Watchdog Report Vol.14 No.27 November 17, 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 To All: 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. How to support and contribute to the WDR is at the bottom of the report. Thank You

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher was on Topical Currents at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday Nov. 5 on www.wlrn.org/topicalcurrents on 91.3 F.M. hosted by Joseph Cooper and Bonnie Berman. I was joined on the show by Broward Bulldog award winning investigative reporter Dan Christensen, to discuss the elections and other political issues of the week. And to listen to the show go to http://wlrn.org/post/election-day-questions-comments-call

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> President Obama reverses course, ACA will now allow insurance companies to keep lower cost, less comprehensive health plans for millions of Americans for a year after firestorm of cancellations of policies

In a dramatic turn around this past week, President Barack Obama has softened his position on allowing people to keep certain healthcare plans they have bought before 2010, even though they are not comprehensive enough under the Affordable Care Act. Millions of Americans since Oct. 1 have received notices that their low cost insurance policies were being cancelled, and many times these people are offered to be switched to a more comprehensive plan, perhaps at a higher or lower cost and that change contradicted the president’s repeated claims over the past years. That people would be able “to keep the insurance they have,” which for many individuals or families around the nation has not been the case. http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/14/3752396/obamacare-enrollment-low-democrats.html#morer And Obama and supporters say it is too early to gauge the success of ACA, that has many state’s run by GOP governors not participating in the exchanges, and hampering the program. However, the problems with the webpage and other issues does have a wide swath of Democrats and of course Republicans carping that the roll out has been botched and the competency of the administration is being challenged, and how Obama handles these hurdles to his landmark legislative program may very well define his place in history. >>> http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/15/3756385/healthcare-law-could-be-obamas.html

>>> WHITE HOUSE press release on the matter: Affordable Care Act: President Obama made a statement in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room on Thursday, announcing new steps to help those Americans that are receiving insurance cancellation notices. The President stated that insurers can offer customers who have been notified about canceled plans the option to renew their 2013 plan in 2014. “It took 100 years for us to even get to the point where we could start talking about and implementing a law to make sure everybody has got health insurance,” the President said. “And my pledge to the American people is, is that we’re going to solve the problems that are there, we’re going to get it right, and the Affordable Care Act is going to work for the American people.”

>>> Speaker Boehner, Don’t Limit Our Options on Immigration — Press release: Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released the following statement regarding the recent remarks Speaker Boehner made stating that House leadership will not conference with the Senate immigration bill: “I remain steadfast in the fact that the House needs to take up immigration reform. I urge Speaker Boehner to remain open to any options that allow us to solve this crucial issue. It has been said time and time again that our immigration system is broken, and we must come together to find a sensible solution to fix it. I continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on a bill that secures our border, respects the rule of law, strengthens our economy, modernizes the visa system, and addresses the millions of undocumented immigrants in a way that is both reasonable and humane.”

>>> Management changes at WLRN & WPBT, Miami Herald does another round of buyouts of reporters and staff

Tom Hudson, a veteran radio and television journalist has been named vice president of news at WLRN, and Terence Shepherd and Alicia Zuckerman will run the daily operations of WLRN-Miami Herald News state’s http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/15/3755427/wlrn-announces-senior-leadership.html . Station General Manager John Labonia in a memo months ago and reported in a past Watchdog Report wrote about expanding the station’s news content and wanting to make WLRN a “news juggernaut.” Where people from all over the world because of the worldwide web would go to the station’s multiple media outlets 24/7 including television and radio. Further, The Herald has a newsroom in the station’s building that is being expanded and the relationship with the general circulation paper appears to be getting closer. And critics are concerned that any donations given by listeners to Friends of WLRN, the not-for-profit organization’s fund raising arm, might in some way help the for profit paper that has recently moved its operations to Doral. Editor’s note: I am a frequent contributor to Topical Currents on www.wlrn.org 91.3 F.M.

WLRN photo of Hudson

>>> What about The Miami Herald?

The Watchdog Report has heard from multiple sources that The Miami Herald is offering another round of “buyouts,” for some of its employees and this cost cutting of reporters, editors and staff has been going on for over a decade, as the printed newspaper industry recedes in over all circulation around the nation.

>>> Welcome back Miami Herald Andean Bureau Chief Wyss

The Watchdog Report gives a Tip of the Hat to veteran Miami Herald Andean Bureau Chief Jim Wyss for the past three years, for his past extensive news coverage of the region. After the reporter was detained for a few days, but later released by Venezuelan authorities. In addition, this reporter’s detainment by authorities should remind all people the risks reporters face many times in covering certain stories here in America or in other countries around the world.>>> His past week’s tribulations are detailed at http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/11/3746827/miami-herald-reporter-recounts.html

>>> What about WPBT Channel 2 management changes?

There has also been a shake-up at WPBT Channel 2 www.wpbt.org and long serving General Manager Rick Schneider has left the station, and the new CEO is Dolores Sukhdeo. The station has a long history in the community, is where Hudson used to have a business show, and I have been an occasional contributor on Issues hosted by Helen Ferre over the past decade.

>>> Miami Heat second NBA Championship Rings widely distributed to people on and off the team, thanking supporters a big tradition with the winning franchise

The Miami Heat is very generous when it comes to people on the team and involved in some way in promoting the two-time NBA Champions franchise when it comes to getting team rings after a championship. The team owned by Mickey Arison is very generous when it comes to the team’s rings with two diamonds on it this year. Apparently there are four different levels with the players getting the top valued rings, but even the lesser expensive ones are very impressive, and the Watchdog Report has seen a number of people sporting the new team ring after last year’s championship repeat.

>>> Press release: Is a New Party Waiting to Be Formed? By: John Zogby Forbes.com Contributor

I have averaged 125-150 speeches a year for much of the past decade and a frequent question asked deals with the likelihood of a new party in the United States. There is always a new party waiting to be formed, a mass of voters who are dissatisfied with both Democrats and the Republicans, and a rising number of self-described independents. Opinion polls – including those by Zogby Analytics – consistently show a mass of voters who favor the formation of a new party. Gallup has found an even split 46% in favor and 45% saying a new party is not needed. Three in five independents supported a new party in late 2012. That is a lot of voters.

But a “mass” does not mean a “critical mass”. Historically, several conditions were needed for the success of a new party: first, a hopeless split in a major party (as in 1828 when the Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicans divided over regional economic interests, class interests, and well-known personalities to create the Whigs and Democrats); and 1854 when the Whigs split over slavery, leading to the free-soil Republicans and the nationalistic “Know Nothings” to oppose Democrats. Second, there was the emergence of new demographic groups into the electorate (workingmen and non-property holders in the 1820s and 1830s). And third, there was the blatant inability of the major parties to make problem-solving policies (the 1850s). Please click on the link below to view the full release:
http://www.zogbyanalytics.com/news/373-is-a-new-party-waiting-to-be-formed

FLORIDA

>>> Former CFO & failed 2010 gubernatorial candidate Sink will file qualifying papers Monday for Congressional Dist. 13 seat in Pinellas County

Alex Sink, the past Florida Chief Financial Officer and failed Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate facing GOP Gov. Rick Scott in 2010 has thrown her hat into the Congressional District 13 race after long serving U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-St. Petersburg passed a month or so ago. Sink in an email blast Saturday writes that 4,700 people have signed up supporting her candidacy and the goal is 5,000 by Monday when she will file her formal qualifying paper’s for the vacant congressional district. Sink, had been on a shortlist of candidates to take on Scott again in 2014 but she passed, and she looked like she would stay out of politics, especially since her husband Bill McBride passed leaving her without a critical sounding board. However, with Young’s passing the Tampa resident has decided to move into the congressional district in St. Petersburg and given her name recognition she has a good shot at winning the district.

However, Sink a former banker is not the best campaigner, especially on a statewide basis, where she ran a lackluster campaign and the smaller congressional district may be easier to handle, and where she is able to deflect the charges that she is a political opportunist and carpetbagger. She will likely breeze through the Jan. 14 Democratic Party primary but it will be in the general election on Mar. 11 when she will face a Republican challenger. Moreover, while the district has a slight Red political tint and Young got 57 percent of the vote against Democrat Jessica Ehrlich in 2012. She still garnered some almost 190,000 votes in that race against the ailing congressman. Now, Sink will have to morph into a congressional candidate, at a time when the Congress approval ratings is at a long time low, but this race will not be a cakewalk for her in the coming months since both parties are feeling voter backlash in ongoing elections around the nation.

Sink

>>> Florida has already welcomed more than 72 million visitors in 2013

Press release: Governor Rick Scott today announced that according to preliminary estimates released by VISIT FLORIDA – the state’s official tourism marketing corporation – 22.9 million visitors came to Florida in the third quarter of 2013 (July-September), an increase of 1.7 percent over the same period in 2012.  These numbers represent the largest third quarter for visitation in the state’s history. For video of Governor Scott, click HERE. To view on an iPhone or iPad, click HERE.

>>> And if you ever thought about adopting a child, check out the great kids on the Children’s Trust’s Heart Gallery page http://www.miamiheartgallery.org/#start looking for a home and great new parents.

>>> 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, Jr., Chair The Children’s Movement.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Roughly “9.1 percent” of Miami-Dade has serious mental issues, highest in nation, says mental health advocate and Circuit Court Judge Leifman

When it comes to Miami-Dade’s mental health, County Circuit Court Judge Steven Leifman says “9.1 percent” of the county’s 2.4 million residents have serious mental issues, and it is costing the government a small fortune to keep some of the more serious of these people in jail, versus getting the much cheaper medical treatment. The discussion on the county’s mental health facilities occurred last week at a County Commission Committee meeting and Chair Commissioner Sally Heyman ripped into the county mayor’s office senior staff for all the delays in getting new facilities renovated since county bond money is available. Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s Chief of Staff Chip Iglesias said they are looking at a variety of options, the overall costs of one alternative could be around $21 million and he and the mayor understood that a federal consent decree deadline is looming in the coming years.

Leifman noted that there should be “no more studies,” and a property was given to the county by the state that could be used and renovated; while a possible, other option would be a facility at the Krome Detention Center that has the capability said the mayor’s deputy. He noted that would consolidate medical staff in one central spot and increase medical treatment (Currently being done by Jackson Health System medical staff, at a considerable cost to the Public Health Trust) but Leifman carped that the Krome location was to remote. The mental health maven said no physician would go out there to see these patients, given the roughly $300.00 compensation and many of the incarcerated people also need legal representation as well he pleaded. However, it is clear that a resolution to the matter must be found for this vexing problem soon and readers should stay tuned and see how this pans out in the future.

Leifman

Heyman

Iglesias

What about Jackson Health System?

The County Commission’s Finance Committee approved an ordinance approving a $75 million line of credit for JHS with Wells Frago Bank. Commissioner Sally Heyman asked Vice Mayor Ed Marquez if the deal would have any impact on the county’s bond rating, since ultimately the county is guaranteeing the paper. Marquez, a bond guru in his past life assured Heyman it “will not affect the county’s” credit or bond rating, he said for the record. Moreover, with that assurance, the ordinance passed the committee.

>>> The great experiment by County Commissioners to ask residents to make donations to organizations that are under funded by government while they are paying their property tax bills has begun. The county spent $20,000 to print up the postage paid envelope found in their tax bills for the year, where residents can put a donation check and mail it in, but skeptics of the idea wonder if these donations will even pay for the some 1 million envelopes and the postage required.

>>> County Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Commission Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa and Commissioner Javier Souto will co- designate the Kendall Indian Hammocks Park Entrance at 8000 S.W. 107 Ave. Pedro Pan Street, on Friday Nov. 22 at 11:00 a.m. to honor the massive Catholic Archdiocese program. A program that ran from 1960 to 1962 that allowed thousands of Cuban children to come to the United States unattended, after Fidel Castro came to power in Communist Cuba. For more go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Peter_Pan

>>> Jeffrey Bass, a prominent land use attorney during a long commission committee meeting dealing with the issue of incorporating parts of the county or a municipal annexation that has both pro and con supporters vocally split. He spoke and suggested a compromise to the hearings to Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz who chaired the body, and Bass suggested when it came to these matters. To hold future committee meetings on the matter after five in the afternoon, so more people could attend, and the commission would hear the issues holistically rather than piece meal.  However, Diaz said what was being discussed then was essentially “clean-up language” legislation and the commission had a “process,” for this matter. However, in this case it was not a bad suggestion by Bass given the volatile nature of the matter to the over 1.1 million residents living in these unincorporated areas in the county. >>> Editor’s note: Bass and John Shubin’s law firm are listed sponsors of the Watchdog Report.

>>> Press release: Partial decision issued on sewer bid controversy

The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics & Public Trust (COE) today considered Request for Opinion 13-11, which originated in an ongoing dispute regarding solicitations for proposals for a company to oversee massive repairs to Miami-Dade’s sewer system.  The COE Executive Director recently provided an advisory opinion requested by Mayor Carlos Gimenez, which found that the process leading to the recommendation for the award was seriously flawed.  Legal questions concerning whether the County’s Cone of Silence rule was applicable were presented to the full Ethics Commission for a binding opinion. The company that won the bid, CH2M Hill, had directly contacted members of the selection committee with a 400-page addendum to its original presentation prior to the second phase of the evaluation process.  Representatives of the competing firm, AECOM Technical Services, Inc., complained that CH2M violated the “Cone of Silence” rules with that direct submission.  The COE determined that members of a County selection committee are “officials” under the Cone ordinance, thereby making the direct submission permissible, provided that the County’s bid documents did not specifically prohibit such contact.  The Ethics Commission deferred its ruling on whether the documents prohibited the contact, pending submission of additional material by the two parties.

>>> Press release: In other action today, Ethics Commission Chair Charlton Copeland announced he is stepping down as Chair in anticipation of an extensive travel schedule during the law professor’s next semester at the University of Miami.  The election of a new chair will be held at the next meeting on December 12th.  Also today, a plaque was presented along with accolades to Senior Staff Attorney Victoria Frigo, who is retiring at the end of this month.

>>> And to review all the Miami-Dade County Commissioners financial disclosure forms for the year go to http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/results.cfm?org_id=214439&suborg_id=233972&Mode=By_SubOrg

>>> Press release: RISING TO THE TASK: The Miami-Dade Sea Level Rise Task Force held its first meeting on Nov. 4. The task force members are Arsenio Milian, environmental engineer and former member of the governing board of the South Florida Water Management District; Jorge Gonzalez, president/CEO of City National Bank of Florida; Chairman Harvey Ruvin, Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts; Vice Chairman James Murley, executive director of the South Florida Regional Planning Council; David Enfield, climate researcher with the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Science; Sara Fain, executive director of the Everglades Law Center; and T. Willard Fair, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Miami. Miami-Dade Deputy Mayor Jack Osterholt, also attended the meeting.

The Miami-Dade Sea Level Rise Task Force held its first meeting on Nov. 4,2013 to begin tackling the risks of climate change in Miami-Dade. The seven-member panel, made up of experts in fields ranging from climatology and civil engineering to banking and real estate, has been tasked with recommending ways to prepare the County for the expected rise in sea levels due to global warming. “I am very pleased with the level of knowledge and expertise each task force member brings to the table, and I am extremely appreciative of their willingness to dedicate their time and efforts to address this critical issue to the future of our County,” said Board of County Commissioners Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa, who sponsored the July 2, 2013 resolution that established the task force.

The urgency of the panel’s task has been highlighted by this fall’s extreme high tide events, which have been putting growing pressure on local drainage systems expected to be further impacted by rising sea levels. Clerk of Courts Harvey Ruvin, the task force’s chairman, outlined Miami-Dade County’s history of leadership on sustainability issues, but he stressed the urgent need for a plan of action to address and mitigate the potential far-reaching impacts of climate change in Miami-Dade. Researchers have identified Miami-Dade County as one of the most vulnerable places in the world to coastal flooding. See video depicting the impact of sea level rise in greater metropolitan Miami at one-foot intervals.) “South Florida is ground zero, and the time to act is now. Failure to plan is the same as planning to fail. I commend the Chair and the Board for taking some ownership of this critical issue by establishing the SLR Task Force,” Mr. Ruvin said. >>> The task force has 90 days to present its recommendations to the County Commission, but it can request additional time if needed. Part of the group’s job will be to review the recommendations of an earlier climate change panel and interface with current regional planning efforts. The task force’s next meeting will take place on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013 at 10 a.m. at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, 175 N.W. 1st Ave., 26th Floor Conference Room,Miami, FL 33128.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> When it comes to the around overall $200 million IT rollout over the years,  Supt. Carvalho hits “pause” button briefly to learn from problems with similar phase I program in LA

Alberto Carvalho, the superintendent of the nation’s fourth largest public schools system has put a massive IT expansion in the district on “pause” for a few months after the Los Angeles Public School district, the largest district in the nation, with a similar program has led to a variety of problems that the Miami-Dade District wants to learn from and avoid. Carvalho, the point of the spear when it comes to pulling off the $1.2 billion bond for improvements and renovations in the District’s some 400 schools last November has been the front man, and he has put his personal reputation on the line when it comes to not allowing any possible future misspending of this new money. In addition, the school board under his direction has created a fairly independent oversight board to watch over this money and how it is spent in the coming six to seven years. The time line Carvalho hopes to meet to complete the upgrades and massive IT expansion that will have all of some 350,000 students connected to the internet and no longer dealing with the digital divide that affects some 500,000 residents in Miami-Dade.

At a school board committee meeting Wednesday Carvalho made these comments and the former Chemistry teacher, who had taken on a host of other assignments before being named the top educator in September 2008. After controversial Supt. Rudy Crew was pushed out of the District by the disgruntled nine member school board and Carvalho stepped into the breach and has taken the district to new academic heights. Further, since taking the helm, Carvalho has been proactive in seeing the past budget cuts, rewarded top teachers financially, and he has focused public resources on better pay for educators and in the past year won a host of national prizes and federal grants, including the prestige’s Broad Prize given to the top public school system in the nation.

Carvalho

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Mayor Gimenez says he will play a role in crafting the oversight board to watchdog new $830 million bond passed by countywide voters by 65%

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez told the Watchdog Report Friday that he has a keen interest in the oversight of the just passed $830 million bond for Jackson Health System (JHS), and while he could not comment on the yet to be created oversight board. He said he would be watching what is proposed and will be actively engaged in whatever is created by the county commission. County Commissioner Audrey Edmonson has said she will take the lead along with the other 12 commissioners in creating the new oversight board, and members of the seven-member PHT oversight board also want to be included on the new body.

However, Gimenez, who was against the issue in the media running up to the referendum that passed by 65 percent of the 11.3 percent countywide vote. He said he would be keeping his eye on the new money, how it was spent, for he seemed to understand if it was misspent, that it would occur under his strong mayor form of government watch, and any scandal in the future regarding the money could seriously harm his future legacy, if he was reelected in 2016 to another four year term.

Migoya on Thursday at the swearing in of Miami Commissioner Frank Carollo told the Watchdog Report that as a 40-year banker. He knows “how to say no,” he said when I enquired about the possible influence of the county commission and whether there would be for example 13 new clinics? One for each county commissioner, which could be a typical request from the body in the future. He also knows his own reputation in the community where he has spent his professional life would be at stake and a number of the banker’s friends have told the Watchdog Report that they thought he would stay on as the President and CEO capacity until the bulk of the bonds proceeds have been utilized and the numerous projects finished before he would depart, they thought knowing the man. In addition, Gimenez also said he had spoken to Migoya recently about the new bond money as well.

Migoya

Gimenez

But what about the union agreements at the PHT & county at impasse?

Both Migoya and Gimenez have a looming problem, and it concerns in labor union contracts the elimination of a five percent contribution of the workers in the county’s self-funded healthcare insurance program that the unions believe is over funded and the employee contributions should stop. The mayor responds it is state law that the health plan be fiscally robust and that the state has certain guidelines that apply to such a fund. However, if the Miami-Dade Commission overrides the mayor’s veto in the future, the PHT health trust would likely have a some $7 million deficit at the end of the fiscal year Sept. 30 and at the county. The mayor is saying he will have to dip into the county’s reserves, currently low for a county with a $6.3 billion overall budget and some 27,000 employees.   In addition, the mayor on Saturday had a City of Miami Fire House dedicated to him and apparently, the county unions hired planes with banners critical of Gimenez and these plans flew overhead while the celebration was going on but highlights how nasty this fight at the commission is going to be at an early in December board of county commission meeting when the contracts will he heard by the commission. For more on the fire house dedication and what occurred go to http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2013/11/chuckrabin-miami-dade-county-mayor-carlos-gimenez-still-at-odds-with-firefighters-upset-at-his-proposed-cuts-during-budget.html

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Swearing-in of Mayor Regalado & Commissioner Carollo modest affairs, by some past standards, some have been over the top

The swearing-in last week of Mayor Tomas Regalado and Commissioner Frank Carollo for another term, the last for the mayor after six elections, where none were lost, and these were festive events and in both cases. The relative low-key affairs reflected the two men’s personalities. Regalado, a populist has always eschewed going overboard and Carollo a CPA seems to do it naturally and family and friends surrounded both men on Thursday and Friday during the ceremonies. Regalado got a introduction from auto magnate Norman Braman who took attendees down memory lane since the mayor came to Miami as a Pedro Pan as a young boy, and Carollo gave flowers to his young daughter, before he spoke. Moreover, both men spoke in a humble manner, yet looked ahead to opportunities and challenges that are still facing the county’s largest municipality. Regalado and Carollo both won reelection handily and the usual buffet was served for attendees on City Hall’s second floor balcony allowing supporters to mingle with the reelected officials.

Regalado

Carollo

What about the ongoing SEC bond investigation?

The Watchdog Report caught the tail end of the Miami Audit Committee last week, an advisory board of citizens that keeps a watch on the city’s finances and in the June minutes. There is an extensive explanation of the city’s efforts to not be penalized by a SEC investigation of some municipal bonds Miami had sold in past years, and the general defense the city was employing including hiring outside legal counsel specializing in such matters. Further, assistant city attorney Robin Jackson said the SEC is looking at some of these securities municipalities and counties have floated to investors on a macro basis nationwide. She said the federal agency is looking at Victorville Ca. and its CRA, in the high desert town outside of Los Angeles and also at bonds sold by Harrisburg, Pa., the state capital. Where the required Comprehensive Financial Annual Report (CAFR) had not been completed for years and the SEC had to review a mayor’s speech and other internal documents to try to figure things out, which did not apply to Miami. She told the audit committee in June that “we still maintain the position that the City followed GASB and GAP,” accounting guidelines and believes the SEC “should work with the City to issue what is called a Section 21-A report.” The minutes also indicate that if the SEC goes with that action it would not be a charge against the City, or its past employees, but would be the SEC telling the city and its employees how the “City could improve their processes,” she suggested. Further, internal “workshop” training within the city has been underway, and she believed what the City was facing with the SEC was different than what occurred when Harrisburg issued bonds and the way these were done in that City was “highly unusual.” Though she noted briefings on the wider scope of the federal investigation have been ongoing and included “our elected officials, our employees, and board members,” being notified ensuring they know the Securities Exchange Commission is looking at it in a broader way,” said Jackson in the meetings minutes.

What about the District 5 race?

With Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones termed out, the four member race to replace her as commissioner of District 5 is now down to two with Keon Hardeman facing former Miami Commissioner Richard Dunn, II in the upcoming runoff election for the seat. Hardeman, an assistant public defender, garnered 45.8 of the vote to Dunn’s 22.21 percent of the district’s voters that came out to vote in the low turnout race. In addition, Hardeman has also gotten the endorsement of educator Dr. Robert Malone, Jr., who got 10.4 percent of the vote and Dunn picked up the endorsement of the third ballot getter Jacqui Colyer who received 21.5 percent of the vote last week. However, the race is expected to get uglier, and Spence Jones is supporting Hardeman and Dunn has been plagued with reporting irregularities when it comes to his campaign reports, and with the race in a sprint now. For either candidate, any new negative press could be fatal to the campaign that will have an even lower turnout than the 11 percent in the Nov. 5 General Election.  >>> Here is a update on the race and the Nov. 19 runoff election on Tuesday >>> http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/16/3755572/richard-dunn-trying-to-close-gap.html

Spence-Jones

>>> Press release: The Ethics Commission found as Not Legally Sufficient a complaint (C 13-27) filed by a private citizen, Larry Vincent Williams, against various city of Miami officials, alleging, among other things, discrimination, harassment and denial of due process.  Those issues are not a part of the Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance and so the complaint was dismissed.

>>> Former Miami Mortgage Broker and Real Estate Agent Sentenced for Role in Multimillion-Dollar Mortgage Fraud Scheme

Press release: A former Florida-licensed real estate associate and mortgage broker was sentenced to serve 135 months in prison for his role in a $2.4 million mortgage fraud scheme. U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer of the Southern District of Florida and Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement. Jose Armando Alvarado, 64, of Miami, was found guilty on Sept. 9, 2013, of eight counts of wire fraud and six counts of bank fraud and was sentenced on Nov. 14, 2013, by U.S. District Judge William J. Zloch of the Southern District of Florida. In addition to his prison term, Alvarado was ordered to serve three years of supervised release… 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.

VILLAGE OF COCONUT GROVE

>>> Mayor Regalado says “red light camera tickets hearings” spikes any chance of Grove Village Council being televised, which ended in 2009

With the issue of the Coconut Grove Village Council, an elected advisory board not being televised in the City of Miami Commission Chambers like it was for almost a decade and ended in 2009. The Watchdog Report on Friday asked Mayor Tomas Regalado about ending this blackout and he said there was no way. The commission chamber is booked he said  for all the anticipated red light camera hearings that are mandated by the Florida legislature for people challenging their red light tickets and the attendant high fine. The Council in the past was televised and Commissioner Marc Sarnoff used the forum to raise his profile as a community activist, chaired the body before being elected commissioner in 2006, and a couple of years later the Council was no longer broadcast on the city’s television station.

Sarnoff

CITY OF HIALEAH

>>> Citizen’s ethics complaint rejected because does not fall within ‘jurisdiction” of county ethics commission

County Ethics Commission press release: A complaint (13-32) filed by a private citizen, Jose Azze, against the City of Hialeah for mismanaging a contract with El Duke Sports Association was found Not Legally Sufficient.  Ethics Commissioners determined that none of the allegations in the complaint fall within their jurisdiction and so it was dismissed.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Mayor Elect Levine sees the big issues are the convention center, flooding, and changing the building department culture to enhance customer service

The Watchdog Report contacted mayor elect Philip Levine and I asked him what he saw as some of the challenges and issues he wants to address after his inauguration on Nov. 25. In an email, he wrote back, “Below are some of the challenges that my administration will be looking to tackle:

(1)  Renovate the convention center responsibly by guaranteeing a transparent and ethical process that discloses the project’s maximum total cost and protects taxpayers; initiate an independent traffic study and adopt a plan that truly protects the residents’ quality of life and does not harm our existing local hotels, restaurants, and retail shops.

(2)  Fix the streets and stop the flooding: in the short term, the city must do more to maintain its drainage system: fixing and maintaining our outfalls and installing more injection pumps to drain the streets quicker. Garbage, silt and other debris that do not allow water to discharge into the Bay block our outfalls. The slower the water discharges, the longer it takes our streets to become dry. In the long-term, the city must sit down with the top experts in the fields of climate change and sea level rise to develop a sustainable, comprehensive plan.

(3)  Change the culture of the building department to become more customer service oriented: designate “City Ambassadors” to help residents navigate the government and timely solve their problems,” wrote the former businessman who won an elected public office for the first time in a tight race on Nov. 5.

Levine

>>> What about the Commission races? All three have runoff elections

Moreover, for the three commission seats that were up, all three seats on the dais will have runoff races with Mickey Steinberg facing off against Elsa Urquiza for the Group I race. Incumbent Commissioner Jorge Exposito is facing defense attorney Michael Grieco for the Group II seat and former Mayor Mattie Herrera Bower is running against Joy Malakoff for the Group III spot on the six-member commission body that is chaired by the mayor who makes up the seventh vote on the body.

>>> Ethics Commission press release: A lobbyist  who registered in Miami Beach two years ago but failed to complete the required expenditure form,  despite repeated reminders by the City Clerk and the Commission on Ethics, agreed to settle the complaint (C 13-28) against her.   Nicoletta Canesi will not contest the allegations and will pay $100 for investigative costs.

>>> Press release: Like2Love Miami Beach Poetry Contest Launches Today

Send a Verse for a Chance to Win Prizes, November 1 – December 2, 2013

http://web.miamibeachfl.gov/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=77473

Contest page: http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/news/scroll.aspx?id=71222

Calling all poets and wannabe wordsmiths! On November 1, 2013, the public is invited to submit a poem on why they love Miami Beach.  The contest is part of Miami Beach’s continuous civic pride campaign, Like2Love Miami Beach, which aims at highlighting everything that makes the island-city a great place to live, work and play. “Our vibrant community offers a ton of literary inspiration from our beautiful beaches, historic architecture, culture, sensational entertainment, shopping, dining and an exciting nightlife so we’d like to remind ourselves and the public of what makes our city such a great place,” said City Manager Jimmy Morales… Miami Beach promotional materials. Visit miamibeachfl.gov or click here for guidelines and restrictions. The grand prizewinner will be announced January 2014. The last day to send an entry is December 2, 2013. All poems submitted will be hung on a Poet Tree at Lummus Park. For more information, contact melissaberthier@miamibeachfl.gov or 305.673.7575.

CITY OF NORTH MIAMI

>>> Former Mayor Pierre settles with county ethics commission, fined around $7,000

Press release: Ethics Commissioners approved a settlement with former North Miami Mayor Andre Pierre over the free use of public parks for his private soccer club.  The complaint (C 12-35) charged that between October 2009 and January 2012, Mayor Pierre solicited free use of city-owned facilities without paying fees that are required by other similar groups, and that he neglected to disclose the value of the use of the soccer fields on financial disclosure forms.  As part of the agreement, Pierre, whose mayoral term ended earlier this year, agreed not to contest the charges.  He will accept a Letter of Instruction, pay a fine of $500 and investigative costs of $4,634.70 to the Ethics Commission, as well as reimburse the City of North Miami the amount of $2,181.72.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Mayor Cason says, “Commission rarely votes to split lots,” only a couple have come before the body over the last three years

The Watchdog Report contacted Mayor Jim Cason and Commissioners last week asking about the recent discussion about splitting home lots in the City Beautiful. And the mayor in an email responded back, “Our ordnances, codes and practices allow for lot splits if certain conditions are met.  In practice, the Commission rarely votes to split lots, and this recent one –supported by over 50 neighbors—was only one of a couple to come before the Commission in the last 3 years.  The vote was 4-1 to approve.  Each future case will be decided on the merits, and this sets no precedent,” wrote Cason decisively reelected this past April.

>>> County Ethics Commission press release: No Probable Cause was found in a complaint (C 13-023) filed against Coral Gables City Manager Patrick Salerno by John Baublitz, President of the Coral Gables Fraternal Order of Police.  The union leader claimed that the city manager violated the truth in government provision of the Miami-Dade County Citizens’ Bill of Rights by mischaracterizing the state of the city’s finances by using dated figures during an impasse hearing in September of 2012.  The investigation found that Salerno presented numbers based on the end-of-year reports for 2011, but that did not constitute “knowingly omitting significant facts,” as alleged, and so the complaint was dismissed.

CITY OF DORAL

>>> With the top men at loggerheads, women commission the voice of reason for residents of Doral, one of few Councils in nation with all women

Mayor Luiga Boria appears to be having a hard time getting his political sea legs   and he has butted heads not only with Manager Joe Carollo, who he appointed with great fanfare, but also with his four-member commission and most recently he had a blow up late Wednesday night. Boria elected to the four-year post is the public face of Doral, but he also governs in a strong manager form of Council where the manager directs the city’s staff and the elected body only sets policy that the manager then carries out. Boria however is acting as if he is a strong mayor in his capacity and wants to give staff directives and that is a no-no under the Doral Charter. Further, the commission is one of the few all female bodies in the nation and the four women on the dais Vice-Mayor Christi Fraga, Councilwoman Ana Maria Rodriguez, Councilwoman Bettina Rodriguez Aguilera, and Councilwoman Sandra Ruiz seem to be the only ones with common sense and a belief that the municipality’s charter should be followed.

Further, Boria last week wanted to hire a chief of staff but not put him on the city payroll but the Council rejected that illegal maneuver by the mayor and ultimately Boria left the late night meeting when it was clear he would not be getting his way. http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/14/3752121/sparks-fly-again-at-marathon-doral.html

The Watchdog Report caught up with Rodriguez Aguilera on Thursday and she wondered if I was following the Doral “City Council Circus” and the highflying mayor, who said. He only drives a “Maserati” because it was “a gift from his son,” and he would not take it back, she said. And Rodriguez at the same event, the swearing in of Miami Commissioner Frank Carollo. She said Manager Joe Carollo was “doing a good job,” and “has proven himself to be a good administrator” and she thought it was wrong to “judge people on their past,” and while Carollo had the nickname of “Crazy Joe,” when he was Miami mayor over a decade ago.  She said in her experience with the man that he was “very level headed,” she thought.

Boria

Frago

Rodriguez

Rodrigues Aguilera

Sandra Ruiz

>>> City’s webpage: Doral, incorporated on June 24, 2003, in one of thirty-four municipalities in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Conveniently located just one mile from Miami International Airport and twelve miles from Downtown Miami, our City is home to approximately 46,000 residents and regularly hosts in excess of 100,000 people who work within the City. The City of Doral occupies a land area of 15 square miles bordered on the west by the Ronald Reagan Turnpike, to the north by the Town of Medley, to the east by the Palmetto Expressway and to the South by the City of Sweetwater. The City of Doral has operated under the Mayor-Council-Manager form of government since incorporation. Policymaking and legislative authority are vested in a governing council consisting of the mayor and four other council members. The Council, which is elected at large, is responsible among other things, for passing ordinances and resolutions, adopting the annual budget, appointing the City Manager, City Clerk and City Attorney. The City Manager is responsible for carrying out the policies and ordinances of the Council, for overseeing the daily operations of the government, and for appointing the heads of various departments. For more go to http://www.cityofdoral.com/ >>> And the Next Council Meeting is Wednesday December 11th, 2013 at 6:00 PM at the Doral Government Center

CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI

>>> Mayor Stoddard & Commissioner Welsh are found to have “No Probable Cause,” conflict in voting on police chief matter

Ethics Commission press release: No Probable Cause was found to a complaint (C 13-30) accusing South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard and Commissioner Bob Welsh of violating the Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance when they voted on a matter relating to former City Police Chief Orlando Martinez de Castro.  The former chief’s attorney asked the pair to absent themselves from the discussion during the August 14, 2013, meeting because Martinez de Castro was taking legal action against each of the elected officials.  The COE found that neither Stoddard nor Welsh had a conflict as defined by the Code, since the action of the City Commission would have no effect on the pending lawsuits.

VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE

>>> PUBLIC WORKS AND WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES CLOSURE OF THE RICKENBACKER CAUSEWAY CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICE AND PARKING FACILITY

Press release: In preparation for demolition and construction work on the West Bridge of the Rickenbacker Causeway, the toll plaza customer service office and parking facility will close on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 until completion of the work on the West Bridge. Motorists and cyclists will no longer be able to access the toll plaza parking lot from either direction, as this area will be used for equipment staging associated with the West Bridge rehabilitation project.

All toll plaza business will be conducted at the new Rickenbacker Causeway Customer Service Center, which will be housed in the Causeway Maintenance Facility located on Arthur Lamb Jr. Road (also known as Sewer Beach Road).  The facility sits directly across the street from the Miami Seaquarium.   The Customer Service Center will be open Monday through Friday from

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except County-observed holidays. For more information on the Customer Service Center, please contact PWWM’s Causeways Division at 305-854-2468, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CITY OF SWEETWATER

>>> City of Sweetwater Mayor and Lobbyist Plead Guilty in Corruption Investigation

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Miami Field Office, announce that Manuel L. Maroño, 41, the former Mayor of the City of Sweetwater and Jorge L. Forte, 41, a lobbyist, both of Miami, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, for their participation in a scheme to personally benefit through the use of Maroño’s position as Mayor of Sweetwater. Sentencing has been scheduled for January 23, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge William J. Zloch. At sentencing, Maroño and Forte face a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “Today, the former Mayor of Sweetwater admitted under oath in court that he sold the power granted to him by the people of Sweetwater. It is vitally important that the people of South Florida have confidence in their elected officials and know that any abuse of their trust will not be tolerated. I hope that today’s timely resolution and guilty plea will make others think twice before lining their pockets with the greed of corruption.” “Corrupt officials – either elected or appointed – are on notice; if they breach the public’s trust through stealing or accepting bribes in the course of their official duties, they will be vigorously investigated,” said Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami. “Public corruption remains a top priority for the FBI. We encourage anyone who may have information about corruption to come forward and report it. This information is vital to our work.”

On October 17, 2013, Maroño and Forte were charged by way of information with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. ‘ 371.  According to the facts admitted at today’s guilty plea and publically available information, Maroño was the elected Mayor of the City of Sweetwater. In his elected position, Maroño served as the chief executive officer of the City of Sweetwater and was responsible for the management and administration of the city government. Forte, a lifelong friend of Maroño, was a lobbyist and business partner of Maroño.

Maroño and Forte admitted today that beginning in late November 2011, they agreed to aid a company known as Sunshine Universal to obtain federal grant funds for the stated reason of preparing an economic development study for Sweetwater, all in exchange for cash kickbacks to Maroño and Forte. Unknown to Maroño and Forte, Sunshine Universal was an undercover FBI entity. To aid the scheme, Maroño caused the passage of a resolution in Sweetwater that authorized the undercover agents’ company to apply for federal grant moneys using the authority of the City of Sweetwater. After the resolution was passed, Maroño and Forte personally met and negotiated with the undercover agents and accepted a series of cash payments in exchange for Maroño’s official actions in support of the grant scheme. During these negotiations and meetings, Forte acted as the front man for Maroño.

To further the scheme and avoid detection, Maroño also participated in what he believed to be audit telephone calls from the federal government to confirm the grantees’ performance on the grant. During two separate audit calls, both of which were recorded, Maroño lied to and misled the auditor, who was in fact an undercover FBI agent, about the actual use of the grant money and the grantee’s performance. For their corrupt actions, Maroño and Forte received $45,000. Both defendants have agreed to forfeit all of the monies they received as part of their plea agreements. >>> Mr. Ferrer commends the investigative efforts of the FBI Miami Area Corruption Task Force. This case is being prosecuted Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared E. Dwyer and Robert K. Senior.  A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Commissioners need to tread lightly when it comes to choosing Commissioner Sharief as new mayor, should wait until ethics complaint and disclosure issues are cleared up

Vice Mayor Barbara Sharief, slated to be the next Broward County in the coming weeks when the nine member commission votes on the matter has been hit with an ethics complaint, asserting that her required financial disclosure forms filed with the Florida Ethics Commission are incomplete. Bob Norman, a investigative reporter on WPLG Channel 10 tried to interview the legislator, first elected to the commission in 2010, last week but she ignored his questions, while at the end of the television piece, long serving County Commissioner Sue Gunzburger looked on and both were acting like Norman was invisible and not there with his microphone and camera person. A Broward resident filed the suit claiming that some of the numbers listed on the form were different from others filed for the same period and he suggests three properties she owns were not listed.

The Commissioner for District 8 in 2011 had a roughly $8 million net worth, but that dropped to around $4 million for 2012, because she had to payback the government millions for over charging Medicare and the government still is looking for some $800,000 state’s Norman in the story. http://www.local10.com/news/man-files-ethics-complaint-over-broward-vice-mayor/-/1717324/23002238/-/7x2ciw/-/index.html And the Watchdog Report months ago reported this sudden drop in her net worth for the year, but now she is facing this ethics review and Broward Commissioners should tread lightly when they vote. For it is one thing to have a commissioner with an ethics issue, but quite another when they are mayor of Florida’s second largest county and that fact will draw more media scrutiny to the body. >>> Here is her current financial disclosure form http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/Forms/2012/236128-Form6.pdf And her bio: Broward County > Commission > District 8 – Barbara Sharief

Sharief

Gunzburger

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Giuseppina Miranda to the County Court.

Miranda, 51, of Fort Lauderdale has been a general magistrate with the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court since 2007. From 2004-2007, she was in the private practice of law and from 1999-2004, she served as an Assistant State Attorney in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. Miranda has been a Board Member of the Broward County Women Lawyers’ Association since 2009. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her law degree from Nova Law School. Miranda fills a vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Stacy Ross to the Circuit Court bench. Governor Rick Scott said, “I am confident that Miranda will serve Broward County with intelligence and humility while demonstrating a respect for the rule of law. I welcome Miranda to her new role on the bench and look forward to her continued success in service to her community and our State.”

>>> Residents can review they’re county commissioners financial disclosure forms on line — Residents of Broward County can now review they’re county commissioners financial disclosure forms on line and to see the inner financial workings of these elected officials go to  http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/results.cfm

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

PALM BEACH COUNTY

>>> School Board Member Brill in the spotlight, elected in 2010, had $427,000 net worth through Jun. 2013

Karen M. Brill is in the spotlight this week and the long time education activist was elected the District 3 seat in 2010. She has worked in a wide variety of areas including finance and upon her election to the seven-member school board; she embarked on a new career in real estate. She and her family over the past 24 years have lived in Boynton Beach and the woman has a MBA.

What do we know about her finances?

Brill through Jun. 2013 had a net worth of $427,062 and she lists $210,000 in household goods and to read the full report go to http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/Forms/2012/233539-Form6.pdf

Brill (Bio)

>>> And to read all the Palm Beach elected leader’s financial disclosure reports go to http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/results.cfm

HERNANDO COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Judge Donald E. Scaglione to the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court.

Judge Scaglione, 54 of Brooksville, has been a Hernando County Judge since 2005. From 1990-2004, Judge Scaglione served with distinction as Assistant State Attorney in the Fifth Judicial Circuit. From 1985 to 1990, he served as Assistant State Attorney and Assistant Public Defender in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit. Judge Scaglione received his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and his law degree from the South Texas College of Law. He fills a vacancy created by the retirement Judge Sandra Edwards-Stephens.

Governor Rick Scott said, “Judge Scaglione’s service on the Hernando County Court bench has demonstrated his commitment to his community and the law. I am confident that his decades of service and experience will make him a strong addition to the Circuit Court bench.”

MONROE COUNTY

>>> District 1 school board Member Smith-Martin in the spotlight, elected in 2010, had $169,000 net worth through 2012

Robin Smith-Martin is in the spotlight this week and he represents school board District 1 in the tony county of Monroe. He is a financial analyst and performance management consultant and he has a family.

What do we know about his finances?

Smith-Martin had a net worth of $169,000 through 2012 and he lists $19,000 in household goods. And to read his complete financial disclosure form for the year go to http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/Forms/2012/232864-Form6.pdf

Smith-Martin Campaign webpage photo and bio http://smith-martin.com/dev/

>>> And to read all the other Monroe County constitutional officers’ financial disclosure forms go to http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/results.cfm

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Let’s Talk About It!  National Epilepsy Awareness Month – It’s the third week of National Epilepsy Awareness Month (NEAM), and we’re bringing you more ways to get involved. Mark your calendars! Attend the following events near you, and help us spread awareness in our communities. Click on the event link below to RSVP! Let’s Talk About It! Miami Tuesday, November 19, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Coral Gables Country Club, 997 N Greenway Drive, Miami, FL 33134 >>> Don’t forget you can also participate by hosting a private event of your own, dining at a restaurant on our Purple State Registry or making a donation. Visit www.efof.org for more information about Let’s Talk About It!, the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida and epilepsy. Follow us – Twitter.com/EFOF Like us –Facebook.com/EpilepsyFLA

>>> More than 400 Miami-Dade nonprofits registered to participate in Give Miami Day 2013 The Miami Foundation looks to top the $1.2 million raised in 24 hours on 12/12/12

More than 400 Miami-Dade County nonprofit organizations are poised to participate in The Miami Foundation’s Give Miami Day 2013, scheduled for November 20. Last year, Give Miami Day made South Florida history as the most active day of philanthropic giving ever.  On December 12, 2012, almost 5,000 donors gave more than $1.2 million to 300 organizations working to improve our community.  The unique, online giving event provides everyone an opportunity to build a better Miami through philanthropy.

During the 24-hour period between midnight November 20 and midnight November 21, individuals may view online profiles of more than 400 nonprofit organizations serving Miami-Dade County, and make a charitable gift at givemiamiday.org.  Donors are able to search organizations based on their work and impact, allowing them to give in support of their interests. “The inaugural Give Miami Day was a demonstration of Miami’s charitable spirit,” said Javier Alberto Soto, president and CEO of The Miami Foundation. “The event puts the power of philanthropy in anyone’s hands.  Everyone with a passion for Miami can invest in our bright future.”

With the support of Knight Foundation, Marlins Foundation and The Miami Foundation Board of Trustees, every donation between $25 and $10,000 made through the Give Miami Day website on that day will have a percentage of it matched by The Miami Foundation. Donors can also support all participating nonprofits on the site by giving directly to the match pool. “Any donor can search and give to organizations doing the work they believe is best for Miami-Dade, which makes it easy to support the causes most important to them,” continued Soto.  “Together with a thriving and engaged community, we will reignite the new, philanthropic Miami to make Give Miami Day 2013 another milestone for our city.”

>>> The Next King Mango Strut Meeting will be held Tuesday, November 19, 2013 @ 7pm Greenstreet Café 3110 Commodore Plaza, Coconut Grove, FL 33133 Happy Hour drink prices; some free appetizers. Come join us for our next meeting of the Mangoheads & Mangominds. We can’t wait to poke fun at any and everything, satirizing the people and events that made news during the year.
Put the word out to your friends, family and anyone who you think would want to join the Mango Madness! >>> If you would like to volunteer to help the King Mango Strut. WE NEED YOU! We have the opportunity to market the Strut,
and to sell tickets for our main fund raiser “Chance For Some Stuff” event, both at Cocowalk and Milams. http://www.kingmangostrut.org/

EDITORIAL

>>> PAST WDR FEB 2012: >>> If public servants lift their game just a little, the results would be dramatic throughout all of Miami-Dade

Lack of accountability regarding public servants performance and oversight of public tax dollars is the issue that has people in a uproar around the nation over the years and is why taxpayers are so skeptical about many of their public institutions and there governance by they’re officials. At the federal, state, county and local municipal level we see it everyday in how people in public service perform their jobs that has essentially 30 percent of them being competent and working like dogs, another 50 percent are what the Watchdog Report calls standard issue bureaucrats who do there job day in and day out. But there is a 20 percent or so that “are spending more time working on their retirement then my job,” as one man said in front of me years ago and in today’s world that must change.

People in the private sector went through a business wringer over the last three decades and high performance is demanded of everyone if they are to stay employed, but that revelation never seeped into the fabric of public service in a meaningful way. And given the New Normal, America and the world faces now, while public servants deserve to be paid a fair wage and salary, it must also include performance enhancement at their jobs for even a small percentage would be dramatic. And is one of the reasons I started the Watchdog Report back in May 2000 by trying to create a information nervous system using the internet between our community’s public institutions, allowing these organizations and people to be more informed about what is going on at the different public entities. Because if you live in Miami-Dade you are on a ship and like it or not this community is in this together from Key Biscayne, Little Havana to Florida City. And only by all public employees collectively operateing at a higher plane will we get through this economic crisis that is lingering way to long for everyone and  is stopping South Florida from reaching its true potential. And that is not a good thing.

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

ANGEL ESPINOSA – (Deceased) owner COCONUT GROVE DRY CLEANER’S

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com .

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

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

WILLIAMSOM AUTOMOTIVE GROUP http://williamsonautomotivegroup.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

CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org

THE STATE OF FLORIDA    www.myflorida.gov

GREATER 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

MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE www.mdc.edu

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 GOOD GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE http://goodgov.net/

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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Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form

NOTE: Invoice is for Yearly supporter/sponsorship Rates: Thank you.

Supporting Sponsors $5,000

Sustaining Sponsors $2,000

Corporate Sponsors $1,000 (All levels above will be listed in the report with web-site link if desired)

Large Business Supporters $500

Small Business Supporters $250

Individual Supporter $150

Student Supporter $ 75

Any amount $

Name & Address

Please make checks payable to: Daniel A. Ricker

Send to: 3109 Grand Avenue, #125

Miami, FL 33133 To contact the Publisher please e-mail watchdogreport1@earthlink.net