 

 

>>>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 

 

>>> 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.  

 

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

 

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   

 

>>> 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 & Tapanes 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

SHUBIN & BASS www.shubinbass.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

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION OFFICE OF THE CHAIR www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY 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/

MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY www.miamidda.com

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST & JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM www.jhsmiami.org

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/

 

>>> Public, Educational & Social institutions – subscribers at $1,000 or less

CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

 

>>>>> 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. 

 

To contribute to the WDR send and make it payable to Daniel A. Ricker

 

Daniel A. Ricker

3109 Grand Ave.#125

Miami, Fla. 33133