Watchdog Report Vol.12 No.19 September 11, 2011 Est.05.05.00 – 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Issue

>>> 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.

>>> With the Tenth Anniversary of Sept. 11 upon us today, each of us in are own way must reflect on those people and children that we lost in the attack back then killing over 3,000 people. The changes this tragic 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. And the victims and all who are involved in fighting this protracted War on Terror a decade later will never be forgotten by a grateful nation.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> NSU President Hanbury says Florida facing “a emerging talent gap” and economic growth of 3.5 percent will only resolve unemployment gap in 2020

George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D. the president and CEO of Nova Southeastern University was the keynote speaker at Wednesday’s Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Luncheon held at Jungle Island. The native Virginian is the not for profit private university’s cheerleader and he detailed what the university has achieved and plans in the future. He said the university has 29,000 students, 4,000 employees and an economic impact to the economy of $1.5 billion a year. The educator noted there are 29 such schools in Florida and these private institutions account for the teaching 150,000 of the 350,000 students getting higher education in the Sunshine State. He said NSU has built 5 million square feet in new labs and classrooms and the university has the distinction of granting 260 doctoral degrees to public school district superintendents throughout the nation. Further, the school is “ready to invest $120 million in pure research” that includes biotechnology, software research and includes a Center of Excellence for the study of Coral Reefs. He also offered an olive branch to other universities in South Florida saying, “We must cooperate with other schools” of higher learning and given the overall fiscal and academic environment. “Competition is not the way to go,” he thought.

What about the economy?

Hanbury said he was with a senior economist with the Federal Reserve in Atlanta recently and the Fed is “not giving any recommendation” about the growth of the nation’s economy after in Jan. the organization predicted a three percent or slightly higher growth rate that has not emerged. He said, economists “don’t know where it is going now” and said America’s “fiscal policy now lies with Congress and the President.” He soberly said if over three percent growth is not achieved in the coming years “We will never fill the economic gap created by this recession,” he said. “Partisan politics is not the answer but a collaborative relationship” must be the future watchword for the nation. He said the unemployment gap even at a 3.5 percent growth rate will not absorb the nation’s unemployed until 2020 and if the growth hit 4 percent that gap would close in 2015,” he said the economist predicted.

Hanbury said that in Florida it was important that “some recognition of our long term problems” be recognized be leaders because we are “facing an emerging talent gap,” partially because Florida “lags behind most states in getting students into College.” He also said the “real tragedy in Florida” is the 25 percent” of kids who do not graduate from high school. He noted, “It is already proven that if you don’t graduate from high school” you have a much higher chance “of going on welfare.” Further, he challenged luncheon guests “to be a mentor at all education levels,” because “the secret of freedom is education and education is freedom” and without a literate and educated society America’s ability to be a great civilization is in question in the coming decades ahead.

>>> 9/11 Press release: U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement on the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on our nation:

“Ten years ago, I was preparing to deliver remarks on the House floor when security rushed into the chamber and shouted for everyone to evacuate immediately.  Members, staff, and pages ran out of the Capitol.  We were hearing news that a plane had struck the World Trade Center, but we didn’t suspect any terrorist act.  My staff and I met at my nearby townhouse and watched the surreal events unfold on the TV set in my living room.  We looked on, with the rest of our country and the rest of the world, with disbelief as the slaughter of innocents at the hands of hate-filled extremists took place amid us. “September 11 was one of our darkest days.  But the days that followed were some of our finest.  After so many lives were torn apart, our country came together.  Without flinching, we chose to face the extremist threat head-on.  We sought out our enemies in villages, mountain caves, deserts, urban centers, jungles, back alleys, in foreign safe-havens, and here at home.  We proved that our ideals would triumph over theirs.  We kept our homeland safe, and, just recently, we killed Bin Laden.

“In wake of the 9/11 attacks, one of the most daunting questions we all asked was whether we would be attacked again.  Thankfully, our homeland has not faced another attack of this nature, and that is not by chance.  It is due to the heroic efforts of our men and women in uniform, our intelligence personnel, our law enforcement officers, and so many others working here and abroad to keep us safe.  To them, we are eternally grateful.  We are also thankful to our allies who have fought and continue to fight with us against extremists around the globe.  Their commitment reminds us that we are not in this fight alone, and that the extremists hate not just America, but all those around the world who cherish freedom and democracy. “Our work continues, and we must not let up.  Those who hate us, and who want to destroy us, continue their efforts as well.  We continue to be threatened.  We must never lose sight of that. “My thoughts and deepest prayers are with all those who lost loved ones on that fateful day and in the ongoing cause to keep our nation safe against the Islamist extremist threat.”

>>> Press release: Congresswoman Corrine Brown (D-FL) and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released the following statement in regards to their redistricting court hearing on Friday, September 9. Brown and Diaz-Balart comment:

“Today’s ruling was disappointing, but as many of you know this is a long process we will continue to stand firm and fight for the Constitution. We took an oath of office to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and that is precisely why we are here today.  We strongly believe the Amendment is unconstitutional and could cause irreparable damage to the federal electoral process and thwart the drawing of districts where minorities have the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.”

>>> IBOPE Zogby Poll: Most Say Unemployed Deserve Hiring Discrimination Protection Plurality of Republicans Disagree

Six in 10 adults nationwide believe businesses who stipulate in help wanted ads that they will only consider candidates who are already employed, should be seen as illegally discriminating against the jobless, a new IBOPE Zogby poll conducted from Sept. 2-5 finds. A strong majority of Democrats (83%) and a plurality of independents (47%), agree that such practices should be considered illegal, however, by 45%-42%, Republicans disagree. Some businesses say in their help wanted ads that they will only hire people who have jobs and not those who are unemployed. Do you believe this should be considered illegal job discrimination?

IBOPE Zogby International conducted an online survey of 2,097 U.S. adults. A sampling of IBOPE Zogby International’s online panel, which is representative of the adult population of the U.S., was invited to participate. Slight weights were added to region, party, age, race, religion, gender and education to more accurately reflect the population. The margin of error is +/- 2.2 percentage points. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups. The MOE calculation is for sampling error only. Please click the link below to view the news release on our website:
http://www.ibopezogby.com/news/2011/09/08/ibope-zogby-poll-most-say-unemployed-deserve-hiring-discrimination-protection/

>>> 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

>>> AG Bondi in the spotlight and coming to Miami, former state prosecutor elected in 2010, had $472,696 net worth through 2010

Pam Bondi, the Florida Attorney General elected in 2010 when she defeated Democratic Party candidate state Sen. Dan Gelber (D-Miami-Beach) (Net worth $990,000) garnering a 55 percent of the vote to his 41 percent in a race where independent candidate Jim Lewis took the other four percent of the statewide vote for the office. Bondi, a former state prosecutor will be in Miami this week. First at a luncheon on Monday at The Elephant Forum (see community events) and later with Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater (Net worth $1.63 million) for a Medicaid fraud task force meeting on Wednesday that has South Florida as the epicenter of this fraudulent activity. Medicare and Medicaid fraud has been a persistent problem with the area and new scams are actually tried out here, before the wayward individuals export the fraud model to other parts on the nation.

A few years ago the Watchdog Report got then U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta to admit South Florida was “the graduate school for fraud,” and is why the federal office has two details of FBI special agents trying to crack these scams, that have gone way past just diluting life saving drugs for AIDS or other diseases for patients, like a decade ago. Now the federal attorney and state attorney’s offices are busting people that actually bring people with mental issues or down on their luck from around the Southeast United States as long as they are on either medical insurance program. For the state of Florida, this fraud has been around $1.2 billion years ago and that number is expected to be significantly higher now.

What do we know about her finances?

Bondi through Dec. 2010 had a net worth of $472,000 and she lists $150,000 in household goods. Her home is valued at $635,000, a car is worth $36,000 and there is $6,432 in bank accounts that were referenced in an amended disclosure form on July 7. She has liabilities with two credit unions owed $280,000 and $39,175 and another bank is owed $28,800 and since she was “unemployed,” there is no income for the year listed.

Bondi bio: http://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/4492d797dc0bd92f85256cb80055fb97/1515ce372e59d1e885256cc60071b1c4!OpenDocument

>>> Webpage Bio: Pam Bondi is the 37th Attorney General of Florida, elected in November 2010. A graduate of the University of Florida and Stetson Law School, Attorney General Bondi served as a front-line prosecutor for over 18 years. Bondi’s investigative and courtroom experience includes the successful prosecution of numerous first-degree murder cases and two capital cases.

Bondi served as Felony Bureau Chief and a key member of internal homicide, vehicular homicide, and DUI manslaughter committees. She also served on the Executive Committee responsible for budget, personnel and legal strategies.

Bondi has served as the Vice Chair of the Florida Bar Grievance Committee, is active with the Tampa Bay United Way and the Children’s Board, and is a member of the Junior League Board of Directors, and the University of Florida Gator Club Board of Directors. A native of Tampa, Pam Bondi is a fourth generation Floridian and hails from a family dedicated to service, including three generations of educators. Florida Attorneys General (1845 – )

>>> Here is her comments regarding the Tenth Anniversary of Sept. 11 >> Ten years ago this Sunday, our country was devastated by the most horrific terrorist attacks on U.S. soil in our history. We lost nearly 3,000 innocent people at the hands of Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. On that day, it felt as though time had stopped. I was in a meeting with former Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Jim Sewell. He and I now speak every September 11th and remember the victims, the brave first responders, those who came to the aid of those in need, and the day we will never forget.

In the aftermath of September 11th, we did what Americans have always done to overcome adversity—we came together. We supported each other through the mourning process and helped each other heal. Our spirit can never be defeated, and our military is committed to protecting us. This May, we celebrated that Navy SEAL Team Six took down Osama bin Laden, the leader behind this violent group.

On Sunday, we will remember and pray for those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, and the members of our Armed Forces who have died defending our country. Let’s also take the time to thank our military servicemen and women for what they do to protect our freedom.

>>> Press release:  CFO Jeff Atwater and Attorney General Pam Bondi Announce Meeting of the Medicaid and Public Assistance Fraud Strike Force in Miami >> WHO: Medicaid and Public Assistance Fraud Strike Force WHAT: Meeting of the Medicaid and Public Assistance Fraud Strike Force WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 14, 10 a.m. WHERE: Office of the State Attorney, 1350 N.W. 12th Ave., Miami FL 33136-2111. Next week, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Chair, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, Vice Chair, will hold a meeting of the Medicaid and Public Assistance Fraud Strike Force in Miami.  The 11-member Strike Force will be briefed on federal, state and local initiatives to combat fraud, receive committee reports and review a draft of the Strike Force’s report to the Legislature that is due Oct. 1, 2011.

The Strike Force was created during the 2010 Legislative Session to increase the effectiveness of programs and initiatives that work to prevent, detect and prosecute Medicaid and public assistance fraud.  CFO Atwater serves as Chair and Attorney General Bondi serves as Vice Chair of the Strike Force. The agenda for the Medicaid and Public Assistance Fraud Strike Force meeting is attached.  For more information about the Medicaid and Public Assistance Fraud Strike Force or to report fraud, please visit www.myfloridacfo.com/StrikeForce.

>>> Press release: Assuming the role of both Governor and Sailor, Governor Scott spent his 3rd ‘Let’s Get to Work’ Day at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville today.  Governor Scott worked at the military airport performing similar jobs as he did when he was on active duty aboard the USS Glover as an enlisted radar man.

Governor Scott’s workday began at 5:45 this morning working a shift with Navy security personnel, which was followed by eating breakfast with sailors and observing the posting of the Colors.  Later in the morning, he worked at all four stations in the tower operations, including working with controllers in the radar room.  Other tasks he completed today included fueling an aircraft, conducting daily boat maintenance and working another shift alongside security personnel in the afternoon. “The 58,000 active-duty personnel stationed in Florida have a critical job to do,” said Governor Scott.  “Just one day working alongside them pales in comparison to the commitment, hard work and sacrifices these men and women make every day.”

Earlier this year, Governor Scott applauded new legislation that helps military families by cutting property taxes for deployed service members and allowing certain military spouses to begin working sooner after being transferred to Florida. Other bills signed this year increase outdoor recreational opportunities for Gold Star parents and injured war veterans and establishes the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame at the State Capitol Building in Tallahassee. “Florida is home to 20 military installations and three unified commands, making the military and defense a significant part of our state’s economy.  Defense-related spending totals nearly $65 billion of Florida’s GDP and more than 28,000 jobs.  Not only is this sector vital in protecting our residents, but it plays a significant role in sustaining Florida jobs,” continued Governor Scott.

>>> Press release: Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced today the appointment of Carlos Lacasa as the Chairman of the Board of Governors for Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.  Lacasa, from Miami, is a former state representative and has more than 20 years of experience as an attorney with expertise in the insurance industry.

“As the longest serving member of the Citizen’s Board of Governors, Carlos has the experience needed to lead the board and serve the more than 1.4 million Florida insurance consumers covered by Citizens,” said CFO Atwater.  “Most importantly, Carlos was a member of the legislature when Citizens was created, so he knows firsthand the original intent behind Citizens and can guide the board back to that intended purpose.” Lacasa served in the Florida House of Representative from 1994 to 2002 and chaired the appropriations committee between 2000 and 2002.  He is currently the Vice President of Operations and Corporate General Counsel of Managed Care of North America, Inc., a national managed care dental plan.  As a practicing attorney for nearly 17 years, Lacasa focused on the areas of corporate finance, transaction law government relations and regulatory law.

Lacasa’s civic interests and leadership roles include serving on the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority Board, the University of Florida Government Relations Advisory Committee, the Audubon of Florida Board of Directors and the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. Lacasa succeeds Jim Malone who has severed as the Chairman of the Citizen’s Board since August 2008.  Malone’s extraordinary finance and management principles have been an asset to the board and Florida’s insurance consumers. “We all need to thank Jim Malone for his years of dedicated service and leadership to the Citizens Board.  Mr. Malone brought the same focus on operational excellence to the Citizens Board that he brings to his business endeavors every day,” said CFO Atwater.

>>> Press release: Short and sweet this week…The Legislative Budget Commission met and agreed to take the home-visiting federal dollars – no strings attached – meaning Florida is now a full competitor for a $100 million share of the Race to the Top early learning challenge grant. That application is due in October. Who gets the money is supposed to be announced in early December.

Should Florida receive this, it gives us the opportunity to propel quality early learning on behalf of all of Florida’s children. For the children – and for Florida’s future — we cannot afford to miss this once-in-a-generation opportunity.

Thanks for helping to get us this far. We have a long way yet to go. Wrote Dave Lawrence Jr., Chair The Children’s Movement of Florida >> P.S.: We’re able to do this work because of you. You can become a member of The Children’s Movement at any level, and it’s easy. Just click here.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Commissioner Suarez has Power Lunch with Grove business community, says he has access to $213 million in GOB funding

County Commissioner Xavier Suarez (Net worth $328,500) had a Special Power Lunch with members of the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce at their monthly luncheon on Friday at the Mayfair Hotel & Spa. Suarez did a truncated version of his ten proposed projects in District 7, a highly affluent district that includes Key Biscayne, Coconut Grove, and South Miami down to the Village of Pinecrest. Suarez along with his staff attended the affair and he brought architectural renderings of some of the proposed projects that would be funded by part of a $2.9 billion GOB passed by county voters back in 2004. He said the commission district’s cut of that money is $213 million. And he believes we on the county commission “are supposed to get these things built” and he does “not see any delay of my projects,” he said to the crowd. The former Mayor of Miami said when it came to the county’s $6.16 billion budget being proposed by Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez (Net worth $923,000) that calls for 1,200 jobs being cut that include some 500 positions that are unfilled and major concessions from the unions to the tune of $239 million in the coming year he has some concerns.

Suarez disagrees with the mayor when it comes to employees that make less than $50,000 a year and the degree of their salary reductions since these people are on the low end of the financial totem pole. He says he knows county employees that are living at “poverty levels” and believes that is wrong. Suarez, now a fiscal conservative (though accepted a couple of hundred thousands of dollars in public campaign money back in 2004 in his first failed bid for the commission district) has “sent 15 memos” dealing with the final budget that begins Oct.1. He said there are “1,300 employees making over $100,000” and believes that is excessive since “if you work for government you don’t get sued” and “you don’t get fired if negligent,” the Harvard trained attorney said. He noted when it came to saving money, he had closed the district office in South Miami costing $50,000 in rent and has a small one now in the municipality’s city hall free and said the cost of his total staff is $307,000.

He also believes the cuts to some Community Based Organizations (CBO) are wrong and “I want to restore all CBO funding,” and says the money is there if other cuts are made. He also talked about making the Virrick Park complex grander like the Coral Gables Venetian Pool but even larger calling it the “Grand Venetian Pool,” if the project is done. (Editor’s note: Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff has an item on Thursday’s commission agenda indicating there may be a problem with the roof at the current Virrick Park facility).  And when it came to Virginia Key, “he will respect Virginia Key” and its environmental sensitivity and he is proposing a past idea, he had in the 1990s for a “Natural Museum,” on part of the site. At the conclusion of the presentation, Suarez took no questions from the luncheon crowd saying he had to leave and his staff would take questions and comments. Then he walked out of the affair with former Miami Manager Joe Arriola who is now the treasurer on the seven member Jackson Hospital Financial Recovery Board over seeing the health trust fighting for its fiscal life.

Gimenez

Suarez

     
>>> County public redistricting meetings range from over 60 attending to none, one suggestion by resident is for people to move into less populated districts

The county has been holding public County Commission Redistricting hearings for the 13 commission districts over the past weeks and public turnout has been atrocious, and the people that do attend many times don’t understand the process done every ten years after the nation’s Census. The top attendance was around 60 people, another around 19 residents participated and at one community meeting, no public attended with only county staff at the event. Some of the questions asked by the public shows the fundamental lack of knowledge about the process. For one person suggested only property owners should be factored into the new commission districts and another person suggested people move to the less populated commission districts and if that happened the 13 districts would not have to be changed at all. However, that is not the case and the districts will have to be redrawn to adjust for the population shift, which can be seen below.

>>> County’s webpage: County Commission Redistricting >Following the release of the 2010 Census data, Miami-Dade County is in the process of updating the Commission District boundaries to comply with Federal, State and local requirements. Re-apportionment >There was a double-digit population growth in eight commission districts with District 9 leading the list at 33.1 percent, District 11 following at 20.4 percent, and District 8 third at 18.0 percent. These changes in commission district population will have ramifications on the boundaries of future commission districts. In particular, Figure 3 shows that over half of the current districts, assuming near equal apportionment, will be significantly different from those based on the 2000 Census data.

>>> Upcoming county commission redistricting meetings

•  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.

>>> Press release: The Miami-Dade County Office of Community Advocacy joins efforts with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DMV) to bring residents “DMV to Go.” This special event on Thursday, September 15, 2011 will offer residents a convenient central location in Downtown Miami for a number of DMV services, such as license renewals and identification cards. Anyone who is interested can visit the Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW 1st Street, in the main lobby from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Space is limited, so residents are encouraged to reserve a spot at www.miamidade.gov/advocacy. Residents looking to renew their licenses or ID cards must bring proper identification with them listed on www.gathergoget.com. The “DMV to Go” does not administer any driving exams, so first-time driver’s license applicants cannot be assisted at this location. Future “DMV to Go” events will be scheduled for the third Thursday of every month. For more information, please contact the Office of Community Advocacy at 305-375-5730. WHO: The Miami-Dade County Office of Community Advocacy WHAT: DMV to Go Special Event WHEN: Thursday, September 15, 2011: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. WHERE: Stephen P. Clark  Center, Main Lobby, 111 NW 1st Street, Miami, FL 33128

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Redistricting 101 on Wednesday; political activities by school employees gets tweaked; Diaz de la Portilla in the spotlight, had -$162,000 net worth through 2010

The nation’s fourth largest public schools board is holding a noon Workshop on Wednesday Sept. 14 to discuss redistricting the nine members districts based on the new 1010 Census data, and is also going on at Miami-Dade County. The school distinct and county are using the same demographer, Guillermo Olmedillo this time around and the former county employee is expected to do the Miami commission redistricting maps for elections in 2013 as well. Board Chair Perla Tabares Hantman will run the meeting and board attorney Walter Harvey will be guiding board members on the activity, that has a number of the elected leaders already familiar with the process since they were either past state legislators or on the board the last time it was done back in 2001.

What about Board Member Diaz de la Portilla?

Renier Diaz de la Portilla, the school member elected to District 5 is in the spotlight this week and the attorney lives in Doral and is divorced. He first joined the board in Nov. 17, 2006 and was reelected in August of 2008. He was a school board member back in 1996 representing board District 8 and at 25; he was the youngest school board member in the county’s history. He later went on to the state House and in 2003 went to work for Citrus Health Network in Hialeah. He has an undergraduate journalism degree from FIU, a Masters in Public Administration from Cornell University and he got his J.D. form Nova Southeastern University in 2004. And he is the younger brother of former state Sen. Alex and state Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla.

What about Diaz de la Portilla’s finances?

Diaz de la Portilla through Dec. 2010 had a net worth of -162,513 and he lists $20,000 in household goods. His liabilities are $21,450 with Century Bank, Honda Finance is owed $24,600 and a student loan is owed $125,400. His listed income for the year was $35,601 as a school board member and he got $77,900 from his law firm and other sources of income include the Collins Center, Manny Lopez PA, CLIA, and Jackson Health System but no amounts are listed on his financial disclosure form for the year.

Diaz de la Portilla

>>> Political activities by M-DCPS employees gets tweaked, after 1990s when district staff helped raise campaign funds for board members

Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall got her tweaked political activities by school district employee’s legislation passed last week unanimously and it brought back old memories for board members Marta Perez and Perla Tabares Hantman, both on the board in the late 1990s. Back then, pressure was put on principals and other school employees to hold fundraisers for board members. Perez during the discussion said to newer board members that I “remember when staff and principals were asked to raise money for candidates,” she said. Hantman also noted that ended in the early 2000s and “was many administrations before,” but this activity was one of the things that commingled politics and the school district administration and criticized in the press and by good government advocates.

Bendross- Mindingall

Hantman

Perez

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Mayor Gimenez focused on county budget and reorganization, trying to make his woman appointment to FRB reality in future

The Watchdog Report continues to pester Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez on his lack of an appointment to the seven member Jackson Hospital System Financial Recovery Board made up currently of six men. The mayor has committed regarding his slot on the board to appoint a qualified woman, some interviews were expected to occur recently, and when I asked him about it at the Sept. 1 commission meeting. He agreed, “It was to long” and would try to get his choice on board. However, since then I have heard nothing from the administration and over the weekend, the Watchdog Report contacted his staff and media representative. In a email back , Suzy Trutie a assistant director of communications responded writing, “Since taking office on July 1, Mayor Gimenez has been working on his proposed fiscal year 2011-2012 budget, County reorganization plan, and meeting with residents and community leaders about the aforementioned. Mayor Gimenez will be making his Financial Recovery Board appointment in the coming weeks. As soon as he makes a decision, I’ll notify you,” wrote the county’s media representative.

>>> The Miami Herald www.miamiherald.com did a long front-page story on the below county inspector general report today and readers should check out the link and read the report. For it is a fascinating tale of a man on the run, but who over the years benefited from the health trust. However, one point I brought out last week is Jackson Memorial Hospital may have in actuality given $1.2 billion in charity and uncompensated care for 2010. Not the reported $482 million in gross charges for the year that later dropped to $421 million but was included in the much larger budget hit and when it is over $1 billion. The fiscal situation at the PHT is truly unsustainable. To read the report >> 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

>>> Vizcaya gets go ahead at Miami HEP board meeting for new dramatic skylight structure, construction to start next summer

Gary Hecht, a local Coconut Grove realtor, and new member of the Miami Historical and Environmental Preservation Board (HEP) got to make his first motion last week from the Miami commission dais when the board approved a major new project for the historic Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, a community jewel and now owned by the county. The home has hosted a wide range of dignitaries over the decades and is a popular tourist site along with local South Florida residents. Joel Hoffman along with the architect detailed what the organization was going to do in the coming months to the HEP board and city staff. The Watchdog Report contacted Hoffman about the project and in an email last week. He detailed what is being planned for the facility.

The organization’s executive director wrote back, “Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is in the process of replacing the skylight over the Courtyard at the center of the estate’s Main House. While Vizcaya was built as a private winter residence with an open Courtyard, it now functions as a year-round museum accredited by the American Association of Museums. The current skylight was completed in the mid-1980s as part of a campaign to protect Vizcaya’s historic art collections, which provide unique insight into American taste and creativity of the early twentieth century. Air conditioning was installed at the same time. From the outset, many lamented the skylight’s design and, twenty-five years after its construction, the structure leaks around the edges and does not meet Miami-Dade County hurricane code.

Vizcaya applied for and received a $1.4 million FEMA grant (matched by Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond funding) to replace the skylight with a code-compliant system. In March 2009, the museum held a one-day charrette and invited design faculty and students from Florida International University and University of Miami to consider the options for protecting the building and its collections, while taking into consideration the integrity of the architecture, year-round visitor experience, and the fact that the museum relies on facility rentals as an important source of income to balance its budget. Following the charrette, museum staff concluded that a successor skylight would be the best approach in light of conservation and operational needs, the desire to maintain openness and flow among the various elements of the house, and the realization that alternate forms of hurricane protection would be less efficient operationally and architecturally. Working on a very tight schedule to meet the FEMA funding deadline of September 2012, Vizcaya hired local architects M.C. Harry to oversee the project in April 2011. The project team was rounded out by local structural engineers Bliss & Nyitray and building envelope/system consultants Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, which has worked on many comparable projects including the recent expansion of the Morgan Library in New York.

At the outset of the project, Vizcaya established that the overarching goal was to respect the estate’s original design while supporting current museum preservation and operational needs. Specifically, the intent was to use advanced technology to showcase Vizcaya’s historic architecture rather than to create an obtrusive design statement. At the same time, the team has focused on improving drainage and ensuring that the successor skylight is easy to maintain. The project team quickly turned its attention to the various options for skylight system components, knowing that Miami-Dade County’s hurricane-oriented building code would impose many limitations. They looked at the overhead structural systems on the market, including those using rods, cables and point-supported glass and those using beams, rafters, and captured glass. The team honed in on the latter system in light of its existing Miami-Dade County Notice of Approval and its visual simplicity. While rods and cables offered a degree of lightness, there was concern about placing distracting modern elements in the sightlines of the museum’s second-floor gallery.

In June 2011, Vizcaya and M.C. Harry again invited architecture faculty from FIU and UM to provide feedback on prospective designs, and such professionals have been called upon for input as the project continues to evolve. After that workshop, the design team analyzed prospective shapes for the skylight, ranging from a relatively flat structure–that was nearly invisible from the exterior approach but presented visual and maintenance challenges within–to a pyramid similar to that currently in place. Consulting professionals played an important role in helping the team to look closely at the Courtyard’s geometry and arrive at a slightly elongated pyramidal structure that respects that subtle irregularity of the space. In subsequent weeks, M.C.. Harry was able to refine the shape and details of the skylight to eliminate heavy diagonal beams and to align the aluminum members with the second-floor columns of the Courtyard. The new skylight will have much larger panes of glass and much lighter-colored aluminum members than the existing system, dramatically strengthening the Courtyard’s visual connection to the sky above.

At the same time, the architects and structural engineers analyzed alternatives to the extremely intrusive three-foot-wide columns that support the current skylight. They determined that much slimmer 14” columns, better aligned with the Courtyard columns, could be used. This will represent a critical enhancement.

More recently, the design team has focused on methods for developing a robust gutter system to capture rainwater from Vizcaya’s historic roofing and the new skylight. Such gutter system is being developed with an eye to minimizing its visual impact on the interior of the Courtyard. At the same time, efforts are underway to use this project as an opportunity to restore the historic landscape within the Courtyard. This historic configuration was documented last year in a Cultural Landscape Report that recorded the history of Vizcaya’s diverse gardens and grounds. The restored landscape will again bring native plants within this once-open space.

On Tuesday, September 6, Vizcaya’s Executive Director Joel Hoffman and M.C. Harry architect Lourdes Solera presented the proposed skylight to the City of Miami’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board, which unanimously approved it. The team is now working on a methodology for protecting the Courtyard and Vizcaya’s art collections during construction. With the FEMA grant requiring that the project be completed by September 2012, fast-paced construction is anticipated to commence early next summer. Vizcaya will aim to remain open for as much of the construction as possible, providing visitors with insight about this project during the process. The skylight replacement represents an important component of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens’ overall capital improvement program. General Obligation Bond funding in the next two years is critically important in Vizcaya’s efforts to develop comprehensive restoration plans for the rest of the Main House and gardens. When accomplished, such plans will facilitate a coordinated and efficient project and address decades of deferred maintenance at this County-owned National Historic Landmark,” wrote the veteran executive director.

>>> Miami Commission Candidate forum – Brickell Homeowners Association – September l4 @ 7:00 p.m. – 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.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Now there are four candidates for mayor in Nov., how low will they go for the coveted top spot?

The candidate lineup is set for the Nov. election that includes Miami Beach Mayor Mattie Herrera Bower facing three rivals since her election in November 2007 as the first Hispanic woman to be elected mayor since the city was founded March 26, 1915. She faced a tough race when she first ran for the post and faced commissioner Simon Cruz in the brutal race that had then Mayor David Dermer running political interference for Bower during the campaign. In this case, she has a four-year record and while her rivals are political neophytes. They seem to be working hard and aggressively to get to know voters and Bower will likely face a runoff, in what is expected to be a low turnout race.

Further Commissioners Ed Tobin and Jonah Wolfson will return to the dais in November after no one challenged them by the qualification deadline last week. However, Deede Weithorn a CPA who was elected in 2007 also has drawn an opponent in Maria Carmen Meruelo.

>>> City Clerk’s office: NOVEMBER 1, 2011 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, Laura Rivero Levey*:  Group IV (Commissioner Wolfson’s Seat)

Jonah Wolfson; Group V (Commissioner Tobin’s Seat) Edward Tobin; Group VI (Commissioner Weithorn’s Seat) Deede Weithorn and Maria Carmen Meruelo

*denotes latest change

Bower

Tobin

Weithorn

Wolfson

>>> Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club – Meeting Date: Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 Meeting Time: 8:30 AM Meeting Place: David’s Café II, 1654 Meridian Ave., South Beach

Laura Levey, a recent entry in the November 1st Miami Beach election race, running for the Mayor’s seat, will be this week’s guest speaker at the September 13th meeting of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club, following a last minute cancellation by Maria Carmen Meruelo.  With the addition of Ms. Levey the Mayor’s race now has four candidates starting with incumbent Matti Bower, now in her second term, and the previously announced candidates, Dave Crystal and Steve Berke.  A debate among the candidates for Mayor will take place the following week, on September 20th, at the Breakfast Club. 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 (Miami Beach Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club).

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Commissioner Anderson fires back at former Mayor Slesnick on statements that are “inaccurate” and “out of touch” with residents

After last week’s story where former Mayor Donald Slesnick II wrote his piece on the City Beautiful upcoming budget and the Truck Ordinance in place. Commissioner Maria Anderson has fired back with her own comments and observations on the matters. She, Slesnick and Commissioner Ralph Cabrera Jr. were both originally elected in the spring of 2001 taking out a long-term mayor and two commissioners in the race. At the time they were considered the new faces on the political scene but policy wedges developed between the three of them over the years, though they stayed civil on the commission dais. Here are Anderson’s thoughts on the issues Slesnick brought up. “With regards to last week’s edition, Coral Gables section, entitled, “Former Mayor Slesnick fires back about state of the city”, it is necessary to respond to several statements that are inaccurate, and just plain out of touch with the reality of what’s on the hearts and minds of the average Coral Gables resident. First, a substantial property tax reduction is not “gratuitous” as stated in the comments.  To go from a 6.07 to a 5.86 millage rate in today’s economic climate is substantial.  The former mayor also claims that the City has inadequate resources for police staffing, and litter and graffiti removal.  The same level of resources dedicated to these services exists today, as when he was in office.

As to the truck matter, I support re-evaluation of the truck ordinance.  Trucks in 1960 were work vehicles.  Not so today, with high-end automakers like Cadillac producing a very expensive family vehicle.  It is also ludicrous to allow junky vehicles to sit in driveways, yet restrict well-kept non-commercial trucks.

Residents getting signatures of support to change the ordinance are collecting great information from the face-to-face interactions with their neighbors.  They are not “just a handful of truck owners” as characterized in the article, but represents a broad cross-section of non-truck owners, and interestingly enough from some long-time residents that say modifications would be okay.  Thoughtful and reasonable change is a normal process in government and in life in general.  If not, we’d still be using stone tablets instead of iPads. This law has not been looked for many years and it is wise to review it now in light of current conditions.  The reality is that we haven’t enforced this ordinance for 5 – 6 years while waiting for the court decision, and who can tell the difference.  A fresh perspective is needed,” wrote the veteran commissioner.

>>> She also wrote a Commission workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 13 @ 1p.m. in Commission Chambers.  It is a public meeting (not a public hearing) where the Commission will discuss the truck ordinance.

>>>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.

CITY OF DORAL

>>> Press release: The City of Doral is being honored for the second year in a row by KaBOOM! as a 2011 Playful City USA Community for their continuous lasting commitment to take action for play. Along with 151 communities across 38 states, the City of Doral has made it a priority to focus on developing unique local action plans to increase the quantity and quality of play in their community.

KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to saving play, recognized 151 communities across the country as Playful City USA communities, including Doral as part of their Playful City USA program-a national recognition program honoring cities and towns determined to prioritize play and ensure that children are healthy by providing the time and space for play. As part of this plan, City officials anticipate to open 50th Street Park by April 2012, which will be the City’s fifth park. They have also set out to expand its Get Fit Doral program to increase access to play through community engagement. The City will add programs to involve residents of all ages and help attract more people to the parks and its programs. The City of Doral also continues to prove its priority of access for its residents by continuing construction of a bikeway system that allows safe access to neighborhood parks and schools. The City of Doral aims to serve as a role model for other communities and has successfully proven that it is indeed a Great Place to Play. The City looks forward to its annual “Play Day” event that will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2011 from 11am-2pm at Doral Meadow Park. The event will feature outdoor games, arts and crafts, face painters and live performances.

>>> KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to saving play. Children today spend less time playing outdoors than any previous generation, a fact that is having disastrous consequences on their health, achievement levels, and overall well-being. To fight this Play Deficit, social entrepreneur Darell Hammond founded non-profit KaBOOM! 15 years ago in Washington, D.C. with a vision of creating a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Since then, KaBOOM! has mapped over 85,000 places to play, built more than 2,000 playgrounds, and successfully advocated for play policies in hundreds of cities across the country. KaBOOM! also provides communities with online tools to self-organize and take action to support play on both a local and national level. Hammond chronicles the founding of the organization and the importance of the cause of play in his The New York Times Best Seller KaBOOM!: How One Man Built a Movement to Save Play. The book details how businesses and communities can work together to save play for children across the country. All author proceeds support KaBOOM!. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago and San Mateo, Calif. For more information, visit www.kaboom.org.

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> PA Parrish political icon since first being elected in 1984 to SB, has critics though and $654,000 net worth through 2010

Lori Nance Parrish, 62, the long serving politician is in the spotlight this week and she was elected the Broward County Property Appraiser in 2004 with 61 percent of the vote. Parrish a mom who began her political career as a Democrat in 1984 when she was elected to the Broward School Board moved on to the county commission in 1988 and served on that board until she ran for this new countywide office. While on the commission, she chaired the nine-member body in 1990, 1997 and 2001. And in her most recent election in 2008, she garnered 97 percent of the countywide vote and she has modernized the office to make it more user friendly for property owners. She has been in Broward since moving there with her parents in 1956 at the age of eight and is a well-known political fixture in the state’s second largest county. She has been married for decades to Circuit Court Judge Geoffrey Cohen.

What do we know about her finances?

Parrish through Dec. 2010 had a net worth of $654,501 (though the date on the form indicates 2011) and lists $228,000 in household goods. Her home in Davie is valued at $450,510, there is $22,138 with Bank of America, and her only liability is owed $46,147. Her total compensation with benefits was $169,138 though the actual salary is $161,658 states her financial disclosure form.

http://www.bcpa.net/MEET.asp

>>> 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 Aaronson in the spotlight, first elected in 92, avoided the political purge, had $646,000 net worth through 2010

Long serving Palm Beach County Commissioner Burt Aaronson is in the spotlight this week and the former business executive was first elected in 1992 and has never looked back winning subsequent reelections to District 5. He has been married for 61 years, has two sons and dodged a political bullet a few years ago when the majority of the other commissioners went to federal prison and most recently ex Commissioner Jeff Koons (Net worth $15.6 million) was forced to step down after threatening some people regarding a development he was supporting and the rant was caught on a answering machine. The long serving commissioner has extensive awards from a variety of organizations after all these years in politics.

What about his finances?

Aaronson through Dec. 2010 had a net worth of $646,000 and he lists $150,000 in household goods. There is $2,551 in cash, deferred income has $189,287 in it, an IRA has $107,000, there is $62,400 in the Florida Retirement Fund and a condominium is valued at $135,000. The executive lists no liabilities and income for the year was $92,000 as a commissioner, retirement benefits kicked in $21,815 and Social Security provided $29,673 and he received $2,500 for being on the board of Tenet owned Delray Hospital.

Aaronson

http://www.pbcgov.com/countycommissioners/district5/biography.htm

ST. JOHNS COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott today taps Victoria C. “Vicky” Oakes as the Supervisor of Elections for St. Johns County.

Oakes, 54, of St. Augustine, has served as the assistant supervisor of elections for the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Office since 1988. Previously, she was an assistant supervisor in the St. Johns County Tax Collectors Office from 1983 to 1988. She also was a communications officer with the Leesburg Police Department from 1977 to 1983, and with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department from 1976 to 1977. Oakes attended Lake Sumter Community College, studying criminology and business administration. She will fill the vacancy that was created by the resignation Penny Halyburton. Her term is effective immediately and will run through January 7, 2013.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

>>> Press release: Former Fort Pierce cop gets 78 months in federal big house and accountant 41 months for tax fraud

The owner of First Premium Financial Services and a former employee were sentenced today to federal prison for conspiring to defraud the United States in connection with fraudulent tax returns they prepared for clients.  Inuka Rhaheed, a former detective with the Fort Pierce, Fla., Police Department, was sentenced to 78 months in prison.  Wilens Bertrand, a tax preparer at First Premium, was sentenced to 41 months in prison. Today’s sentences were announced by Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; John A. DiCicco, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Departments Tax Division; and Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). On June 11, 2011, Rhaheed and Bertrand were convicted after a four-day trial.  According to evidence introduced at trial, Inuka and his wife Jacqueline Rhaheed owned and worked at First Premium Financial Services, a tax preparation business with offices in Fort Pierce and Vero Beach, Fla.   Bertrand worked at the Fort Pierce office of First Premium Financial Services as a tax preparer.

According to the testimony of some of First Premium’s clients, the defendants placed false deductions on client tax returns without the clients’ knowledge or consent.  In addition, evidence revealed that First Premium prepared and filed approximately 5,500 tax returns for the 2006-2008 tax years and that approximately 98 percent of those returns made a claim for a tax refund.   The resulting total tax loss to the United States, based on expert testimony at trial, was at least $500,000. According to evidence presented during the trial, clients paid a minimum fee of $300 for tax preparation services at First Premium.  Clients included many law enforcement officers, who went to First Premium because they knew Inuka Rhaheed was a former law enforcement officer and trusted him and his business to prepare their taxes.  In addition, other clients testified that they went to First Premium because they had heard through word of mouth that First Premium allowed deductions that other tax preparation services would not consider.

In addition to the prison term, the court sentenced Inuka Rhaheed to pay $727,729 in restitution and Bertrand to pay $539,954 in restitution and to serve three years of supervised release. Jacqueline Rhaheed pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to defraud the United States on June 2, 2011.  Jacqueline Rhaheed is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 7, 2011. >>> U.S. Attorney Ferrer and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General DiCicco commended the investigative efforts of the IRS-CI for their work investigating this case.  The case was prosecuted by Justin Gelfand, Trial Attorney with the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana M. Acosta of the Southern District of Florida. More information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/tax.  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.

HERNANDO COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott appoints Matthew “Matt” Foreman to the Hernando County School Board.

Foreman, 28, of Spring Hill, is an attorney and has practiced with the Hogan Law Firm since 2009.  Previously, he was a sole practitioner from 2008 to 2009 after being a research assistant at Stetson University College of Law working on higher education issues from 2006 to 2008.  He was a member of the board of directors for High Fives for Hope from 2009 to 2011 and a member of Business Networking International from 2009 to 2011.  He received his bachelor’s and law degrees from Stetson University. He will fill the District 2 vacancy that was created by the resignation of Charles Fagan. His term is effective immediately and will run through November 19, 2012.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> PA Borglum in the spotlight, little known about the man, had $58,548 net worth through 2010

Karl D. Borglum, the Monroe County Property Appraiser is in the spotlight and the there is very little information on the man when you do an internet search and there is no biography on the organization’s webpage. http://www.mcpafl.org/Departments.aspx

What do we know about his finances?

Borglum through Dec. 2010 had a net worth of $58,548 and he lists $25,500 in household goods. He lists real estate worth $50,000 and four cars are listed valued at $4,000, $9,825, $4,000, and $16,475. He owes a credit service $35,752, Chase Bank is owed $14,500 and Bank of America wants $1,000. He filed his joint IRS 1040 for the year, his income was $74,591 in his official capacity, and another $25,027 came in from a pension.

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

>>> Chief Exposito’s hearing on Friday cannot be repeated when it comes to having an accurate public record of the discussion

During the hearing of whether Miami Chief Miguel Exposito should be terminated for insubordination Friday in the Miami City Hall Chambers, that started just after 9:00 a.m. and ended at 2:00. a.m. Saturday morning with the hearing continued to 9:00 a.m. Monday after commissioners became exhausted.  However, during the proceedings there was one persistent refrain throughout the meeting that had Miami Clerk Priscilla Thompson stating the comments were “not being recorded,” after people in the audience spoke or others were away from the microphones at the speaker podiums and that is dangerous. An accurate public record, no matter how unusual or surreal the discussion is something that government must have. For if that is not the case, any defense attorney can drive a truck through the reliability of the public record. Over the years, I have heard attorneys challenge the accuracy of the public record and when there were sudden gaps of a conversation at a public meeting. They would ask is that a minute or an hour gap, or is that God speaking from a burning bush in the meantime?

And these gaps create doubt about the accuracy and in the case of Exposito. He has already filed a legal challenge asking for whistleblower protection and what occurred Friday was vintage 1990s Miami and one of the only safeguards the public and Miami taxpayers have is an accurate public record. The five commissioners’ should remember that fact Monday and Commission Chair Willy Gort should insist there is not a replay of Friday’s drama and shout outs from the audience. For whatever happens with Chief Exposito, it behooves the commission charged with protecting public tax dollars to demand accuracy of the events and what the participants say. For in the end you either have an accurate transcript of the events or you don’t, and any confusion only increases the likely hood of the city losing any subsequent lawsuits. Something that is not a good thing for the taxpayers of Miami already reeling from the fiscal pressures of the down economy.

LETTERS

>>> Reader reflects on what 9/11 Anniversary means to him and the nation

On this, the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001 we pause and remember that the United States of America suffered a terrorist attack. America was targeted for being a freedom-loving country and 2,993 individuals died as a result of hatred. September 11th will always be a defining moment in our nation’s history. It was a day when ordinary human beings, living their ordinary lives, reacted with extraordinary heroism when faced with the ultimate question of human sacrifice. Let us pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the World Trade Center Towers, at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Our family joins in prayer for their souls and for the families and loved ones they left behind. We also pray for the men and women in uniform who serve this country proudly, and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe.
We are blessed to live in the United States of America, a nation “under God with liberty and justice for all”.  On September 11, 2001 those values were challenged, but we did not falter. God bless you and these United States of America.

JLL

>>> Local activist on his verbal mauling by Miami powers to be

Miami does a good job of scaring away all of the potential talent with integrity. I was attacked from every angle and could not take it any more. Miami will continue to get the governance it deserves if people don’t step up and protect people like me. Good luck, keep up the good work.

Stephen Murray

>>>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

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com

RONALD HALL

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 550 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

>>> 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) C<strong>ITIZEN 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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