Watchdog Report Vol.12 No.42 February 19,2012 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. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no ads, pops-up quickly and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

>>> RED ALERT: I NEED FINANCIAL HELP IF THIS IS TOO CONTINUE AFTER 12-YEARS AND HEADING INTO 13-YEARS IN MAY:  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 since May 5, 2011.

>>> May you and your family have a safe and reflective President’s Day and we all should remember the challenges, blood and treasure and issues that faced Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln during what has been called the Great Experiment of Democracy in our nation.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> Romney fails to make his case, Santorum stumbles, and Gingrich hopes for redemption on Super Tuesday, but GOP voters still not smitten

Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential candidate with the most cash and organization continues to fail to win the GOP faithful hearts has continued making political missteps, and he is pulling out all the stops to win in Michigan and possible Arizona on Feb.28. Michigan is a state he won in 2008 and his father was a past governor, but he is facing an energized insurgent campaign by Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator. Romney has tried to press his case with GOP voters that he is a true conservative over and over again, but conservative Republicans still question that fact, a question no one asks Santorum. Romney has also railed against the use of earmarks, yet when it comes to the 2002 Olympic Games in Utah that the man ran and promotes constantly in his campaign speeches. The government bailed out the Olympic organization with $400 million in earmark funding for the global event.

Santorum on the other hand has also made some mistakes that had one of his major supporters quipping when it came to birth control. In his day, the older man said, women would put an aspirin between their legs and the comment has caused a firestorm among women last week, with the candidate saying he cannot control or be responsible for supporter’s comments. But it blurred his message in the media as the subject kept coming up. And such a broad statement about women’s reproduction rights or lack there of in 2012, could be a real problem in any general election where women nationally have a six percent voter edge over the male electorate.

Newt Gingrich, the former House Speaker is still in the hunt he believes and he is betting on a strong showing on Super Tuesday March 6 that includes his home state Georgia when he was in elected office and is an open race. But he also has Ohio and Virginia in the mix along with seven other states and the only forum available to him before these races is a Feb. 22 presidential candidate debate in Arizona. That after some fiery rhetoric from Gingrich in past debates, had Romney stepping up to the plate blunting some of his ideas, and that has diminished some of the speaker’s oratory skills in this type of forum. And U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas and his loyal supporters are vowing to motor on regardless of the outcome of the coming primary races. That has Santorum with four victories to Romney’s three to date, but trails in the delegate count where Romney has 91 to Santorum’s four delages, Gingrich has 32 and Paul has nine delegates to date and is why the next few weeks will probable determine who the party’s standard-bearer becomes, but only if one of them can catch on with the party faithful.

President Barack Obama continues to campaign around the nation going to a Boeing manufacturing facility in Washington and a host of other states, and his campaign continues to activate his Democratic Party supporters. That has people holding hundreds of get togethers with their fellow Obama supporters throughout the nation while he ply’s the fundraising waters that had him initially renouncing using Super PACS. But, he then changed his mind about unilateral campaign funding disarmament and will now back supporters creating such entities. And given the president’s prodigious fund raising skill, Republicans are committeed to raise a similar level of cash that is expected to be around $800 million.

What about all the negative attacks by the GOP candidates?

However, Republicans who just want to beat Obama in November are increasingly getting concerned that some of the scorched earth political rhetoric is getting out of hand and is giving the Obama campaign plenty of ammunition in the coming race. A campaign that will give the nation’s 40 percent independent voters an opportunity to weigh in. And while people observe a long primary did not hurt Obama in his race against then U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, and many people suggested it made him a better candidate when he faced U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, but in the case of the last race. Republicans are concerned Romney has some of the same traits as the Arizona Senator including a lack of enthusiasm among the GOP base, which plagued McCain in his race and why he tapped Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, but the political maneuver failed to rally women when it appeared she was out of her political depth and whether she could fill in if something happened to the 72 year old Republican candidate.

>>> Press release: You are invited to attend a discussion on the bilateral relationship between the United States and United Arab Emirates, and other events shaping the strategically important Middle East region When: March 9th, 2012 at 11:30 A.M. Where: The Hurricane 100 Room, BankUnited Center: 1245 Dauer, Drive Coral Gables, FL 33146 Hosted by: University of Miami, Moderator: Dr. Haim Shaked, Director of Middle East Studies Institute, University of Miami Light refreshments to be served *R.S.V.P to: (305) 284-4085 or MHerris@Miami.edu

>>> Press release: Next week, Wednesday, February 22nd, as part of the Making Home Affordable Program, an official Foreclosure-Intervention event will be hosted by the Department of Treasury at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, located at 400 SE Avenue with free parking available at the Convention Center garage located at 100 SE 2nd Street.

After seeing a decrease in the number of foreclosures in 2011, foreclosure numbers have been slowly increasing this year. One in every 624 households across the United States of America had a foreclosure filing this January. Unfortunately, Florida has been among the hardest hit states. For the first time in 12 months, foreclosure filings, notices of default and auction or seizure have risen in Florida – with an increase of 14% in January from a year earlier – and some industry estimates expect this gain may continue to increase. That is why the Department of Treasury, in conjunction with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and private organizations such as HOPE Now Alliance and NeighborWorks America, will be hosting a series of “Help for Homeowners” community events aimed at assisting homeowners who are experiencing mortgage problems. These events will take place from 1:00 – 8:00 p.m., and should be informative and helpful to anyone who has questions concerning their homes. There is no pre-registration required.

For homeowners who are struggling to make their mortgage payments, this event presents an opportunity for a face-to-face meeting with representatives from mortgage lenders, local housing counselors and also Housing and Urban Development approved counselors. A wide range of options will be explored, from retention to liquidation. I encourage all homeowners in our community who might have mortgage problems to participate and work toward finding a solution.

In addition to the programs for homeowners, there will also be a series of workshops and seminars for real estate professionals. This event will serve as a unique opportunity for professionals to attend servicers meetings on their clients’ behalf to help understand what options are available when staying in the home is not an option. Real estate professionals will also have the opportunity to discover the other options available to them and their clients to move stuck cases forward.

This is an excellent opportunity for all parties involved to get all of your questions answered. If distressed homeowners are unable to attend they may get free help putting their documents together by calling 1-888-995-HOPE (4673). For further information on this event and for a list of required documents please visit:

https://www.hmpadmin.com/portal/index.jsp www.makinghomeaffordable.gov

>>> 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, twice in 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. Further, I am a frequent guest on WWW.WPBT2.ORG on Helen Ferre’s show Issues, and have also appeared on  Eliott Rodriguez’s show News & Views.

FLORIDA

>>> Medicaid hit to JHS varies from $88 to $40 million in proposed state budget; will medical triage of services be coming?

With the Florida Senate looking at passing a $70.8 billion state budget for 2012-2013, that has the House version looking at around $2 billion in cuts. The one area that is taking the biggest hit is state Medicaid funding. Here in Miami-Dade the cuts could amount to a roughly $85 million cut in funding to Jackson Health System (JHS) and the House version comes in around $40 million said hospital staff last week. The legislature is refusing to increase any taxes on cigarettes, bottled water and items bought on the internet outside the state, but given the no tax climate pushed by Gov. Rick Scott. These public health institutions will have to review the services they are providing now because there is no alternative money at the county level to bail them out of this hole, and social medical triage may soon be the order of the day.

Scott who has made his mantra about creating jobs wants to bolster by $1 billion funding to education, but it is the public hospitals around the state that will feel the fiscal hit in the coming year with this cash diversion because raising any new state revenue is off the table. JHS is the largest public hospital in the state, employs about 9,300 employees (down from 12,500 in 2008) and this reduced state funding also diminishes the federal Medicare reimbursement rate Jackson receives and has divided state lawmakers who are having to make some tough funding choices. However, Scott and the influence of the Tea Party members has stalled trying to create any new tax revenue streams and the public hospitals are scrambling to figure out how to handle the reduced healthcare funding.

But it was clear at a Miami-Dade County Revenue Review committee meeting Friday that the health trust cannot expect any increased funding from the county and will have to make it on its own and down size and limiting medical services will probable be the only solution. And while the Miami-Dade Delegation has never been more unified when it comes to JHS and trying to help it given the new Jackson leadership. The delegation alone is not big enough to change the legislative balance around the state and it appears the dye is cast when it comes to these reductions that will also hit the other safety net public hospital systems around Florida. For more on the state budget go to: http://htpolitics.com/2012/02/18/revenues-off-the-table-as-lawmakers-look-to-balance-budget/

>>> Press release: Governor Rick Scott taps Armando J. Olivera to the District Board of Trustees, Miami Dade College.

Olivera, 62, of Coral Gables, has been the chief executive officer of Florida Power and Light Company since 2003. An employee with the company since 1972, he was a senior vice president from 1999 to 2003. Olivera has been on the Cornell University Board of Trustees since 2009 and a member of the Florida Reliability Coordinating Council since 2001, serving as a past-chair. As a business leader, he has been a member of the Florida Council of 100 since 2007 and served on the Enterprise Florida Board of Directors from 2004 through 2011. Olivera received a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Miami. He succeeds Robert Fernandez and is appointed for a term beginning February 16, 2012, and ending May 31, 2015. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott announced the appointment of Adam J. Hirsch and the reappointment of Marion M. Almy to the Florida Historical Commission.

Hirsch, 57, of Tallahassee, is a professor at the Florida State University College of Law. He succeeds Titus Brown and is appointed for a term beginning February 16, 2012, and ending December 31, 2014.

Almy, 65, of Sarasota, is the president of Archaeological Consultants Inc. She is reappointed for a term beginning February 16, 2012, and ending December 31, 2014.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> MIA Dir. Abreu relents with AA on new 13 mile baggage system, company “considering” asking for a stay order with federal judge Mar. 22

Jose Abreu, the Miami-Dade Aviation Director told the Watchdog Report Friday that the proposed activation of the almost 13-mile new security and baggage claim system (BHS) at the Miami International Airport’s North Terminal used by American Airlines has been delayed until after a March 22 hearing with a federal judge. He said the commercial airline, through their attorneys asked the kick off of the BHS be delayed because they “are considering” bringing the issue in front of the judge asking for a stay order. This was prompted after the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in a letter a few weeks ago to Abreu said the federal government wanted it started Feb.28 after baggage claim tests at the federal and local level all indicated the system was ready to go through a phase in process. However, this decision has slowed down the maintenance plans for the system started last week and the aviation guru said he acquiesced to the delay because “Everyone deserves their day in court,” and he “was not going to force the issue,” he said. The professional engineer said he had already notified AA about the extension of the kick-off after first checking with TSA who agreed.

The airline, in bankruptcy, also plays a key role at MIA, where AA is using around 72 percent of the gates. Abreu said airline officials during this reorganization process are saying they “are going to grow [their presence] at MIA by 20 percent,” said Abreu who is anticipated to retire this November after decades in public service including the head of the state’s Department of Transportation (FDOT). He also noted that if the federal judge declines the request that the system would be fired up a couple of weeks later.

Abreu, 57 has been the county’s aviation director since July 2005 and is nearing completion of the almost two decade’s long $6.2 billion capital improvement program, while the facility continues to service some 33 million passengers and over two million tons of cargo this past year.

Abreu

>>> New legislation promotes ethical behavior for lobbyist and a refresher course for the 27,000 county employees

Two new County Ethics ordinances passed unanimously at the Miami-Dade County’s Internal Management & Fiscal Responsibility Committee Tuesday and both pieces of legislation require completion of ethics courses for lobbyists and the 27,000 county employees. The county instituted this ethics training for employees back in 1999 but there are “still 1,000s of employees who have not taken ethics training,” or let it lapse past the two year requirement since they last took such a course. Similar legislation has been instituted at some municipalities and an amendment allows those lobbyists who have gone through these courses to be exempt from this new requirement until the two-year time limit is up. The course for the lobbyist is $100 and they have 60-days to complete the training and get a certificate for the training, new county employees have 60-days to get this done and current government employees have 180 days to become compliant with the ordinance if it is approved by the county commission.

Failure to comply with this new legislation is punishable by a $500 fine the first time and then $1,000 after that and could result with up to 30-days in jail if a lobbyist fails to comply. Commissioners Lynda Bell and Rebeca Sosa sponsored the legislation and a lobbyist under current county code is required to register as a lobbyist in the next five days once they are hired. However, Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz said, “There was a time when a lot of lobbyist did not sign-up,” and “they would stop you in the hallway, were getting paid, but were not registered” as lobbyist yet, he said. He also noted the $500 fine “was chump change,” and past lobbying by the unregistered people has resulted in “past [critical] articles being written,” he said.

Joe Centorino, the executive director of the county’s Ethics Commission told commissioners there is currently an ethics course county employees can take on line. But he wants to make the course more robust and he expects “to have an improved version” available in the next six weeks or so. He noted the commission had worked with Bell on the legislation and “it is a significant step” and “expands the amount of training on,” ethics and while it is a “more substantial commitment,” to his organization.” He said they could handle it using the online course and the improved version is “more sophisticated and will include an interactive approach,” when it is up and running he told commissioners.

Sosa

Bell

>>> County Revenue coming in fairly close to budget, tourist taxes are bright spot

The First Revenue Estimating Conference for Miami-Dade County was held Friday and the members reviewed the 81 county revenue streams after four months into the budget year. Edward Marquez, the Director of the Finance Department chaired the meeting and others on the panel included Commission Auditor Charles Anderson and Jennifer Glazer-Moon, the strategic budget director. Anderson and his staff challenged some of the numbers and how they were generated, but overall it was a routine meeting that the Watchdog Report has been attending for well over a decade.

What are some of the revenue highlights?

Countywide Ad Valorem taxes continue to drop and are budgeted at $853.4 million for the current year, which is down from a high of $1.1 billion back in 2006-2007. A Professional Sports Facilities Franchise Tax is up from a budgeted $8.5 million to $9.4 million but one of the real bright spots is a Tourist Development Tax that is tracking 18 percent above the budgeted number of $17 million and the Tourist Development Surtax – Food and Beverages is soaring to $5.97 million or an 22.77 percent increase from the previous years four months in taxes from Oct. to Jan. 2012. And the Public Health Trust and the Citizens Independent Transit Trust that gets a countywide half-cent-sales tax on goods up to $5,000 is tracking well above the budgeted $184.6 million and is projected at coming in at $201.1 million at the end of the year based on the first four months of the county’s budget year. And overall, budgeted revenue items are generally on track or above what were anticipated and the budgeted numbers have a five percent cushion since only 95 percent of the revenue is included in the projected numbers.

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Richard Hersch, of Miami, to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court.

Hersch, 56, has been a partner with Hersch and Talisman P.A. since 1998. Previously, he was a sole practitioner from 1980 to 1998. Active in leadership of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, both statewide and within the Miami chapter, he received board certification as a criminal trial lawyer in 1996. Hersch received a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a law degree from the University of Florida.

“As a life-long resident of Miami with 30 years of experience in courtrooms, Richard’s continued study of the law and extensive work ethic are evidence of his ability to serve on the bench of the circuit court,” Governor Scott said. “I am confident of his ability to deliver reasoned and impartial rulings based upon evidence and a careful review of the law.” Hersch will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Robert N. Scola.

>>> Press release: Miami-Dade County is requesting Expression of Interest from interested qualified parties to provide Head Start Program services.

Miami-Dade County is seeking Requests of Expressions of Interest (REOI) from qualified parties to provide Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) Program services.  As part of the 2012 budget approved by the Board of County Commissioners, the County is seeking to contract out Head Start/Early Head Start services currently provided by the Miami-Dade County Community Action and Human Services Department (CAHSD). Parties interested in providing these services must complete and submit the REOI documents by February 29, 2012 at 2:00 PM in order to be considered for a County (HS/EHS) contract.  The REOI documents will be available online beginning Monday, February 6, 2012 at www.miamidade.gov/dpm >>> Head Start/Early Head Start is a federally funded, comprehensive child development program, serving low–income families.  In Miami-Dade County, the Head Start/Early Head Start Program serves 6,756 children and families. Who: Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department What: Requests for Expressions of Interest to provide Head Start Program Services When: REOI documents available on Monday, February 6, 2012 Where: Online at the Miami-Dade County’s Internal Services Portal Site www.miamidade.gov/dpm

>>> Press release: TRI-COUNTY BEAT THE HEAT SPAY AND NEUTER week for cats

In an effort to help reduce the pet overpopulation problem in  Southeast Florida, six animal shelters have joined forces to provide spay and neuter surgeries for all owned, feral and free roaming cats.  The weeklong event is taking place from February 21st through February 25, 2012.  The service is available to all residents of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties.  Surgeries can be scheduled at any one of six convenient locations.  There is no limit to the number of cats that any individual can present for sterilization. The cost is the same at all six locations; $15.00 per cat, which includes the sterilization surgery, rabies and FVRCP vaccines and a microchip.  Appointments are required and can be scheduled by calling the desired location. “The goal is to sterilize 1650 cats over the course of the five day event. This is a critical step to reducing the number of cats and kittens received in shelters throughout the spring. While kittens are cute, the sad truth is that there are often more kittens than there are homes for them,” said Alex Muñoz, Director, Miami-Dade County Animal Services. Southeast Florida Region Spay/Neuter Coalition Members: Broward County Animal Care and Adoption (954) 359-1313 ext. 9271 -Humane Society of Broward County (954) 895-3605 – Humane Society of Greater Miami (305) 696-0800 – Miami-Dade Animal Services 311 – Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control   (561) 233-1261 -Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League (561) 686-3663.

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Low key board meeting, district buys 250 new efficient buses, discusses charter schools administration by district, but is it the lull before the storm?

In a low-key board meeting Wednesday a number of issues were discussed that had school board Members Renier Diaz de la Portilla and Marta Perez discussing how the district would handle managing a Charter School in Hialeah that is floundering. They wanted to know what the administration fee the district charges and what will it go for regarding providing services, which currently includes food service. The Charter School, a not-for-profit was created to help children with Autism but it has not been an easy job given some of the special demands the children need.

The intermingling of Charters with the public schools district’s funding for capital projects is also a hot issue that has critics saying the district must consolidate some of its around 370 schools during these lean times that had the district building new schools around the county at a brisk rate through 2008. But that building drive also ran up extensive debt and currently the district is struggling to pay off these bonds for the projects that have been already restructured a few years ago to lower the debt payments. But such a refinancing maneuver cannot bring in any more savings and the nation’s fourth largest public schools district may be forced to use general funds for maintenance, which will come out of classes and programs, offered at the public schools said district financial staff. For more go to Bill would benefit big charter school firms – Breaking News – MiamiHerald.com

Diaz de la Portilla

What about the new school buses?

The board approved a $24 million contract for 250 new high efficiency school buses and Superintendent Alberto Carvalho told the Watchdog Report last week that the buses will get better gas millage versus the old type of buses and is a attempt to reduce the cost for fuel. The district with about 347,000 students transports students in a major way and the new vehicles will be replacing the older fleet buses.

What about the issue of Perez asking a citizen to be exempted to two volunteer committees?

Board Member Marta Perez withdrew her request for the board to vote to exempt Susan Kairalla from being banned from a number of boards she is on including the Board’s Audit & Budget Advisory Committee that is the district’s community firewall. The item was shot down at a previous board committee meeting by 7 to 0 but Perez was absent from the meeting. But she may have decided to bring the matter up again and is said to be able to attend the next committee day meetings. However, critics say the board has voted on the item that limits volunteers to Citizen’s Advisory Committees to only two back in October and that is the mandate that the administration must follow, and given the vote. It should be considered a dead matter many believe but it remains to be seen if this is the end of the issue for Perez.

Perez

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> New three year PHT nurses contract provides peace in the valley, should sail through BCC Tuesday

The new three-year contract for Jackson Health System and the SEIU Local 1991 union for the nurses and some of the other physicians in the bargaining unit is expected to be approved by the Miami-Dade County Commission Tuesday after the Public Health Trust Financial Recovery Board passed it 4 to 2 on Monday at a special board meeting on committee day. The agreement involves the largest block, of the systems 9,300 employees that has neither side particularly happy with the final contract and the union’s President Martha Baker, R.N., said her members just want to get back to their jobs “of treating patients.” The nursing staff and administration have been locking horns over the concessions and new flexibility President and CEO Carlos Migoya wanted when it came to nursing staffing levels and this new agreement includes the nurses coming up with ways to increase efficiencies at the public health system, including trying to change the culture.

Migoya and his new staff that arrived in the early summer have been on a mission to change the way Jackson did things and are trying to transform the 9,300 health professionals and staff into medical ninjas that not only will give world class healthcare, but at a more reasonable cost and competitive with other local hospital systems. However, Jackson physicians and nursing staff point out that they also get the sickest of the sick that other hospitals cannot treat, and some of these super tough cases are more expensive to treat and why the institution has the highest cost in South Florida when it comes to patient medical treatment.

Just before the contract vote FRB Chair Marcos Lapciuc observed the document “was a draw with no winners” and suggested the board pass the contract that now goes in front of the county commission this week and he noted when it came to that body. “It is a roll of the dice when it comes to the BCC” and if “we don’t vote we don’t know what the consequences,” might be with the county commission. However, Migoya last week after the vote was taking with the 13-member commission and he told the Watchdog Report. The commissioners he had seen were glad the PHT came to an agreement with the unions and after bruising contract tussles with their own ten unions only resolved in January. The elected leaders wanted to avoid that fate with the nurses and the Watchdog Report expects the new contract will sail through the commission this week.

Was there any dissension on the FRB?

FRB Members State Rep. Michael Bileca, R-Miami and Stephen Nuell both CPAs questioned some of the proposed projected savings. Bileca said the contract was “one of the legacy areas we need to get right.” He noted with concern $1 million was being allocated “to find new concessions,” that would be institutionalized since the funding was in the contract. And when it came to the “concessions, I get $21 million” versus the $52 million projected and “I think your assumptions are off,” he said.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Mayor Regalado kicks off Miami Marine Stadium transformation; Friends need to understand $3 million in GOB funds comes with M-DC IG

A press conference Friday morning at the Miami Rowing Club to kickoff the possible rebirth of Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key was a festive affair that included a delegation from Miami’s Sister City, Kaohsiung a major port in Taiwan. Mayor Tomas Regalado kicked off the festivities along with Don Worth a member of Friends of Miami Marine Stadium (Friends), a not-for-profit established four-years ago to help find funding to refurbish the facility, built in 1963 but closed after Hurrican Andrew blew through Miami in August 1992, and the facility has been closed ever since. The stadium sits in environmentally sensitive land and a past Miami $1 million Master Plan for the Key called for the destruction of the iconic site, now covered with graffiti and in disrepair. But the Miami commission on July 2010 approved a revised Master Plan for the Key that now included keeping the stadium and trying to bring it back to life. Regalado when he ran for the top office in Nov. 2009 pledged that he would get the facility located on a lagoon restored and he is trying to do it in a public/private partnership since about $30 million is needed for the stadium’s transformation.

Last month as reported in the Watchdog Report, the Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority (MESA) passed by nine to one to approve a Memo of Understanding with Friends but that agreement has been deferred twice by the Miami administration and is once again on the agenda for this Thursday. However, using MESA is causing some controversy because it bypasses the city voter from weighing in on what should be on the Key and how it is developed. The same maneuver has been done in the past with the Miami Children’s Museum and the two new museums on the around 30-acre Bicentennial Park and has park preservationists up in arms. In this case, critics are concerned about the size of the footprint Friends wants to control that has a future steering committee of undefined size at the moment overseeing the overall future project. However, the key ingredient is a $3 million grant from the Dade Heritage Trust that is part of $10 million carved out of a $2.9 billion county bond approved by voters back in 2004. And Worth, a member of the Dade Heritage Trust is expected to be one of the people named to this new steering committee that has no one else from the Trust. And this new committee should also include Heritage Trust Chief Executive Officer Becky Roper Matkov who has been excluded so far in the discussions.

The Watchdog Report was the only press at this past Jan. 24 MSEA meeting and at one point Commission Chair Francis Suarez wondered if MSEA was the mechanism to use to get this projects going that included avoiding the citywide vote on the matter. He later remarked days later what if voters shot it down, that no vote would have doomed the structure and what would the city do then. He wondered. The Watchdog Report would also like to note with the release of any county GOB money, that public money comes with the Inspector General of Miami-Dade in tow. And this deal is not like turning over the Gusman Theater for a not-for-profit to manage, but involves big money from a variety of sources that have to be accounted for and used wisely. If the stadium’s restoration is not going to run into trouble and be a potential scandal in the coming years. The Watchdog Report wishes the organizers of this activity good luck but these people should realize there is going to be serious oversight and that will also include the press being involved.

Regalado

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> County Ethics Commission reviewing free tickets given to politicians, wants “non political distribution”

The Miami-Dade County Ethics and Public Trust Commission will be considering a ban on elected officials being given free tickets to events that involve “flawed policies” in the cities charters and result in “unwarranted and inappropriate benefit for elected and appointed officials.” A draft report on the matter was done after a state attorney investigation of the City of Miami Beach and the New World Symphony where a complaint was filed with the prosecutor but was found to be not criminal but a “grant dispute,” state’s the document. The commission will consider the issue at their upcoming March 1 meeting and attorneys from the effected municipalities are expected to attend. Cities that participate in getting these free tickets also include the city of Miami and the City of Homestead.

In the case of Homestead, their elected leaders have access to a Sky Box at the Homestead Motor Speedway and get 40 tickets and 20 free parking passes to events and in Miami these free ticket events range from the Florida Marlins games to concerts at the Knight Convention Center the city owns. The ethics commission reports that the danger is that elected officials or senior administrative officials are involved and giving away the tickets could be perceived as “an extension of their own self-promotional or campaign activities.” The ethics staff is recommending that the distribution of any free tickets should be in a “non-political and neutral manner” and that there should be “no interference from local officials.” To read the Ethics Commission draft report go to http://www.miamidadeethics.com/Publications/draft-public_benefits_report&proposed_guidelines.pdf

>>> Press release: Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club – February 14th, 2012

Meeting Date: Tuesday, February 21st, 2011, Meeting Time: 8:30 AM

Meeting Place: David’s Café II, 1654 Meridian Ave., South Beach – We are honored to have Simone Filippini, newly appointed Consul General of the Netherlands in Miami, as our guest speaker at the February 21st meeting of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club.

The area of jurisdiction of the Dutch Consulate General in Miami comprises Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Cayman Islands, in addition the Consul General represents the Netherlands and the territory that is the Dutch Caribbean (Aruba, Curacao, and St. Maarten).  As Consul General Ms. Filippini aims mainly to connect Netherlands and American business people and other professionals, and to get obstacles to trade and investment out of the way.  Her goal is to achieve tangible growth of US – Netherlands trade and investment, cultural cooperation, and people-to-people contacts. 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

>>> Gables residents get to review county District 7 Commissioner Suarez’s nine-month performance at local luncheon

Coral Gable’s residents will get a chance to hear from County Commissioner Xavier Suarez at a local luncheon Feb. 27 and the former mayor of Miami is up for reelection in August. He won the Commission District 7 seat in late May after county Mayor Carlos Gimenez ran for mayor and won in June. Suarez, whose son is Miami Commission Chair Francis Suarez, after a string of losses has bold plans but he sometimes forgets that it takes seven votes on the 13-member commission, and there is grumbling about his spotty attendance record, and this past week. He skipped the important Internal Management & Fiscal Responsibility Committee that he is on. Further, he tends to tell people to talk to staff rather than himself, which is different from his two predecessors, Gimenez and Jimmy Morales, and Suarez shares the Gables with Commissioner Rebeca Sosa.

Suarez tells citizen groups he “gets to say yes a lot” and likens District 7 to “being like Texas,” given its vast property tax base, since the district hugs Biscayne Bay and includes many tony homes. But it is also a high maintenance constituent district and while Suarez has yet to draw a challenger for a full four-year term after winning the low voter turnout race against former state Rep. Julio Robaina, R-South Miami. But his performance in office so far is getting mixed reviews and he could be vulnerable if the right candidate threw their hat into the political ring. That had the man saying during his inauguration his wife only allowed him to run in the spring, because he would get healthcare insurance included in the commissioner benefit package. And at this ceremony, he spoke over 27 minutes in a rambling monologue that included extensive shout outs to friends and supporters, and the performance raised a few eyebrows in the crowd to say the least.

>>> Press release: PONCE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION -P.O. Box 141651 Coral Gables, FL  33114 www.poncebusiness.com poncebusiness@gmail.com -“Keeping you abreast of the pressing issues affecting Coral Gables.” We meet the first and third Mondays of the month at JohnMartins restaurant (253 Miracle Mile – 2nd floor) at noon.  Lunch is $20 for members and $22 for guests. Xavier A. Suarez, Miami-Dade County Commissioner – District 7 –

Please join us for lunch on Monday, February 27th.  Our guest speaker will be the Miami-Dade County Commissioner for District 7, Xavier A. Suarez.  We meet at noon at JohnMartin’s restaurant (253 Miracle Mile – 2nd floor). In 2011, Commissioner Suarez was elected to the Miami-Dade County Commission for District 7.  He represents numerous municipalities including the cities of Coral Gables, Miami, South Miami and the Villages of Key Biscayne and Pinecrest.

Prior to his election, Mr. Suarez was Mayor of the City of Miami from 1985 to 1993.  During his tenure as Mayor, Xavier worked toward the construction of affordable housing in the City and prioritized community neighborhood improvements.  Mayor Suarez also received national praise for his effective handling of civil disturbances during his term.  Since 1993, Commissioner Suarez has focused on his law practice and writing several books. Commissioner Suarez was a bachelor degree from Villanova University, as well as a Juris Doctor and master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard Law School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government. >>> At the conclusion of our luncheon, Roxcy O’Neal Bolton will draw the winners from our first fundraiser to replace the roof on the George Merrick House. Tickets are still available at $10 each.  To purchase at ticket contact us at 305-439-9116.

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott goes with reappointment of Dr. Onelia G. Lage to the Board of Medicine.

Dr. Lage, 50, of Coral Gables, has been a pediatrician at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine since 1992. She serves on the board of directors for the National Hispanic Medical Association and is a member of the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Minority Women’s Health Panel of Experts. Born in Havana, Cuba, Dr. Lage received an associate degree from Miami Dade College and a medical degree from Universidad Central del Este. She is reappointed for a term beginning February 17, 2012, and ending October 31, 2014. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

CITY OF NORTH MIAMI

>>> Press release: Two Charged with Tax Refund Fraud Utilizing Stolen Social Security Office Identity Information

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Guy P. Fallen, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, and Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), announced the filing of a three-count Information charging defendants Jean LaFrance, 28, of North Miami, and Carlos Orozco, 18, of Pembroke Pines, in connection with a tax refund scheme that used stolen social security information.

More specifically, LaFrance and Orozco were each charged with conspiracy to submit false claims, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 286.  LaFrance was additionally charged with theft of public money, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641, and aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A.  If convicted on the conspiracy count, the defendants each face a maximum statutory sentence of up to ten years in prison.  If convicted on the theft of public money count, LaFrance faces a maximum statutory sentence of up to ten years in prison.  If convicted on the aggravated identity theft count, LaFrance faces a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison.

As alleged in the Information, between April and October 2011, defendant Orozco was employed as a volunteer at the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office, in Pembroke Pines, Florida.  As a volunteer employee, Orozco had access to sensitive SSA documents containing personal identification information of SSA applicants, including names, dates of birth, social security numbers, and other sensitive personal information.  In exchange for cash payments from LaFrance and the promise of future payments, Orozco provided LaFrance with the personal identifying information of thousands of SSA applicants from paperwork he stole from the SSA.

According to the Information, LaFrance then used the stolen personal identifying information of the SSA applicants to file false federal income tax returns in the names of the identity theft victims using a Turbo Tax program through the internet.  In this way, LaFrance claimed IRS tax refunds to which he was not entitled. To execute the scheme, LaFrance directed the IRS to direct deposit the refunds onto Turbo Tax Green Dot reloadable debit cards (debit cards), and to either mail the loaded debit cards to Orozco’s home or to other addresses he controlled.  Alternatively, LaFrance would direct the IRS to simply load the fraudulently claimed refunds onto debit cards that he already possessed.  Upon receipt of the loaded debit cards, LaFrance would convert the funds to cash.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, and IRS-CID.  This case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Kay and Marc Anton. An Information is only an accusation and a defendant are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 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

>>> Former Ft. Lauderdale Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

Press release: 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 Franklin Adderley, Chief of Police, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, announced that defendant David Michael McElligott, currently serving in the U.S. Air Force at Robins Air Force Base, in Georgia, pled guilty today to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1343.  Sentencing has been scheduled for May 4, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra.  At sentencing, the defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of up to twenty years in prison. McElligott, a Fort Lauderdale police officer from 1991 until his resignation late last year, had been on extended military leave, serving in the U.S. Air Force, since 2001.

In connection with his change of plea, McElligott admitted in court that since September 2003, he presented the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and the City of Fort Lauderdale with falsified Military Leave and Earnings Statements and military orders.  McElligott presented the falsified Leave and Earnings Statements to increase the supplemental pay that the City of Fort Lauderdale paid him pursuant to the City’s Supplemental Pay Policy.  McElligott presented the falsified military orders so that he could falsely assert his rights under federal law to return to his job as a police officer.  All of the falsified documents were sent by McElligott via facsimile and/or e-mail to the payroll department of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.  The loss to the City of Fort Lauderdale as a result of McElligott’s fraudulent conduct is approximately $278,000, comprised of supplemental pay, longevity pay and benefits. Mr. Ferrer commends the investigative efforts of the FBI’s Public Corruption squad and the Fort Lauderdale Police Department’s Public Integrity squad, who both participate in the Broward County Public Corruption Task Force.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard P. Murad. 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.

FT. LAUDERDALE

>>> Rothstein Associate Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy with Feds

Press release: 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 Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), announced that Marybeth Feiss, 42, of Ft. Lauderdale, pled guilty today to conspiracy to violate the Federal Election Campaign Act and to defraud the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.    Sentencing is scheduled for May 4, 2012 in West Palm Beach before U.S. District Judge Kenneth A. Marra.  At sentencing, she faces a maximum statutory sentence of up to five years in prison. Feiss was employed as an administrative assistant at the former Ft. Lauderdale law firm of Rothstein Rosenfeldt & Adler, P.A. (RRA).  According to the factual stipulation filed in Court in support of the guilty plea, her duties at RRA included assisting in organizing events, including functions for political candidates, and assisting in collecting campaign contributions made at those events.   To circumvent campaign finance laws setting limitations on the amounts which donors can contribute, Rothstein enlisted some of the attorneys and administrative personnel of RRA, and other persons associated with RRA, including Feiss, to make political contributions to various political campaigns which were unlawfully reimbursed to them by RRA. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and the IRS-CID.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lawrence D. LaVecchio, Paul F. Schwartz, and Jeffrey N. Kaplan. >>> 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.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

>>> Press release: Four More Defendants Sentenced in Broward and Palm Beach Counties in Pill Mill Operation ~ Twenty-Four Operation Oxy Alley Defendants Have Been Sentenced

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, Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, and José A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), announced the sentencing of four additional defendants on charges stemming from Operation Oxy Alley, a coordinated investigation into pill mills in Broward and Palm Beach Counties.  Including the four defendants sentenced today, twenty-four defendants have been sentenced to date on an indictment unsealed on August 23, 2011, which charged thirty-two defendants.

The indictment alleged that defendants Christopher and Jeffrey George, twin brothers, operated, managed and financed four pain management clinics in Broward and Palm Beach Counties.  According to the indictment and statements made in court, from 2008 to early 2010, these pill mills distributed approximately 20 million oxycodone pills and made more than $40 million from the illegal sales of controlled substances.  Thirteen of the thirty-two defendants were doctors. Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth A. Marra sentenced four defendants.  Michael Renda, 30, of West Palm Beach, was sentenced to 9 months in prison, to be followed by 1 year of supervised release.  Michael Aruta, M.D., 48, of Boca Raton, was sentenced to 72 months in prison, to be followed by 1 year of supervised release.  Patrick Graham, M.D., 64, of Boca Raton, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, to be followed by 1 year of supervised release. Robert Meek, D.O., 36 of Davie, was sentenced to 66 months in prison, to be followed by 1 year of supervised release.  Renda plead guilty in October 2011 to one count of racketeering conspiracy.  Graham, Aruta, and Meek plead guilty in October 2011 to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

At present, twenty-eight of the thirty-two defendants named in the indictment have pleaded guilty, including clinic owners Christopher and Jeffrey George. The sentencing hearings are scheduled to continue throughout February 2012. The investigation and prosecution was the result of work by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  The FBI, DEA, IRS-CID were assisted by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the Hollywood Police Department, the Boca Raton Police Department, and the Davie Police Department.  Coordination efforts also included cooperation by the Palm Beach State Attorney’s Office and the Delray Beach Police Department, Jupiter Police Department, West Palm Beach Police Department, Boynton Beach Police Department, Medley Police Department, Homestead Police Department, North Miami Beach Police Department, and Sunny Isles Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul F. Schwartz, Lawrence D. LaVecchio and Strider Dickson. >>> 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.

>>> Gov. Scott announced that he is extending the deadline for applications for appointment to the position of State Attorney for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, in and for Palm Beach County. The deadline for applications is extended one week to 5:00 p.m. EST on February 22, 2012. Michael F. McAuliffe, the current State Attorney for the Fifteenth Circuit, has submitted his resignation, effective March 16, 2012. Governor Scott will appoint a State Attorney to serve for the remainder of Mr. McAuliffe’s term, which ends on January 7, 2013. An application for the position is on the Governor’s website at http://www.flgov.com/appointments/. Interested applicants should complete the application form and forward it to the Executive Office of the Governor in accordance with the instructions provided on the website.

ALACHUA COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Winston J. Bradley to the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners.

Bradley, 71, of Gainesville, has been the pastor of Kingdom Life Ministries since 2005.  He previously was an agency owner with Allstate Insurance Company from 1978 to 2000. He has served on the Santa Fe College Board of Trustees since 1998 and the Santa Fe College Endowment Board since 1999. He is also a past member of the Gainesville Housing Authority Board and the Eighth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee. Bradley served in the United States Air Force from 1964 to 1968 and received a bachelor’s degree from Bethune-Cookman College.

Bradley will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Rodney Long and will serve until November 19, 2012.

DUVAL COUNTY

>>> Gov. Scott names Stanley M. Weston to the Commission on Ethics.

Weston, 51, of Jacksonville, has been a partner at Moseley Prichard Parrish Knight and Jones since 1994. Previously, he was an assistant general counsel for the City of Jacksonville from 1985 to 1993. He is a member of the Defense Research Institute and the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel.  In service to his community, he has been a member of the Family Foundations Board of Directors, the Big Brothers Big Sisters Board of Directors and past president of the Sanctuary of Northeast Florida Inc. Weston received a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a law degree from the University of Virginia. He succeeds Roy Rogers and is appointed for a term beginning February 13, 2012, and ending June 30, 2013. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

COMMUNITY EVENTS.

>>> Press release: ASPA South Florida Chapter Women’s History Month Reception Honors outstanding community servants

ASPA South Florida Chapter 9TH Annual Women’s History Month Reception honors six outstanding community leaders.  This year’s reception will pay tribute to: Lynda Bell Commissioner, Miami-Dade County, District 8, Shirley Gibson Mayor, City of Miami Gardens, Lauren Stover Assistant Aviation Director, Miami-Dade Aviation Dept., Constance Collins President, Lotus House Shelter, Woodie Lesesne Co-Founder IN FOCUS Magazine & Lesesne Media Group, Barbara “Bobbie” Ibarra Executive Director, Miami Coalition for the Homeless

The winner of the Natacha Seijas Women in Public Service Scholarship Award in the amount of $1,000 will be announced and presented. The reception will take place on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at Jungle Island, 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami, FL 33132 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. ASPA is the oldest and most prestigious organization devoted to enhancing excellence in public service.  For further information, ASPA’s website can be accessed at: www.aspaonline.org/southfla Reservations for this event can be made by contacting Roslyn Alic-Batson at 305-375-5658 or emailing aspasouthfla@yahoo.com

>>> SOUTH MIAMI-DADE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER AND delancyhill LAW FIRM PRESENT 8TH ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION

The Langston Hughes Project featuring The Ron McCurdy Quartet and celebrity Spoken Word artist Malcolm Jamal-Warner

South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center (SMDCAC) celebrates Black History Month with a presentation of the Langston Hughes Project, Ask Your Mama, Twelve Moods for Jazz on Thursday, February 23 at 8:00 p.m. on the main stage. The performance features the Ron McCurdy Quartet with celebrity spoken word artist Malcolm Jamal-Warner. As part of this special evening, delancyhill law firm will host their 8th Annual Black History Month Celebration with a VIP reception honoring Miami-Dade County Commissioner Dennis C. Moss at 6:00 p.m. in the Black Box Studio. Proceeds from the VIP Reception will benefit SMDCAC’s education and outreach programs. Tickets to the performance are $30, $20, $10 ($5 tickets CultureShockmiami.com), $5 off orchestra level seats for students seniors and active military service members. Tickets to the VIP reception are $50 and includes entrance  to the performance. The public should contact SMDCAC’s Box Office at 786-573-5300 or visit www.smdcac.org. SMDCAC is located at 10950 SW 211 Street, Cutler Bay.

EDITORIALS

>>> Miami-Dade Commissioners can do residents a favor; pass the new PHT nurses contract without it becoming a political football

With the Miami-Dade Commission meeting coming up on Tuesday, the political vying between Mayor Carlos Gimenez and his challenger Commission Chair Joe Martinez for the mayoral spot needs to be kept to a minimum. For there is still six months before the Aug. 14 election and major legislative work, including crafting a new 2012-2013 budget to plan for and they should keep their eye on that ball. The County has never had a strong mayor and Commission Chair run against each other before and gridlock in the commission chambers cannot be the result. For people continue to struggle to feed their families, stay in their homes and try to find or have health insurance and they don’t care about these political squabbles. The Watchdog Report has known both men for over 12-years and each has their strengths and weaknesses but both men must commit to getting the job done rather than endless verbal snipping for there will be plenty of time for that, but it is in the future.

The 13-member commission will also be voting on a new three-year contract with the SEIU Local 1991 nurses union contract that was hammered out for Jackson Health System and while neither the hospital’s administration or the nurses is happy. The commission should step up and realize further tweaking of the agreement (approved by the union membership last week) is not the answer and they should vote to approve the new contract and not let it become part of this mayoral race. For while Martinez was the one who pushed for a more nimble seven member Financial Recovery Board to oversee Jackson last spring and will end after 24 months. This vote on the contract should not become a political football on the body that has seven commissioners up for reelection this year and for a community where everything is political. It would nice for once that a union contract vote not be contentious and our community’s leaders might keep the sharp verbal remarks in check at a time when so much is at stake. However, it may mean putting people’s egos in a lock box for a few months since there is still plenty of time in the race. And lets hope that is what happens on Tuesday and the contract sails through the commission. For it is the right thing to do if people care about saving this public medical jewel giving around $1.2 billion in charity, uncompensated care, and bad debt per year and must be saved for all Dade residents, who don’t care about county politics. They just want to have their lives saved.

Gimenez

Martinez

>>> Check out the past national story in the Tribune papers:  Paperwork Tiger

By Maya Bell, Miami Bureau, January 20, 2003

MIAMI – Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. It’s not by choice. Miami’s self-anointed citizen watchdog depends on the people he writes for and about to finance his quixotic quest to attend nearly every government meeting in Miami-Dade County. That’s a lot of mind-numbing meetings — as many as 2,500 a year — but not a lot of income. So Ricker is always teetering on bankruptcy. He dashes to his post-office box daily, hoping subscribers to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks.

LETTERS

>>> Pinecrest Mayor Lerner on boat facility at Matheson Hammock

What is really disturbing is that the County commission issued an RFP for a massive project that had had absolutely no public review, was not part of any master planning and then voted unanimously in July 2011 to award the project without public participation.  My first thought was that had Former commissioner Katy Sorenson still been on the Commission, this would have never happened.

She would have assured the local communities had knowledge of this proposal and an opportunity to be heard. This was obviously an insiders special favor project that slid through with a wink and a nod. Shame on the Commission for trying to give away a public park for private profit!

Mayor Cindy Lerner

Village of Pinecrest

>>> Letter to county commissioners on pit-bull issue

I do not know why, but wheelchairs seem to agitate dogs on leashes and off leashes. To date, I have not been bitten, but came very close several times. We have an ordinance on pit bulls, and it should be left alone. The last thing we need are these breeds of dogs in Miami-Dade County allowed by law. Please let this issue die and go away. I vividly recall all the attacks on human beings. And these dog attacks always make the newspapers. In other localities, these breeds have maimed and killed people, big animals and other dogs. Even to recent times, some police officers have had to shot vicious dogs at certain scenes in South Florida. Dogs, children, adults, adults and children in wheelchairs just do not need these pit bulls in our county. You need to leave the ordinance alone. And start enforcing it.

Denny Wood,

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 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 G. 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.

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