Watchdog Report Vol.11 No.34 January 9, 2010 Est. 05.05.00 – I go when you cannot
Argus Report: Political and financial turbulence hit U.S. Reps. Rivera & Wilson, just sworn into Congress, but questions remain unanswered
Florida: Gov. Scott inaugurated, state open for business, takes road trip to Miami charter school, arrives early
Miami-Dade County: Mgr. looking at $250 million budget hole in 2011-12, Burgess tells directors cut 3% next year in savings plan
Broward County: Miramar women gets sentenced in murder-for-hire plot
Palm Beach County: Two men sentenced in B of A bank robbery, one gets 76 months, another 108 months
Orange County: Gov. Crist taps Keith F. White of Maitland to the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court, last appointment of governor’s term
Jackson County: Gov. Scott picks off first elected leader; Mayor Wright of Grand Ridge gets final suspension after pleading in grand theft auto charge
Monroe County: Mgr. Gastesi says Keys air traffic up 20%, but officials wondering what consolidation of DCA will have on “Area of Critical State Concern” status
Miami-Dade Public Schools: Board member Bendross-Mindingall, Commissioners Monestime & Dunn looking for budding artists for MLK poster contest
Public Health Trust: UM taps Arriola for PHT board, second round for former Miami manager, but has mercurial personality
City of Miami: Mayor Regalado & police Chief Exposito verbally grapple in media, both on speaking blitz-defending position
City of Miami Beach: New World Symphony president Herring is guest speaker at local Tuesday Breakfast Club
Coral Gables: Commissioner Kerdyk gets challenger in Namon, first elected in 1995 and likely to win again
City of South Miami: Mayor Stoddard gives city update after last week’s WDR, and new manager
Community Events: Baptist Health South Florida & University of Miami are sponsoring a forum on Medicare Fraud in South Florida – You are cordially invited to Health Care Fraud’s Ground Zero — Moving Forward Together — THE MARGULIES COLLECTION AT THE WAREHOUSE — 2011 Beneath the Waves Film Festival: Call For Submissions – Submit your environmental film now! Films must relate to or focus on marine or freshwater systems or subjects – from documentaries to interesting…
Editorials: Assassination attempt of U.S. Rep. Giffords stuns the nation; ballot box must be answer to political differences — WDR Redo: Reflections on the Watchdog Report coming into my twelfth year in May; Many thanks to the people that sent checks last week, most appreciated and your thank you letter is in the mail
Letters: Physician on health insurance companies and rising costs — Readers wishes me happy New Year
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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>> 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 to financially support and maintain my webpage.
>>> 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.
>>> Last week I incorrectly reported what Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado said how police in Miami would react to guns and gunfire. He actually said violence will be met with violence. Further, the Miami Police Chief’s name is Miguel Exposito, not Jorge.
ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street
>>> Political and financial turbulence hit U.S. Reps. Rivera & Wilson, just sworn into Congress, but questions remain unanswered
U.S. Reps David Rivera, R-Miami and Fredericka Wilson, D-Miami were sworn into office last week but the GOB rising star is being pounded in The Miami Herald www.miamiherald.com for his personal finances and his mother and godmother’s role with getting local gaming passed back in 2008. Rivera (net worth $301,000), says he will once again amend his required financial disclosure forms to reflect a sale of a condominium to Millennium Marketing that he says was to repay a ‘$132,000 in undisclosed loans’ owed the company run by the two women state’s the paper, and he has filed a new financial disclosure for the Congress months earlier than required but has not made the documents public, and these forms won’t become public since it is not required for months. His spokeswoman is quoted in the paper saying Rivera filed early ‘in order to dispel any speculation surrounding his personal finances.’
Rivera, the past chair of the Miami-Dade Republican Party all through his congressional campaign was dogged with financial issues and how he made his money and he was only reporting his around $30,000 salary as a legislator as his only income during many years. Further, he has now become an issue with new Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor; from Virginia who is instituting a ‘zero tolerance’ ethics policy when it comes to wayward congressional representatives but when asked last week after the swearing-in ceremony. The paper reports Cantor would not make any comment, but the Miami-Dade state attorney is looking at the matter and the high-ranking federal lawmaker may find this will not go away.
Wilson, as has been reported in past Watchdog Reports www.watchdogreport.net over the past decade had a normal progression of a increasing net worth from 2001 to 2007 but in 2008 and 09 her financial disclosures are almost identical. She lists no rental income despite multiple properties including a duplex sold over the summer, and her listed value for the properties is at the peak of the real estate boom that has many properties in South Florida losing close to 50 percent of their value over the past three years. Next week the Watchdog Report will be contacting her congressional office and ask for an explanation about the lack of rental income, and the property values listed, that if adjusted would likely drastically reduce her listed $405,000 net worth for 2009.
>>> Past Dec. 12 – WDR stories on Wilson >> 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 |
 Rivera |
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.
>>> Dolphins CEO Dee makes pitch for stadium expansion, but not at Beach’s expense
Mike Dee, the president and CEO of the Miami Dolphins was the featured speaker at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon Wednesday at Jungle Island and he laid out his reasons for renovating Sun Life stadium in Miami Gardens, but acknowledged that the roughly 38 percent expansion of the Miami Beach Convention Center had to occur first, and felt the two issues were synergistic when it came to bringing tourists to South Florida. To achieve this stadium expansion, Dee wants a bump in the tourist bed tax by a cent and for it to include Broward County, since he believes that county’s residents will benefit from stadium events like the Super Bowl. But officials in Broward after the story broke in the press were chilly in their comments about giving up any of their tourist tax dollars for such a planned stadium expansion costing about $225 million, and would include another 3,000 seats close to the field.
Who else is coming to a Chamber event?
Gov. Rick Scott and Arnie Duncan will be at an event Tuesday called the 2011 South Florida Economic Summit that begins at 8:00 a.m. with Scott speaking and U.S. Secretary of Education Duncan the featured luncheon speaker. For more information go to www.miamichamber.com
>>> Clock is ticking to enroll your kids in Florida Prepaid College Plan, enrollment ends Jan. 31, education bargain for Florida kids
Now is the time to sign up your new born and young children for the Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program allowing them to lock in their College or University costs in Florida for when the time comes for their advanced education the program is a real education bargain for many families. The program to date has over 1 million children enrolled, has a number of plans to chose from, and it is the largest of its kind in the nation, the open enrollment ends Jan. 31 and for more information go to www.myfloridaprepaid.com or call 877-205-9266.
>>> All photos in the Watchdog Report are taken from public government sites, and the Report goes on line at www.watchdogreport.net on Monday sometime during the day usually.
>>> Press statement: U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the referendum, beginning tomorrow, on independence for South Sudan:
“After more than two decades of war and five and a half years of a troubled transitional period, millions of Southern Sudanese will finally realize their fundamental right to determine their future. This referendum marks a pivotal moment in the history of Sudan, and could be a turning point toward achieving a lasting peace between the North and South. “While we celebrate this opportunity, the administration of this referendum, regardless of its result, will not mark the end of the crisis in Sudan. The hardest work is yet to come.
“Following the referendum, through the remainder of the transition, and in the years to come, responsible nations must remain vigilant and ensure that all parties adhere to the commitments which they have made. “The recent assaults in Darfur and the decision by the Sudanese regime to walk away from peace talks in Doha should serve as stark reminders of the nature of this regime. The regime in Khartoum has proven time and again that it will do anything to maintain its grip on power, even the perpetration of genocide. “The U.S. and other responsible nations must not ease the pressure on the regime in Khartoum, or provide any concessions, until the result of the referendum in South Sudan is assured, peace has been achieved in Darfur and throughout Sudan, and the Sudanese regime poses no threat to its people, the U.S., or our vital security interests.”
>>> Press release: Members Of Congress Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Mario Diaz-Balart, David Rivera, Frederica Wilson, & Senator Marco Rubio Will Participate In Local Swearing-In Ceremony
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Congressmen Mario Diaz-Balart, David Rivera, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson and Senator Marco Rubio will participate in a local swearing-in ceremony in Downtown Miami this upcoming Monday, January 10 at 10:00 AM SHARP. The oath will be administered by The Honorable Federico A. Moreno, United States Chief District Judge, with the same oath that is administered in Washington. A reception will follow, for which a photo I.D. is required for entrance into the federal building. The benediction will be given by Reverend Father Patrick Charles, with Rabbi Jaime Aklepi of the Congregation Bet Breira giving the invocation. There will also be a performance from the Miami Senior High School Million Dollar Band; the Southwest High School Color Guard will also participate. The National Anthem will be sung by the Honorable Rebeca Sosa, Commissioner of Miami-Dade County.
The swearing-in of the South Florida Members of Congress will take place this upcoming Monday, January 10, 2011 at 10:00 AM (SHARP) at the courtyard in front of the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. United States Courthouse, located at 400 North Miami Avenue, Downtown Miami.
The newly re-elected and elected Members of Congress host this traditional local swearing-in ceremony for their families, friends, and individuals in their communities who cannot travel to DC for the official swearing-in ceremony. It is open to all from the community. The official swearing-in ceremony took place today, Wednesday January 5th in Washington, DC. Said Ros-Lehtinen, “Hosting a local swearing-in for our South Florida community has been a long term tradition of the Congressional Delegation. It is great to see family, friends and supporters who couldn’t make it to Washington, DC, but who will share with us this magical moment. All of us need to work together in a bipartisan manner so that South Florida can truly benefit from our efforts.”
>>> 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.
FLORIDA
>>> Gov. Scott inaugurated, state open for business, takes road trip to Miami charter school, arrives early
Richard Lynn Scott, the 45th governor of Florida was sworn in on Tuesday in Tallahassee, his inaugural speech touched on many subjects, but getting rid of cumbersome state regulations, and creating jobs was his mantra for the day. Scott (Net worth $218.5 million) emphasized a new day was coming to the state and anything Texas tried that worked, Florida would do better he told the new state governor recently and while the newly minted governor’s speech’s delivery was not smoothly delivered like a seasoned politician. He rebounded after a heckler was heard, and he occasionally wondered off script, but he made his point. Florida is open for business and creating jobs was job one, that had him later, signing an executive order freezing all state regulations while his team and administration reviews them, and has sent the environmental community in a tizzy wondering if he will take the state’s environment back to the ecological dark ages of decades ago.
Scott
What about his push for education reform?
Scott, still working on his political sea legs, came to Opa-Locka on Thursday to see how a local Charter School, the Florida International Academy could improve its student performance so dramatically and is one of 82 charters in the school district. The Academy went from an F to an AA state rating in three years and he brought along former Washington D.C. public schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee, an advisor to the newly minted governor for education. Scott and Rhee are both champions of parental choice when it comes to where community children might go to school and Rhee, when she asked the assembled children what made the school so great? The response from one child was the “teachers” and the Korean American educator said she heard the same refrain when “ever she asked this question.” Rhee said in South Korea money spent on education per student was about half it was in the United States and she thought we were not getting our monies worth, and students internationally were surpassing our kids performance on a consistent basis and that must be changed if the nation was to remain competitive.
And when Rhee was speaking, Scott had almost angelic look on his face, and later when the couple was walking outdoors to take a tour of the school’s expansion construction after the meeting with students and the principle. She looked surprised when the Watchdog Report noted in Miami-Dade there may be some unique challenges in this endeavor at the nation’s fourth largest public schools district that teaches in 19 languages, including sign, and offers some challenges not found in such a district as in the nation’s capital, or any other of the state’s 66 counties public school districts.
Anything unusual happen?
Scott, who speaks of precision and execution in government, has one thing different from past governors and politicians I have covered. He arrives to events early, from his Tuesday inauguration to the Charter School visit that had him arrive about ten minutes before the 11:00 a.m. start time on his daily agenda.
How is he with the press?
The local press corps and Scott are still feeling each other out and the governor has said he understands reporters have a job to do, and will try to be accommodating but there are question misfires. On Thursday during the press gaggle Scott was speaking but a couple of times got interrupted by a reporter asking a question because they thought Scott was done talking, and this kind of thing rarely occurred with past governors like Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist, who had a much smoother delivery and knew the bulk of the press reporters since they had been in politics for so long. A world Scott is getting a taste of and it will be interesting to see how he evolves over the next four-years when it comes to the media and how he handles the profession’s questions.
>>> Press release: Gov. Scott’s first executive orders: Immediately after being sworn-in as Florida’s 45th governor, Gov. Rick Scott fulfilled campaign promises by signing executive orders to freeze job-killing regulations and require state agencies to verify legal immigration status. He also established a tough new ethics policy and affirmed his commitment to diversity in employment. >>> Executive Order No. 11-01 freezes all new regulations and establishes the Office of Fiscal Accountability and Regulatory Reform, which will review all rules prior to promulgation as well as agency practices and contracts. Immediately suspends rulemaking for all agencies under the direction of the Governor. Establishes the Office of Fiscal Accountability and Regulatory Reform to review all rules (including those suspended by the Order) prior to promulgation and to review agency practices and contracts. Imposes 90-day suspension on execution of any contracts with a value in excess of $1 million, without prior approval from the Office. Prohibits agencies from promulgating rules unless they obtain prior approval from the Office.
>>> Executive Order No. 11-02 – requires state agencies to use the E-Verify system verify employment eligibility of state employees and contractors. All state agencies under the direction of the Governor must use E-Verify system to check employment eligibility of their current and prospective employees. Requires state agencies under the direction of the Governor to include in all state contracts a requirement that contractors utilize the E-Verify system to verify the employment eligibility of: all persons employed during the contract term by the contractor to perform employment duties within Florida; and all persons (including subcontractors) assigned by the contractor to perform work pursuant to the contract with the state agency.
>>> Executive Order No. 11-03 establishes the Governor’s policy on ethics and open government. Orders the adoption and implementation of a revised, stronger, code of ethics in the Governor’s office, and directs agencies under the direction of the Governor to revise their codes of ethics accordingly. Recognizes work of 19th Statewide Grand Jury and directs Governor’s Special Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer to review their Report and recommend a plan for implementation of all or certain, as advisable, of the Grand Jury Recommendations. Reaffirms commitment to Office of Open Government and calls for establishment of new Web site providing access to accountability information. The governor’s Code of Ethics.
>>> Executive Order No. 11-04 reaffirms the Governor’s commitment to diversity in government. Reaffirms prohibition on discrimination in employment based on race, gender, creed, color, or national origin, and affirms commitment to hiring, retaining and promoting the highest quality candidates regardless of the above.
Reaffirms policy of non-discrimination in state contracting without regard for race, gender, creed, color, or national origin.
>>> March 8th: First Day of the 2011 Legislative Session
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>> County looking at $250 million budget hole in 2011-12, Burgess tells directors cut 3% next year in savings plan
County Manager George Burgess (Total comp. $422,118) in a Jan. 7 memo to department directors is telling them a $250 million revenue shortfall for the coming 2011-2012 budget year is predicted and he is instituting a Savings Plan calling for a three percent cut of their departments budgets. The county’s number two under Mayor Carlos Alvarez (Net worth $1.74 million) notes $1 billion has been cut over the past four years, but more is necessary since property tax rolls continue to drop. He also cites the cost for state Senate and House races that are unbudgeted (though these elections cost will be reimbursed by the state, but when is unknown) and the cost for a mayoral recall election and a commission race, depending on if a runoff is necessary could come in at about $20 million the manager estimates.
 Burgess |
 Alvarez |
 Seijas |
 Gimenez |
 Martinez |
Commission Chair Joe Martinez (Net worth $245,000) got the required seven commission signatures to call for a special commission meeting on Jan. 13 to discuss when to set the recall election for Mayor Carlos Alvarez, and Commissioner Carlos Gimenez (Net worth $871,000) is hoping to add a discussion on commissioner term limits, a move that generally has gone nowhere in the past with a majority of his colleagues.
>>> Here is the meeting announcement Pursuant to Section 2-1, Rule 3.02(a), of the Code of Miami-Dade County, a Special Meeting of the BCC has been called for the purpose of considering & taking action on the approval of ordinances, resolutions, motions and other matters relating to the question of whether to recall Mayor Alvarez, County Commissioner Seijas and to fill mayoral vacancy by appointment and/or the continued exercise of some or all of Mayors non-delegable powers & responsibilities during a vacancy in the Office of the Mayor.
January 13, 2011 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. 111 NW 1st Street, Commission Chambers, 2nd Floor Miami, FL 33128 http://www.miamidade.gov/COB/downloadsandlinks.asp
>>> CPHI taps Philadelphia Eagles player Dixon, homeless since nine, as Success Story of the Year!
The Community Partnership For Homeless (CPHI) http://www.cphi.org told the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust members at their Dec. 17 monthly meeting that the organization’s Success Story of the Year was Antonio Dixon. The man became homeless when he was about nine-years old but graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, attended college and is now a professional football player with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Watchdog Report gives a Tip of the Hat to the man who overcame great odds to follow his dream of playing in the pros.
>>> Commissioner Seijas press release: A suit has been filed today challenging the validity of the recall petitions that were certified by Clerk Harvey Ruvin on December 23, 2010. In less than two days, the Clerk’s Office reviewed 4,694 separate petitions and instantly determined that 4,373 were acceptable. At my direction, a more careful and thorough analysis of each and every petition has now been conducted. My legal team has discovered potentially fatal errors committed by the Clerk’s Office. Accuracy should have been paramount during the Clerk’s petition review process. In 2008, a two-thirds supermajority of the voters in commission district 13 elected me to a four-year term. When I was first elected, I solemnly swore to “well and faithfully perform the duties of County Commissioner of Miami-Dade County.” I have kept that promise. In return, the voters who know me to be an honest, fair and strong advocate for their needs have rewarded me with overwhelming support. A 66% margin of victory deserves to be respected. Unfortunately, there are elements in this community who are recklessly making sport of the recall provisions in the Miami-Dade County Charter.
My legal team believes the minions assembled to manage this recall effort have failed to meet the exacting requirements of the law. An attack on a decision of the voters in this democracy certainly merits judicial review. Today, we are respectfully asking the Circuit Court to apply the rule of law to this certification process. For additional information regarding this lawsuit, please contact Kendall Coffey at 305-858-2900, extension 203.
>>> Press release: Ethics Commission concludes internal investigation & elects new chair
The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust today examined and accepted the Ethics Employer Investigative Interview Report conducted by Vice-Chair Dawn Addy. The review, which took place during November and December, was in response to allegations reported to Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez by an anonymous complaint. The report makes several recommendations to improve the structure and function of employee relations among staff members – many of which will be implemented soon or discussed at a staff retreat later this month. Copies of the report will be provided upon request.
Prior to the end of the meeting, Commission members voted Dr. Addy to chair the board for the next two-year term. The Director of the Center for Labor Research and Studies at Florida International University has served on the Ethics Commission since the fall of 2001. >>> The Ethics Commission was created in 1996 as an independent agency with advisory and quasi-judicial powers. It is composed of five members, serving staggered terms of four years each. Through a program of education, outreach and enforcement, the Commission seeks to empower the community and bolster public trust.
BROWARD COUNTY
>>> Miramar women gets sentenced in murder-for-hire plot
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, announced that defendant Mercedes Morales, 58, of Miramar, Florida, was sentenced today in a murder-for-hire plot. United States District Judge William J. Zloch sentenced Morales to 120 months in prison, the statutory maximum sentence, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. According to court documents, Morales contacted an individual to help her plan and execute the murder of her ex-husband. In fact, however, the individual whom the defendant contacted was a cooperating witness working at the direction of the FBI. According to documents filed with the court, during May 2010, in a series of recorded conversations at a Starbucks in Fort Lauderdale, Morales described her ex-husband as a “traitor” for having assisted federal authorities in an earlier investigation that led to the defendant’s 2003 conviction on federal money laundering charges, and specifically directed the cooperating witness to tell her ex-husband, right before his death, that the murder was ordered by “Mecha,” which is Morales’ nickname. To seal the deal, on May 26, 2010, Morales gave the cooperating witness a diamond ring, valued at more than $5,000, as a down payment on the murder. Mr. Ferrer commended the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in this case. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Sherwin. >>>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.
>>> 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
>>> Two men sentenced in B of A bank robbery, one gets 76 months, another gets 108 months
Press release: 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 G. Matthew Immler, Chief, Boynton Beach Police Department, announced that Michael Jeczalik, 23, of Boynton Beach, Florida, and Andrew Wright, 19, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, were sentenced yesterday for their roles in an armed bank robbery of a Bank of America, located at 105 North Congress Avenue, in Boynton Beach, Florida. United States District Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley sentenced Wright to a total of 76 months in prison, a 3 year term of supervised release; Jeczalik was sentenced to 108 months in prison, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Both were ordered to pay restitution to the Bank of America in the amount of $1,431.40. According to court documents, the robbery took place on July 9, 2010. Defendant Andrew Wright walked into the Bank dressed in a black pin- striped suit and a fedora hat, with a gun stuck in his waistband and demanded money from the teller. He brandished the gun while standing at the teller’s window. The robbery was captured on videotape. After the video aired on local television, Wright turned himself into police. Michael Jeczalik was later arrested for his role in the robbery. Jeczalik gave the firearm used to commit the robbery to Wright and also provided the clothes Wright wore for the robbery. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the efforts of the FBI and the Boynton Beach Police Department for their efforts in the investigation and prosecution of this case. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emalyn H. Webber. 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 United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
ORANGE COUNTY
>>> Press release: Gov. Crist taps Keith F. White of Maitland to the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court, last appointment in his term
“Keith’s two decades of legal experience and his tenure as an elected city councilman will help him exercise reasoned judgment with fairness from the bench,” said Governor Crist. “His dedication, enthusiasm and commitment to his community will be a benefit to the Ninth Circuit.” White, 44, has practiced with Broad and Cassel since 1992 and served as a councilman for the City of Maitland from 1996 to 2001. He received his bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Central Florida and his law degree from Florida State University College of Law. White will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Cynthia Z. Mackinnon.
JACKSON COUNTY
>>> Gov. Scott picks off first elected leader; Mayor Wright of Grand Ridge gets final suspension after pleading in grand theft auto charge
And he is off, Gov. Rick Scott suspends his first elected leader Wednesday and it is the Mayor of the City of Grand Ridge, Malvin Chris Wright, Jr., after he plead nolo contendere grand theft for stealing an auto and the official was earlier suspended by Gov. Charlie Crist when he was first arrested back in June.
MONROE COUNTY
>>> Mgr. Gastesi says Keys air traffic up 20%, but officials wondering what consolidation of DCA will have on “Area of Critical State Concern” status
With the New Year, the Watchdog Report wanted to catch-up with Monroe County head administrator Roman Gastesi and see how it was going down at the most southern county in the United States. Last week he wrote, “As the new calendar year begins, I have never been more optimistic about the profession of public service. While the recent past has been a challenge, many of us have begun to view this “new normal” (hence, doing more with less) as an opportunity to demonstrate the value of professional local government and the contribution our profession makes to our community…and we are finding good news in many areas, some of our economic indicators are escalating: our sales, bed, and gas taxes are up; advance hotel reservations are up, and the Key West Airport passenger traffic was 20% higher in 2010 than 2009.
As a matter for consideration, we are closely monitoring the transition in Tallahassee, how will the proceedings affect the development & wastewater agreements we’ve forged in the past? For example, will the deadlines & funding for wastewater system upgrades be impacted? We certainly don’t want all the work we’ve performed for years to be negated, things like upgrading wastewater systems, protecting natural habitats, reducing hurricane evacuation times and building more affordable housing.
Since 1974, Monroe County had been under a special state designation “Area of Critical State Concern”. Pursuant to that, the state’s Dept of Community Affairs (DCA) shall approve any land development, pertinent regulations, and any local comprehensive plan activities. So what does it mean for us if DCA is eliminated and/or folded into another entity? We’ve asked Tallahassee for clarification, and I’m going there tomorrow, stay tuned & thanks for asking,” wrote Gastesi, the Florida Keys Chief Administrator.
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
>>> Board member Bendross-Mindingall, Commissioners Monestime and Dunn looking for budding artists for MLK poster contest
Do you think you can draw and paint? Do you want to get rewarded for your artistic creativity? School Board Member Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall has joined with Commissioners Richard P. Dunn II and Jean Monestime to sponsor Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Poster Contest. It is open to students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, School Board District 2. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place. Winning posters will be displayed at the School Board Administration Building. Deadline for submissions is January 11, 2011. Contact the art instructor at your District 2 school for more information.
>>> Press release: HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS TRANSFORM MIAMI NORTHWESTERN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ON MLK DAY 2011 – WHAT: Hands On Miami’s ninth annual MLK Day of Service will bring together hundreds of local volunteers to continue transforming Miami Northwestern Senior High School. Miami Northwestern Senior High School, located in Liberty City, was originally founded in 1955 to serve as the second all-Black high school in Miami-Dade County during the era of segregation. This school is undergoing an educational transformation. With the help of our volunteers the school will become less institutional and more inspirational. Presenting sponsors: Baptist Health of South Florida, The Batchelor Foundation and UBS -Lunch: sponsored by Publix Super Markets, Inc. and Chef Manny of Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Drinks: sponsored by Title Sports Drink, Security: provided by 50 State Security. This upcoming Martin Luther King, Jr. Day will mark the 25th anniversary of the federal holiday. This milestone is a perfect opportunity for Americans to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service. MLK Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community.
>>> WHO: Over 400 Hands On Miami volunteers, WHEN: Saturday, January 15th 2011. Projects from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM, WHERE: Miami Northwestern Senior High School: 1100 NW 71st ST, Miami, FL 33150 >>>DETAILS: Stefanie Cole, Acting CEO of Hands On Miami, is available to discuss how Hands On Miami volunteers are transforming Miami. Office: 305- 646-7217, Cell: 305-764-5002 >> About Hands On Miami -This past year HOM has gone through several transformations which have included a change in location (our new office is located in Wynwood, 425 NW 26 Street, Miami, FL 33131), a new logo and a new mission, Transforming Communities by Engaging Volunteers and Strengthening Nonprofits. HOM’s goal is to create a culture of service, mobilize volunteers, and forge relationships that will empower individuals to serve Miami’s greatest needs through community revitalization, high impact direct-service projects and assistance of nonprofits throughout Miami Dade County. To achieve this goal, HOM has recently established strategic partnerships in the communities of Liberty City, Little Havana and Overtown, otherwise known as HOM’s “Transformation Zones.” These partnerships provide volunteers the opportunity to engage in long term neighborhood revitalization and promote community renovation. For more information, please visit www.handsonmiami.org.
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST
>>> UM taps Arriola for PHT board, second round for former Miami manager but has mercurial personality
Joe Arriola told the Watchdog Report on Friday that he is the University of Miami’s appointee to the 17-member PHT board. Arriola, a former PHT trustee for a few turbulent years during the retiring of hospital CEO Ira Clark, that caused controversy in the community, left the health trust board to become the Miami manager in early 2003. After working with then Mayor Manny Diaz (Net worth $1.8 million) looking at municipal government and ways to stream line operations and reduce union workers cost. He stayed in that administrative capacity until June 2006, earning only a one dollar a year when he retired, and reapplied to be a PHT trustee but did not make the cut this second time. Arriola, a millionaire who sold his printing company in the late 1990s for around $40 million has also been a co-chair of United Way of Miami-Dade’s fundraising for a year along with now UM Chief Financial Officer Joe Natolie, and he is involved in a wide array of civic activities. Further, his son Ricky, an attorney was the second chair of the Arsht Performing Arts Center board and he did a great job in that volunteer post that he vacated only a few months ago. The university’s appointee has been missing the past few months on the PHT board and when the county commission voted on the recommended new trustees in October, there was no one from the university on the slate, though the vote is perfunctory for this appointee by the body. Arriola, a Regular UM trustee, state’s the university’s trustee web page said he will be fingerprinted on Monday and will fill out the required paperwork but he has gotten the nod from the university and its Miller Medical school affiliated for well over 50-years with the health trust.
However, Arriola brings some baggage when it comes to public service and it is hoped his temperament is more controlled and civil, after more than a few public outbursts, from past PHT board meetings to Miami Heat games where he has been ejected in the past from his courtside seats. Arriola had a sharp exchange once with now deceased Miami Commissioner Arthur Teele, Jr., during a Sports and Exhibition Commission meeting held in the now demolished Miami Arena, and during the Ira Clark controversy changed his stance on Clark’s removal, no longer backed Chair Michael Kosnitzky, and the whole affair not only split the community on racial lines, but probable was not necessary for a variety of reasons, not related exclusively to Arriola or Kosnitzky.
What about the county commission board appointments?
The Watchdog Report contacted County Commission Chair Joe Martinez last week asking who was going to be the second voting commissioner on the 17-member PHT board, since he selected himself as one of the appointments. He wrote back that he did not know yet, and “I’m waiting to see who expresses an interest and I will take it from there,” wrote Martinez on the subject.
>>> Press release edited: Baptist Health South Florida – Some Things You Should Know – Charity Care as a % of Total Patient Revenue
Baptist Health provides more charity care as a percentage of patient revenue (4.24% of total patient revenue) than any other hospital or hospital group in Miami-Dade County, except for Jackson Memorial. Jackson is the county’s safety net hospital, which is funded in part by revenue from property taxes and a one-half cent sales tax. Baptist Health spends $222 million for charity care and other community benefit. This is almost twice the value of our tax exemption. Baptist Health’s faith-based mission of caring extends to thousands of the less fortunate members of our community. Some examples from 2010: More than 16,000 people received charity care, About 52,000 Medicaid recipients received care that cost Baptist Health significantly more than we were reimbursed. More than 145,000 residents received free or low cost health screenings and educational services and we contributed $2.3 million to community clinics that provided over 63,000 primary care patient visits. This data is based on the state’s definition of charity. Baptist Health actually provides more charity than the state’s definition. Editor’s note: I was unable to copy the graphs that compared around two dozen hospitals charity care in Miami-Dade, and its percentage. For more information about Baptists go to www.baptisthealth.net
>>> Press release: New leadership selected for Miami Children’s Hospital
Miami Children’s Hospital has named new officers and members of its 18-member Board of Directors. The officers and newly appointed members are as follows: Mr. Gary Gregory, Board Chair, Former Owner and CEO of Lon Worth Crow Insurance Group Serving second year as Board Chair; Mr. Mario Murgado, Vice Chair, President of Brickell Motors, Serving a second 1-year term as Vice Chair; Mr. Keith Ward, Founder and President of Quality Management North America, Inc. Serving a 1-year term as Secretary, Jefrey Biehler MD, MPH, Associate Director of Emergency Department, Miami Children’s Hospital, Chairman, Department of Pediatrics, Assistant Dean for Education, Pediatric Clerkship Director, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University Serving a 4-year term as Board Member >>> ABOUT MIAMI CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Miami Children’s Hospital® is South Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with more than 650 attending physicians and over 130 pediatric sub-specialists. The 289-bed hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with several specialty programs ranked among the best in the nation in 2008, 2009 and 2010 by U.S.News & World Report. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional honor. www.mch.com
CITY OF MIAMI
>>> Mayor Regalado & police Chief Exposito verbally grapple in media, both on speaking blitz-defending position
Like a bad version of a Twilight Zone television show, Miami is in turmoil as Mayor Tomas Regalado and Police Chief Miguel Exposito duke it out in the media that had the police chief holding a press conference Friday afternoon and a press vigil looking for the mayor down at city hall. Exposito Friday afternoon once again said he had proof that Regalado had interfered with a police investigation regarding coin slot video games in small bars and restaurants and has given this information to the local FBI field office. Further, Regalado on Friday and Sunday was on WPBT 2 with Helen Ferre hosting Issues and on the show. He discussed the ongoing struggle with the chief and said he was concerned Miami was becoming a “Banana Republic” again. During the interview Regalado told her this whole controversy “is becoming a runaway train” and is concerned “everyone is distracted” by this “focus on one issue.” He said he was surprised because it was never “brought to my attention” until a few months later that the chief thought he was interfering in an investigation. And he never told the chief or “asked him to stop,” when it came to a planned raid a couple of days on these establishments in the neighborhoods before a municipal election last November. He also noted “next week they talk to the four unions” and he wants to work with them to get a new contract resolution rather than “imposing” changes. He believes the present atmosphere has “everyone distracted” and overall the whole union issue is vital to the city’s survival now and in the future, he suggested.
And when it came to his claims that he is under surveillance, something Commissioner Richard Dunn, II has also asserted. The mayor said, “I am almost certain I was followed or someone was there,” he said. Regalado also said he had been warned by community leaders and ministers that tension in the community could flare up like decades ago, and it was a concern to him, and he was not trying to fan any community flames in this regard. However, Exposito says his department is not following the mayor or commissioners and gave the impression he thought the claim was ridicules. To see the show go to >>> ISSUE ONE: Interview with City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado Tensions have flared this week between the City of Miami mayor and police chief over issues such as aggressive police tactics, legal gaming machines, and now rumored stalking. Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado joins us on the program to share his side of the story. Guest: Mayor Tomas Regalado, City of Miami www.wpbt.org/issues & http://channel2.typepad.com/issues/
>>> Further, Exposito may have seen this media blitz by the mayor coming and in Saturday’s Miami Herald www.miamiherald.com he wrote an editorial on how well the police department was doing and the recent national award to the force, and he notes Coconut Grove was named one of the nation’s safest towns. His web bio paints an interesting man who started as a Public Service Aide with the force in 1974 and a year later became a police officer. The chief commands 1,100 officers and 400 civilians and he has completed course work for a Masters Degree from the University of Virginia. However, the chief still has to deal with the six fatal police shootings since he took over in Late November 2009, that has the African American community on edge. Further, Commissioner Richard Dunn, II who represents District 5 where the shootings occurred has called for the resignation of the chief, that Commissioner Marc Sarnoff (Net worth $2.17 million) disagrees with, since the charter limits the body’s power over the chief and his fate is in the hands of newly minted Manager Tony Crapp, Jr., who is still reviewing the situation states www.miamiherald.com Saturday.
 Regalado |
 Exposito |
 Gort |
 Carollo |
A memo Friday from Mayor Tomas Regalado (Net worth $5,000) to commissioners’ states that Commissioner Wilfredo “Willy” Gort is the new chair of the commission and whom the vice chair will be was not mentioned in the document suggesting it will likely will be current vice Chair Frank Carollo. The commission’s first meeting for the year is Jan. 13 and is expected to be contentious since all the controversy with the mayor and police chief. www.miamigov.com to watch on line.
What about the District 2 Nov. 2011 race?
Commissioner Marc Sarnoff elected in 2006 to commission District 2 that hugs the waterfront of Biscayne Bay of Miami from Coconut Grove to Morningside got a challenger when Kate Callahan, Ph.D., filed her candidate papers with the Miami Clerk’s office Jan. 7. Callahan, a Registered Nurse early in her life and later a Harvard educated healthcare consultant was a member of the Public Health Trust for a number of years and is currently on the Coconut Grove Village Council, where Sarnoff started his own political career. Sarnoff has raised a small fortune, $287,804 as of Sept. 30 for his 2011 Nov. race and he was off to an early start holding a ritzy fundraiser in a downtown Hotel almost a year ago. He recently sent a campaign flyer to his constituents highlighting that the Grove had been ranked as “Miami’s safest neighborhood,” and “My commitment to you and the safety of our entire community is unwavering,” he wrote in the paid campaign piece.
Sarnoff in his first race against incumbent Linda Haskins who had about $750,000 in her campaign war chest against his much smaller amount beat her by two to one with voters, but it was a brutal race and scarred the attorney, though he acted differently that first year. Since he had to run again in Nov. 2007 where he won re-election to a full four-year commission term. That race and subsequent city turmoil in the coming years that had two commissioners leaving the dais under a corruption cloud propelled him to the chair of the commission after now Mayor Tomas Regalado bested Commissioner Joe Sanchez by an overwhelming margin in Nov. 2009. Sarnoff back then supported the mayor but since then tension has developed between the two men, and now with the police chief controversy and accusations against the mayor. The commissioner is close with one of the key players making the case against Regalado; police Commander Al Alvarez who was appointed to head up internal affairs by Exposito after his appointment. Prior to that promotion to major, Alvarez was a Sergeant–of-Arms at city hall protecting the commissioners and Sarnoff used him extensively in his early years. The police commander once told the Watchdog Report that Sarnoff “pound for pound” was the best commissioner on the dais. For more go to www.marcsarnoff.com
 Sarnoff |
 Callahan |
Lobbyist’s registrations are down since the beginning of the year and that is apparent when you only see 41-pages worth of people registered on the clerk’s lobbyist web page versus last year’s that ran to 242 pages and the documents size gives one the scope of these peoples activities, the companies and organizations they represent. Also, the city commission instituted a stricter ethics and lobbying code last year that bumped the yearly registration fee to $525.00 and requires registered lobbyist to attend an ethics class.
>>> Outraged Grovite couple upset because some horse poop on sidewalk
A outraged around 30-year old Grovite couple came to Miami City Hall last week to register a complaint against a mounted patrol police officer in one of the tony communities parks, because he shoveled some horse poop on some landscaping, but a small amount went onto the grove sidewalk, and she thought that was an act of police and possible horse “corruption,” the woman insisted. The couple was directed to Commissioner Marc Sarnoff’s office to make their complaint, but given all that was going on with the city, and the police shooting of six people. Commissioner Richard Dunn said later that he would love to have something like that be his only problem in District 5 that includes Overtown and Liberty City.
>>> 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
>>> Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club — Meeting Date: Tuesday, January 11th, 2011 – Meeting Time: 8:30 AM – Meeting Place: David’s Café, 1654 Meridian Ave., South Beach – The president and CEO of the New World Symphony, Howard Herring, will be the guest speaker at the January 11th, 2011 meeting of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club .
After many years of planning and development the new symphony building, designed by prominent architect Frank Gehry, is about to open. The official grand opening date will be January 25th, 2011 with the inaugural concert scheduled for the following day, January 26th. Mr. Herring has overseen this project for the New World Symphony, America’s Orchestral Academy, since the city first awarded them the two city parking lots north of Lincoln Road in 2003. The lots are now the site of the new 100,000 SF symphony building; a 550-space public parking garage; and a new 2.5-acre city park that fronts the symphony building. Join us as we learn about the many events planned for this new venue. There is no charge and everyone is welcome to attend. David Kelsey, Moderator for the Breakfast Club – For more information contact David Kelsey . To be placed on the Breakfast Club ’s mailing list, contact Harry Cherry. Both can be reached at TuesdayMorningBreakfastClub@Yahoo.com Visit our new web site at: www.MBTMBC.com
CITY OF CORAL GABLES
>>> Commissioner Kerdyk gets challenger in Namon, first elected in 1995 and likely to win again
Long serving Coral Gables Commissioner William H. Kerdyk, Jr., has drawn a challenger for his office now that Richard Namon, Sr. has thrown his hat into the Group (V) race. Kerdyk, a long serving member on the commission is a realtor and the son of a retired city commissioner bearing the same name. Namon has been a perennial candidate and last ran against Mayor Donald Slesnick, II but lost that election. Further, he is a frequent speaker in front of the commission and he has been critical of the administration, mayor and commissioners concerning how the residents’ tax dollars are being spent.
Kerdyk
| April 12, 2011 General Biennial Election |
||
| Group (I) | Group (IV) | Group (V) |
| James Caldwell Cason 1040 Alhambra Circle Coral Gables, FL 33134 (305)409-4061 Tom Korge Don Slesnick |
Richard W. Martin II 1234 South Dixie Highway Suite 156 Coral Gables, FL 33146 Frank C. Quesada Brad Rosenblatt |
William H. Kerdyk, Jr. 2631 Ponce De Leon Blvd. Coral Gables, FL 33134 (305) 446-2586 Richard Namon, Sr. |
CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI
>>> Mayor Stoddard gives city update after last week’s WDR, and new manager
Last week I ran the following past story and headline and the South Miami mayor responded to the PAST WDR: AUG. 2010 headline: From educator and activist to Mayor Stoddard, must slow the turnstile of new managers. The mayor wrote back last week, “Done. We ran a full and open search for a “permanent” City Manager, with 17 publicly noticed meetings, and we got a keeper in Hector Mirabile last October. He hit the ground running, and three months later, I can say he’s doing a fabulous job, which makes my own job considerably easier. Thanks for the reminder,” wrote Mayor Phil Stoddard
COMMUNITY EVENTS
>>> Baptist Health South Florida & University of Miami are sponsoring a forum on Medicare Fraud in South Florida – You are cordially invited to Health Care Fraud’s Ground Zero: South Florida >>> Moderator: Brian E. Keeley President and Chief Executive Officer, Baptist Health South Florida – Panelists include Wifredo Ferrer, U.S. Attorney Southern District of Florida – John V. GIllies, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Miami Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation – – Cecilia Franco, Miami Field Office Director Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Friday, January 14, 2011 – 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., University of Miami School of Business Administration – Alma Jennings Foundation/Carlos and Rosa de la Cruz Study Center >> Please Email RSVP by January 10, 2011 to gbfevents@miami.edu (Complimentary parking is available for the entire Forum at Pavia Garage-5615 Pavia Street, Coral Gables)
>>> Press release: THE MARGULIES COLLECTION AT THE WAREHOUSE AFRICA: Photography and Video – JENE HIGHSTEIN: Large Stone Carvings -MICHELANGELO PISTOLETTO: Broken Mirror Painting … >>> Visitors are welcomed at the door for the price of a donation to the Lotus House Shelter for Homeless Women and Children. Adults $10.00, Miami Dade students are free of charge – For further information please call 305-576-1051 or visit our website at www.margulieswarehouse.com Contact: Curator, Katherine Hinds 591 NW 27th Street, Miami, FL 33127 p: 305.576.1051 / f: 305.576.4963 / mcollection@bellsouth.net
>>> Press release: 2011 Beneath the Waves Film Festival: Call For Submissions
WHAT Submit your environmental film now! Films must relate to or focus on marine or freshwater systems or subjects – from documentaries to interesting stories and research videos. Films with a conservation message are preferred, but not required. All films must be under 20 minutes in length. WHO Any amateur or professional videographer who is interested in preserving our ocean ecosystems for future generations is welcome to submit an entry. >>>
DEADLINE February 15, 2011. There is no cost for submitting an entry to the Film Festival; films will not be returned. WHERE The Beneath the Waves Film Festival this year will take place during the Benthic Ecology Meeting, March 16‐20, 2011 at the Renaissance Riverview Plaza & Battle House Hotel in Mobile, Ala. WHY Founded in 2009 by a group of concerned scientists focused on promoting their research, the Beneath the Waves Film Festival uses moving images to shed light and exact a powerful reactions from audiences. The goal is to motivate and stimulate the general public to protect and preserve our waterways. GUIDELINES Visit http://beneathwavesff.wordpress.com/ MEDIA CONTACT: Austin Gallagher Gallagher.austin@gmail.com Tel. 305‐421‐4536
EDITORIAL
>>> Assassination attempt of U.S. Rep. Giffords stuns the nation; ballot box must be answer to policy differences
The assassination attempt Saturday morning of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Tucson and the killing of a widely respected federal judge, a nine year old girl, leaving six dead and 14 seriously wounded at a congressional outreach function outside a local Safeway supermarket has shocked the nation, and highlights the dark side of America’s extremes on both sides of the political aisle and should be widely condemned, by all who believe in our Republic. People in the United States for centuries have disagreed with each other and their politics and that fact is not going to change, but it cannot be manifested through violence but at the ballot box and this singular act is a step back into the shadows of intimidation and fear for public officials.
We have been tempered in our response when something like this occurs for over the decades it has been a possible narrative every time a politician or public figure ventures into public. A public with the where with all to get a variety of weapons, and ways to take some one out is widespread in the public domain, for all those people who seek to take such a path. In this case, it is a 22-year man, who was rejected by the U.S. Army and asked to leave college and get a mental evaluation and he appears to be a loner, but these people exist in every community and while it is unknown what set the man off. His violent actions have shocked the nation to our core. It further highlights the issue of mental health in a community and in Miami-Dade past reports on its prevalence, about 9.3 percent of the county’s 2.4 million residents have serious mental health issues and a tragedy such as this could happen anywhere in the nation, even in Miami.
Republican Speaker of the U.S. House John Boehner, R-Ohio decried the shootings essentially saying a violent attack on one member is an attack on all of Congress and he is setting the right tone for there are forces within our society that seek to make change not as responsible citizens, but by short circuiting the political process and taking out champions of the people, elected by the people. And in her case, she was a third term Democrat that survived the political winds of the November election that had 63 new Republicans elected to the House, and elections have to be the way to change how we are governed, for it cannot be out of the barrel of a gun.
>>> U.S. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Howard L. Berman (D-CA), the Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement regarding the attack earlier today on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and other individuals Arizona:
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, members of her staff, and constituents in Arizona. We have had the privilege to get to know Congresswoman Giffords as our respected colleague in Congress and on our Committee. She has always demonstrated a strong commitment to serving her constituents, the men and women of our armed forces, and our nation. She has brought grace, class, integrity, and civility to Congress. Our heartfelt prayers are with Congresswoman Giffords, her staff, the other victims of this tragedy, and all of the families and loved ones affected by this heinous event.”
>>> Press release: Today Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) issued the following statement regarding the unfortunate tragedy against Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and members of the public earlier today in Tucson, AZ:
“My thoughts and prayers are with Congresswoman Giffords, members of her staff, and their families. I applaud her service to our Nation and to her constituents and condemn this cowardly and despicable attack. I will continue to pray for her recovery and that she may join us again on Capitol Hill.”
>> Congresista Mario Diaz-Balart condena el ataque a la Congresista Gabrielle Giffords de Arizona. El Congresista Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) hizo la siguiente declaración en referencia al criminal ataque perpetrado contra la Congresista Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) y su equipo de trabajo: “Mis pensamientos y oraciones están con la Honorable Congresista Giffords, con su equipo de trabajo y sus familiares. Reconozco el trabajo realizado por la Congresista y aprecio sus esfuerzos para servir a nuestra Nación y a sus constituyentes. Condeno firmemente este vil ataque y continuare orando para que ella se recupere rápidamente y regrese a sus labores en el Congreso cuanto antes,” concluyó el Congresista Mario Diaz-Balart.
>>>WDR Redo: Reflections on the Watchdog Report coming into my twelfth year in May; Many thanks to the people that sent checks last week, most appreciated and your thank you letter is in the mail
With a new year, it is clear to me that as I enter the 12th year of the Watchdog Report on May 5 that there is a definite time frame to the endeavor, after I faced two major surgeries, am still recovering, and continue to struggle in the financial wilderness. In the mid 1990s when I slowly began to watch what was going on at our public institutions a number of things were clear. These institutions worked in a vacuum of their own interests, and our elected leaders were mere mortals and their flaws were easy to spot. In my case a number of events and people in the late 1990s pushed me into this activity and ultimately the inter-net gave me the mechanism when I started sending the e-mails out on a purple Apple I Mac, after I realized there was a news hole in the media when it came to Sunday night and other weekly publications had picked Wednesday for their publishing day.
However, that required I work almost 24/7 and collect information and watch our leaders through the week and then putting it in the public domain, free, so that all readers have the knowledge, and not a select few in the community. And the ultimate goal was to try to reconnect residents and taxpayers with their public institutions that nationally poll poorly when it comes to competency, that in the last century topped at around 80 percent of us believing government could do something competently but that is now in the 30 percent range.
>>> What about my staff and report name?
Further, since I work alone (except for the help with the webpage from a UM student funded by The Knight Foundation), hitting the twelve year mark has been a weekly news and writing marathon, while also struggling to stay fiscally alive, though I have returned around 40 checks over the years from people or organizations that I did not want to be involved with in South Florida. And someone returning money just never happens down here, and the look on these peoples face is priceless. This is in contrast to Miami-Dade County where a county audit back in 2003 found in the Periodical Program, there were six free newspapers that received around $20,000 for the year but auditors were unable to establish their existence, yet in the Watchdog Report’s case, I actually produce something on a consistent basis.
I also would like people to not refer to the Watchdog Report as the Ricker Report or some variation, because I am not that full of myself, and originally it was not to be about me. But rather making the community more informed, and periodically killing some spending or getting a better deal on a contract and over the past decade. I have easily affected some hundreds of millions of dollars of public money given the collective size of public institutions (around $13 billion yearly in Miami-Dade alone) and that has been one of the driving forces for me behind the scenes at public meetings. So, as I continue this strange odyssey, I ask my readers for a little help if you want to see your government up-close and personal. For there is no weekly paycheck and living off the community is no easy task, but I hope I have proven that the report is of community benefit. And I hope I will be here in 2012 to write further, but that is in others hands and will you be one of them, that helps keep me in the field for another year, that hopefully is better than this past year, and may you and your family have a Happy New Year.
LETTERS
>>> A recent AMA News article http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/12/20/gvbf1220.htm highlights the increase of employer based health insurance premiums even BEFORE the so called “ObamaCare” was enacted by Congress and signed into law. One of California’s largest health insurers – Blue Shield – announced plans to hike its premiums by as much as 59%. The jacked up premium rates are set to take effect on March 1, pending review from state insurance regulators. The move impacts 193,000 individual Blue Shield policy holders. The company, a member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association with 3.3 million members, which announced the move late Thursday, stressed that its decision has “almost nothing to do with the federal health reform law” and that ultimately the law will help slow down health care costs. But responding to this most recent increase the company said, “our individual market medical costs are rising rapidly due to higher provider prices, increased utilization, and the fact that healthier people are dropping coverage during a bad economy,” the company said. These are FACTS but, unfortunately, many are using FICTION to twist the reality claiming that the new health care law triggers a premium increase even BEFORE most of its components will be in effect in 2014.
Bernd Wollschlaeger M.D.
>>> Happy New Year my friend.
Lyn & Bob
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CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov
GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com
THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschoolsnews.net
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST & JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM www.jhsmiami.org
THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com
THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA http://www.firstgov.gov/
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu
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
Publisher & Editor
Watchdog Report
Est. 05.05.00
Copyright © of original material, 2011, Daniel A. Ricker
>>> Watchdog Report is expanding as a new service and this content is now available to other news media, no longer exclusive to The Miami Herald
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.
Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form
NOTE: Invoice is for Yearly supporter/sponsorship Rates: Thank you.
Large Business Supporters $500
Small Business Supporters $250
Please make checks payable to: Daniel A. Ricker
Fax 305-668-4784 -To contact the Publisher please e-mail watchdogreport1@earthlink.net
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