Watchdog Report Vol.13 No.42 March 10, 2013 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 and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

>>> Red Alert: If you think it is important to have an alternative mainstream news service, I hope you will consider becoming a financial supporter for I do have to live and pay my rent. I also want to thank again all those people and organizations that have supported me and I have been honored by that trust and support of my efforts over the past almost 14 years trying to keep the community, state, nation and world informed of the political and governmental happenings in South Florida.

>>> There will be no Watchdog Report next week. I have to raise money since I don’t have a trust fund that so many people after 14 years continue to believe I have. I live off my readers and organizations financial support and for that past help, I am extremely grateful as I celebrate my 14^th Anniversary May 5. How to contribute to the WDR is at the bottom of the Report.

>>> Correction: In a past Watchdog Report I reported that Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Gongora had left the law firm Becker Poliakoff, which was incorrect.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> Miami Dolphins going to community to make pitch for $400 million stadium upgrades with voters approval, voters want to see the deal

The Miami Dolphins representatives are taking their message to county voters for the approval of a $400 million upgrade the team believes is needed to attract the 2016, NFL 50^th Super Bowl and continue the tradition of drawing the event to South Florida. But is running into headwinds, including auto magnate Norman Braman vowing to derail the deal, after the disastrous Miami Marlins stadium contract that when the financing is complete will have cost $2.5 billion at the end of the bonds life. And that deal has infuriated the local public along with the Marlins cutting of its top players and coming in the basement when it comes to winning games in the major leagues this season. Nat Moore, the Dolphins All-Pro receiver during the 1972 perfect season addressed the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon on Wednesday and Marcus Bach-Armas, the Manager of Corporate Affairs, spoke to the Ponce Business Luncheon on Monday in Coral Gables.

The football team is seeking sales tax concessions from the state and some $199 million in tourist tax money with team owner Steven Ross kicking in just over $200 million, but that deal is now being negotiated between the team and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez. And any final deal will likely get better if the professional NFL team expects the upgrade to pass muster with county voters that will now get to weigh in on the controversial matter if the county commission approves the deal that has a local FIU poll commissioned by the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation finding that 73 percent of the county voters were cool on the idea and currently suggests any deal would likely not pass with the vote. Further, the team is dealing with a May 22 timeline when the NFL will vote on awarding the 2016 Super Bowl and Miami is competing with San Francisco for the designation.

Bach-Armas said Miami was a natural for the Super Bowl and “is the best destination in the nation.” He noted we have “beaches, golf courses and culture,” as draws but said Sun Life Stadium, that sits on county land, “can’t be under par,” if the community is to draw these big time events and the stadium itself still has “35 years left,” on it as a structure and when it comes to the improvements. He said it involves “22 projects in total,” and the “roof is only one piece of the puzzle,” but has gotten a lot of attention in the media. Moreover, the attorney noted that when it came to other sport franchises using the stadium, “We view the future of sports in South Florida as soccer,” he told the Ponce lunch attendees Monday at John Martin’s restaurant. He noted the new field would have natural grass also necessary for soccer; modular new seating that will be more comfortable and can be easily adjusted for smaller crowds like when the University of Miami Hurricanes plays there, and when it came to the deal with the county. “We think we need to put a majority of the funds in ourselves,” and right now the deal is being worked out with Gimenez and the final “deal will be one the community embraces,” he predicted and why the voter referendum. And when it came to the issue of soccer, highly popular in Miami-Dade, he said a major announcement “will be made in the next ten days. But when it came to questions and support of the issue. People afterwards said they would be waiting to see what the deal was before they made a decision and whether they would vote for the tourist tax funding being used for the upgrades that will take three years and be done during the NFL off-season.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/08/3274402/stadium-renovation-bill-survives.html http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/blog/morning- >>> edition/2013/03/could-miami-soon-have-an-mls-team.html?ana=e_sflo_rdup&s=newsletter&ed=2013-03-05&u=nwWD7MvsEIzt86Jro529N4p7UhO

>>> Press release: Miami Dolphins President and CEO Mike Dee attended the Florida House Finance and Tax Subcommittee meeting in Tallahassee today and made the following statement immediately after the vote: “Today’s bipartisan vote in the House Finance and Tax Subcommittee is another step in the right direction for the residents of Miami-Dade, who will have the final say on the future of Super Bowls, BCS Championships and international soccer in Miami.”We now have bipartisan support in both houses of the Legislature, and the support of the County Commission. There is no question now that we have real momentum.

“Let me thank the Legislators who supported letting the voters of Miami-Dade have the final say.”From here, we are looking forward to working with the Mayor on an agreement that is fair to all sides. We know the Dolphins will pay a majority of the costs, and that tourists and patrons of the stadium will pay the rest. Ultimately, the voters will, and they should, have the final say. The referendum is the right idea and, as facts won the day here today, we are confident the facts — including all the jobs this will mean for Miami-Dade — will win that vote as well.”

>>> White House press release: The Employment Situation in February

Posted by Alan B. Krueger on March 8, 2013 at 9:30 AM EST

While more work remains to be done, today’s employment report provides evidence that the recovery that began in mid-2009 is gaining traction.  Today’s report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that private sector businesses added 246,000 jobs in February.  Total non-farm payroll employment rose by 236,000 jobs last month. The economy has now added private sector jobs every month for three straight years, and a total of 6.35 million jobs have been added over that period. The household survey showed that the unemployment rate fell from 7.9 percent in January to 7.7 percent in February, the lowest since December 2008.  The labor force participation rate edged down 0.1 percentage point to 63.5 percent in February.

It is important to bear in mind that the reference period for today’s surveys was the week of February 10-16 for the household survey and the pay period containing February 12th for the establishment survey, both of which were before sequestration began.  The Administration continues to urge Congress to move toward a sustainable Federal budget in a responsible way that balances tax loophole closing, entitlement reform, and sensible spending cuts, while making critical investments in the economy that promote growth and job creation and protecting our most vulnerable citizens.

According to the establishment survey, in February employment rose notably in professional and business services (+73,000), construction (+48,000), health care (+32,000), leisure and hospitality (+24,000), and retail trade (+23,700).  Manufacturing gained 14,000 jobs in February.  The manufacturing sector has added over half a million jobs over the last 37 months, the most for any such period since 1986.  In the last two years the construction sector has added 306,000 jobs, with half of that increase occurring in the last five months.  State and local governments lost 10,000 jobs in February, mostly in education.  The local government education sector has now lost 340,700 jobs since its recent peak in November 2009. As the Administration stresses every month, the monthly employment and unemployment figures can be volatile, and payroll employment estimates can be subject to substantial revision. Therefore, it is important not to read too much into any one monthly report and it is informative to consider each report in the context of other data that are becoming available.

>>> Press release: Congressmen Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) released the following statement: Diaz-Balart and Ros-Lehtinen Condemn Beating of Pro-Democracy Activist Yris Perez Aguilera by Castro Thugs

Yesterday in Santa Clara, Castro’s thugs viciously beat Yris Perez Aguilera, head of the Rosa Parks Feminist Movement and wife of pro-democracy leader Jorge Luis Garcia Perez (“Antunez”), and left her bleeding and unconscious on Prolongacion de Marta Abreu Street.  After the beating, Yris has been vomiting blood, is losing sight in one eye, and continues to have bouts of unconsciousness.  Her family and friends fear for her life. Diaz-Balart: “The Castro regime’s thugs have repeatedly targeted Yris for her daring opposition to the dictatorship’s crushing oppression.  Yesterday, her simple pleas for liberty were once again met with violence.  The true criminals in Cuba are the shameless thugs who perpetuate these brutal human rights abuses against defenseless women such as Yris and the Ladies in White.  The Castro dictatorship has the blood of innocents on its hands, and those who carry out their misdeeds will be held accountable for their crimes.  I call on the international community to condemn the regime’s brutality against Yris and other pro-democracy activists, and to pray for the health of Yris Perez Aguilera.”

Ros-Lehtinen: “Once again we see the reality of life under the Castro totalitarian dictatorship; peaceful pro democracy activists beaten by Castro’s thugs simply because they dared to walk together in solidarity. And this time, Yris Perez Aguilera, wife of the brave freedom fighter, Jose Luis Garcia Perez Antunez, was beaten so severely that she lost consciousness. The cowardly Castro regime beats innocent women all the time and what does the Obama Administration do in response? More diplomatic entreaties and concessions to this vile and ruthless octogenarian clique of despots that has turned Cuba into an economic and social basket case. I call upon responsible nations to condemn this latest wanton attack and for the State Department to help assure that Yris receives the proper medical care as soon as possible.”

>>> Press release: Protect Yourself from Tax Fraud and Identity Theft

By Debbie Wasserman Schultz, April 2013

Imagine going to file your tax return, only to discover someone else has already filed it and received your tax refund check. With Tax Day around the corner, some tax fraud criminals are getting ready to start stealing identities and filing fraudulent tax returns. As you may have heard from recent news stories, Florida leads the nation in the number of identity theft complaints, with Tampa coming in first and Miami second for number of fraudulent tax returns filed.

That’s why I’ve been hosting fraud prevention seminars with representatives from the Federal Trade Commission, Internal Revenue Service, Broward Sheriff’s Office and Miami-Dade Police Department, all across my district to ensure you have the information you need to protect yourself. Identity theft can occur in a variety of manners – whether through using someone’s name to establish a telephone account, stealing someone’s Social Security number to obtain a credit card, or spending thousands of dollars using a stolen credit card number. Whatever the method, dealing with identity theft can be emotionally and physically exhausting, damaging to your finances, and time-consuming to correct.

These tax return thieves are racking up our hard-earned money by the hundreds of millions without ever having to hold a victim at gunpoint or put themselves at risk. For my part, I’ve been working with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that we protect constituents from fraud. According to the Federal Trade Commission, which has been recording consumer complaints nationwide since 2000, identity theft has remained the number one consumer fraud complaint. In 2011, more than 938,664 tax returns and $6.5 billion were associated with fraudulent tax refunds involving identity theft. It is time to make the prosecution of tax return identity theft a greater priority, and that’s why I introduced the Stopping Tax Offenders and Prosecuting Identity Theft Act (STOP Identity Theft Act). This bill would strengthen penalties for identity thieves, as well as expand the definition of an identity theft victim to include not only individuals, but also businesses and organizations that have had their identities stolen for phishing schemes in an attempt to get sensitive information from consumers.

Thankfully, the Federal Trade Commission and the IRS are hard at work making sure that taxpayers who are victims of identity theft get the support they need to get their financial lives back in order. Even though the IRS has tripled the number of investigations and doubled the number of staff working on cases in the last year, the number of thieves is also on the rise. Every day they are working to combat them – in conjunction with lawmakers, financial institutions, and President Obama – to ensure that taxpayers have the information they need to protect themselves from identity theft and the chaos it can bring. As you file your taxes, please be certain to safeguard all of your personal information. If you are the victim of fraud, or your identity is stolen, immediately file a complaint with the FTC by calling 1-877-438-4338; TTY 1-866-653-4261 or visit ftc.gov/complaint and contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490. I am proud to be an advocate for the people of South Florida, and my office is always open to you. You can reach us in Pembroke Pines at 954-437-3936, in Aventura at 305-936-5724 and in Washington, DC at 202-225-7931. I’m also available online at http://wassermanschultz.house.gov, where you can sign up for my e-newsletter. You can also keep up with my work for you on Facebook at RepDWS, and on Twitter and Instagram through @RepDWStweets.

>>> 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 91.3 FM 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 and The Florida Roundup on www.wlrn.org

OBITUARY

>>> A local GOP legend Miller passes, always a knowledgeable or kind word, helped many of the early party faithful get elected as Chair of Party

Mary Ellen Miller, a calm and steady voice in the Republican Party of Miami-Dade for decades passed last week and the woman had only a good word for political friend or foe. Miller, 84, passed after an undisclosed illness and she was the driving force behind the scenes of the Elephant Forum, a political monthly luncheon event that brought local, state and national Republican political leaders from around the country to speak with the local GOP faithful. She kept her thoughts close to her vest, helped dozens of fledgling elected leaders get into office and twice was chair of the local party from 1991 to 1996 and later in 1999 to 2008 after the then current chair Manty Sabates Morse, a school board member alienated many of the party faithful, and the party was broke at the end of her tenure in the office. Miller, when she was elected the second time faced Morse the Cuban American party chair in the race and the Watchdog Report attended the meeting in 1999 and while attending party members were split. The majority went with Miller and she continued in that position in the years to come when then Gov. Jeb Bush was in office and he had been a previous GOP chair in past years.

Miller, was deeply religious, grew up in Hialeah and still went to the same church there and she was a gracious woman who made everybody welcome at any event she held. She was a long time mentor and supporter of the Watchdog Report over the past almost 20-years and would not condone any political parties elected leaders that went astray saying what “foolishness,” concerning what they had done and she was the voice of reason many times in a sea of political craziness over the decades. Miller was the type of person that when I was recovering from life saving surgery back in February 2010 came to my house with some food and she was a sounding board and friend of mine over the years and I will miss her wise counsel and friendship. Mary Ellen may you rest in peace and your presence and friendship will be missed by so many people including me.   http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/07/3272439/mary-ellen-miller-former-chairwoman.html

FLORIDA

>>> Lt. Gov. Carroll takes road trip to 10^th Int. Women’s Day conference, kicks in afterburner when it comes to foreign trade’s impact on FL

Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll took a road trip Friday to attend the 10^th International Women’s Day Conference Award Program 2013 at the World Trade Center of Miami and some 400 people attended the event. Carroll, the first elected women Lt. Governor elected with Gov. Rick Scott in 2010 and a former navel officer told the pumped crown of women that the days are over for women when it comes to reaching leadership positions and since women deliver the men many times in public office, “It is about time they recognize this,” she said. Carroll, a businesswoman with a MBA said when it came to her political career since she came from Trinidad with her family, and then later left the navy as a U.S. Navy Lt. Commander. When she first ran for Congress in Duval and Clay Counties, she was given little chance of winning she said. Yet she “won the [Congressional Seat] race getting 80.5 percent of the vote.”

Carroll said she and Scott are bullish on International Trade and “$21.3 billion or 18 percent of the Florida economy is related to international trade,” with Miami being the epicenter. Since South Florida is “the Gateway to the Americas and Caribbean,” and includes the presence of “Hundreds of International Corporations” here and “Miami” is a perfect location for these firms, she said. She noted she has worked with “Bill Johnson,” the Port of Miami director to reduce “barriers,” and had discussions “with stakeholders,” to find out ways to facilitate international trade she said. And recently President Barack Obama “removed” some restrictions on “satellite exporters,” when he signed the legislation in January she closed her remarks.

Carroll

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott announced the appointments of Thomas E. “Tommy” Bronson and Bryan K. Beswick to the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Bronson, 76, of Brooksville, is the retired CEO of Meridian Aggregates. He is a former member of the Pithlachascotee River Basin Board and the Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council, and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee. He is appointed for a term beginning March 8, 2013, and ending March 1, 2016.

Beswick, 45, of Arcadia, is the grove manager for Blue Goose Growers LLC and a sales associate with Blue Goose Realty. He previously served on the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Peace River Basin Board, and received his bachelor’s degree from Florida Southern College.  He is appointed for a term beginning March 8, 2013, and ending March 1, 2016. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

>>> Press release: Miami-Dade County Delegation Chairman Eddy Gonzalez made several appointments to community boards today, filling positions that the Delegation has long used to stay informed, and proactive, on critical issues facing Miami-Dade County.

The Chairman’s appointments are as follows: Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts – Senator Rene Garcia, The Beacon Council – Vice Chairman Jose F. Diaz, The Children’s Trust – Representative Daphne Campbell, Miami River Commission – Representative Jose J. Rodriguez, Public Health Trust Nominating Council – Representative Jeanette Nuñez, Public School Bond Advisory Board – Senator Rene Garcia and Representative Erik Fresen

11th Judicial Circuit Juvenile Justice Board – Representative Joe Gibbons.

The Chairman of the Miami-Dade Delegation has a permanent position on numerous executive boards and councils in our community that work on issues ranging from economic development to early learning to criminal justice. These boards allow the Chairman to assign a representative from within the Delegation or the community membership to participate on the Chairman and the Delegation’s behalf. Chairman Gonzalez will be making additional appointments to numerous remaining community boards in the coming weeks.

>>> Scandal free Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade looking for new CEO to replace Abety after 11-years in top child advocate administrative slot

The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County created by county voters in 2002 and reaffirmed overwhelmingly by a 79 percent majority of  county voters in 2008 is looking for a new president to run the around $100 million Trust. Modesto Abety, the only top administrator of the organization since its creation is prohibited from taking the job during a six-month period he has to leave. Since he is in the Florida Retirement System, but a new CEO is expected to be found in the meantime before he could reapply for the job. In addition, long serving senior administrator Charles Auslander will be the interim CEO when Abety formally leaves at the end of March.

>>> The Children’s Trust Conducts Search for a New President and CEO, extends application deadline to Mar. 15 only the best of the best should apply for this premier organization helping kids

Press release: The Children’s Trust Board of Directors has begun an executive search for a new President and Chief Executive Officer. Qualified candidates are preferred to have no less than 15 years of experience, including at least five leading a team of professional staff, as a senior administrator with preference for a human service agency administrator or as public administrator working with a board, council or other policy body. Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of: Governance structures in Miami-Dade and the State of Florida, the demographics of the Miami-Dade population, major policy issues involving children and families, and the dynamics of large urban communities with high levels of immigration. The Children’s Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County by making strategic investments in their future. >>> To view the entire job description, visit www.thechildrenstrust.org Interested and qualified candidates shall send, in one continuous Word or PDF document, a cover letter of interest, resume, at least three professional references, and salary requirements to: CEOsearch@thechildrenstrust.org >>> All information submitted to The Children’s Trust is subject to Public Records Requests and all interviews will be publicly noticed and take place in a public setting as proscribed by law.  In addition, a background check will be conducted as part of the pre-employment process.  Candidates who are not a current resident of Miami-Dade County, if hired, must relocate to Miami-Dade County within 30 days of employment. The Children’s Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County.

>>> Children’s Movement of Florida  Voices of Florida – We all have a story, a story that defines us. It is our collective story, our challenges and our triumphs that inspire a movement. Floridians from all walks of life have joined together with an understanding that the future of our state rests on the well-being of our children. Visit The Children’s Movement website to read their stories and share your own. >>> I find it unacceptable, as all of us should, that at least a half-million children in Florida – all citizens — have no health insurance. How could this be in our beloved country that seeks to be a beacon to the world? Health insurance for all children is one of the five major planks of The Children’s Movement. With the support of Florida Covering Kids and Families, The Children’s Movement is working with dozens of local partners to help build a meaningful signing-up initiative in more than a dozen Florida communities. Already we have: Completed 18 KidCare trainings around the state. Signed up, trained and deployed more than a hundred volunteers. Begun to build a growing collaboration between local school districts and KidCare outreach coalitions. It’s a good start, but only the start. If you’d like to become a volunteer, just click here. Another way to help is to make a contribution – of any size – to help support this work. It is easy. Just click here. A real movement isn’t possible without your helping in some meaningful way. Dave Lawrence, Chair The Children’s Movement.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Commission 9 to 2 votes to override Mayor Gimenez’s shrink-wrap recommendation at MIA, four-hour discussion heavy on lobbyists

The County Commission overturned a recommendation by Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Jose Abreu, the outgoing aviation director of Miami International Airport concerning a new baggage shrink-wrap contract at MIA. www.miamiherald.com After commissioners voted 9 to 2 too go with a new company after a four-hour discussion in the commission chambers. Mayor Carlos Gimenez verbally fought back when it was clear his recommendation was going down in flames and described the discussion in the chamber as “a lot of historical fiction,” and joked while “I love baggage wrap at the airport,” and the revenue it brings in, “all good things must come to an end,” he seriously joked. And the mayor believed the extended discussion and this “bag wrapping war,” was “not good for his administration or the commission,” after a army of lobbyist were engaged by both competing companies and dominated the first few rows of seats in the chambers during the discussion. http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/03/3265234/miami-dade-set-to-award-controversial.html Gimenez, given the continuing controversy over the matter said, “If I could, I would do it myself” and what I “am presenting is about dollars and cents,” and he said when it came to either company, they’re “are no saints in this battle,” said Gimenez.

However, county commissioners saw it differently and supported the challenging company for the lucrative contract that has MIA doing “90 percent” of all the luggage wrapping in the nation MIA staff have said in the past and is a necessary perk for tourists going back to South America and includes a high number of “flat screen televisions” being packed in travelers bags said a senior MIA administrator to commissioners.  The Watchdog Report early on knew the administration’s proposal was going down in flames, and in a discussion on the matter Friday Abreu said 20 minutes before the item was heard by the commission. He thought that would be the case, and had an army of the top lobbyist for both sides milling in the commission chambers entranceway before controversial discussion and vote.

What about Abreu’s replacement at MIA?

Mayor Gimenez told the Watchdog Report on Tuesday at the commission meeting when it came to replacing Abreu to run MIA when he retires at the end of March and if he had made a decision. “I am getting there,” he told me and this is one of the most important appointees Gimenez will make given MIA is the top economic generator in South Florida. And further, MIA has to pay off the over $6 billion in new construction bonds over the almost two decades at MIA which has to be paid off. And these bond payments are roughly 332 days before the payments hit 365 days where the bonds payments would come in at $1 million per day.

Gimenez

Abreu

Past WDR: What about the first shrink-wrap contract at MIA in 2000?

The Watchdog Report has a video tape in my BCC archives of the first county commission meeting where the body around 2000 was voting on the first baggage shrink-wrap contract and it was an action packed four-hour event with the cream of the top lobbyist working county hall verbally battling it out in the commission chambers. And some of the discussion’s highlights was attorney and lobbyist Robert Holland calling then county Manager Merritt Stierheim a “racist,” that Stierheim denied, but the real highlight was the discussion on the bid protest-hearing judge. For about a half hour of the much longer commission meeting, lobbyists argued over the judge at the protest hearing, trying to determine if the judge was “awake,” perhaps just “dozing off,” or “full asleep,” they argued back and forth. And now such protest meetings are videotaped at the county after the Watchdog Report suggested that be done to then Commission Chair Gwen Margolis and Stierheim.  But the intensity of the verbal arguments and lobbyist firepower involved was a sight to see and became another Miami-Dade moment and who knew wrapping traveler’s baggage would be such a hot button matter.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/08/3274276/nero-out-as-beacon-council-ceo.html

>>> Commissioner Souto remark about “Hitler & Stalin,” clears chambers of newly minted police officers from Germany watching Democracy in action

In a discussion over limiting the number of questions, the county commission could put on a ballot in any election cycle at Tuesday’s Miami-Dade County Commission meeting and sponsored by Commissioner Barbara Jordan. Commissioner Javier Souto made some comments that raised some eyebrows, especially since some newly minted police officers from Germany were visiting the chambers as the class does every year but were there when Souto made some unusual comments on limiting the questions that could be on the ballot initiated by the commission.

Souto in his remarks said when it came to Democracy, “It was very difficult, not cheap and required full participation” of the voters and people that try to control the process were,” like “Hitler and Stalin,” and Souto noted the “Nazis had a very efficient system,” when it came to elections and look “what happened to those guys,” Souto said. He went on to say it was the duty of the electorate to study the ballot before going to the polls and while “I see the good intention” of Jordan’s measure. “If you don’t study the ballot, you will “have exactly what happened here,” he thought when it came to the long voter lines and the “time you spent voting will be less,” if a voter had studied the ballot. However, as soon as Souto made the Hitler and Stalin remarks, the German police officers began exiting the commission meeting and while Souto had a point. His timing of the comments could have been better timed since essentially, only once a year, do these police officers come to visit the chambers.

Jordan

Souto

>>> Verdugo of Christian Coalition has sharp exchange with Commissioner Moss on his no vote regarding a prayer before commission meeting

Anthony Verdugo, the head of the Christian Family Coalition of Miami-Dade on Wednesday verbally challenged County Commissioner Dennis Moss for his no vote on the matter of prayer before a commission meeting. Verdugo singled out Moss for his no vote, the exchange got nasty, and had Commission Chair Rebeca Sosa intervening and suggesting any comments directed at a particular commissioner was out of line and after a short but testy exchange between Verdugo and Moss. The chair continued with the meeting but not before briefly suggesting that the commission’s sergeant-of-arms might be needed as the verbal discussion heated up between the two men. http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2013/03/feud-between-miami-dade-commissioner-christian-family-coalition-plays-out-from-dais.html

Sosa

Moss

>>> Commission will take road trip to South Dade Cultural Center May 21 for BCC meeting

The Miami-Dade Commission is taking a road trip May 21 and will hold one of its monthly meetings at the South Dade Cultural Arts Center. Commission Chair Rebeca Sosa wants to hold couple of meetings in the community and allow residents to watch and attend regardless where they live in the county and the commission approved holding a meeting in this new location.

>>> Press release: Since 2008, Miami-Dade County Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa has sponsored legislation advocating the ban on texting while driving in Florida. As the Florida legislature’s 2013 session begins this week, the chairwoman continues to urge the Miami-Dade delegation to support the bills banning texting while driving presented during the session.

“One small distraction behind the wheel is big enough to shatter lives. Banning texting while driving will bring new hope to make our roadways safer for drivers and pedestrians. I encourage our State Legislators to take action to save lives,” said Chairwoman Sosa. Florida is one of only five states that has not imposed a ban on texting while driving, whether for all drivers or limited groups of motorists. The following is a list of legislation sponsored by Chairwoman Sosa urging the Florida Legislature to ban texting while driving:

>>> Beacon Council statement on Frank Nero stepping down

The Executive Committee of The Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County’s official economic development partner, formally announces the search for a new President and Chief Executive Officer. Frank R. Nero stepped down today after working as the nonprofit organization’s President and CEO for nearly 17 years. Under his stewardship, The Beacon Council became one of only 31 accredited economic development organizations in North America by the International Economic Development Association. Nero raised the organization’s standard of excellence and implemented quality assurance procedures that have since been adopted by other organizations.

“Through Frank’s leadership, The Beacon Council has become a premier economic development organization,” said Joseph Pallot, Chairman of The Beacon Council and General Counsel for Heico Corp. “We will build on that success continuing the mission of assisting local businesses and attracting new investments and jobs to Miami-Dade County.” “I’ve enjoyed my tenure here. We’ve had a lot of success,” Nero said. “After close to 17 years at The Beacon Council, clearly it is time to do other things. The growth of Miami-Dade County as an international business center has been gratifying. I would like to continue to be part of that effort in some manner. I will be announcing my plans in the near future.”

The national search for a new President and Chief Executive Officer will begin immediately. In the interim, Robin Reiter-Faragalli, a past Chair of The Beacon Council and a consultant to corporate philanthropies and family foundations, has been named Interim President. “I want to thank Frank Nero for his many years of service to The Beacon Council,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez.  “While there is a change of leadership at The Beacon Council, their mission of working with the County and the private sector to bring new businesses and new jobs to our community – as well as retain existing ones – remains the same.  I look forward to working with the interim leadership to maximize the potential of The Beacon Council and encourage forward-thinking economic growth in Miami-Dade County.” >>> Created in 1985, The Beacon Council promotes Miami-Dade County to the world. It helps local businesses expand to create jobs and attracts new businesses to the area. The Beacon Council has remained relevant through community crises over the years, by helping businesses survive after Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the attacks of 9/11 in 2001, and Hurricane Wilma in 2005. It also has advised economic development organizations in other states through crises, such as New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina 2005. Today, its mission is even more important as the county emerges from a recession.  >>> With One Community One Goal, a countywide strategic plan focusing on the industries for future growth, The Beacon Council remains poised and ready to help Miami-Dade County weather present and future economic storms.  Since its founding, The Beacon Council has helped 873 companies that have invested more than $3.38 billion, which has resulted in 87,374 total jobs for Miami-Dade County. These investments also have delivered tens of millions of dollars in new taxes for Miami-Dade County government, its public schools and local municipalities.

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOL

>>> Supt. Carvalho gets rave reviews, new contract for “stability of [current] administration,” and with $1.2 billion in new bonds to be issued will assure financial world, Board Chair Hantman says

Alberto Carvalho is getting a raise after deferring a variety of perks and potential raises offered over the past years, but he assured a school board committee Wednesday that any negotiated raise would be in keeping with the tough financial times the district has gone through since Sept. 2008 when he was tapped for the top post. Carvalho, who has attained almost community rock star status after the previously faltering nation’s fourth largest school district won the prestige’s Broad Prize last year, and county voters in November, passed a $1.2 billion bond for the renovation of the district’s almost 400 schools. These schools are in need of repair for a variety of issues, but the district has not been getting money from the state for such capital projects. That also had the district in years past issuing $3 billion in Certificates of Participation bonds for the construction of 100,000 new students’ stations to replace the almost 3,000 portable classrooms used at schools in the late 1990s through around 2006 when these were all replaced with renovated or new schools. But keeping up with the buildings maintenance has been an issue as more and more public dollars from the state have been diverted to Charter Schools for there use in facilities that are generally not owned by the charter schools but by a private landlord who benefits from any upgrade of the facility with these public dollars.

Perla Tabares Hantman, the school board chair said when it came to Carvalho and a raise she would be “frugal” and she brought the item to the Board because the district “was moving in the right direction,” and the “stability of the administration was critical,” and “may dispel,” certain talk in the community “That he may be leaving us,” Tabares said. She also noted this new extension of Carvalho’s contract from 2015 to 2020 could “assure the financial markets,” now that the district is going to sell $1.2 billion in new bonds that pay a five percent interest rate. Marta Perez, a frequent critic of the district superintendents since her election in 1998 said she thought Carvalho “Had done a magnificent job,” and “represents the board very well,” she thought. She also pointed out the job involved dealing with the nine member school board and “the collective chaos,” that came with dealing with them and she noted “I am the cause of the greatest amount of this chaos,” since his time here. And Board Member Carlos Curbelo joked Carvalho would not leave the district because “He would miss this board too much,” he joked. He then noted that Duval County hired a district administrator at the same salary level of $275,000 and it was a much smaller public schools district, and was well below the $400,000 his predecessor Rudy Crew got when he ran the district and believed a bump in pay was reasonable considering the achievements the district has garnered including no high schools being rated a D or F school.

Carvalho said after the board members comments that he was “grateful” to hear such comments from the board. He also noted he had a “uniquely qualified team,” that caused some of the successes to happen in the district and wants everyone from teachers, to principles and administrators, “to have skin in the game.” He told the committee members. He also noted that in the past, there was a salary increase, but the raise “was for everyone but the cabinet” and they rejected any pay increase he said back then. Moreover, the reason he was allowing the board to have this conversation was not so much about him. However, he objects to “the undervaluing of the CEO or a teacher in the Miami-Dade schools district that is larger than a vast number of cities in the county,” with 350,000 students and he believed the salary was needed “to dignify principles, teachers and the superintendent for what they do,” he closed his comments. The committee instructed Hantman to negotiate a new amendment, “that had a salary that was fair market value,” included a “performance incentive element,” to his contract and she assured the committee that would be what she brought back in the future for the board to consider and approve.

Hantman

Curbelo

Perez

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Jackson Director of Infection Control tapped for prestigious CDC Advisory Committee

Press release: University of Miami/Jackson physician Silvia Munoz-Price, M.D., was selected by the National Association of Public Hospitals (NAPH) to be their liaison to the CDC Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). During the past four years with Jackson, Dr. Munoz-Price has made a tremendous impact in leading the implementation of interventions that reduced various infection rates across the hospital to zero or consistently below the national average. “I am very proud to represent NAPH and Jackson Health System,” said Dr. Munoz-Price, director of infection control at Jackson and associate professor of clinical infectious disease at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “This is a recognition of both personal and organizational accomplishments that will allow Jackson to have visibility at the national stage.”

The selection is indeed a proud and important one for Jackson Memorial Hospital. Jackson now has a seat on the prestigious HICPAC – the federal advisory committee assembled to provide advice and guidance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the practice of infection control, strategies for surveillance, prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections. “From our pediatric and adult ICUs to Ryder Trauma Center, Silvia Munoz-Price has led the successful battle to change the infection control culture at Jackson,” said Dr. Michael Butler, chief medical officer and executive vice-president of Jackson Health System. “We are proud that Silvia will now take the successes that we have experienced here to patients and healthcare organizations across the nation.” >>> Dr. Munoz-Price will be among the non-voting ex-officio members who are liaison representatives from professional societies, consumer groups, public health associations, and other organizations. Her term on the CDC advisory committee is expected to run for the next year.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Will Blanche Park in Grove be a beta site of what Miami residents can expect in new parks to come? Magnificent Dog Park, that even has Astroturf for our four legged friends

Miami residents are hoping Blanche Park in Central Coconut Grove is a beta site of what new city parks will be like in their district after the over $500,000 redo of the park that is three quarters a doggy park that local residents say they wanted. The Park has undulating hills, new Astroturf and also an area of natural grass, a trail, silver colored benches with Miami on the bench back, and the park is well lighted and with a metal dog sculpture as a cherry on top of the out of this world facility for the nearby residents. There is also a kid’s area next to it that encompasses about one quarter of the park, also lighted and with a host of brand new playground equipment.

However, as one Grovite told the Watchdog Report last week, “Our Park could use a little loving as well,” he considered and while a traffic circle next to Blanche was controversial since it was at the corner of Miami Commissioner Chair Marc Sarnoff’s townhouse complex that is directly across the street from the updated park. The commissioner says he had nothing to do with the roundabout next to his home and is a traffic-calming device and stops trucks from entering the grove on Virginia Avenue. But, this second rehabilitation of the across the street park from his home is raising eyebrows, and as city residents become aware of the disparity between this park and the others thoughout the municipality. Pressure is expected to be brought on the commission and mayor’s office to have similar upgrades done in their local parks and this over the top park facility has local residents living near by, unusually sensitive and were hostile when a reporter stopped by Wednesday. And I asked about what they thought of the facility for dogs, and the much smaller area for children and families to play in. Readers should stay tuned on this issue with the upgraded public park that is sure to draw people from out of the neighborhood once they see it, for their own use.

Sarnoff

>>> Health Care Clinic Director Pleads Guilty in Miami for Role in $63 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

A former health care clinic director and licensed therapist pleaded guilty today in connection with a health care fraud scheme involving defunct health provider Health Care Solutions Network Inc. (HCSN), announced U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer of the Southern District of Florida; Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Christopher B. Dennis of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Office of Investigations Miami Office. Paul Thomas Layman, 66, of Miami, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga in the Southern District of Florida to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Layman’s co-conspirator Dana Gonzalez, 43, of Miami, a registered clinical social worker intern in Florida, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud for her role in the scheme.

During the course of the conspiracy, Layman was employed as a substance abuse counselor, therapist and clinical director of HCSN’s Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP).  A PHP is a form of intensive treatment for severe mental illness.

In Florida, HCSN operated community mental health centers at three locations. During his employment, Layman worked full time at all HCSN locations in Florida in various capacities.  According to court documents, Layman was aware that HCSN in Florida paid illegal kickbacks to owners and operators of Miami-Dade County Assisted Living Facilities (ALF) in exchange for patient referral information to be used to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid.  Layman also knew that many of the ALF referral patients were ineligible for PHP services because many patients suffered from mental retardation, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Court documents reveal that Layman was aware that HCSN personnel in Florida were fabricating patient medical records. Many of these medical records were created weeks or months after the patients were admitted to HCSN facilities in Florida for purported PHP treatment and were utilized to support false and fraudulent billing to government sponsored health care benefit programs, including Medicare and Florida Medicaid.  During his employment at HCSN in Florida, Layman signed fabricated PHP therapy notes and other medical records used to support false claims to government sponsored health care programs.

HCSN also operated one location in Hendersonville, N.C.  At the Hendersonville location, Layman served as the clinical director and assisted HCSN owner Armando Gonzalez in obtaining necessary licensing, credentials and Medicare authorizations for HCSN.  According to court documents, from 2008 through 2009, Layman purportedly supervised therapists at HCSN in Hendersonville, including Alexandra Haynes, who was an unlicensed therapist purportedly performing PHP therapy to HCSN patients.  For their roles in the conspiracy, Gonzalez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and Haynes pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.  On Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, Gonzalez was sentenced to serve 168 months in prison for his role in the scheme. According to court documents, Dana Gonzalez worked at HCSN in Florida from approximately April 2005 through December 2010.  At HCSN in Florida, Gonzalez fabricated patient medical records, which were used to support false and fraudulent billing to Medicare and Florida Medicaid.  In 2011, Gonzalez worked at HCSN in North Carolina, where she fabricated therapy notes and medical records, and provided unlicensed therapy when licensed therapists were absent. According to court documents, from 2004 through 2011, HCSN billed Medicare and the Florida Medicaid program approximately $63 million for purported mental health services.

Fifteen defendants have been charged for their alleged roles in the HCSN health care fraud scheme, and 12 defendants have pleaded guilty.  Alleged co-conspirator Wondera Eason is scheduled for trial on April 22, 2013, before Judge Altonaga in Miami.  Alleged co-conspirators Alina Feas and Lisset Palmero are scheduled for trial on June 3, 2013.  Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty at trial. The cases are being prosecuted by Special Trial Attorney William Parente and Trial Attorneys Allan J. Medina and Steven Kim of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.  This case is being 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, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged more than 1,480 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $4.8 billion.  In addition, HHS’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with 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 Beach Commission finally tap new Mgr.? Morales and Rollason are the two choices for top spot

The Miami Beach Commission on Wednesday will vote on the new city manager and the choices are Frank Rollason and Jimmy Morales. Rollason is a long time city of Miami senior administrator and Morales is a former Miami-Dade County commissioner and attorney. The two men have been cooling their heels while the process has moved on, including extensive background checks of the men. And one candidate from Broward dropped out and was reported in the Watchdog Report that noted, out of 101 municipal managers in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. Not one of these administrators applied for this plum public servant job and suggested it showed how difficult the post could be given the commission and the upcoming elections for mayor and a couple of commission openings. Since Commissioner Michael Gongora and Jerry Libbin in November are both running to replace Mayor Mattie Herrera Bower who is termed out and is considering possible running for the commission again after her stint as mayor.

Residents interested in the hearings after the Consent Agenda is approved can watch on the city’s webpage and the meeting is open to the public and interested parties if they wish to attend and see who gets tapped for the top administrative post to run the tourist mecca and a city that also has hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure projects going on. >>>  CITY COMMISSION MEETING – 9:30 AM, City Commission Chambers, Third Floor, City Hall Wednesday, March 13,  2013 http://web.miamibeachfl.gov/cityclerk/scroll.aspx?id=72497

>>> Sherry Kaplan Roberts, a candidate for the Miami Beach City Commission, will be the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club speaker March 12, 8:30AM to 10:00AM, David’s Cafe 1, corner of Collins Ave. & 11th St., Miami Beach.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Candidate debate for Group III seat packs in over 100 residents, voters need to get to know the candidates

About 100 people attended a debate between the five candidates running for the Group III race at the Coral Gables Congregation Church and these events are one of the few opportunities for Gables voters to hear what a potential elected leader might have to say on the matters important to the residents of The City Beautiful. However, with five candidates it was difficult to get major statements from any of the candidates I was told by one person that attended the event and why it is important for the public to attend any future debates if they wish to know what these people stand for and their understanding of city issues, including the city’s almost $200 million future pension liability, the job that Manager Pat Salerno is doing and the policies and initiatives the city is embarking on now and in the future.

>>> PAST WDR:  With winner take all race, Group (III) race with five candidates, victor may win with small majority of Gables voters

With the Apr. 9 election drawing closer and the Feb. 22 qualifying date past, the races for Coral Gables Mayor and two commission seats is set. The city clerk’s election webpage lists only Mayor Jim Cason and Commissioner Ralph Cabrera, Jr., running for the top spot on the dais that pays $34,736 and in two commission seat races for the vacated Group (II) and the Group (III) seat for the first spot on the dais there is Marlin Holland Ebbert, Ross Hancock and Vincente Carlos Lago running.

And for the latter Group (III) commission seat, the packed field includes Jackson “Rip” Holmes, Patricia A. Keon, P.J. Mitchell, Norman Anthony Newell and Mary Martin Young in a winner take all race. A commissioner is paid $28,225 and serves a four-year term to the mayor’s term that is every two years. That fact is important for the commission races especially in the Group (III) race. For with five candidates, whoever wins will likely have well less than a majority of the potential 29,355 registered voters as of Jun. 2012 that turn out for the election. Here is the latest campaign report information. http://www.gableshomepage.com/2013/01/14/gables-candidates-report-over-334000-in-donations-loans/

CITY OF DORAL

>>> Showman Trump not looking the svelte person seen on television at Doral

Donald Trump the real estate magnate that parlayed his fame into a television personality has descended on the Doral Country Club for the Cadillac Open and he bought the course in receivership for only a cool $150 million. Trump spotted Saturday wearing Khaki Pants, a polo shirt wearing a red hat looked heavier and different from his public persona said a couple that saw him at the PGA event that includes Tiger Wood’s leading the pack on Saturday. The couple said they go to all the major golf events including the U.S. Masters in Augusta Georgia and had been at many earlier matches at Doral. They said in the past the course looked much worse and a little seedy, but this year was a different story and on Monday Trump is beginning a complete redo of the famed over 600-acre club.

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Norman Tripp to the Board of Governors of the State University System.

Tripp, 74, of Fort Lauderdale, is an attorney with Tripp Scott, P.A. In addition to his work on the Board of Governors of the State University System, Tripp also previously served on the Board of Directors for Annenberg College, the Board of Trustees for the University of Miami, the Advisory Board of Nova Southeastern University, and the Board of Trustees of Florida Atlantic University. Tripp received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami and his law degree from Cleveland State University. He is reappointed for a term beginning March 8, 2013, and ending January 6, 2020. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

>>> 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.

CITY OF HOLLYWOOD

>>> Hollywood Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Identity Theft Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, José A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID), Miami Field Office, and Steven Steinberg, Chief, Aventura Police Department (Aventura PD), announce the sentencing of defendant Jonathan Torres-Bonilla, 36, of Hollywood.  Torres-Bonilla was sentenced to 16 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.  The defendant was also ordered to pay $100,388.01 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. On December 27, 2012, defendant Torres was convicted at trial of all six counts in the indictment against him.  Specifically, Torres was convicted of two counts of access device fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1029(a)(2) and 1029(a)(3), and four counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(a)(1), in connection with an identity theft tax refund fraud scheme.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, the defendant had been observed by plain-clothes Aventura police officers at the Aventura Mall using multiple debit cards at multiple different ATMs on November 25, 2011.  Aventura police officers followed the defendant to the mall garage, where he tried to flee in a minivan.  The defendant was arrested when he refused to provide identification.  The officers then searched the defendant and his car and found 28 pre-paid debit cards (loaded with $117,000 in tax refunds), dozens of ATM receipts, and more than $1,700 in cash.  At sentencing, the defendant was found to have obstructed justice by lying during his testimony at trial. Mr. Ferrer commended the efforts of IRS-CID and Aventura PD for their work on the case.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael N. Berger. 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 WESTON

Press release: Gov. Scott taps Adrien “Bo” Rivard and the reappointments of Ronald M. Bergeron and Richard A. Corbett to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Rivard, 41, of Panama City, has been a partner with Harrison Rivard Duncan & Buzzett since 2002 and is the past-president of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and a law degree from Samford University. He succeeds Kathy Barco and is appointed for a term beginning March 8, 2013, and ending August 1, 2017.

Bergeron, 69, of Weston, is owner and president of Bergeron Family of Companies. He is a member of the Broward County Airboat Association and the Everglades Coordinating Council. He is reappointed for a term beginning March 8, 2013, and ending August 1, 2017.

Corbett, 74, of Tampa, is owner and president of Concorde Companies. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree from Harvard University. He is reappointed for a term beginning March 8, 2013, and ending January 6, 2018. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

>>> Man Pleads Guilty in Identity Theft Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Paula A. Reid, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service (USSS), and José A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), announced that defendant Jeanson Pata, 31, of West Palm Beach, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn to two counts of theft of government money or property in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641, and one count of false statement to a federal agency in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001.  He faces a possible maximum statutory sentence of 25 years in prison.  Sentencing is scheduled before Judge Cohn for May 14, 2013, at 9:00 a.m.

According to documents filed in court, on or before May 27, 2010, the defendant, Jeanson Pata, gave his SunTrust Bank debit card and PIN to his cousin (and co-defendant) Fednol Pierre, so that Pierre could deposit stolen tax refund checks into Pata’s bank account.  Pierre deposited two such checks into Pata’s checking account, totaling $14,078, on May 27, 2010, and June 10, 2010.  Shortly after each deposit, Pierre, with help from Pata, withdrew most of those funds at ATMs, grocery stores, and the teller window.  Pata also transferred a total of $1,200 of those funds into his own savings account.

Additionally, according to documents filed in court, on November 20, 2012, Pata falsely told a U.S. Secret Service Special Agent that he had not received payment for allowing Pierre to use his bank account to deposit checks. Mr. Ferrer thanked USSS and IRS-CI for their work on the case.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Coats. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

>>> Gov. Scott taps Alan O. Forst to the Fourth District Court of Appeal.

Forst, 54, of Palm City, has been the Chair of the Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission (formerly the Unemployment Appeals Commission) since 2001. The Commission is the legal body that considers appeals from cases contesting reemployment compensation awards and denials. Forst is the former Chair of the Labor and Employment Section of the Florida Bar.  From 1998-2001, Forst practiced with Crary Buchanan in Stuart, FL.  From 1997-1998, he served with the U.S. Department of Commerce, and from 1993-1997, he served with the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board.  Forst received his bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and his law degree from the Catholic University of America.  Forst will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Fred A. Hazouri. Governor Rick Scott said, “Through leadership and public service, Alan has shown a commitment to the principle of judicial restraint and the rule of law.  He is a clear thinker who understands constitutional issues and his unique intellect will enhance the work for Fourth District Court of Appeals for years to come.”

CITY OF BOCA RATON

>>> Four Defendants Sentenced in Timeshare Fraud

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Daniel C. Alexander, Chief, Boca Raton Police Department, announced yesterday that Senior United States District Judge Kenneth L. Ryskamp sentenced defendants Anthony J. Chiaramonte, 35, of New York City, Nicholas Charles Higgins, 27, of Boynton Beach, Florida, Wensley Robin McFarlane, 53, of Lake Worth, Florida, and James Michael Tomasso, 53, of Boca Raton, Florida, for conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349. Defendant Chiaramonte was sentenced to 51 months in prison; defendant Higgins was sentenced to one year and one day in prison; defendant McFarlane was sentenced to 90 months in prison; and defendant Tomasso was sentenced to 42 months in prison.

These defendants participated in a telemarketing boiler room through which telemarketers negotiated to purchase victim-owned timeshares on condition that the victim paid an advanced fee to cover such things as a title search.  This fee ranged as high as tens of thousands of dollars.  The victims were also told that this fee would be refunded to them at closing together with the money the conspirators were to pay them for the timeshares. None of these purchases ever occurred.  In total, the conspiracy victimized over 1,000 people, many of whom were senior citizens, and cost the victims, in aggregate, more than $2.5 million. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and the Boca Raton Police Department.  This case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry S. Baron. 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.

PINNELAS COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Maria N. Edmonds and Raymond H. Neri to the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County.

Edmonds, 67, of Tarpon Springs, is a social services independent contractor and Chair of the Hispanic Leadership Council. She is reappointed for a term beginning March 7, 2013, and ending August 11, 2016.

Neri, 75, of St. Petersburg, is retired and very active in the Pinellas County community. He belongs to several organizations including the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Police Athletic League Board. He is reappointed for a term beginning March 7, 2013, and ending August 7, 2016. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Join us on March 15th for Jazz (and a Little Bit of Blues) at Jackson Soul Food. Once again, we will pay homage to the glory days of Overtown when dozens of nightclubs lined the streets and crowds packed those nightclubs. We’re grateful and happy to say that this series attracts one of the most diverse audiences in Miami and it has sold out each time. Get your tickets early and thank you! Tickets may be purchased here: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5187662438 www.overtownmusicproject.org

>>> Wednesday, March 23, 2013:  Downtown Bay Forum: Gun Control: Do we need more or less? Panelists: Hon. Barbara Jordan, County Commissioner, District 1, Chief Matthew Boyd, Miami Gardens Police Chief and president of the Miami-Dade County Association of Chiefs of Police – Moderator:  Dr. Sean Foreman, Department of History & Political Science, Barry University. 11:30 a.m. at Temple Israel, 137 NE 19th Street, Miami. Free self-parking available. $35 membership, $23 lunch for member with reservation, $58 membership & lunch, $27 non-member or member without reservation if space is available. To reserve, or for further information, call Annette Eisenberg at 305-757-3633. www.downtownbayforum.org

>>> NON-PROFIT & CULTURAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS: APPLY NOW TO BE FEATURED AT PHILANTHROFEST 2013 – April 6th, 2013 Miami Dade College Wolfson 300 NE 2nd Ave

Philanthrofest is a volunteer-based organization that connects people, passion and philanthropy in South Florida. The PhilanthroFest team celebrates the South Florida arts community, philanthropic organizations and community resources annually in a free, large-scale community event. Now in its second year,

PhilanthroFest 2013 will take place on Saturday, April 6th and be located at Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami. It provides an incredible opportunity to connect thousands of South Florida residents to valuable resources and services in the areas of Business & Economic Development, City/County Services, Civic Engagement/Community Improvement & Capacity Building, Cultural/Arts/Humanities, Educational, Environmental, Health/Human Services/Disease Prevention, Poverty/Welfare, Animal Related, Food/Agriculture/Nutrition, Recreation & Sports, and Youth Development & Services. The primary goal is to bring potential volunteers and donors together with not-for-profit organizations, while creating an environment that promotes civic engagement, deepens community connections and sparks the philanthropic spirit of South Florida. PhilanthroFest also strives to provide educational resources to non-profits in the areas of social media and on-line engagement, digital marketing and web development via collaborations between public/private partners and industry experts to create events such as our Non-Profit Community Engagement Institutes. We are excited to announce that we are just one month away from PhilanthroFest’s main event, and there are only days left for non-profits to apply in order to be featured in PhilanthroFest 2013. If you or someone you know works and/or volunteers for a non-profit/cultural arts organization based in South Florida, please encourage the organization to submit an application on-line by Friday, March 15th. Application is FREE and space is limited, so do not delay and visit this link today to learn more. To apply, visit the application page. If you have any questions regarding the above, please email Naomi Ross at

org@philanthrofest.com.

EDITORIAL

PAST WDR FEB. 2008: Politicians at all levels & senior staff must be held to higher standard, public corruption corrosive to society as a whole

Elected leaders, other public servants that are arrested and then plead out, the light sentences they get nationally, statewide and locally are bothering to the average person and it must end if the public is to view their leaders with the respect they should deserve. Public corruption comes in many forms from just stealing or a bribe, to the misuse of the public positions for something perhaps personal. South Florida is going through a wave of this activity, state and federal prosecutors are popping politicians, and senior staff but some of the sentences just seem too light, especially when it concerns public integrity of a politician.

It is bad enough that public institutions waste billions collectively and just in Miami-Dade County around $250 million is blown a year says the county IG through fraud, ineptitude or carelessness and that is not a small number especially with the cooling state economy. Further, the transformation of an activist or candidate into an ego driven elected leader is sad to watch and because voters are not paying close attention. These people and their actions will not be noticed at first and it takes years sometimes to get some of these wayward rascals out of office.

A person’s feeling of entitlement to elected office is probable the most painful to watch as people go from elected office, to elected office becoming a career politician which is fine, if it is not accompanied by the same politician being a lobbyist or shill for some industry on the side. In addition, while public corruption has been with us since almost the dawn of time, it must be attacked aggressively and when people are found guilty the sentences should reflect the special fact they are a public servant that has gone astray and should get the book thrown at them. For this is definitely not a good thing for the public and society as a whole.

LETTERS

>>> Gee, Dan, you make Jimmy Morales and me sound like chopped liver! Maybe it is too much of a challenge for the others or maybe the others are just too comfortable in their current niches?  At any rate, I am up for some fun and keep in mind it is not the Manager’s job to manage the elected officials – thank goodness.

Frank Rollason

Mgr. candidate for Miami Beach

>>> Miami Beach Commissioner Deede Weithorn, newly elected President of the MD League of Cities, addressing the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club this morning, advised those attending that the state wants 50% of the parking revenue on state roads now going to the city (Collins and Alton on MD).  She opposes it on behalf of the League, as it would apply to state road in all cities and counties.

David Kelsey

Miami Beach

>>> Florida lawmakers are on pace to make history by passing comprehensive ethics reform.  While Integrity Florida applauds our state leaders for taking on this challenging issue, key questions remain: 1. Will the lasting legacy of these reforms strengthen or weaken Florida ethics laws? 2. Does the ethics reform proposal protect the public from corruption or protect politicians? Former Florida Commission on Ethics Executive Director Phil Claypool identified areas of concern about Senate Bill 2, the ethics reform bill just passed 40-0 by the Florida Senate.  Phil shared his concerns in the following memo to Integrity Florida and granted us permission to circulate it to you: Click here to read Phil Claypool Memo to Integrity Florida – Ethics Reform Bill Analysis

Senate President Don Gaetz, House Speaker Will Weatherford, Senate Ethics and Election Committee Chairman Jack Latvala and House Ethics and Elections Subcommittee Chairman Jim Boyd are all to be commended for their constructive, bipartisan pursuit of ethics reform. Floridians have not seen our state leaders prioritize and pass comprehensive ethics reform since the implementation of the 1976 Sunshine Amendment. By addressing the issues outlined in the Claypool memo, these leaders will leave a lasting legacy of strengthening Florida ethics laws.
Daniel B. Krassner, Executive Director
Integrity Florida IntegrityFlorida.org

>>> 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

BERKOWITZ POLLACK BRANT Advisors and Accountants www.bpbcpa.com

RON BOOK

LINDA MURPHY: Gave a new laptop in Oct. 2001 to keep me going.

WILLIAM PALMER www.shutts.com

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 COMMISSION   www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION OFFICE OF THE CHAIR 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

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 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

THE MIAMI FOUNDATION  www.miamifoundation.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 13^th 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

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report www.watchdogreport.net

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2013, Daniel A. Ricker

>>> The Watchdog Report are now available to television stations web pages, and all the newspapers and other media in South Florida if the publishers have an interest to run part or all of the stories. Further, in 2000, I used to have some paper’s running the report in the Spanish press, that option is available again, and publishers should contact me.  The news content will not be free, but you can pick and chose the stories of interest, edit them if necessary but you must still keep the general story intact.  If you are a news outlet and would like to learn more about, the Watchdog Report and this offer contact me at watchdogreport1@earthlink.net for further information.  >>> Here is what past newspapers have written about the Watchdog Report publisher including a survey and regional study done by the U. North Carolina at Chapel Hill on the media in the southeast United States.

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years. >>> Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, The (FL) CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS >>> Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, The (FL) MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED >>> >>> To read the full section large two page front page story, but without the photos and smart box graphics, go to: `I Go When You Cannot’ – Sun Sentinel 20 Jan 2003 … Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. … to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks. … http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american >>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times  —The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored.  Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2003-05-15/citylife2.html/1/index.html

From the spring of 2003:  U. North Carolina, Chapel Hill:  Southeast U.S. Media Report lists Watchdog Report publisher as leading Florida commentator >>> Selected excerpts from the report on Florida’s media sources

Those who do read the newspaper in Florida have a bevy of options for state government and political coverage. The dominant newspapers in the state are Knight-Ridder’s The Miami Herald (Acquired by The McClatchy Company in 2006) and the Poynter Institute’s St. Petersburg Times. Both papers endorsed Gore in 2000 but split on the 2002 gubernatorial race, with the Herald endorsing Republican incumbent Jeb Bush and the Times backing Democratic challenger Bill McBride. Daniel Ricker of The Miami Herald also writes an influential column as well as an email newsletter called the Watchdog Report that goes out to more than 100,000 subscribers. FEBRUARY 2004 – Florida: Columnists in Abundance –ERIC GAUTSCHI, graduate student, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill – D) LEADING COMMENTATORS – Resource Commentator Organization Type Web site –Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/bousquet.shtml -“First Friday” WPBT TV (Miami) TV Show www.channel2.org/firstfriday/issues.html –Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/morgan.shtml –Daniel Ricker Miami Herald/Watchdog Report Newsletter >>> Readers who would like to read the complete University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Southeast United States Media Report go to view the complete report or download all the data used in this study. >>> Watchdog Report Editor’s note to the NCU/CH study: The subscriber number referenced is incorrect and applies to readership.

General subscriber’s names will not be published in the Report. To subscribe to the Watchdog Report please use the form below as a subscription invoice.

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