Watchdog Report Vol.12 No.22 October 2, 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 has celebrated its 12th Anniversary May 5, 2011.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> School Board member Regalado hit with $3,526 fine for late campaign reports, check in the mail, she says

Raquel Regalado (Net worth $108,450) got an unpleasant surprise last week in the way of a Sept. 26 letter from Christina White, the Miami-Dade Elections Department deputy supervisor for Governmental Affairs. In the letter, White tells the Miami-Dade Public Schools District 6 school board member that she is being fined $3,526.28 for failing to file her campaign reports on time as required. she submitted the reports on Sept. 19, 2011 and not Nov. 11, 2010, the required due date. She is being penalized at $50.00 per day for the late submission and she has 20-days from receipt of the letter to either ask for an appeal of the fine with the Florida Elections Commission or pay it. If the attorney appeals the issue, she can request a hearing with the state commission overseeing elections but White also writes “I urge you to promptly resolve this matter” or the county will be forced by state statute to contact state officials of her late filing and “failure to pay the imposed fine.”

Regalado elected to the nation’s fourth largest public school district in Aug. 2010 beating a field of other candidates in the primary and sent an apple in a box to voters with her campaign materials took office in November on the nine-member board. She is a patent attorney and briefly struck out on her own but is now back with a local law firm again. The mother was also the campaign treasurer for her father Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado’s (Net worth $7,500) campaign back in 2009 and questions are being raised by state prosecutors about $8,500 in contributions from people that lived in the Dominican Republic and around $40,000 that was initially understated in those past report filings. The campaign reports first had $808,789 coming in for the mayor’s campaign war chest but that number was amended to $848, 234 states http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/11/2355517/miami-mayor-regalado-gathering.html

Regalado the father, when asked by the Watchdog Report about his campaign investigation said a month ago that he was not “worried since she was an attorney,” and he believed it would all work out. However, since then all the requested campaign documents by the FDLE are expected to have been provided on the past election and the mayor has engaged Jose Quinon, a prominent defense attorney to review any discrepancies concerning the matter, he says. The Watchdog Report contacted the school board member asking if she would contest her campaign fine and she responded over the weekend that she is “Not appealing it, [ and has] already sent the payment in,” wrote Regalado.

Regalado

Mayor Regalado

>>> Press release: U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement today on recent attacks in Turkey by the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK), which is designated by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization: “I am deeply saddened by this loss of life and extend my condolences to the Turkish people, particularly all those who lost friends and love ones in these attacks. “These senseless acts are a reminder of the extremist threat that innocent people face around the world. We must remain vigilant against all extremist groups and operations, and continue to work closely with our allies to root out these threats.”

>>> To read a national story run in the Tribune papers on my life and how this all began done by Orlando Sentinel featured reporter Maya Bell go to: To read the section’s large front page story, but without the photos and smart box graphics, go to: `I Go When You Cannot’ – Sun Sentinel 20 Jan 2003 … Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. … to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks. … http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american

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

FLORIDA

>>> State Sen. Fasano, welcome to the medias world when it comes to records request, SBA wants senator to pony up $10,750 for processing

State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-Port Richey got a surprise recently when he got a $10,750.13 public records invoice for a records requests he made concerning the State Board of Administration on a up to $125 million investment the SBA made with a hedge fund the director Ash Williams used to work for before joining the state administration. The St. Petersburg Times broke the story last week, Fasano fired off a letter to Gov. Rick Scott (Net worth $103 million), CFO Jeff Atwater (Net worth $1.5 million) and AG Pam Bondi (Net worth $472,696) complaining about the projected cost, time involved fulfilling the request and Fasano is finding out what the public and media already knew. If you want to stop a records request, just charge a fortune and add up to a year to collect the information, even though most of the requested documents are now in an electronic form.

Fasano has been a pain to some Republican lawmakers and he described the response from Atwater’s office ‘disturbing’ when the CFO cited the ‘volume and potential cost associated with this request’ suggesting Fasano should talk with the SBA, the paper states. Fasano also said talking to Williams about the Ramis investment ‘would be akin to meeting the fox, who guards the henhouse,’ he is quoted saying. And Fasano believes given the stonewall of getting the information that ‘it is hard not to come to the conclusion that someone has something to hide,’ Fasano suggested.

Fasano

>>> What about a Miami Herald records request that came back in the millions of dollars

Fasano should take a step back when it comes to this kind of roadblock and reflect on what happened when The Miami Herald in the mid 2000s made a public records request. The Miami-Dade County’s response to that request came back well over $1 million and would take around a year to process and using this information blocking activity in today’s electronic world is a red herring when the information is readily available in some electronic form.

>>> Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of Christopher T. Corr to the Board of Governors of the State University System.

Corr, 47, of Jacksonville, has been the executive vice president of AECOM Technology Corporation since 2008. Previously, he was the chief strategy officer at the St. Joe Company from 1998 to 2008 and served as a State Representative in the Florida House of Representatives from 1990 to 1992. Corr has been a member of the board of directors of the Florida Council of 100 since 2010 and member of the Urban Land Institute since 1999. From 2003 to 2008, he served on the Board of Directors, Enterprise Florida Inc. Corr received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida. He succeeds Charles Edwards and is appointed for a term beginning September 30, 2011, and ending January 6, 2013. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

>>> Email from David Lawrence Jr., I am encouraged. Just spent some time with the governor’s appointee to head the new Office of Early Learning in Tallahassee. Dr. Mel Jurado has a long and successful background in business, accompanied by a deep civic interest in high-quality early learning. She chaired the Early Learning Coalition in Hillsborough County. Politically savvy. Gets things done — tough-minded blended with a good sense of humor. Likes boxing and ballet. Energetic – and then some. She came to the Milk Party rally for The Children’s Movement last September. Now she is giving out “Milk Champion” certificates – standing for motivation, innovation, leadership. kindness — to recognize those who are making a contribution to building a movement for high-quality early learning. Maybe we can speed up helping children to get ready for school and for life. We must.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Former Ethics Commission Dir. Meyers joins forces with atty. Thornburg in new educational firm called Formula for Success

With new Miami-Dade County Ethics and Public Trust Director Joe Centorino, the former head of the state attorney’s public corruption unit on board since Sept. 15. The Watchdog Report wondered what former Director Robert Meyers would be doing after his almost 13-year tenure. The Watchdog Report was one of two people in the small county court house conference room back then when he interviewed with new commissioners and he set up the office from scratch. He is now doing the same thing again when it comes to education and has linked–up with Frederick “Buck” Thornburg, an attorney. Thornburg is the former chair of the Miami-Dade Public Schools Audit Committee and he stepped down recently after his second term was completed. Thornburg in an email to the Watchdog Report last week wrote about his future plans that also involve Meyers. He wrote, “I also want and need to dedicate more time and energy to helping launch our new consulting and education/seminar company, Formula for Success, LL C (FFS) which a number of us recently formed. FFS has a truly terrific and unique Advisory Board composed of many local and national business, professional, civic, sports, and academic leaders. No doubt, you know many of those who have agreed to serve on the Advisory Board as well as one of the company principals, Robert Meyers, the retired Executive Director of the Miami-Dade County Commission on Public Trust and Ethics. Robert is the new company’s President and COO while I serve as its CEO and Chair. We are very excited about this undertaking and FFS’s prospects,” Thornburg wrote.

Meyers has been a big proponent of ethics education throughout the county and after the office was staffed in the late 1990s, every member of Miami-Dade County’s 26,000 employees back then had to go through an ethics course and get a certificate. This was done after the county’s Inspector General Chris Mazzella was arresting county employees for a wide variety of gifts and other items from vendors that they did not realize receiving was wrong and against the law. Since then, this ethics training has been expanded to most of the 34 municipalities and the organization also does seminars on how to run a clean and proper campaign election for candidates. However, Centorino a prosecutor by trade and a former politician in Salem Massachusetts says in a wide-ranging interview with www.miamitoday.com . He is going to beef up the enforcement side of the organization. The ethics commission created by countywide voters in 1996 and started functioning in 1998 is a rarity around the nation and the body has the authority to carry out investigations that includes being able to subpoena individuals and records.

>>> New IG report on HUD Section 8 housing fraud — Arrest of Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Recipient, IG11-02, September 15, 2011.

>>> 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.

>>> 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: Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management’s Revenue Bonds Upgraded by Global Rating Agency

Fitch Ratings, a global credit rating agency and one of only a handful of Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, has upgraded the ratings on three series of Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM) revenue bonds. The rating agency upgraded the following series of outstanding solid waste revenue bonds from “A” to “A+”: $73.5 million, series 2005; $40.4 million, series 2001; and $30.8 million, series 1998.

“It is very gratifying to see that our efforts to become more efficient and competitive—by implementing operational and financial efficiencies while providing outstanding service—are recognized by Fitch Ratings,” said Solid Waste Director Kathleen Woods-Richardson. “The Department’s success is evident in the financial results such as debt service coverage. The actual debt service coverage for fiscal years 2004 through 2010 has exceeded those projected in the Solid Waste Bond Series 2005 Official Statement.” Among the reasons given by Fitch Ratings for the upgrade are “the county solid waste system’s strong and overall consistent financial position” and the fact that “management was diligent in its efforts to reduce operating expenditures in fiscal 2010.” The DSWM is the largest government-owned and operated waste collection and disposal system in the southeastern United States. The DSWM provides waste collection services to more than 320,000 households in unincorporated Miami-Dade County and nine municipalities; curbside recycling services to more than 350,000 households in unincorporated Miami-Dade County and 21 municipalities; and countywide disposal services. Miami-Dade’s solid waste system includes a network of landfills, transfer stations, neighborhood trash and recycling centers, and one of the largest and most advanced waste-to-energy facilities in the world. For more information about the DSWM, visit www.miamidade.gov/dswm/ .

>>> GMCVB press release: RECORD ARRIVALS AT ‘THE NEW MIA’ (MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT) FOR FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF 2011
Passenger arrivals at Miami International Airport (MIA) increased for the first eight months of 2011 with international passenger arrivals up +7.8% and domestic arrivals up +5.8% when compared to the same eight months last year. Total arrivals increased in the first eight months of 2011 by +6.8%.

INTERNATIONAL MIA Passenger Arrivals

January – August 2011	January – August 2010	% Change
6,261,466	5,808,996	+7.8%

DOMESTIC MIA Passenger Arrivals

January – August 2011	January – August 2010	% Change
6,679,499	6,311,722	+5.8%

TOTAL MIA Passenger Arrivals

January – August 2011	January – August 2010	% Change
12,940,965	12,120,718	+6.8%

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Arts & Minds school founder Alonso Poch takes road trip to school district, after critical letter of fees and immediate repayment plan

Manny Alonso Poch, the founder of the Arts and Minds Academy Charter School on Commodore Plaza took a road trip out of Coconut Grove on Tuesday to meet with a school board member and take in the public schools Audit and Budget Advisory Committee meeting but he did not speak and just sat in the audience. The Charter School has been in numerous past Watchdog Reports since being created in 2003 including an extensive piece last week for a variety of reasons including charging inappropriate student fees, its governance as well as rent and maintenance payments well over $80,000 per month. Alonso Poch an attorney owns the building housing the school and back in 2004 was the topic of discussion by the audit committee because of this “related” transaction and if there was a conflict concerning the then $29,000 rent and whether it was too high for the property. Poch has said the rent charged was appropriate but there has been questions about the schools governing board, and as was reported last week. There is now the issue of inappropriate fees being charged and paid by parents of students and the district is asking for a full accounting of the charges and how the money will be refunded over the many years to current and past parents. Further, while doing well academically, the charter school has had five principals in the last seven years, Principal Kevin Sawyer left Sept. 30 and staff turnover is constantly occurring.

I first spotted Poch a politically connected man last week when the elevator at the district headquarters opened up and there he was with a woman, another man and school board Vice Chair Lawrence Feldman Ph.D. (Net worth $2.5 million). I got in and rode with them to the ninth floor for the audit committee meeting and talked to Feldman but not Alonso Poch who told his people “I was one of the bloggers” that has been writing about the school over the years. The fact that he attended the meeting, yet the school was not on the agenda is odd, but it shows how worried he is about the most recent letter from the school district demanding the refund of the fees and as I said to one board member. Whatever happens with the charter school and this most recent incident, it had better be up and up. For a variety of media (including The Miami Herald and Florida NPR) and law enforcement organizations are watching how this pans out in the future and any attempted behind the scenes political resolution not consistent with district policy could come back to haunt school board members.

Feldman

>>> Last week’s WDR: There he goes again, Arts & Minds founder Alonso-Poch in the spotlight with public district for charging parents 26 inappropriate fees

There he goes again, Manny Alonso-Poch, an attorney, past county bond salesman is once again under the Miami-Dade Public Schools district administration’s microscope for charging parents around two dozen different fees for the children attending the school, a no-no. Poch, the founder of the Arts and Minds Charter School Academy located on Commodore Plaza in Coconut Grove in 2003 has been the subject of numerous past Watchdog Reports since then and prior to this latest Sept. 21 communication. The issue of the school’s governance was in the spotlight. However, in the district letter last week to the charter school written by Tiffanie Pauline, the district’s administrative director’s memo for Charter School Operations titled Non-Compliance and Collection of Student Fees. She notes there were 26 cited fees that are inappropriate and should not have been collected from the school’s student’s parents. She demands a complete listing of who paid the fees, how much, their names with email accounts and immediate action is being demanded if the nation’s fourth largest public school district is not to start “withholding FTE payments” that also could result in the “possible termination of the school contract,” the district supervisor wrote. She is asking for this student/parent information from the 2007 to 2012 school years and the district is demanding a “action plan” on how the school will “reimburse these funds” to the affected individuals who paid the “student fee assessments.”

Poch, a politically well-connected man with extensive ties to a host of politicians including Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and his daughter Raquel, a school board member whom he gave campaign contributions to both campaigns from 2009 and 2010 seems to feel immune to the concerns the public school district has. But with this latest letter, he should be feeling the heat, especially since this is just another example of his organization pushing the administrative envelope, as has been detailed in past WDRs. Further, this week there is another school board Audit Committee meeting and given the board’s past involvement reviewing A&M. The members will not say much about it since it is an active case but I am sure they are interested after all the exposure the members have had with the charter school. I contacted the school district on Friday asking for a comment and Pauline wrote back, “Thank you for contacting my office to gain clarification on this matter. However, due to the pending investigation of this charter school, the District is unable to comment on this matter at this time,” wrote the Charter Schools Administrative Director. And for one long time reader that had a child at the school years ago and was a parent representative in the past that I passed the letter on too. He wrote, “Wow! It looks like I will receive a check in the near future! Thanks.” >>> Here is a recent video of the Sept. 22 governance board meeting re the Non-Compliance letter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsNDGGun8Ik

>>> Smooth transition for board’s AC chair & vice chair, Shapiro and Kemp in new leadership role

The Audit Committee on Tuesday elected Jeffrey B. Shapiro, Esq. as the boards chair and Willie Kemp, CPA was tapped for the vice chair position. The board elects new leadership on a regular basis now, Shapiro is a past chair, and he replaces Frederick “Buck” Thornburg in the top spot. On Tuesday, the former prosecutor showed how a meeting could be run efficiently, while also getting all the answers requested from staff and it was a good public policy show. The Audit Committee is the public firewall safeguarding taxpayer dollars and this orderly succession of leadership was not always the case. And one long-term man, Hank Mack beginning in the early 1990s served almost 10 years in that capacity and has a school in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties named after him where he was also chair of the Broward Audit committee. But he did finally leave after extensive coverage in the Watchdog Report and the insistence of current Board Chair Perla Tabares Hantman. When she led the charge for a leadership change on the advisory committee per school board rules.

>>> Recent school district IG report: Miami-Edison Senior High School Treasurer Charged with Fraud, Ref. IG11-38SB, September 1, 2011.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Will administration & union negotiations be a rumble or a walk in the park? Public will know in coming weeks, looking for over $100 million in concessions

With PHT officials still negotiating with the PHT unions Tuesday and a public event, it remains to be seen how the tough negotiations will ultimately pan out when it comes to the over $100 million in cost cuts the health trust is seeking during the new budget year that began Oct 1., from these employees with the bulk of them being nurses. President and CEO Carlos Migoya on the job since May has committed things are going to change for the cash strapped public hospital but it is at this moment the rubber is meeting the road. He has assembled a new team and while they are upbeat, the challenges can be resolved while still providing world-class medical care. The nursing staff points out part of that great medical care is because the nurses are very experienced and capable of handling some of the most medically difficult patients that other hospitals have passed on treating.

Migoya a former banker is also speaking at community events including his alma mater Florida International University where he got his BA and MBA. He is trying to generate community support for the health trust and is becoming its most visible cheerleader, and for the moment has the support of most county commissioners in his effort to stem the fiscal hemorrhaging that had Jackson losing well over $300 million in the two previous years. His budget for the current year is projected to be balanced but it is filled with “assumptions” noted the six Financial Recovery Board members during the preliminary budget presentations but was ultimately approved by the PHT board. Further, the University of Miami Miller Medical School administration is being asked for $16.5 million in funding reductions for its medical services and while the university conceded the issue and is working on savings initiatives. Miami officials said essentially that was all they could fiscally do if the medical school itself was to financially survive, said Dean Pascal Goldschmidt, M.D. >>> Readers should stay tuned on this story.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Commission passes $479 million budget, but what will be the future ramifications be with such short notice of budget documents?

With the commission passing a new $479 million budget for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1, early Wednesday morning just after 3:30 a.m. by 3 to 2. The stage is set for further controversy since the budget documents and numerous change memos were only given to commissioners at the last minute. Newly returned Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones thought the lack of time to review the budget was unacceptable and was almost absurd. Commission vice Chair Frank Carollo, a CPA also objected to this lack of review of the budget documents, the revenue projections and obligations listed while he picked apart the document all through the evening once the public hearing was completed. Carollo with his finance background is also concerned with the lack of stability when it came to finance and budget that includes the commission losing its own Auditor Victor Igwe. (Igwe who was escorted out of Miami’s administrative building downtown months ago got a pleasant surprise last week when Miami Attorney Julie O’ Bru changed her opinion and ruled that Igwe was eligible for compensation, originally denied and had the accountant suing the city. www.miamiherald.com ). Miami Commissioners voting for the budget were Marc Sarnoff (Net worth $2.08 million), Wilfredo “Willy Gort (Net worth $226,000) and Spence-Jones (Net worth $17,400) and the dissenters were Carollo (Net worth $707,000) and Francis Suarez (Net worth $81,131).

Carollo

Suarez

Sarnoff

Gort

Spence-Jones

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Commissioner Weithorn makes her case at TMBC on why she should be reelected

Deede Weithorn, facing a challenger in her reelection to the Miami Beach Commission this Nov. 1 is the quest speaker at the Tuesday morning Breakfast Club and the CPA has fired back via a political advertisement regarding the Urban Beach Weekend controversy. The event has divided Miami Beach residents and elected officials but as Weithorn notes, commission leaders cannot tell people not to come to the hotels and restaurants on the Memorial Day holiday. For information about the event go to: www.MBTMBC.com (Miami Beach Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club).

>>> Paid political advertisement by Weithorn: Residents, business owners and city officials are frustrated over the unruly crowds during Urban Beach Weekend. We all want to bring peace and order back to the beach. But solving this is not easy. The Challenge Constitutionally, we cannot stop people from renting hotel rooms and then walking our streets. It is their right to do so.

Steps We Can Take: Enforce all the laws. Miami Beach should develop a zero tolerance when it comes to allowing visitors to violate or laws. This should include towing illegally parked cars to arresting violators of every legal infraction. We must step up enforcement. Traffic control. Once we reach capacity we need to temporarily shut down incoming traffic from the causeways. In addition to closing Ocean Drive to cars, we need to consider closing other streets like Collins and Washington Avenues once they have reached capacity. Develop another event. Most importantly, we need another event here, but before anything else can happen, we need to send the message that any event must abide by our laws.

The city commission has been aggressively tackling this issue, but we would love to hear your thoughts, wrote Weithorn in the email blast. Please email me with your comments.

>>> PAST WDR: 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.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> When it comes to approval of $145 million budget, “all went smoothly,” says Commissioner Anderson

The city commission on Tuesday night passed a $145 million budget for next year that started Oct. 1. and Gables taxpayers are getting a three percent reduction in their property taxes. The Miami Herald www.miamiherald.com says there was very little public discussion and no controversial issues like raising taxes. The Watchdog Report contacted Mayor Jim Cason and commissioners requesting a comment and Commissioner Maria Anderson wrote back. “All went smoothly. Tax decrease with all services funded and a vigorous capital improvements agenda to improve infrastructure throughout the city is indeed a good thing. Credit goes to the City Manager who over the last two plus years has worked tirelessly to being forward to the City Commission the necessary reforms they’d asked for. We’ve had significant pension changes, painful employee layoffs, re-negotiation of city leases, and more stringent budget controls that have made a tax reduction a reality,” wrote the veteran commissioner elected in 2001.

Anderson

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott goes again with Ernesto A. Perez to the Commission for Independent Education.

Perez, 42, of Coral Gables, is the president and chief executive officer of Dade Medical College. He is currently a member of the board of directors of the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges. He has been a member of the Commission for Independent Education since 2009 and is reappointed for a term beginning September 30, 2011, and ending June 30, 2014. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

>>> Be A Good Citizen — Get Engaged and Stay Informed -Gables Talk: http://gablestalk.com -Gables Home Page: http://gableshomepage.com
Gables Gazette: http://www.cggazette.com -Enjoy your quality time in Coral Gables and stay tuned to this channel for more Great Gables Events. Robert A. Burr, editor Great Gables – a guide to the City Beautiful – Great Gables Events – a weekly list of events reply to: Rob@GreatGables.com web site: www.GreatGables/Events.html

CITY OF AVENTURA

>>> Jury finds mortgage fraud defendants guilty of all counts of fraud involving The Hidden Bay condominium complex

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announced that a federal jury found defendants Neil Fagan, Pamela Johnson, and Veldora Arthur guilty of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, and all substantive mail-fraud counts set forth in the February 3, 2011 superseding indictment. The indictment included charges of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and substantive mail fraud. The conspiracy and mail fraud counts carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment. All defendants were remanded into the custody of the United States Bureau of Prisons following their convictions. Fagan and Johnson were charged in Counts 1 through 5 of the indictment and were convicted on all counts. According to the evidence, Fagan recruited the straw buyers who bought the properties listed in the indictment and received approximately $1,300,000 in mortgage fraud proceeds. Johnson served as the settlement agent who handled the real estate closings and diverted fraud proceeds to herself and family members. Arthur, charged and convicted of Counts 1, 3, and 5, was an Executive Assistant to the Fire Chief in the City of Miami Fire Department who served as a straw buyer. Arthur received approximately $317,000 in fraud proceeds in less than a month.

The properties in the case were located at 3370 NE 190 Street in Aventura, Florida, which is known as the Hidden Bay Condominium Complex. During the course of the conspiracy approximately $11,000,000 in fraudulent loans were issued, resulting in a loss to lenders of approximately $7,000,000. Sentencing for Johnson and Fagan has been scheduled for December 15, 2011at 8:30am. Sentencing for Arthur has been scheduled for December 16, 2011 at 8:30 am. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Armando Rosquete and Sean McLaughlin. 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 DORAL

>>> Press release: Woman is hit with 43-month sentence in the federal Big House for Medicare fraud

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Christopher B. Dennis, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), announced today’s sentencing of defendant Isachi Gil, of Doral, Florida. At today’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke sentenced Gil to 43 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In addition, Gil was also ordered to perform 300 hours of community service and to pay restitution in the amount of $335,968. On May 24, 2011, following a three week trial, Gil was convicted of charges of health care fraud and making false statements related to health care matters. According to evidence presented at trial, Gil was a registered nurse employed by thirteen separate Miami-Dade home health care agencies. As a registered nurse, Gil purportedly provided skilled nursing services to homebound insulin dependent diabetics who were so ill that they were unable to inject themselves with insulin. Under Medicare regulations, Gil was required to keep records of each time she provided a skilled nursing service to a Medicare beneficiary.

Between March 2007 and July 2009, the defendant completed hundreds of documents in which she claimed that she had injected Medicare beneficiaries with insulin two times a day, seven days per week. The trial evidence showed that at least two of the Medicare beneficiaries that the defendant claimed to be injecting with insulin were not even diabetic. In addition, the evidence showed that there were over 150 instances in which the defendant was in Panama, Mexico or the Dominican Republic while she claimed to be providing skilled nursing services to Medicare beneficiaries in Miami-Dade County. In addition, the defendant also signed dozens of documents claiming that she was providing skilled nursing services when, in fact, she was attending classes at Florida International University. As a result of the defendant’s false statements, Medicare was billed for hundreds of thousands of dollars in claims for services that were not medically necessary or actually provided to Medicare beneficiaries. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and HHS-OIG. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Bernstein and Robert Luck. 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.

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Press release: Last three of 12 defendants sentenced in massive fraud & identity theft ring

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Vance Luce, Acting Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, announced today the convictions and sentencings of twelve (12) defendants stemming from a March 15, 2011 indictment, charging the defendants for their participation in a massive identity theft and bank fraud scheme. Convicted and sentenced in this case are defendants Erica Hall, 27, of Lauderhill, Jasmin Rembert, 33, of Miramar, Sharelle Finnie, 22, of Ft. Lauderdale, Rufus Bethea, 30, of Hollywood, Bianca Cook, 21, of Lauderhill, Courtney Gissendanner, 28, of Hollywood, Brandi Johnson, 39, of Miramar, Demarcus Hough, 30, of Ft. Lauderdale, Darren Baldwin, 43, of Ft. Lauderdale, Aaron Hough, 30, of Hollywood, Minnie Powell, 49, of Pembroke Pines, and Eloise Sermons, 24, of West Park. More specifically, the defendants were all convicted and have been sentenced on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, and conspiracy to commit access device fraud and identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. Additionally, Erica Hall and Sharelle Finnie were each charged and convicted of violations of HIPAA laws, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 1320d-6. Darren Baldwin, Aaron Hough, Minnie Powell, and Eloise Sermons were charged and convicted of access device fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029. Today, U.S. District Court Judge Ursula Ungaro sentenced the last remaining defendants in the case. Judge Ungaro sentenced defendant Jasmin Rembert to 63 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $408,082.18 in restitution; Courtney Gissendanner was sentenced to 91 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, and $154,852.39 in restitution; and Brandi Johnson was sentenced to 120 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, and $408,082.18 in restitution.

>> Nine other defendants were sentenced previously as follows: Erica Hall: 14 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, and the payment of $37,411.69 in restitution; Sharelle Finnie: 366 days in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and the payment of $30,231.14 in

restitution; Rufus Bethea: 50 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and the payment of $33,138.59 in restitution; Bianca Cook: 5 years of supervised release with 6 months of home detention with electronic monitoring; Demarcus Hough: 77 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and the payment of $64,385.93 in restitution; Darren Baldwin: 18 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and the payment of $29,853.78 in restitution; Aaron Hough: 41 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and the payment of $22,103.29 in restitution; Minnie Powell: 5 years of supervised release and the payment of $137,364.45 in restitution; and Eloise Sermons: 33 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and the payment of $128,018.92 in restitution. According to the filed documents and statements made in court, defendants Erica Hall and Sharelle Finnie worked as office assistants at two separate medical offices in Coral Springs and Fort Lauderdale, respectively. In this capacity, both Hall and Finnie had access to private patient identification information, including names, dates of birth, social security numbers, and other medical information. Hall and Finnie stole patient identification information and sold it to defendants Rufus Bethea, Bianca Cook, and Demarcus Hough.

Defendant Jasmin Rembert was employed at the Broward County School Board in the teacher certification department, where she had access to sensitive personal identification information from teacher certification databases. Rembert stole personal identifying information, including names, dates of birth, and social security numbers, of numerous teachers in the databases and sold the information to Hough and Brandi Johnson. Defendant Courtney Gissendanner was the organizer and leader of the organization. He was the ultimate recipient of the stolen information and would use the stolen identification information to fraudulently add Hough, Baldwin, himself, and others as “authorized users” on the victims’ credit card and bank accounts. The defendants then used the stolen personal identification information to impersonate the victims and to deplete their bank accounts and incur credit card charges as high as $128,000 in one case. >> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the United States Secret Service and the Broward Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Anton. 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.

>>> 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.

HIGHLANDS COUNTY

>>> Press release: Governor Rick Scott taps Andy Tuck and Donald L. Ellington to the Florida Transportation Commission.

Tuck, 41, of Sebring, has been a production manager at C. Elton Crews Inc. since 2008. Previously, he was an account executive at Ben Hill Griffin Inc. from 2004 to 2008. Tuck has been a member of the Central Florida Regional Planning Council since 2009 and member of the Highlands County School Board since 2006. He is also a member of the Sebring Rotary Club, Highlands County Hospice and the Highlands County Farm Bureau. Tuck received his bachelor’s degree from Florida Southern College. He succeeds Bart R. Pullum and is appointed for a term beginning September 26, 2011, and ending September 30, 2014.

Ellington, 54, of Gainesville, is a retired civil engineer. From 1994 to 2007, he was the co-owner of Causseaux and Ellington. He was a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers from 1987 to 2009 and Florida Engineering Society from 1987 to 2009. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Florida. He succeeds Martha “Marty” Lanahan and is appointed for a term beginning September 26, 2011, and ending September 30, 2013. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

SEMINOLE COUNTY

>>> Gov. Scott announced taps Scott D. Howat again names Wendy H. Brandon and Jonathan “Alex” Setzer to the District Board of Trustees, Seminole State College of Florida.

Howat, 42, of Winter Park, is senior director of labor and legislative relations for Orange County Public Schools and has held various roles with the school district, including teacher and assistant principal, since 1991. He is currently a member of the Florida Educational Negotiators and served as president from 2008 to 2010. Howat is also a member of the Florida Education Legislative Liaisons. He received his bachelor’s degree from Rollins College and master’s degree from the University of Central Florida. Howat is currently Chairman of the District Board of Trustees of Seminole State College of Florida and has been a member of the board since 2007. He is reappointed for a term beginning September 27, 2011, and ending May 31, 2015.

Brandon, 42, of Sanford, has been the chief executive officer of Central Florida Regional Hospital since 2008. Previously, she served as chief executive officer of Englewood Community Hospital from 2005 to 2008. She has been a member of the Foundation for Seminole State College board of directors since 2009 and is chairman of the Seminole State College Presidents’ Club. Brandon is also the executive committee director at the Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce and has been a member of the Sanford Rotary Club since 2009. From 2006 to 2008, she was the Director of the South County YMCA Board. Brandon received her bachelor’s degree from University of Tennessee at Martin and master’s degree from Belmont University. She succeeds Lisa Greer and is appointed for a term beginning September 27, 2011, and ending May 31, 2014.

Setzer, 31, of Lake Mary, is the owner and manager of Orange and Blue Consulting. Previously, he was chief deputy for the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections from 2005 to 2009. He is currently the vice chair of the Early Learning Coalition of Seminole County and a member of the Seminole State College Presidents’ Club. Setzer received his associate degree from Seminole State College and bachelor’s degree from Florida State University. He succeeds Charles Gregg and is appointed for a term beginning September 27, 2011, and ending May 31, 2015. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

WAKULLA COUNTY

>>> Press release: Governor Rick Scott names Donnie W. Crum as Wakulla County Interim Sheriff.

Crum, 62, of Panacea, has been the chief deputy at the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office since 1988. Previously, he was a special agent for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement from 1985 to 1988. From November 2008 to January 2009, Crum was appointed to serve as interim sheriff of Wakulla County. He has been a member of the Florida Intelligence Unit since 1981 and attended the Lively Law Enforcement Academy and Gulf Coast Junior College. Crum succeeds Sheriff David Harvey and is appointed for a term beginning October 1, 2011, and ending January 7, 2013.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> FDOT Work Program public hearings Oct. 12 in Marathon, resident input invited

Since last year’s Work Program Public Hearing was such a success, the Florida Department of Transportation District Six is again streaming it online. Interested persons will be able to participate by emailing or phoning in comments or questions. Please help inform the public of this opportunity by posting the public hearing dates on your organization’s calendar emailing the attached electronic flier to your members and/or posting the attached e-flier on your website. There is a link to the Work Program on the FDOT construction website, www.fdotmiamidade.com/work-program, where viewers can preregister beginning September 19 to participate online and view all related materials.

Those who attend the public hearing online will be able to view two-minute pre-recorded segments on major FDOT projects, as well as the live portion of the Miami-Dade public hearing. Online participants will have the opportunity to submit questions or comments via email or phone. If you attend the public hearing in person, FDOT project managers will be available to listen to your comments and answer your questions. Your opinion is important to the department. Miami-Dade County Public Hearing – Thursday, October 13, 7 p.m. FDOT District Six Auditorium -1000 NW 111th Ave., Miami Online Public Hearing can be viewed Thursday, October 13, 7 p.m. at www.fdotmiamidade.com/work-program Preregister beginning September 19. Monroe County Public Hearing -Wednesday, October 12, 6 p.m., Marathon Government Center 2798 Overseas Highway, (Mile Marker 50), Marathon

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> 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.

>>> The Good Government Initiative at the University of Miami Invites you to its third Community Conversation and Luncheon >> Wednesday, October 12^th – Northern Trust, 700 Brickell Avenue, 9th Floor, 11:30 a.m. registration, 12 p.m. lunch, 12:30 p.m. panel begins Featuring: Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez. Mayor Gimenez will share his vision for the future of Miami-Dade County and for restructuring county government. Host: Katy Sorenson, President and CEO – The Good Government Initiative – Ticket Prices: $30 Individual Ticket; $50 GGI Contributor (Individual Ticket + $20 donation) $500 Table of 10; $15 Student/Concerned Citizen. Checks should be made payable to: Miami Foundation, Credit card payments can be made via PayPal (no account necessary to use PayPal) *There are a limited amount of seats available. Registration will close on October 5th. NO payments will be accepted at the door.

Please click on “register now” button below for registration and payment. Register Now! – If you would like more information, please contact: Lourdes Lurigados, The Good Government Initiative, info@goodgov.net 305-689-8210.

>>> 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. http://www.sej.org/

EDITORIALS

>>> Will endless talk of Miami-Dade charter reform finally bear fruit, or will it just be another effort in futility?

When it comes to Home Rule Charter changes for Miami-Dade County the choice is clear, either use some of the recommendations crafted in the 2007- 2008 Charter Review recommendations or try to refine them. But these changes must be on the 2012 presidential primary or the November presidential ballot. Community leaders including Norman Braman and Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez (Net worth $923,000) are pushing the charter reform effort and at the county commission level there are three charter review committee proposals on the Oct. 4 commission agenda sponsored by a variety of county commissioners including Commission Chair Joe Martinez (Net worth $2238,000), and Commissioners Bruno Barreiro (Net worth $728,000), Sally Heyman (Net worth $425,000), Jose “Pepe” Diaz (Net worth $164,000) and another was crafted by commissioners during the Internal Management & Fiscal Responsibility Committee. However, since the Watchdog Report has covered past charter review committees first in 2000, that I joked was a work program for me back then and another one in 2007. These past charter review misfires cannot be repeated again. Where the commission essentially had the only charter change to be if approved by voters to pay commissioners a decent salary at around $92,000 instead of the current $6,000 set in 1957 but the salary increase has consistently been voted down by county voters to the tune of almost ten times.

The most contentious issue when it comes to the Miami-Dade Home Rule Charter has been the subject of term limits and the last time it was on the ballot it allowed existing commissioners to stay in office until 2024 and that did not fly with voters. Further, good government types like former Commissioner Katy Sorenson (Net worth $1.7 million) used to argue that voters get to term out elected leaders any time they want by throwing them out of office. But the campaign fundraising ability of a sitting county commissioner is prodigious and dwarfs most challenging candidate’s ability to get their name effectively in front of district voters. The Watchdog Report does not have a phone to God about what the community should do but one thing is clear. The current Charter needs to be tweaked in a way that voters will have confidence in the changes and will support the measures. Because the past charter change recommendation misfires, legislation that was essentially neutered or ignored cannot be repeated again for county voters are out of patience and will determine the way voters look at their elected leaders. And now might be a good time for charter change if you are an incumbent politician, because there is a wind in the air of discontent for professional politicians. And that possible voter backlash will be the risk commissioners take without a resolution of some of these important governance issues.

LETTERS

>>> Reader and physician on South Florida medically uninsured population, out look is grim

Attached you find a link http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/30/2432980/uninsured-situation-worsens-in.html to an excellent article by John Dorschner published in today’s Miami Herald titled ” More in S. Florida going uninsured” focusing on the soaring numbers of uninsured even in middle-class suburbs.” The facts are indeed stunning and sobering: “The data shows that almost a third — 31.2 percent — of adults aged 18 to 64 in the Kendall area, a middle-class suburb, were uninsured in 2010, up from 19.6 percent in 2008. Those grim numbers reflect South Florida’s recent economic struggles that have driven up unemployment and forced many small employers to drop insurance coverage, said Steven Ullmann, a health policy expert at the University of Miami. The figures are part of a larger trend of growing numbers of uninsured and shrinking alternatives for the poor throughout Miami-Dade and Broward counties.”
“The Kendall uninsured numbers — 50 percent higher than national figure for the same 18-to-64 age group — are “a reflection of everything the economy has been through,” Ullmann said. “It’s becoming an issue nationwide, but it’s reflected even more so in our local economy.” “The Census data, released last month, shows 31.8 percent of Miami-Dade’s residents of all ages were uninsured in 2010. In Broward, it was 24 percent. In Monroe County, 32 percent — compared with a national average of 16.3 percent.”

“A stunning 57 percent of Hialeah residents in that age group were uninsured in 2010, up from 53 percent in 2008. In the City of Miami, 50.4 percent of 18-to-64-year-olds were uninsured, compared to 45.8 percent in 2008. In Deerfield Beach, 48.5 percent were uninsured, compared to 33.6 percent in 2008. In Miami Gardens, it was 39.9 percent, compared to 35.2 percent in 2008, while Miami Beach registered very little change, with 35 percent, compared to 35.8 percent in 2008. Weston continues to be the place in South Florida with the lowest rate of uninsured residents in the 18-to-64 age group, with 17.9 percent, compared to 13.8 percent in 2008.”

The poor are also getting squeezed, says Ullmann. Many of them can qualify for Medicaid, the state-federal program for the poor, but Ullmann notes that as the state’s budget shrinks, legislators have been trying to reduce the program by lowering payments and forcing patients into health maintenance organizations.”

Unfortunately, these numbers are not going to change and may even worsen. Many of those who are lucky enough to find a job are NOT offered health insurance because health insurance premiums for employer-provided health insurance jumped 8-9 percent in 2011, passing $15000 for family coverage!
As a result more people seek health care in emergency rooms driving up the costs even further, because those with insurance are paying the share for those who don’t, or cannot, pay. Meanwhile, politicians are still engaged in trench warfare to fight off “Obamacare.”
We must face reality and find solutions to this problem. One of them would be a countywide effort to create a network of primary care clinics offering a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) coordinating medical care. Such a network could be financed by grants and federal subsidies. The costs of such care would be substantially lower compared to the emergency room services provided. For example, one of my asthma patients has utilized the emergency room 2-4 times per month for treatment and medication refills. He is now enrolled in a chronic disease management program and has used the ER only once in two years.
I hope that common sense will prevail. Otherwise, we are going to face a very bleak future.

Bernd Wollschlaeger, MD,FAAFP,FASAM

>>> Reader on A&M Charter School story

Very interesting piece on Arts & Minds. I had no idea. Guess I should be reading your reports more closely every week! I considered that school for my daughter. To be sure, there are some drawbacks to charter schools. The lack of oversight being the biggest. That has been my experience.

EC

>>> Great report in difficult times, Daniel! Thanks,

Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D.

Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

>>> Happy Birthday! Thanks for all your work on behalf of we citizens. Thanks for mentioning our tours of the Adrianne Arsht Center too.

Mike

>>> 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

AKERMAN SENTERFITT www.akerman.com

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 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

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