Watchdog Report Vol.12 No.13 July 31, 2011 Est.05.05.00 I go when you cannot!
CONTENTS
Argus Report: Miami continues to rack–up considerable legal fees, $1 million spent in SEC investigation alone, another $250,000 to win case over ex Atty. Fernandez
Florida: Gov. Scott slowly evolving in role of the press when it comes to governing FL
Florida Supreme Court: Justice Pariente in the spotlight, appointed to bench in 1997, had $3.73 million through Dec. 2010
Miami-Dade County: Eyebrows raised with Mayor Gimenez’s new staff salaries, says money well spent, but their performance in jobs will be judged in Aug. 2012 election
Miami-Dade Public Schools: Board leadership gets scanned, Chair Hantman & vice Chair Feldman in the spotlight, net worth $7.23 million and $2.56 million through Dec. 2010
Public Health Trust: Jackson Health System decides to run jail inmate care itself, CEO Migoya believes there will be improved efficiency
City of Miami: Commission 2 candidates will get fair coverage but the cold verbal shoulder from WDR in the months ahead
City of Miami Beach: Mayoral Candidate Berke to face the TMBC on Tuesday, facing Mayor Bower and Crystal in Nov.
City of Opa Locka: Mayor Taylor hit with $1,500 fine and public reprimand for voting conflict from ethics commission
City of Doral: With hurricane season upon us, local residents can get information Aug.5
>>> Other stories around Florida
Broward County: Mayor Gunzburger in the spotlight, first elected in 1992, has $5.45 million net worth through Dec. 2010
Palm Beach County: Vice Chair Vana in the spotlight, elected Nov.08, missed political purge, had $88,000 net worth through May
Leon County: Gov. Scott goes with Joseph “Mike” Hogan and Donna M. Poole for the Public Employees Relations Commission.
Pinellas County: Seafood firm and CEO sentenced for mislabeling Indonesian, Malaysian, and Thai shrimp
Walton County: Gov. Scott taps Angus “Gus” Andrews and Nicholas “Nick” Patronis to the Governing Board, Northwest Florida Water Management District.
Duval County: Gov. Scott sets Sept. 20 as state Sen. District 1 primary election date
Monroe County: When it comes to Monroe County it is “a glass that is half-full,” says Administrator Gastesi
Community Events:— During the summer recess Miami-Dade Community Action Agency is providing free meals to children 18 years and younger at no cost. The Summer Food Service Program began on June 13, 2011 and ends on August 12,
Letters: Reader on success of chickenpox vaccination for children
Sponsors – Publisher’s mission statement & Subscription information is at the bottom of this issue
>>> Just because you do not take an interest in politics does not mean politics will not take an interest in you. –Pericles (430 B.C.)
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>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center for International Media http://knight.miami.edu within the University of Miami’s School of Communication www.miami.edu to 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 and I hope you or your organization will consider helping in a small or larger way and help keep another voice on line 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 celebrated its 12th Anniversary May 5, 2011.
>>> I was on WWW.WLRN.ORG Florida Roundup hosted by Phil Latzman of The Miami Herald on Friday from noon to 1:00 p.m. with a group of panelists and to listen to the show go to. Subscribe in iTunes | Get our feed The Florida Roundup on WLRN, July 29, 2011 >> Listen here to today’s show: What could federal government default mean for Floridians? When it comes to the debt ceiling, as some people question whether Rick Scott is living in the real world, he says he’ll take time out to read all about it. The saga of West v. Wasserman-Schultz continues in Congress. As Miami-Dade’s new mayor takes office, he says, “Reducing the size of government doesn’t come cheap.” And why the widening gap in wealth between whites and minorities is more dramatic here in South Florida. Phil Latzman discusses the week in news with Dan Ricker of the Watchdog Report, the Miami Herald’s Tallahassee bureau chief Mary Ellen Klas, and the Palm Beach Post’s John Lantigua. http://www.miamiherald.com/florida_roundup/#ixzz1TXIZEBVl
ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street
>>> Miami continues to rack–up considerable legal fees, $1 million spent in SEC investigation, another $250,000 to win case over ex Atty. Fernandez
When it comes to legal fees, the City of Miami continues to rack them up at a blistering rate with legal costs concerning a SEC investigation hitting $1 million and a suit brought by a past city attorney Jorge Fernandez but fought cost $250,000 though it was resolved in the city’s favor. In the case of the SEC investigation, counties and municipalities should take note of how quickly these legal costs soar into the millions and in the case of the past commission attorney who left under a scandal a few years as go. Commissioners were first told to settle the case but it became a matter of city honor and it was fought and the municipality prevailed, though at a cost. The issue of the SEC legal costs came up at Thursday’s Miami commission meeting and another $1 million has been set aside for the activity. But with all the turbulence concerning the U.S. default coming to a head Aug. 2, any bonds outstanding or anticipated to be sold will be affected by this kind of issue in the coming months.
>>> Mayor Castro of San Antonio stops by Miami city hall to huddle with Mayor Regalado
Mayor Julian Castro of San Antonio stopped by Miami City Hall Monday to see Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and Miami-Dade school board member Raquel Regalado and the charismatic 36 year old Democrat is in his second term as mayor, is considered a future governor or senator in the Republican state, and his political success shows he knows how to beat the odds in the GOB political arena of Texas.
>>> White House press release: Michael E. Horowitz, Nominee for Inspector General, Department of Justice
Michael E. Horowitz is currently a Partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham, & Taft LLP, where his practice focuses on white-collar defense, internal investigations, and regulatory compliance. Mr. Horowitz previously served as a Commissioner for the U.S. Sentencing Commission, a position he held from 2003 to 2009. From 1999 to 2002, he was Deputy Assistant Attorney General and then Chief of Staff for the Criminal Division at the Department of Justice. From 1991 to 1999, Mr. Horowitz was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, serving as Chief of the Public Corruption Unit from 1997 to 1999. Earlier in his career, Mr. Horowitz was an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton and clerked for Judge John G. Davies of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Mr. Horowitz is a board member of the Ethics Resource Center, the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Mr. Horowitz holds a B.A. from Brandeis University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
>>> Betty Castor, Appointee for Member, J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board
Betty Castor is the former President of the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, where she served as President for six years from 1994 until 1999. Prior to her tenure as President, she was the Florida Commissioner of Education for seven years and the first woman ever elected to the Florida Cabinet. Ms. Castor has held other leadership positions in education, most recently as the Executive Director of the Patel Center for Global Solutions at USF. She is a former state legislator having served three terms in the Florida Senate. Ms. Castor is a member of the Tampa Bay Committee on Foreign Relations and the Society of International Business Fellows. She began her educational career as a secondary school teacher in Uganda, East Africa and continues to support the Teachers for East Africa Alumni Foundation. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey and her Master’s degree from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida.
>>> Press release: Ros-Lehtinen Applauds New Treasury Sanctions against Al-Qaeda Members Operating in Iran
U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented on the U.S. Treasury Department’s announcement of the imposition of sanctions against six members of an al-Qaeda network operating in conjunction with the Iranian regime. Yesterday, Ros-Lehtinen spoke with Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen about the designation. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:
“I commend Under Secretary Cohen and his team at Treasury for dealing this blow to the al-Qaeda/ Iran network. “Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, but far from the only one. I encourage the Treasury Department to actively investigate and take tough action against financial institutions, such as ING which, according to news reports, may have violated U.S. sanctions on Iran and Cuba. All those who violate U.S. laws which bar business and other dealings with countries designated as State Sponsors of Terrorism must be held to account.”
>>> IBOPE Zogby Poll: Six in 10 Disagree With Ending Space Shuttle & Fear Others Will Surpass U.S. in Exploration Combined NASA & Business Efforts Favored for Future Exploring
Majorities of U.S. voters disagree with the decision to end space shuttle missions and fear other nations might surpass the U.S. in space exploration. Also, future space exploration through both NASA and private companies is seen as preferable to either going it alone. The IBOPE Zogby interactive poll conducted from July 22-25 also shows 74% say the space shuttle was a worthwhile use of government resources. The final space shuttle mission ended with the safe landing of the Atlantis last week. Please click the link below to view the full news release on our website: http://www.zogby.com/news/2011
>>> Press release: IBOPE Zogby British Press Scandal Poll: 80% Believe U.S. Reporters Sometimes Use Illegal Methods 80% Also Fear Media Conglomerates Have Too Much Influence
In the wake of a British media scandal involving illegal phone hacking, high percentages of U.S. likely voters believe reporters in the United States sometimes use illegal methods to learn personal information and that some media conglomerates have too much influence on how we receive news.
The IBOPE Zogby interactive poll conducted from July 22-25 also finds 54% believe executives of the company accused, News Corp, share equal responsibility with those who actually may have done the phone hacking.
There is evidence that a British newspaper’s journalists invaded peoples’ voicemail accounts, including both that of a 13-year-old murder victim and relatives of fallen soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Do you believe this is an isolated incident in Great Britain, or that reporters in the U.S. also sometimes use illegal methods to learn someone?s personal information?
| Response | % |
| Reporters in the U.S. also sometimes use illegal methods to learn someone’s personal information | 80% |
| Isolated incident in Great Britain | 8% |
| Not sure | 13% |
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
>>> Recalled Mayor Alvarez surfaces at Gables gym, looking buff in retirement
What do you do if you are a retired Miami-Dade Police Director and recalled county mayor, in the case of Carlos Alvarez it is to work out at a local gym and get buff. The former mayor recalled Mar. 15 has dropped out of sight since then and the Watchdog Report has been asking around for weeks and I finally got some information on his whereabouts last week. My source says he is a fixture at the Equinox Gym in the upscale Village of Merrick Park in Coral Gables where he lives and that he is looking great after his new exercise regime since leaving office.
>>> Repeat of national Tribune paper profile, a blast from the past of Watchdog’s life back in Jan. 2003, and not all that much has changed financially
The Watchdog Report is going down memory lane again 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 slowly evolving in role of the press when it comes to governing FL
Gov. Rick Scott is evolving as someone who needs the state’s press to govern, yet believes if the United States defaults this Tuesday life will go on for the nation and the state he said on Wednesday on CNN http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/203001/250/Rick-Scott-opposes-raising-the-debt-ceiling . Scott has been reaching out more to the media recently after shunning it during his run for governor and for much of his first term since Jan. Further, he no longer can say he has not been in front of any major state paper’s editorial staff, when he made a surprise low-key visit to The Miami Herald recently when he was in town, though the visit did not appear on his daily activity schedule. Further, Scott in his four years in office will make roughly 4,000 appointments to a wide variety of state and local boards and some of his choices have been stellar, while others have drawn criticism, as he tries to amp up the ability for business in the state to do more business or bring in new companies, but he has found it is one thing to get elected, and another thing to actually govern in a Democracy.
>>> Press release: Governor and First Lady Host Official Tasting Event in Preparation for Seafood Cook-Off Florida Mansion Chef Cooks up Masterpiece for National Competition
This afternoon, Governor Rick Scott and First Lady Ann Scott will taste test culinary creativity at its best as John Minas, Executive Chef at the Florida Mansion, serves up his latest creation. The Scotts selected Minas and his sous chef, Carin Butler, to represent Florida in the 2011 Great American Seafood Cook-Off against top chefs from 13 other states. The chefs will fire up their pans for the completion on August 6th. “John is a talented chef and cooks up some of the best food I’ve ever tasted,” said Governor Scott. “He’s going to give those other chefs a run for their money.” Similar to the cook-off on Aug. 6, Chef Minas and his sous chef will have one hour to prepare a dish that will dazzle the 6 judges, a member of the public and press. In the taste-testing event, the judges will be Governor Scott, the First Lady, four mansion staff members and a representatives from the press. Just like in the cook-off, Minas must use seafood products from the state he represents and will be judged on taste, execution of skills and presentation. “I’m extremely excited about this opportunity to compete and showcase Florida’s amazing seafood and variety of fruits, vegetables and cultural influences,” said Minas. “We really want to win this.” For more information about the 2011 Great American Seafood Cook-Off, you may visit this website: http://greatamericanseafoodcookoff.com/
>>> Press release: Government Efficiency Task Force
Ann W. Duncan, 45, of Tarpon Springs, is the founder and president of Vertical Integration Inc. She is appointed for a term beginning July 28, 2011, and ending July 28, 2012.
Belinda M. Keiser, 52, of Parkland, is the vice chancellor of community relations and student advancement for Keiser University. She is appointed for a term beginning July 28, 2011, and ending July 28, 2012.
Frances P. Rice, 67, of Sarasota, is a retired United States Army Lieutenant Colonel and attorney. She is appointed for a term beginning July 28, 2011, and ending July 28, 2012.
Eric E. Silagy, 46, of Palm Beach Gardens, is the senior vice president of regulatory and state government affairs at Florida Power and Light Company. He is appointed for a term beginning July 28, 2011, and ending July 28, 2012.
Abraham Uccello, 38, of Sarasota, is the owner and president of Harvester Consulting Inc. He is appointed for a term beginning July 28, 2011, and ending July 28, 2012.
FLORIDA SUPREME COURT
>>> Justice Pariente in the spotlight, appointed to bench in 1997, had $3.73 million through Dec. 2010
Barbara J. Pariente a Florida Supreme Court Justice since 1997 and has been the Chief Justice of the Court back in 2004 through 2006 and before joining the top bench the Palm Beach County resident served on the Fourth District Appeals Court is in the spotlight this week. As I do every year, I review each of the justice’s financial disclosure forms for the year and here is her report that I consider benign in nature.
What do we know about her finances?
Pariente through Dec. 2010 had a net worth of $3.73 million and lists $229,000 in household goods. She lists $311,000 and $20,000 in cash in joint accounts, Fidelity Investments has $852,000 and there is $575,000 and $133,000 in pension/retirement accounts. The jurists multiple homes are valued at $750,000, $500,000 and $350,000 and her income was $154,000 as a judge, a property sale brought in $23,000 and $7,400 was in interest for the year. She lists receiving no gifts over $100.00.
>>> Court’s webpage: Justice Barbara J. Pariente has been a Justice since 1997 and served as Chief Justice from 2004 through 2006. She was born in New York City in 1948 and attended public schools in New York and New Jersey. She graduated with highest honors from Boston University majoring in communications. She then attended George Washington University Law School, where she graduated fifth in her class in 1973, earning highest honors and membership in the Order of the Coif. She moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1973 for a two year judicial clerkship with United States District Court Judge Norman C. Roettger, Jr., of the Southern District of Florida. After her judicial clerkship, Justice Pariente settled in West Palm Beach, where she joined the law firm of Cone, Wagner and Nugent in 1975 and became a partner in 1977. In 1983, she formed the law firm of Pariente & Silber, P.A. In both firms, she specialized in civil trial litigation. She earned certification by the Florida Bar as a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer as well as nationally by The National Board of Trial Advocacy. She was awarded an AV rating, the highest available, by Martindale-Hubbell.
During her eighteen years in private practice, Justice Pariente served on the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, the Florida Bar Civil Rules Committee, and the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission. She was instrumental in organizing Palm Beach County’s first Bench-Bar Conference. She was a founding member and master of the Palm Beach County Chapter of the American Inns of Court, and was very active in the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, serving on its Board of Directors for many years. In September 1993, Justice Pariente was appointed to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, where she served until her appointment as the seventy-seventh Justice of the Florida Supreme Court on December 10, 1997… In 2003, Justice Pariente shared with the public her successful treatment for breast cancer, in hopes of promoting greater awareness of this disease that strikes one in eight American women. Read a Conversation with Justice Pariente by Jodi Wilkof, a Profile of Justice Pariente published in the October 2004 Bar Journal, and an article on her in the Bostonia alumni magazine. >>> Justice Pariente’s office may be reached in Tallahassee by phone at (850) 488-8421. The judicial assistant in Justice Pariente’s office is Brenda Williams and the law clerks are Lyyli Van Whittle, Alyssa Lathrop, and Jay A. Yagoda. The mailing address is 500 South Duval Street, Tallahassee FL 32399-1925. Attorneys or law students interested in clerkships in this office should check our Law Clerk Recruitment Page. There also is information on Internships.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>> Eyebrows raised with Mayor Gimenez’s new staff salaries, says money well spent, but their performance in jobs will be judged in Aug. 2012 election
Mayor Carlos Gimenez is keeping good on his promise to cut his salary and streamline the Miami-Dade mayoral office staff down but he is getting flack on some of the new senior staffs salaries, but he defends these compensation levels on wanting to get the best people for the job. However, Gimenez ran on wanting a lean county government and given the economy since 2008 and the new normal. Critic’s question the need for these high-end compensation packages and what is the public service component when it comes to these positions. Gimenez personally has dedicated himself to enhanced transparency and the elimination of mayoral perks but when it comes to public service salaries. Anything over $200,000 is a lot of money given the governor’s salary is around $125,000 (Though Gov. Rick Scott does not take this compensation) and if you work in the White House. No one in the administration is making over $200,000 and the newly minted mayor and these people will have to demonstrate they are worth the extra money. For with a new election in August next year, their performance or lack there of, will be part of any opponent’s campaign offensive against the incumbent mayor. >>>For more go to http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2011/07/handsome-salaries-for-miami-dade-mayors-new-hires.html
What about Gimenez’s son?
The Watchdog Report on Thursday watched attorney Carlos Gimenez Jr., at Miami city hall while the Miami commission met and his item was the extension of a red light camera contract and he represented the company along with other of the firm’s lobbyist, that includes state Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami. Both the younger Gimenez and Diaz de la Portilla are with the prominent law firm Becker & Polikoff and the state senator is the head of the law firm’s government lobbying practice. All of this is fine and legal but the son was popular when his dad was a county commissioner, but now that the elder Gimenez is mayor. The son’s stature in the halls of local government has increased almost exponentially and everyone wants to be his friend now. The younger Gimenez it should be noted is not listed as a lobbyist with Miami-Dade County. But the young man needs to be very careful in his lobbying activities for they will be a reflection on his dad and since he is immediate family, any conflict of interest perceived or otherwise will be viewed through that prism.
>>> Grove tree canopy and 27th Ave. project gets 2nd meeting Friday at county hall
Coconut Grove tree activist met with county public works Director Esther Calas, P.E. and her staff on Friday afternoon after 11 mature trees were whacked recently along Bayshore Drive and this act threw local tree canopy activist into a tizzy. The meeting occurred in a conference room in the county department’s floor in government center and they reviewed county plans for Phase I and Phase II of the 27th Avenue beautification projects being done by Miami-Dade. Any future work is now under major public scrutiny and the destruction of any further trees, will only be done under the watchful eyes of local Grove tree preservation activists and the elected officials at both the county and the city of Miami.
Calas
>>> Commissioner Souto goes after Sweetwater Mayor Marono on graffiti and his “semi insulting letter” on the matter
“Graffiti is a crime and like a cancer that spreads and kills our community,” said County Commissioner Javier Souto at a recent commission meeting. He said he had gotten a “semi-insulting letter from the mayor of Sweetwater” concerning the matter and said a “crime is a crime,” when it comes to graffiti. He said local Mayor Manuel M. Marono was wrong and he wanted an investigation and “I don’t care if it is the Pope,” the long serving county commissioner said. He said thousands of “tourists” see the graffiti on the Turnpike next to Sweetwater, noted it was next to the Snapper Creek Canel, and believed it played a part in “the pollution of the water” in the canal. County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, once he clearly understood where the problem was told the former state legislator “we will take a look at it,” said Gimenez.
 Marono |
 Souto |
>>> Ethics Dir. Meyers says sayonara since 2008, replacement Centorino takes over Aug. 15
After being the only executive director of the Miami-Dade Ethics and Public Trust Commission since 1998. Robert Meyers, an attorney is saying sayonara to the job and he will be replaced by assistant state Attorney Joe Centorino, the head of the organization’s public corruption unit on Aug. 15. The ethics commission after a national search selected the veteran prosecutor, he is a solid choice and is measured in his manner and actions, and public outreach by the ethics staff is a major activity trying to prevent people from making ethics violations before it happens. Over the years critics say the body does not have enough enforcement teeth but part of that fact is legislators determine the laws and the punishment and while people can get ensnared in an investigation. For many the penalties are not all that great though it is not a resume builder to be hit with a probable cause complaint and any resulting settlement with the body.
Over the past decades some of the high profile cases the ethics commission has handled were Miami Mayor Manny Diaz’s house deal with Commissioner Johnny Winton and city Manager Joe Arriola where the manager put up the over $400,000 deposit and the mayor got a three page highly critical Letter of Reprimand. Further, Miami Police Chief John Timoney also ran afoul of the commission’s investigators when he accepted a free Lexus SUV for well over a year without disclosing that fact and like Diaz he fought the investigation but later capitulated and admitted accepting the car was a bad idea.
For the Watchdog Report, Meyers leaving the post ends a 13 year relationship with the man and commission that had me on many community panels with Meyers, Centorino or county Inspector General Christopher Mazzella and I am one of two people in the audience back in 1998 when Meyers interviewed with the newly created ethics commissioners and was selected to be the new director. The Watchdog Report gives Meyers a Tip of the Hat for his years in the pressure cooker office, that included some sharp exchanges with former Mayor Carlos Alvarez and he kept the organization independent of commission interference since county voters created it in 1996.
>>> M-DC Commission on Ethics press release: Opa-Locka Mayor Myra Taylor has agreed to pay a fine of $1,500 and accept a public reprimand as part of a settlement with the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust (COE). Last month, the COE issued a finding of probable cause in a complaint (C 11-16) that she violated the Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance. The investigation found that in late 2009 and early 2010, then-Vice Mayor Taylor engaged in voting conflicts by promoting a funding resolution that benefited the non-profit corporation she heads and improperly influenced city officials to support a special event. As part of the negotiated settlement, two other counts of the complaint will be dismissed.
>> Also reaching a settlement is the president and CEO of a local construction company who will not contest a charge that he violated the County’s “cone of silence” rules when he protested INDRA USA’s failure to earn a selection committee’s recommendation for a Metrorail project before the award was finalized. The complaint (C 11-15) charges that Emilio Gonzalez sent a letter in early February to then-Mayor Carlos Alvarez criticizing the selection process. A County procurement official responded, reminding Gonzalez that the bid was still under the “cone of silence,” which prohibits any communication between a potential vendor and the mayor, commissioners or members of their staffs, until the County Manager makes a written recommendation. Nonetheless, a month later, Gonzalez met with Commission Chair Joe Martinez to discuss the proposal. After Martinez learned the cone of silence was still in effect at the time of the meeting, he contacted the Ethics Commission. Gonzalez will pay a fine of $500.
>> The owner of a nightclub that was cited as an unsafe structure filed a complaint (C 11-20) against the director of the Miami-Dade Building Department, claiming that Charles Danger’s powers enable him to cite violations, determine compliance and demolish buildings. Keith Wilson appealed his citation and was granted extensions to bring his building up to compliance, but after an appearance before the Unsafe Structures Board on April 5, 2011, he was told the Board could not to grant further extensions. Danger serves as secretary of that board. The Ethics Commission found that Wilson was afforded due process, and since his complaint was filed under the Citizen’s Bill of Rights, it may not proceed to a probable cause determination.
>> In other action, the COE reached agreement with Joseph Centorino on an employment contract when he takes over as executive director on August 15, 2011. All background checks cleared the vetting process, and in response to a motion by Commissioner Gelber, the board voted unanimously to approve his appointment.
Ethics Commission: Requests for Opinion (RQO)
>> Two international trips for one local government official have different gift disclosure requirements. North Miami Mayor Andre Pierre traveled to Dakar, Senegal, from June 12 to June 19, 2011, on behalf of the National Conference of Black Mayors. He and staff members are planning a trip to Chengdu, China, August 7 through the 14th to attend a forum as part of Sister Cities International. In response to RQO 11-18 from the office of the mayor, the Ethics Commission ruled that, since next month’s trip to Asia is to conduct official business, it is exempt from gift disclosure rules. However, because last month’s trip to Africa was in Mayor Pierre’s individual capacity, it must be reported as a gift by September 30, 2011 – the end of the calendar quarter following the quarter in which the gift was received.
>> A Request for Proposals issued by the Port of Miami for construction engineering and inspection services for its wharf strengthening project resulted in inquiries by several local companies on whether they are permitted to bid for the work. The Ethics Commission opined that three firms may not respond to the proposal because of conflicts of interest. In RQO 11-17, the COE found that MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc., a subcontractor to the architect for the wharf strengthening program, has a conflict because it would have overlapping responsibilities on different phases of the same project. Another subconsultant, A.D.A. Engineering, Inc., which has assisted with topographic and hydrologic surveys and utility and drainage designs, was told in response to RQO 11-19 that it also has overlapping responsibilities since A.D.A. has construction phase responsibilities under the design agreement. A subconsultant to the bond engineer for the Seaport, Bolton Perez & Associates, is also prohibited from bidding under the decision in RQO 11-20, because the company may have to provide reports and recommendations regarding the project as part of the annual bond engineering report.
>> Three other firms were given the go-ahead to apply for the work associated with the deep dredging. The Ethics Commission noted that Pinnacle Consulting Enterprises, Inc., is not currently providing any services at the Port, so the response to RQO 11-21 states that the company may provide construction engineering and inspections for the wharf strengthening program. Avart, Ammann & Whitney, Inc., is involved in the re-roofing of one building at the Port, improvements to a cruise terminal and drainage improvements near the terminals. Because the firm’s current work is not related to the proposed job, the Ethics Commission opined in RQO 11-22 that it does not have a conflict. A similar ruling of no conflict was issued in response to RQO 11-23 sought by GEOSOL, Inc., which is currently providing soil, foundation and material testing services in the cargo area, serving as a subconsultant for cruise terminal improvements and helping to develop the criteria for a water main replacement.
>> A Miami-Dade County procurement officer who has accepted a job with a current County vendor asks in RQO 11-24 if he will face any restrictions in his future position. Leonard Gonzalez states that he has purchased commodities in his official capacity but has not handled construction projects. His new position will be as a purchasing agent with Odebrecht Global Sourcing. The Ethics Commission ruled that the conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance permits Gonzalez to accept employment from a County vendor, but the so-called Two Year Rule prohibits him from lobbying County officials on future work. >>> The Ethics Commission was created in 1996 as an independent agency with advisory and quasi-judicial powers. It is composed of five members, serving staggered terms of four years each. Through a program of education, outreach and enforcement, the Commission seeks to empower the community and bolster public trust.
>>> Press release: Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez announced a number of new additions to his senior staff today. The new hires will help lead a Mayor’s Office that is seeing its budget reduced by 20 percent and its staff reduced by 11 positions as compared to the previous administration. Mayor Gimenez has offered Deputy Mayor positions to Ed Marquez and Jack Osterholt. Lisa M. Martinez has been offered the Senior Advisor position. Mayor Gimenez also named Inson Kim as Director of Policy and Legislation. They are joining Genaro “Chip” Iglesias, who accepted the position of Deputy Mayor and Chief of Staff, and Alina T. Hudak, Deputy Mayor and County Manager. Additionally, Mayor Gimenez will be filling a fifth Deputy Mayor slot to complete his senior team. “I’ll be asking a lot of each of these professionals and expect that they will deliver for the residents of Miami-Dade County,” said Mayor Gimenez. “One of my primary pledges to taxpayers is to reduce the size of County government and create a more efficient organization. I’ve asked all County employees to make shared sacrifices for the greater good of this organization and the people it serves, and the Mayor’s Office is no exception.”
Ms. Hudak joined Miami-Dade County government in 1984. She has served as County Manager, Assistant County Manager and Director of the General Services Administration.
Mr. Iglesias is currently Key Biscayne Village Manager. Previously, he served as Chief of Staff to then-City of Miami Manager Gimenez, and as his Chief of Staff when he was a member of the County Commission. He was also Chief of Staff to then-County Commissioner Jimmy Morales. Prior to that, he was a member of the City of Miami Fire Department for twenty-four years, rising to the rank of Captain.
Mr. Marquez, a former City of Miami Manager, was Senior Vice President of First Southwest Company. Previously, he was Chief Financial Officer of the Miami-Dade County Public School Board and held positions in the Miami-Dade County Finance Department including Director, Controller and Audit Manager.
Mr. Osterholt is a longtime public servant. He served as the County Administrator for Broward County, Executive Director of the South Florida Regional Planning Council, Deputy State Budget Director and head of Policy and Planning for then-Governor Bob Graham. He is also President of Osterholt Consulting, Inc., a strategic planning and management firm.
Prior to joining the Office of the Mayor, Ms. Kim was Senior Policy Analyst and Commission Aide for then-District 7 County Commissioner Gimenez. Previously, she was an Advertising and Promotions Coordinator and Public Information Officer in the Miami-Dade Aviation Department.
Most recently, Ms. Martinez was the Executive Director of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Office of Human Resources and Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Grant Administration. Previously, she was the Director of Policy and Legislation of the City of Miami’s Office of the Mayor and Senior Advisor on Education Policy.
>>> Press release: Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez is hosting a series of Budget Town Hall Meetings, where residents will be able to ask Mayor Gimenez and staff about the proposed Fiscal Year 2011-2012 County budget, www.miamidade.gov/budget. Date: Thursday, July 28, 2011 Location: Kendall Village Civic Pavilion, 8625 SW 124th Avenue, Miami, FL 33183 Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm >>> Date: Tuesday, August 2, 2011 Location: Little Haiti Cultural Center, 212-260 NE 59th Terrace, Miami, FL 33137 Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm >>> Date: Wednesday, August 3, 2011 Location: Hialeah Senior High School, 251 East 47th Street, Hialeah, FL 33013 Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm >>> Date: Thursday, August 4, 2011 Location: Aventura Government Center, 19200 West Country Club Drive, Aventura, FL 33180 Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm >>> Date: Tuesday, August 9, 2011 Location: Palmetto Bay Village Hall, 9705 East Hibiscus Street, Miami, FL 33157 Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm >>> Date: Thursday, August 11, 2011 Location: Miami Gardens City Hall, 1515 NW 167 Street, Miami, FL 33169 Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm >>> Date: Tuesday, August 16, 2011 Location: Miami Art Museum, 101 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130 Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm >>>
Date: Thursday, August 18, 2011 Location: Coral Gables Country Club, 997 North Greenway Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33134 Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCOOLS
>>> Board leadership gets scanned, Chair Hantman & Vice Feldman in the spotlight, net worth $7.23 million and $$2.56 million through Dec. 2010
While the nation’s fourth largest public school district is grappling with almost $2 billion in school funding cuts over the past four years that has been mitigated only by District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho acting by cutting administrative costs back in 2008 to the present. One of the primary reasons he was successful was his nine-member school board supported these past and current financial adjustments, even though it was politically challenging and that has not always been the case over the past decade. It is for this reason the Watchdog Report looks at the board’s leadership and long serving Board Chair Perla Tabares Hantman and Vice Chair Lawrence Feldman, Ph.D. are in the spotlight this week. Hantman was first elected in 1996, she represents District 4 and fought back a challenger in the primary in her last race in 2010 and Feldman was elected in 2008 to District 9 after defeating incumbent Evelyn Greer. He is up again in 2012. Hantman has been the board’s historian on board rules in many ways and Feldman is a former high school principle who has made a successful political transition to the school board.
 Hantman |
 Feldman |
What do we know about their finances?
Hantman through Dec. 2010 had a net worth of $7.23 million, her home is worth $1.4 million, there is $2.3 million and $2 million in different investment accounts, another $3 million is in CD’s, there is $600,000 in stocks, and cash in banks is $78,000 and 41,000 for the year. Her only liability is a note with Northern Trust Bank owed $520,000 and income for the year was $39,788 from the school district, Northern Trust kicked in $59,042 and she received $17,863 from social security.
Feldman through Dec. 2010 had a net worth of $2.56 million and he lists $125,000 in household goods. He lists real property valued at $112,000, there is $902,000, $242,000, and $1.26 million in investment accounts, and there is $20,500 in Feldman Investments. His income for the year was $38,718 as a school board member, he received $7,253 in dividends and $231.00 was in interest.
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST
>>> Jackson Health System decides to run jail inmate care itself, CEO Migoya believes there will be improved efficiency
Press release: After an exhaustive review of public and private options, Jackson Health System (JHS) will reorganize its Corrections Health Services to lower costs, improve efficiency and maintain Jackson’s excellent medical care. In 2009, Jackson invited private companies to offer bids for providing medical services to Miami-Dade County’s 6,000 inmates. After extensive discussions with two experienced contractors, a review committee determined that administrative streamlining will allow Jackson’s own healthcare professionals to provide the service for the lowest cost.
“Creating a sustainable Jackson means listening to the facts and the data,” said Jackson Health System President and CEO Carlos A. Migoya, who approved the review committee’s recommendation today. “Sometimes that means a private-sector solution and sometimes it means finding smarter ways to deliver services in-house. The right decision is the one that provides the highest quality care and protects the taxpayers’ money.” Improvements to Corrections Health Services include expanding the services provided in jail clinics, and lowering hospital, security and transportation costs involved with bringing inmates to Jackson. JHS will also use an enhanced billing system to collect payments from inmates with insurance. A national search will be launched to find a proven leader in inmate healthcare, and existing employees will receive new and better training.
Jackson Health System is one of the nation’s most respected healthcare providers. U.S. News & World Report recently ranked UM/Jackson Memorial as the number one hospital in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area with national recognition in four specialties, and UM/Jackson’s Holtz Children’s Hospital with national recognition in seven specialties.
>>> Press release: Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz organizes public meetings on Jackson Hospital Governance Task Force recommendations
Miami-Dade residents are invited to voice their opinions on recommendations made by the Hospital Governance Task Force to manage the County’s major public hospital, Jackson Health System. The Hospital Governance Task Force was created by the Board of County Commissioners to study and present recommendations on the governance structure of Jackson. A series of public meetings will be held throughout Miami-Dade County in which residents can learn more about the recommendations and state their opinions on the future management of Jackson Memorial Hospital. The current recommendations made by the Task Force touch on a number of topics, including the structure of Jackson’s Board of Directors, ethics standards, legal structure and governance, and responsibilities to be held by both the Miami-Dade County Commission and the Jackson Health System Governing Board. The meetings were coordinated by Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz, who chairs the County’s Public Safety & Healthcare Administration Committee. All county commissioners were invited to submit dates, times, and locations for meetings within their respective districts.
>>> Wednesday, August 3, 2011 – 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Jackson North Medical Center
160 NW 170th Street, 2nd Floor Auditorium North Miami Beach, FL 33169 (Commissioner Heyman’s District 4)
>>> Thursday, August 4, 2011 – 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Jorge Mas Canosa Youth Center
250 SW 114 Street Sweetwater, FL 33174 (Commissioner Diaz’s District 12)
>>> Wednesday, August 17, 2011 – 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Hispanic Branch Library
1398 SW 1 Street Miami, FL 33135 (Commissioner Barreiro’s District 5) >>>
A copy of the recommendations can be viewed online at http://www.miamidade.gov/auditor/library/11-07-14_Outline_of_HGT_Recommendations.pdf. For more information, please contact Commissioner Diaz’s office at 305-599-1200.
CITY OF MIAMI
>>> Commission 2 candidates will get fair coverage but the cold verbal shoulder from WDR in the months ahead
The Watchdog Report wishes the candidates good luck running for Miami District 2 and I will cover you all equally and without favor, but don’t get it wrong when I don’t talk to you in public. For I don’t want to know you, since in the future I may be part of the media that ends your political future depending on what each of you does during this campaign, and we will see how this plays out in the months ahead. Further, in the past, commission races for this seat have been brutal to say the least and I have no intention of being drawn into this local political vortex.
>>> PAST WDR: Sarnoff King of the Hill when it comes to campaign fundraising, hits $377,000 mark, has four challengers with Niemeyer raising most with $60,000
Marc Sarnoff (Net worth 2.08 million), the incumbent District 2 commissioner continues to be the giant gorilla when it comes to campaign fundraising and through June, he has raised $377,600, spent $105,000 and far out raised the other four candidates running against him this November. Kate Callahan through the same period has raised $51,420 and spent $43,000 and Michelle Niemeyer has $60,350 in her campaign war chest and has spent $47,300, Donna Milo has $56,025 and $1,670 was expended and Williams Armbrister lists no money raised, but $20.00 has been spent.
What about the race?
Sarnoff an attorney elected in 2006 in a bitter race against Miami commission appointed Linda Haskins who raised $750,000 to his around $300,000 at the time, but he prevailed by two to one after the ballots were counted and he sailed to reelection in 2007 after one year in office. He since has expanded his significant Coconut Grove voter base, but he is also a polarizing man and people either regard him in a cult fashion or the Devil incarnate and there are a number of local blogs that track the man’s moves almost every day over the years. Since the district snakes along Miami’s shoreline from Coconut Grove to the Upper Eastside and accounts for a significant amount of the city’s tax base, its voters are high maintenance and with the influx of condominiums downtown. The voting demographics are changing and getting to these new urban voters in their security-protected condominiums is a real challenge for candidates and why television ads will be the way to go, and these are not cheap.
Callahan, a past nurse and public policy wonk with a Ph.D. and Master’s Degree from Harvard in public affairs is trying to unseat Sarnoff along with Niemeyer, an attorney, both from the Grove, and Milo is a contractor. However, the fact he is facing three women (though Milo is transgender) may make the dynamics skewed, when it comes to any future debates the candidate might participate in and he could have his hands full in these forums, despite the larger campaign war chest. Further, it is expected to be a low turnout race and if there is a run off, that level of voter participation will further decline giving the edge to whoever can get absentee ballots and voters to the polls in the upcoming November election.
>>> County Ethics Commission ruling: Probable cause was found in a complaint (C 11-19) against a member of the City of Miami’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for failing to file required financial disclosures two years in a row. Tonya Byng was sent reminders of the requirement a month before the deadlines for her service in 2008 and 2009 and also received several notices of violation by the City Clerk and the Ethics Commission. Byng could be fined as much as $1,500 — $500 for the first count and $1,000 for the second count.
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
>>> Mayoral Candidate Berke to face the TMBC on Tuesday, facing Mayor Bower and Crystal –Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club – Guest Speaker: Steve Berke Meeting Date: Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011- Meeting Time: 8:30 AM Meeting Place: David’s Café II, 1654 Meridian Ave., South Beach
Steve Berke, the young stand-up comedian running for Mayor of Miami Beach, will be the guest speaker at the August 2nd meeting of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club. After gaining national recognition with a parody of an Eminem song that he used to support marijuana decriminalization (over 100,000 hits on YouTube in the first two days), Steve decided he might have a flare for politics and decided to start in his own backyard by running for Mayor of Miami Beach. And it seems to be working, as a recent Reader’s Poll in the SunPost local newspaper had over 85% of the readers picking Steve as the Top Politician.
There is no charge for attending and everyone is welcome. >>> David Kelsey, Moderator for the Breakfast Club. Visit our web site at www.MBTMBC.com
CITY OF OPA LOCKA
>>> Mayor Taylor hit with $1,500 fine and public reprimand for voting conflict
County Ethics ruling: Opa-Locka Mayor Myra Taylor has agreed to pay a fine of $1,500 and accept a public reprimand as part of a settlement with the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust (COE). Last month, the COE issued a finding of probable cause in a complaint (C 11-16) that she violated the Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance. The investigation found that in late 2009 and early 2010, then-Vice Mayor Taylor engaged in voting conflicts by promoting a funding resolution that benefited the non-profit corporation she heads and improperly influenced city officials to support a special event. As part of the negotiated settlement, two other counts of the complaint will be dismissed.
CITY OF DORAL
>>> With hurricane season upon us, local residents can get information Aug.5
Press release: Doral residents and businesses can receive valuable information for this hurricane season during the Free City of Doral 2011 Hurricane Safety Day on August 5, 2011. Attendees of the event can meet City of Doral representatives, local organizations and businesses that can provide assistance before, during, and after a storm. Admission is Free and will include free hurricane supplies and a free drawing for a portable generator by Tradewinds Power Corp.
In the event, a display of camping equipment will be offered by Bass Pro Shops, and information on portable generators will also be provided by Tradewinds Power Corp. Government agencies/business entities that will be participating in the event include: Miami Dade County Emergency Management, American Red Cross, National Weather Service, Doral Ace Hardware, Doral Insurance Advisors, Bass Pro Shops, Tradewinds Power Corp, and WFOR CBS Channel 4. For more information about Doral 2011 Hurricane Safety Day, please call (305) 593-6680 or visit www.cityofdoral.com. WHAT: Doral 2011 Hurricane Safety Day WHEN: August 5, 2011 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. WHERE: Morgan Levy Park, 5300 NW 102 Avenue.
>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA
BROWARD COUNTY
>>> Mayor Gunzburger in the spotlight, first elected in 1992, has $5.45 million net worth through Dec. 2010
Long serving County Commissioner Sue Gunzburger is in the spotlight this week and she was first elected to the county commission in 1992. She is the current county mayor, a position she has held before over the past two decades and prior to joining the nine-member board, she was a City of Hollywood commissioner. She also was on the 2000 presidential election recount canvassing board that made national headlines given the controversy in the tight presidential race that had George W. Bush prevailing over Al Gore by less than a thousand votes. Gunzburger in 2010 in a rough primary beat back former state Sen. Steve Geller, D-Hallandale Beach challenge in a particularly ugly campaign but in the November general election she cruised to victory over Independent Russell Setti garnering 72 percent of the vote.
What do we know about her finances?
Gunzburger through Dec. 2010 had a net worth of $5.45 million and she lists $95,000 in household goods. There is $511,000 in a money market, there is $2 million in bonds, retirement accounts have $1.29 million, there is another $1.5 million in other investments, and she owes credit cards $3,980. Her income for the year was $92,700 as a county commissioner, social security kicked in $23,690 and an IRA contributed $38,624. She also lists $35,000 from real estate investments and $115,000 in interest gains.
Gunzburger http://www.broward.org/Commission/District6/Pages/About.aspx
>>> 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
>>> Vice Chair Vana in the spotlight, elected Nov.08, missed political purge, had $88,000 net worth through May
County Commissioner Shelley Vana is in the spotlight this week and the commission vice chair was first elected in November 2008 after federal investigations and prosecutions led to the demise of a majority of the past sitting commissioners leaving openings on the seven-member board. She is a former state representative, is trained as a psychologist, and works for the Palm Beach Public School District.
What do we know about her finances?
Vana through May 2011 had a net worth of $88,425 and she lists $75,000 in household goods. Her home is worth $132,000 and a condominium is valued at $23,000, there is $75,950 in an IRA, a car is worth $8,000 and she has $9,100 in cash. Her debts are a $128,000 mortgage, $60,000 and $10,000 in other liabilities, and her income as a commissioner for the year was $92,900.
http://www.pbcgov.com/countycommissioners/district3/biography.htm
LEON COUNTY
>>> Press release: Gov. Scott goes with Joseph “Mike” Hogan and Donna M. Poole to the Public Employees Relations Commission.
Hogan, 61, of Jacksonville, served as the Duval County Tax Collector from 2003 to 2011. In 2008, he was appointed to serve on the statewide constitutional Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, which was charged with examining the state budget process, revenue needs, and expenditure processes through the year 2028. Previously, he served as a Florida state representative from 2000 to 2003 and a city councilman for the city of Jacksonville from 1991 to 1999. Hogan was also employed by AT&T for 25 years as a human resources specialist and labor relations manager. As labor relations manager, he handled union grievances, arbitrations, and was responsible for assisting and training all managers regarding labor issues. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida. Hogan succeeds Stephanie Williams Ray as Chair and is appointed for a term beginning July 27, 2011, and ending January 1, 2012.
Poole, 55, of Tallahassee, has been a self-employed labor law attorney since 2009. Previously, she practiced in the private sector with a focus on civil litigation from 1981 to 1987 and served as general counsel to the Florida Department of Labor from 1987 to 1988. Poole served as a Public Employee Relations Commissioner from 1988 to 1990, as well as in 1997. She then served as chair of the Public Employees Relations Commission from 1999 to 2008. From 1990 to 1996, Poole and her husband owned and operated four Blockbuster Video stores in the Tallahassee/Thomasville area. She received her bachelor’s and law degrees from Florida State University. She succeeds Jessica Varn and is appointed for a term beginning July 27, 2011, and ending January 1, 2014. >> The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
PINNELAS COUNTY
>>> Press release: Seafood firm and CEO sentenced for mislabeling Indonesian, Malaysian, and Thai shrimp
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Hal Robbins, Special Agent in Charge, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),Office of Law Enforcement (“OLE”), and Adam Putnam, Commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (“FDACS”), announced that defendants Richard Stowell (Stowell), 65, of St. Pete Beach, and United Seafood Imports, Inc. (United), of St. Petersburg, Florida, were sentenced today based on their earlier guilty pleas to an Information, charging them with conspiring to commit Lacey Act violations. According to court hearings and records, from January 25, 2007 through August 7, 2009, Stowell, the President, sole shareholder, and owner of United, in concert with Mark Platt and Shifco, Inc., whose majority shareholder is Platt, conspired to violate the Lacey Act by mislabeling and selling approximately one million pounds of shrimp. The shrimp, valued at more than $700,000, was ultimately sold to supermarkets in the northeastern United States. Platt and Shifco pled guilty and were sentenced for their role in the conspiracy in March 2011, before United States District Court Judge Ursula Ungaro.
The mislabeling of foods such as fish and shrimp is prohibited by the Lacey Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 3372(d)(1) and 3372(d)(2), and the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”), 21 U.S.C. § 331. The Lacey Act, in pertinent part, makes it unlawful for a person to falsely identify any fish which has been, or is intended to be, imported, sold, purchased, or received from any foreign country or transported in interstate or foreign commerce. The FDCA, in pertinent part, prohibits the alteration or removal of the whole or any part of the labeling of food, if such act is done while such article is held for sale after shipment in interstate commerce. U.S. District Court Judge Ursula Ungaro sentenced Stowell to two (2) years of probation, six (6) months of home confinement with electronic monitoring, and restrictions on working in the food industry and seafood industry. Further, Stowell was required to complete one hundred hours of community service for each year of probation, inclusive of writing an article describing his conduct in the instant case, and assisting in teaching the seafood industry about Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Regulations and Lacey Act requirements, violations of which resulted in three felony convictions for Stowell. United was sentenced to two years’ probation as to each count of conviction, to run concurrently, a $200,000 fine, and a $3,200 special assessment. Pursuant to representations made on the record, United is in the process of dissolution. Mr. Ferrer commended the efforts of the NOAA-OLE, and the State of Florida for their coordinated investigative efforts. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman O. Hemming, III. >>> 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.
WALTON COUNTY
>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Angus “Gus” Andrews and Nicholas “Nick” Patronis to the Governing Board, Northwest Florida Water Management District.
Andrews, 55, of DeFuniak Springs, is the owner of Andrews & Arnsdoff Realty. He succeeds M. Timothy Norris on the Governing Board and is appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2011, and ending March 1, 2015.
A native of Walton County, Andrews also owns Southern Beach Management, a rental service for beach chairs, bicycles and kayaks. He previously owned Abbott and Andrews Realty and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Trustmark Bank. He received his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University.
Patronis, 44, of Panama City Beach, is the co-owner of Captain Anderson’s Restaurant. He succeeds Behzad Ghazvini on the Governing Board and is appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2011, and ending March 1, 2015. Named Tree Farmer of the Year in 1986, Patronis is also a tree farmer committed to protecting Northwest Florida’s natural resources. He is also a member of the Florida Restaurant Association and the National Restaurant Association. He attended Gulf Coast Community College. >> The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
DUVAL COUNTY
>>> Gov. Scott sets Sept. 20 as state Sen. District 1 primary election date
Please find attached Executive Order 11-163, regarding a special election to be held in Senate District 1, to fill the vacancy that now exists in the Florida Senate. A special primary election shall be held on September 20, 2011, and a special general election shall be held on October 18, 2011, to select the State Senator for Senate District 1.
MONROE COUNTY
>>> When it comes to Monroe County it is “a glass that is half-full,” says Administrator Gastesi
“The past few years have been filled with challenges and opportunities, not only for the Florida Keys but for all local governments. Yet, I have never been more optimistic about our future. After reading this, I hope you share my optimism.
The challenge of the past several years has led many of us to view this “new normal” — doing more with less — as an opportunity to demonstrate the value of professional local government and the contribution we make to our community.
Recessionary times demanded that we take a hard look at how we do business. All Monroe County agencies have been challenged to examine their operations and evaluate what they do and how they do it.
In the past few years, we have cut staff by 15 percent, eliminated many high-level managerial positions by functionally consolidating nine divisions to four and combining departments, diluted employee benefits and renegotiated union contracts. These actions have resulted in reducing our budget by over $22 million the past three years — $6.4 million from ad valorem tax levy (property taxes) alone — and we have been able to replenish our fund balances. These cost reduction strategies, along with efficiency and productivity improvements, will continue to pay dividends in perpetuity. While we were shrinking your county government, we were also hard at work providing the services you demand. I am proud to unveil the 2010-2011 State of the County Report website: http://fl-monroecounty.civicplus.com/Documentview.aspx?DID=1512. As you review this report, you may be surprised at the extensiveness of services the county provides. I hope you are also impressed with the range of tasks your county employees provide. In difficult times, the demand for government services increases along with the desire to cut government expenditures. County staff has met this challenge, ably doing more with less for the past few years, and we will continue to do so. The State of the County Report details actions in each major functional area of the county. Highlights include:
• With help from Florida Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration and greater passenger deplanements, we have reduced the bond debt on the Key West Airport from $31 million to $10 million, and at this pace, we will save over $11 million in interest payments.
• We have modified the county employee health benefits, and expect to save $3 million a year for the next three years with our new provider.
• The Office of Management and Budget secured nearly $10 million in state and federal grants this year, including $2.5 million in federal “stimulus” funds and a $2.6 million State Energy Program grant to help identify and implement energy efficiencies that will benefit us for years to come.
• Our office of Transportation Planning secured over $5 million in federal grants to improve pedestrian access and scenic qualities of U.S. 1.
• Grants through our Social Services Department help us provide services for the elderly, the transportation disadvantaged and low-income families. A $350,000 grant from stimulus dollars helped us prevent evictions of over 300 Monroe County households.
• Software in the Building Department was upgraded for the first time in eight years, allowing for better tracking of permits and faster response for customers.
• Our library instituted a new Integrated Library System to increase capacity and improve management of databases for circulation, inventory and acquisition.
• We have begun the revision of our comprehensive plan, which will lay the groundwork for the Keys for the next 20 years.
• We are identifying and implementing strategies to help us adapt to climate change and projected sea level rise locally and regionally, including participating in the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact.
• We have embarked on producing a strategic plan. Our strategic plan will establish our priorities on what we will accomplish in the future, guide decision-making, improve performance and accountability, and communicate to everyone what is most important. We reached out to the citizenry for input and feedback. We held dozens of community meetings, conducted opinion surveys, customer satisfaction surveys, and continue to monitor “listening posts” that include the media, advisory boards, citizen complaints/feedback, and staff contacts with the public. We learned that the major issues that will drive our strategic priorities are the environment, cost of living, hurricane preparedness, wastewater and proper governance. We will continue to streamline the organization, and through the expansion of our website and e-government initiatives, we will make doing business with the county easier and more convenient. I feel privileged that I am part of an improving Monroe County government that will continue to raise the standard of excellence in the service we provide to the public,” wrote Roman Gastesi, the Monroe Chief Administrator.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
>>> Press release: During the summer recess Miami-Dade Community Action Agency is providing free meals to children 18 years and younger at no cost. The Summer Food Service Program began on June 13, 2011 and ends on August 12, 2011. A nutritionally balanced lunch and snack is served weekdays at 200 program sites throughout Miami-Dade County. A list of the participating sites is available to be downloaded from the Miami-Dade County web portal at www.miamidade.gov/caa. The program sites are approved in geographical areas where 50% or more of the children qualify for free and reduced price meals during the school year. Program sites are located in recreational centers, summer camps, churches, and community based organizations that provide services to children during the summer recess. It is the policy of Miami-Dade County that all children will be served without discrimination. Meals will be provided to all children regardless of race, color, sex or disability. According to Ruthe White, Nutrition Service Coordinator, “this summer we have seen a significant increase in the number of meals served compared to last year.”>> For additional information about the programs and services provided by the Community Action Agency please call (786) 469-4600 and for information regarding the Summer Food Service Program, please contact Rani Panchanathan at (786) 469-4789. Who: Miami-Dade Community Action Agency What: FREE meals for children during the summer recess When: Start Date: June 13, 2011 End Date: August 12, 2011 Where: 200 Program sites throughout Miami-Dade County Why: To provide nutritious meals to low-income children during the summer recess.
>>> State Redistricting Town Hall Meetings with State Senators and Representatives on August 17th August 17. Miami Dade Wolfson Campus 10AM-2PM. FIU College of Law 6-9PM. There will be two town hall meetings featuring state senators and representatives discussing the plans for redrawing Florida’s political boundary lines. Here you will be able to voice your concerns about how redistricting will affect you and express how you feel our districts should be drawn. Both town hall meetings will be on August 17th; the first will be held at the Miami-Dade Wolfson Campus from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and the second will be held at the FIU College of Law from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Click here for more information.
>>> Press release: Dear Friends of Miami-Dade County Parks,
For years, Crandon Park has been a great place to go to the beach, take an Eco-Adventure tour, ride your bike, launch your boat, play tennis or simply picnic with your family. To keep the park in its best shape and the activity areas useable, it needs constant upkeep and maintenance. For the second year in a row, Coca-Cola is kicking-off , a campaign that calls all families to go outdoors this summer and play in the park. In the process, you can vote for your favorite park to win up to $100,000 in grants; only you can change our community and Crandon Park with just the click of a button. Here’s how – visit www.LivePositively.com between now and September 6, 2011, to vote for Crandon Park. There are several ways to vote: Click on your favorite park, upload photos and videos of you and your family being active in the park, and “check in” from the park using Facebook Places.
The Coca-Cola Live Positively initiative will award a $100,000 recreation grant to the park with the most votes, a $50,000 grant to the second-place park and a $25,000 grant to the third-place park. If Crandon Park wins one of these recreation grants, every cent of the money will go toward improving it and making it a better place for you and your family. This is possible with the help of people like you who care about our parks; get active outdoors, spread the word and rally friends and family around the park. Come on out to Crandon Park, get active, and don’t forget to vote daily through September 6, 2011 o n www.LivePositiveley.com so our park can be crowned America’s favorite this summer.
LETTERS
>>> Reader on success of chickenpox vaccination for children
In years past chickenpox (varicella) has primarily been considered a relatively mild infection in children and more likely serious in adults. Vaccination against chickenpox was promoted primarily for its economic value, since a parent often would have to miss several days of work taking care of the ill child. Deaths from chickenpox in children were known to occur, but it was not considered as serious an illness as measles, hemophilus influenza or some of the others.
Since the vaccine has become available, however, and more children are being immunized than ever before, the decrease in chickenpox-related deaths has been impressive. Even adults, who often would get more severe disease, have shown a decrease in the death statistics, probably because they are no longer being infected by children. So an uncommon cause of death in children has now become rare. Another success story for immunizations, recognized as being one of the great public health successes in history.
Wil Blechman 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
>>> 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 >>> >>> To read the full section large two page 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 >>>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 >>> 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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