Watchdog Report Vol.12 No. 4 May 29, 2011 Est.05.05.00 Celebrating my 12th Anniversary

Argus Report: Republican presidential candidate Pawlenty believes “Wall Street gets a handout;” average Americans “get their wallets out”
Florida: Gov. Scott takes sledgehammer to budget, cuts $615 million, but what of the social service, health, and conservation cuts?
Miami-Dade County: And they’re off, Robaina & Gimenez face off in mayoral race, how low will they go?
Miami-Dade Public Schools: Maestro Carvalho pulls $100,000 performance award for teachers out of his hat, Perez actually “commends” the job he has done since 2008
Public Health Trust: And away we go, FRB members get sworn in by Ruvin, televised in BCC chambers
City of Miami: Sarnoff kicks off campaign, has money to get to condominium voters, what will impact of incumbent be with squirrelly city voters?
City of Miami Beach: Mgr. Gonzalez and Beach officials get ethics letter of instruction regarding reporting gifts
City of Coral Gables: Full time Mayor Cason settling in, still learning, listening is “diplomacy” at municipal level, he says
City of South Miami: Vice Mayor Newman is hit with critical ethics commission letter of instruction; “tyrannical behavior” while not actionable “is inexcusable neverless.”
City of North Miami Beach: Council member Kramer tapped for 27 member county Homeless Trust board
City of Doral: Local woman convicted of health care fraud, could get up to 10-years in the federal big house
>>> Other stories around Florida
Broward County: “Brazen Bandit” bank robber gets 52-years in the federal pen
Palm Beach County: Gov. Scott taps Keyser to 15th judicial circuit, had net worth of $205,947 through June 1 2010
Monroe County: Residents meeting schedule with Rep. Ros-Lehtinen changes for the Keys
Community Events: GMCC Goals Conference — Miami-Dade CAA board of directors meeting
Editorials: Miami-Dade in uncharted waters when county elections get such low voter turnout, corrosive to our society and Republic — PAST WDR: A brief history of the Watchdog Report over the past 12 years, but an odyssey that really started in late1997 when waste, fraud and public corruption flourished in South Florida
Letters: State Rep. Lopez-Cantera says $55 million for Port of Miami dredging – Readers on A&M charter school story – Readers on 12th Anniversary of the Watchdog Report
Sponsors – Publisher’s mission statement & Subscription information is at the bottom of this issue

>>> Just because you do not take an interest in politics does not mean politics will not take an interest in you. –Pericles (430 B.C.)

>>> CORRECTION: The Watchdog Report incorrectly reported last week that $55 million in state money was going for the port tunnel. In fact, state Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami said it was for the dredging of the Port of Miami.

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

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding the University of Miami’s Knight Center of International Media http://knight.miami.edu within the University’s School of Communication www.miami.edu 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 is celebrating its 12th Anniversary.

>>> On WPBT/Issues – DeFede, Elfrink, Padgett and Ricker discuss mayoral elections, what is ahead and Gov. Scott’s $615 million in cuts To see the show This Week on Issues – 05/27 & 05/29 – Special Election Results: On Tuesday, Miami-Dade voters advanced former County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez and former City of Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina to a June 28th runoff election for county mayor. We discuss this race and whether or not a robocall about Hialeah can sway the election. Guests: Jim DeFede, WFOR CBS4, Tim Elfrink, Miami New Times, Tim Padgett, TIME Magazine, Daniel Ricker, Watchdog Report

>>> May you and your family have a safe, happy and reflective Memorial Day as we remember the blood and treasure sacrificed since 1776 for the freedoms and Democracy we so enjoy, in a very dangerous world. The Watchdog Report salutes those veterans that have served or are serving their country around the globe for your dedication to duty, honor to our country and the sacrifices and risks taken with your lives and you all are in our prayers.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> Republican presidential candidate Pawlenty believes “Wall Street gets a handout;” average Americans “get their wallets out”

Republican Tim Pawlenty, the former governor of Minnesota jumped into the 2012 presidential field when he announced during the beginning of the week he was running for president and he took a campaign road trip to the Historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables Tuesday to do a Facebook town hall, met with reporters twice afterwards, and fielded questions. Pawlenty, known as “T-Paw” was first elected to the Eagan Council in 1989 and was elected to the state House in 1992 and won the Governor’s race in 2002 where he served two terms. He has been married for 20-years and his wife is a former district judge state’s the campaign webpage.

The former governor had spent the day before in Iowa and some of his policies such as ending ethanol subsidies were coolly met in the Hawkeye state. But he believes it has to be done because if “we can’t tell the hard truth to the country” from a political standpoint. He believes “if we don’t we may lose the country,” that has a $14.3 trillion debt that continues to grow. He believes tackling the fiscal problem the country has is not being addressed by the President Barack Obama administration and when it comes to retiring the nation’s debt. “We can’t shove the solution on those poorer or richer than us,” but the whole nation has to be part of the long-term solution if we are to succeed, he said. Pawlenty also said federal employees “can’t get a better deal” than regular folks in the job market and when it came to the Wall Street Banks. He said, “Wall Street gets a handout while taxpayers get their wallets out,” and believes the average American needs a voice and he wants to be their champion.

What about Medicare fraud in S. FL.?

Pawlenty thinks “Obama Care has to be repealed” and acknowledged “America does face a healthcare crisis” and while the president cited the need for “cost containment” what he really did was “focus only on expanding access/ not containing costs,” he said. When it came to Medicare fraud after the Watchdog Report in a question noted he was in the region that was the “graduate school” for Medicare and Medicaid fraud and what would he do differently. He said I “raised an important point” and when it came to the Medicare Plan proposed by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Ohio he is going to roll out his own plan in the summer and “it has some similarities” as the congressman’s, “but it won’t be the same,” he said. He noted when it came to bilking Medicare it was not just a “South Florida issue” but that around the nation there is “disportionate amount” of fraud in small pockets saying parts of Texas, California, and New York City face the same issue and “we need to get these folks that are cheating” and “ripping off the system,” and when he is president that is what he will do, he said.

>>> Press release: U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced the Caribbean Coral Reef Protection Act (H.R. 2047). This legislation will impose penalties against companies and individuals assisting Cuba in the development of its petroleum industry, including in waters dangerously close to the Florida Keys. You may click here to view bill text and click here to view a summary of the bill. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “Desperate for new channels of funding, the Cuban tyranny will say and do anything to persuade others to invest in its oil sector in order to stay afloat. It is in our national security interests to deter others from participating in these reckless schemes.

“This legislation will deny U.S. visas to any individuals investing more than $1 million in Cuba’s petroleum sector, and makes it illegal for any U.S. citizen to help the regime explore for drilling opportunities in Cuban waters. “In addition to protecting American waters and coastlines, this bill will deny the Cuban regime an opportunity to fill its own coffers with oil money while they continue to oppress and abuse the Cuban people and undermine the security interests of the U.S. “We cannot allow the Castro regime to become the oil tycoons of the Caribbean. I will continue to work with my Congressional colleagues to prevent oil drilling by the Cuban regime, which poses a national security and environmental threat to the United States.” >>> NOTE: Original co-sponsors of this legislation are U.S. Reps. Albio Sires (D-NJ), Connie Mack (R-FL), Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), David Rivera (R-FL), and Allen B. West (R-FL). BACKGROUND: Ros-Lehtinen introduced the Caribbean Coral Reef Protection Act in the 110th and 111th Congresses.

>>> IBOPE Zogby Poll: Obama Approval Holds at 48%; Among Independents, 43% Approve Approval of Congress is 19%

President Barack Obama is holding on to the increased job approval rating he received from voters after the mission that found and killed Osama bin Laden. His approval rating went up to 48% after that mission, and holds at that level now.
Overall, do you approve or disapprove of Barack Obama’s job as president?
Obama Job Performance May
23 May
9 May
5 Apr.
25 Apr.
15 Apr.
7 Apr.
4 Mar.
28 Mar.
21 Mar.
8 Mar.
4 Feb.
24
Approve 48% 48% 46% 41% 43% 42% 43% 46% 45% 47% 44% 46%
Disapprove 51% 52% 54% 59% 57% 57% 56% 54% 55% 52% 55% 53%
Not sure 1% 0% <1 <1% 1% 1% 1% <1% 1% 1% 1% <1% Totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Please click the link below to view the full news release on our website: http://www.zogby.com/news/2011/05/24/ibope-zogby-poll-obama-approval-holds-48-among-independents-43-approve/

>>> Hanks to be new commodore at Grove sailing club in July, new long term lease with the city in the works

The Coconut Grove Sailing Club is negotiating a long-term lease with the city of Miami for it’s over 50-year location next to Peacock Park after years of not having one. The sailing club does extensive community out reach such as teaching school children how to swim and sail and the Miami-Dade Public Schools runs some programs at the site. The Club that is open to Miami residents for about $250.00 a year is getting new leadership in July and veteran Miami Herald business reporter Doug Hanks is stepping up to the plate and becomes the club’s Commodore in July. Hanks is also an author and he keeps his sailboat, Nell, moored at the club. The Watchdog Report gives Hanks a Tip of the Hat and good luck in this new role in your private life.

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

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

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

>>> Repeat of national Tribune paper profile, a blast from the past of Watchdog’s life back in Jan. 2003, not all that much has changed financially

The Watchdog Report is going down memory lane again, during the past moving process, and here is a national profile and story done by Maya Bell in the Orlando-Sentinel, but ran in all the Tribune papers around the nation on Martin Luther King’s Birthday back in Jan.20, 2003. After she spent about six weeks, off and on, experiencing the world I was living in back then, and she nicely captured the reality of my life, that in many ways continues to today, which I wish was otherwise after now 12-years.

>>> `I Go When You Cannot’ – January 20, 2003|By Maya Bell – Orlando Sentinel – Miami Bureau Chief
Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. It’s not by choice. Miami’s self-anointed citizen watchdog depends on the people he writes for and about to finance his quixotic quest to attend nearly every government meeting in Miami-Dade County. That’s a lot of mind-numbing meetings — as many as 2,500 a year — but not a lot of income. So Ricker teeters on bankruptcy. He dashes to his post office box daily, hoping subscribers to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks.
Among them are managers with Florida Power & Light, the utility that regularly cuts power to Ricker’s Coconut Grove home, most recently while he was attending a legislative delegation meeting last month. But what Ricker, once a successful international sales executive, lacks in financial stability, he makes up for in credibility. When he walks into Miami-Dade’s government center, the county manager salutes him. When he runs into Miami’s first Cuban-American congresswoman, she greets him with a kiss. “He knows where the bodies are buried,” said U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami. “He knows the people behind the curtain. He knows the real wizard of Oz.” >>> To read the section’s large front page story, but without the photos and smart box graphics, go to: `I Go When You Cannot’ – Sun Sentinel 20 Jan 2003 … Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. … to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks. … http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american

>>> 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

>>> Gov. Scott takes sledgehammer to budget, cuts $615 million, but what of the social service, health, and conservation cuts?

With Gov. Rick Scott (Net worth $218 million) taking a sledgehammer Thursday to the $69.7 billion state budget passed by the Florida Legislature, and vetoing $615 million, South Florida in particular was slapped around when it comes to state appropriations cuts across a wide swath of organizations and projects. Scott’s staff at the budget signing ceremony made the event private after some protestors were spotted but he has alienated a number of Republican state legislators from around the state and there are questions concerning the political baggage these cuts will have in the upcoming 2012 elections with an electorate that is all over the place. Scott with a strong tea party base won his close race by only 60,000 votes and the political novice is having a difficult time playing with the Florida Senate and House leaders who were shocked at some of the cuts and the governor’s sudden interest in trying to fund education at a higher level. Though Republican House Speaker Dean Canon (Net worth $209,000) noted only a little over $100 million would be added to education and he was surprised Scott did not let the legislature know this was a priority, even though the governor wanted a lower figure than the legislature approved. www.miamiherald.com

Scott is finding his statewide popularity is tanking, coming in a poll at 29 percent when it comes to Floridians rating his job performance and as one high ranking Republican said on Tuesday. “The great experiment is not working out” and this governor is having trouble getting a handle on the job, he thought. Further, Scott in the course of his term will appoint roughly 4,000 people to a wide swath of boards and judiciary throughout the state and some of these appointments have been miss fires and withdrawn for consideration. It remains to be seen if any of these cuts get overturned that had the Florida Forever Fund get a $305 million whack, though critics say this is not really a cut since it involved selling certain state assets to pay for the program. But he also vetoed $165 million in college and university construction, and when it came to public radio and television; these organizations lost $4.8 million in approved funding.

>>> Press release: Governor Scott Vetoes $615 Million in Special-Interest Earmarks, Signs $69.1 Billion Budget -Calls on Legislature to Put Children First, Redirect Earmarks to K-12 Education

The Villages, Fla. – In keeping his campaign promise to make the tough choices needed to turn Florida’s economy around and get Floridians back to work; Governor Rick Scott today vetoed $615 million in special-interest earmarks and signed the 2011-12 state budget. Governor Scott called on House and Senate leaders to redirect the vetoed special-interest dollars into K-12 classrooms and schools so that state spending can remain at last year’s levels. After vetoes, the $69.1-billion budget meets government’s three fundamental obligations of protecting public health and safety, creating a business friendly environment and preparing Florida’s students to compete in the 21st century global economy. “I commend the Legislature for sending me a budget that reduces the size and cost of government and provides tax relief to individuals and business,” said Governor Scott. “Special interests probably aren’t happy with the tough choices I made, but I am confident everyone can agree that funding for our children and students is more important than pleasing Tallahassee’s special interests.” >>> Click here to see Governor Scott’s veto message. >>> Click here to see the complete list of vetoes. For more information on the 2011-12 budget, visit www.FLGov.com/budget/.

>>> Press release: Statement from Chairman Joe A. Martinez on Governor Rick Scott’s veto of $615 million of State’s budget

MIAMI, Fl – “In light of Governor Rick Scott’s veto of $615 million to fund numerous social services, I urge our State Legislature to confer with the Governor and revisit these issues in an effort to minimize the impact on humanitarian services in our community. While I understand that governments everywhere are tightening their belts, programs such as Farm Share and the Little Havana Activities and Nutrition Centers assist thousands of our most vulnerable residents.

“In many cases, these programs actually save money and address invaluable essential needs. Farm Share offers food to the poor while granting farmers who donate with tax breaks and providing an ecological solution to crops, which would have otherwise ended up in a landfill. The Little Havana Activities and Nutrition Centers also improve quality of life for seniors by organizing activities, health services and hot meals to people who are isolated and economically disadvantaged. These organizations, as well as other vital social programs facing budget cuts, depend on State funding as a lifeline. “As a representative of Miami-Dade County, I want to continue to be able to work with these organizations for the benefit and well-being of our residents.”

>>> Press release: (Homestead, FL) – Governor Rick Scott today made a huge cut in funding for Farm Share, the largest food bank in Florida that provides millions of dollars worth of fresh fruits and vegetables to Florida’s poor each year, at no charge. The vetoed line item in the Florida Department of Agriculture’s budget for $750,000 is 50 percent of Farm Share’s total budget.

“Florida is now in the height of its farming season and there is plenty of excess produce to help feed the hungry,” said Co-Founder and Board Chairman Patricia Robbins. “But without any state funding for Farm Share, fresh fruits and vegetables now going to Florida’s poor will go directly into the land fills and be plowed back into the fields – a true waste of nutritious food.” Farm Share has provided Florida’s poor with produce, donated by local farmers, for 20 years. It has provided almost a half a billion dollars worth of food since it was first founded.

Florida’s farmers get a tax credit for donating their extra food to Farm Share who then delivers it to churches, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and other non-profit groups serving their local communities. Last year Farm Share distributed 15.5 million pounds of food to 430,000 less fortunate families. Farm Share is a non-profit organization working to alleviate hunger and malnutrition by recovering and distributing fresh and nutritious foods to those who need it most. To learn more about Farm Share and its impact on communities, visit www.FarmShare.org.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> And they’re off, Robaina & Gimenez face off in mayoral race, how low will they go?

And they’re off; former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina (Net worth over $8 million) and former Miami-Dade Commissioner Carlos Gimenez (Net worth $871,000) clear the 11-candidate field with Robaina getting 34.7 percent of the vote to Gimenez’s 28.8 percent of the 15.9 percent of the county’s 1.2 million voters that turned out, a worse turnout than the March 15 recall election that brought out only 18 percent of the vote. The runoff race ends Jun. 28 and early voting and absentee ballots will start sooner than the electorate expects but with July 4 looming days after. Voter turnout will be a key factor and given the demographic split of voters participating. The role of minorities like African American and Haitian voters could tip the scales in a low turnout race. Robaina had $1.2 million in his campaign war chest versus Gimenez’s $450,000 for Tuesday’s election. The two men will not only put a blowtorch to their fundraising efforts in the days ahead but buying up blocks of media time which will be relatively cheap given June is a slow month for advertisement revenues versus during a national election cycle.

What about the controversial robocall disparaging to Hialeah residents?

A robocall by a women slamming Robaina and the City of Hialeah is also causing controversy and was discussed on www.wpbt.org/issues over the weekend and it portrays the City of Progress and its residents in an offensive manner and is causing a firestorm on Spanish radio and television. Gimenez says he had nothing to do with the robocall but one of his campaign team is on the board of the PAC that produced the piece. However, the Watchdog Report predicts this is nothing compared to what the Miami-Dade community will see in the way of political attack ads in this final leg for the next county mayor, race that will be redone in Nov. 2012.

>>> The third time is the charm, Suarez captures BCC Dist.7 seat over Robaina, and Judge Thomas has $102,600 net worth

Xavier Suarez referred to himself as a political Lazarus www.miamiherald.com Friday and he won over former state Rep. Julio Robaina, R-South Miami in the county Commission District 7 race where the results were suppressed until the local appeals court threw out Circuit Court Judge William Thomas’ vote tally embargo of the Election Day results. Suarez, won when it came to the absentee ballot vote and to say he has had a colorful political career over the decades is an understatement. The long serving former Miami mayor last left office in 1997 after a judge removed him from office after massive voter fraud was found to have occurred during the election and Mayor Joe Carollo was put into office back then. However, he was never charged in the voter fraud scheme. Since then, the Harvard trained attorney ran in the Miami mayor’s race in 2001, and the county commission District 7 race in 2004 and lost both of those races. However, the third time seems to be the charm but it remains to be seen if he has jettisoned some of the past quirks he is known for, whether he can work well with the 13 member county commission, and he remembers why voters elected him one last time though they are wary, and he is up again in Sept. 2012.

What do we know about Circuit Court Judge Thomas’ finances?

Thomas through July 1, 2010 had a net worth of $102,600 and he lists $16,000 in household goods. His condominium is worth $220,000, there is $15,000 and $7,000 in checking accounts, and there is $154,000 in a retirement account state his financial disclosure forms for the year. His debts include $72,000 in student loans, a mortgage is owed $224,000, American Express is owed $3,000 and Bank of America is owed $57,000. He lists no gifts and the only income listed is $142,000 as a circuit court judge.

>>> Executive Director candidates narrowed to seven

Ethics commission press release summary: A screening committee of the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust (COE) today reviewed 39 applications for the position of executive director and narrowed down the list to seven candidates. They are (in alphabetical order): Joseph Centorino, Esther Jacobo, Richard Lober, Val Screen, David Weinstein, Erica Wright and David Young. The list will be furthered narrowed after telephone interviews next month and the final candidate will be selected during a future meeting of the full Ethics Commission.

>>> A County Parks employee has settled a complaint (C 11-07) that she misrepresented the hours she worked and used sick leave on days she was at an outside job. Carol Bernier, who is a Public Facilities Manager at Zoo Miami, also held a part time position at Baptist Health South Florida. COE investigators confirmed several dates during 2009 when the hours she worked at the hospital directly conflicted with the time she reported at her County job and made false claims for sick leave on two different days she worked at Baptist. As part of the agreement, Bernier will be issued a Public Reprimand. In addition, the Parks Department suspended her for 20 days and ordered her to resign from her second job.

>>> The Ethics Commission found No Probable Cause to an allegation that a licensed roofer, Gregory Pierce, had a conflict of interest by serving as a member of the Miami-Dade County Board of Rules and Appeals while also being retained as an expert witness by several plaintiffs in civil litigation against a roofing company and utility. The investigation of the complaint (C 11-13) determined that Pierce did not participate in any board action relating to the roofing company and, therefore, had no conflict, and so the complaint was dismissed.

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott names Michael A. Hanzman of Coral Gables to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court.

“Michael has handled many challenging and complex cases during his 25-year career and consistently demonstrated thorough analysis and preparation for each and every one,” Governor Scott said. “I am confident he clearly understands the importance of a fair, impartial and efficient bench.”

Hanzman, 50, has been of counsel with Ackerman, Link and Sartory since 2008. Previously, he practiced with Hanzman and Criden from 1994 to 2007; with Zack, Hanzman, Ponce, Tucker, Korge and Gillespie from 1990 to 1994; and with Floyd, Pearson, Richman, Greer, Weil from 1985 to 1990. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and his law degree from the University of Florida College of Law. Hanzman will fill the vacancy created by the death of Judge Maynard “Skip” Gross.

>>> Press release: Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of Dawn V. Denaro of Miami to the Miami-Dade County Court.

“Dawn has devoted her legal career to serving the people of Florida with diligence and an admirable work ethic,” Governor Scott said. “She understands what it means to be truly dedicated to the pursuit of justice and will serve this Court with dignity and fairness.” Denaro, 44, has been an assistant state attorney with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office since 1993. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Tulane University and her law degree from Thomas M. Cooley School of Law. Denaro will fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Darrin Gayles to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court.

>>> GMCVB Press release: #1: DEMAND FOR TRAVEL TO GREATER MIAMI & THE BEACHES REMAINS STRONG ¯ GREATER MIAMI & THE BEACHES RANKS #1 IN HOTEL ROOM OCCUPANCY, #2 IN REVENUE PER AVAILABLE ROOM (REV PAR) AND #2 IN AVERAGE DAILY ROOM RATE (ADR) FOR JANUARY – APRIL 2011 AMONG THE TOP 25 U.S. MARKETS
For the first four months of 2011 (January – April), Greater Miami and the Beaches showed increases vs. 2010, ranking #1 in Hotel Room Occupancy at 80.6%, #2 in Revenue Per Available Room (RevPar) at $144.03 and #2 in Average Daily Room rate (ADR) at $178.79 among the Top 25 Markets in the U.S. Smith Travel Research compares the top markets in the United States based on Occupancy, Average Daily Room Rate (ADR) and Revenue Per Available Room (RevPar).

Top 25 Hotel Markets
Occupancy
January – April 2011
% % Change vs. 2010
1. Miami 80.6% + 4.5%
2. Oahu Island 80.1% +7.6%
3. New York 73.3% – 2.3%
4. Orlando 73.0% +8.4%
5. San Francisco 71.6% + 6.8%

Top 25 Hotel Markets
Rev Par
January –April 2011
$ % Change vs. 2010
1. New York $152.48 +3.4%
2. Miami $144.03 + 7.1%
3. Oahu Island $128.69 + 19.0%
4. San Francisco $101.39 + 19.3%
5. Washington, D.C. $92.60 – 0.5%

Top 25 Hotel Markets
Average Daily Room Rate
January – April 2011
$ % Change vs. 2010
1. New York $208.13 + 5.8%
2. Miami $178.79 +2.5%
3. Oahu Island $160.61 + 10.6%
4. Washington, D.C. $147.17 +0.8%
5. San Francisco $141.64 + 11.8%

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
>>> Maestro Carvalho pulls $100,000 performance award for teachers out of his hat, Perez actually “commends” the job done since 2008

Supt. Alberto Carvalho pulled another rabbit out of the hat last week with his announcement of rewarding high performing teachers the potential to earn up to $100,000 as part of a Race to the Top federal grant award won by Florida. Carvalho who I have dubbed the “maestro” for his uncanny ability to work with the past contentious nine-member school board when it came to past superintendents has survived and flourished since being appointed in Sept. 2008 to head the nation’s fourth largest public district. However, with the economic downturn that has cut $2 billion from the district’s funding since 2008 he is still skating on thin fiscal ice and he has another $108 million to whack from the public schools $4.3 billion budget in the coming year, and money for capital and maintenance projects are in short supply and deferring these structural needs will cost the community, while also closing a number of the 390 schools including charters in the district. Miami-Dade like around the nation has seen its property tax base drop from $258 billion in 2008-09 to $192 billion in 2011-12 and that is a 28 percent drop in value over those years, state May 18 school budget workshop documents. Carvalho early on in 2008 took some steps to mitigate this financial meltdown versus in Broward where the administrator Jim Notter is stepping down, laying off over 1,400 teachers and the subject of a scathing state grand jury report suggested dissolving the school board if they could because it was so dysfunctional and political in nature.

What about Perez?

School Board Member Marta Perez (Net worth $2.18 million), a past vocal critic of superintendents for over a decade noted at the board workshop that “I want to commend the superintendent and his team for his work the last few years,” which is high praise given Perez’s past history. She even went on to say “I feel as a board member the freedom to ask questions” and Carvalho “makes an effort to be accommodating to board members,” she thought. For anyone that has followed the school board since the mid 1990s this is a refreshing change in board members attitudes about the administration. But the challenges remain immense in the future and it will take all of Carvalho’s skill and creativity in the months ahead, now that he has turned down the job to run the Broward district, that would have brought more money, but a totally unknown board to him.

>>> Press release: Miami-Dade Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho today announced a performance pay plan for teachers, which gives Miami-Dade educators the potential to earn as much as $100,000 or more.

“In the midst of our national economic crisis, as school districts across the country are laying off teachers, Miami-Dade County will be the first school district in the state to reward teachers for their performance,” said Carvalho. The state does not require performance pay plans by school districts until 2014. Teachers can be rewarded at a school-wide level, by subject, and as an individual teacher.
Funding for the performance pay plan, up to $14 million this year, will come from a Race to the Top grant from the United States Department of Education. Carvalho chaired the Governor’s Working Group that developed a memorandum of understanding and a successful application that resulted in Florida receiving more than $700 million in Race to the Top funds that equated to $350 million for school districts across the state.

Carvalho signed the performance pay agreement with United Teachers of Dade President Karen Aronowitz, who has worked closely with him in supporting the district’s efforts towards Race to the Top. This bold new work is supported by the Miami-Dade County School Board, which has strongly maintained their commitment to local classrooms. Superintendent Carvalho has vowed that, despite a $108 million budget hole next year, the district will not make cuts to art, music, world languages, or physical education.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> And away we go, FRB members get sworn in by Ruvin, televised in BCC chambers

The Public Health Trust Financial Recovery Board becomes official Tuesday morning when Miami-Dade Clerk Harvey Ruvin (Net worth $1.38 million) swears in the new board members which is the first order of business on the FRB agenda being held at 9:00 a.m. in the county commission chambers at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center (I suspect they are already sworn in and this is a ceremonial ceremony since the FRB has already been meeting and voting on items). The board’s chair is Marcos Lapciuc, Darryl Sharpton is the vice chair, Jose “Joe” Arriola is treasurer and Joaquin del Cueto is the board’s secretary. Rounding out the board that is one member short until a new county mayor is picked is state Rep. Michael Bileca, R-Miami and Stephen Nuell. Lapciuc, Arriola, del Cueto and Nuell have all been past PHT members but this group is expected to work more quickly and be more “nimble” than the past 17-member board that included two voting county commissioners.

What has the FRB been doing so far?

Since May 16 when the board voted on its leadership they have been meeting with new PHT CEO Carlos Migoya who is also getting the lay of the land of a large health system with around 11,100 employees since he stared May 1, but he is a banker by trade and is focused on getting a top notch chief operating officer that knows the healthcare world while he focuses on the hospital’s finances that has hemorrhaged losses for a decade while giving around $650 million in charity care last year. The health trust blows through about $4.3 million of cash a day, and has been trying to fiscally right itself and some looming cash challenges in July have become slightly mitigated and cash on hand is around 21 days, up from 14 days and it takes about 18 days of cash on hand to cover the organization’s monthly payroll.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Sarnoff kicks off campaign, has money to get to condominium voters, what will impact of incumbent be with squirrelly city voters

Marc Sarnoff (Net worth $2.17 million) kicked off his campaign to be reelected to the Miami Commission District 2 seat on Wednesday night with a fundraiser at Greenstreet’s Restaurant in Coconut Grove, and it was well attended but not as big a turnout as when he first ran for office back in 2006 when he faced incumbent Commissioner Linda Haskins, who had a over $700,000 campaign war chest at the time. Sarnoff went on to beat her by a two-to-one margin in a nasty and vicious race that featured political attack ads practically calling the candidates the devil. Sarnoff would serve out the rest of the term on the seat and he won a full term in November 2007 and is now up in November for his final four-year term. The attorney, who grew up in public housing projects in Brooklyn has been a Grove resident for some two decades and he faces four challengers, Kate Callahan, Michelle Niemeyer, Williams Armbrister and Donna Milo. Sarnoff has raised over $300,000 for the race while the challengers come in at $29,750 for Callahan’s war chest, Niemeyer has $25,187 through March 31 and Milo has $32,075 in the reporting cycle.

Sarnoff is a man of contradictions, supporters love him and their intensity is almost cult like, but he also has critics who are vocal, there are some blogs out there that almost track his every move daily, and that scrutiny had him moving his law practice from his town home complex in Center Grove to an office located in downtown Miami. He has been a supporter of reinstating the federal Brady Assault Rifle ban that sunset in 2004 yet he owns over 10 guns and shoots trap and skeet. He is married to Teresa (her second marriage), they have no children, they are avid car enthusiasts, and while he has been in office, he has had a range of vehicles including a Smart Car, a BMW 300 series convertible and a Mercedes Benz SUV. He has made ethics and transparency a high priority yet may change a local Grove BID meeting location at the last minute making a public meeting difficult to find and when it comes his giving a compliment. It sometimes comes out almost as an insult such as when he said ex commissioner Angel Gonzalez was a “jack of all trades and a master of none,” at a commission meeting before Gonzalez was forced to resign his seat after a plea deal with the state attorney’s office in the fall of 2009.

For this campaign, Sarnoff continues to use the orange and green colors for his posters used by Home Depot when he led the charge in 2005 to keep the mega store coming to the Grove. However, the company did build a store alongside U.S. 1 and Milam’s grocery store anyway, but that campaign began his political career and he used the race to be on the Coconut Grove Village Council as a test run and he and his supporters knocked on voter’s doors throughout the Grove. He came in first during that race and was the chair of the voluntary council created in 1992 by local activists spearheaded by now deceased Pan Courtelis. Sarnoff would later set his sights on the commission seat and the district that snakes along the city’s waterfront borders from Coconut Grove to Morningside in the Upper East Side of Miami. However, because the Grove is his base, many residents in the northern area of the district feel like they don’t get the same attention when it comes to city services, and may be one reason he opened his campaign office downtown. Since there are a huge number of new voters now living in the massive condominiums that went up during the city’s building boom.

Further, these new voters and residents are not easy to get to and that was reflected in the 2010 Census numbers where enumerators were unable to get into the condominiums to count residents because they were stopped by the building’s security and that same obstacle will face the candidates, and why having the money to buy television ads will be a major factor to who wins the race. Since the lesser funded candidates will not have that media edge to run ads with their less money than the incumbent will. At the kickoff event, there were street signs available and even license plate covers with Sarnoff’s name on it but no matter what. He is a five-year incumbent at a time incumbents are taking a beating in some elections and since he is no longer the David versus Goliath, but Goliath given his war chest. The other candidates are sure to try to portray him as part of the city’s problem and he is getting support from Mayor Tomas Regalado, and Commissioners Willy Gort and Francis Suarez who all attended the fundraiser. I emailed the commissioner last week and below is his response to my questions and I am running it unedited as I have done for the other District 2 candidates that have responded back.

What did Sarnoff say about the past five years in office?

“The last five years have certainly been challenging. When I entered elected office five years ago, the local economy was still booming and very quickly suffered a downturn the likes of which Miami hasn’t faced since the Great Depression. Throughout that period of time I’m proud to say we have been able to accomplish much and I have few regrets. My voting record stands on its own. Notably, I voted against the Marlins Stadium, which remains the single biggest disappointment in my five years as commissioner. I continue to feel that the city could have hammered out a better deal but we operate in a democracy and the majority of city and county leaders voted to move forward with the Stadium. Once that vote occurred it is our entire obligation to ensure the Stadium is on time and on budget.

From the beginning I’ve stood by my principles of fiscal conservancy and have tried my best to direct the city and the district to live within their means and to get the most bang for our tax dollars. Job creation and increasing the quality of life in the City of Miami have been my top priorities. The Port Tunnel project is a good example of an infrastructure project I voted for that serves both purposes: creating hundreds of good-paying jobs while setting the groundwork for
the Deep Dredge (now funded by Governor Rick Scott) by setting the table for thousands of well paid Port jobs and insuring the future easing of traffic congestion, safer roads and the future smart development of Downtown Miami.
Our District 2 neighborhoods are undergoing a wonderful transformation. On the Upper Eastside, we have spent or earmarked more than $22 million for better roads, drainage, parks and other quality of life issues. In fact, we have taken the lead in the greening of Miami. No other district has created more parks and green space than District 2, and we’ve been able to do that without borrowing money or
raising taxes.

In your email, you asked about my broadened interests in Miami-Dade Schools and the Public Health Trust. I have always tried to keep abreast of issues and institutions that impact the citizens of Miami but it’s really the constituents who direct my attention and the people of Miami have told me loud and clear that they want better schools, better health care and more accountability from their public
institutions and their elected officials,” wrote Sarnoff.

>>> Press release: Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado (Net worth $5,000) is requesting that the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation contact Governor Rick Scott as soon as possible and ask the Governor to reconsider revoking funding for the Little Havana Activities Center and the Allapattah Community Center. “Eliminating funding for these programs is literally taking food from the mouths of our senior citizens”, says Mayor Regalado. Already hit hard by the elimination of CDBG funds, our least fortunate citizens will suffer at a disproportionate rate. “As the Mayor of the City Of Miami I can not stand by and let this happen without a fight”.

>>> Miami joins fight to protect kids from abductions

Mayor Tomas Regalado kicked off an event last week in the commission chambers that informs and teaches parents to take 25 minutes and teach their children to know what to do if someone tries to kidnap them or they get lost. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has a wide range of programs and this information will be available at city parks, Net offices and through police and fire rescue locations and personnel. For more information go to www.missingkids.com 1-800-the-lost and www.take25.org

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Mgr. Gonzalez and Beach officials get ethics letter of instruction regarding reporting gifts

>>> M-DC Ethics commission summary: During regular business this morning, the Ethics Commission dismissed a complaint that Miami Beach City Manager Jorge Gonzalez violated the Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics ordinance by failing to report travel expenses for his wife that were paid by the city. The couple has been part of a delegation that has visited Art Basel Switzerland every June since the international art show began holding an exhibition in Miami Beach in 2002. The Florida State Ethics Commission, which has a different standard, previously issued an opinion that a companion’s airfare must be reported as a gift, but Gonzalez failed to do so for trips taken with his wife in 2009 and 2010. Since being alerted to the Ethics Complaint (C 11-14), Gonzalez submitted the appropriate gift disclosure forms and the Ethics Commission decided to issue a general Letter of Instruction to all Miami Beach officials about gift disclosure requirements in this context.

>>> Press release: Hundreds of Miami-Dade County Goodwill Ambassadors to keep the peace over Memorial Day weekend — Volunteers to provide info and tips to 300,000 tourists visiting Miami-area this weekend

As flocks of tourists visit Miami for fun and sun on Memorial Day weekend, one group will be working hard to ensure that residents and visitors alike are having a safe and enjoyable experience – the Goodwill Ambassadors. Already in its tenth year, the Goodwill Ambassador Program, initiated by Miami-Dade’s Office of Community Advocacy, brings local volunteers together to work alongside law enforcement in order to provide information and directions to visitors, as well maintain crowd control. This year, approximately 300,000 tourists are expected to spend this weekend in Miami Beach and nearby areas. In preparation for such large crowds, the Goodwill Ambassadors are ready to provide an invaluable service to visitors while reducing tensions among partygoers, residents, and law enforcement. For the last several years, the presence of Goodwill Ambassadors during Memorial Day weekend has contributed to reductions in arrests on Miami Beach. In 2006, there were 1,010 arrests during the holiday weekend with 100 Goodwill Ambassadors patrolling the area. However, as the program expanded and volunteers continued to work with law enforcement, arrests dropped dramatically. Last Memorial Day weekend, there were only 341 arrests with 250 Goodwill Ambassadors out helping tourists visiting the area. Easily identifiable by their red t-shirts labeled “Goodwill Ambassadors,” the volunteers will be working from Thursday, May 26 until Monday, May 30 at various posts throughout Miami Beach.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Full time Mayor Cason settling in, still learning, listening is “diplomacy” at municipal level, he says

The Watchdog Report contacted newly minted Mayor James “Jim” Cason and asked how things were going for the former diplomat who now is an elected municipal leader after a month in office. In an email last week Cason wrote, “I have been spending my first few weeks getting to know the employees, city facilities and the many individuals, organizations, profit and non-profit, that serve our community. I am also meeting many citizens to hear their concerns, and meeting with community groups as well. We will be tackling our new budget in the coming months and that will be a main focus of our collective efforts. As promised, I am spending 8+ hours daily being a full time Mayor. This is a rewarding experience. I am still in the learning mode and in several months hope to have enough knowledge to begin making some proposals for constructive change. While the focus on the work is very different from that faced by professional diplomats, the process of learning through listening, dialogue and first hand encounters is much the same. There is a role for diplomacy at the municipal level as well as the international,” wrote Cason.

CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI

>>> Vice Mayor Newman is hit with critical ethics commission letter of instruction; “tyrannical behavior” while not actionable “is inexcusable neverless.”

The Miami-Dade Ethics Commission dismissed a complaint against Vice Mayor Valerie Newman but the commission did issue a Letter of Instruction to the veteran municipal politician and here is a summary of the ethics commission action. >>> Following their dismissal of the complaint (C 09-11) against South Miami City Commissioner Valerie Newman last month, Ethics Commissioners today issued a Letter of Instruction to the politician. The charges, which originated in 2009 and were based on South Miami’s now-repealed Code of Conduct, accused Newman of bullying people inside and outside of city government. Even though the COE determined that proceeding with the case would not be a prudent use of resources, the Letter states that “Rude, boorish and tyrannical behavior by elected officials, while perhaps not actionable under an ethics code, is inexcusable nevertheless.” The Ethics Commission also states that “ethical behavior is not simply the doing what is right, but doing it the right way,” and hopes the Letter “impresses upon Commissioner Newman and all elected officials that they must be mindful that their behavior be at all times proper, honest, respectful, and professional…”

May 31st, 2011 | Uncategorized | Tags: | Comments Off on Watchdog Report Vol.12 No. 4 May 29, 2011 Est.05.05.00 Celebrating my 12th Anniversary