Watchdog Report Vol.11 No.30 December 12, 2010 Est.05.05.00 – I go when you cannot
CONTENTS
Argus Report: U.S. Rep. elect Wilson has normal progression of net worth from 2001 to 2007, but exactly the same $405,000 next two years despite housing value collapse
Florida: Will Crist’s legacy be Doors front man Morrison or 26,800 acres of citrus and cane for Everglades’s restoration? only 1/7 original size but something at $194.2 million
Obituary: Circuit Judge Pineiro passes suddenly at 56, will be missed by colleagues on the bench
Miami-Dade County: Miami Zoo explodes onto South Florida attraction scene with wide variety of new exhibits, spokesman Magill cranks up enthusiasm at BCC
Broward County: Former Memorial Regional Hospital facilities employees charged with accepting bribes and obstruction of the IRS
Palm Beach County: Florida couple sentenced in forced labor conspiracy to exploit Filipino guest workers
Monroe County: Past WDR: MAY 2010: Administrator Gastesi says come on down to Keys, “Water is extremely clear for diving”
Miami-Dade Public Schools: Battle between Friends and WLRN reaching a climax, after past negotiations go “back to square one,” philanthropy arm may have referred to school board as “pimps”
Public Health Trust: Commissioners work over PHT administration & board on $200 million plus cost savings contract costing $45.2 million over 66-months
City of Miami: Clock ticking, who will Mayor Regalado pick to run commission as chair, expected after Dec. 16 meeting
City of Miami Beach: No lobbyists registered at Dec. 8-commission meeting, body reaffirms no public money for Dolphin stadium renovation
Coral Gables: Biltmore gets its historic $1.2 million renovation money, but will more be needed in the future for South Florida landmark?
City of Opa Locka: Historic city hall gets $2 million injection for renovation; Mayor Taylor wishes to bring it back to life and use
Miami Shores: Gov. Crist taps Charles K. “Charlie” Johnson of Miami Shores to the Miami-Dade County Court.
Community Events: Elephant Forum features state Rep. Lopez Cantera, state Reps Nunez and Diaz so far — Mango Strut upcoming events
Editorials: Sunshine State ambassador, the manatee, dies at record rate of 699 yet herd at 5,076, must still be nurtured — PAST WDR: JAN. 2010: Local corruption is systemic statewide; voters must engage and watch their public institutions, $14 billion in public institutions locally
Letters: Readers on last week’s Watchdog Report
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.)
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>>> 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. I almost did not write this week because of my financial condition. And while I as so many others are facing tough times. I hope you or your organization will consider helping in a small or larger way and help keep another voice on line and in the media. 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 will start its 12th Anniversary on May 5.
>>> CORRECTION: In last week’s WDR, a story indicated Miami Commission District 2’s mural district would be expanded and that is not correct.
ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street
>>> U.S. Rep. elect Wilson has normal progression of net worth from 2001 to 2007, but exactly the same $405,000 next two years despite housing value collapse
The Watchdog Report last week noted when it came to U.S. Rep. elect Fredericka Wilson, D-Miami’s financial disclosure forms for 2008 and 2009. The forms were almost identical despite her extensive real estate holdings of three homes whose values have remained stable despite the property market tanking around the nation and Miami being ground zero for mortgage foreclosures. The Watchdog Report reviewed the state legislator’s past ten years of disclosures filed with the state and over the decade. She like many others saw a yearly increase in their net worth, as in many cases their real estate holdings values increased. In her case in 2001, she had a net worth of $200,000 that increased to $214,000 in 2002; $288,000 in 2004; $341,000 in 2006 and $380,000 in 2007, the height of the real estate bubble that would later collapse in early 2008. It is for this reason why her last two years net worth at $405,000 is odd and she may have an explanation but I have yet to be able to catch-up with the congresswoman elect to ask about this possible discrepancy that recently got incoming Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne in trouble and had to amend his financial disclosures.
 Wilson |
 Haridopolos |
U.S. Rep. elect Frederica Wilson, D-Miami has been making waves in Washington with her pursuit of wearing her trademark hats as in the past in the halls of the state House and Senate, but now says she will follow the U.S. House’s staid body’s rules and chuck them in the chamber www.miamiherald.com but her introduction to Washington since winning on Nov. 2, has been anything but productive, when it comes to her new congressional district. The educator and state lawmaker made the jump to Washington after winning a crowded Democratic Party field of candidates and her hats since her first election to the Miami-Dade school board in the 1990s have been her trademark, as she climbed the political tree including being a state senator. She now says after a rash of negative stories in the media that she is focused on the needs of her Florida congressional District 17 and that is good. The educator is following in the footsteps of U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek after he decided to run for the U.S. Senate. Republican Sen. elect Marco Rubio (net worth $8,351) in a three way race that included independent Gov. Charlie Crist (Net worth $461,000) defeated him.
What do we know about her finances?
Wilson through Dec. 2008 and 2009 had a net worth of $405,000 and $50,000 in household goods both years. Her home and other properties were valued at $400,000; $150,000; $100,000, and $75,000 on both years’ financial disclosures and she lists a 2007 Cadillac as worth $35,000. Her liabilities for the two years were the same with a mortgage owed $325,000 and the car $30,000. The new congressional representative’s income for the years was $33,000 as a legislator, the school district kicked in $102,000, social security contributed $25,544 and she lists two state retirement funds kicking in $351,396 and $32,043 for both years. The only change over the two years was in 2009 when she only received $18,500 from the public school district, but the fact the two forms information are so identical is odd since most peoples net worth goes up or down over the years.
>>> Veteran scribe Greene says sayonara to Herald, headed to DC
Ronnie Greene, the veteran award winning investigative story editor at The Miami Herald www.miamiherald.com has left Miami to join his wife political reporter Beth Reinhard who joined the National Journal last month after covering the Nov. 2 general election. Greene is highly respected in the news profession and he will be missed. The Watchdog Report gives him and Beth a Tip of the Hat and best of luck with your family in the nation’s capital.
>>> Press release: Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) was named today as a member of the House Committee on Appropriations for the 112th Congress. Diaz-Balart previously served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Science and Technology Committee and the Budget Committee.
“I am honored that during this time of out-of-control government spending, my colleagues have chosen me to become a member of the House Committee on Appropriations and help rein in government spending and waste. The Committee will be confronted with some complicated decisions if we are to avoid a fate similar to Ireland or Greece. I plan to work with my colleagues to right our fiscal budget, come up with creative ways to prioritize our funding and assure the tax-payers that their tax dollars are well-spent,” said Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart.
>>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for I am a low cost news service yet I do have to live, thank you! 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
>>> Will Crist’s legacy be Doors front man Morrison or 26,800 acres of cane for Everglades restoration, only 1/7 original size but something at $194.2 million
The current Florida Cabinet in its Clemency Board role met for the last time last week and voted to pardon Jim Morrison of The Doors fame but the legacy of the group is more than that last commutation of a outstanding warrant for his arrest that local state attorney Katherine Fernandez- Rundle would not spend any resources on, since Morrison has been dead for decades after a presumed drug overdose in Paris. And this final act done by Gov. Charlie Crist, Attorney General Bill McCollum, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Charles Bronson, the Commissioner of Agricultural is unusual since they are all saying sayonara to public service after Bronson was termed out and Crist, Sink, and McCollum all lost their races for higher political office.
Further, critics question why Crist pushed the Morrison issue at all, since he started his political career in the Florida senate in the mid 1990s and legislation he sponsored putting chain gangs back on the state’s highways (briefly because the cost of the practice was to expensive) earned him the moniker of “Chain Gang Charlie.” And he kept a hard line since then in many ways throughout his time as Florida education commissioner, then the attorney general’s office, but he softened some of his political stands after becoming governor in 2007, that eventually evolved with him leaving the Republican Party. After Marco Rubio surged in the polls with GOP primary voters last spring in his successful bid to become the new Florida U.S. Senator.
Crist’s real legacy was getting the South Florida Water Management District to buy two tracts of fragile environmental land in the Everglades, and while only one seventh of the land of the original $1.75 billion deal was acquired, 26,800 acres for $194.2 million. It is still a major step in the clean-up of the Florida Everglades and the land made up of citrus groves and cane fields, between Glades and Lake Okeechobee bought from U.S. Sugar Corp. www.miamiherald.com shows the state’s commitment to federal authorities and congress being asked to make significant contributions to the River of Grass clean-up in the coming years, and that is a significant accomplishment. And Crist ending his political career with a dead rock star’s pardon is odd to say the least, and further adds to the enigma of who he is? And what does he really believe in?
>>> Gov. Crist press release: Pardon of James Douglas “Jim” Morrison – Gov. Charlie Crist today during a meeting of the Florida Board of Executive Clemency requested a pardon for James Douglas “Jim” Morrison. The pardon was approved unanimously by the clemency board, which consists of the Governor and the Florida Cabinet. Governor Crist, Attorney General Bill McCollum, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson all voted for the measure. – Remarks by GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST to the Florida Board of Executive Clemency – Tallahassee, Florida -December 9, 2010
James Douglas Morrison – we know him as Jim Morrison – appealed the judgment and sentence he received after being convicted 40 years ago of two misdemeanors. However, he died before his appeal could be heard. Because he us unable to state his case for clemency before this board today, I offer to do so for him. The charges against Mr. Morrison stemmed from his alleged actions at a now-famous 1969 musical performance by The Doors in Miami. During the trial, the prosecution attempted to prove that Mr. Morrison indecently exposed himself, simulated indecent acts, and uttered profanities. Mr. Morrison admitted to using some of the alleged profanity; however, he denied the other charges. During the trial, some witnesses testified they saw the alleged acts for which he was charged; however, many others testified they observed the entire concert and never saw them. In fact, so many witnesses corroborated Mr. Morrison’s testimony that the judge eventually stopped the defense from presenting any more – because their collective testimony became, what is known in legal terms as, “cumulative testimony.”
Nevertheless, a jury convicted Mr. Morrison. The judge then sentenced him to six months of hard labor. Much controversy surrounds this conviction, and not only because many witnesses testified they did not see Mr. Morrison expose himself.
Controversy also exists because Mr. Morrison was not arrested until four days after the concert. A case was brought against him only after newspaper articles recounted the alleged events at the concert, based on a complaint filed by an employee of the state attorney’s office who attended the concert. In addition, Mr. Morrison may have been improperly prevented from presenting evidence of “community standards” of other rock performances of the era. Such testimony would have offered cultural context for the allegations against him. Perhaps most importantly, Mr. Morrison himself did not exercise his right to remain silent. Instead, he forcefully denied the charge that he exposed himself on stage.
Mr. Morrison appealed his judgment and sentence; however, he died before the appeal was heard. His death prevented him from exercising his right to a direct appeal, a right given to every American by the United States Constitution. If his appeal had been heard, a reviewing court could have resolved the controversies surrounding his conviction. In addition, at the time of Morrison’s death, a convicted defendant who died before his appeal was heard was entitled to have the conviction dismissed so that he was again presumed innocent. This doctrine, known as “abatement ab initio,” wiped the slate clean – as though the conviction had never taken place. A pardon corrects the fact that Mr. Morrison is now unable to take advantage of the presumption of innocence that is the cornerstone of the American criminal justice system. The words of an appellate judge, penned a decade before Mr. Morrison’s trial, provide insight into the question before us today: When death prevents the accused from appealing his judgment, the conviction is “a nullity” and “[j]urisdiction to determine the issue of guilt or innocence is now assumed by the ultimate arbiter of human affairs.”1 In this case, guilt or innocence is in God’s hands, not ours. That is why I ask my colleagues today to pardon Jim Morrison.
______________________
1 Bagley v. State, 122 So. 2d 789, 791 (Fla. 1st DCA 1960) (Sturgis, J., writing for the majority) (granting the “[m]otion to abate all proceedings on this appeal and in the court below”), overruled by State v. Clements, 668 So. 2d 980, 982 (Fla. 1996).
>>> The Florida Cabinet >>>
>>> Local DCF head Colyer is leaving post, has sent in resignation letter
Jacqui Colyer, the Southern Region Director of the Florida Department of Children and Families, is leaving the organization and sent her resignation letter recently she said Thursday at a The Children’s Trust committee where she is a board member and chaired the meeting. Colyer has done a remarkable job in a very difficult environment of foster children, finding responsible families the state puts these children with, and over the decades mistakes have been made, but currently is one of the best programs in the nation. The Watchdog Report gives Colyer a Tip of the Hat for a job well done and you will be missed. For more information about DCF go to http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/regions/southern/index.shtml
>>> Press release: The Delegation will hold another public hearing on Friday, December 17th at the Stephen P. Clark Center (County Commission Chamber).
>>> March 8th: First Day of the 2011 Legislative Session
>>> Gov. Crist today announced the following reappointments: District Medical Examiners
Dr. Margarita Arruza, 53, of Jacksonville, Chief Medical Examiner, reappointed for a term beginning December 10, 2010, and ending July 1, 2012.
Dr. Jan Garavaglia, 54, of Winter Springs, District 9 Medical Examiner, reappointed for a term beginning December 10, 2010, and ending July 1, 2011.
Dr. William Hamilton, 66, of Gainesville, District 8 Medical Examiner, reappointed for a term beginning October 27, 2010, and ending July 1, 2013.
Dr. Michael Hunter, 44, of Panama City, District 14 Medical Examiner, reappointed for a term beginning December 10, 2010, and ending July 1, 2013.
Dr. Andrea Minyard, 45, of Pensacola, president of Gulf Coast Autopsy Physicians PA, reappointed for a term beginning December 10, 2010, and ending July 1, 2012.
Dr. Stephen Nelson, 53, of Lakeland, District 10 Medical Examiner, reappointed for a term beginning December 10, 2010, and ending July 1, 2013.
Dr. David Stewart, 52, of Tallahassee, pathologist for Ketchum, Wood and Burge Pathology Associates, reappointed for a term beginning December 10, 2010, and ending July 1, 2012.
Dr. Jon Thogmartin, 46, of Oldsmar, District 6 Medical Examiner, reappointed for a term beginning December 10, 2010, and ending July 1, 2012.
Dr. Russell Vega, 49, of Sarasota, District 12 Medical Examiner, reappointed for a term beginning December 10, 2010, and ending July 1, 2013.
OBITUARY
>>> Circuit Judge Pineiro passes suddenly at 56, will be missed by collegues on the bench
Press release: The Eleventh Judicial Circuit mourns the loss of the Honorable Roberto M. Piñeiro, who passed away on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. He was 56.
Judge Piñeiro was much-loved and highly respected by his colleagues and court staff at the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, where he served for 20 years since his appointment to the County Court Bench in 1989. During his tenure in the County Court, Judge Piñeiro served for a time as Associate Administrative Judge of the County Court Criminal Division, and was a member of the Traffic School Judicial Oversight Committee of the Eleventh Circuit. In 1996, he was appointed by Gov. Lawton Chiles to the Circuit Court, where he would serve in the Circuit Criminal, Civil and Family Divisions for the next 14 years. Prior to joining the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Judge Piñeiro served as an Assistant State Attorney from 1977 to 1983, where he was assigned to the Felony Division as Felony Division Chief, in the Sexual Battery Division, and as a Major Crimes Prosecutor. From 1983 to 1986, he worked in private practice as a civil litigator with the law firm of Patton and Kanner. From 1986 to 1989, he served once again in the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office in Special Prosecutions, Organized Crime, Public Corruption Prosecutions, and he was cross-designated Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. Judge Piñeiro was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, and came to Miami with his family when he was 5 years old. He attended Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami, and law degree from Duke University. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1977. Judge Piñeiro is survived by his wife, Barbara, and their children Allison and Jared. He will be deeply missed by his “court family” at the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. In his honor, the flags at all Miami-Dade Courthouses are being flown at half-staff.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>> Miami Zoo explodes onto South Florida with wide variety of new attractions, spokesman Magill cranks up enthusiasm at BCC
Ron Magill, the public face for Miami Zoo made a rapid-fire presentation of the transformation occurring at the facility down at the old Richmond Heights lighter than air blimp base, that first started with the past opening of Amazon and Beyond that “set the bar,” for attractions said County Commission Chair Dennis Moss Tuesday at its board meeting. Magill, the zoo’s spokesperson from The Today Show on down made his passionate presentation that was eye opening in what are the new attractions, while also noting these are also expected to increase revenue, beneficial not only to the facility, but also the county’s general fund at the 30-year old zoo, he told commissioners.
Commission Chair Moss
Moss after Hurricane Andrew flattened south Dade in Aug. 1992 has been a major cheerleader for the facility when he was elected into office in 1994 and his commission district includes the zoo. He and many others efforts over the years are bearing fruit and the zoo is not what it was ten or twenty years ago. Further, in the 2004, $2.9 billion GOB passed by voters there was money included for many of these new attractions and the expansion of the footprint is large and should now be considered a community jewel, when it comes to such attractions. http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/index.asp
Miami Metrozoo’s 30th Birthday Celebration last July
What did Manager George Burgess say about Magill?
Burgess after Magill’s spirited five-minute slide presentation of all the changes that have occurred at the zoo joked there would also “Be an exhibit of Ron Magill” that people can view given his enthusiasm for his work.
>>> Will freezing of federal transit grants become another Miami Moment after $14.8 million mistaken drawdown after cut off
A freezing of federal transit dollars in a drawdown accounts called ECHO after a federal audit found irregularities in Miami-Dade County and reported first in www.miamiherald.com resulted in an animated discussion between the county commission and the county’s administration last Tuesday. The feds suspended $134 million in grants from coming to the county’s transit department and county Manager George Burgess said it was accounting and record keeping mistakes and not “fraud.” However, a miscommunication occurred and a hold order on drawing down of any new funds was disregarded by two county staff (and are no longer with the county) resulting in a transfer of $14.8 million by staff, even after the federal transit agency notified Miami-Dade of the suspension and it is this act, that has people wondering if another federal shoe will drop.
We lost “face” said assistant county Manager Ysela Llort Tuesday afternoon at the county commission meeting. However, just as with HUD which took over the county’s public housing program a few years ago, people wonder if this could happen with transportation and from a Washington standpoint could be just another example of how Miami-Dade tries to do things right on the edge. Burgess has a special group of people working on getting the issue corrected noting the right people were not at some of the discussions with federal officials regarding the audit findings, but readers should wait and see how this issue plays out.
>>> Incoming Chair elect Martinez questions cost of commission DC fly in and Dade Days in state capital
Commission Chair elect Joe Martinez is questioning the need for the commission to fly to D.C. and go to Dade Days in the state capital, two activities the commission has traditionally done, but critics question if the cost of these trips is worth the return, and the county does have lobbyists, and congressional representatives that are sent to Washington to get the requested local funding.
In coming Commission Chair Martinez
>>> County’s Homeless Trust handles surge with temps dropping, adds two new emergency shelters beds if necessary
The Miami-Dade Homeless Trust is doing a brisk business when it comes to providing temporary shelter for homeless people after the mercury plunged last week and the organization is bracing for another round of cold temperatures in the days ahead. Ron Book, the trust chair told the Watchdog Report Friday that they had taken care of all of the people that needed shelter or help and they “were bracing” for next week when another round of cold air descends on South Florida. Book was also on Issues over the weekend hosted by Helen Ferre www.wpbt.org/issues talking about Homeless Awareness Day, which was Dec. 9, and the trust board will hold its own Homeless Memorial Day on Dec. 17 after the monthly trust board meeting is over on the third floor outside terrace at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center around noon. However, with this surge of people seeking shelter “vacancy rates are a 0% for the last quarter of the 2010 fiscal year and continue at this level,” and the trust selected two organizations after a RFQ went out and Harbor House and Miami Rescue Mission will supply supplemental beds at about $18 each and over the potentially five years cannot cost over $1 million states a Dec. 6 memo from trust Director David Raymond to county Manager George Burgess on the subject. >>> Watch This Week’s Issues
>>> Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado took a road trip to county hall and the 29th floor of government center where Mayor Carlos Alvarez’s office is and they along with County Commissioner Audrey Edmonson met to discuss a joint project in her commission District 3. She said later in the week the discussions were productive, but Regalado is a big supporter of Alvarez’s recall and it is unknown how the two men interacted during the discussions.
 Edmonson |
 Regalado |
 Alvarez |
>>> Bill Johnson, the Miami Port Director may have overplayed his hand when he brought Gov. elect Rick Scott to the port last week looking for support for dredging the channel to 50 feet. Scott not in office yet was non-committal about the issue that has county financial support, but also involves a $75 million federal component in the funding and Scott told Michael Putney on www.justnews.com Sunday that he would review the project but wanted to get up to speed before making any kind of commitment. Scott will be sworn into office on Jan. 4.
BROWARD COUNTY
>>> Press release: Former Memorial Regional Hospital facilities employees charged with accepting bribes and obstruction of the IRS
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, and Daniel W. Auer, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, announce the filing of a criminal information against Elliot Gordon, 67, and Anthony Merola, 45, both residents of Lake Worth, Florida. Both defendants were Team Leaders in the Facilities Management Department at Memorial Regional Hospital (Memorial Regional) in Hollywood, Florida. The defendants are charged with conspiring to obtain a bribe as an agent of an organization receiving federal funds and obstructing the Internal Revenue Service, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. According to the criminal information, Gordon was a Team Leader in the Facilities Management Department at Memorial Regional from February 1995 until September 2007. Merola was a Team Leader in the same department from September 1997 until February 25, 2009. As Team Leaders, the defendants were responsible for, among other things, contracting with vendors for the purchase of goods and services for Memorial Regional.
The criminal information alleges that Gordon and Merola accepted money and in-kind kickbacks in exchange for selecting certain vendors to perform maintenance work at Memorial Regional. According to the allegations, the defendants would cause the selected vendors to substantially inflate their invoices to Memorial Regional to facilitate the payment of kickbacks to themselves. In addition, the defendants, with the assistance of their accountant, would conceal the kickback payments through entities such as Whitehead Industries, RSM&F Enterprises, Inc. and Dorece Consulting, and would improperly deduct personal expenses as business deductions on tax returns filed with the IRS. If convicted, the defendants face a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of up to 5 years. Defendant Merola surrendered today and made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge James Hopkins in West Palm Beach. Defendant Gordon is expected to make his initial appearance later this month before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linnea Johnson in West Palm Beach. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Ferrer also thanked the management and security personnel at Memorial Healthcare System for their assistance and cooperation in this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Karadbil. >>> An information is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 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 http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov
>>> Press release: Gov. Crist taps Florido to be Commissioner of South Broward Hospital District – Hobel Florido, 44, of Miramar, attorney with Florido and Florido P.A., succeeding Kevin Tynan, appointed for a term beginning December 10, 2010, and ending June 30, 2014.
>>> 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
>>> Florida couple sentenced in forced labor conspiracy to exploit Filipino guest workers
The Justice Department announced today that Sophia Manuel and Alfonso Baldonado Jr., owners of Quality Staffing Services Corporation, a labor contracting service, were sentenced for conspiring to hold approximately 39 Filipino nationals in forced service to work in country clubs and hotels in Southeast Florida. Manuel also was sentenced for making false statements on an application she filed with the U.S. Department of Labor to obtain foreign labor certifications and visas under the federal H2B guest worker program. Manuel was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison and Baldonado to 51 months.
Manuel and Baldonado previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to obtain a cheap, compliant and readily available labor pool by making false promises to entice the victims to incur debts to pay up front recruitment fees. Defendants then compelled the victims’ labor and services through threats to have the workers arrested and deported knowing the workers faced serious economic harm and possible incarceration for nonpayment of debts in the Philippines.
“These defendants exploited vulnerable individuals for their own financial gain, depriving the victims of their civil rights,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to vigorously prosecute cases of forced labor where victims have been robbed of their freedom and dignity.” U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer stated, “Today’s sentencing reminds us that America remains a land of freedom and opportunity for immigrants, not of servitude and fear. Forced labor is illegal and we will enforce the laws that protect our immigrant communities from abuse.”
“Human traffickers target vulnerable victims, including minors, who desire a better life and end up being lured into a situation where they are deprived of their basic human rights,” said ICE Director John Morton. “These deplorable conditions will not be tolerated in this country and ICE will continue its commitment to rescue victims of this form of modern day slavery and arrest the traffickers that exploit them.” >>> This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations in Miami, Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General; the FBI; the U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Diplomatic Security; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; and the Florida Office of the Attorney General. >>> This case is being prosecuted by trial attorney Susan French of the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant United States Attorney Shaniek Maynard. 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 http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
MONROE COUNTY
>>> PAST WDR: MAY 2010: Administrator Gastesi says come on down to Keys, “Water is extremely clear for diving”
The Watchdog Report contacted County Administrator Roman Gastesi on Saturday about the presence of any oil from the Gulf of Mexico gusher, after the oil blobs appeared on the Keys beaches recently, but were found to be not from the well over one-month old crude oil spill that has vexed experts on how to plug the leak at 5,000 feet below the gulf’s surface. I asked the administrator how things were going at the Southern most tip of the nation and he replied. “Yes, everything is OK for now regarding actual oil pollution in the keys. The oil is still hundreds of miles away and there is still a good chance that we will not be affected at all. Even so, until the leak is plugged, the uncertainly continues to create concern for everyone in the keys. The oil is a Sweet Crude mostly made up of single-bonded carbon chains that biodegrade more readily than other crude oils. So we hope that if it does head this way it will be very “weathered” and inert.
Please let everyone know that we are open for business, the water is extremely clear for diving, and the early season dolphin fishing is one of the best in many years…come on down,!” wrote the veteran administrator and former water czar for Miami-Dade years ago. For more information about what is going on in the Keys go to :>>> The Monroe County tourism council continues to update its http://www.fla-keys.com <http://www.fla-keys.com> website with information regarding the spill and its relationship to the Keys. On the website are NOAA forecast tracking maps, a map showing the spill site in relation to the Keys, links to area webcams and more. TDC social media sites include: http://www.keysvoices.com • http://twitter.com/thefloridakeys • http://www.facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest >> Spill-related websites, primarily focusing on affected areas, include:
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com • http://www.noaa.gov
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
>>> Battle between Friends and WLRN reaching a climax, after negotiations “back to square one,” philanthropy arm refers to school board as “pimps”
When it comes to Friends of WLRN, the philanthropy arm of the television and radio station WLRN whose FEC license is owned by the school board coming under the control more of the school district, recent progress over more than a year in getting an operating agreement between the two organizations has bore little fruit in reality and we are “back to square one, said Frederick Thornburg Tuesday at the school board audit committee. The district’s administration since then, under audit committee oversight and direction has tried to hammer out an agreement with Friends, but that ongoing discussion is reaching a boiling point between the two organizations and has the not for profit organization charged with raising money for the station calling “if the information is true in a confidential memo” the school board and WLRN as “pimps,” said audit chair Thornburg in a discussion of the history of the situation with new audit members, including new school board member Raquel Regalado. The chair also noted that Friends and WLRN representatives over this time had only “met on two occasions” and Friends is looking at setting up an endowment, which is fine, but depending on how it is written it “could keep money from WLRN,” he thought in the future.
School Board vice Chair Lawrence Feldman said these discussions started well over a year ago and he finds it “unacceptable” that the foundation has about $6 million [said WLRN staff to the Watchdog Report at the meeting] in “money parked,” in investments. He said the “money is available” and should be released and the district should “bring legal action” if “all our demands are not meet,” he said. Board Chair Perla Tabares Hantman echoed Feldman’s comments and she noted the organization’s board has had a “total lack of respect of the school board for years” and said they did not have to be “cautious” since they “totally disregard the school board,” and “we cannot keep on talking about it,” she thought. Friends board leadership could not attend the audit committee since they were out of town but one member of the board believed these issues could be resolved, but was not in the position to speak for the board overall.
Further, Friends meeting minutes of two meetings in September and November show that the bylaw changes, first modified cutting out the district superintendent in 1995, and being demanded changed back were not even discussed, said Feldman. Also when it came to a breakdown of people’s salaries and other expenses that were requested that information is still being asked for said the former principle before being elected to the school board in 2008. Alberto Carvalho, the public schools district superintendent also chimed in when it came to fundraising for the station. His people though paid much lower than Friends fundraising staff, they “brought in a greater return on investment,” he told the audit committee.
>>>PAST WDR: JAN. 2010: Friends of WLRN in the spotlight, must have an operating agreement with District in 60-days
Alberto Carvalho, the district’s superintendent in a terse tone said when it came to seeing the financial records of Friends of WLRN. He was told it could only be done off site, he could not remove them or copy the documents while under the watchful eye of the not-for-profit’s attorneys and the documents did not fall under the state’s Sunshine Law. Carvalho said “these conditions were unacceptable” and he made these statements at the Audit Committee meeting on Tuesday and it stunned the committee members including school board vice chair Perla Tabares Hantman, the board’s voting member.
The superintendent said he has been reviewing all contracts and operating agreements and a memo from board attorney James Walter Harvey details the organizations institutional timeline, noting Friends is charged with nothing but raising money for WLRN’s radio and television stations. The representatives of Friends said they were not trying to stonewall the inquiry noting over the decades since 1974 the organization has worked well with WLRN and the school district. The station now has significantly more media outlets and the not-for-profit has been instrumental in helping fund that expansion. However, the issue of some employees salaries came-up as well as administrative costs that come in at about 40 percent and that is normal said the Friends representatives. Jose F. Montes de Oca, the district’s chief auditor asked about some of salaries that had people making over the years $269,000; $247,000 and $315,000 but Friends said that is based on money they raise and the commission is 10 percent. They also pointed out these employees are paid a small salary, brought in $3 million in underwriting and they do not get the commission “until the money is in hand.”
Further, Friends bylaws once had the superintendent signing off on any by law changes, and who ran Friends. But that changed, but went unnoticed in 1998 and board Attorney James Walter Harvey in a Jan. 26 memo writes that “these significant, sea change amendments” were never approved by the superintendent and the school district administrative head was not “involved in the appointment process of Rick Lewis,” the current Friends president and CEO. Further, the attorney noted that the bylaws “have since been amended several times without superintendent approval.” Carvalho was instructed to create an operating agreement with Friends that would be due in 60-days and Friends representatives said they could comply with that time constraint and it will include inserting back that the superintendent will have to sign off on any bylaw changes in the future.
>>> PAST WDR: MAY 2010: Friends of WLRN board chair Altman fires back at last week’s story, in her own words
After last week’s Watchdog Report on what happened at the school board Audit Committee recently regarding Friends of WLRN, Janet K. Altman, the chair of the not-for-profit responded back giving the organization’s side of the story. I am running the complete response from Altman. >>> “You wrote in July 2008, “A strong, vibrant and responsible press is the glue that keeps public institutions and elected leaders restrained.” I see in this morning’s Watchdog Report that Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Superintendent’s office provided you with a statement about negotiations between WLRN and Friends of WLRN. I’d like to provide some additional information which the public needs to know.
Recently there has been significant tension between WLRN, the School Superintendent, and Friends of WLRN. Friends of WLRN is an independent, private non-profit organization dedicated to the support of WLRN Radio and Television. Friends doesn’t own WLRN — but neither does the School Board own Friends. Miami-Dade County Public Schools is the licensee for the Stations. Friends has supported the station, raising funds through membership, underwriting, special events and grants, for more than three decades. When listeners and viewers give to support public broadcasting, Friends of WLRN receives the gift, manages the funds, and pays bills for WLRN, including the bills to content providers like National Public Radio. WLRN’s General Manager drives the Friends’ budgeting process, identifying upcoming funding needs. Friends has never, to my knowledge, refused a funding request from WLRN.
Our budget for the coming year, which is scheduled for approval at our May Board meeting, forecasts $4.2 million in contributions to WLRN. The Superintendent of Schools appears to desire to end a 35-year relationship with our group — an independent organization that is dedicated to supporting the valuable assets of the School Board. He is insisting that we revert to 15-year old by-laws, which give his office control of our leadership and governance. That’s just not good for WLRN. Rather, we believe it’s critically important that WLRN and Friends have an operating arrangement which provides for independence, transparency, cooperation, and informed consultation between the organizations.
Friends has done all we can to communicate constructively with Superintendent [Alberto] Carvalho. Since the January Audit Committee meeting where we were tasked with negotiating an operating agreement, we have made every effort to resolve the issue. We provided our draft of the agreement, which we called Principles of Cooperation, on February 11. But WLRN refused to review that draft, and participants from WLRN were unavailable to meet to negotiate their version of the agreement until late March.
Why have a separate organization to raise money?
Friends is uniquely suited to raise money for WLRN. We can do many things the School Board cannot. The Miami-Dade County Public Schools must operate under the Florida Sunshine Act. If they were to absorb the fundraising role, all membership data (including donors’ contact information and giving history) would be available to anyone who requests it. As an independent group, we are able to attract members and underwriters who would not be comfortable contributing directly to an organization with taxing authority. We can raise money from members outside of Miami-Dade County. Incidentally, that now represents nearly half of the funds we raise. Importantly, the relationships our volunteer Board members have in the community give us access to potential major donations. We’re able to move quickly and effectively, as we did when we helped preserve the WLRN-Miami Herald News.
What are the issues?
The Superintendent is concerned about the cost of fundraising – and so are we. We recently undertook to benchmark our results against other public radio stations, and we discovered that our cost-per-dollar raised is lower than many of our sister stations, including the #1 station in the country, WNYC.
The Superintendent is concerned about transparency – and so are we.
John LaBonia, General Manager of WLRN and an employee of the School Board, is on Friends’ Board. The General Manager’s position on our Board is secured in the bylaws. The General Manager is also on the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee. This ensures total transparency, through the General Manager, with the Stations and the School Board. The Superintendent is concerned about fiscal responsibility – and so are we. Fiscal responsibility is key to our ability to raise these funds from the public. We are audited by one of the top accounting firms in the country, Marcum Rachlin. In the past two years, we have stepped up our vigilance in many ways, including hiring a CFO with CPA firm experience, creating a financial procedures manual, introducing a conflict of interest policy for the Board and most recently establishing an audit committee.
The Superintendent is concerned that we don’t respect the School Board. We regret any communication that caused offense. At the most recent Audit Committee meeting, as part of the argument that Friends should be controlled by the School Board, the Superintendent read a five-year old memo which expressed some strong opinions. According to its author, “This five-year old memo, which was written at a time of high emotion and considerable frustration, does not represent the opinions of either the staff or the Board of Friends of WLRN. In fact, more recent documents and actions clearly repudiate the ideas suggested in the memo. I apologize to any it may have offended.” Friends of WLRN and the School Board share a common interest – the support of WLRN-FM and WLRN-TV. With cooperation from WLRN and the Superintendent, I am confident we can conclude an agreement that continues our independent service to the South Florida community,” wrote the Friends of WLRN board’s chair on May 17.
>>> The School Board Audit Committee got two new board members Tuesday and they are Roland Sanchez-Medina, Jr., and Mayowa F. Odusanya, both attorneys and audit vice Chair Manuel A. Gonzalez, CPA has resigned from the board that is the community oversight firewall for the nation’s fourth largest public schools district. Further, Wendy Lobos is now chair of an audit committee sub-committee and she is also a council member in Homestead.
>>> The school district saved $455,000 for auditing services this past year after the state auditors did it this year. This is required every few years by the state and the administration got an agreement to substitute this audit for one the distinct might normally do.
>>> M-DC IG REPORT:
Equipment Vendor Prosecuted for Defrauding Miami-Dade County Public Schools – Ref. IG10-32SB, December 9, 2010
.
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST
>>> Commissioners work over PHT administration & board on $200 million plus cost savings contract costing $45.2 million over 66-months
The Miami-Dade County Commission Tuesday had an extensive discussion about the Public Health Trust, its board and the administration, and a controversial $45.2 million multi-year contract with a company that if successful, will save the health system around $30 million the first year. However, Manager George Burgess first laid out the current financial groundwork at the $1.9 billion public hospital that he has under “management watch.” He said the cash on hand at the trust is “$70 million” and “represents 16 days of cash on hand” and that number is of real concern, and “cash flow assistance may be necessary” like it has been done before, though he has had no formal request from the PHT administration, he said.
Commissioner Carlos Gimenez questioned the savings in the proposed contract that is being or not being “guaranteed” over the 66-month life of the deal. He also thought physician preference resulting in multiple products is costing too much and should be streamlined and procurement practices used at private hospitals should be reviewed to see how these organizations buy medical supplies, he thought. Commissioner Rebeca Sosa had a problem with all the delays that some PHT RFPs that could save money have taken, and the way these documents were being changed all the time during the process. She cited the potential savings when Jackson tried to privatize the healthcare for inmates in county jails but that is still unresolved, and initially went back to late “2008 to 2009” and these delays are unacceptable.
Commissioner Sally Heyman wondered why retail businesses were “grossly ignored” when it came to getting “retail opportunities” where the private sector is trying to give the hospital money. Heyman, chair of the commission committee overseeing Jackson also suggested that “all the other big hospitals have group purchasing now” and why are we not looking at the procurement system these hospitals are using, she thought. She said while the $45 million might return over “$200 million” in savings over the years with this new contract. She wondered if there was a cheaper way of achieving the savings goal.
Commissioner Javier Souto, a former state legislator and voting member on the 17-member PHT board blasted the culture of the PHT board. “The wine and cheese crowd” is how he characterized the 15 citizens on the board and “how do I explain to individuals entering into a $45 million contract to hopefully save money,” that are poor and just trying to put food on the table. He noted throughout the nation when “Jackson talks everyone listens” like a past investment company ad suggested and the institution must “save every penny that we can.” He also does not understand why we hire “top echelon executives at Jackson” to run the hospital and it is they who have to “make the decisions, [not consultants,]” he railed to fellow commissioners.
 Gimenez |
 Sosa |
 Heyman |
 Souto |
>>> Miami-Dade IG critical of new PHT “sharepoint site” not available to public
The Miami-Dade Inspector General is concerned about a new private web portal sharepoint site created by the PHT administration for use by senior executives and the PHT board but is not available to the public. To read Christopher Mazzella two-page Dec. 9 memo to PHT President & CEO Eneida Roldan, M.D. go to
Private Web Portal (Sharepoint Site) For PHT Board Members, Ref. IG10-62, December 9, 2010.
CITY OF MIAMI
>>> Clock ticking, who will Mayor Regalado pick to run commission as chair, expected after Dec. 16 meeting
Mayor Tomas Regalado is keeping mum about his new choice for commission chair and the announcement D-Day will be after the Dec. 16 Commission meeting. Regalado tapped Commissioner Marc Sarnoff last year after the mayor was elected in Nov. 2009 but now can either keep Sarnoff in the leadership role or go with another commissioner such as seasoned Commissioner Willy Gort, who served on the commission with Regalado back in the 1990s and lost his 2001 bid for city mayor.
>>> Police Chief Exposito said he is working with CIP, but no comment on Officer Garcia with 100 complaints and CIP letter
Miami Police Chief Jorge Exposito told the Watchdog Report last Friday that he is working with the Civilian Investigative Panel and is being more cooperative than former Chief John Timoney ever was with the organization created by voters in 2001 by over 75 percent. The chief however, would not comment on Officer Nestor Garcia, a 22-year veteran who was the subject of a Watchdog Report last week since he racked up 100 citizen complaints and the CIP is still waiting for an answer from the organization’s attorney letter about the officer sent back in September to the chief.
>>> Press release: For profit trade school admissions counselor indicted for creating fraudulent high school diplomas
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Yessyka Santana, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, Investigation Services, Southeastern Region, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, announced that Ricardo Pradel, 31, of Miami, was charged in a one count indictment with federal financial aid fraud, in violation of Title 20, United States Code, Section 1097. If convicted of this charge, the defendant faces a maximum statutory term of up to five (5) years’ imprisonment. As alleged in the indictment and other court documents, between September 2007 and April 2010, Ricardo Pradel, worked as an admissions counselor for the American Institute, a for-profit trade school in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida. During this time, Pradel is alleged to have created false high school diplomas that were placed into prospective student files. These files were used to gain admission and to support false applications for federal financial aid. As a direct result of these fraudulent documents, ineligible students at the American Institute received approximately $156,000 in federal financial aid to which they were not entitled.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General and the FBI for their work on this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Anton. An indictment is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 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 http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
>>> The following e-mail was sent to (now former) Mayor Manny Diaz using his e-mail address on his extensive city web-page on Sept. 13, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. and to date there has been no answer from the mayor. It currently goes to his new e-mail address.>>> “Mayor Diaz (Net worth $1.8 million), I wanted to ask you in the chamber today but not in front of Chair Joe Sanchez. My question is where did the extra $400,000 in the 2007 disclosure form come from? I will run what ever you respond unedited but I would appreciate closing this issue, as I am sure you do. Sorry but I have to ask. Best to all. Dan” >>>> The Watchdog Report through Dec.7 has yet to get a response or catch-up with Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz on where he got the extra $400,000 in cash listed in his 2007 financial disclosure forms. To see what CBS 4 reporter David Sutta’s take on this issue and the other city leaders financial disclosures go to cbs4.com Blogs .
>>> Readers should stay tuned and catch the meeting on the city’s cable station channel 77. >>> Stream Channel 77, for all City of Miami meetings, (Commission, PAB, Code, etc. hearings) http://videos.miamigov.com/
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
>>> No lobbyists registered at Dec. 8-commission meeting, body reaffirms no public money for Dolphin stadium renovation
The Watchdog Report took a road trip to the Miami Beach commission meeting Dec. 8 and the meeting had zero lobbyist registered for items stated the back-up agenda booklet and that is rare for the colorful city. The Beach has some of the most restrictive lobbying, ethics and conflict of interest ordinances in the nation and when I go over there, I always review who is registered and what their hourly rate is. Since that is a required listing on the city’s forms. There were a number of controversial items on the agenda including reaffirming the Beach’s leaders opposition to any public money being used to refurbish Dolphin Stadium, a commission resolution passed in Jan. 2010, and this second vote was pushed by Commissioner Jonah Wolfson to ensure “the resolution is maintained in full force and affect,” state the items back-up document. The item passed unanimously but Wolfson told www.miamiherald.com that he thinks there may be some wavering on the body and just wanted to set the record straight. www.miamibeachfl.gov
>>> Tuesday Breakfast Club speaker: Carl Fombrun, Haitian radio and TV personality, will be the guest speaker at the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club Tuesday, Dec. 14, 8:30AM – 10:00AM, David’s Cafe II, 1654 Meridian Ave., Miami Beach.
CITY OF CORAL GABLES
>>> Biltmore gets its historic $1.2 million renovation money, but will more be needed in the future for South Florida landmark?
Mayor Donald Slesnick, II speaking in front of the county commission Tuesday asking for $1.2 million in the 2004 county GOB for the historic Biltmore Hotel said $3 million has already been spent on this project” and the facility was a “Landmark” in South Florida and “adds to the luster of the county,” he said. Slesnick said over the last nine years Coral Gables and the county have had a “great relationship” and the multi-use hotel and golf course facility is a national registered landmark and “promotes [all of] Dade and Greater Miami he said. The Watchdog Report contacted Coral Gables Commissioners and the mayor about this new funding and the back rent owed to the city.
Slesnick in an e-mail Sunday wrote, “The two items have nothing to do with another – despite the Herald’s misleading headline. The $1.2 million will come through the City and will be used for the restoration of the City-owned building. The rent issue is entirely separate and distinct. Thank heavens; we can continue the needed restoration of a historic “Landmark” while the discussions continue about the lease arrangements,” wrote Slesnick running for another term as mayor this spring but facing opposition. Commissioner Maria Anderson wrote, “We will know more about how to proceed after meeting with Price Waterhouse in the next few weeks. The Biltmore has been a great corporate citizen for close to twenty years, and I remain hopeful that a resolution can be found,” wrote Anderson first elected in April 2001. Commissioner Wayne “Chip” Withers also was supportive writing “It will be used to improve the historic Landmark I am very pleased,” wrote the long serving city commissioner.
The Biltmore the last few years has been limping along after the economy tanked and the organization’s revenues are down and is behind in its rent to the city by over $3 million partially because of the expensive renovation and maintenance that is required for such a grand hotel that has played host to numerous U.S. presidents and other dignitaries, and President Barack Obama, while a senator used the facility for a number of early fundraisers in Miami-Dade.
>>> Gables residents can get free UM men’s basketball game tickets – December 30, January 15 & January 19 games- Thanks to a recently approved 20-year Development Agreement between the City of Coral Gables and the University of Miami, Coral Gables residents can receive up to four free tickets per household for the upcoming Canes Men’s Basketball games: Game 2: Thursday, December 30 at 6 p.m. University of Miami vs. Pepperdine University. Only 250 tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning Tuesday, December 21 at 8 a.m. >> Game 3: Saturday, January 15 at 6 p.m. University of Miami vs. Boston College. Only 250 tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning Tuesday, January 4 at 8 a.m. >> Wednesday, January 19 at 9 p.m. University of Miami vs. Florida State University. Only 250 tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning Monday, January 10 at 8 a.m. >>> The games will be played at the BankUnited Center on the University of Miami campus. Tickets will be distributed in person at the War Memorial Youth Center, 405 University Drive, no earlier than the designated distribution date. Residents must show proof of residential address. Tickets are limited to four per household. The Development Agreement between UM and the City of Coral Gables will also offer free admission tickets for upcoming women’s basketball and men’s baseball games. More information on upcoming offers will be made available as arrangements are finalized. For additional information, contact the City of Coral Gables Parks and Recreation Department at 305-460-5600
CITY OF OPA-LOCKA
>>> Historic city hall gets $2 million injection for renovation; Mayor Taylor wishes to bring it back to life and use
The historic Opa-Locka city hall, built in 1926 is getting a $2 million injection of funds to renovate the building also on the national registrar of Historic buildings in the United States said newly elected Opa-Locka Mayor Myra Taylor to commissioners last Tuesday in the Miami-Dade County commission chambers. She joked the little city may not “have a football team but we do have city hall” and that is all they want to preserve and make usable since the building has been “not used” because of structural and other issues and “we now want to bring it back” to its original glory. Taylor on Nov. 2 defeated Joseph Kelley garnering 53% of the vote for mayor and she was previously the city’s vice-mayor.
Mayor Taylor
>>> Press release: On December 7, 2010, Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved two resolutions sponsored by Commissioner Jordan allocating funds to two major projects located in her district. The first resolution provides $5 million dollars to assist Florida Memorial University in the construction of a multi-purpose arena. The second resolution makes available $2 million dollars for the renovation of the Historic Opa-Locka City Hall. The funding for both projects will come from the Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond Program. Florida Memorial University, the only Historically Black University in South Florida, has a long history of commitment to the free exchange of ideas, the pursuit of knowledge, and the ongoing transmission of African-American history and culture. “Given there is no multi-purpose event arena in the Northwest area of the County, the cities of Miami Gardens, Opa-Locka, and Miami Lakes will receive the most direct benefit from the construction of the Arena,” said Commissioner Jordan. “I was pleased to sponsor this item which provides an excellent opportunity for a public private partnership with such a prestigious university.” The arena will offer recreational, cultural, and educational activities, as well as serve as a venue for high school and intercollegiate sports competition, and other uses by the public.
The City of Opa-Locka’s Historic City Hall was built in 1926 and because of its Moorish architecture was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 22, 1982, designated a historic site by the Opa-Locka Historic Preservation Board in 1991 and has been the backdrop for numerous movies, commercials and photo shoots. The building, which served as the administrative home for city government for a number of years, has unfortunately fallen into disrepair and is in need of major restoration. The $2 million dollars will be used for structural, roofing, electrical and plumbing repairs. “We have a gem right here in our own community and we need to do everything we can to preserve it. By restoring this historical landmark we will be providing numerous educational benefits to the local community and visitors,” said Commissioner Jordan.
MIAMI SHORES
>>> Press release: Gov. Crist taps Charles K. “Charlie” Johnson of Miami Shores to the Miami-Dade County Court.
“Charlie’s professionalism, work ethic and more than twenty years of experience as an advocate in our criminal justice system will make him an outstanding county judge,” said Governor Crist. “I am confident his commitment to integrity, fairness and thorough preparation will serve the citizens of Miami-Dade well.”
Johnson, 48, has served as an assistant state attorney in Miami since 1989. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from the Florida State University School of Law. >> Johnson will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Bronwyn Miller to the Eleventh Circuit Court.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
>>> Elephant Forum – December l3 – Monday – Rusty Pelican – $25 – Mary Ellen Miller 305-377-9l87 – they are inviting all recently elected Republican Members of the Florida legislature – to be introduced by the chairman of the Delegation Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera.
>>> King Mango Strut information: Wed., Dec. 15, King Mango Strut Raffle Party- The Grove Spot 7pm, 3324 Virginia St., Coconut Grove -Over 90 prizes from Grove merchants. Grand prize 7-day Caribbean Cruise for two from Star Clippers Cruises. – Mango Strut will be held Dec. 26 on Commodore Plaza in Coconut Grove.
EDITORIALS
>>> Sunshine State ambassador, the manatee, dies at record rate of 699 yet herd at 5,076 high, must still be nurtured
The story in www.sunsentinel.com about the record number of manatee deaths this past year is a sad reminder of how fragile these slow moving gentle sea cows are in today’s fast-paced world that passes through their water world on a daily basis. During Jan. 1 through Dec. 5 the paper reports 699 manatees died, and some 271 of them appeared to have died from the cold, including perhaps another 271 of the sea creatures and is why protecting their habitats is so crucial, given their sensitivity to cold, that has herds of manatees migrating to nearby power plants and the warmth of the surrounding water. Further, while this death rate is the highest ever for a year, the actual size of the herd in Florida is reported to be at its largest size with 5,076 counted during the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) most recent one day count, and that is a good thing, but misperceptions still exist and some people still like to take shots at the official Florida Mammal.
Back in 2004, Rodney Barreto the longtime chair of the FFWCC updated Miami-Dade Commissioners on the state herd, and at the time. Commissioner Natacha Seijas questioned the size of the herd, and suggested in Cuban lore that the mammal made for great sushi and questioned Barreto why the herd had to be so big, and I put this story in The Miami Herald in my weekly column back then www.miamiherald.com and Seijas whose phone is listed, but does not use e-mail was hammered with phone calls from outraged environmentalists around the nation and the story got about five letters in the paper with the last one being from the Manatee Foundation. I write about this not to pick on Seijas but the fact the manatee needs to be nurtured and protected that has power boat owners irked because they must slow down in certain Manatee Zones along with developers eyeing the local habitats for development but denied.
But Florida is dependent on tourism and one of our greatest ambassadors is the manatee and the look on adult or child the first time they see the manatee in the wild is unforgettable. Since they are spotted in local canals or even down near the Port of Miami and these mammals make up the fabric of what makes the Sunshine State such a inviting and warm place. And why the manatee needs to be watched over for the sea cows face enough challenges in the wild with cold and hypothermia being only some of the threats they face daily that also include being hit by a large yacht’s propellers. For more information on helping manatees go to http://www.savethemanatee.org/
>>> PAST WDR: JAN. 2010: Local corruption is systemic statewide; voters must engage and watch their public institutions, $14 billion in public institutions locally
The Miami Herald’s front page story today called The Roots of Corruption; How and why Broward County became such a hotbed for scandal www.miamiherald.com done by award winning veteran journalist John Dorschner, is a major contribution to the understanding of how people become corrupt and the damage done to the public institutions they are associated with in leadership positions. When I have traveled to Broward over the past decade. I was always told everything was just fine and the voters loved their elected leaders’ performance in general, but if you scratched deeper. You many times found not all was well in the world of public service in the state’s second largest county. Miami-Dade is politically considered by many in the rest of the state to be an anomaly of nature and only corruption exists there. But with Gov. Charlie Crist removing 33 elected leaders from office since Jan. 2007 statewide. That is not the case.
Throughout Florida, corruption, greed and cash have gone hand in hand for the last century and while examining wayward officials in South Florida is one way to go. The larger lesson is that voters and citizens must be engaged in how their public institutions are governed because the way it is currently working. Elected leaders die, retire or are indicted when they leave the dais throughout most of South Florida’s elected body’s history and why the media and watchdogs are so needed, especially with $14 billion in public institutions in Miami-Dade alone. Further, in that Herald story someone mentioned that elected leaders love that the press is on the ropes and that should scare everyone. For many politicians when they are out of office realize the role of the media and its important ability to do large-scale investigations of how your public tax dollars are being spent.
Broward and Palm Beach leaders and citizens should continue pushing for a local inspector general and ethics commission for these bodies are cheap when it comes to keeping the public trust of residents. A trust that once sullied is difficult to reestablish and that is one of the sad by products of corrupt officials. It casts a shadow on all of them in office and why the profession’s esteem with the public is in the tank. And unfortunately, for us all, that is not a politically healthy state of affairs that continues to drift in the wrong direction where nationally, statewide, and locally, leaders are at each other’s political throats. But the nation’s problems remain at all levels, corruption is just one of them, but its corrosive affect on the Republic is devastating to a free and vibrant society and must be stamped out as much as possible.
LETTERS
>>> You did an excellent job with the county Mayor Carlos Alvarez talk at Downtown Bay Forum.
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The Watchdog Report covers a few of the meetings attended weekly. It remains my belief that an informed public will make better decisions. Therefore, I go to meetings, make the presence of an informed citizen known, and bring the information to you. The Watchdog Report is in the fourth year of publication and it has been an honor to be able to send this information to you. It is sent to readers in Miami-Dade, Florida, the U.S. and the world. The Watchdog Report is sent to thousands free and while readers have been prodded to subscribe the results have been mixed. Over 250 reports and Extra’s have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events. The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain.
LETTER POLICY
I welcome letters via e-mail, fax, or snail mail. Letters may be edited for length or clarity and must refer to material published in the Watchdog Report. Please see address and contact information. Please send any additions and corrections by e-mail, fax or snail mail. All corrections will be published in the next Watchdog Report. If you or your organization would like to publish the contents of this newsletter, please contact me. Please send your request to watchdogreport1@earthlink.net
Daniel A. Ricker
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Watchdog Report
Est. 05.05.00
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The Watchdog Report is no longer exclusively with The Miami Herald, and excluding the one story a week that is printed in the paper on Monday in the Metro & State section by me. The rest of the 20 or so news stories weekly sent out Sunday in the Watchdog Report are now available to television stations web pages, and all the newspapers and other media in South Florida if the publishers have an interest to run part or all of the stories. Further, in 2000, I used to have some paper’s running the report in the Spanish press, that option is available again, and publishers should contact me. The news content will not be free, but you can pick and chose the stories of interest, edit them if necessary but you must still keep the general story intact. If you are a news outlet and would like to learn more about, the Watchdog Report and this offer contact me at watchdogreport1@earthlink.net for further information.
>>> Here is what past newspapers have written about the Watchdog Report publisher including a survey and regional study done by the U. North Carolina at Chapel Hill on the media in the southeast United States.
>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years. >>> Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, The (FL) CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS >>> Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, The (FL) MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED >>> Published on January 20, 2003, Page 1E, Orlando Sentinel, PAPERWORK TIGER, Miami’s citizen watchdog piles up government files in his quest to keep the “little people” informed.
>>>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/issues/2003-05-15/citylife2.html/1/index.html
From the spring of 2003: U. North Carolina, Chapel Hill: Southeast U.S. Media Report lists Watchdog Report publisher as leading Florida commentator >>> Selected excerpts from the report on Florida’s media sources
Those who do read the newspaper in Florida have a bevy of options for state government and political coverage. The dominant newspapers in the state are Knight-Ridder’s The Miami Herald (Acquired by The McClatchy Company in 2006) and the Poynter Institute’s St. Petersburg Times. Both papers endorsed Gore in 2000 but split on the 2002 gubernatorial race, with the Herald endorsing Republican incumbent Jeb Bush and the Times backing Democratic challenger Bill McBride.
Daniel Ricker of The Miami Herald also writes an influential column as well as an email newsletter called the Watchdog Report that goes out to more than 100,000 subscribers. FEBRUARY 2004 – Florida: Columnists in Abundance —ERIC GAUTSCHI, graduate student, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill – D) LEADING COMMENTATORS – Resource Commentator Organization Type Web site –Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/bousquet.shtml -“First Friday” WPBT TV (Miami) TV Show www.channel2.org/firstfriday/issues.html –Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/morgan.shtml –Daniel Ricker Miami Herald/Watchdog Report Newsletter –www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/columnists/dan_ricker/ >>> Readers who would like to read the complete University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Southeast United States Media Report go to view the complete report or download all the data used in this study. >>> Watchdog Report Editor’s note to the NCU/CH study: The subscriber number referenced is incorrect and applies to readership.
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