Watchdog Report Vol.12 No.18 September 4, 2011 Est.05.05.00 – I go when you cannot

>>> 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.

>>> May you and your family have a safe and thoughtful Labor Day Holiday on Monday as we think of the many people in our nation that are unemployed and trying to survive in this challenging economic climate. Further, with the fast approach of the Tenth Anniversary of Sept. 11, each of us in are own way must reflect on those that we lost in the attack. The changes this event has made on the America psyche, the thousands of people killed since, either civilian or military in subsequent combat in Afghanistan and Iraq over the past decade and for those serving to protect our nation today, God Speed.

>>> CORRECTION: Contrary to a headline that appeared in the Watchdog Report on August 28, 2011, the Miami-Dade Ethics Commission did not issue a letter of instruction to Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi in case C 11-27. Rather, the Ethics Commission will seek to clarify for citizens — as well as elected officials generally — the manner in which public comments at public meetings should be conducted.  That letter will be reviewed by Ethics Commissioners during their September meeting. You correctly stated that case C 11-27 against Mayor Pizzi was dismissed for lack of legal sufficiency. We would appreciate your providing your readers with a correction in this matter. Thank you for your continued interest in the Miami-Dade Ethics Commission. I apologize for the headline error.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> U.S. Rep. Bachmann takes Miami by storm, slams Obama for 7 million in lost jobs, but only garners 10% support in national polls

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, (R- Minnesota) hit Miami last Monday and she took in the Cuban Memorial Museum and topped it off with a Café Cubano and press conference at the landmark Versailles Restaurant on Eighth Street. The Republican presidential candidate doing a bus tour of battleground states extended her stay after Hurrican Irene hit the Northeast last weekend leaving millions of people flooded and without power and accounted for over four dozen deaths in a number of states. Bachmann, one of a pack of GOP candidates is trying to distinguish herself from the group that has Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Gov. Mitt Romney leading in the polls with her coming in at about 10 percent. She and her husband have five kids and adopted another 23 and she has strong evangelical roots that had her saying Monday she was “joking” to reporters when she blamed the recent earthquake and hurricane’s destruction on God sending a wake up call message to Washington a day earlier. The former state senator, who was elected to the state’s U.S. House District 6 in 2006, is an attorney, a “Constitutional Conservative” says her web page and she founded the House Tea Party Caucus in 2010.

Bachmann speaking to a crowd with the majority of them women used her trademark chant about wanting to make President Barack Obama “a one term president,” her supporters echoed after a prompt by her. She is a law school graduate from Oral Roberts University, has a LLM in Tax Law from the College of William and Mary, and is a “former federal tax lawyer.” She told the crowd that “making a profit is good and necessary” and Republicans should “stand-up for what works” and you will “never see a [policy] tsar or a teleprompter in the White House,” if she is elected. Picking up a business theme, she slammed a new Obama economic advisor appointment who has spent his “whole life in government or teaching,” and believed “it would have been better to get someone that has run a business.” She said since the Great Recession there “have been 7 million jobs lost” and many have gone “to China,” she predicted. “Government does not create jobs, private business does,” she asserted.

She also took aim at Medicare fraud, where Miami and Tampa is ground zero for such abuse. “The cost of this fraud is $98 billion a year” and if she is elected “that will end.” She also acknowledged her campaign “will be all over Florida, because Florida chooses presidents,” she closed. However, a long time local Republican who knew Bachmann predicted “she did not have a chance” and it remains to be seen if that prediction is true. A comment many people in 2007 when then U.S. Sen. Barack Obama decided to throw his hat in the Democratic Party presidential primary that he ultimately won.

Bachmann

At the event for Bachmann, were a number of elected leaders including her peer U.S. Rep. David Rivera, (R-Miami), and when I asked him if he supported Bachmann after the event? He quipped he is “endorsing any candidate that picks U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, (R-FL) as their vice president candidate,” he responded.

>>> Press release: U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE COMMEMORATES 9/11 -USAO Staff Volunteer to Plant Reflective Gardens at Area Schools; U.S. Attorney to Speak at Various Events

U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer today announced various civic activities in which members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office will participate in commemoration of the ten-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. U.S. Attorney Ferrer stated, “We see the ten year anniversary of Sept. 11 as an opportunity to honor the victims who lost their lives that day and the heroes whose resilience, courage, and determination inspired us to be part of an even better nation.  As we join together to take pride in the resilience of the American spirit, it is also a time to give our thanks to all of the brave men and women who were galvanized by 9/11 to serve our country.  I can think of no better way to honor our fallen and living heroes than re-committing ourselves to the greater good through public and community service.” To this end, the United States Attorney’s Office will conduct a series of service projects at four public schools in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and St. Lucie Counties between September 8, 2011, and September 16, 2011.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office volunteers will address the students on the value of public service and will help the students at these schools commemorate Sept. 11, by planting a “Reflective Garden” at each of the four schools.

The Reflective Gardens will feature native South Florida plants, such as a Gumbo-Limbo,  Lignum Vitae, Coontie Palm, and a Blue Porter Weed.  These plants were selected by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to reflect the spirit and character of the American people.  In particular, these plants are known for their resilience, longevity, and tolerance of their changing surroundings.  The Gumbo Limbo, for example, which will be the centerpiece of each of the gardens, is known to re-grow from a branch that has fallen to the ground after being struck by lightning.  The Lignum Vitae, more commonly known as the “Tree of Life,” can live for more than 800 years.  The Coontie Palm was used by many native American tribes as a staple source of food.  Finally, the Blue Porter Weed is a plant that seemingly dies every winter, but springs back to life the following spring. The formal dedication ceremonies of the Reflective Gardens will be held at the following places and times: Miami-Dade County: Friday, September 9, 2011, at 9:30 a.m., Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary, 505 NW 20th Street, Miami, FL  Principal: Mrs. Ann Gary…. Ferrer added, “The goal of these events is to pay tribute and remember all the heroes, including our first responders, who selflessly risked their lives to save our fellow Americans in the World Trade Center, N.Y.; the Pentagon in VA; and the brave passengers of Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA.” Mr. Ferrer commended the efforts of his staff, the respective students, faculty and administration at each school.  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.

>>> Press release: IBOPE Zogby Back-to-School Poll: 57% Want National Standard for Advancement 54% Say Test Score Cheating by School Officials Is Widespread

A majority of adults nationwide (57%) say there should be a national standard level of learning in the nation’s public schools before students can move from one grade to another, and, 54% believe test score cheating by school officials to improve standardized test scores is widespread, a new IBOPE Zogby Interactive survey finds In regard to the best way to evaluate teachers, 64% prefer an even mix of standardized test scores and classroom observation. The survey was conducted from Aug. 25-29. Please click the link below to view the full news release on our website: http://www.ibopezogby.com/news/2011/09/02/ibope-zogby-back-school-poll-57-want-national-standard-advancement/

>>> All photos in the Watchdog Report are taken from public government sites, and the Report goes on line at www.watchdogreport.net on Monday sometime during the day usually. >>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for I am a low cost news service yet I do have to live, thank you! Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times, The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel which ran as a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003 and UNC Chapel Hill naming me one of the top columnists in Florida in a  multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on the WLRN/NPR showTopical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also numerous times over the past decade.

FLORIDA

>>> State Sen. Diaz de la Portilla in the spotlight, elected in 2010 to replace brother Alex, had $486,000 net worth through 2010

This week the Watchdog Report is looking at state Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, (R-Miami), and his brother former Senator Alex after Miguel replaced him in his senate District 36 in Nov. 2010. Miguel is an attorney, a former Miami-Dade Commissioner and the first Cuban American to be the body’s chair in the mid 1990s. He ran for Miami-Dade mayor in 2000 and 2004 but lost both of those races to former Mayors Alex Penelas and Carlos Alvarez but got the nod by voters when he defeated in the Aug. Republican primary former state Rep. Julio Robaina, (R-South Miami) and former municipal mayor. After that victory, he only faced a write in candidate who got only 8 percent of the vote to the Senator’s 92 percent. The new senator is the lead government lobbyist for Becker Polikoff that also employs newly minted Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s son. During his years in political office, the elder Diaz de la Portilla pushed for the creation of a county inspector general office and was part of a group of commissioners that shifted some of the county’s budget expenses to the Public Health Trust around the turn of the Century. He is married and sits on a wide variety of committees in the upper legislative body.

What about his lobbying practice?

Through July at Miami-Dade County, he is registered to represent eight firms with the county and he does a brisk business with the local municipalities, especially when it comes to red light cameras at major intersections. However the projected revenue for these devices has come up short since there installation and the contract with Miami was modified recently to give the city some relief though the duration on the contract was extended. A few month’s ago he called me after a story in the Watchdog Report and said he had worked hard over the decades to build up his legal practice and insisted he did not get preferential treatment with public officials, and many of them were not really aware he was a state senator.

What about his finances?

The senior Diaz de la Portilla had a net worth of $486,000 through Dec. 2010 and he lists $140,000 in household goods. His Coral Gables home is valued at $830,000 and he lists a $483,000 mortgage. His income for the year was $418,000 from the law firm and the state of Florida kicked in $4,784.

What about his younger brother’s finances?

Alex Diaz de la Portilla was termed out of his Senate seat and he left public office in November but he is still required to file one last financial disclosure form for the year with the state and to date. The only disclosure for the political consultant on file is for the year 2009 where he lists a net worth of $31,643.

Miguel

Alex

>>> Press release:  Governor Rick Scott today joined Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary of Intergovernmental Affairs Betsy Markey, and the leadership of Florida’s Domestic Security Oversight Council to launch “If You See Something, Say Something”™ in Florida.  The initiative features a toll-free, statewide hotline and online reporting form for citizens to report suspicious activity.  “As we draw closer to the 10-year anniversary of 9-11, there is no better time to remember the many lives lost that day a decade ago, and to remind citizens of the need to remain vigilant,” said Governor Scott. “This is another tool that citizens and tourists can use to contact authorities when they witness something they know is out of place.”

Tips received through the hotline and online reporting form will go to the Florida Fusion Center, a 24-hour watch desk at FDLE, where intelligence analysts will assess the information and take action in conjunction with the state’s Regional Domestic Security Task Forces. “Florida has sophisticated domestic security and information sharing systems in place and we are safer than ever before,” said Commissioner Bailey, chair of the Domestic Security Oversight Council.  “Prevention is our first priority, and people who report suspicious activity help us identify and address potential threats early on.”

“Our nation’s security is a shared responsibility and every citizen plays a critical role in identifying and reporting suspicious activities and threats,” said U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. “The new partnership between Florida and DHS on the ‘If You See Something, Say Something’™ campaign will help to create a more safe and secure homeland.”

DHS recently unveiled television and radio public service announcements that will be broadcast in Florida and across the nation.  The state campaign will also include displays on mall posters, bus stops, and other transportation hubs.  To help encourage public awareness, the Florida Outdoor Advertising Association, through its member network of companies, has donated space on digital billboards statewide until mid-September.

“If You See Something, Say Something”™ was originally created by the New York City Transportation Authority and subsequently adopted by the DHS, which has partnered and launched the initiative with NCAA, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the NBA, the NFL, as well as several states including Colorado, Minnesota and New Jersey, more than 9,000 federal buildings nationwide, Walmart, Mall of America, the American Hotel and Lodging Association, Amtrak, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the general aviation industry, and state and local fusion centers across the country. For more information please visit www.dhs.gov/IfYouSeeSomethingSaySomething. Officials encourage anyone who sees suspicious activity to report it to local authorities or call I-855-FLA-SAFE (1-855-352-7233).  It can also be reported online through FDLE’s website at www.fdle.state.fl.us.

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Charles “Chuck” Roberts to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Roberts, 58, of Tallahassee, has been the president of C.W. Roberts Contracting Inc. since 1976.  He succeeds Rodney Barreto and is appointed for a term beginning September 1, 2011, and ending August 1, 2016. Roberts served on the governing board of the Northwest Florida Water Management District from 1989 to 2001. He also was director of the Florida Transportation Builders’ Association for 20 years and chairman from 1996 to 1997, as well as the director of the Asphalt Contractors Association of Florida for 10 years.  He was appointed to serve on the Liberty County School Board for one year in 1978. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

FLORIDA SUPREME COURT

>>> Justice Perry tapped by Gov. Crist to state’s top court, well respected, had net worth of $1.14 million through 2010

Justice James E.C. Perry is in the spotlight this week and he is the last Supreme Court Justice I will cover this year after scanning all the other jurists in the state’s top court. Perry is a Gov. Charlie Crist appointee in March 2009 and was a circuit court judge prior to his elevation to the court. He has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and got his law degree from Columbia University in New York City.

What do we know about his finances?

Perry through Dec. 2010 had a net worth of $1.14 million and he lists $411,000 in household goods. His home is worth $650,000, another in Tallahasee is valued at $225,000, and there is $190,000 with ING. His liabilities are mortgages owed $339,000, $27,000, another company is owed $30,000, and his total debt is $396,000. The top jurist’s income for the year was $21,200 in Social Security payments and he received $158,932 for being on the Florida Supreme Court and lists receiving no gifts over $100.00.

>>> Court’s webpage Bio: Justice James E.C. Perry: A native of New Bern, North Carolina, Justice James E. C. Perry was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court by Governor Charlie Crist and took office there on March 11, 2009. Before his appointment, he served as a circuit judge of Florida’s Eighteenth Judicial Circuit upon his appointment by Governor Jeb Bush in March 2000. Justice Perry later served as Chief Judge of the Circuit for a two-year term beginning July 2003.

He graduated from J. T. Barber High School. From there he attended Saint Augustine’s College, graduating in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Accounting. After serving in the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant, he went on to Columbia Law School where he earned his Juris Doctorate degree in 1972.

Justice Perry met his future bride, Adrienne M. Perry, Ph.D., while at Columbia Law School. A scholar in her own right, Mrs. Perry earned her undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Oswego. She then went on to receive a master’s degree from Columbia University and a doctorate in education from the University of Florida. Formerly the Mayor of Longwood, Florida, Dr. Perry is currently a professor at Stetson University. Married since 1971, they have three children – all college graduates. Their eldest son, Willis Perry, is a businessman in Tallahassee. Son Jaimon and daughter Kamilah Perry are attorneys in the Central Florida area….Justice Perry was the first African-American appointed to the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit. Governor Jeb Bush issued this statement when he appointed Justice Perry to the circuit bench in March of 2000. “James brings a high level of professionalism, knowledge, and skill to the bench. His community service and commitment to the Jackie Robinson Little League demonstrates his dedication to the community. I am confident that his expertise, strong commitment, and dedication will continue to be an asset to the 18th Judicial Circuit and the state.” Following his appointment to the circuit court bench, Justice Perry ran unopposed to retain his seat. Justice Perry is the 85th Justice to take office at the Florida Supreme Court since statehood was granted in 1845 >>Office Information: Justice Perry’s office phone is (850) 921-1096, and his judicial assistant is Dawn Stallworth. His staff attorneys are John Keyser, Mireille Fall-Fry, and Rachel Canfield. 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

>>> Mayor Gimenez rolls out reorganization plan, now commission gets to pick it apart with first public budget hearing on Sept.8

Mayor Carlos Gimenez unveiled his long anticipated reorganization plan that cuts county departments from 42 to 25 and will save the government some $5 million and eliminate some 40 senior positions. The new mayor also has moved to eliminate around 1,300 positions, including salary cuts for the rest of the 26,000 county employees. He has said the reorganization is an ongoing activity and this is just the beginning and why when the Watchdog Report asked how he was going to change county government. He would “do it one bite at a time.” Further, Gimenez has been holding public budget meetings throughout Miami-Dade leading up to the county commission’s first public budget hearing Sept. 8 when the residents will get to weigh in on the cuts and restructuring trying to make his case to the county’s taxpayers

County Commissioner Xavier Suarez however is criticizing Gimenez on television and Spanish radio for not cutting enough of the top tier bureaucracy at county hall. The former Miami mayor is critical that much of the fiscal burden is falling on people making well under $100,000 and challenges the pay scale method the mayor is proposing for the coming year’s $6 billion county budget. (To see Suarez on Helen Ferre’s show Issues over the weekend go to http://channel2.typepad.com/issues/) where he discusses his ideas on the county budget with Ferre, and he is said to be considering running for county mayor in 2012 himself.

Gimenez

>>> Commissioner Edmonson fires back about recent Suarez sunshine meeting, more of a “press conference,” she says

County Commission vice Chair Audrey Edmonson after waiting for County Commissioner Xavier Suarez to attend Thursday’s county commission meeting in the late morning on a point of order said she wanted to say it in person, but since the new commissioner District 7 representative failed to show up. She told fellow commissioners why she had sent out a memo recently to Suarez and copied the mayor and commissioners. In her Aug. 22 memo, in response to a sunshine meeting held by Suarez days earlier she noted she had “cut my vacation short” to attend the meeting, because she thought there was a “proposed project in District 3” but she left early into the presentation after it became clear with “great dismay” it “was in fact a press conference,” she wrote, and concerned projects that had not been vetted by local residents. She said she “had not been briefed” on the “concept or project slated for District 3,” and that was contrary to how she represented her district. I am a “servant” to my constituents she said on the dais Thursday and when one of the projects involved the FEC train tracks running through Miami. The community’s residents in her district were not informed or asked what they thought and other plans had been discussed over the recent years, she said.

Suarez as was reported in last week’s Watchdog Report did essentially a one hour and 10 minute presentation to a packed audience in the county commissioner’s second floor pressroom. In response to that story last week, I received an email from the former Miami mayor around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday night. “My son said something about your comments about my car…it cost me less than his and probably less than yours, wrote the commissioner who drives a used BMW Z3 convertible. In the case of the Watchdog Report, I drive a four cylinder, five-speed manual shift, with no electric windows 2002 Jeep Liberty that has had no air conditioning since Jan. 2010 (an unbudgeted expense) and I paid in total $10,000 in 2005 since it only had 8,100 miles on it.

Edmonson

Suarez

What about Suarez speaking to his District 7 constituents? – Grove Chamber event features Commissioner Suarez Sept. 9 @ Mayfair Hotel — Friday – Commissioner Xavier Suarez, Miami-Dade County, District 7 is our Special Guest Speaker — Noon Networking Reception – 12:30 pm Lunch, MAYFAIR HOTEL & SPA, 3000 Florida Avenue, Coconut Grove – $35 Chamber Members, $38 Non-Members For reservations,  info@CoconutGroveChamber.com 305-444-7270 coconutgrovechamber.com

>>> Director Marquez makes Miami-Dade history by holding two titles in gov.

County Clerk Harvey Ruvin noted history was being made when the county commission approved Ed Marquez as the new director of finance for Miami-Dade. Marquez is the first person to be a deputy mayor and deputy clerk at the same time, said Ruvin.

>>> Press release: Residents invited to attend public workshops on redistricting

Miami-Dade County is in the process of redrawing the Commission District boundaries to comply with Federal, State and local requirements. Following the decennial release of population data from the US Census, Commission District boundaries must be redrawn to apportion population relatively equally among each District. The Citizen Advisory Board, together with redistricting experts retained by the Board of County Commissioners, is hosting public redistricting workshops in their respective districts to provide information and elicit comments from the public concerning the redistricting process. Some public workshops have already taken place, but there are still several opportunities to attend one:

•  District 2 – September 7, 2011 6:00 PM, Commissioner Jean Monestime, Faith Community Baptist Church, 10401 NW 8th Ave

•  District 9 – September 15, 2011 6:00 PM, Commissioner Dennis C. Moss, South Dade Government Center, 10710 SW 211 St.

•  District 4 – September 19, 2011 6:30 PM, Commissioner Sally A. Heyman Gwen Margolis Community Center, 1590 NE 123rd St.

•  District 3 – September 21, 2011 6:30 PM, Vice Chairwoman Audrey Edmonson, City of Miami Legion Park Community Hall, 6447 NE 7th Ave

•  District 10 – September 28, 2011 7:00 PM, Commissioner Javier D. Souto, West Dade Regional Library, 9445 Coral Way

•  District 8 – September 29, 2011 6:00 PM, Commissioner Lynda Bell, South Dade Regional Library, 10750 SW 211th St, >>> For more information, please visit the County’s redistricting website at www.miamidade.gov/redistricting or call the County’s 3-1-1 information line.

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCOOLS

>>> Public gets to weigh in on $3.9 billion budget, down by $435 million from the previous year, with total millage coming in at 8.005 mills

The nation’s fourth largest public schools board will set next years millage on Wednesday after 5:01 p.m. in the boards chambers at the downtown administration location and it is the first public hearing on the proposed $3.9 billion budget. The district has been hammered by the falling economy and reduced homes values and the new budget is $1.6 billion less than in 2008 to 2009, and is a $435 million less than the previous year’s budget that ended June 30. And the proposed millage rates is below the 8.249 mills last year coming in at 8.005 mills. However, contrary to other counties around the state the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser valued property taxes as coming in at $199.8 billion, which for the district was a $7.7 billion increase in total tax role value, but has created a tax anomaly state’s district support documentation that could affect Miami-Dade taxpayers adversely.  To read the agenda go toPDF version of Long Agenda available here

What about Supt. Carvalho?

District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho thrust into the top spot in September 2008 has taken a proactive approach and started pruning the administration and teacher union pay concessions from the get go because he saw the state and local economy and housing market was in the tank, and it would be awhile before the local economy would be become more robust. However, the district is also competing with around 90 charter schools and these organizations have reduced enrollment and funding for the public district since public dollars fund the schools. However, he is taking these schools head on by creating with former school employees a public/private charter school in an attempt to demonstrate this type of school could also be run the same way as other public schools without the different requirements that apply to charters.

http://superintendent.dadeschools.net/index.php?news=150

>>> Miami-Dade County Inspector General report: Miami-Edison Senior High School Treasurer Charged with Fraud, Ref. IG11-38SB, September 1, 2011.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> “Assumptions” being achieved key to balanced PHT $1.74 billion budget next year, but what of UM medical school hit of $52 million?

When it comes to next year’s Financial Recovery Board (FRB) $1.74 billion budget passed on Monday by the six member board one word comes to mind, concern abut the budget’s “assumptions,” said a number of the members. As was reported last week, the Carlos Migoya administration is asking for over $118.3 million in labor cost savings and another $56 million of pension related saving initiatives in worker pay cuts, on top of others already done the past few years. But it is the University of Miami that faces the biggest percentage hit and the administration wants to reduce the payments to the university by $52 million from the current $127 million paid for medical services. University of Miami Miller Medical School Dean Pascal Goldschmidt, M.D. told the members that in the past before these oversight board members were on the board “two studies” showed the university was actually being under funded for the medical services being delivered, and this new proposed reduction further puts the medical school in a fiscal hole. He noted the university has a budget that starts June 1 and these cuts would be difficult to absorb on such short notice that includes numerous contracts with physicians practicing at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

However the general theme during this first ever Jackson public hearing on the PHT budget held in the county commission chambers and televised was the current structure cannot be sustained, and when it came to “fair market value” for the services, the health trust has to consider “what can we afford to pay,” said FRB chair Marcos Lapciuc. Migoya said this is an ongoing restructuring designed to make the health trust more efficient in its medical care delivery and encompasses a wide variety of initiates. “We have many irons in the fire” right now and these are “burning hot,” said the CEO who took over in June. The former banker and manager of the city of Miami said negotiations with all the parties involved are ongoing but the hit to UM appears to be the biggest challenge after a over 50-year affiliation with the public hospital which employs over 11,000 employees. But the university’s fiscal reduction is critical to Jackson having a break-even budget in 2011-2012 after losing well over $300 million in the past two years, while delivering $1.2 billion in uncompensated charity care in 2010. (See M-DC Inspector General report below for details of this new yearly charity care cost number.)

The Watchdog Report last week contacted the FRB members and asked about the new budget and its challenges and Lapciuc responded by email writing. “What else can I tell you, we have been at this for over four-years, I have given it everything, and like I said this is one last ditch effort to keep this system together as it currently is. Thank God, we have an excellent management team, we need our labor partners and community to support our efforts and if so, I am very confident that we have an excellent shot at saving this jewel. Thanks for your interest,” wrote the veteran PHT board member.

Migoya

Lapciuc

>>> Miami-Dade Inspector General report: OIG Investigation of One Particular JHS Patient and OIG Review of Non-Emergency Charity Care Provided to JHS Insurance Plan Code “E” Patients, IG11-09, August 30, 2011.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Incumbent Sarnoff faces off against his four challengers at Downtown Bay Forum luncheon Sept. 21

A second candidate debate for the Miami Commission District 2 seat is now scheduled for Sept. 21 at the monthly luncheon of The Downtown Bay Forum www.downtownbayforum.org and with the election creeping closer to Nov. 1. These political forums are expected to get more contested as incumbent Commissioner Marc Sarnoff defends his past five-year record against the four other challengers. Sarnoff is facing off against Williams Armbrister, Kate Callahan, Donna Milo, (who qualified on Wednesday at the Miami clerk’s office around 1:30 p.m.) and Michelle Niemeyer but their campaign war chests dwarf his over $330,000 that has been raised. However, he won his seat as the David versus Goliath candidate when he took out Miami Commissioner Linda Haskins originally in the fall of 2006 by a two to one margin, but this race is expected to end in a runoff. Further, voter sentiment regarding any incumbent is fluid and the challenging candidates are going to fire multiple verbal pot shots while they try to connect with voters in these public forums that will have some of them televised as the election draws closer. Sarnoff, an admiralty attorney has lost some of his luster with some past supporters, though some of his base voters continue to support him almost in a cult fashion. But this race could be like his first one and back then, the brutal attack ads dominated the airwaves.

Sarnoff

>>> Miami Commission Candidate forum – Brickell Homeowners Association – September l4 – CITY OF MIAMI candidates at Miami Science Museum – 3280 S Miami Avenue for November election.  Francis Suarez, Willy Gort and Marc Sarnoff on the ballot – jointly done with the South Miami Avenue Homeowners Assn, Miami Roads Neighborhood Civic Association and Brickell Area Association.

VILLAGE OF COCONUT GROVE

>>> Council member Murray says sayonara to Grove, got quite an education about how brutal small town politics can be

Long serving Coconut Grove Village Council member Stephen Murray has resigned as of today he said in an email. The young man is heading north but got an education concerning local politics and going against the powers to be that had him shocked at its personal intensity. Good luck Stephen in New York and at least you tried to make your community better, versus just whining about it. >>> Here is his message: “Effective immediately, I am resigning from the Coconut Grove Village Council. I regret not being able to finish out the full length of my term but due to personal reasons, I have moved back to my home state of New York to be closer to my family. I wish you all the very best and thank you for accepting me as an equal voice on the Council. This community has been an integral part of my education and Coconut Grove will always have a special place in my heart,” wrote Murray.

CITY OF HIALEAH

>>> Operator of local slaughterhouse sentenced for food adultery and humane slaughter violations

Press release: Wifredo A, Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Larry Hortert, Regional Director, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), announced that Mauret Curbelo, 37, of Hialeah, Florida, was sentenced  today as a result of his conviction for having engaged in the inhumane slaughter of swine and  the sale of uninspected and adulterated swine meat for human consumption, in violation of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA) , Title 7, United States Code, Section 1902(a), the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), as amended, and Title 21, United States Code, Sections 601(m)(4), 610(b), (c)(1)-(2), and 676(a). United States District Court Judge Joan A. Lenard, who had earlier accepted the guilty pleas by Curbelo, sentenced Curbelo to two years of probation and ordered him to perform 100 hours of community service.  Judge Leonard also barred Curbelo for the duration of his probation from any employment at any ranch, farm, or slaughtering facility. The Court did not impose a fine in the case, having determined that Curbelo did not have the resources to pay a fine.

According to the Indictment, statements in Court, and exhibits presented in the matter, Curbelo was the manager responsible for the day to day operations of Danilo Ranch, a business on N.W. 97th Avenue, in Hialeah, Florida.  The defendant, and others acting under his direction, engaged in the commercial slaughter, processing, handling, storing, and selling of meat and meat food products, specifically swine, for human consumption.  Specifically, Curbelo was charged with knowingly distributing and attempting to distribute swine capable of use as human food in June 2010, which had been prepared, packed, and held under unsanitary conditions possibly harmful to health. The same meat products were also placed into commerce without first being inspected and passed as required by the FMIA. Curbelo admitted during his plea hearing that in June 2010, he knowingly slaughtered and handled in connection with slaughter, swine, without first rendering the swine insensible to pain. The HMSA established as the public policy of the United States, that the slaughtering or handling for slaughter of livestock, including swine, may only be carried out by humane methods. The law requires that such animals be rendered insensible to pain by one of the methods described in the HMSA, prior to the animal being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut. Title 7, United States Code, Sections 1901-1902(a).

During the sentencing hearing, the government introduced into evidence photographs of the Danilo Ranch facility, depicting the baseball bat used to bludgeon the swine to death, the unsanitary and hazardous conditions of the area used to slaughter animals, and other related health risks such as a decomposing rat in the vicinity of the site. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Compliance Officers of the USDA FSIS, Office of Program Evaluation, Enforcement and Review, Compliance & Investigations Division and further expressed appreciation for the assistance rendered by the Hialeah – United States Marshall’s Service Florida Fugitive Task Force in effecting the arrest in this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Watts-FitzGerald of the Economic & Environmental Crimes Section of the United States Attorney’s Office. 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.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Mayor Bower gets third challenger with Rivero Levey entering the race –Beach clerk’s office: November 1, 2011 Miami Beach General Election

The following individual(s) have submitted Form DS-DE 9 (Appointment of Campaign Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository for Candidates)  Mayor (Mayor Bower’s Seat)   Matti Herrera Bower, Steve Berke, David Crystal and *Laura Rivero Levey. Group IV (Commissioner Wolfson’s Seat)

Jonah Wolfson; Group V (Commissioner Tobin’s Seat) Edward Tobin, Robert De Leon; Group VI (Commissioner Weithorn’s Seat) Deede Weithorn and Maria Carmen Meruelo. *denotes latest change

>>> Press release: Elections Office Looking for Miami Beach Poll Workers

The Miami-Dade County Elections Department is calling upon the Miami Beach community to consider being a poll worker during upcoming elections. There is a poll worker shortage and a need to recruit people who reside in Miami Beach who would like to work at local voting centers throughout Miami Beach. Two poll worker recruitment meetings are scheduled at Miami Beach City Hall for September 7 and 9, from 9 am – 1 pm, in First Floor Conference Room. Miami Beach City Hall is located at 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach. Several positions are available which offer the potential to earn up to $278 per election. To apply, you must be a registered voter, be computer savvy, be fluent (read, speak and write) in English and attend a paid training class. If you’re interested, contact Miami-Dade County Elections Department’s Poll Worker Section at 305-499-8448.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Former Mayor Slesnick fires back about state of the city

Former Mayor Donald Slesnick, II after last week’s story on the City Beautiful and comments from Mayor Jim Cason and Commissioner Maria Anderson on the budget, and the city’s truck ordinance emailed the Watchdog Report the following comments. “You didn’t ask me for my thoughts – and I have some about the gratuitous tax rate reduction also (our bill shows a whopping savings of $55 on our house) – money that could be used to hire more police officers, clean up the trash from our downtown for eradicate graffiti – all things which we don’t seem to have the funds to do…… I have read with great interest the recent articles regarding Coral Gables’ ban prohibiting the overnight and weekend parking of open-bedded trucks in full view of public right-of-ways.  In my twenty years in City Hall (both as Mayor and Planning & Zoning Chairman), the only complaints I received regarding the ban were from a handful of truck owners.  By far, the far greater number of residents support the enforcement of the ban.

It is especially important to those who live in the smaller, crowded streets of the historic northern neighborhoods where parking is at a premium and house sites are small.  The intrusion of oversized trucks (all trucks are not created cute and well-kept) can easily blight a neighborhood (as evidenced by surrounding areas of Miami-Dade County).   The cost of the City’s recent litigation to defend this zoning code provision is truly insignificant compared to the negative impact on property values if the pristine streetscapes of the Gables were to be diminished.  The plaintiff in that lawsuit (who is no longer a Coral Gables resident) attempted to argue that the regulation is an unconstitutional act aimed at discriminating against a certain class of persons.

The Courts appropriately rejected that argument and found that the ban is a legitimate action by a municipal government to protect the ambiance and property values of the neighborhoods by controlling the physical aesthetics of the community.  The suggestion made in a recent letter to the Editor of amending the ordinance to “allow well-maintained, noncommercial trucks” would be subject to totally subjective, indefensible enforcement by code officers and the requisite discriminatory decision-making process would be more difficult to legally justify when challenged.  Before our City Commission considers doing anything other than enforcing the code, it should consider a full referendum on the issue – as the Court has stated:  this is not a civil rights issue, it is a matter of aesthetical preference which the citizens have the right to impose,” wrote the former mayor.

>>>The City of Coral Gables public budget hearings will be held on Sept.13 and Sept. 27 after 5:01 p.m. in the commission chambers at city hall. The public is invited to speak about how their tax dollars are being allocated and spent.

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Elections Supt. Snipes gets scanned, appointed in Nov. 2003, has won two terms since, had $614,000 net worth through 2010

Dr. Brenda C. Snipes, a Democrat is in the spotlight, she was first appointed the Broward Supervisor of Elections by Gov. Jeb Bush in Nov. 20, 2003 to replace former Supervisor Miriam Oliphant after her controversial tenure that had past elections making national news, and Oliphant’s competency to hold the office was brought into question. Snipes went on to be elected in her own right in 2004 and 2008 and will be up for reelection in 2012. She first came to Broward in 1964 and worked for decades with the Broward public school district before being tapped by Bush.

Snipes
http://www.browardsoe.org/content.aspx?id=13

What do we know about her finances?

Snipes through Dec. 2010 had a net worth of $614,000 and she lists $46,000 in household goods. Her home is valued at $90,000, two other properties in Alabama are worth $15,000 and $7,500, and her only liability is $6,000 owed on a credit card. Her income was $22,380 from the Dept of the Treasury, there is $44,200 in the Florida Retirement fund, and her salary was $142,000.

>>> Press release; Governor Rick Scott today announced the appointment of Anuraag “Raag” Singhal of Ft. Lauderdale to the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court.

Singhal, 47, has practiced law at Raag Singhal, P.A. since 2007 and prior to that at Kaplan & Singhal, P.A.  He served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Seventeenth Circuit State Attorney’s Office from 1990 to 1993.  From 1989 to 1990, Singhal practiced law at Fleming, O’Bryan & Fleming.  He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and law degree from Wake Forest University. “Raag has practiced criminal trial and appellate work in both State and Federal courts and consistently demonstrated an understanding of complex cases,” Governor Scott said. “I am confident he clearly understands the importance of the fair application of law and judicial restraint.” Singhal will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Victor Tobin.

>>> 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

>>> Commissioner Taylor in the spotlight, elected in 2010 after being in FL House, had $50,700 net worth through 2010

Commissioner Priscilla Ann Taylor is being scanned this week and she was first elected to the Palm Beach Commission District 7 seat in 2010. The insurance executive was a former state representative from 2004 to 2010 and is a life long Floridian.

What do we know about her finances?

Taylor through Dec. 2010 had a net worth of $50,759 and she lists $177,000 in household goods. Her home is worth $325,000, a second property is valued at $125,000 and a property in Georgia is worth $160,000. Her liabilities are mortgages owed $152,000, another $212,000 and a third is $315,000 and there is a $41,000 loan and a $15,700 liability with a credit union. Her income for the year was $11,218 from an insurance business and her commission salary was $97,600.

Taylor

http://www.pbcgov.com/countycommissioners/district7/biography.htm

>>> Local resident is busted for importing illegal catch from the Bahamas

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Tracy Dunn, Acting Special Agent in Charge, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), Southeast Division, Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office, and Major Jeff Hubert, Regional Commander, South A Region, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), announced today that Van Bodden-Martinez, a Bahamian national residing in Palm Beach County, was sentenced for having imported and attempted to import into the United States fish possessed and transported in violation of the laws of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, in violation of the Lacey Act, Title 16, United States Code, Sections 3371(a)(2)(A) and 3373(d)(1)(A). U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth A. Marra, who earlier accepted Bodden-Martinez’ guilty plea in the matter, sentenced him to a term of 3 years’ probation with a special condition prohibiting him from importing into the United States any fish or marine product harvested in Bahamian waters.  The Court also ordered forfeiture to the United States of the illegal catch of approximately 45 spiny lobster tails, 343.5 pounds of queen conch, 42 yellowtail snappers, and two insulated ice-chest coolers as a result of Bodden-Martinez’ violation of U.S. and Bahamian law.

According to statements in Court and the charging indictment, on or about February 19, 2011, in Palm Beach County, Bodden-Martinez attempted to import spiny lobster (Panulirus argus), queen conch (Strombus gigus), and yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus), all of which had been harvested without first acquiring a permit to engage in fishing activities and in violation of the possession limits for each of the species set forth in the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, specifically, the Fisheries Resources (Jurisdiction & Conservation) Regulations, Part X, Sections 47(1)(a), (b) and 48(1)(f). Mr. Ferrer commended the coordinated investigative efforts of the Special Agents and Officers of the NOAA Office for Enforcement, ICE, CBP, FWC, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office.  The criminal case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Watts-FitzGerald. >>> 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.

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott today taps Rosemarie Scher of Palm Beach Gardens to the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court.

Scher, 41, has practiced with Schwed, McGinley and Kahle P.A. and served as a traffic hearing officer since 2008. Previously, she was of counsel to Fisher and Bendeck P.A. in 2007 and a sole practitioner from 2006 to 2007. From 1995 to 2006, she practiced with Kubicki and Draper P.A. after practicing with the Law Offices of Henry Laffer in 1994.  She received her bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University and her law degree from the University of Florida College of Law. “Rosemarie’s experience has equipped her to carefully and efficiently apply the law and make a ruling while maintaining respect for all those involved in the case,” Governor Scott said. “She has exercised firmness and consistency, along with compassion and fairness.” Scher will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Elizabeth T. Maass.

NASSAU COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Kimberly J. Fahlgren to the Nassau County School Board.

Fahlgren, 40, of Hilliard, has been an occupational therapist with Kimberly’s Personal Touch Business Consulting, Inc. since 2005. Since 2010, she also has been an adjunct faculty member at Florida State College at Jacksonville, as well as the treasurer and administrator of Exceptional Case Services, Inc.  Previously, she was an occupational therapist for the Nassau County School Board from 2006 to 2008 and with Orange County Schools from 1999 to 2001.  Fahlgren received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from the University of St. Augustine. Fahlgren will fill the District 4 vacancy that was created by the resignation of James Adams. Her term is effective immediately and will run through November 19, 2012.

LEE COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott appoints Howard Andrew Swett of Fort Myers to the Lee County Court.

Swett, 48, has practiced with Knott, Consoer, Ebelini, Hart and Swett P.A. since 1995.  Previously, he served as an assistant state attorney for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit from 1990 to 1995. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville University and his law degree from the University of Florida. “Experienced in both criminal and civil trials, Andrew has gained great insight into how a court should operate, and with his past record of distinguished practice, I am confident he will run the court effectively and efficiently,” Governor Scott said. “He has also demonstrated his ability to come to a fair and reasoned decision in the cases that will come before him.” Swett will fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge John E. Duryea to the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> Commissioner Willington in the spotlight, up in 2012 and has $452,000 net worth through 2010

County Commissioner Kim Willington is in the spotlight this week and she represents commission District 1 that includes precincts 1-4 and 10-12 in the Keys. Her term expires in 2012 and she is expected to run again on the county commission that represents the southern most county in the nation.

What do we know about her finances?

Willington through Dec. 2010 had a net worth of $452,000 and she lists $6,500 in household goods. Her jointly owned home in Key West is valued at $180,000 another property jointly owned is worth $182,000 and there is $84,000 in an IRA and savings. She lists no liabilities and her only income was her $43,600 commission salary.

Willington

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Press release: Elephant Forum meeting, Monday, Sept. 12, 2011 – Noon: Speaker: Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi – 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant, 1395 NW 57 Ave (Red Road)]  Miami -Reservations:  Please reply to via email or call: Mary Ellen Miller, 305 377 9187 >> Cost:  Members $21.00/Others $25.00 payable at the door, cash or check payable to: The Elephant Forum – Cosponsored by:  Republican National lawyers Assoc.

>>> THE MARGULIES COLLECTION AT THE WAREHOUSE PRESENTS NEW EXHIBITIONS

Sculpture: Nancy Rubins, Bruce Nauman, Yuichi Higashionna, Kaz Oshiro, Izaak Zwartjes Photography: Mary Ellen Mark, John Baldessari, Jonathan Monk, Ed Ruscha, Isaac Julien Video: Hiraki Sawa, David Claerbout, Antonia Wright & Ruben Millares Painting: Gregor Hildebrandt, Lawrence Carroll, Lydia Gifford, Frank Stella, Justin Beal – Opens NOVEMBER 11, 2011 through APRIL 28, 2012- This November 11th, 2011 The Margulies Collection will open its 13th season of exhibitions. The exhibition will include new works of sculpture, photography, video and painting as well as the collection’s PERMANENT INSTALLATIONS of work by Ernesto Neto, Olafur Eliasson, Donald Judd, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Willem De Kooning, George Segal, Michael Heizer, Richard Serra, Sol LeWitt, Isamu Noguchi, Tony Smith, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Will Ryman, Joel Perlman, Franz West and John Chamberlain.

>>> Press release: New laws may impact campaigns — As a result of action during the most recent state legislative session, candidates for political office may find significant changes to campaign rules.  Learn all about it at the next Campaign Skills Seminar sponsored by the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust. — The seminar, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 15, 2011, at the Village of Biscayne Park’s Recreation Center, will provide essential information on campaigning, fundraising and record keeping to candidates, campaign treasurers, volunteers and anyone who wants to understand the legal and ethical obligations of seeking public office.  Speakers include representatives of the Miami-Dade Ethics Commission, the State Attorney’s Office and the Elections Department. The event is free and open to the public.  >> Campaign Skills Seminar, Thursday, September 15, 2011 6:30 p.m., Ed Burke Recreation Center 11400 NE 9th Court, Biscayne Park, FL  33161. For more information or to reserve a seat, call Robert Thompson at 305-350-0630 or e-mail robthom@miamidade.gov.

>>> Society of Environmental Journalists Conference, Miami, Oct. 19-23

Shark tagging, coral reef and Everglades exploration, a deep-freeze collection of biomedical samples from the ocean, rising sea levels, oil and water, an eco-fashion show… this is just a taste of topics and events waiting for you at SEJ’s 2011 Annual Conference hosted by the University of Miami. Register soon — SEJ’s ever-popular tours are filling fast! See the draft agenda, book your hotel, find a roommate or ride-share, advertise/host a reception and more.

GO » or  http://www.sej.org/

EDITORIALS

>>> Good Government Initiative of elected officials without press oversight of leaders, will not achieve the results it strives for

The Good Government Initiative www.goodgov.net spearheaded by former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson in collaboration with the University of Miami and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation got a great write up about the new class of 19 lawmakers in www.miamiherald.com last week. The program hopes to teach leaders about municipal bonds, public services, how to be a good public servant and how to deal with the challenges facing their respective public boards that stretch from Palm Beach to Monroe Counties.  The goal is also to teach them to work together and think regionally since so much of South Florida is interconnected, especially when it comes to transportation, the environment and our drinking water.

However, the Watchdog Report was surprised to learn that the press was asked to leave the event since they wanted leaders to be able to speak freely and that is a shame. For the one thing I have learned over the past 15-years going to public meetings is these events are different when the press and media is there and these people should embrace that fact if that is the goal. I discussed the issue of the media a while ago with Sorenson and she at the time said the students would learn how to do interviews and respond to the public but that was not my point and I have written about this over the years before.

For when it comes to good governance and public policy, it cannot be done or achieved in the dark without the empirical observation of the media and an elected leader in the spotlight of the press, and I suggest this is why you don’t speed in front of a state trooper for example. And when it comes to whether an official should do something or decide one way or the other, and perhaps be led astray by external forces. A gut check should be how this would look on the front-page of a major newspaper and what would your parents for example think of it. And I hope that underlying principle gets through to these participants for they will not be in office forever and perhaps only then when they are governed themselves again. Will they understand the importance and role of the press in keeping this Republic strong and vibrant with a connected community who understand how their precious tax dollars are being spent or misspent because it does happen. And generally, the press is part of the equation that finds that fact out and brings it to light when it comes to public institutions.

>>> What did President Jefferson say about the need of a free press and its role in government?

With the Tenth Anniversary of Sept. 11coming up next Sunday, we as a people must reflect on how the tragic event changed the nation and each of us in so many ways, but the attacks also reinforced the wisdom and elegance of the United States Constitution and why it has endured over the centuries. I thought of the freedom we are blessed with and considering the above editorial. I thought it would be interesting to see what President Thomas Jefferson said about the press, since their was no television media back then. I went to a webpage found at the bottom and copied these comments the president has written about the role of the press and keeping the Republic strong. For some of these reasons are even more valid today and I thought my readers might appreciate the insight on this solemn occasion commemorating the attack on America. I have selected just a few of the copied comments found on the webpage.

>>> 51. Freedom of the Press – A press that is free to investigate and criticize the government is absolutely essential in a nation that practices self-government and is therefore dependent on an educated and enlightened citizenry. On the other hand, newspapers too often take advantage of their freedom and publish lies and scurrilous gossip that could only deceive and mislead the people. Jefferson himself suffered greatly under the latter kind of press during his presidency. But he was a great believer in the ultimate triumph of truth in the free marketplace of ideas, and looked to that for his final vindication.

>>> “The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those papers and be capable of reading them.” –Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington, 1787. ME 6:57

>>> “The press [is] the only tocsin of a nation. [When it] is completely silenced… all means of a general effort [are] taken away.” –Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Cooper, Nov 29, 1802. (*) ME 10:341

>>> “The only security of all is in a free press. The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be submitted to. It is necessary, to keep the waters pure.” –Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 1823. ME 15:491

>>> “The functionaries of every government have propensities to command at will the liberty and property of their constituents. There is no safe deposit for these but with the people themselves, nor can they be safe with them without information. Where the press is free, and every man able to read, all is safe.” –Thomas Jefferson to Charles Yancey, 1816. ME 14:384

>>> “The most effectual engines for [pacifying a nation] are the public papers… [A despotic] government always [keeps] a kind of standing army of newswriters who, without any regard to truth or to what should be like truth, [invent] and put into the papers whatever might serve the ministers. This suffices with the mass of the people who have no means of distinguishing the false from the true paragraphs of a newspaper.” –Thomas Jefferson to G. K. van Hogendorp, Oct. 13, 1785. (*) ME 5:181, Papers 8:632

>>> “Our liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor that be limited without danger of losing it.” –Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 1786.

“I am… for freedom of the press, and against all violations of the Constitution to silence by force and not by reason the complaints or criticisms, just or unjust, of our citizens against the conduct of their agents.” –Thomas Jefferson to Elbridge Gerry, 1799. ME 10:78

>>> “The art of printing secures us against the retrogradation of reason and information.” –Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Paganel, 1811. ME 13:37

“The light which has been shed on mankind by the art of printing has eminently changed the condition of the world… And while printing is preserved, it can no more recede than the sun return on his course.” –Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 1823. ME 15:465

>>> “[The] literati [of Europe are] half a dozen years before us. Books, really good, acquire just reputation in that time, and so become known to us and communicate to us all their advances in knowledge. Is not this delay compensated by our being placed out of the reach of that swarm of nonsensical publications which issues daily from a thousand presses and perishes almost in issuing?” –Thomas Jefferson to Charles Bellini, 1785. ME 5:153, Papers 8:569

>>> From http://www.famguardian.org/Subjects/Politics/ThomasJefferson/jeff1600.htm

LETTERS

>>> Thanks so much Dan for all you do for the community.

Darryl K. Sharpton, CPA/ABV

>>>The Publisher’s Statement on the mission of the Watchdog Report and the special people and organizations that make it possible:  Government Subscribers/Corporate Subscribers/Sustaining Sponsors/Supporting Sponsors

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & Initial sponsors since 2000

ANGEL ESPINOSA – (Deceased) owner COCONUT GROVE DRY CLEANER’S

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr.

THE MIAMI HERALD     www.miamiherald.com (2000-2008)

ARTHUR HERTZ

WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)

ALFRED NOVAK

LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)

JOHN S. and JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION  www.knightfoundation.org

THE HONORABLE STANLEY TATE

>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $2,000 a year

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com

RONALD HALL

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov

UNITED WAY OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.unitedwaymiamidade.org

>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $1,000 a year

RON BOOK

LEWIS TEIN  www.lewistein.com

LINDA MURPHY: Gave a new laptop in Oct. 2001 to keep me going.

WILLIAM PALMER

SHUBIN & BASS     www.shubinbass.com

>>> Public, Educational & Social institutions – subscribers at $1,000 or less

CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC.   www.camillushouse.org

CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.cph.org

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATOR MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA  www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY  www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschoolsnews.net

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST & JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM www.jhsmiami.org

THE BEACON COUNCIL   www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES www.mdclc.org

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    http://www.firstgov.gov/

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI             www.miami.edu

The Watchdog Report covers a few of the meetings attended weekly. It remains my belief that an informed public will make better decisions. Therefore, I go to meetings, make the presence of an informed citizen known, and bring the information to you.   The Watchdog Report is in the fourth year of publication and it has been an honor to be able to send this information to you. It is sent to readers in Miami-Dade, Florida, the U.S. and the world. The Watchdog Report is sent to thousands free and while readers have been prodded to subscribe the results have been mixed. Over 250 reports and Extra’s have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events.  The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain.

LETTER POLICY

I welcome letters via e-mail, fax, or snail mail. Letters may be edited for length or clarity and must refer to material published in the Watchdog Report.  Please see address and contact information. Please send any additions and corrections by e-mail, fax or snail mail. All corrections will be published in the next Watchdog Report. If you or your organization would like to publish the contents of this newsletter, please contact me. Please send your request to watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2011, Daniel A. Ricker

>>> 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.

General subscriber’s names will not be published in the Report. To subscribe to the Watchdog Report please use the form below as a subscription invoice.

********************************************************************

Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form

NOTE: Invoice is for Yearly supporter/sponsorship Rates: Thank you.

Supporting Sponsors $5,000

Sustaining Sponsors $2,000

Corporate Sponsors $1,000 (All levels above will be listed in the report with web-site link if desired)

Large Business Supporters $500

Small Business Supporters $250

Individual Supporter $150

Student Supporter $ 75

Any amount $

Name & Address

Please make checks payable to: Daniel A. Ricker

Send to: 3109 Grand Avenue, #125

Miami, FL 33133

Fax 305-668-4784 -To contact the Publisher please e-mail watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

Tags:

This entry was posted on September 04th, 2011 and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.