Watchdog Report Vol.11 No.35 January 16, 2011 Est. 05.05.00 – I go when you cannot
CONTENTS
Argus Report: U.S. Rep. Diaz-Balart will not “hunker down” in public after tragedy in Tucson & and believes House must make cuts, but not in “defense that makes everything else possible”
Florida: State Sen. Montford & state Reps. Porter and Nehr in the spotlight, yearly net worth’s are $1.75 million $23,000 and $2,517
Miami-Dade County: D-Day for recall vote set for Mar. 15, but will new legal challenges throw a monkey wrench in the process? & three hot items on BCC agenda for Thursday
Broward County: New homeless outreach center opens, Jan 21 kick-off date, provides health, dental and vision care
Palm Beach County: Long-term FBI undercover operation nabs 24 defendants – Charges include Conspiracy, Bank Fraud, Money Laundering and Identity Theft
St. Lucie County: Miami –Dade mortgage broker pleads guilty of fraudulent mortgages for homes in Palm Beach & ST. Lucie counties
Monroe County: County looking for sustainability initiative project coordinator & grants analyst
Miami-Dade Public Schools: “We must speak with one voice” if Tallahassee is not to “deny” our efforts for more public schools funding in tough budget year, says Supt. Carvalho
Public Health Trust: At least three county commissioners want PHT voting trustee slot; will trust independence be impacted?
City of Miami: Mayor Regalado & Chief Exposito in firing holding pattern waiting for new Mgr. Crapp review, situation tense to say the least
City of Hialeah: FL Seafood Company pleads guilty of conspiracy for mislabeling shrimp and salmon
City of Miami Beach: State Rep. Steinberg hosts second annual “Ought to be a law” student legislation competition
Coral Gables: Mayor Slesnick faces challengers Cason and Korge at upcoming forum for mayoral candidates, election Apr. 12
City of Doral: Planning and Zoning Director, Nathan Kogon, is elected Chair of the Miami-Dade Planners Technical Committee
Obituary: Dolores Ziff, 85, passes; she and husband Stanford have left a big cultural footprint in Miami-Dade and she will be missed
Community Events: 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: Fraud in South Florida a malignant cancer that must be fought, contaminates guilty & innocent alike — Miami-Dade is at a crossroads, public institutions must learn to work together better, with civility a key ingredient, for we are in for a rough ride in the months ahead
Letters: Physician on stopping doctors asking about patients guns
Sponsors – Publisher’s mission statement & Subscription information is at the bottom of this issue
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>>> Correction: The spelling of UM CFO’s name is Joe Natoli.
ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street
>>> U.S. Rep. Diaz-Balart will not “hunker down” after tragedy in Tucson & believes House must make cuts, but not in “defense that makes everything else possible”
U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz Balart, R-Miami in an exclusive interview with the Watchdog Report Monday said that when it came to the mass shooting of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Tuscan, now in an intensive care unit, but left a senior federal judge, a nine-year-old girl killed along with four others with over a dozen other people injured. It “was a horrible tragedy for those of us that serve with her,” he said. She had “great passion, love and great integrity,” even though they come from different political parties but he said the tragedy was not going to change his own routine saying. “I will not subject myself to a bubble of security” and suddenly “hunker down” and I continue to believe in “open government,” where voters have access to their congressional leaders, said the congressman.
What about the 112th Congress?
With a new Congress in session after the November drubbing of Democrats leading to Republicans getting 63 new members in the House. Diaz-Balart, first sworn into the body in 2003 said that past general election was “not an election that people love Republicans” but rather voters around the nation are fed up with the way things were going and “we can’t spend and borrow are way to prosperity.” He noted Congress already cut five percent of its own budget and on the appropriations committee, where he is a member, they cut their internal budget by ten percent, he said.
However, when it comes to cutting defense programs, Diaz-Balart said given the nation’s many “enemies overseas.” He is concerned with any cuts given that many countries seem to be “emboldened” like China, he said. The former state legislator before coming to congress said the recent news in the press that China is building “five new aircraft carriers,” a significant new ballistic missile system and a new tactical jet with stealth technology should give people pause, and any cutting of our defense funding would be a “grave mistake,” he intoned. He further said while “everything is on the table” when it came to the nation’s budget and reductions, “it [defense] is the one area that makes all the other things possible.” He is also concerned with the spiraling federal debt that two-years ago was significantly less than the over $13 trillion owed now, and a approaching $14.3 trillion debt limit vote looming. He said he never thought that number would get so high saying in “two-years they [the Obama administration] have brought the United States to the brink of insolvency” and any reductions in current and future spending will be necessary “to save the country,” he concluded. Editor’s note: Republicans in the eight prior years also ran up the national debt to a considerable level of around $8 to $9 trillion that has the nation engaged in two wars overseas, with Afghanistan in its tenth year of conflict.
>>> The world had a moment of silence for Haiti; more progress must be made after dismal year of improvement
Haiti had its grim one-year anniversary of the devastating late afternoon earthquake Jan. 12, 2010 that killed over 300,000 men, women and children, and moments of silence were the order of the day throughout South Florida. We have the highest concentration of Haitians in the nation here, the quake rocked the local Haitians to their core, but last week during these moments of reflection, and vigil also came a spirit to rebuild a future for the fragile country struggling to recover and also govern itself.
>>> Medicare fraud in U.S. hits $60 billion, South Florida “graduate school” in fraud & scams that are exported, and a malignant cancer in the community
A Global Business Conference at the University of Miami was a great success and on Friday, the Watchdog Report sat in on two of the panel discussions including the panel discussing the massive healthcare fraud found in South Florida, considered “Ground Zero” and the “Graduate School for Fraud,” said the current and past U.S. Attorneys for the Southern Region of Florida. The panel discussing Medicare fraud that involves a variety of medical areas such as medical durables, infusion drugs, and more recently using mentally ill patients to bilk the federal healthcare program for their care where about $60 billion is lost to this activity every year nationally. The panel, made-up of U.S. Attorney Wilfredo “Willy” Ferrer, Cecilia Franco, the Miami Field Office Director at Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Miami Division FBI, and Brian Keeley, the CEO of Baptist Health South Florida was the moderator in the packed, standing room only event sponsored, by the hospital system and UM.
Here in Miami-Dade, this fraud costs the government around $1 to $2 billion a year and since a dedicated federal task force was created in 2005 by the FBI and HHS there have been over 1,000 people arrested and involved $3 billion in Medicare and Medicaid fraud. Gillies noted that “71 percent” of these arrests have led to convictions, the others are federal fugitives, he urged Congress to stiffen up the regulations, and penalties making the system less prone to abuse, he suggested. And at a minimum a “moratorium” on new providers being approved by HHS would go a long way to slow the growth of these scams that have multiple corporations being created at one time for this fraud activity by the same people all the panelists thought. Further, Franco said when it comes to home healthcare costs for patients unable to get up and move around the house or give themselves insulin shots. Miami-Dade leads the nation for the cost of home healthcare that is “700 percent higher” than the rest of the nation, and is one of the major areas of abuse of the system as she showed a slide of these patients getting into a van to be taken somewhere, clearly showing they were mobile and not requiring specialized home healthcare.
Why is South Florida such a hot bed for this activity?
South Florida got its first taste of massive fraud after Hurricane Andrew (or Saint Andrew as some called it later) hit in Aug. 1992 and the region got around $18 billion in federal FEMA funds over the years rebuilding the devastated area. But the average person might have gotten more money than necessary for a new roof, or inflated damage, or hired an attorney really working the system going for the payout gold. FEMA would later write off well over $6 billion that could not be accounted for and people back then realized this was a victimless crime, rarely prosecuted, and the system could easily be gamed. Since then Miami-Dade and Broward has exponentially exploded in this activity, become a Beta Site for new scams and since Medicare has to pay claims in 15 to 30 days. These fraud entrepreneurs are able to get the money, yet close the operation down in about three to six months making detection and prosecution especially tough.
People actually discuss Medicare fraud in public
About six months ago, I was at a restaurant where two men were talking about a friend of theirs that was scamming Medicare, and one said. “It was like the days of the cocaine cowboys” and the biggest problem he had “was what to do with all the cash.” However, federal officials began beefing up their efforts here back in 2003, when the first FBI detail focusing on healthcare fraud was formed (that has 100 special agents now working on the problem). And back then, the Watchdog Report interviewed the special agent handling the unit. He said at the time the concept of pay then chase, which is what the program does, makes it hard to catch these people, and they were constantly changing their tactics. One change back then was the local federal prosecutors office started to also charge lower people in the fraud food chain, like people who supplied their Medicare numbers, or just sat in a wheelchair where a photo was taken, and then getting their kickback payment. Since that time, these fraud enterprises grew in number along with those people who were willing to participate and there is a real disconnect in South Florida that this is actually stolen money, and in fact their own, if they are paying taxes. >>> To report Medicare or Medicaid fraud call 1.800.HHSTIPS >>> Further I will do a Part II of this story in the weeks ahead.
>>> Miami River marine advocate Bohnsack heads into the sunset to federal DOT, promotion well deserved
Frances M. Bohnsack, Ph.D. after over a decade doing a yeoman’s job pushing for the dredging and clean-up of the Miami River while also keeping a working river component is leaving the Miami River Marine Group. Bohnsack is highly respected, worked well with people over the years and she will be missed. She is going to the federal Department of Transportation and the Watchdog Report gives her a Tip of the Hat for a job well done, that included a citation from U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami (at a Miami Commission meeting last week) who shepherded the funding component of the river clean-up through the U.S. House over the years since the first around $5.4 million in federal funding in the late 1990s was secured.
>>> PAST WDR: 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.
>>> Rivera & Wilson update
At a second swearing in on Monday with the rest of the South Florida Congressional delegation, the Watchdog Report approached Wilson after the event while she was getting photos taken with supporters and friends. However, I did not want to rain on her parade so I gave her a miss, but she has a simple solution, with little downside. If she just updates her financial disclosure forms to reflect the past two years economic downturn in her assets and amends these required financial disclosure reports on file with the state Ethics Commission, for I will continue to dog this issue until there is a resolution to this financial discrepancy.
 Wilson |
 Rivera |
>>> 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.
>>> Press release: FORMER CUBAN LIEUTENANT COLONEL SENTENCED TO 37 MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR CONSPIRING TO COMMIT PART D HEALTH CARE FRAUD
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Christopher B. Dennis, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Office of Investigation, announce today’s sentencing of defendant Renier Vicente Rodriguez Fleitas, 60, of Miami-Dade County. U.S. District Court Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga sentenced Rodriguez to 37 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. In addition, the Court ordered the defendant to pay $135,930 in restitution for Rodriguez’ role in a health care fraud conspiracy. On October 28, 2010, Rodriguez pled guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349. According to the plea agreement executed by the parties, the defendant agreed that in November 2009, he purchased Pirifer Medical Supplies, Inc., d/b/a/ Pirifer Pharmacy and Discount, located in Hialeah, Florida. Rodriguez admitted that he opened three bank accounts and completed numerous Part D Medicare applications with plan administrators on behalf of the company. Finally, he admitted that, between December 2009 and March 2010, Pirifer submitted approximately $1.8 million in fraudulent claims to various Part D plan administrators, and received approximately $135,930 from Medicare. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney H. Ron Davidson. 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 http://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: Zogby Interactive: Less Than 40% Believe Shootings Will Change Political Tone; Majorities Say Politics Did Not Motivate Shooter
Majorities Both Oppose & Don’t Expect More Gun Control Laws
A new Zogby International interactive poll of likely voters about the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 19 others in Tucson, AZ found most do not expect it will change political rhetoric and that the shooter was not politically motivated.
Also, 60% say the shootings should not lead to stronger gun control laws, and 71% doubt stricter laws will be enacted. Here are results of the survey for all voters, as well as for Democrats, Republicans and independents. Totals in tables may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Do you believe that politicians bear some responsibility for the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the other people in Tucson, AZ due to the language and images they use against other politicians? — Response
| All Voters | Democrats | Republicans | Independents | |
| Yes | 38% | 71% | 8% | 34% |
| No | 56% | 19% | 89% | 59% |
| Not sure | 7% | 10% | 3% | 7% |
Please click the link below to view the full news release on our website:
http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.cfm?ID=1939
>>> 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. >>> 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 numerous times over the past decade.
FLORIDA
>>> State Sen. Montford & Reps. Porter and Nehr in the spotlight, yearly net worth’s are $1.75 million $23,000 and $2,517
 Montford |
 Porter |
 Nehr |
What do we know about their finances?
>> The Watchdog Report reviewed the three leader’s financial disclosure forms on file with the state. Porter through Dec. 2008 had a $23,000 net worth, and she lists $7,000 in household goods. Her house is valued at $170,000, she owes Countywide Mortgage $154,000 and her only income for the year was $16,200 as a Columbia County commissioner.
>> Nehr through May 2010 had a net worth of $2,517, he lists $2,500 in household goods, and a Chrysler 300 is valued at $14,000. His only liability is a car loan owed $16,383 and $30,500 in income came in as a state legislator and another $6,464 was from American Spirit Inc.
>> Montford through June 14, 2010 had a net worth of $1.75 million and he lists $125,000 in household goods. His liabilities are $35,145 with Wells Fargo, Chase mortgage is owed $368,000 and a credit union wants $15,280. His listed income as a now retired superintendent of schools is $161,983, the Florida Retirement fund kicked in $92,086 and a couple of grand came in from a credit union and bank account. Of his $2.05 million in assets stated, there are three homes listed, 36 acres of land and two lots, there is $347,000 in a Vanguard IRA and $122,000 in a 401 (K) states his yearly financial disclosure form.
>>> Press release: Governor Rick Scott today announced further staff appointments in the Executive Office of the Governor. Scott announced the appointments of Doug Darling as Deputy Chief of Staff/Director of Cabinet Affairs, Jesse Panuccio and C.B. Upton as Deputy General Counsels, Melinda Miguel as Chief Inspector General, and Brian Hughes as Deputy Communications Director. “I am grateful that this team is joining my administration to help me change the way Florida does business,” Governor Scott said. “We will work every day to create jobs for hard-working Floridians and these five experienced individuals will be an integral part of my office.”
>> Doug Darling brings to the Scott Administration more than thirty years of leadership experience and fiscal accountability in the U.S. Department of Defense and State of Florida. As Deputy Chief of Staff/Director of Cabinet Affairs, he will serve an integral role in overseeing the implementation of Governor Scott’s goals throughout several agencies. He is the current Inspector General to the Department of Environmental Protection and previously served as that agency’s Chief of Staff. He has served as a congressional liaison in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy and as a comptroller in the Marine Air Wing. He served honorably as a Lt. Colonel in the United States Marine Corps and is a graduate of Ball State University.
>> Jesse Panuccio and C.B. Upton bring distinguished legal resumes to their roles as Deputy General Counsels to the Governor. Jesse was most recently an associate at Cooper & Kirk, where he has represented a wide range of clients in constitutional and complex commercial matters. He has played a significant role in cases involving First and Second Amendment cases. He served as a law clerk to Judge Michael McConnell of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He received his J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he served as Supreme Court Chair of the Harvard Law Review. He is a graduate of Duke University and is a member of the Florida and Washington D.C bars. C.B. is the general counsel of the Florida Department of State, where he served as chief legal officer to the agency’s 500 employees and managed all legal issues related to the 2010 primary and general elections. He previously served as Florida’s Deputy Solicitor General and Assistant Attorney General. He has served in private practice with Arnstein & Lehr and as a law clerk to Judge Eugene Siler of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He received his J.D. from Stetson University College of Law, where he was Notes & Comments Editor of the Law Review, and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee.
>> As Chief Inspector General to the Governor, Melinda brings a record of experience and financial accountability to the Scott administration. She will monitor and coordinate the audit and investigative activities of the Inspectors General in the eighteen agencies under the Governor. She previously served as Chief Inspector General from 2007 to 2010. Her past experience includes service as Inspector General to the Florida Attorney General’s office, the Florida Department of Education, and the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. A graduate of Florida State University, she is the current president of the National Association of Inspectors General.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>> D-Day for recall vote set for Mar. 15, but will new legal challenges throw a monkey wrench in the process & three hot items on BCC agenda for Thursday
It is done, the Miami-Dade Commission has set the date for a recall election March 15 (Not such an auspices date if you are a Caesar or strong mayor) to see if Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Commissioner Natacha Seijas should be recalled from office, and a new activity of legal challenges is expected now that the date has been set. Seijas tried to get off the ballot with Alvarez but commissioners voting 10-3 said the election should be sooner rather than later and had Seijas sternly warning after the vote. “It’s going to comeback and haunt you one day,” she predicted. The inclusion of Seijas on the ballot was considered political suicide that had Commissioner Barbara Jordan saying, “even if Mother Teresa was on the ballot” along with the mayor “she would be recalled” too given voter sentiment she thought. Other commissioners voiced their concern that voters have “access” during early voting after possible only four sites would be used. But Commissioners Rebeca Sosa and Javier Souto among others voiced opposition to any reduction of sites from the usual 20 found in past countywide elections, except with the election of the county property appraiser in December a few years ago where only four early voting sites were set up.
 Alvarez |
 Seijas |
 Gimenez |
 Martinez |
>>> Mayor Alvarez press release: – “The setting of an election date is a great opportunity for voters to cut through the noise and get the facts about Miami-Dade County’s budget. It’s my hope that reality trumps rhetoric and substance beats out style. I want to thank the many supporters who understand what’s at stake and have reached out to me and spoken out on my behalf. I appreciate your courage and ask for your continued support. I was elected to serve and will continue working for the people of Miami-Dade County to the best of my ability until my term ends.”
Spanish >> “El acuerdo de fijar una fecha para la elección constituye una magnífica oportunidad para que los electores puedan ver más allá del ruido y puedan conocer los hechos verdaderos sobre el presupuesto del Condado Miami-Dade. Es mi mayor deseo que la realidad se imponga a la retórica y que los fundamentos derroten al estilo de expresión personal. Deseo dar las gracias a los numerosos partidarios que entienden lo que está en juego y que se han comunicado conmigo y han hablado en mi defensa. Aprecio su coraje y solicito su apoyo constante. Fui elegido para prestar servicios y continuaré trabajando lo mejor posible en beneficio de las personas del Condado Miami-Dade hasta que termine mi plazo en el cargo”.
Creole >> “Nan etabli yon dat pou eleksyon, sa bay yon ekselan okazyon pou elektè yo tranche sijè yo pou konnen tout fè yo sou koze bidjè Konte Miami-Dade la. Mwen gen espwa ke reyalite a va anpòte sou pawòl anpil ki pa chita sou anyen yo. Mwen vle remèsye tout sipòtè yo ki konprann kisa ki anje, epi ki te lonje’m lamen ak eksprime yo an favè mwen. Mwen apresye kouraj w epi map mande w kontinye bay sipò w. Mwen te eli pou mwen sèvi epi map kontinye travay pou pèp Konte Miami-Dade la nan miyò kapasite mwen jiskaske manda mwen yo fini”.
>>> State Atty. Fernandez Rundle says thanks but no thanks regarding running for county mayor in 2012
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle on Saturday told the Watchdog Report when I asked if should would be running for Miami-Dade Mayor? “Why should I,” given her current position and indicated that was not in her political plans, she said. The state attorney, a Democrat has been in office since replacing Janet Reno in 1993. She has faced challengers over the years but has dispatched them in subsequent elections. She along with county Public Defender Carlos Martinez and County Circuit Clerk Harvey Ruvin are the only countywide offices that are partisan races and won by the same political party.
What about other candidates in the 2012 mayoral race?
The 2012 mayoral candidate field is getting crowded with Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina jumping into the fray filing his candidate papers Monday and he joins former state Rep. Marcelo Llorente, R-Miami (with a $301,000 campaign war chest) Lazaro Gonzalez and Joshua Larose are also active candidates states the county’s election web page. However, other names are also being floated and some of these candidates if Alvarez is recalled may have to make their move earlier. The other expected candidates are Miami-Dade Commission Chair Joe Martinez, Commissioners Carlos Gimenez and Rebeca Sosa (who told the Watchdog Report she was considering running, and if she did, would be fully committed to winning), and a few other people are likely to emerge. That will almost guarantee a general election runoff after the primary election, where voter turnout is expected to be high given President Barack Obama will be running on the ballot again.
>>> Commissioners to review which CRAs should continue, some have concluded there development plans
A commission committee Tuesday afternoon had a significant discussion on the role of the 11 Community Redevelopment Agency’s around Miami-Dade and while some have fulfilled there plans, and are now flush with cash, there are others still needed. Commissioners Joes “Pepe” Diaz and Carlos Gimenez prompted the discussion and review and they want to see which of these entities are still needed, since it is costing the county $50 million in general fund money to have these organizations. The commission will hold a workshop on the subject but with a $250 million in budget cuts this coming budget year. The commission is expected to look very closely to see if these CRAs should continue to function or phased out once the bonds issued and other obligations are concluded. Further, critics question the cost of staff for these organizations and how some of this money is spent has raised questions over the years, since the oversight boards many times are dominated by elected officials, like the Miami commission regarding the city’s CRAs.
>>> Three hot items for Thursday’s BCC meeting
>>> 102888 Mayoral Veto — RESOLUTION REJECTING THE COUNTY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION TO REJECT PROPOSALS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO RFP NO. 726 AND THAT THE FIRM OF SHARPTON, BRUNSON & COMPANY, P.A. BE HELD NOT RESPONSIBLE IN CONNECTION WITH THE AWARD OF CONTRACTS FOR EXTERNAL INDEPENDENT AUDITING SERVICES AND DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE FIRMS RESPONDING TO RFP NO. 726 (SEE ORIGINAL ITEM UNDER FILE NO. 102368) [VETO ITEM]
>>> 102843 Resolution public hearing PDF — RESOLUTION APPROVING SIGNIFICANT MODIFICATION TO BUILDING BETTER COMMUNITIES GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROGRAM PROJECT NUMBERS 297 – ”NEW MIAMI MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & PLANETARIUM FACILITY/ HISTORICAL MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN FLORIDA” AND 268 – ”RENOVATION AND REHABILITATION OF THE MAIN LIBRARY”, BOTH IDENTIFIED IN APPENDIX A TO RESOLUTION R-919-04 AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING(Office of Capital Improvements)
>>> 102805 Ordinance sponsored by Sen. Javier D. Souto, Prime Sponsor
Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor — ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 29-63 OF THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, RELATING TO CONVENTION DEVELOPMENT TAX; AMENDING FISCAL YEAR 2010-11 COUNTY BUDGET TO APPROPRIATE $500,000 FROM CONVENTION DEVELOPMENT TAX SHORTFALL RESERVE FUND TO MIAMI-DADE PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO FUND ZOO MIAMI AND TO ELIMINATE WEEKEND PARKING FEES AT CERTAIN PARKS; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY; INCLUSION IN THE CODE; AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE (SEE ORIGINAL ITEM UNDER FILE NO. 102624)
>>> Press release: On Thursday, January 20, 2011, Commissioners Joe A. Martinez and Audrey M. Edmonson will be sworn in during a brief Installation Ceremony as Chairman and Vice Chairwoman of the Miami-Dade County Commission. The ceremony will be held at the Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW 1st Street, at 10 a.m. Both Chairman Martinez and Vice Chairwoman Edmonson were elected by their peers on November 16, 2010 to serve two-year terms until the end of 2012. After both commissioners take the Oath of Office, the regularly scheduled County Commission meeting will immediately follow. Media are invited to cover the event in Commission Chambers; once the ceremony starts, no movement of videographers and roving cameras will be permitted. >>> For more information, please contact Chairman Martinez’ office at 305-375-5511. WHO: Miami-Dade County Chairman Joe A. Martinez, Miami-Dade County Vice Chairwoman Audrey M. Edmonson – Members of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners – Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Courts Harvey Ruvin —
WHAT: Installation Ceremony of newly-elected Chair and Vice Chair of the County Commission; WHEN: Thursday, January 20, 2011 – 10 a.m. >> Regularly scheduled County Commission meeting to immediately follow — Stephen P. Clark Center, Commission Chambers, 2nd Floor, 111 NW 1st Street, Downtown Miami
>>> Pres release: GMCVB: “THE NEW MIA”– MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ARRIVALS INCREASE IN NOVEMBER 2010
Passenger arrivals at Miami International Airport (MIA) increased for the month of November 2010 with domestic arrivals up by +9.5% when compared to the previous year’s level. International passenger arrivals were up +8.2%. Total arrivals increased in November by +8.9%.
Domestic MIA Passenger Arrivals
| November 2010 | November 2009 | % Change |
| 793,352 | 724,693 | +9.5% |
International MIA Passenger Arrivals
| November 2010 | November 2009 | % Change |
| 691,612 | 639,096 | +8.2% |
Total MIA Passenger Arrivals
| November 2010 | November 2009 | % Change |
| 1,484,964 | 1,363,789 | +8.9% |
BROWARD COUNTY
>>> New homeless outreach center opens, Jan 21 kick-off date, provides health, dental and vision care
A ceremony opening a new outreach clinic is being held and people interested in homeless people and their plight are cordially invited to Pompano Outreach Health Clinic Grand Opening at the The Broward Outreach Center of Pompano Beach, 1700 Blount Road, Pompano Beach, Fl 33069 on January 21st, 2011
Commencing sharply at 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Come and join the celebration.
This has been a labor of Love and includes Broward Community College and many other organizations that have helped make this possible. Medical – Dental – Vision care is made available to our formerly homeless residents by many volunteer doctors, nurses, physician assistants and lab technicians offering their services >>> For more information contact -Marilyn Brummitt, CFP Director of Community Development, Miami Rescue Mission/Broward Outreach Centers Vision: NO ONE IS HOMELESS – 305-571-2245 www.miamirescuemission.com or www.browardoutreachcenter.com
>>> 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
>>> Long term FBI undercover operation nabs 24 defendants – Charges include Conspiracy, Bank Fraud, Money Laundering and Identity Theft
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announce the filing of charges against fifteen defendants on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, bribery, money laundering, and identity theft. The defendants, including a loan broker, seven bank officers, and seven customers, are charged in separate Informations for their participation in a four-year scheme to defraud ten area banks out of more than $10 million through the submission of fraudulent small business loans and lines of credit applications. Previously, another nine defendants were charged in connection with this undercover operation – seven were charged for their participation in a separate identity theft ring and two were charged with bank fraud and money laundering. U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer stated, “South Florida ranks first in the nation in home mortgage loan origination fraud, through which false documents are created and submitted to banks to obtain home mortgage loans. Today, we see a new twist on that scheme. Instead of home mortgages, this ring of defendants, with the help of corrupt bankers, used the same tactics to fraudulently obtain small business loans and lines of credit. To date, this undercover operation has resulted in charges against a total of 24 defendants, putting them out of the fraud business and potentially into jail cells.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge John V. Gillies stated, “Today’s case highlights a growing and disturbing trend of the illegal use of small business lines of credit to further criminal activity. As a result of individual corruption, today’s defendants cost taxpayers, banks and the federal government millions of dollars. While today’s case marks a significant first step toward combating these crimes, the FBI remains vigilant in its pursuit of this new breed of financial and corporate greed.” The Information filed today charges loan broker Frank Santa, 51, of Boca Raton, the owner and operator of Palm Beach Business Consultants (PBBC), a loan brokerage business specializing in obtaining fraudulent business loans for clients with poor credit histories. Also charged were the following seven bankers: Daniel Agudelo, 34, of Royal Palm Beach, a Small Business Banker at Fifth Third Bank; Christopher Brooks, 34, of Tamarac, an Assistant Vice President at Bank of America; Macario Deguzman, 30, of Miramar, a Vice President at Regions Bank and Am Trust Bank; William Hebert, 36, of Lake Worth, a Vice President at HSBC Bank; David Mcguire, 39, of Boca Raton, a Regional Private Banker at Wachovia Bank; David Ramoy, 33, of Lighthouse Point, a bank officer at Floridian Community Bank; and Alexander Reyes, 25, of Boynton Beach, a Small Business Banker at Fifth Third Bank. Additionally, six clients of PBBC and a straw purchaser were charged for their participation in the fraud: Jeanne Ward, 48, of Sunrise, a former Investigative Analyst for the Broward County Sheriff’s Office; Terrance Ward, 48, of Loxahatchee; Anthony Depierro, 46, of Boca Raton; Gary Gross, 59, of Boca Raton; Antonio Mannarino, 42, of Boca Raton; Derek Nadler, 45, of Boca Raton; and Thomas Correa, 46, of Plantation, a reserve deputy for Broward County Sheriff’s Office… >>> nformation 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.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
>>> Miami –Dade mortgage broker pleads guilty of fraudulent mortgages for homes in Palm Beach & ST. Lucie counties
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Daniel W. Auer, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, and Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami Field Division, announce today that defendant Hugo Oliva, 47, of Miami-Dade, has pled guilty to mail fraud and money laundering charges in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme. Sentencing has been scheduled for March 14, 2011, at 11 a.m. before U.S. District Court Jude Jose E. Martinez. Defendant Oliva was previously charged on July 15, 2010. According to court documents and testimony, this investigation began in May 2006, when law enforcement discovered marijuana grow house operations in numerous homes in Port St. Lucie. During the investigation, many of those homes were linked to co-defendant Manuel Caro. Manuel Caro was charged in 2006 for his participation in the marijuana grow house operation, but fled after being released on bond. He remains a fugitive.
Continued investigation led to the discovery of additional marijuana grow houses in St. Lucie, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade Counties. According to the superseding indictment, most of these homes were bought with funds obtained through mortgage fraud committed by defendant Hugo Oliva, a mortgage broker, through his company, MBA Mortgage Services, Inc., and his co-defendants, including Sergio Caro. To execute the scheme, the defendants submitted loan applications to mortgage lenders that contained false information, including false bank statements, W2 forms, pay stubs, verifications of deposit and verifications of employment. The defendants in the mortgage fraud scheme were charged with various counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, drug charges, and laundering drug-related money through the purchase of the homes. On December 13, 2010, defendant Sergio Caro, 37, was sentenced to 37 months in prison and ordered him to pay $671,166.36 in restitution to victim mortgage lenders. Two additional co-defendants, Ilan Reyes, 37, and Orlando Dominguez, 44, both of Miami, pled guilty and were each sentenced to probation for a term of 5 years… A copy of this press release may be found on www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
MONROE COUNTY
>>> County looking for sustainability initiative project coordinator & grants analyst
Roman Gastesi, the Monroe County chief administrator is looking for two administrators to handle local sustainability efforts in the nation’s southern most county that is a fragile ecological environment. The manger in an e-mail writes, “Monroe County is becoming more energy efficient and environmentally responsive. In September, the county and Keys municipalities were awarded a $2.6 million Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to be used for building energy audits & retrofits, purchase hybrid vehicles, install solar water heaters in affordable homes, and develop an energy conservation strategy.
We are hiring two (2) positions: a Sustainability Initiatives Project Coordinator ($55-60k salary) and a Grants Analyst (approx $40k salary)…please spread the work and let me know if you are interested. The Sustainability Initiatives Project Coordinator is grant funded for now but I intent on funding it in perpetuity as it morphs into Monroe’s County’s point person & principal advocate on Climate Change, Environmental Stewardship, and Energy savings related activities, etc.” For further information contact Roman Gastesi, County Administrator, The Historic Gato Cigar Factory – 1100 Simonton Street, Suite 2-205, Key West, Florida 33040 -Office 305-292-4441 -Fax 305-292-4544 or contact mailto:frederick-debbie@monroecounty-fl.gov> Editor’s note: If you want the job description or other info I will send the e-mail if the number of requests is reasonable.
>>> Federal inmate and family sentenced for tax fraud
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Daniel W. Auer, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, announced that Danilo Suarez, 49, formerly of Key West, a prison inmate, was sentenced today to 60 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release for his participation in a scheme to file fraudulent tax returns on behalf of inmates in the Monroe County Jail, in Key West, FL, and others. Defendant Suarez was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $58,022. Sandra Suarez, 25, of Key West, his daughter, and Belkis Mendez, 54, of Key West, his sister, were each sentenced on November 9, 2010 and November 10, 2010, respectively, to 6 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release for their participation in the scheme. Additionally, Sandra Suarez was ordered to pay $33,010 in restitution and Belkis Mendez was ordered to pay $43,959 in restitution. Danilo Suarez, Sandra Suarez, and Belkis Mendez all previously pled guilty to conspiracy to file false, fictitious and fraudulent claims to the IRS in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 286… >> A copy of this press release may be found on www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
>>> “We must speak with one voice” if Tallahassee is not to “deny” our efforts for more public schools funding in tough budget year, says Supt. Carvalho
“We must speak with one voice,” if our critics in the state legislature are not to “deny” our attempt to get appropriate school district funding next year and with the state legislature facing a $3.6 billion shortfall, the state’s public school districts will feel $1.2 billion in reductions and if Miami’s funding is hammered, “were going to set a table and call it The Last Supper,” said Alberto Carvalho, the district superintendent at the school board monthly meeting Wednesday. In what was a wide ranging discussion with the board and administration CFO Richard Hines noted one of tools keeping the nation’s fourth largest public schools district under fiscal stress was the creation of 82 charter schools and the district loss of 35,000 pupils to these schools that operate under different requirements, including school construction. He also said the initial count of the number of students was off by 1,500 pupils and the same number migrated to charter schools he told the board.
>>> The school board is having a board retreat Jan. 26 at the district’s administrative headquarters and the meeting is open to the public.
>>> Former legislator Silver challenges if two towing companies are actually one
Former state Sen. Ron Silver, D-Miami Beach told the school board members Wednesday at the monthly meeting that the administration should review a contract being voted on for towing broken down school buses because while the request for proposals stated there would be two separate companies. Silver alleges that in fact the two companies are actually one he asserted. Silver a registered school lobbyist for Downtown Towing Company left office in 2002 after becoming the Dean of the Senate given his decades in the body, but the former legislator did not correct board Vice Chair Lawrence Feldman when he granted extra speaking time and referred to Silver as if he currently was in public office. The attorney suggested that the companies could not respond in the 45-minute time frame required and North Dade given the traffic congestion would suffer and breach the contract’s response times he thought. The two companies recommended for the contract are Southeast Wrecker, Inc. in Homestead and Southwest Transport on Shipping Avenue in Miami and is a two-year agreement to Jan. 11, 2013 states agenda documentation.
>>> Press release: M-DCPS AWARDED $1 MILLION GRANT FOR CULTURAL FIELD EXPERIENCES BY KNIGHT FOUNDATION
This year, 130,000 Miami-Dade Public School students will be able to take a cultural field trip – twice the current number – with new funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Miami-Dade schools’ Cultural Passport Program received a $1 million grant as part of the foundation’s Knight Arts Challenge. A total of $3.8 million in challenge funds will be distributed among the 27 contest winners to bring South Florida together through the arts.
“The Knight Foundation is giving thousands of Miami-Dade County Public Schools students the opportunity to learn about the arts first-hand through visits to world class theaters, galleries and museums,” said Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. “Our community will benefit from young minds being inspired by art, music, theater and dance, and we can expect to see great things from these youth far into the future.” The Cultural Passport program helps develop a lifelong appreciation for the arts among K-12 students through age-appropriate cultural field experiences. Students will visit museums and art galleries and experience live musical, theatrical, and dance performances in the course of their education with additional support from the District’s Foundation for New Education Initiatives, Inc., and partnerships with local arts and cultural organizations. Educators guide students in making meaningful connections between the arts and other core subjects while further developing literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that research indicates improve overall academic performance.
“For so many children, that first cultural field trip – many times their first visit to a museum or theater – leaves an indelible impression. Cultural Passport will now ensure that more Miami-Dade kids have the opportunity to visit one of this region’s cultural gems,” said Dennis Scholl, Knight Foundation’s vice president/arts. During the 2009-10 school year, the Cultural Passport program was piloted in nine high-school feeder patterns, including 13 middle schools, seven K-8 centers and 48 elementary schools. More than 50,000 students, from grades K-12, participated in cultural field experiences and connected learning activities. In the 2010-2011 school year, the reach of the program is being doubled to serve students in a total of 18 feeder patterns. For more information about www.knightfoundation.org
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST
>>> At least three county commissioners want PHT voting trustee slot; will trust independence be impacted?
The Watchdog Report knows of three county Commissioners that would like to be the second voting member on the 17-member PHT board that includes two voting commissioners. Commissioners Sally Heyman and Lynda Bell both told me last week they wanted to be considered and Commissioner Barbara Jordan wrote a memo to commission Chair Joe Martinez expressing her interest as well to be on the health trust board. The Watchdog Report contacted Martinez Friday about the appointment and he wrote back. “No. Today was the deadline to submit memos and I will see them [the commissioners that are interested] Tuesday, as Monday is a holiday,” wrote the new commission chair. He is one of the new voting commissioners on the PHT board and past member of the PHT board, Commissioner Javier Souto told me it was time for him to take a break from being on the PHT board and let some new person deal with the organization’s vexing challenges.
The reason the Watchdog Report has been covering these key appointments so carefully is the PHT is a creation of the county commission and having the county commission chair as one of the voting board members will give a new board dynamic not seen before since the health trust was created in 1974. Further, it shows continued concern by the commission on what is going on at the Trust and suggests there may be even more commission influence on a board, that has some trustees trying to gain greater independence from the commission. These critics suggest there is a need to create an independent taxing district like what was established in Broward with its north and south districts, but the governor picks the board members there. Further, Miami-Dade contributes $137.27 million from the general fund as a maintenance of effort which includes $15.4 million that comes from “a percentage of the non ad valorem revenue in the general fund,” states the county’s budget book, and that significant contribution would likely go away if a hospital district was created.
>>> Headhunters Quick & Ahern make the rounds to Mayor Alvarez & Commission Chair Martinez getting PHT CEO input
Roger Quick and Pat Ahern, the headhunters assigned to find a replacement for CEO Eneida Roldan, M.D., as the new CEO for the almost $2 billion budget PHT made the rounds at the Miami-Dade Commission Tuesday that included meeting with Miami-Dade Commission Chair Joe Martinez and Mayor Carlos Alvarez.
>>> Press release: Jackson Health System President’s Search Committee meets
Gladys L. Ayala, Chairperson – Trustees Marcos J. Lapciuc, Angel Medina, Jr., Robin Reiter-Faragalli, Martin G. Zilber, Martha Baker, R.N., President, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 1991, Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., Dean, Miller School of Medicine & Sr. Vice President for Medical Affairs, University of Miami Health System, Joe A. Martinez, Chairman, Miami-Dade County, Board of County Commissioners, John A. Rock, M.D., Founding Dean & Sr. Vice President for Medical Affairs, College of Medicine, Florida International University. >>> A meeting of the President’s Search Committee has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 19, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the West Wing Board Room.
CITY OF MIAMI
>>> Mayor Regalado & Chief Exposito in firing holding pattern waiting for new Mgr. Crapp review, situation tense to say the least
Late afternoon drama gripped Miami City Hall Thursday as Police Chief Jorge Exposito stood at the podium while Commissioner Richard Dunn, II explained why he had “lost confidence in the chief” but the top cop fired back with his own verbal volley refuting some of the accusations and charges brought by Dunn. Both men had dueling videos, one that had been taken down from the web for copyright infringement and involved a proposed reality cop show where officers are depicted making busts, arresting people and the officers used the “term predator” when they described their attitude, Dunn said. Exposito came back with clips of all the police actions trying to clean-up the streets of Overtown and Liberty City that has seen six shooting deaths since the chief took over the 1,100-officer police force, with another 400 civilians in the city’s largest department. Dunn said this was not about ethnic groups and he would support a “Hispanic” chief as a replacement, but could not support the current top cop. >>Editor’s note; Readers should stay tuned and see how this plays out in the coming weeks but it is not a good situation.
 Regalado |
 Exposito |
 Gort |
 Carollo |
>>> Commission taps Hecht & Fuentes for two important local Miami boards
At last week’s commission meeting Coconut Grove realtor and former chair of the Coconut Grove Village Council Gary Hecht was appointed by commissioners to the Historic Environmental Preservation board and Jose Fuentes, formerly of the South Florida Management District and a consultant. Commissioners approved his name to the Miami Waterfront Advisory Board.
>>> 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 HIALEAH
>>> FL seafood company pleads guilty of conspiracy for mislabeling shrimp and salmon
Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Hal Robbins, Special Agent in Charge, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Adam Putnam, Commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), announced that defendant Mark Platt (“Platt”), 52, of Boca Raton, and Shifco, Inc. (“Shifco”), located in Hialeah, pled guilty to a four-count Superseding Information, charging them with conspiring to commit Lacey Act violations. According to the Superseding Information, Platt and Shifco, whose majority shareholder is Platt, in concert with Northern Fisheries Ltd (“Northern”), conspired to violate the Lacey Act. From January through February of 2010, Platt, Shifco and Northern, engaged in a scheme through which Platt oversaw the false repackaging and labeling of 1,500 pounds of frozen chum Salmon fillets. The fillets, which were “Product of China,” were re-labeled as being chum Salmon fillets, “Product of Russia.” In addition, Platt and Shifco pled guilty to a scheme to re-label more than a million pounds of less marketable shrimp from Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, as being from Panama, Ecuador, and Honduras. The shrimp had an estimated retail value of between $250,000 and $1,000,000… >> A copy of this press release may be found at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
>>> State Rep. Steinberg hosts second annual “Ought to be a law” student legislation competition
Press release: Representative Richard L. Steinberg (D-Miami Beach) will host the second annual “Ought to be a Law” Student Legislation Competition on Tuesday, January 18th from 4-7pm at the Miami-Dade County Commission Chambers. The “Ought to be a Law” Student Legislation Competition allows high school social studies students to research, write and present a bill or legislative idea. The participants this year include Alonzo & Tracy Mourning, American, Felix Varela, Hialeah, iPreparatory Academy, John A. Ferguson, Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, and Miami Killian Senior High Schools. The students’ bills will be judged by Members of the Legislature. The winning entry will be considered for filing in this year’s legislative session. Representative Steinberg wanted to bring this program to Miami-Dade County since it has been successful in other counties in Florida.
“The ‘Ought to be a Law’ Student Legislation Competition allows students the unique opportunity to learn and become a part of the legislative process,” said Representative Steinberg. “Students can gain hands-on experience on how a bill is created and presented in the State Legislature.”
CITY OF CORAL GABLES
>>> Mayor Slesnick faces challengers Cason and Korge at upcoming forum for mayoral candidates, election Apr. 12
The Ponce Business Association is sponsoring three Candidate Forums for the future Coral Gables Mayor and City Commission election on April 12, 2011. The Watchdog Report contacted Mayor Donald Slesnick, II and asked if he would attend the forum and he wrote back he will be attending the event arriving around 7:40 p.m., “after I finish a fundraiser that I am doing,” wrote the mayor first elected in the spring of 2001. >>> Organization press release: Our first Candidate Forum, for City Commission Seat 1 (Mayor), will be on Tuesday, January 18th at the Coral Gables Congregational Church (Fellowship Hall – 3010 DeSoto Avenue). The doors will be open to the public at 7:00 pm. From 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm audience attendees will be given cards with which they can write a question that can be directed to the panel or individual candidates. The questions must be signed by the audience member to be accepted. The Forum will begin at 7:30 pm and the Moderator is WCBS4 news anchor Eliott Rodriguez.
If you wish to attend this event please RSVP at poncebusiness@gmail.com
>>> Here are the clerk’s office listed candidates so far, and the qualifying week is from noon Feb.21 to noon Feb. 25th.
| 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 DORAL
>>> Press release: The City of Doral’s Planning and Zoning Director, Nathan Kogon, was elected Chair of the Miami-Dade Planners Technical Committee.
“It is an honor to serve as chair in the Miami-Dade Planners Technical Committee, and to represent the City of Doral in this important organization,” said Mr. Kogon, who joined the City of Doral in 2005 as Planning and Zoning Director. “I look forward to working with other members of the committee to coordinate the planning efforts of local governments in Miami-Dade County and promote inter-governmental communication, coordination, and cooperation in Miami-Dade County.” The Miami-Dade Planners Technical Committee is a council consisting of professional urban planners representing local governments and public regulatory/review agencies in Miami-Dade County that addresses common concerns and shares resources toward solving planning problems, and serves as a working group for various plans, programs, and projects.
Mr. Kogon is from Toronto, Canada, where he attended the School or Urban and Regional Planning at Ryerson University and graduated with a Bachelors of Urban and Regional Planning. He moved to Florida in 2002 and worked for the City of Port Orange before joining the City of Doral in 2005. As the Planning and Zoning Director, he oversaw the development of the City’s First Comprehensive Development Master Plan and Land Development Code as well as various planning studies such the Tile and Marble Design District Master Plan and Convention Center feasibility study. He served as Chair of the Sub-Committee of the Planner’s Technical Committee specifically to analyze optional amendments to the School Facility Interlocal Agreement and is current Chair of the Sub-Committee of the School District Staff Working Group specifically to investigate implementation option charter schools to be used as a form of mitigation. Mr. Kogon is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
OBITUARY
>>> Dolores Ziff, 85, passes, she and husband Stanford have left a big footprint in Miami-Dade’s cultural community and she will be missed
Dolores Barwell Ziff passed last week and the Watchdog Report extends my condolences to her husband Dr. Stanford Ziff and their families during this moment of sadness. I only had the opportunity to meet the couple about a dozen times over the years but it was clear they were in love, and the life of the party with many friends over the decades. Both are major philanthropists and their mark is seen around the county including a hall at the Arsht Center of the Performing Arts named after them both. For more information or to sign the well-wishers book go to www.miamiherald.com/obituaries
COMMUNITY EVENTS
>>> 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
>>> Fraud in South Florida a malignant cancer that must be fought, contaminates guilty & innocent alike
Medicare and Medicaid fraud is so rampant in South Florida that if there is a whiff of a connection down here, the local U.S. Attorney’s office gets the case because the various federal special agents involved here have gotten so much experience over the past 15-years and is a sad commentary on all of us. For it touches so many of us in one way or another. Further, when we account for 90 percent of the state’s home healthcare expense, as was said at a event at the University of Miami (and reported in the Argus section this week) and in some areas are over 700 percent of the national norm, not only is this out of hand but eating at our collective soul for it is public tax dollars. That could be put to a much better use than scamming the elderly or giving watered down drugs to cancer or AIDS patients.
Fraud in all its manifestations has become a way pf life for many here and there are no ethnic lines involved except people wanting to game the system. But it is the lack of outrage among many residents that is of such concern and makes it all the harder for our federal and state legislators to bring money down here since to the rest of America we are the “Fraud Capital” of the nation, and isn’t that a great title to have as a community moniker. Federal and state officials call on the public to be more vigilant with sensitive personal data and whom they give it to but the question is ultimately. Will Miami-Dade residents respond and rise up in outrage and fight this social scourge that is contaminating the guilty and innocent person alike? To report Medicare or Medicaid fraud go to 1.800 HHS TIPS
>>> Miami-Dade is at a crossroads; public institutions must learn to work together better, with civility a key ingredient, for we are in for a rough ride in the months ahead
I was asked if I was having a blast and I must be so busy in the field given the numerous torpedoes of problems coming into the community ranging from the financial ills of Jackson Memorial Hospital, the low high school graduation rate of our children, the recall of a county mayor and commissioner during a dismal economy, and the fact when it comes to our community’s mental health, it is the worst in the nation. I responded that in fact it was depressing because these challenges are easier when you are winding something up versus down sizing that involves cuts that crosses a wide swath of our society, from the new born to our elderly and infirmed. It is for this reason a decade ago, I was so concerned at the rapid growth of public institutions based on a rising property tax base that peaked its growth at 21.3 percent in 2006 in increased property valuation pushing Miami-Dade ad valorem tax revenues from $212 billion to $245 billion and this increase reverberated throughout the county’s 34 municipalities that drank deep from the cup of hefty tax revenues.
Now while local residential property values appear to beginning to stabilize, that is not the case for commercial property and vacant shop space is rampant in the community that has whole streets stores in some areas almost all vacant of businesses. So if there was ever a time for public institutions to actually work together for the good of all efficiently, it is now. For if a child is sick or hungry, they will not learn in school, that later is manifested in increased crime and a less productive and educated workforce demanded in this new century, with competitors like China and India making dramatic moves in technology and manufacturing including a impressive education campaign that is bearing fruit.
Miami-Dade’s demographics have us teaching in 19 different languages with tens of thousands of kids in ESOL (English as a Second Language) adding to our challenges. And public leaders in these days of a New Normal need to cut back some of the pettiness and harsh rhetoric left over from the old days when things seemed to be on auto pilot when it came to continued growth in Florida. For Floridians after two-years of active hurricanes hitting the state in 2005-2006 began for the first time to leave at a higher rate then people arriving and those dynamics dramatically changed the state’s economic path, previously built on tourism and agriculture and our politicians now actually need to work together for the good of all. For the challenges are great and are not disappearing anytime soon, and here in Miami-Dade we are in for a rough ride if we do not accept this reality, that if ignored will come back to haunt us all in the coming decades.
LETTERS
>>> Physician on asking patients if they have guns
Attached is a link http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/-36599–.html to an article reporting that state Representative Jason Brodeur (R-Sanford) and State Senator Greg Evers (R-Baker) introduced a legislative proposal ( HB 155 http://richmedia.onset.freedom.com/nwfdn/leze4b-14gunbill.pdf) which
would make it a felony for a physician or staff member to ask patients or family members of patients if they own guns or store guns at home. If found guilty, the medical provider could be fined up to $5 million or face up to five years in jail.
I hope that I do not go too far to call this measure INSANE and hope that our FAFP will speak up strongly against it! When do our legislators stop stepping in between us and our patients? I wholeheartedly agree with Dr. Scott Needle from Naples who said “Pediatricians have a right and a responsibility to ask appropriate questions as to a child’s safety and well-being, even if these questions might be uncomfortable to the parents. Likewise, however, no parent can be legally compelled to answer such questions.”
Bernd Wollschlaeger M.D.
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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
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.
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