Watchdog Report Vol.13 No. 8 July 1, 2012 Est.05.05.00 – I go when you cannot
Florida: Gov. Scott vows to not implement ACA, but hospital administrators in FL at last have a future road map
Miami-Dade County: 3 million bags go through MIA North Terminal’s new automated screening & baggage system, Dir. Abreu may stay on until March to finish the job
Miami-Dade Public Schools: A&M Charter School brings in hired gun Attkisson, makes strong offensive argument to critical district forensic audit, school’s auditor stands by document’s accuracy, Osceola Commissioner Attkisson net worth drops to $77,114 through Dec. 2010
Public Health Trust: Will there be dueling governance models for FRB, set to dissolve in 10 months? Board continuity should be a priority for complex JHS oversight
City of Miami: Will even municipal year elections drown out new Miami candidates in the future to save money? Candidates will compete with the big league political campaigns for airtime
City of Hialeah: Gov. Scott taps Judge Rodney Smith to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court.
City of Miami Beach: Leadership Academy is Free to the Miami Beach Community — Learn How Your Local Government Works
City of Coral Gables: Gov. Scott taps Judge Cristina Miranda to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court.
City of South Miami: Settlement reached with South Miami Commissioner Welsh, city becomes work program for ethics commission investigators
City of Homestead: Mayor Bateman cleared of probable cause by county ethics commission
City of Miami Lakes: Complaint about Mayor Pizzi found legally insufficient by ethics commission
City of Doral: City of Doral and E-Scrap Join Forces to Recycle
>>> Other stories around Florida
City of Davie: Davie Pill Mill Owner Sentenced in Operation Snake Oil ~ Defendant Owned and Operated Six Area Pain Management Clinics that Dispensed Oxycodone, Profited More than $22 Million
Monroe County: FREE One Day Training Classes throughout the Keys on Hazardous Waste Operations & Emergency Response; Ros-Lehtinen Urges S. FL Residents to Complete Course & Be Ready For Any Possible Pollution Event
Community Events: Friends of Black Hospitality Initiative — Kristi House event – Summer parks program – Ailey Camp
Editorials: With Miami-Dade getting a 1.98 % bump in property tax values, do elected county and local leaders keep the new money, or cut taxes further? This will be the debate in the months ahead — Check out the past national story in the Tribune papers: Paperwork Tiger By Maya Bell, Miami Bureau, Orlando Sun-Sentinel January 20, 2003 >>> And a 2004 UNC Chapel Hill study of the Southeast United States 15 states media outlet study where the Watchdog Report is listed as writing a “influential” column in Florida with over 100,000 readers: http://www.unc.edu/~davismt/SouthNow.pdf
Letters: Physician on Supreme Court ruling on ACA legislation – Letter on long time Miami Yacht Club being absorbed if new Jungle Island deal passes Miami commission in July
Sponsors – Publisher’s mission statement & Subscription information is at the bottom of this issue — Scroll down for all the headline stories text
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>>> May you and your family have a reflective and safe July Fourth Celebration on Wednesday and may we all reflect on what the costs have been in blood and human treasure over the centuries since the Fore Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence and began what is now known as the Great Experiment that is America. Happy Birthday United States of America and may the nation have many more, and be the beacon of light and hope for a better world for those people facing oppression and death in their own countries.
>>> The Watchdog Report publisher will be on The Biz 880 AM, hosted by Richard Burton on Monday July 2, from 5 to 6:00p.m. and readers should listen or call in if you get a chance.
ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street
>>> Supremes give thumbs up to Affordable Care Act, but for nation continues being a wedge issue, will Nov. elections be the decider for the bill’s future?
With the U. S. Supreme Court upholding the Affordable Care Act passed by Congress when Democrats controlled both the House and Senate which now mostly has the court’s blessing. But the legislation’s national debate has split the country in two camps since its passage, a signature legislative event for President Barack Obama and his administration. The court split 5 to 4 on the ruling but kept in the individual mandate that people must buy healthcare insurance or face an IRS tax penalty, but Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts was the swing vote. His vote of support has conservatives, since he was a George W. Bush appointee to the high court, wondering what the top jurist was thinking and his interpretation of the legislation. Other legal scholars say he was just reading the law. The Justice in the prevailing ruling conceded the Congress had the power to tax in his argument. But the ruling has squarely framed the issue for the upcoming election between Obama and GOP candidate Mitt Romney, who introduced a similar health insurance program in Massachusetts but is now against “ObamaCare,” he says in stump speeches.
Now that the matter is essentially settled in the federal courts, Republicans are looking for any opening to kill the bill they can find. And one way would be to change the majority of the U. S. Senate, now held by Democrats. But Republicans are facing their own challenging races and neither party is guaranteed to maintain there political majority in the upper or lower house. And with both political parties fundraising efforts kicking in the after burner seeking campaign cash. Obama and Romney are both coming to South Florida more frequently to tap into this cash vein, and we are just beginning seeing these fund raising pilgrimages by the candidates in the months ahead.
>>> White House press release: FACT SHEET: The Affordable Care Act: Secure Health Coverage for the Middle Class
The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act ensures hard-working, middle class families will get the security they deserve and protects every American from the worst insurance company abuses. This law was also specifically designed to give States the resources and flexibility they need to tailor their approach to their unique needs. With the uncertainty about the Court’s decision behind us, it’s now time to focus on implementing this law in a smart and non-bureaucratic way that works for the middle class. Benefits and Protections for the Middle Class: The Affordable Care Act includes numerous provisions to keep health care costs low, promote prevention, and hold insurance companies accountable. If you’re one of the 250 million Americans who already have health care – whether through private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid – the Affordable Care Act is already making your coverage more secure.
Insurance companies no longer have unchecked power to cancel your policy, deny your child coverage due to a pre-existing condition, or charge women more than men. Over 86 million Americans have gained from coverage of preventive care free of charge, like mammograms for women and wellness visits for seniors. Nearly 13 million Americans will receive a rebate this summer because their insurance company spent too much of their premium dollars on administrative costs or CEO bonuses. The law has already helped 5.3 million seniors and people with disabilities save an average of over $600 on prescription drugs in the “donut hole” in Medicare coverage. The law’s provisions to strengthen and protect Medicare by fighting fraud will continue. The law has helped 6.6 million young adults who have been able to stay on their parents’ plans until the age of 26, including 3.1 million young people who are newly insured. If you are one of the 30 million Americans who don’t yet have health insurance, starting in 2014 this law will offer you an array of quality, affordable, private health insurance plans to choose from. If you need care, you will finally have the same opportunity to get quality, affordable coverage as everyone else.
Coverage for Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions: A major impact of the Court’s decision is that 129 million people with pre-existing conditions will have the security of affordable health coverage. Starting in 2014, insurance companies can no longer charge you more, carve out benefits, or deny you coverage altogether because you have cancer or diabetes or simply because you are a woman. To make these protections affordable, people with and without pre-existing conditions should be insured, since everyone at some time needs health care. Tax Credits for Middle Class Families and Small Businesses: Millions of Americans will soon be eligible for tax credits to ensure that their health insurance is affordable. Under today’s ruling, having health insurance is and will continue to be a choice.
If you can’t afford insurance or you’re a small business that wants to provide affordable insurance to your employees, you’ll get tax credits that make coverage affordable. But starting in 2014, if you can afford insurance and you choose not to purchase it, the taxpayers will no longer subsidize your care for free. The Court’s ruling today allows Congress to hold the projected 1% of Americans who will be able to afford health insurance but will choose not to buy it responsible for that choice. Many small businesses are already receiving tax credits so they can afford to offer quality health care to their employees. To date, 360,000 businesses that employ 2 million workers have already benefitted from the small business tax cuts in the law. And once the Affordable Care Act takes full effect, about 18 million individuals and families will get tax credits for health insurance coverage averaging about $4,000 apiece. Support for State Implementation of Affordable Insurance Exchanges: With the uncertainty of the Court decision behind us, we will step up our work with States to implement Affordable Insurance Exchanges. Exchanges are new marketplaces, starting in 2014, that will allow individuals and small businesses to compare and choose private health plans. Each State will take the lead in designing its own menu of options. Already, 34 States including the District of Columbia have received 100 percent Federally funded grants to build Exchanges. The use of Exchange grants includes support for activities related to running Exchanges in their start-up year.
States can also implement their own brand of reform through Innovation Waivers starting in 2017. If States can come up with even better ways of covering people at the same quality and low cost, this law allows them to do so. The Administration supports bipartisan legislation to allow States to start such Waivers in 2014. Moving Forward, Not Back: No political party has a monopoly on good ideas, and the President will work with anyone to provide basic security for middle class families and end the worst insurance company abuses. But rather than refight old partisan battles by starting over on health care and repealing basic protections that provide security for the middle class, Congress needs to work together to focus on the economy and creating jobs. Right now, Congress should act on the President’s concrete plans to create an economy built to last by reducing the deficit in a balanced way and investing in education, clean energy, infrastructure, and innovation.
>>> Press release: Congress Must Play Its Role & Repeal ObamaCare, Says Ros-Lehtinen
Cong. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen’s statement: “While I strongly disagree with the court’s judgment, today’s decision exemplifies why we are a system of checks and balances. Our work is not finished, however. The court’s ruling underscores the critical role Congress must play by repealing ObamaCare. America’s healthcare system should empower individuals and families instead of Washington bureaucrats. This ruling imposes a new huge tax on America’s already struggling families and this is unacceptable to those of us who believe that our money should stay in our pockets and not sent to Washington. I have already voted 30 times in Congress to defund, fully repeal or do away with parts of ObamaCare and I will vote that way again in the House on Wednesday, July 11th. I will continue to work with my congressional colleagues to repeal ObamaCare and enact common-sense, step-by-step reforms necessary to lower healthcare premiums and protect Americans’ access to the care they need, from the doctor they choose, at a lower cost.”
>>> IBOPE Inteligência Poll: Rubio Top Choice for VP Among All Voters & Republicans But Plurality Favors Someone Established Over Newcomer
Marco Rubio is the favorite choice to be Mitt Romney’s Republican vice-presidential nominee among voters overall and even more so among Republicans, a new IBOPE Inteligência poll finds. The nationwide interactive poll finds 22% of overall voters prefer Romney choose Rubio as a running mate, and 36% of Republican voters echo the sentiment. However, when asked about the qualities Romney should look for in a potential vice president, a plurality selected a profile that may not fit Rubio. Overall, 44% voters choose someone “who has an established record in public office or government and will been seen as acceptable to moderate voters,” and 15% choose someone “with little or no history of public office who will generate enthusiasm among particular groups (i.e. ideological, ethnic, racial, gender.)” Results among Republicans were similar to those of all voters, with 40% choosing the more established politician model.
Rubio, 41, is in his first term as US Senator from Florida and one of his perceived assets to be on the ticket is his Hispanic (Cuban) heritage. Nearly three-fourths (73%) say Romney’s choice for running mate will have no influence on their votes, while 6% say it will have a great deal of influence and 18% say it will have some.
The poll listed 12 possible running mates for Romney: Rubio, Bob McDonnell, Bobby Jindal, Chris Christie, John Thune, Kelly Ayotte, Mitch Daniels, Nikki Haley, Paul Ryan, Rob Portman, Susana Martinez and Tim Pawlenty. Among all voters, no one besides Rubio draws 10% or more, with Jindal, the Governor of Louisiana, at 8% and Rep. Ryan at 7%. Among Republicans only, 12% choose Jindal and 10% Ryan. A total of 42% overall were either not sure (28%) or want “someone else” (14%). Among Republicans, 17% are not sure and 6% want “someone else.” IBOPE Inteligência conducted an online survey of 2,071 likely voters. The margin of error is +/- 2.2 percentage points. A sampling of IBOPE Inteligência’s online panel, which is representative of the adult population of the US, was invited to participate from June 22-25. Slight weights were added to region, party, age, race, religion, gender and education to more accurately reflect the population.
The March poll included 2,076 U.S. adults and had the same methodology and margin of error. >>> IBOPE Inteligência, formerly IBOPE Zogby International, is a non-partisan, premier global public opinion polling and market research firm that offers timely, accurate results and in-depth analysis and insights. IBOPE Inteligência works with issue experts in a vast array of fields including healthcare, technology, finance, insurance, energy, agriculture, public affairs, and media who offer insightful data analysis and exceptional service to clients in countries throughout the world. IBOPE Inteligência experts analyze data and work with clients to develop and implement new strategies, and offer customized and attractive solutions to challenges our clients face. IBOPE Inteligência is a subsidiary of the IBOPE Group of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Please visit www.ibopeinteligencia.com for more information on IBOPE Inteligência.
>>> 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 and was Best Citizen in the 2003 Best of Miami of The Miami New Times, profiled twice in The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel ran a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003, and UNC Chapel Hill named 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 on www.CBS4.com .
FLORIDA
>>> Gov. Scott vows to not implement ACA, but hospital administrators in FL at last have a future road map
The battle lines are drawn with the Supreme Court ruling on ACA last week and Gov. Rick Scott is vowing to fight the implantation of the law in Florida, a debate battle that will be also occurring around the nation. A majority of the states had challenged the federal legislation in the courts, and Scott a former healthcare executive has insisted this was not the way to deal with the issue of the tens of millions of Americans without health insurance and has he vowed not to implement the federal law. http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/30/2876573/scott-vows-he-wont-implement-affordable.html However, as Scott is learning when it comes to governing, you cannot always get it your way. And political pundits are wondering how he and the Florida Legislature will deal with this new federal law in the coming years once the dust is settled. But at least now hospitals in the state have a general road map of where healthcare is expected to go in the coming years, something that was unknown prior to the high Court’s ruling, and had many health systems administrators around the state putting the discussion on hold.
Gov. Rick Scott press release: “Today’s decision by the Supreme Court of the United States is simply disappointing. The tax question was repeatedly refuted by members of Congress who helped pass this health care takeover. The Justices have declared that the central provision of ObamaCare is a judicially mandated tax. A new tax pure and simple. This is just another burden the federal government has put on American families and small businesses.
“With the national economy struggling to recover, now is not the time to implement a massive social program that injects nothing but uncertainty and doubt into our economic system. By doing so, they have put up yet another major roadblock to efforts to get people back to work and forced the government into the important relationship between patients and their doctors. “I stand with Justice Kennedy that the entire act should have been held invalid.”
>>> Press release: Gov. Scott Governor Rick Scott Names Results-Oriented Human Resources Business Executive as Head of Department of Management Services
Governor Rick Scott appointed Craig J. Nichols to serve as Secretary of the Department of Management Services, beginning July 9, 2012. With 27 years of experience managing talent for domestic and global companies, Nichols has developed business-oriented, innovative strategies in human resources, including strategic planning, staff training and development, merger and acquisition integration, and expense management resulting in significant cost savings. His expertise will be integral to Governor Scott’s continued mission to reduce the size and cost of state government through increased efficiencies. “As we work during the next two years to launch major productivity and efficiency initiatives, Craig will bring to the agency a combination of large-organization experience, strong operational and strategic focus, and executive leadership,” Governor Scott stated. “I am confident his corporate experience will ensure state government remains focused on making Florida the best state for the private sector to grow and create jobs.”
Since 2010, Nichols has been an independent consultant assisting Right Management Inc. with talent management and leadership development. Previously, as vice president of human resources and chief compliance officer for Republic Services from 2000 to 2009, he was instrumental in transforming a collection of acquired companies into a successful corporate enterprise with 13,000 employees in over 300 locations. He developed the company’s human resources vision and was the leader of its implementation.
At Lexis-Nexis, Nichols led human resources initiatives that yielded millions of dollars in cost savings through reorganizations of the company’s marketing, sales and related functions. During his tenure with the company from 1996 to 2000, its revenue increased over 90 percent through acquisitions and improved market strategies…
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>> 3 million bags go through MIA North Terminal’s new automated screening & baggage system, Dir. Abreu may stay on until March to finish the job
With Miami International Airport (MIA) experiencing its three millionth bag going through the new 13-mile or so automated screening and baggage handling system in the North Terminal, a system first fired up a few months ago but with concerns. One actor in this ongoing drama is José Abreu, the MIA aviation director and he has agreed to stay on the job for a few more months to finish the massive $6.2 billion terminal projects. The civil engineer tapped for the position in July 2005 to succeed Angela Gittens during the endless two terminal construction of North and South Terminals that is now being finally finished up since construction began in 1994 and he was slated to retire this November. However, final construction is proceeding and he has decided to hopefully stay until the end wrote one of his staff members. In an email to Abreu, the Watchdog Report last week asked him about the extension of his employment time and his assistant wrote back that. “Yes, Jose is contemplating staying until the completion of the CIP project in March 2013. We are all keeping our fingers crossed,” wrote Barbara S. Jimenez, Senior Assistant to Aviation Director, Miami-Dade Aviation Department.
And when it comes to the activation of the new complex baggage system that had American Airlines expressing serious concerns initially about the performance of the system. The start trigger was pulled after MIA management was getting pressure to fire it up from federal transportation authorities and baggage handling numbers have been ramping up the last few months to this new 3 million-bag benchmark. The Watchdog Report asked him about this baggage milestone and Abreu wrote back. “We consider this one of the best startups of any baggage handling system anywhere and we are very pleased with its performance. With respect to the legacy system [the baggage system used for decades before the new system was activated], we are scheduled to start demolition on Monday, July 2nd. And this has been a great team effort with Siemens and American Airlines,” wrote the former FDOT secretary appointed to that post by then Gov. Jeb Bush.
Abreu during his tenure on this pressure cooker of a job once had him telling the Watchdog Report after a verbal tongue lashing at a county commission meeting. He said at the time, “You would have thought I had kidnapped his child,” concerning the hostile exchange with a prominent commissioner. Further, over the years he has said a number of memorable quotes, such as “I only park the planes.” And after one verbally blistering and unrelenting session in front of the county commission just over a year after he took the job. “I am out of gas,” he said and there is no more that I can give you and what you are criticizing me for, was done and decided by the commission before I took over, he pleaded in his defense.
However, MIA is the lifeblood of Miami-Dade business and tourism and while well over 33 million passengers, 2 million tons of cargo goes through it, and in 2011, 389,467 commercial planes were moved. The airport is also carrying a massive debt load to pay for this construction and the facility is at 332 days, before it reaches 365 days when these MIA bond payments would come in at $1 million a day. A benchmark when reached is the worry and MIA must raise further revenue, but the landing fee is already sky high. And insiders say it has to come from the commercial concessions at MIA and maximizing the rent and profit sharing with the restaurants and stores at the facility, if MIA is ever going to be able to cover these future looming debt payments.
Abreu
>>> Mayoral campaigns kick into hire gear, reporting cycle ends Jun.30
The Miami-Dade Mayoral race is in full swing and includes banners on planes at the Miami Heat parade Monday trashing Mayor Carlos Gimenez and his new campaign manager is raising eyebrows since Jesse Manzano-Plaza is a former lobbyist for Genting, a company trying to bring destination gambling to South Florida and has split the community. >>> http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/30/2875440/miami-dade-mayor-names-ex-genting.html >>> http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/30/2875438/banners-bash-miami-dade-mayor.html Gimenez has been in office just over a year now since the recall of Mayor Carlos Alvarez and he is facing county Commission Chair Joe Martinez along with a host of other candidates and both men are feverishly raising money for their campaigns.
Through the last reporting period in March, Gimenez had $694,000 in his war chest to Martinez’s $111,700 but that gap is expected to close with the new campaign reports due at the end of June. Further, with the new county budget for the coming year coming front and center at the commission in the days ahead and the setting of the Truth in Millage for property tax rates taking place. The two men will have to decide what to do when it comes to property taxes now that there is an up tick in property values. And will the elected body cut taxes again, or will they leave it, as is, which will automatically result in most people getting a property tax increase, now that the housing market around Miami-Dade has in many cases bottomed out with this 1.98 percent rise in overall county property values.
 Martinez |
 Gimenez |
>>> Press release: APPRAISER GARCIA RELEASES 2012 TAX-ROLL
DATA SHOWS MODEST COUNTY-WIDE INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES
The 2012 Tax Roll released by Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser Pedro J. Garcia confirms a modest countywide increase in taxable property values (1.98%), reversing three straight years of declines. “For the first time since I was elected, we can finally say that we can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Mr. Garcia said at today’s new conference.
“Today I can tell you there is good news,” Mr. Garcia said. “In my opinion, the real estate market has hit bottom and in some areas of Miami-Dade County we are seeing a recovery.” He pointed out that 18 of Miami-Dade’s municipalities had seen increases in property values ranging from a modest 1.30% in Coral Gables to a significant 11.78% in Indian Creek. Even more significant was Bal Harbour’s 35% increase, a result of the new Saint Regis luxury hotel and condominium complex. Without this development, Bal Harbour’s growth would have been 3.6%, more in-line with other municipalities in the area. He acknowledged that 17 cities showed a decline in value but noted that in six of them the decline was less than one percent – statistically flat. And in those cities which had seen significant declines, such as Florida City (6.3%), El Portal (4.13%), Homestead (3.8%) and Opa Locka (2.36%), the declines were less than in the previous three years. There was also a slight increase in new construction, he noted, albeit not at the level of the boom years. “And most important to note, I believe confidence is up in the Real Estate markets. New large scale development projects are beginning to break ground or in the planning stages.”
In accordance with State law, Mr. Garcia has released to the taxing authorities (County Government, the School Board, the municipalities and regional agencies) the official aggregate taxable value numbers for their individual jurisdictions. This certification serves as the official numbers used by the taxing authorities in order to set their budgets and millage (tax) rates. Mr. Garcia, a Certified General Appraiser with the State of Florida, a realtor for more than 35-years, and Miami-Dade’s first elected Property Appraiser, pointed out that as required by law, these 2012 tax roll numbers are based on market conditions and 2011 sales. In August, property owners will be mailed their Notice of Proposed Property Taxes, commonly called a TRIM (Truth in Millage) Notice, which will reflect the Property Appraiser’s assessment of their individual property values. The TRIM Notice also provides detailed information, such as which exemptions were applied to each property and the dates and times of the taxing authorities’ budget hearings.
>>> Camillus House says sayonara to “humble downtown shelter,” after demolition of the building
The Camillus House demolished its old site downtown last week after the organization moved to a new complex in the Medical District. And the Watchdog Report asked Paul Ahr, Ph.D., the executive director if he had any comments on the end of the era and he emailed back the following response. “Farewell humble downtown shelter, founded by Brother Mathias Barrett, BGS himself and watched over by 45 of his Brothers of the Good Shepherd who, with thousands of staff and volunteers, praised God by serving others. Farewell place of safety; provider of physical and spiritual sustenance; protector of peaceful sleep and promoter of dreams of a better life; healer of medical, psychological and social ills and ailments. Farewell wellspring of availability, hospitality, flexibility and adaptability and champion of human dignity for more than 50 years. Farewell.”
“Thanks to the generosity of the greater Miami community, the Brothers, benefactors, volunteers and staff of Camillus House remain actively engaged in the business of caring for persons who are poor and homeless in Miami, now in a new setting where we are already making new memories in the presence of persons we will never forget,” wrote Ahr.
>>> Press release: Public Art Projects at Stephen P. Clark Government Center, Jackson South Community Hospital and Miami International Airport Selected as Among the Nation’s Best
Miami-Dade County Art in Public Places received national recognition during the annual Americans for the Arts Conference, held in San Antonio, Texas June 7-10, 2012. A program of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Miami-Dade Art in Public Places was recognized as commissioning some of the most innovative and exciting examples of public art in America. Developed by the Americans for the Arts’ Public Art Network, the Public Art 2012 Year in Review presents the most exemplary public art projects completed between April 2011 and April 2012 in the United States. Adjudicated and curated by Jean Greer, Public Art Collaborative, Chapel Hill, NC; Daniel Mihalyo, Lead Pencil Studio, Seattle, WA; and Celia Munoz, Artist, Arlington, TX, the projects were selected out of a field of 429 entries, with only the top 50 projects in the nation being showcased. Miami-Dade County received recognition for the highest number of public art projects of any single community in the nation.
“We are proud to receive this prestigious acknowledgment of the quality and creativity of the artists’ projects being commissioned by our program,” said Cindi Nash, Chair of the Miami-Dade County Art in Public Places Trust. “It is an important affirmation that Miami-Dade County’s public art program continues be a leader in the nation in making public buildings great through collaborations with outstanding local and national artists.” Miami-Dade projects featured in the Public Art 2012 Year in Review were Ivan Toth Depeña’s Reflect, a cutting edge, new media project in the main lobby of the Stephen P. Clark Government Center; Christopher Janney’s Harmonic Convergence, an interactive sound environment with diagonal patterns of colored glass that are integrated into the Mover Station Terminal Connector of Miami International Airport; and Ripple Gardens, a series of exterior sculptural gardens designed for Jackson South Community Hospital by artist Mikyoung Kim…
>>> GMCVB pres release: RECORD ARRIVALS AT “THE NEW MIA” (MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT) FOR THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF 2012
Passenger arrivals at MIAMI International Airport (MIA) increased in the first five months of 2012 with international passenger arrivals up +8.9% and domestic arrivals up +6.4% when compared to the same time period last year. Total arrivals increased in the first five months of 2012 by +7.6%.
INTERNATIONAL MIA Passenger Arrivals
January – May 2012 January – May 2011 % Change
4,028,731 3,699,481 +8.9%
DOMESTIC MIA Passenger Arrivals
January – May 2012 January – May 2011 % Change
4,386,498 4,122,499 +6.4%
TOTAL MIA Passenger Arrivals
January – May 2012 January – May 2011 % Change
8,415,229 7,821,980 +7.6%
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
>>> A&M Charter School brings in hired gun Attkisson, makes strong offensive argument to critical district forensic audit, school’s auditor stands by document’s accuracy, Osceola Commissioner Attkisson net worth drops to $77,114 through Dec. 2010
The one-inch thick forensic audit of the Academy of the Arts and Minds charter school on Commodore Plaza in Coconut Grove was the talk of the Miami-Dade Public Schools Audit & Budget Advisory Committee meeting Tuesday, and school founder Manny Alonso-Poch brought in a charter school hired gun to defend A&M against the reports findings. Board members were told the consultant, Frank Attkisson, was a former state legislator and had been involved in writing some of the state legislation that dealt with the creation and operation of charter schools, of which Miami-Dade has 109 such schools. He immediately went on the verbal offensive when Audit Committee Chair Jeffrey Shapiro, a former prosecutor, allowed him to speak to the citizen-based board. And the man challenged the report’s findings as being inaccurate and was angry that the report was leaked to the Miami Herald early http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/21/2859749/audit-coconut-grove-charter-school.html before the appropriate time and blasted the school auditor’s findings as being skewed and conjecture. >>> Here is the link to the school district audit and A&Ms rebuttal http://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_june_26_2012/item8.pdf
Attkisson said that the school since 2004 had grown from 75 students to 450 students and of course, there were growing pains. But A&M has had “clean audit statements” over the years and the charter school “operates within state laws” and the school now is keeping with the “spirit and intent” of the school district’s findings. He said they are taking steps “to correct” some of the audit’s observations regarding the school’s governance and “the board is looking for three new members,” he told the audit committee.
The audit found four major areas of concern that included governance, the flow of public money to Alonso–Poch business entities that supply food services, and the building lease (sine he also owns the building), and the flow of public money for expenses, state’s the audit. The audit was called for by the audit committee that includes school board Member Lawrence Feldman, after questions were raised by some parents of kids at the school that included videos of past board meeting and helped trigger the investigation by the nation’s fourth largest public schools district.
Attkisson said he is doing a “reset” of the school and its governance, and when it came to the lien by the Miami-Dade Property Tax Appraiser of $182,000 on the building. He said the school was “fully entitled” to the exemption and they are working with Pedro Garcia, the county property appraiser to get this settled and he asked the board to wait “three months and see where we are at,” when it comes to these issues. He then suggested if he is not speaking the truth to “hold other people accountable [the district’s auditors]” since A&M “had eight years of unblemished audits,” over the years, he said. He further reiterated when it came to the building’s rent, that it was actually under the market rate, and “the three percent” administrative rate Alonso-Poch charges “is the lowest in South Florida” and all of this “has to be approved by the school district,” he said. And in the next three months when these issues are resolved, he asked the committee to “hold the school staff accountable” and when it came to the early release of the audit to the media. The man said he planned to “go to the state attorney,” concerning the matter.
However, Jose F. Montes de Oca, CPA, the Chief District Auditor after this verbal lambasting by Attkisson told the committee “I stand by my report” and other auditing staff objected to the way the audit was portrayed by the former state legislator, and too many people in the room the tone of his voice at the formal meeting was a problem. Now the A&M school administration will keep the public schools administration informed of the anticipated governance and contract changes and the issues at the school will continue to be monitored by the public schools district in the months ahead.
What do we know about Attkisson?
Attkisson, who walked out quickly after the meeting, did not have a card and declined to speak to the media. However, the Watchdog Report thought a quick scan of the man might produce some insight on the past state official that treated the audit committee and the auditing department in a condescending manner and it is now clear why he felt so confident in front of this board. The businessman and charter school advocate has politically in the past been a commissioner and mayor of the City of Kissimmee, was elected to the Florida House in 2000 running as a Jeb Bush Republican, and after being termed out in 2008. He was elected in 2010 to the Osceola Commission and represents commission District 4, and while he was on a road trip. He seemed to think he was dealing with country bumpkins when he discussed A&M and casually chatted during the meeting with Alonso-Poch before being asked if he wanted to address the audit committee.
Attkisson http://www.osceola.org/bcc/101-16548-0/frank_attkisson.cfm
What do we know about his finances?
Attkisson since 2007 has gone through some tough financial times and back in 2007 he had a listed net worth of $567,719 through Dec. 30th of that year. In the following year that net worth drops to $498,000 though his assets in total listed are $1.5 million and through 2010 his net worth drops to $77,114 and he lists $20,000 in household goods for all the last three years the financial disclosure forms are on file with the state. His current assets in 2010 include a home valued at $448,000, a tractor is worth $3,500, a Chevy truck is worth $30,000 and his 2006 mustang is valued at $6,000 with total assets for the year being $487,000. And his listed total liabilities come in at $429,000 for the year that includes mortgages owed $127,500 and $133,000, a lot loan is owed $103,000, American Express is owed $36,286 and Bank of America wants $30,100.
>>> PAST WDR: My past investigative saga of A&M is ending since the school was first created in 2004, and was flagged by the Watchdog Report back then because it involved a “related transaction,” where the building’s owner also ran the charter school. Back then, the Watchdog Reported was critical of this property owner and governance relationship that had the school getting some $29,000 a month at first in rent from the nation’s fourth largest public schools district. That rent number would subsequently escalate as the schools student population increased to around $69,000 a month in 2006 and when administrative and food service costs are thrown in now in the total funding going to the school’s owner Manny Alonso-Poch, that pushed the amount to around $80,000 a month.
The school, created as a not for profit has claimed the whole building was being used as the school but there were retail outlets over the years operateing as well. And now the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser Pedro Garcia wants $182,000 in back property taxes but it may be with the IRS, that Alonso-Poch will have his biggest future issue. The Miami-Dade Public Schools Audit & Budget Advisory committee asked for the audit to be done months ago and that board will be meeting Tuesday to discuses the much-anticipated audit that the Watchdog Report has tracked since the school’s inception. And in the past when the high rent and the cozy relationship the landlord had with the school was discussed at the audit committee. The Audit Chair back in 2006 after hearing Alonso-Poch’s rent explanation to the committee made up of accountants and tax lawyers. He remarked. “There is a lot of fairy dust in the room,” Frederick “Buck” Thornburg observed at the time along with similar comments from the other skeptical audit committee members…
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST
>>> Will there be dueling governance models for FRB set to dissolve in 10 months? Board continuity should be a priority for complex JHS oversight
The issue of Jackson Health Systems (JHS) governance is percolating behind the scenes at Miami-Dade County Hall and Commission Chair Joe Martinez is working on a new governance model for the commission to consider that would still have roughly seven members on the oversight board. The current seven member Financial Recovery Board has around 10 months before it dissolves and the body has been laboring mightily to bring JHS system in the black after losing $419 million over the past three years. Besides Martinez’s plan, FRB Chair Marcos Lapciuc is also suggesting a new permanent governance model in some ways similar to Martinez’s but this matter needs to be resolved. Since JHS CEO Carlos Migoya needs oversight stability while he takes on the biggest challenge in his business career, turning JHS around while concluding a finalized and detailed new annual operateing agreement with the University of Miami Miller Medical School. The overall agreement’s details has proved elusive to date during the ongoing protracted negotiations between the two organizations, but there is some light at the end of the tunnel and some agreement should be concluded by the end of July, said Miller Medical School Dean Pascal Goldschmidt, M.D. last Monday.
Further, the Miami-Dade Commission if anything is changed when it comes to the governance model. The body should also consider keeping the bulk of the board on the FRB because JHS is too complex of an enterprise and it takes significant time to learn the oversight ropes. That has Lapciuc looking for a FRB liaison on site at the main campus helping the board know what is going on within the administration, but the person has yet to be found. And one of the challenges is getting someone that is neutral, has no ax to grind and Migoya and FRB Treasurer Joe Arriola are said to be cautious about filling this position at this critical juncture in time. That includes the JHS senior staff finalizing negotiations with UM for the creation of joint Centers of Excellence by Dec. 1 said the administration on Monday at the FRB monthly-televised meeting in the county commission chambers.
When Commission Chair Martinez first suggested changing the board size from 17 members over a year ago to a more nimble seven members, some commissioners were critical of the change. But the governance change that includes state Rep. Michael Bileca, R-Miami being on the board has helped bring the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation together like never before when it comes to support for Jackson Hospital in the state capital. At a time where Gov. Rick Scott is eyeing trying to privatize some public hospitals around the state and in Broward County in particular. However, there is one weakness on the FRB and that is there is no one that is a clinician on the oversight board and Martinez’s legislation is said to fix that oversight.
CITY OF MIAMI
>>> Will even year elections drown out Miami elections in the future to save money? candidates will compete with the big league campaigns for airtime
The Miami Commission is considering changing the years that elections are held trying to save money by piggy backing on national, state and county elections saving millions in the years ahead rather than having elections in off years. But Commissioners also will ensure if they go to these even number years that any competition for their office better have buckets of money. If these candidates are not swallowed up in the din of say a presidential or senate campaign that will compete with these general election slots. Commissioner Frank Carollo has raised this point in the past but the focus for most commissioners has been the cost savings, but changing the date to this new busy election cycle year where television spots are prime campaign targets, but at a steep cost. A local municipal race will just get become a down ballot election on a long ballot and commissioners should reflect on that fact, before the body asks voters to change the Miami charter to these new elections dates.
Carollo
>>> Former Miami Mayor Diaz mixes with his political flock, charming as ever, but had ethics blind spot while in office
Miami Mayor Manny Diaz on Thursday night was out with his old posse of friends and past staff at the old Grove Taurus bar and he was spotted with his drink of Pinch and a cigarette in hand. Diaz elected in 2001 and termed out in 2009 followed into office two colorful in Mayors Joe Carollo and Xavier Suarez and the community at the time looked for a more measured leader of their city. After he defeated former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre in a runoff back then. Diaz, once in office kicked in a public relations barrage during his time in office but he was dogged by a series of ethical and good judgment issues including buying a house with a sitting commissioner and the manager, with the city administrator putting up the money. To a plan to settle a Miami Fire Fee class action suit with seven individuals, with each of them getting $1 million while over 80,000 Miami taxpayers got no refund.
Diaz further thought if he ignored something long enough that the issue would just go away, like where he got over $400,000 in cash in the course of a year. And he took the lead when it came to getting the Miami Marlins a new ball park in Little Havana, but costs $2.5 billion in the course of the bonds life and attendance continues to be a persistent problem even with the new retraceable roof stadium. Further, Diaz was once considered in early 2009 a possible new member in the incoming Barack Obama administration but there was a strong chorus of dissenters close to the president in Miami that was able to shoot down that idea. He is currently on a number of boards and is in private legal practice.
What about the class action attorney Hank Adorno?
Hank Adorno, whose license to practice law was suspended for three years in Oct. 2010 after this legal class action fiasco that included him getting $1 million in legal fees. The attorney later moved to Atlanta and dropped out of sight in Miami when it got to hot down here after his law firm Adorno & Yoss closed. He is said to be back in town, is doing well financially and he has new digs on tony Fischer Island. Lawyers at the firm were let go suddenly when it bit the dust, but what was not known at the time was. The collection firm that was being used to settle past legal bills owed to the firm had Adorno involved in it, and this new wrinkle has riled some of the people given the heave ho.
>>> Florida Bar webpage: Henry Nissim Adorno, c/o Yoss LLP, 2525 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Suite 400, Miami, suspended for three years, effective retroactive to Oct. 28, 2010, following an April 21 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1973) While representing plaintiffs in a class action, Adorno breached his fiduciary duty to the class by settling on behalf of the named plaintiffs only, to the detriment of the class. Adorno also took an excessive attorney fee. (Case No. SC09-1012) http://www.floridabar.org/TFB/TFBPublic.nsf/WNewsReleases/3B76071CD0A7000F85257881005900C9?OpenDocument
>>> Nyah, an incoming sixth grader hits the fundraising mark, heading to nation’s capital in July for Congressional Youth Leadership Council
A young girl trying to fulfill a dream and go to the nation’s capital in July but was stymied by the lack of funds, hit a homerun on Thursday and broke the barrier of the needed amount by raising almost $400.00. Nyah Ewan, a incoming sixth grader at the Carrolton School in Coconut Grove on a scholarship had been invited by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council to participate in the Junior National Young Leaders Conference where the young students will meet the likes of Gen. Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.), former U.S. Attorney Janet Reno, former presidential candidate and House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Rev. Jesse Jackson and Ralph Nader are just a few of the past speakers to the young council students. Nyah, accompanied by her older sister and another friend did a gangbuster business selling fresh made pastries, warm donuts and cookies along with water and coffee in a public venue and with academic trophies on the table in the corner, it was the award with a gold microphone that sealed the deal with the Watchdog Report doing a story on her.
Nyah has been a two-time student of the month and was asked to join the Council because of her “Academic and Leadership Ability” states the formal invitation that is not transferable. And in today’s world where civics, government and idealism seems so distant. She will get to see Washington D.C. now in all its richness and paradox, for the city is not only the nation’s capital with its many memorials and government buildings, but DC is a beautiful and walk able city that while hot in the summertime. The trip will stay with her forever, and may even produce a future lawmaker or reporter in the years ahead. Congratulations Nyah on a job well done, enjoy the trip and a Tip of the Hat to her, mom Nicole Ewan and her two compatriots who worked so hard with the young woman to achieve her fundraising goal.
>>> Press release: below is the video clip and statement from U.S. Rep. Ros-Lehtinen on the amendment presented by her colleague, Mario Diaz-Balart, regarding the U.S. H.U.D. CDBG program. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM5lgRZX9RY&feature=plcp >>> With Weak Economy Negatively Affecting Cities’ Abilities To Pay For Much Needed Social Services, Ros-Lehtinen Speaks On The House Floor In Support Of Diaz-Balart Amendment That Allows Cities To Use A Greater Share of Their CDBG Funds To Pay For Social Services … The Diaz-Balart amendment follows the guidelines of legislation that Ros-Lehtinen, Diaz-Balart and other members of the South Florida Delegation, presented to allow cities greater flexibility to allocate CDBG funds. The amendment, and the legislation, both seek a changing of the overall formula for the CDBG program to allow up to 25% of funds to go towards social services, NOT increased funding.
Below is text of Ileana’s remarks on the Floor of the U.S. House: “I thank the gentlemen. I rise to support the Diaz-Balart amendment and to draw attention to a crisis that will soon hit the city of Miami and many other cities throughout South Florida, our state of Florida, and indeed throughout the nation. We are all aware of the difficult funding decisions that will need to be made by many departments and programs. >>> Programs like the community development block grants may see overall reductions because of the sad realities of the current budget constraints and in the interests of fiscal responsibility. However, because of an arbitrary community development block grant expenditure cap, countless vulnerable citizens in the city of Miami and throughout the United States will lose their only means of sustenance. This amendment is not about increased funding, Mr. Chairman, nor is it about changing the overall formula of the community development block grant. It is simply about providing greater flexibility to cities on how they allocate their CDBG funds. Currently only 15% of community development block grant funds can go toward public services. Now, what are public services? Well, they include food for senior citizens, the disabled, the homeless, the abused or neglected children. They also may be used for child care, for health services, for job training services.
The city of Miami, which I am proud to represent, currently provides these vital services, especially meals through the current community development block grant public services. But, because of the overall decrease in CDBG allocations many disadvantaged men, women and children will be without the vital support that they deserve and need. This amendment is simply a painless solution to this development allowing cities the flexibility they need in how they expand their CDBG funds. It would allow up to 25% of CDBG funds to go to public services; a position that has been endorsed by the US Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities. The current 15% public service expenditure cap was enacted with the original statute over 30 years ago.
It does not reflect the evolution of this program nor the necessity to provide flexibility to local leaders on how funds should be expended during this time of belt-tightening. The current restrictive and outdated limit has denied many communities the option of providing their residents with the most basic and necessary services within the framework established by the program. CDBG public services have played a key role in providing crucial aid to our most at-risk and vulnerable constituents, especially during this enduring recession. Cities across our country have had to do more with less and this amendment will help them accomplish just that. I wish to thank Chairman Latham and his staff in working with Congressman Diaz-Balart and me on trying to give this flexibility through the proper channel to our local leaders. And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of our time.”
>>> SOUTH MIAMI GRAD RECEIVES ‘DO THE RIGHT THING’ SCHOLARSHIP
Press release: David Celis, a recent graduate from South Miami Senior High, was the recipient of the Angel Calzadilla/ “Do The Right Thing” Police Memorial Scholarship. The Angel Calzadilla/ “Do The Right Thing” Police Memorial Scholarship was established to honor the memory of Senior Police Executive Calzadilla, a well regarded officer who succumbed to a lifelong private struggle with cystic fibrosis at the age of 48. “Do The Right Thing”, known for recognizing and rewarding area youths for their positive behavior and actions, offers the scholarship annually to one graduating senior. The scholarship will cover full tuition plus additional expenses totaling $6,000 to attend the City of Miami Police Training Center in downtown Miami.
CITY OF HIALEAH
>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Judge Rodney Smith to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court.
Judge Smith, 37, has served on the Miami-Dade County Court since 2008. Previously, he was a senior assistant city attorney for the City of Miami Beach from 2007 to 2008. He practiced with the Law Office of Rebecca W. Ribler from 2004 to 2007 and with McGrane, Nosich and Ganz P.A. from 2003 to 2004. He was an assistant state attorney with the Eleventh Judicial Circuit from 1999 to 2003. He received a bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University and a law degree from the Michigan State University School of Law.
“Judge Smith has a record of serving his community with integrity and respect,” Governor Scott said. “I am confident his experiences as a lawyer and county judge have prepared him well to serve at the circuit level.” Judge Smith will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Scott Silverman.
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
>>> Leadership Academy is Free to the Miami Beach Community — Learn How Your Local Government Works
Press release: The City of Miami Beach Neighborhood Leadership Academy has opened its enrollment for this year’s fall semester. Applications will be accepted until the class is full. Enrollment to the academy is limited. The free Neighborhood Leadership Academy is one semester including 15 weekly, two-hour evening sessions. The first class begins Monday, August 27, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, in the Commission Chambers, third floor, 1700 Convention Center Drive. The academy is an interactive civic and public information program designed for residents of Miami Beach. Applicant must be at least 18 years of age to participate in the program. Applications are available online at www.miamibeachfl.gov, Miami Beach City Hall, or by calling 305.673.7000, extension 6752, or E-mail cdefreze@miamibeachfl.gov for more information.
The classes are informal and small, allowing for communication between instructor and participants. Residents enrolled in the 15-week classes have an opportunity to meet the people responsible for providing City services, gain insight into how the City works, and understand the role of each department. Additionally, there will be a question and answer period at the end of each session and students will also evaluate each class. Over 750 Miami Beach residents and business owners have graduated from the academy since its inception in 2002. The academy offers Miami Beach residents an opportunity to learn more about City departments and their services in interesting, fun and interactive ways.
CITY OF CORAL GABLES
>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Judge Cristina Miranda to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court.
Judge Miranda, 38, has served on the Miami-Dade County Court since 2006. Previously, she was an assistant state attorney with the Eleventh Judicial Circuit from 1997 to 2006. She received a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from the University of Miami. “As a county judge, former prosecutor and lifelong member of the Miami community, Judge Miranda is committed to advancing the rule of law in the Eleventh Circuit,” Governor Scott said. Judge Miranda will fill the vacancy created by the death of Judge Maxine Cohen Lando.
>>> Biltmore and City Partner To Resurrect July 4th Fireworks
The Biltmore is partnering with the City of Coral Gables and Bacardi for its annual Fireworks Spectacular on the Biltmore Golf Course. Enjoy concessions and other family oriented activities starting at 5pm. Their explosive show, an Independence Day favorite, will feature a special performance by the Greater Miami Symphonic Band at 7pm. The spectacular fireworks display begins at 9pm. The hotel invites guests to stay the night with affordable room rates beginning at $189. A portion of the evening’s net proceeds will be shared with Dade Heritage Trust, the Biltmore’s partner in historic preservation. VIP Tables for 10 (available for $1,926), offer front-row seats to the Fireworks Spectacular in addition to the Stars and Stripes Barbecue and open bar from 4 to 9:45pm. The All-American Cookout package includes an open bar from 4 to 9:45pm. The cost is $115 for adults and $40 for children. Biltmore members and hotel guests pay $95 for adults and $35 for children. VIP Poolside Cabanas (available from $395), include Veuve Clicquot champagne and a lavish spread. Single Cabanas are available for 2 to 4 guests, and Double Cabanas are available for 4 to 8 guests. To reserve, please email: 4thofjuly@biltmorehotel.com or call 305-913-3246 x2387. http://www.biltmorehotel.com/4thofjuly/
CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI
>>> Settlement reached with South Miami Commissioner Welsh, city becomes work program for ethics commission investigators
Ethics Commission ruling: The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust (COE) has reached a settlement after probable cause was found last month that South Miami City Commissioner Robert Welsh violated the County Ethics Code. The complaint (C 12-25) alleged that the commissioner, who was elected in February, spoke with two bidders in April about a pending city contract while the proposals were still under consideration, which is prohibited by procurement rules. As part of the settlement agreed to today, Commissioner Welsh will pay $250 in investigative costs and accept a Letter of Instruction.
CITY OF HOMESTEAD
>>> Mayor Bateman cleared of probable cause by county ethics commission
>>> Ethics commission press release: The Ethics Commission found No Probable Cause to several complaints (C 12-10, 12-11, 12-12 & 12-14) filed against Homestead Mayor Steve Bateman over his use of a video produced by the city for his 2011 re-election campaign. The allegations stem from a contract between the city and a private videographer who shot the 2011 State of the City address for presentation on Homestead’s website, and the subsequent use of some of that video for Mayor Bateman’s campaign. Based on an Appellate Court ruling in a similar case, the Ethics Commission staff concluded that the State of the City video is a public record and may be used for any lawful purpose, including a political campaign. There were also allegations that some members of the mayor’s staff were involved in his campaign on city time. However, the Ethics Commission found no evidence to support that allegation and the complaint was dismissed.
TOWN OF MIAMI LAKES
>>> Complaint about Mayor Pizzi found legally insufficient by ethics commission
Ethics Commission press release: A complaint (C-12-27) alleging it is unethical for one person to hold two public positions in different municipalities was found Not Legally Sufficient by the Ethics Commission and dismissed. A private citizen questioned the legality of Michael Pizzi serving as both Miami Lakes Mayor and Medley Town Attorney, especially as it concerned the denial of the complainant’s application for a business license. However, there is no prohibition against holding two public positions in different municipalities in the Miami-Dade Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance, and documentations support the rationale for not approving her application.
CITY OF DORAL
>>> City of Doral and E-Scrap Join Forces to Recycle
Press release: The City of Doral has initiated a great new program in partnership with E-Scrap, Inc. The program will provide our residents the opportunity to recycle old electronics, electronic equipment (from PDAs to main frame systems), spent fluorescent lamps, ballasts, commercial and industrial batteries and mercury bearing devices. The objective is to recycle as much as we can and prevent recyclables from ending up in our landfills, thus contributing toward our Waste Wise Program. The public is invited every FOURTH SATURDAY of the month from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm to our drop-off location at JC Bermudez Park located at 3000 NW 87th Avenue, Doral, FL 33172. Next drop-off day is this Saturday, June 23rd. For more information, please email publicworks@cityofdoral.com or call 305.593.6740 xt. – 6010 Keep Doral Beautiful is a City wide program aimed to reduce our carbon footprint by implementing new initiatives in our operations and services that contribute to the preservation of our natural resources.
>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA
CITY OF DAVIE
>>> Davie Pill Mill Owner Sentenced in Operation Snake Oil ~ Defendant Owned and Operated Six Area Pain Management Clinics that Dispensed Oxycodone, Profited More than $22 Million
Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, and José A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), Miami Field Office, announced today’s sentencing of Vincent Colangelo, 44, of Davie, for his role in a large-scale conspiracy involving the illegal distribution of prescription pain medication and related criminal offenses between October 2008 and February 23, 2011.
Colangelo pled guilty on April 2, 2012, to conspiracy to distribute and dispense large amounts of oxycodone without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice. Colangelo also pled guilty to money laundering and filing a false 2009 federal income tax return. U.S. District Judge Marcia G. Cooke sentenced Colangelo to twenty (20) years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In addition, Colangelo was ordered to forfeit five (5) properties valued at more than $2.5 million, approximately $911,951 seized from seven bank accounts and a safety deposit box, 52 vehicles and vessels worth more than $6 million and jewelry valued at approximately $20,000.
The charges arose from Operation Snake Oil, an undercover DEA investigation that began in approximately September 2009. Previously sentenced for their roles in the drug conspiracy by U.S. District Judge Marcia G. Cooke were: Wayne Richards to 20 months in prison; Nicholaus Thomas and Rachael Bass to 120 months and 50 months in prison, respectively; and Michael Plesak to 60 months in prison. Two remaining co-defendants are awaiting sentencing. U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “Pill mill owners and operators, like Vincent Colangelo, churn out prescription pain killers without regard to the safety and well-being of our community. One by one, however, we are shutting down these unscrupulous clinic owners and operators. Through operations like Snake Oil, Pill Nation, Oxy Alley, Gotham and other prosecutions, we are making a positive difference, but we are not done. We will continue to investigate and prosecute owners, operators, doctors, and pharmacies who seek to hide behind a medical license to push deadly drugs in our community.” DEA Special Agent in Charge Mark R. Trouville stated, “DEA’s mission to prevent the illegal distribution of prescription drugs will continue. Today’s sentencing of Mr. Colangelo sends out a loud and clear message that we will not tolerate these types of crimes. The DEA and our counterparts will remain vigilant in our efforts to ensure that these medicines get into the hands of legitimate patients and not in the pockets of greedy drug traffickers.”
IRS Special Agent in Charge José A. Gonzalez stated, “Today, justice is served, as Mr. Colangelo is being held accountable for his criminal actions. IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to provide its financial expertise as we work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to prosecute individuals who promote illegal schemes and put lives at risk. Our agents will continue to follow the money to ensure that all proceeds derived from the illegal activities are forfeited to the U.S. government.” According to court documents, Colangelo owned and operated six pain management clinics and a pharmacy in Broward and Miami-Dade counties between October 2008 and February 23, 2011. Colangelo and his co-conspirators were responsible for dispensing more than 660,000 dosage units of oxycodone in amounts greater than 1.4 million milligrams and prescribing significantly more oxycodone filled by outside pharmacies to patients throughout Florida and other states. Colangelo mass marketed his pain clinics through more than 1,600 Internet sites.
Immediate cash payment was required for access to “doctor visits,” the filling of prescriptions, and for “VIP” service, which enabled patients to bypass hours of waiting and long lines for an express visit with the pain doctor. Colangelo also directed the patients to obtain MRIs that he and his co-conspirators knew misrepresented or overstated the alleged condition and source of pain in the patients’ backs or necks. Colangelo falsified and directed his employees to falsify patients’ urine tests, which together with the false MRIs, attempted to justify the large amount of oxycodone prescribed by the clinics’ doctors. Colangelo advertised for doctors on Craigslist and hired only doctors who agreed to prescribe maximum amounts of oxycodone and Xanax to patients. Colangelo and his co-conspirators paid “doctor shoppers” to obtain bogus MRIs and to secure prescriptions for excessive amounts of oxycodone from doctors at Colangelo’s pain clinics. The oxycodone obtained from Colangelo’s clinics was sold on the street and shipped outside the State of Florida at a substantial profit. >>> Mr. Ferrer thanked the DEA, IRS-CID, and the Broward Sheriff’s Office, as well as the many other state and local agencies for their investigative work. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Behnke and Roger Powell and Tax Division Trial Attorney Greg Tortella. 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.
MONROE COUNTY
>>> Press release: FREE One Day Training Classes Throughout The Keys On Hazardous Waste Operations & Emergency Response; Ros-Lehtinen Urges S. FL Residents To Complete Course & Be Ready For Any Possible Pollution Event
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) is urging Keys and Miami-Dade residents to attend free one day training classes that will prepare volunteers for any possible pollution incident such as an oil spill. The classes are being sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Monroe County Emergency Management department. Classes are offered on Saturday and run from 9:00 am through 4:00 pm. The following two classes will be offered throughout Monroe County: Saturday, July 21st at the Murray Nelson Center in Key Largo, FL Saturday, August 18th at the Harvey Government Center in Key West, FL – To register for this FREE training or to get more information, call toll free 1-888-470-5566, EXT 4 OR email at keys.volunteers@yahoo.com THESE FREE CLASSES ARE AVAILABLE FOR BOTH KEYS AND MIAMI-DADE RESIDENTS. Said Ros-Lehtinen, “I urge South Florida residents to take advantage of these FREE classes sponsored by our friends in the Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Keys Emergency Ops Center. By taking the one-day classes, residents will learn how to best help in the worst case scenario of a possible oil spill or other pollution event occurring in our community. It is always a good thing to be prepared and these classes will help us be ready.”
COMMUNITY EVENTS
>>> Kristi House press release: Please mark your calendars! We hope you will join us for the 13th Annual Touch A Heart Dinner on Friday, November 2, 2012 at the Four Seasons Hotel 7:00 p.m. Reception 8:00 p.m. Dinner For more information, please visit www.kristihouse.org or call: Bianca Fernandez – 305-547-6802 Mary Faraldo – 786-218-9748
>>> Press release: Registration Now Open for Miami-Dade Parks’ Summer Camps! Exciting Summer Camps are being offered by the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, June 11-August 17, 2012, at its parks around the County.
>>> Press release: Adrienne Arsht Center AileyCamp Miami 2012 AileyCamp Miami is a summer day camp where middle school students are “turned on” to dance and come to respect the discipline of dance as a physical activity that requires athletic ability comparable to skills demanded by any sport.
EDITORIALS
>>> With Miami-Dade getting a 1.98 % bump in property tax values, do elected county and local leaders keep the new money, or cut taxes further? This will be the debate in the months ahead
With Miami-Dade property values beginning to stabilize and rise 1.98 percent representing $190.6 billion in property values, after three years of the bottom falling out. Elected leaders at all levels will either have a small taxing windfall. If they leave the property tax millage the same or less money if they vote to further reduce the tax obligation homeowners and businesses must pay. And while the collapse of the global economy in the fall of 2008 was a wake-up call to politicians who suddenly became fiscal hawks. After years of being a public tax dollar crack addict when it came to disbursing governments largess. And it remains to be seen if public institutions leaders will just go back to their past habits, or will they continue to be on a fiscal diet that still has average taxpayers struggling just to keep the lights on, with many having no job and little prospect in sight.
Further, with a host of elections in the wings in August and November. Voters in Miami-Dade will get to weigh in on the issue since by the end of September a new county budget must be passed, the millage set, and it remains to be seen how the 13-member commission will break. Either take this new public money and replenish the public coffers, or continue to slim down public institutions and give property owners a further property tax break and that will be the debate in the coming months, which coincides with a countywide mayoral race. People ask me all the time what happened to all the money saved after all the cuts in employees over the past years at the county, city of Miami or the public schools district that have all contracted down to the tune of billions of dollars collectively.
However, these people forget the money was never there because of the property value crash and these public entities were forced to make cuts since the institutions are required to have a yearly annual budget. And this funding debate is again front and center and elected leaders must weigh the issue with care, and listen to their constituents about what they want and are willing to pay for, when it comes to their public institutions. For in many ways it is a fork in the road concerning past or future spending habits by government, and if that attitude should be embraced again, like when there was $245 billion in property tax value back in 2006. A fiscal time that is long gone, will likely take a decade to achieve again and everyone must adjust to that fact and public institutions must continue to try to live within their means, while not overburdening their struggling cherished property taxpayer base.
LETTERS
>>> Physician on Supreme Court ruling on ACA legislation
Personally, I am very pleased about the Supreme Court decision upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act because it represents a step forward in creating a better and more equitable health care system for all Americans.
I find it ironic that the two leading presidential candidates from both parties support(ed) an individual mandate. Unfortunately, during the election campaign the facts about health care will be drowned by ideologically driven rhetoric. Now should be the time to explain to the American people how we can create a sustainable high quality and efficient health care system. I do not give up the hope that this is possible.
Bernd Wollschlaeger, MD
>>> This letter is written in opposition to the Parrot Jungle takeover of Miami Yacht Club land.
I have been the twice President of the US Sailing Center (an Olympic Training Facility), Commodore of Coral Reef Yacht Club, and have run Youth Sailing Programs for 14 years including for the City of Miami. This City rightfully prides itself as an International Sailing and Racing destination that has brought many thousands of visitors and millions of dollars in revenue to local businesses. These efforts have occurred at no substantial expense to the City and are one of the outstanding ways the City has partnered with local efforts to bring positive international media recognition to a city that could certainly use it. The prime beneficiary of these sailing efforts are often our local children who are given opportunities from learn to sail summer programs up to the highest levels of Olympic training. In no other sport do we provide our children such exceptional opportunity and receive such worldwide enthusiastic support.
In many cities in the Northeast, sailing efforts are underwritten by substantial taxpayer dollars and city employees which been neither requested nor necessary to our City’s sailing successes. The only things these efforts have needed are incredibly small access points to our best in the world sailing waters and a small plot of land for a club house to get out of the rain. Miami Yacht Club has been an exemplary use of our waterfront and the easiest and least expensive access for Miami’s residents to learn and practice our sport. It is the without question the highest and best use of a small piece of property that gives our residents, and particularly our children, access to waters that are otherwise only the province of millionaires across the way on Star and the other islands. THIS SHOULD NOT COST $50 A DAY OR MORE FOR OUR CHILDREN TO ENJOY. I am sorry that Parrot Jungle has not reached the economic viability and rents this organization clearly promised the City in securing its lease. THEIR FAILURES HOWEVER ARE ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO END MIAMI YACHT CLUB SUCCESSES. Parrot jungle must stand or fall on its own and I urge you to VOTE AGAINST ANY TAKEOVER OF MIAMI YACHT CLUB PROGRAMS.
Mark Kamilar
>>> 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
BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com
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
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 600 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
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Watchdog Report www.watchdogreport.net
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.
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