Watchdog Report Vol.11 No.13 August 1, 2010 – Est. 05.05.00 – I go when you cannot!

Argus Report: How low will they go, Greene & Meek getting neck deep in the mud with early voting starting Aug. 9

Florida: Sink in tight race with McCollum or Scott for governor’s mansion, Republican candidates mauling each other in the attack ads

Florida Supreme Court: Justice Labarga tapped in Jan. 2009 by Gov. Crist, had net worth of $611,906 through 2009

Miami-Dade County: Will Camillus House make lemonade out of old Cleveland Cavaliers James jerseys for the homeless to wear, coming by U-Haul truck?

Broward County: Political veteran Parrish in the spotlight, elected PA in 2004, had $584,000 net worth through 2009

Palm Beach County: Commissioner Abrams in the spotlight, elected first in 2009, had net worth of $329,000 through 2009

Orange County: Gov. Crist appoints three to West Orange Airport Authority

Escambia County: Governor Charlie Crist announced tonight that The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has reopened coastal state waters offshore of Escambia County to the harvest of saltwater fish,

Monroe County: Georgia man sentenced by feds for impersonating federal officer in Key West

Miami-Dade Public Schools: Schomber, after 34-years on Audit Committee says sayonara, did a solid job through some political turmoil over the decades

Public Health Trust: Trust cash position slowly inching forward, $103 million on Jul. 23, but not close to being out of the woods, says vice Chair Medina

City of Miami: Twin media towers get approved, at 500’ tall, will be hard to miss, a flip of the coin whether good public policy in one week

City of Miami Beach: PAST WDR: JULY 2004: Manager Gonzalez says it is added services “that makes people want to come back

City of South Miami: Chambers host political candidates debate for state legislature, just don’t ask for money in public building

Community Events: Hope for Haiti Charity event — Candidate debates — UM School of Communication Knight Center for International Media and the Discovery Channel Networks Planet Green present the U. S. television premiere: ONE WATER narrated by Martin Sheen

Editorials: PAST WDR: MAY 2007: County Commissioner Rolle and Mayor Diaz should remember their top job is actually doing the people’s business >>

PAST WDRs: JAN. 06: Florida universities & colleges should televise board meetings at least once a year, public would be fascinated to watch a meeting >> PAST WDR: FEB. 2007: South Florida’s reputation for fraud and abuse of federal programs does not help us when federal government trying to balance budget

Letters: Baptist Hospitals CEO Keeley on rampant Medicare Fraud in South Florida – Reader wants paint that covers graffiti to be more uniform in west Kendall area

Sponsors – Publisher’s mission statement & Subscription information is at the bottom of this issue

>>> 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.)

>>> If you wish to be deleted, just e-mail me with that message and you are free to e-mail this on to friends.

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding the University of Miami’s Knight Center of International Media http://knight.miami.edu within the University’s School of Communication www.miami.edu assistance to rebuild my web site www.watchdogreport.net that is now on line again, since the previous one was shut down in July 2008. Past reports will continue to go on line in the future, potentially as far back as May 2000.  This institutional support is a major break through for me, and I am deeply appreciative of the help these two substantial international institutions have given me at a time the site was an unbudgeted expense and to keep the Watchdog Report a community education resource, while also being a decade old news service.

>>> If you think it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider becoming a supporter or sponsor. For there is no trust fund and I do have to live. A convenient form is at the bottom of this week’s Watchdog Report with all the instructions on how to support this newsletter and news service that started its 11^th Anniversary on May 5.

>>> There will be no Watchdog Report next week since I have to raise money to pay my rent, utilities and other bills that we all deal with every month. If you want an independent voice in the community, watching what is going on please consider being a sponsor of supporter of this effort to keep the community informed. A convenient support form is at the bottom of this week’s report and on line at www.watchdogreport.net for your consideration. I thank all my past and current supporters for your faith in what I have tried to do here to make South Florida a more informed community over the past 11-years.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> How low will they go, Greene & Meek getting neck deep in the mud with early voting starting Aug. 9

With early voting beginning Aug. 9 to say the traditional political party candidates for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. George LeMieux are concerned is an understatement. On the Democratic Party side U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami (Net worth around $62,000 in 2002) is being hammered in attack ads by insurgent candidate Jeff Greene, a billionaire using his own money to finance the television campaign ads running statewide. Meek in recent polls is still in the race, but behind by 10 points and Greene appears to have the edge during the closed party primary. Republican candidate former House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-Miami (Net worth $8,351 in 08) cleared the field when Gov. Charlie Crist (Net worth $461,000) defected to the independent party after being trounced by the youthful state legislator within his own party, three months ago. Nevertheless, the popular governor is still leading in the most recent poll done by Quinnipiac University and ran in www.miamiherald.com Friday.

Meek is firing back with his own political attack ads and the poll was done before his campaign ads hit the airwaves but Greene’s onslaught is slowly defining Meek in the eyes of voters and the congressman needs to get some ideas out in front of voters fast, if he is not to be pushed aside. Also, both men got extensive profiles in www.miamiherald.com Sunday, and both of them are a study in contrasts with Greene coming off as slightly mercurial in nature, denying incidents that are true, and Meek is trying to distance himself from his iconic congressional mother Carrie Meek. She has been in the news after signing on as a consultant for a failed public/private project that has the developer awaiting trial. In her case, the developer paid her $90,000 and supplied a Cadillac Escalade and Greene is hammering that past activity, and any role the son might have played in the affair.

What about the campaign ads?

Over the past month, the Watchdog Report has noticed that Greene’s campaign ads do not have closed caption capability on the television screen and that also applies to Rick Scott’s (Net worth $218.6 million) ads being run against his Republican opponent Bill McCollum (Net worth $1.32 million) in the  primary to be the party’s challenger for the governor’s mansion. Given that some ten percent of all televisions are set in that mode, given the ads professionalism, it is surprising they missed such an oblivious opportunity to not only have closed captioning but able to do it beforehand making it correct.

>>> WFOR4 cameraman arrest a touchy subject, media is restricted from certain areas of a commission dais

An arrest occurred Thursday during the Miami Commission meeting and it involved a www.WFOR4.com cameraman who went into an entrance to the commission dais while the meeting was going on and set-up his tripod with the video camera on top. A sergeant of arms officer asked the man to leave the restricted area, a low-key scuffle occurred; he was arrested and was quietly escorted out through a back entrance of city hall. It is unknown what the state attorney will do with the charge’s but the incident could be mitigated or thrown out but it is a media Teaching Moment. In any government chamber, there are certain rules about who can be on the dais, generally cell phone cameras cannot be used by staff (that is the case at Miami-Dade County) to photograph behind the dais and other rules that have to be followed. And in the case of the Miami Commission chamber’s, the media has two locations, one for print reporters and another new one since Mayor Tomas Regalado took office in the back, a row of seats were removed, and the area is made available to the press corps and camera crews.

The sergeant of arms at these government entities are sworn police officers, dressed in plain clothes, and serve as part ambassador and protector when things sometimes get rowdy. These officers charge is to keep order in the chamber and the  last person asked to leave the Miami chamber was also a member of the press after he would not turn off his cell phone while the commission was meeting, after being asked to do so a number of times. To be fair, camera people and still photographers are known for their mobility in trying to get the shot, that may not be important to a print reporter and this attitude was demonstrated when former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld spoke to the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon just before the 2004 presidential election and the press had to arrive hours before Rumsfeld arrived. Bomb sniffing dogs checked the equipment the press brought, and we were staged in the back of the luncheon’s room and the security detail covering the Secretary briefed us before the event. They told us “not to move” and repeated that refrain multiple times to the shooters knowing they were more likely to start moving around during the speech and while it is a hassle. In these cases, the people controlling the areas security are in charge, that is their job, and the media has to work within some of these parameters given the circumstances of the event being covered.

>>> Press release: Zogby Interactive: iPhone 4 Reception Problem Causes 40% of Adults to Have Less Confidence in Apple Products -41% Satisfied With Apple’s Offer to Send Free Protective Bumpers to iPhone 4 Owners

Reception problems with the Apple iPhone 4 have caused 40% of U.S. adults to have less confidence in Apple products. Apple has offered to send protective bumpers to iPhone 4 owners to remedy the problem, and 41% say that was a satisfactory response. These results are from an interactive survey of 2,100 adults that was conducted from July 23-26, 2010. The poll also finds that 32% believed electronics products are becoming more reliable, with 22% answering less reliable and 38% seeing no difference. The rest (8%) are not sure.

Please click the link below to view the full news release on our website:
http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.cfm?ID=1883 For more information contact the Communications Dept – 202-429-0022

>>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for no money came in over the last week and I do have to live, thank you! The report is also shorter and with less real content because I am still weak and do not have my past energy level that allowed me to write all day Saturday and Sunday as in the past almost 11-years  that I have been doing this. I ask for my readers understanding during this time. >>> Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times, The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel which ran as a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003 and UNC Chapel Hill naming me one of the top columnists in Florida in a  multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on the WLRN/NPR showTopical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also the opportunity to be on Helen Ferre’s show Issues on issues@wpbt.org numerous times over the past decade.

>>> See what was said about the Watchdog Report in the Miami New Times 2003 — Best of Miami — BEST CITIZEN  — Daniel Ricker –

watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

Three years ago, we said Ricker was our Best Gadfly. Given his dedication and perseverance, this new honor, Best Citizen, is well deserved. Ricker goes to 2500 mind-melting meetings annually, from the Public Health Trust’s purchasing subcommittee to the Efficiency and Competition Commission to the Alliance for Human Services’ nominating council to the school board’s audit committee. Sometimes he’s the only public observer. Object: to be the Public Citizen for all those out there who can’t attend, and to connect and serve as an information bridge among the special-interest-dominated Miami-Dade governmental institutions that seem so problematic and indifferent to the democratic process.

This month his e-mail newsletter, The Watchdog Report, celebrates its fourth anniversary. In a former life, Ricker made a handsome living as an international salesman of heart pacemakers. As the hard-working publisher of Watchdog Report, though, he’s struggling financially — this despite the fact that his weekly compendium of meeting summaries, analysis, interviews, and commentary has become essential reading for anyone involved in public affairs. What his written work may lack in polish, it more than makes up for in comprehensiveness. So raise a toast to the man whose official slogan says it all: “A community education resource — I go when you cannot!”

FLORIDA

>>> Sink in tight race with McCollum or Scott for governor’s mansion, Republican candidates mauling each other in the attack ads

Alex Sink, the Florida Chief Financial Officer got some decent news last week from a recent poll www.miamiherald.com showing she is neck and neck with her challengers on the Republican side; Bill McCollum the state Attorney General and Rick Scott, the former executive of Columbia/HCA that paid $1.7 billion in Medicare fines after Scott left. Sink, who is amassing a decent campaign war chest, has yet to run an ad, and she is facing long shot candidate Bud Chiles, the son of the former governor in the Democratic Primary Aug. 24. McCollum is getting help from long time Republican Party loyalists against the media on slot being waged by Scott against the veteran politician, with the executive committing tens of millions of his own dollars to the campaign and were it not for Scott’s own past problems. He would have run over McCollum already in the race that also has many undecided Republicans wondering about Scott’s ability to be effective in the political realm as the state’s CEO. McCollum in the most recent poll is down by around 10 points to Scott, has about $800,000 in his campaign, and with early voting beginning. It remains to be seen if he can overcome the momentum and inroads Scott seems to be getting from some party voters, with their eye on who would more easily defeat Sink in the general election in November.

What do we know about Sink’s and McCollum’s finances?

Sink through Dec. 2009 had a net worth of $9.22 million and she lists $105,000 in household goods. She lists $12,600 in a money market fund, a blind trust has $5.01 million, a retirement fund has $1.58 million, and there are $4.23 million in other assets, that include her home valued at $1.1 million, her share of the Sink Family LP, is worth $2.6 million and her salary as CFO was $111,000 states her IRS 1040 for the year. The former banker lists liabilities with Bank of America of $404,000 and $288,000 and she owes another $155,000 in other liabilities.

McCollum through Dec. 2009 had a net worth of $1.32 million and he lists $60,000 in household goods. His 40 acres of ranch land is worth $408,000, his home is valued at $248,000, and he lists a wide variety of investments. He owes SunTrust Bank $66,916, his income for the year was $138,000 as the AG, and $81,000, and $15,000 came in from his time in congress and as a navel officer.

>>> Press release: Governor Charlie Crist today named Jerry McDaniel, director of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget since January 2007, to an expanded leadership role as a deputy chief of staff within the Executive Office of the Governor. The Governor also appointed Ken Granger to serve in an expanded role as a deputy chief of staff to the Governor.  They will both continue serving in their current leadership roles. “Jerry’s exemplary record of public service, reliable judgment and extensive knowledge of issues affecting Floridians have made him a highly respected and entrusted team member,” said Governor Crist. “I am confident his dedication, integrity and commitment will be of great service to the people of Florida.”

McDaniel has served as director of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget since January 2007.  With more than 30 years of public service experience, he previously served as budget advisor for Governor Crist’s Transition Team and in the Office of the Attorney General as director of administration and technology. He has served under three Attorneys General, as well as in both the Executive Office of the Governor and the House of Representatives. He is a graduate of Florida State University. “Ken has drawn on his extensive, in-depth knowledge of a wide range of policy issues to serve the people of the Sunshine State with integrity,” said Governor Crist. “He has an extraordinary ability to carefully review each issue, analyze how it will affect our state and offer insightful input.”

Granger has served as the Governor’s policy director since February 2010. Previously, he served as the chief of staff for the Florida Department of Management Services since January 2007.  During his seven years at the department, he also served as deputy secretary and chief information officer. Previously, he was a consultant in the private sector for four years.  He received a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University. McDaniel and Granger will replace David Foy, who served as a deputy chief of staff since October 2009, and Kathy Mears, who has served in a dual role as deputy chief of staff to the Governor and legislative affairs director since July 2008. Foy served previously as the Governor’s policy director since November 2007.

FLORIDA SUPREME COURT

>>> Justice Labarga tapped in Jan. 2009 by Gov. Crist, had net worth of $611,906 through 2009

Justice Jorge Labarga is in the spotlight this week, he was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court in Jan. 2009 by Gov. Charlie Crist, and his career has been a Cinderella story given his humble background that saw his rise to the top state court. The jurist is highly respected and attorneys and judges here in Miami speak highly of his time on the bench, at whatever level on the courts.

What do we know about his finances?

Labarga through Dec. 2009 had a net worth of $611,906 and he lists $130,000 in household goods. His assets are $43,000 in life insurance, there is $75,000 in an IRA, his home is valued at $350,000 and he lists $12,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds. The jurist lists liabilities of $92,900 with B of A, Toyota is owed $8,144 and Mazda is owed $14,300. His income for the year was $157,000 as a judge and his wife contributed $30,401. His listed gifts over $100.00 are benign in nature but do include two tickets to the Gator Bowl.

>>> Court’s web page: Jorge Labarga was born in Cuba in 1952. He is married to Zulma R. Labarga, and they have two daughters. He arrived in the United States at the age of 11 where he initially lived with his family in Pahokee, Florida. He graduated from Forest Hill High School in West Palm Beach in 1972 and received his B.A. (1976) and J.D. (1979) from the University of Florida. Justice Labarga began his legal career in 1979 as an Assistant Public Defender with the Public Defender’s Office in West Palm Beach, assigned to the appellate, misdemeanor and felony trial divisions. In 1982 he joined the State Attorney’s Office in West Palm Beach, where he tried cases ranging from theft to homicide. In 1987 he joined the firm of Cone, Wagner, Nugent, Roth, Romano & Ericksen, P.A., and specialized in personal injury trial work. In 1992 Justice Labarga participated in founding the law firm of Roth, Duncan & Labarga, P.A., in West Palm Beach, where he continued to specialize in personal injury litigation and criminal defense. Governor Lawton Chiles appointed Justice Labarga to the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, in and for Palm Beach County, in 1996. In that capacity he served in the family, civil and criminal divisions. He also served as the administrative judge of the civil division.

In December 2008 Justice Labarga was appointed by Governor Charlie Crist to the Fourth District Court of Appeal. On January 1, 2009, he was appointed by Governor Crist to the Florida Supreme Court, where he presently sits as the 84th Justice to take office at the Florida Supreme Court since statehood was granted in 1845. >>> Office Information Justice Labarga’s phone number is (850) 413-8371, and his judicial assistant is B.J. Vickers. His staff attorneys are Janice Scott, Valencia N. Davis, and Stephanie L. Varela. The mailing address is 500 South Duval Street, Tallahassee FL 32399-1925. Attorneys or law students interested in clerkships in this office should check our Law Clerk Recruitment Page. There also is information on Internships.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Will Camillus House make lemonade out of old Cleveland Cavaliers James jerseys for the homeless to wear, coming by U-Haul truck

Will Camillus House when given a lemon make some lemonade out of the U-Haul truck filled with old fans LeBron James Cleveland Cavalier shirts coming Miami’s way? The press has reported www.miamiherald.com that outraged fans in the Ohio city were collecting old fan shirts, got the truck company to sponsor the counter offensive, and Camillus House staffer at Friday’s Homeless Trust meeting discussed what to do with the incoming old basketball shirts that Clevelanders suggested be given to the Miami homeless to wear. She said the activity had gathered “a lot of media attention” including locally and the organization questioned the appropriateness of giving the shirts to homeless people, as well as being “disrespectful” of the Miami Heat team. However, Judge Steven Leifman, a trust trustee had a better suggestion. He thought a better way was to see if the donation “had value, could be sold and raising money” and that funding could be directed to help in the effort to fund the homeless programs.  Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado on Friday later when I told him about this gift said he thought “they must be crazy [if they thought in the Miami heat] the homeless” people would want to wear the old jerseys, he thought.

>>> JESCA’s unpaid insurance premiums to Jackson is real problem for Rolle

Herald columnist Fred Grimm www.miamiherald.com last week had a piece that concerned the James E. Scott Community Association (JESCA) founded in 1925 by Captain Scott and Rolle was the CEO of the organization raking in $190,000 in that capacity. The Watchdog Report first reported in 2004 that JESCA had bounced around $331,000 in checks, and the school board audit committee put the organization on “financial watch” and actually sent school staff over there to help get the books in order, but that ended up not being successful in the years ahead and the district cut the funding. However, while I knew there were bounced payroll checks of around $600,000 owed employees. I did not know about the $352,013 in unpaid insurance premiums owed Jackson over the years that puts Rolle in a very difficult position, since he is a voting member on the 17-trustee PHT board, while being compensated for his leadership position at the now bankrupt social service agency.

>>> Budget workshops after Aug. 25 primary elections, start Aug. 25

The Commission of the Whole will be meeting for budget workshops on Aug. 25, 26, 27 and possible Monday and Tuesday later if issues have not been hashed out yet. Commissioner Katy Sorenson is the point of the spear in the budget talks since she chairs the budget and sustainability committee. In the past, the body goes over the proposed budget with the administration and works to tweak the document to reflect the needs in their respective districts, including social services, money provided to the arts, and other issues that might be of concern or benefit of local constituents.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

At the July 20^th County Commission meeting, Manager George Burgess when discussing the issues the 29^th floor has to deal with daily where his and Mayor Carlos Alvarez’s office is located and the people there are at the top of the political pyramid of local government. The manager noted on the floor there are some great people but there is also pressure and challenges. “In some demented way we actually enjoy it,” he said. And when it came to their salaries, “[We] don’t get into this to become millionaires” when it comes to being in public service, he said.

>>> Press release: The Miami-Dade County Elections Department will be conducting a thorough examination of its voting equipment in preparation for the upcoming August 24 Primary Election.

“Prior to each and every election, we thoroughly test our equipment by replicating Election Day conditions,” said Supervisor of Elections Lester Sola. “This is just one of the many extensive efforts we undertake to ensure that the voting equipment is ready for use.” Members of the media are invited to tour the Elections Department and view the “Logic and Accuracy Test” where each step of the voting and tabulation process will be tested. Ballots will be cast according to a predetermined outcome, and then tabulated and reconciled to ensure the votes were accurately captured. The test includes everything from opening the equipment to transmitting and tabulating results. Who: Miami-Dade County Elections Department – What: Elections Department Tour, Voting Equipment Testing and Media Availability with Supervisor of Elections Lester Sola -When: Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 10:00 AM -Voting equipment b-roll and interviews with Supervisor Sola at 10 AM -Where: Elections Department Headquarters, 2700 NW 87 Avenue, Doral, Florida, For more information, call 3-1-1 or log on to www.miamidade.gov/elections.

>>> Press release: GMCVB: MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ARRIVALS INCREASE IN JUNE 2010

Passenger arrivals at Miami International Airport (MIA) increased for the month of June 2010 with international arrivals up by +6.9% when compared to the previous year’s level and domestic passenger arrivals up +3.9%.  Total arrivals increased in June 2010 by +5.3%.

International MIA Passenger Arrivals

June 2010                                    June 2009                                             % Change

685,652                                            641,254                                                     +6.9%

Domestic MIA Passenger Arrivals –

June 2010                                     June 2009                                             % Change

790,406                                            761,026                                                     +3.9%

Total MIA Passenger Arrivals – June 2010    June 2009      % Change

1,476,058                                      1,402,280                               +5.3%

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Political veteran Parrish in the spotlight, elected PA in 2004, had $584,000 net worth through 2009

Lori Parrish, the county Property Appraiser is in the spotlight this week and she first took office in 2004 after serving on the Broward Commission. Parrish married to a local judge used to work as a bookkeeper in the Swap Shops before moving up the political food chain as the countywide property appraiser. She has been a mover and shaker in Broward politics for over a decade, but also has had some controversy over the years, especially when she sent out a letter listing her title asking for law firms to consider hiring her now deceased son, that spawned a cutting cartoon of her being portrayed like King Kong climbing the government center in the www.sunsentinel.com . Parrish in a phone call to the Miami-Dade Charter Review Committee a few years ago said she learned everything she needed to know to run the office from her work in the private sector, and she has updated the old technology previously in place since her time in this capacity.

What do we know about her finances?

Parrish through Dec. 2009 had a net worth of $584,000, she lists $228,000 in household goods and her home is worth $405,000. She owes Bank of America $14,100, she lists another liability of $62,762 and her income for the year was $178,000 in the elected office.

>>>> PA web page: Property Appraiser Lori Parrish, CFA -A Short Biography

Coming from a working class background, young Lori Nance Parrish moved to Broward County from the Midwest with her family when she was eight years old in 1956. Lori worked as a bookkeeper, a plant storeowner, and a painting and landscape contractor while raising and supporting her two young children. She volunteered her time to several civic and community groups, including the Davie/Cooper City Chamber of Commerce, PTA, HRS, Red Cross, and the Library Advisory Board, while balancing the demands of home and work. In 2004, Lori left the County Commission to run for Broward County Property Appraiser. Running on a promise to ensure a fair shake for all taxpayers, Lori was overwhelmingly elected with 61% of the vote. She was re-elected in 2008 with 97%. Her current term as Property Appraiser runs until January 2013. Since taking office in January 2005 as our Property Appraiser, Lori moved to rapidly… for more information go to http://www.bcpa.net/

>>> Thank you for using the Broward County Commission Agenda E-mail Notification System. A new Broward County Commission Agenda is available. Point your browser to http://www.broward.org/commission/welcome.htm to view the new agenda.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

>>> Commissioner Abrams in the spotlight, elected first in 2009, had net worth of $329,000 through 2009

Steven Abrams is in the spotlight this week and the attorney filled a slot on the seven-member commission that had over the past years a majority of past commissioners going to federal prison, with the last one being ex Commissioner Mary McCarty, now serving time after being sentenced in 2009.

What do we know about his finances?

Abrams through Dec. 2009 had a net worth of $329,791 and he lists $30,000 in household goods. His home is worth $170,000, there is $45,500 in a bank account, savings bonds and CDs account for $30,000 and $54,500 and a Volvo is worth $36,700. He lists two liabilities of $16,000 and $21,790, his salary for the year was $79,888 as a commissioner, and $212,000 came in from the now defunct law firm of Rothstein, Rosenfeldt & Adler, with Scott Rothstein going to federal prison for running a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme out of the office.

>>> Commission web page: Steven L. Abrams has been serving on the Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners representing District 4 since 2009 and was recently elected without opposition to a full four-year term. Commissioner Abrams has a lengthy record of public service.  Abrams is the former Mayor of Boca Raton, elected in 2001 and re-elected in 2003 without opposition and in 2005 with the most votes in city history.  He was named Mayor Emeritus when he stepped down in 2008 due to term limits. The Commissioner also served five terms as a City Council member in Boca Raton from 1989 to 1999 and was a member of the city’s Planning and Zoning Board between 1987 and 1989. Abrams is a past president of the Palm Beach County League of Cities and a founding board member of the Florida League of Mayors.

Commissioner Abrams gained national exposure and local respect during the first bioterrorist attack in American history when anthrax was discovered at the AMI building in October 2001.  Abrams received the Distinguished Service Medal from the Israel National Police for his leadership during the ordeal. He testified on national television on the government’s response at the invitation of a United States Senate subcommittee. Commissioner Abrams is a member of the Florida and District of Columbia Bars.  Prior to moving to Florida, the Commissioner served in the White House as law clerk to the Counsel to President Reagan and current Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. While attending Harvard University, Abrams received the Philo Sherman Bennett Prize for the best government senior thesis and was graduated magna cum laude in 1980. He received his law degree from The George Washington University in 1985. In 2005, Everglades University awarded Abrams an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.

Commissioner Abrams was born in Des Moines, Iowa and grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He and Debbie have been married for 27 years and have two children. The Commissioner is currently serving on the following county boards: Florida Association of Counties; Palm Beach County Broadband (chairman); Value Adjustment Board; Solid Waste Authority (secretary); Metropolitan Planning Organization; Education and Government Programming Committee; Intergovernmental Coordination Program; Palm Beach County Education Commission; and Kravis Center. Commissioner>>> Steven L. Abrams: 301 North Olive Ave. Suite 1201 WPB, FL 33401, (561) 355-2204 >> South County Complex, 345 South Congress Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33445 -(561) 276-1220 Toll Free: 877-930-2204 Send an e-mail to Commissioner Abrams — Lucia Bonavita, Administrative Assistant, and Kate “Freddie” Scott

ORANGE COUNTY

>>> Press release: Governor Charlie Crist today announced the following reappointment and appointments: West Orange Airport Authority

Ann Dupee, 75, of Clermont, retired owner of the South Lake Press, reappointed for a term beginning July 26, 2010, and ending September 26, 2011.

Feliberto Tua, 47, of Longwood, technician with Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne, reappointed for a term beginning July 26, 2010, and ending September 26, 2013.

Jeffrey J. Welch, 53, of Apopka, executive director with Palmer, Reifler and Associates P.A., succeeding William Burch, appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2010, and ending September 26, 2011.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

>>> Press release: Governor Charlie Crist announced tonight that The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has reopened coastal state waters offshore of Escambia County to the harvest of saltwater fish, at 12:01 a.m. July 31.  The FWC closed this area on June 14 as a precautionary measure due to possible impacts of oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico. “The reopening of gulf waters for fishing is positive news for Floridians who depend on this important industry and for our recreational users and tourist,” said Governor Crist.  “Florida seafood is safe to eat and I thank the Food and Drug Administration for completing the test so quickly.

The FWC is reopening this 23-mile closed area of state waters because careful laboratory analysis of fish from the area confirms they are safe and oil-free.  The sampling and laboratory analyses were conducted under the supervision of the United States Food and Drug Administration and NOAA.  They passed all standards for safe consumption.  Oil has not been observed in the closed area of state waters for some time and was being closely monitored by state officials using aerial over-flights and visual observations on the water.  The reopened area to the harvest of saltwater fish, includes state waters from the beaches out 9 nautical miles into the Gulf from the Alabama line east to the Pensacola Beach water tower.  Oysters, clams and mussels were not included in the closure and remain open to harvest in this area.  The area will remain closed to the harvest of shrimp and crabs pending additional testing.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> Georgia man sentenced by feds for impersonating federal officer in Key West

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Carol Kisthardt, Special Agent in Charge, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (“NCIS”), announced the sentencing of defendant Larry Gregory Grantham, Jr., 35, of Doraville, Georgia.  On Friday, July 23, 2010, U.S. District Court Judge Jose E. Martinez sentenced Grantham to 18 months’ in prison for impersonating a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army. On May 15, 2009, Grantham was indicted on one count of pretending to be a federal officer, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 912.  He pled guilty to the charge on March 11, 2010.  According to statements made during the sentencing hearing, Grantham had intervened in a naval disciplinary matter in Key West, Florida by claiming to be a U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, Special Forces, Medical Officer.  Grantham initially succeeded in delaying the proceedings before NCIS determined that Grantham was not a U.S. Lieutenant Colonel or Medical Officer.  Items produced at the sentencing hearing included a fabricated medical diploma in Grantham’s name and fraudulent Department of Defense records for Grantham.  The United States also produced a doctor’s coat and U.S. Army Special Forces military fatigues, neither of which were genuine, bearing Grantham’s name that were recovered from a search of Grantham’s apartment.

In addition, there was testimony at the hearing that, just weeks before the sentencing in this case, Grantham was spotted in an Atlanta-area hospital falsely claiming to be a surgeon with the hospital.  The hospital’s security manager testified that he had received a copy of a fraudulent hospital badge bearing Grantham’s name and photograph, as well as indications that Grantham had been in secured areas of the hospital and may have had records accessible only to hospital staff. Based on Grantham’s conduct and criminal history, Judge Martinez sentenced Grantham to 18 months’ incarceration, to be followed by a one-year term of supervised release. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service at the Naval Air Station in Key West, Florida. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. Gonsoulin. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Schomber, after 34-years on Audit Committee says sayonara, did a solid job through some political turmoil over the decades

>>> One of the original Audit Committee members of the Miami-Dade School Board is saying sayonara, Bob Schomber, after 34-years on the community oversight board that is the firewall watching how public school dollars are being spent. The audit committee first came to my attention in late 1997, when a district staffer took pity on my multiple requests to see the district’s audit reports, and kept getting a simplistic pie chart detailing where billions of dollars were going. The staffer told me about the audit committee and I have rarely missed one since over the years. The board has evolved over the years and Schomber was there through it all, that included the district having some scandals in the 1990s and also included the audit committee having the same chair for ten-years, rather than rotating the position, as was the accepted policy. That Chair Hank Mack, who also has schools named after him in Miami-Dade and Broward just would not leave his volunteer leadership post and it was only through a Sunshine Violation e-mail that I got him to resign the Monday, after the story broke Sunday night. With Schomber’s resignation, the committee will be looking for CPAs and tax attorneys to fill out the board’s rooster and if you are interested contact your local school board member, for they make the appointments.

Here is Schomber’s resignation letter from the audit committee that went to school board Member Martin Karp, Ph.D., “It is with considerable sadness that I submit my resignation from the School Board Audit Committee.  As you know I am “retired” from FPL however my recent  consulting engagements for them, and those in the foreseeable future, are placing significant demands on my time. This has and will continue to cause me to miss several Audit Committee meetings, a situation that I regard as unfair to you, my associates on the Audit Committee, our Superintendent and your peers on the school board.

I’m not sure that you are aware that I volunteered for this work as a “founding member” of the committee in 1976 – 34 years ago, and served as Chairman three times.  My initial and continuing motivation was the hope that through such work I could perhaps “give back” a little in appreciation for the stellar work that your staff did in educating our children. Our oldest is a highly successful lawyer in town, and our youngest who is autistic, grew from a child we were told to institutionalize, to graduate in the top 10% of his class and become a happy 23 year employee of the University of Miami.  Although it has nothing to do with the Audit Committee, you should be aware that my wife is similarly grateful, and for about 20 years during the last few years of his education and subsequently, she volunteered with the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee for Exceptional Student Education, and as an advocate assisting others with the appropriate placement of their children.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this service has been interfacing with the high caliber of folks our board has recruited  for this work in recent years. I truly believe you are in “good hands” for the future, and I particularly congratulate Buck on his innovative thinking and his leadership in expanding the committee’s responsibility.  When chatting on the phone with Jose he jokingly suggested and I agreed, that if my situation should change, and I still felt I could actively contribute in the future, I would get in touch. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve; thank you for your appointment and for your active support, wrote the retired FP&L executive.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Trust cash position slowly inching forward, $103 million on Jul. 23, but not close to being out of the woods, says vice Chair Medina

The watchdog Report last week contacted PHT vice Chair Angel Medina, Jr., and I asked how the Revenue Ad Hoc meetings held on Wednesday were going since I have been unable to attend the 8:00 a.m. meetings. In an e-mail Medina wrote, “As of July 23, 2010 we had $103 million in cash and have decreased payables by $64 million (principally from the UM liability). Census continues to drop and this is a growing concern from several fronts. If people are sick and they are not coming in, when they finally decide to come in, they will probably be sicker. There is also the growing uninsured and [there is] some concern that undocumented residents are refraining from coming for fear of deportation. Notwithstanding the decline in census, as a percent of revenues, charity, undocumented and self-pay, continue to show signs of growth. Case mix index and length of stay increased but due to the management of long stay patients (LOS is calculated when the patient leaves the hospital so a patient that has been there for say 500 days, when discharged, significantly affects LOC computations for the period). FTE per adjusted occupied bed, improved slightly, but Overtime and Agency spending has not improved and could adversely affect the 2011 budget forecast by $12 million if not corrected.

The GPO contract, which is currently in the bid process, is proceeding on schedule and expected to provide significant improvement in supply spending, provided behavioral changes occur at Jackson by physicians and nurses. [Concerning the] Revenue cycle presentation- very strong progress being made. Centralized Registration implemented and improving billing and collection information is being captured, although causing some temporary delays in getting patients to physicians. This will improve as clerks become more versed in the process. Further, new Chief Admin Officer for Jackson Main, Mr. Mosley, announced and introduced and the next budget meeting is August 6^th, wrote the veteran PHT trustee and former banker.

>>> E mail from South Florida Hospital & Healthcare Association: 2007 Health Insurance Status (Uninsured and Insured) in Florida Just Released by Census Bureau

In data just released by the US Census Bureau, they have provided estimates of the number of persons under the age of 65 who are uninsured.  This is a 2007 estimate and, because of the continued dismal economic performance for Florida, the results likely underestimate current experience.  Regardless, here is a summary. > For the country, 17.1% of persons under the age of 65 were uninsured; about 44.9 million > 8.1% of the total uninsured in the US, live in Florida; Florida only trails California and Texas (6.5 and 5.8 million) > Statewide, 24.2 % of persons under the age of 65 were uninsured; about 3.615 million persons (comparable percentage for CA is 20.2% and TX 26.8%) -In our area (Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach), 28% of the persons under 65 are uninsured (1.27 million) -35% of the state’s uninsured live in our four counties -And, unfortunately, only 30 percent of the eligible <65 population lives in our counties  >>> I have included the web address for the US Census Bureau.  There is an ability to cut the data several different ways.  Unfortunately, no matter which way you cut it, we have more than our fair share of persons who are uninsured! http://www.census.gov/did/www/sahie/index.html

>>> Financial graphs from June 2008 carried financial alarm to community, but fell on deaf ears at the time

The Watchdog Report has been running the graphs below since PHT CEO Marvin O’Quinn presented the information to the Miami-Dade County Commission in June 2008 and I run it again as a reminder of what the health trust faces everyday, now aggravated by the worse economy since the Great Depression. Jackson Health System has dropped off the community radar the last few weeks after almost going over a cliff financially a few months ago when its cash flow dropped precipitously. The institution, the safety net public hospital blows through about $4.5 million a day in cash and why cash on hand is such a critical component of the institution’s own financial health.