Watchdog Report Vol.12 No.46 March 18, 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.

>>> HELP: 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.

>>> CORRECTION: Jackson Health System President & CEO Carlos Migoya whose salary is $590,000, has a bonus of 50 percent of that amount and if he gets that extra money this year for having Jackson breakeven. He is donating this bonus money to the Jackson Memorial Foundation.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> House Foreign Affairs Chair Rep. Ros-Lehtinen called massacre in Afghanistan “inexcusable” and notes Bales faces “the death penalty” for killing 16 villagers

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami told the Watchdog Report Friday that the American soldier killing 16 women and children in Afghanistan was “a tragic situation which is under investigation.” Ros-Lehtinen, the Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said as “more facts are coming out that the young man acted on his own” we will have a better understanding of what happened but after three tours in Iraq and this current one in Afghanistan. It appears he might have been perhaps “war weary” including perhaps having “some injury because of an IED or some concussion,” but she noted. “This is not to excuse it; it is to help explain what could have happened,” and the actions “are inexcusable and he is facing the death penalty.” She said the Afghans need to understand we have an “impartial judiciary,” branch that is “independent even in the military” and a defendant is “afforded rights,” but he is not “free of any culpability” just because he is in the military, she said.

The soldier on Saturday was identified in the press as “Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales” and he is being transported to the United States and an unknown military detention center awaiting a military tribunal. He is 38, has a dozen medals but no Purple Hearts after he is said to have had two significant injuries and that is a puzzle now being investigated. The combat soldier was also disappointed that he was not promoted after he had given so much to his country, and his narrative is getting more complex as more information surfaces. www.miamiherald.com

The long serving congresswoman elected in 1989, and reelected in 2010 by 70 percent of the vote said while the Afghans are out raged at the massacre of 16 people sleeping in their rural village, including nine children in the southern province of Kandahar. Afghans have to realize we have a process that has to be followed for every suspect. “We have a real process that is not corrupt, there is an independent judiciary” and this process has to be followed through on in a proper fashion. But she added the massacre makes “us skeptical about all the soldiers rotations” into harms way and its affect on the nation’s fighting forces.

And she took a verbal shot at Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai saying “people are getting fed up” with some of the comments of the president and gave an example of these comments. She said Karzai recently said, “Hey Pakistan, if you’re going to war with the United States, we will side with you,” the foreign affairs maven said. And suggested Karzai was forgetting all “the blood and treasure” America has sacrificed over the decade to make the country free from Al Qaeda. And this one rogue action by a soldier was “not indicative of the thousands that have served” overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan and she is so proud of the individual sacrifices of “these [soldiers serving] that she called “citizens of the world.”

What about Ros-Lehtinen’s political style?

Ros-Lehtinen before being elected to the Congress was a state senator and all through her career, that includes her getting a University of Miami Doctorate in Education. She has been very accessible to her constituents and is driven when it comes to constituent services, though she has her critics. But one thing she does is constantly showing up at local events in her white GMC SUV that she drives herself and more elected leaders in South Florida should take the hint to cut back on some of these perks. For in this new age of budget austerity, it looks over the top to have a Sergeant of Arms drive you everywhere and had Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff (Net worth $2.08 million) defending this mode of transportation after a challenging candidate said if she was elected last November. She would remember how to drive and that put the incumbent on the defensive, though he still won, and that activity is still a hot button with voters.

>>> Press release: Ileana will be honored during the 4th Annual Miami Beach Women’s Conference during their Lunch in the Garden event. Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera Bower hosts this popular event that gathers prominent women from South Florida such as the Honorable Elaine Bloom, Senator Gwen Margolis, Commissioner Sally Heyman, the Honorable Katy Sorenson, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and Beth Littrell, a local lawyer. Ileana is being honored because of her civic activism and legislative record in the Congress fighting for issues important to our community.

Said Ros-Lehtinen, “I am humbled by the recognition of so many worthy women in South Florida. The work we all do has as its main purpose the betterment of life for the residents of South Florida and the advancement of civil rights for all. It will be a wonderful event where our community’s women leaders come together to celebrate the work we have accomplished and the work that lies ahead.” The 4th Annual Miami Beach Women’s Luncheon will take place at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden (2000 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach).

>>> White House press release: Mar. 16: Commerce Secretary and former CEO John Bryson will travel to Miami, Florida, where he will tour Pavilion Furniture, a company that is working with the Department of Commerce’s Commercial Service to expand the exports of its products.  Following the tour, the Secretary will join with Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez and local business leaders for a discussion about how the private and public sector can work together to expand exports and create jobs.  Business leaders participating in the discussion will include Mike Buzzella, President and CEO of Pavilion Furniture, Raj Rangaswamy, President of Target Engineering, and Luis Arguello, CEO of DemeTech.

Target Engineering, an engineering services firm, will be joining a Department of Commerce trade mission to India at the end of the month that Secretary Bryson will lead.  DemeTech Corporation, a producer of surgical sutures and blades, has previously joined a Commerce Department trade mission to Saudi Arabia.  Luis Arguello, CEO of DemeTech also previously joined President Obama in an oval office ceremony for the signing of the U.S. Korea trade agreement – an agreement that goes into effect this week.  Under the new agreement, 80 percent of Korea’s tariffs on U.S. industrial products will drop to zero.  The agreement is expected to increase U.S. exports by approximately $11 billion, support tens of thousands of American jobs, and open up Korea’s $1 trillion economy for America’s workers and businesses.

This week also marks the two-year anniversary of the signing of the Executive Order creating the National Export Initiative, when President Obama set the ambitious goal of doubling U.S. exports over five years.  Earlier this week, the Commerce Department released new data, showing that jobs supported by U.S. exports increased by 1.2 million between 2009 and 2011, and in 2011 exports supported approximately 9.7 million jobs, and the value of U.S. exports of goods and services exceeded $2.1 trillion for the first time in U.S. history.

>>> 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

>>> Ryder Trauma Center gets double hit, losing patients to Kendall Regional, pioneering Surgeon Augenstein passes in Feb.

The rise in new Class II Trauma Centers in South Florida is starting to take a fiscal toll on the Jackson Health System and University of Miami’s Class I Ryder Trauma Center that turns 20-this year. The Center is a community medical jewel and trains U.S. Army surgeons and staff before they rotate overseas into combat zones, an activity started in 2000 and has allowed these specialists to cut some of the Center’s costs since then. But cases coming in from West Dade have dropped off said Jackson CEO Carlos Migoya on Thursday, and these new trauma centers being opened it could “siphon away 50 to 60 percent of Ryder’s historical volume,” based on 2010 data states a Feb. 27 memo by Migoya. And while Jackson has applied for Trauma Centers for Jackson North and South Hospitals. Migoya said the organization just wants to get the paperwork in by a deadline and any expansion of the Centers would be only “if these would be profitable.”

Further, UM Miller Medical School Dean Pascal Goldschmidt, M.D. a couple of weeks ago when I asked about the fiscal impact of the Kendall Regional Medical Center, a for profit hospital, opening its new trauma center months ago. The cardiologist said financially it was “significant” and is putting a strain on Ryder that is fully staffed 24/7 versus Kendall Regional where specialists may not be on site but are called in for a trauma case. Further, Ryder gets the bulk of gunshot and stabbing cases or the severe car crashes and these injured people need significantly more medical treatment and have a longer hospital stay costing more if they survive. He noted that the loss of patients was “no small deal” and could “jeopardize the activities at Ryder” including the “training of Trauma surgeons,” and he noted the success of the past program is international in nature. Since, “two thirds of all the Trauma Surgeons in Israel were trained at Ryder,” he said.

>>> Passing of Ryder Trauma Surgeon Augenstein a real hit to institution

In addition, Ryder took a medical hit when Ryder co-founder Jeffrey Augenstein, M.D., passed in February and Migoya at Thursday’s monthly Financial Recovery Board (FRB) committee meeting showed a moving video honoring the pioneer surgeon that also worked with car companies over the years with designs to better protect drivers in accidents. He was a gifted teacher and medical advocate and he said in the video the challenge many times with trauma victims is they look okay, “but then die,” and knowing the difference in time is the real challenge. Dean Goldschmidt in the past described the man as “a giant and an extraordinary human being,” and his loss to the facility is significant.

The Watchdog Report over the years had an opportunity to talk to the landmark trauma medical pioneer and he was impressive, and what Ryder does in the medical field is world class and he was part of the creation of that vision since it was first created in 1992. >>> Here are some stories on his death: Dr. Jeffrey Augenstein, pioneeer trauma doctor, dead … – Miami Herald Feb 15, 2012 … The Miami Beach native improved highway safety and the treatment of … surgeon co-founded Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, which … At the time of his death, Augenstein was working on what Schulman … www.miamiherald.com/2012/…/dr-jeffrey-augenstein-pioneeer.html >>> Similar Ryder Trauma Center at the University of Miami – Department of Welcome to Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Services … geared toward lowering the preventable death rate by speeding up the delivery of trauma care during …surgery.med.miami.edu/trauma – Cached

>>> FL AG Pam Bondi press release: More than one year ago, Florida was given the notorious title of “pill mill capital of the nation.” With more than seven Floridians dying from prescription drug overdoses per day, I knew we needed to take swift action to save lives. Since taking office, we have worked with state leaders, law enforcement, health care professionals, and others to address this crisis. On Wednesday, I joined Governor Scott, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Bailey, and Department of Health Interim Surgeon General Dr. Harris to announce the progress Florida has made over the past year in fighting Florida’s prescription drug epidemic. The collaborative efforts on the local, state, and federal levels have had a tremendous impact on the fight against prescription drug abuse. Florida has gone from being the epicenter of the crisis to becoming a national model. The latest statistics on prescription drug abuse in Florida show the progress we are making.

In March 2011, there were 854 registered pain clinics in Florida, and today there are about 500 registered pain clinics, and the number is dropping steadily. In the last 12 months, more than 2,000 arrests have been made, including 34 doctors. Out of the top 100 prescribers of oxycodone nationwide, Florida has 11 who made the list – down from 98 in 2010. The 2011 Interim Drugs Identified in Decreased Persons Report shows the number of prescription deaths fell almost eight percent from the 2010 report. While we have made significant strides in this fight, we are not done. This legislative session I worked closely with Senator Joe Negron and Representative Kelli Stargel on a bill to create a Statewide Task Force on Prescription Drug Abuse and Newborns. The bill passed unanimously and will examine the scope of the problem, the costs associated with caring for babies with neonatal withdrawal syndrome, the long-term effects of the syndrome, and strategies for preventing prescription drug abuse by expectant mothers. It is great to share that all of our efforts have had a significant impact in this battle, and we will remain dedicated to stopping prescription drug abuse in Florida.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Committee tweaks Community Periodical Program, funding down from $750,000 last year, 27 free papers reach 800,000 readers, alternative to Herald

The Community Periodical Program is likely to be tweaked on Tuesday at the county commission meeting and 27 free papers participate in the countywide program that runs press releases from the county’s leaders, the administration and other stories important to local ethnic communities. The papers are said to reach “over 800,000 readers” around Miami-Dade and are important to many of the distinct local communities made up of the elderly or non-English reading residents. The program began in 1993, was modified in 1998 and 2005 and has fiscally grown in the proceeding years substantially to $750,000 for the 2010-2011 budget year, which is less than the peak of around $1.2 million before the economic collapse in 2008. The program is an alternative news outlet and a backlash response to The Miami Herald www.miamiherald.com that is accused by county commissioners to have its own agenda and perspective, that is generally negative when it comes to the county commission. The elected officials note they need these free local papers since recent 2010 Census data shows Miami-Dade has 84.6 percent of the population made up of ethnic minorities. The county’s population is 65 percent Hispanic, 70 percent of local residents speak a different language other than English in their homes, and there are 1.78 million minority representatives state county Census documents.

Commissioner Dennis Moss (Net worth $342,000) during the committee discussion said he “had no problem funding” these free local papers. He said when it came to funding these alternative papers, “everyone should have an opportunity to participate” and get a bite of the apple, not just The Herald . He said they all pay taxes, and currently this is a “one horse town” referring to The Herald. He carped the general circulation paper had its own agenda and issues and firmly believed the commission and public “needed to have an alternative voice out there.” And while Commissioner Lynda Bell (Net worth $308,000) was concerned the body was creating another “mandate,” with some of the new language. She along with all the other committee members voted unanimously to support the legislation sponsored by Commissioners Javier Souto (Net worth $658,000) and Rebeca Sosa (Net worth $439,000).

However, the program in the past years was subject to abuse that had a 2003 county audit of the program saying six such papers got around $20,000 each but did not exist and is why the Watchdog Report has watched this program over the past 13 years. And while the county commission did tighten the program up and its qualifications after that scandal, it continued because the publications are still feared by elected leaders given their local weight with voters and many are vehicles for political ads by candidates during election season. The program in the past at one point was funded by the county to the tune of over $1 million, but with budget cuts that has been scaled down to $375,000. >> For more on the legislation got to: http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/matter.asp?matter=120428&file=true&yearFolder=Y2012

Souto

Sosa

Moss

>>> Local Hialeah charity gets 2006 Lincoln Town car valued at $3,600 but in mint condition with only 80,000 miles

A 2006 Lincoln Town Car being donated to a charity in Hialeah by Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz (Net worth $64,200) is raising eyebrows since the car is in mint condition and does not have the 250,000 miles that Commissioner Lynda Bell suggested it might have when it passed at the Internal Management & Fiscal Responsibility Committee last Tuesday. The car valued at $3,600 by the county actually has around 80,000 miles and since it is what is called a “dignitary car,” used by the county’s Sergeant-of-Arms, the vehicles are maintained religiously. Critics suggest the county could have gotten significantly more (The minimum value the WDR found for the vehicle was $11,448 to a high of $14,200) and it had Commissioner Barbara Jordan (Net worth $1.97 million) saying. “I want to get one of these,” when the commissioners debated donating the vehicle to Charities Unlimited LLC.

The Watchdog Report periodically burrows down and looks at these donations and in this case. Charities Unlimited assists displaced Hispanic kids coming from South America and Cuba and was granted IRS charity status on Oct. 9, 2007 and Gisela Hidalgo is the organization’s CEO. The Watchdog Report did a search of the charity and I was unable to confirm its fiscal health with disclosure documents listed indicating there were zero assets. I emailed Hidalgo on Saturday morning but by my deadline Sunday, I got no response. Editor’s Note: I am not challenging the validity of the charity and its work, but this is all I could find online, and the thrust of the issue is the value of the car, and its future cost for service by the not-for-profit organization.

Jordan

Bell

Diaz

http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/matter.asp?matter=120348&file=true&yearFolder=Y2012 >>> http://www.corporationwiki.com/Florida/Miami/charities-unlimited-inc/27765606.aspx

>>> Here is the webpage: Organization Name: Charities Unlimited Inc Function, Activity: Human Service Organizations – Multipurpose Assets: $0 Income: $0 Contact Info: Giselia Hidalgo 14064 S.W 104th Ct, Miami, FL 33176
Charities Unlimited Inc was created in 2007 in response to the growing needs of the displaced children throughout Latin America. Our mission is to provide assistance, through education, employability skills training, medical and legal services to the impoverished children, elderly, and families of developing nations, especially Latin America and the Caribbean, including children living in Cuba. Toward this aim, the Foundation, a non-profit organization, seeks to foster and convey a message of humanitas in the Miami-Dade County community for social and economic empowerment of the present and future generations, at the dawn of a new millennium. We also support arts and culture especially emerging artists. >>> Here are some of the other Hidalgo firms: Chief Executive Officer, Director and President at Charities Unlimited, Inc Director at Ancient Research Society Inc Chairman and Secretary at Chef’s Paella Inc Director at Coalition to Aid Haiti, Inc Director and President at Doral Art & Culture Chamber of Commerce Inc Vice President at Havanair Inc Chairman and Secretary at Karca Inc Director at Natural Health Counseling and Services Inc.

2006 Lincoln Town Car

How is Commissioner Lynda Bell doing?

Lynda Bell, elected to the District 8 seat in 2010 after long serving Commissioner Katy Sorenson (Net worth $1.7 million) has been on a jag the last few months and pushed increasing the length former commissioners would be banned from lobbying the body (which was shot down 3/3 and dies) last week and another that codified that commissioner get a Ethics Commission opinion before voting on items that involve funding to a organization they are involved in.  Commissioner Barbara Jordan noted when it came to the legislation sponsored by Bell. We “are merely codifying what has already been done.” She noted Commissioner Dennis Moss already “recluses himself” because he is with a “not profit” that receives county money.

However, Bell is also a taskmaster on the dais when she chairs her committee meetings and is always a few minutes early of the starting time and begins the discussion almost right on the dot, even when a quorum might be missing. An example of this occurred last week at the IG&FRC she chairs and in the middle of the meeting. She lost a committee quorum and her answer to that was to direct the commission’s Sergeant of Arms to find and return Commissioners Jose “Pepe” Diaz and Xavier Suarez (Net worth $328,500),  to the dais and the men quickly reappeared in the commission chambers. Further, after a discussion on a CRA, Suarez gave her a shout out and thanked Bell for doing the research on the organization’s budget since he had not had the opportunity to drill down on the backup documents. Bell is a former Mayor of Homestead and has spent eight years in elected office. However, she has not given up on the lobbying issue with an editorial in www.miamiherald.com and below is a press release from her office on the issue.

Suarez

>>> Commissioner Lynda Bell press release: County Commission Fails to Pass Important Ethics Legislation — Our efforts to restore the integrity and accountability of our County government took a bit of hit this past Tuesday, March 13th. However, as long as I am your County Commissioner, I will not be deterred in my mission to bring about more transparent and accountable government to the residents of our community. I invite you to take a moment to watch this past Tuesday’s proceedings. Miami-Dade County Commission Internal Management and Fiscal Responsibility Committee Meeting – March 13, 2012

>>> M-DC IG report: Administrative Office of the Courts’ Approval of County Employee’s Reduced Work Schedule to Work an Unrelated Second Full-Time Job, Retaining Full-Time County Employment Status, and Drawing Maximum Florida Retirement Benefits; IG11-31, March 7, 2012, Final Report and Appendix. Exhibits.

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> FDOE: press release: 2012 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAP UP -State lawmakers approve $1 billion budget increase for education and bolster vital reforms-

On January 10, as legislators gathered to convene to 2012 Legislative Session, Florida Governor Rick Scott (Net worth $103 million) used his State of the State message to urge support for his budget, calling for a $1 billion increase in state education funding. Lawmakers heeded the Governor’s message, and education was a major focus of the legislative session, resulting in the allocation to education of the $1 billion sought by the Governor and the passage of many of the State Board of Education’s priorities.

“I want to thank the members of the Florida Legislature for their hard work to ensure that our children continue to have the opportunity to compete on a global level,” said Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. “The State Board of Education agrees with Florida’s parents, teachers, and taxpayers that improving education must be a high priority, and I commend our senators and representatives for their support of public education for the next generation of students. With this increase in funding and a streamlined accountability system, we will remain on the path of intelligent reform so that Florida may continue to lead the nation.”

HB 7127- School Improvement and Education Accountability

In an effort to provide more clarity while maintaining effective school accountability, this bill aligns Florida’s Differentiated Accountably (DA) system with changes to the state’s school grading system and Florida’s ESEA flexibility waiver. The changes strategically target struggling schools and increase support to school districts in closing achievement gaps for all students.

HB 7063- Digital Learning

This legislation continues to expand access to digital learning options for students in public schools. Allows students in grades K-5 to enroll on a part-time basis in the Florida Virtual School (FLVS) and expands part-time options for students in grades K-8 in district virtual instruction programs. The bill also authorizes FLVS full-time students to participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities. >> The proposed bills require the Governor’s signature before they become law. For more information, visit the Governor’s bill action website www.flgov.com/bill-action.

>>> Teacher of the Year Lopes is honored by county Commissioner Jordan

Press release: Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year, Alexandre Lopes, will be honored by Commissioner Barbara J. Jordan at the March 20th County Commission meeting in Downtown Miami. Lopez was selected among six finalists in the Miami-Dade area. Mr. Lopes teaches at Carol City Elementary School in the Learning Experiences: Alternative Program (LEAP) and educates autistic pre-kindergarten students. In addition, he is currently in his fourth semester as a doctoral student at Florida International University. For more information, please contact Commissioner Jordan’s office at 305-375-5694.

WHO: Miami-Dade County Commissioner Barbara J. Jordan Alexandre Lopes, Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year -WHAT: Presentation honoring Alexandre Lopes, Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year WHEN: Tuesday, March 20, 2012 Approximately 9:30 a.m. WHERE:  Stephen P. Clark Center Commission Chambers, 2nd Floor, 111 NW 1st Street, Downtown Miami

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Showdown with SEIU Nurses union at county hall Thursday, BCC in the hot seat when it comes to 1,117 layoffs, will commissioners override decision?

The SEIU Local 1991 union’s representatives and others who represent the nurses at Jackson Health System (JHS) will be making a presentation at the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Thursday at around 10:00 a.m., said union President Martha Baker, RN last Thursday. Commission Chair Joe Martinez granted the request and seven county commissioners signed off to hold the special meeting where the proposed 1,117 layoffs at Jackson Memorial Hospital will be discussed. The nurses are saying that patient safety and treatments would be compromised with these cuts but health system President Carlos Migoya says the reductions are necessary given the down patient census and patient safety would not be compromised. Migoya says this is to “right size” the public hospitals workforce that is hemorrhaging red ink to the tune of over $420 million over the past three years. Migoya, a former banker joined Jackson in May and the new seven member Financial Recovery Board created in the spring of last year has been struggling to right the beleaguered system but it is not easy task and the administration has found the nurses union is a formidable group of people. Further, a just released KPMG audit for the last fiscal year showed JHS losing 81.4 million for fiscal year 2011, but with these cuts and other changes is hoping to close out the current budget year ending in September with only a projected $20.5 million fiscal deficit.

However, this is also a test for the county commission that would have to override the cuts by a two-thirds vote and if the commission bends on these layoffs. The commission’s intervention could have a cascading affect with Migoya and his new administrative team that he brought in and it could even affect the FRB members, who have stayed out of the whole community discussion on the health trust governance. But the volunteers on the board might bail out if their decisions are overturned by the commission, At a time the hospital is down to 15 days of cash on hand and needs steady leadership so the stakes are great for all Miami-Dade residents when it comes to our community health and public hospital system.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Now there are three candidates for Commission Auditor, Guba likely to get the nod Thursday by commissioners

Last Monday a Commission Auditor Selection Committee met and the commission this Thursday is expected to select one person from a shortlist of three applicants. The Watchdog Report caught one of the interviews and the candidates for the important job vacant since June are Ted Guba, Kathleen Mathews and Lewis Blake and one of the finalist candidates Kirk Schazenback dropped out at the last minute, along with another whose mother was ill. Blake, currently running the Miami Auditor’s office said “teamwork” was important and he “wanted to assist management achieve their goals,” he told the group of attorneys and CPAs. He said the office currently has six auditors including himself but believes there is need for more staff. He also thought there was a need for more review how grants were handled, especially “the sheer volume” that are initiated in the Fire Rescue Department. “I’m their friend not their foe,” of the administration he thought of the job and while he gave a good effort in the interview.

The search committee thought he might be better suited after a few years under Guba who seemed to have the experience and background and was considered more mature. One member of the selection group said “I was very impressed with Guba” and he “Handles himself very well” and he seems to do things in an “orderly manner,” and “Blake needs to be tutored under Guba.” Another person chimed in that “words like advocate cuts you at your knees [after Blake used the term to explain the role of the office],” and while “there may be baggage for folks in the [auditor’s] office over the past year.” The consensus among members was “a new set of eyes is more effective than [sticking] with the old guard.” The process has been shepherded by Commissioner Frank Carollo (Net worth $707,000) and it appears after talking to the candidates. Commissioners will vote on the person and the Watchdog Report predicts it will be Guba.

Carollo

>>> Ethics Commission press release: Regalado’s settle campaign finance charges

Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado (Net worth $7,500) and his daughter, Miami-Dade School Board Member Raquel Regalado (Net worth $108,405), have agreed to settle charges of inaccurate campaign finance reporting associated with the 2009 Miami mayoral race following a joint investigation conducted by the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
As part of the agreement, Tomas Regalado, as candidate, and Raquel Regalado, as campaign treasurer, admit to violating Chapter 106 of Florida Statutes by filing inaccurate campaign finance reports on February 10, 2010, and on March 15, 2010.  Each will pay a fine of $1,000 for each violation ($2,000 per person) to the Election Campaign Financing Trust Fund of the State of Florida.  Additionally, they will reimburse investigative costs of $1,000 each to the Ethics Commission, State Attorney’s Office and Florida Department of Law Enforcement, for a total financial penalty of $10,000.

“This has been looked at by several agencies, including our auditor, and we concluded that there were serious deficiencies when it came to accounting for contributions in the final report,” said Ethics Commission Executive Director Joseph Centorino.   “However, we found no evidence of theft of funds and this is the appropriate means of settling that type of offense.”  Centorino added, “It is important for all parties to realize that in any campaign, the candidate and the treasurer are ultimately responsible for the financial reports.” The negotiated settlement will be presented to the Florida Elections Commission for final approval at its next meeting in May. >>> The Ethics Commission was created in 1996 as an independent agency with advisory and quasi-judicial powers.  It is composed of five members, serving staggered terms of four years each.  Through a program of education and outreach, the Commission seeks to empower the community and bolster public trust.

What did the two Regalado’s write to the WDR?

The Watchdog Report contacted the mayor and school board member last week and asked them if they had any comment about the matter. Mayor Tomas Regalado wrote back, “We feel relieved after the investigation since it showed that all monies were accounted for, contrary to the allegations that were made in the media. We understand that in the future we need to have professionals do the accounting and not depend on volunteers who only mean well,” wrote the mayor elected in 2009. His daughter Raquel, the campaign’s treasurer wrote, “Glad it’s over and that it is clear that there was no crime committed. He will be opening his campaign account for re-election soon, we are hiring a professional treasurer, and a CPA firm to do the accounting, wrote the Miami-Dade school board member elected in 2010.

Tomas Regalado

Raquel Regalado

>>> Press release: Miami-Area Resident Pleads Guilty to Participating In $200 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

A Miami-area resident pleaded guilty yesterday for his role in a fraud scheme that resulted in the submission of more than $200 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Frank Criado, 33, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry L. Garber in Miami to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive illegal health care kickbacks.  Criado was charged in an indictment unsealed on Feb. 15, 2011, in the Southern District of Florida.

Criado admitted to participating in a fraud scheme that was orchestrated by the owners and operators of American Therapeutic Corporation (ATC); its management company, Medlink Professional Management Group Inc.; and the American Sleep Institute (ASI).  ATC, Medlink and ASI were Florida corporations headquartered in Miami.  ATC operated purported partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), a form of intensive treatment for severe mental illness, in seven different locations throughout South Florida and Orlando.  ASI purported to provide diagnostic sleep disorder testing.

According to court filings, ATC’s owners and operators paid kickbacks to owners and operators of assisted living facilities and halfway houses and to patient brokers in exchange for delivering ineligible patients to ATC and ASI.  In some cases, the patients received a portion of those kickbacks.  Throughout the course of the ATC and ASI conspiracy, millions of dollars in kickbacks were paid in exchange for Medicare beneficiaries who did not qualify for PHP services to attend treatment programs that were not legitimate PHPs so that ATC and ASI could bill Medicare for the medically unnecessary services.  According to court filings, to obtain the cash required to support the kickbacks, the co-conspirators laundered millions of dollars of payments from Medicare.

Criado admitted to serving as a patient broker who provided patients for ATC and ASI in exchange for kickbacks in the form of checks and cash.  The amount of the kickback was based on the number of days each patient spent at ATC. According to his plea agreement, Criado’s participation in the ATC fraud resulted in $7.3 million in fraudulent billings to the Medicare program. Sentencing for Criado is scheduled for May 31, 2012, at 8:30 a.m.  He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. ATC, Medlink, and various owners, managers, doctors, therapists, patient brokers and marketers of ATC, Medlink and ASI, were charged with various health care fraud, kickback, money laundering and other offenses in two indictments unsealed on Feb. 15, 2011.  ATC, Medlink and 11 of the individual defendants have pleaded guilty or have been convicted at trial. Other defendants are scheduled for trial April 9, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Seitz.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer of the Southern District of Florida; Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; John V. Gillies, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Miami field office; and Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher B. Dennis of the HHS Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Office of Investigations Miami office. The criminal case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Jennifer L. Saulino, Steven Kim and Robert Zink of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.  A related civil action is being handled by Vanessa I. Reed and Carolyn B. Tapie of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted L. Radway of the Southern District of Florida.  The case was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG, and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. >>> Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in nine locations have charged more than 1,190 defendants that collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $3.6 billion.  In addition, HHS’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, is taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers. To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to:  www.stopmedicarefraud.gov

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Will Commissioner Wolfson layoff criticism of Mgr. Gonzalez, now that he is running for state House?

Miami Beach Commissioner Jonas Wolfson has decided to throw his hat into the ring to try to replace state Rep. Richard Steinberg, D-Miami Beach (Net worth $327,000) in his House 106 seat in the Florida Legislature after Steinberg suddenly resigned after a texting scandal with a married federal prosecutor. Wolfson an attorney, whose wife is a judge, had a fundraiser last week and Beach Commissioner Jorge Exposito who Wolfson helped when he ran for the commission hosted it. However, Wolfson has been the driving force behind the removal of 11 year on the job Manager Jorge Gonzalez and the item is on the agenda for this Wednesday’s commission meeting. Gonzalez started his public service with Miami-Dade County and cut his chops being part of the county’s team trying to rebuild Homestead right after Hurricane Andrew slammed into the community destroying it back in August 1992. He later was a manager of a state municipality and came to the Beach in 2001. And he has survived two past mayors and a host of commissioners since then and he is considered politically very adroit with commissioners but has had some setbacks including a couple of instances involving the police force that got a new chief this week.

However, it remains to be seen if Wolfson still has the passion to put up a big fight on the issue that had Commissioner Deede Weithorn seconding a motion by Wolfson months ago to review the manager and his past performance. Mayor Mattie Herrera Bower a strong supporter of the manager hates that the whole issue has become so “political” and just likes to go forward in a straightforward manner and avoid all this drama. However, the issue is up for public debate and it has been getting some ink, and critics call him “arrogant” but his supporters see another side, a professional manager. And Beach residents will soon see if there is a change of the management guard, but the Watchdog Report believes Gonzalez will survive this challenge.

>>> 4^th Beach Womens Conference brings prominent women together for political discussion

The 4^th Annual Miami Beach Women’s Conference and Luncheon was held Friday, around 300 prominent women attended the event held at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens, and it was a wonderful affair. The organization brought a number of prominent women in the community on two different panels that discussed “You’re elected. Now what?” and the other was titled “Protection for Women,” and state Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Miami, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Miami-Dade Commissioner Sally Heyman and former Commissioner Katy Sorenson and Beth Littrell a attorney rounded out the panelists having the discussion. Further U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami introduced the “Randle Hofer Scholarship Fund” recipient and she was accompanied at the podium with Miami Beach Mayor Mattie Herrera Bower and scholarship recipient.

>>> Apple store slammed Friday with new iPad intro on tony Lincoln Rd.

If you wondered what the large crowds on Lincoln Road were doing, they waiting in line to get the new Apple i pad today and the store when this new technology is introduced is a mecca for Apple enthusiasts.

>>>M. Gongora Press release: On Wednesday, March 21st we will have our next Commission meeting with numerous subjects of importance including consideration of ratifying a new Chief of Police for the City of Miami Beach. I do hope to hear your comments and suggestions as we prepare to discuss the hiring of this very important position, which provides for our safety. To review the full agenda for next week’s Commission meeting go to http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/cityclerk/scroll.aspx?id=66724

CITY OF NORTH MIAMI

>>> Press release: Two Convicted of Tax Refund Fraud That Used Stolen Social Security 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 (SSA-OIG), and Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), announce that Jean LaFrance, 28, of North Miami, and Carlos Orozco, 18, of Pembroke Pines, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Robert Scola, Jr., to one count of conspiracy to submit false claims to the government, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 286. LaFrance also pled guilty to one count of theft of public money, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641, and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A.  Sentencing is scheduled for June 15, 2012.

According to the Criminal Information and statements made in court, between April and October 2011, Orozco worked as a volunteer at the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office, in Pembroke Pines, Florida. In his position, Orozco had access to sensitive SSA documents that contained the personal identification information of SSA applicants, including their names, dates of birth, and social security numbers. Orozco stole sensitive documents from the SSA and, in exchange for cash payments and the promise of future payments from LaFrance, gave LaFrance the personal identification information of thousands of SSA applicants.

LaFrance then used the stolen information to file false federal income tax returns in the names of the SSA applicants. He filed the false tax returns over the internet, using Turbo Tax, an on-line tax filing program.  In the filings, LaFrance claimed IRS tax refunds to which he was not entitled. To execute the scheme and access the money, LaFrance directed the IRS to direct deposit the refunds onto Turbo Tax Green Dot reloadable debit cards and to either mail the loaded debit cards to Orozco’s home or to other addresses that LaFrance controlled. Alternatively, LaFrance directed the IRS to simply load the fraudulently claimed refunds onto debit cards that he already possessed.  Upon receipt of the loaded debit cards, LaFrance converted the refunds to cash.

On the conspiracy count, each defendant faces up to ten years imprisonment.  In addition, LaFrance faces up to ten years imprisonment on the theft of public money count and a mandatory consecutive prison sentence of two years on the aggravated identity theft count. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the SSA-OIG and IRS-CID.  This case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Kay and 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.

CITY OF NORTH MIAMI BEACH

>>> Press release: North Miami Beach Resident Pleads Guilty to Filing False Income Tax Returns

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), announce the guilty plea of defendant Maurice Rodriguez, of North Miami Beach, Florida, to two charges that he willfully filed false personal income tax returns, and six charges that he aided in the preparation of numerous false federal income tax returns. Sentencing is scheduled for June 8, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Seitz. More specifically, Rodriguez pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry L. Garber in Miami, Florida to Counts 1 and 2 of the indictment, which charged him with knowingly making and subscribing a false Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns, for calendar years 2005 and 2006.  In this regard, Rodriguez admitted to inflating his wife’s income, and other business expenses in 2005 and 2006, and filing the tax returns with the IRS knowing that the returns were not accurate as to every material matter, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206 (1).

Rodriguez also pled guilty to Counts 3, 10, 15, 19, 23, and 39, which charged him with assisting and advising in the preparation and presentation of fraudulent income tax returns to the IRS, in violation of 26 U.S.C. Section 7206(2).  Rodriguez admitted that he prepared and caused the submission of U.S. Individual Tax Returns claiming tax refunds on behalf of various taxpayers, knowing that these returns contained materially false information.  Specifically, Rodriguez knew that the tax returns falsely represented, among other things, the taxpayers’ income, tax withholdings, and allowable deductions and expenses, including unreimbursed employee business expenses and other job-related expenditures. Rodriguez faces a maximum statutory term of imprisonment of up to three years for each count of filing false individual tax returns and three years as to each of the preparation and presentation of fraudulent income tax return counts. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CID.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Wood. 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. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Spruce-up on the way with 358 new palms, city & UM splitting costs says, Mayor Cason

The Watchdog Report contacted Mayor Jim Cason and commissioners last week asking if there were any hot issues and how the city was doing? And Cason emailed back when it came to the City Beautiful, the landscape was going to get a major improvement. The mayor wrote, “We will be planting some 358 Alexander palms in the next few days along Ponce de Leon from Red Road to Le Jeune, replacements for similar trees once there, but that died over the years, and the University of Miami is sharing the costs with the city. And this is part of an ongoing beautification of Coral Gables. The trees will be 20 feet high and irrigated and the Commission approved this project this past Tuesday, wrote the former diplomat elected in April 2011.

And Commissioner Maria Anderson took a trip down memory lane since she was first elected in 2001, and has faced some tough reelection campaigns that were fairly nasty over the years but she is now term limited next year. She wrote in an email, “I’m looking back over the last eleven years (13 months to go) and I am proud of the work I’ve done in the areas of enhancing senior citizen issues.  We started with a program to mark and grow programs and services to an underserved population.  Since 2005, that effort has yielded overflowing classes and a need for a senior center.  We have appropriated funds for construction, so that should become a reality in the next 2-3 years.  I won’t be in office, but I will still carry with me that I kept my 2001 campaign promise to the seniors of Coral Gables.  All else in the city is moving fairly well, if my email volume is any indicator.  Stay tuned for the Wednesday, March 28 Planning and Zoning meeting dealing with the truck ordinance,” wrote the veteran commissioner.

>>> Local luncheon group hosts Miami-Dade Commission Chair Martinez, county mayoral candidate on Aug.14 — 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. >> Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners – Joseph A. Martinez – Please join us for lunch on Monday, March 19th.  Our guest speaker will be Joseph A. Martinez, Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners.  We meet at noon at JohnMartin’s restaurant (253 Miracle Mile – 2nd floor). Commissioner Martinez was first elected to District 11 in October 2000.  In November 2010, the Board of County Commissioners selected Mr. Martinez to serve as Chairman for a two-year term.

As Chairman, he presides over County Commission meetings, Miami-Dade’s legislative branch.  He represents West Dade’s unincorporated areas which include Country Walk, Hammocks, Kendall Lakes, Brent Tree and Lakes of the Meadows. Prior to his election to the County Commission, Joseph was a 17-year veteran with the Miami-Dade Police Department working his way up through the ranks, serving as a detective with the General Investigations Unit to becoming a Lieutenant with the Department.  During his tenure with the Police Department, he received more than 70 awards and commendations including two Gold Medals of Valor, the Silver Medal of Valor and the Lifesaving Award. Chairman Martinez has a bachelor degree from Barry University in Professional Studies in Public Administration and recently announced his candidacy for the position of Mayor of Miami-Dade County. Please RSVP for our luncheon at poncebusiness@gmail.com

Martinez

CITY OF DORAL

>>> Press release:  Miami-Dade County, in partnership with the City of Doral and Dream in Green, is holding a Home Energy Savings Workshop on Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm (registration begins at 6:00pm) at the City of Doral Council Chambers. The workshop is being held to educate residents on energy efficiency and conservation and provide homeowners with information, resources and incentives to reduce their utility costs. Participants will receive a free energy savings toolkit valued at over $100 and learn to track household energy consumption/reduction. More importantly, residents will save money by learning how to reduce energy use in their homes by 20-30 percent. “This is a great opportunity for our residents to save money in the long run,” said JC Bermudez, Mayor of the City of Doral, “and a great example of how the Federal, County and Municipal governments can work hand in hand to benefit the community at large and protect our environment.” The free energy savings toolkit includes items such as a programmable thermostat, hot water gauge, LED sensor nightlight and compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs). According to ENERGY STAR, if every American home replaced just one light with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, we would save enough energy to light more than three million homes for a year, save about $700 million in annual energy costs, and prevent nine billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to the emissions of about 800,000 cars.

To register and for additional information, residents can call 3-1-1 or visit http://green.miamidade.gov. The workshop has limited space, and is open to the first 50 registered residents. Each participant will receive the free energy savings toolkit, limit one per household. The Home Energy Savings Workshops are part of the County’s award-winning Communitywide Energy Efficiency Campaign, an education program managed by the Office of Sustainability that engages residents to gain support for energy conservation, renewable energy, recycling, and waste reduction, and serve as a catalyst for long-term behavior changes resulting in reduced energy usage. To date, the campaign has resulted in a reduction of 4,041 metric tons of CO2e or $742,000 a year in energy savings. Other elements of the campaign include: showerhead and light bulb exchanges, $750 Savings Challenge, residential appliance rebate program and commercial rebate program. Learn more at http://green.miamidade.gov. On September 14, 2009, Miami-Dade County was awarded $12,523,700 through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and administered through the Department of Energy. The Countywide Energy Efficiency Campaign is one of 12 projects funded through EECBG. A complete project list is available at http://green.miamidade.gov.

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Press release: President of Broward Title and Escrow Company Charged in Multi-Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Paula Reid, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, Miami Field Office, and Florida Office of Financial Regulation, announced that defendant Michelle Austin-Wilks, 38, of Parkland, Florida, was charged in an Information with four counts of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, for her participation in a mortgage fraud scheme.  If convicted, Austin-Wilks faces up to thirty years’ imprisonment on each count. According to the Information, Austin-Wilks was President and Director of Direct Title & Escrow Services, Inc., in Oakland Park, Florida.  Austin-Wilks and others allegedly engaged in a scheme to enrich themselves by fraudulently buying and selling residential real estate property in Broward County through straw buyers.  These straw buyers obtained high value mortgages based on fraudulent mortgage loan applications and closing statements.

According to the Information, after the lenders approved the loans based on the false loan applications, Austin-Wilks prepared false HUD-1 Settlement Statements that, among other things, falsely represented to the lenders that the straw buyers were bringing their own money to closing.  She also created and submitted duplicate HUD-1 Settlement Statements for the same real estate transaction to the mortgage lenders, reflecting different sales prices to the seller and to the lender.  The lender’s version reflected a significantly higher purchase price than the seller’s version of the HUD-1 Settlement Statement. After closing, the lenders wired a total of approximately $3 million in mortgage loan proceeds into Direct Title & Escrow’s bank account, which was controlled by Austin-Wilks.  Thereafter, defendant Austin-Wilks wire transferred $68,562 and $382,000, respectively, to a mortgage broker and a straw buyer for their assistance in the mortgage fraud scheme.  The mortgage broker, Jinnie Mathurin, has pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and was sentenced on March 7, 2012 to one year and one day of imprisonment, three years supervised release and ordered to pay $1.17 million in restitution by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks.  The straw buyer, Guhier Florvilus, also pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 17, 2012 before U.S. District Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Secret Service and Florida Office of Financial Regulation.  Mr. Ferrer thanked the U.S. Marshal’s Service for their substantial efforts in locating defendant Austin-Wilks in Jamaica and returning her to United States to face charges.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Katz. An Information is only an accusation and a defendant is 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. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

>>> Thank you for using the Broward County Commission Agenda E-mail Notification System. A new Broward County Commission Agenda is available. Point your browser to http://www.broward.org/commission/welcome.htm to view the new agenda.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

>>> Press release: Boca Raton Resident Charged with Mail Fraud in Corporate Identity Theft Scheme

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, announced that defendant Rogerio Chaves Scotton, a.k.a. Roger Scotton, of Boca Raton, Florida, was charged in a twenty-six count indictment with mail fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341.  He was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robin S. Rosenbaum, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

More specifically, the indictment alleges that Scotton, a Brazilian national, offered merchandise for sale through his internet websites, including Brazil Express Import and Export and Sky Air Express.  In the websites, the defendant offered to ship the merchandise to Brazil and elsewhere at favorable shipping rates.  Scotton was able to offer lower shipping rates than his competitors because he fraudulently established new shipping accounts and/or subaccounts   with various different shipping companies, using the identity of existing corporations, such as Target, Apple Computers, and Walmart.  Scotton used these fraudulently obtained corporate accounts to ship thousands of packages throughout the United States and Brazil for his customers.  When the shipping companies discovered the fraudulent accounts created and used by Scotton, the shipping companies would credit the respective account of the legitimate corporate account owner.   As a result, the shipping companies suffered multi-million dollar losses because of Scotton’s activities.

If convicted, Scotton faces a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of up to twenty years for each count of mail fraud. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bertha R. Mitrani. An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty

BAY COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Neda C. Koehnemann to the Board of Psychology.

Koehnemann, 56, of Panama City, is a self-employed psychologist. She is appointed for a term beginning March 13, 2012, and ending October 31, 2012. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

COMMUNITY EVENTS.

>>> 24th Annual In the Company of Women Awards Celebration Recognizes 13 Miami-Dade Women – In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Department and the Miami-Dade County Commission for Women, in partnership with The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade, are hosting the 24th Annual In the Company of Women Awards Celebration presented by Macy’s, on Wednesday, March 21, from 6-9 p.m., at the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables.  Thirteen local women will be recognized for contributions in their fields and to the Miami-Dade community.  The event also provides lasting support to the Women’s Park and park programs throughout Miami-Dade County. >>> Tickets for In the Company of Women are $40, which includes the awards ceremony and pre-event reception, and can be purchased online at www.mdparks.org. Contributions of $250 and above also afford at-risk women an opportunity to attend the event. In the Company of Women is made possible by the support of generous sponsors including Macy’s, Baptist Health South Florida, Covanta Energy, Florida International University, Waste Services of Florida, Inc., and Univision Radio. For more information about the event, call Vivian Greer-Digon at the Women’s Park, 305-480-1717. >> The Miami-Dade County Commission for Women was created in 1971 as an advisory board to the Board of County Commissioners, the County administration and the public at large about issues pertaining to the status of women.  The Commission for Women also advocates for women in the community and strives to improve their quality of life.  For more information contact the Commission for Women at (305) 375-4967 or at Morilla@miamidade.gov; or visit the website at www.miamidade.gov/advocacy/CFW_home.asp.

>>> Amigos for Kids event: The Second Annual Celebration of Friendship Luncheon and Children’s Fashion show will be held on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Four Seasons. Many of you ask how you can get involved and help promote and support our mission of child abuse prevention & awareness. As you may know, April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Amigos For Kids spearheads a Blue Ribbon Campaign in Miami-Dade County, including this fundraising event. If you would like your child to participate as one of the models in this year’s event, please respond to us by Tuesday, February 28, 2012. Space is limited, and commitment to participate is required.  Please feel free to forward this information to friends with children that may be interested. Fashion Show Theme – Island Cruising In The Tropics – Commitment requirements include: $ 20 fee per child ages 4 – 13 to participate as one of the models  One  ( 1 ) fitting session Two ( 2 ) practice sessions – Adult tickets to attend the event are $ 100 per person – tables set 12 and cost is $ 1,200.  Sponsorship & runway tables available. The attached form should be sent via email to: events@amigosforkids.org Thank you for your support and interest in our mission.  Rosa Maria Plasencia Executive Director Amigos For Kids, 801 S.W. Third Av., Suite 300 Miami, Florida 33130 P:  305 279 1155 F:  305 858 0794 www.amigosforkids.org

>>> Strut your stuff on Sunday, March 25 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Shops at Midtown Miami (3401 N. Miami Avenue).  Participate in Miami Lighthouse’s fifth annual Walk, Waggle and Stroll Dog Walk, an exciting event that is dedicated to raising awareness for guide dogs and service dogs of all kinds. The walk will include dog guides, other service animals and regular pet companions, on a walk to pledge support for the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. This year’s event is hosted by Honorary ‘Dog’nitaries, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman and WPLG Chanel 10’s Sasha Andrade as emcee.

“In addition to raising much-needed funds for our programs at Miami Lighthouse, which provide rehabilitation and vocational training to thousands of people every year, our fifth annual Walk, Waggle and Stroll Dog Walk will be a wonderful way to raise awareness of the presence of service animals of all kinds in our community,” said Miami Lighthouse CEO Virginia A. Jacko, who is blind and uses a dog guide named, Kieran. Details’ include: “Bagels and Bones Breakfast” at 9:00am sponsored by Brooklyn Bagels and Miami Global Colombian Lions Club; the dog walk at 9:30am followed by contest prizes for “cutest,” “look-alike,” “most talented dog,” “Dog-Ummy,” “Musical Paws,” and Go Doggy Staying contests. You can also collect pledges to support the event from your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers for the grand prize that goes to the person who gets the most pledges. Free parking is available in the PetSmart garage, and walkers are welcome with or without dogs. On-site registration is $20; the fee is waived for visually impaired walkers. >>> The Miami Lighthouse Dog Walk is sponsored by The Shops at Midtown Miami, Brickell Motors, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman, Met Life, Gray Robinson, Banfield Pet Hospital, Frances T. King Insurance Agency, Milton and Patricia Wallace, Rugsies, BizSolutions, Britto, WPLG Local 10, Susan Conroy Design, Absolute Graphics, Brooklyn Bagels, Fuze and Miami Global Colombian Lions Club.

EDITORIALS

>>> When leaders or public servants stop talking around the press or the WDR, what is the secret? Hopefully not nuclear launch codes

As I travel and cover government and public events here in South Florida one thing has struck me over the years in the field and that is when people stop talking around the press, or me, for they look guilty as sin when they do this. Over the years it has happened constantly and people if they don’t walk away from me switch to Spanish or Creole for example, in my presence and it makes one wonder what the secret is, perhaps a road is getting new asphalt. But it is odd and most of the time one has to ask what the great secret is is that cannot be said in public. I know it is not NORAD nuclear launch codes and this queasiness to speak issues in public is more than strange, it is poor public policy and a corrosive affect with the public when it comes to residents’ confidence of their elected officials. Whose leaders can only hope voters have a memory problem since they consistently act as if people don’t remember the past and what they had said or done in their official capacity.

And while political leaders always carp about the press, its bias or agenda. They fail to realize that this is part of the medias job and to hold these people accountable for their decisions and only later do past elected leaders appreciate the role of the lowly scribe in the community, and how the medias role of providing more information only breeds voter confidence. And officials in the digital age better get used to that fact, and just get with it when it comes to public conversation at meetings. For the way it is now, so many leaders look like a cat that ate a canary when it comes to making public policy, and how they do their elected jobs, and that is not a good thing for any of us.

>>> PAST WDR: JUL.2005: Dade Home Rule Charter created to “protect the governed, not the governing” and the media has a role in that mission

The role of the press and the media in our society has been debated for centuries here in the United States but the rules have never changed so much since after 9/11 giving government a real edge in controlling what is or is not reported on. Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami are two local empirical examples of governments’ reactions to the press.  There are some elected leaders that embrace the role of the media, accept it as part of the territory coming with public office, versus other elected leaders and public servants, that disdain the role and oversight the profession plays in our Republic.

Government has numerous methods at there disposal to get their side of the story out ranging from local free community periodicals to the public institutions dedicated cable station.  However, when it comes investigative news stories that might keep some independent oversight of Miami-Dade’s $14 billion or so of public government or the $2.9 billion that will come with the county’s general obligation bond the local media resources are scant. Government understands that they actually have the advantage in the current wartime environment and as seasoned reporters with community history leave the field a large information and oversight void is being created giving public institutions a much looser political environment in which to govern the community’s 2.3 (Now 2.5) million residents.

The framers of The Miami-Dade Home Rule Charter adopted by the county in May 21, 1957 understood the edge that government has over the people they rule and the very first sentence of the Citizens’ Bill of Rights section of the charter got it right.  “This government has been created to protect the governed, not the governing.” Residents need to start focusing on the rapidly depleting media resources in Miami-Dade that are being directed at their public institutions because these assets are slowly being picked off, especially when you consider the financial size of the public entities.

Throughout the nation’s history, there has always been tension between the press and government and the nation’s founders understood that and embraced the idea because they knew they would not always be in power themselves.  Moreover, the last thing they wanted was to feel the pain of an arrogant government in their lives after leaving office, something many of our current public servants should reflect on.

>>> 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

>>> It was good to see you and as always, I admire your dedication to good reporting.

Nancy

>>> 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 COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov/ethics

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL www.miamidade.gov/ig

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.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, 2012, 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