Watchdog Report Vol.15 No.2 May 18, 2014 EST. 05.05.00 – I go when you cannot- Celebrating 15 Years

>>> 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 pops-up and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Streets

>>>Prominent panel speaks on Ethnic and racial innuendo in campaigns, still raises its ugly head, but former Congressman Diaz Balart thinks it is getting less in future, but Atty. Knox fires back noting, New Hampshire police official referred to President Obama with “N” word in story in The Miami Herald same day.

A host of speakers over the course of the day, spoke on a variety of panels at the Political Campaign Ethics Conference on Friday held at the St. Thomas University Law School and the event was packed with extensive media coverage. The conference was organized by the Miami-Dade County Ethics and Public Trust Commission.

The Watchdog Report caught one panel that included former U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jimmy Morales and prominent attorney George Knox and the discussion was on “Ethnic and racial innuendo,” in political campaigns. And all of them at one point in their political careers had likely been caught in the political innuendo cross fire, and had Diaz-Balart during the course of his career in line to be chair of the House Rules Committee, had he not left office in 2010, and his brother Mario followed him into the House District.

Diaz Balart said the U. S. today he thought was is in a much better place than years past, when it came to this type of campaigning “and while there is [still] some horrible racism today,” its perfectible,” he believed in the future. And when it came to candidates trying to court Cuban American voters, he observed “you better know current events,” and not try to pander to these voters.

And Morales, a former county mayoral candidate noted when some of these innuendoes are used in a campaign it can work against the campaign for “when it gets uncomfortable,” voters will many times vote against you and community leaders will condemn the comments in many cases he felt.

However, Knox had a different take and he believed it was “important to challenge the assertion that racial innuendo was less prevalent,” and the former first African American Miami City Attorney believed campaigns had just gotten “more clever in our innuendo,” and he said the code words were “Urban Center” and “social services,” and what these words conjure up go “directly to race if you understand the lingo,” he considered.

Morales noted when he ran for mayor, there was a subtle campaign suggesting he was not Cuban enough. Since one of his parents was from Puerto Rico, he also noted for example in the early 1980s. That there was a popular bumper sticker that said for the “last American to leave Miami-Dade to please take the American Flag with them,” and that was a not so subtle dig at the changing demographics of Dade felt by many Anglos at the time as these new Hispanic Americans became voters and were electing a host of Hispanic candidates at the time, something unheard of years earlier in the segregated South as the community’s demographics evolved.

However, Knox also bristled when Diaz Balart, a long time GOP Congressman and anti Castro advocate in Congress suggested that racial innuendo was becoming less prevalent in today’s America and Knox noted just today in www.miamiherald.com . There was a story of a New Hampshire Police Official refereeing to President Barack Obama using the “N” word. Knox a school board candidate years ago, noted in Miami-Dade County there is a long history of people voting in ethnic blocks noting that two African American candidates over the years were elected to the Florida Legislature because one was named Plummer and the other Bush, both white, and he observed ethnic voting patterns are especially noticed in countywide judicial races.

Diaz Balart a passionate speaker when it came to human rights and to get Cuban President Fidel Castro out of power noted when candidates speak to groups, you tend to say things that are of “interest to the audience,” you are speaking too, but overall if you keep your position consistent you will find the use of innuendo “counter productive,” and”indefensible,” to the campaign in the end he said. Knox noted using innuendo in a campaign was known as a “Dog Whisper,” since only people attuned to that hear the “innuendo that is [sometimes] hard to hear,” he observed.

Morales noted that candidates can get major blow back when they try this political tactic, such as years ago when former KKK supporter David Duke ran for the Senate and his candidacy was “disavowed” by many in Louisiana and his candidacy tanked backed in the 1980s.

And Here is a list of some of the speakers at the conference: More than 40 speakers, including Justice Gerald Kogan, Mark Caputo, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Joseph Klock, Jr., George Knox, Ben Kuehne, Theresa Lepore, Patricia Mazzei, Buddy Nevins, J.C. Planas, Irene Secada, Dr. Brenda Snipes and Katy Sorenson will participate.  Breakout session topics include campaign consultants, handling media coverage, the election supervisors’ guide for candidates, phantom contributors and ethical campaign practices.

>>> The U.S Attorney’s office of the Southern District of Florida had another big day this week when it came to Medicare fraud scams, that are locally exported around the nation and had past U.S. Attorneys calling South Florida “the Graduate School,” for Medicare frauds, that now includes IRS identity theft scams that are in some ways are “dwarfing in the rise of cases to Medicare fraud but not the dollar amount of the healthcare fraud which now has hit $6 billion, over the years at the local federal office. Which now  includes two FBI Medicare fraud details first created in 2002 and the Miami office also has the nation’s first Medicare Fraud Task Force created to fight this social  scourge that is robbing tax dollars in a out of control fashion over the years. http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/05/13/4114957/another-90-arrests-as-strike-forces.html#

>>> Medicare Fraud Strike Force Charges 90 Individuals for Approximately $260 Million in False Billing ~ 27 Medical Professionals, Including 16 Doctors, Charged with Health Care Fraud

Press release: Attorney General Eric Holder and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that a nationwide takedown by Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in six cities has resulted in charges against 90 individuals, including 27 doctors, nurses and other medical professionals, for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes involving approximately $260 million in false billings.

Attorney General Holder and Secretary Sebelius were joined in the announcement by Acting Assistant Attorney General David A. O’Neil of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, FBI Assistant Director Joseph Campbell, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General Daniel R. Levinson and Deputy Administrator and Director of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Center for Program Integrity Shantanu Agrawal.

This coordinated takedown is the seventh national Medicare fraud takedown in Strike Force history.  The Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations are part of the Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), a joint initiative announced in May 2009 between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. Since their inception in March 2007, Strike Force operations in nine locations have charged almost 1,900 defendants who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for almost $6 billion.  In addition, CMS, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, has suspended enrollments of high-risk providers in five Strike force locations and has removed over 17,000 providers from the Medicare program since 2011.

The joint Department of Justice and HHS Medicare Fraud Strike Force is a multi-agency team of federal, state and local investigators designed to combat Medicare fraud through the use of Medicare data analysis techniques and an increased focus on community policing.  Almost 400 law enforcement agents from the FBI, HHS-OIG, multiple Medicaid Fraud Control Units and other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies participated in the takedown.

“Medicare is a sacred compact with our nation’s seniors, and to protect it, we must remain aggressive in combating fraud,” said Attorney General Holder.  “This nationwide Medicare Strike Force takedown represents another important step forward in our ongoing fight to safeguard taxpayer resources and to ensure the integrity of essential health care programs.  Department of Justice will not tolerate these activities.  And we will continue working alongside the Department of Health and Human Services – as well as federal, state, and local partners – to use every appropriate tool and available resource to find, stop, and punish those who seek to take advantage of their fellow citizens.”

“The Affordable Care Act has given us additional tools to preserve Medicare and protect the tens of millions of Americans who rely on it each day,” said Secretary Sebelius.  “By expanding our authority to suspend Medicare payments and reimbursements when fraud is suspected, the law allows us to better preserve the system and save taxpayer dollars.  Today we’re sending a strong, clear message to anyone seeking to defraud Medicare: You will get caught and you will pay the price.  We will protect a sacred trust and an earned guarantee.”

The defendants charged are accused of various health care fraud-related crimes, including conspiracy to commit health care fraud, violations of the anti-kickback statutes and money laundering.  The charges are based on a variety of alleged fraud schemes involving various medical treatments and services, including home health care, mental health services, psychotherapy, physical and occupational therapy, durable medical equipment and pharmacy fraud.

According to court documents, the defendants allegedly participated in schemes to submit claims to Medicare for treatments that were medically unnecessary and often never provided.  In many cases, court documents allege that patient recruiters, Medicare beneficiaries and other co-conspirators were paid cash kickbacks in return for supplying beneficiary information to providers, so that the providers could then submit fraudulent bills to Medicare for services that were medically unnecessary or never performed.  Collectively, the doctors, nurses, licensed medical professionals, health care company owners and others charged are accused of conspiring to submit approximately $260 million in fraudulent billings.

“Today, across the nation, scores of defendants were arrested for engaging in hundreds of millions of dollars in health care fraud,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General O’Neil.  “Among the defendants charged were 27 medical professionals, including 16 doctors.  The crimes charged represent the face of health care fraud today – doctors billing for services that were never rendered, supply companies providing motorized wheelchairs that were never needed, recruiters paying kickbacks to get Medicare billing numbers of patients.  The fraud was rampant, it was brazen, and it permeated every part of the Medicare system.  But law enforcement continues to strike back.  Using cutting-edge, data-driven investigative techniques, we are bringing fraudsters to justice and saving the American taxpayers billions of dollars.  Overall, since its inception, the Department of Justice’s Medicare Fraud Strike Force has charged nearly 1,900 individuals involved in approximately $6 billion of fraud.  We are committed to using every tool at our disposal to prevent, deter, and prosecute health care fraud.”

“We all feel the effects of health care fraud,” said FBI Assistant Director Campbell.  “It leads to higher health care costs and makes it harder for seniors and those who are ill to get the care they need.  The FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to preventing and prosecuting health care fraud at all levels.  But we need the public’s help.  Take the time to be aware of fraud and call law enforcement if you see anything suspicious included in the billings to your insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid or have any unusual encounters with health care providers.  We can work together to ensure your hard-earned dollars are used to care for the sick and not to line the pockets of criminals.”

“Today’s arrests demonstrate the effectiveness of our Strike Forces in combating Medicare and Medicaid fraud,” said HHS Inspector General Levinson.  “Through seamless teamwork, our agents and law enforcement partners bring lawbreakers to justice, protect beneficiaries and recover stolen taxpayer funds.”

“Fraud can inflict real harm on Medicare beneficiaries and CMS is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to get criminals behind bars and out of the Medicare program as swiftly as possible,” said CMS Program Integrity Deputy Administrator Agrawal.  “Today’s actions represent further consequences for bad actors, many of whom CMS had already stopped paying, or even kicked out of the program. Fundamentally, this is about protecting the well-being of our beneficiaries and the investment of taxpayer dollars.”

In Miami, a total of 50 defendants were charged today and yesterday for their alleged participation in various fraud schemes involving approximately $65.5 million in false billings for home health care and mental health services, and pharmacy fraud.  In one case, two defendants were charged in connection with a $23 million pharmacy kickback and laundering scheme.  Court documents allege that the defendants solicited kickbacks from a pharmacy owner for Medicare beneficiary information, which was used to bill for drugs that were never dispensed.  The kickbacks were concealed as bi-weekly payments under a sham services contract and were laundered through shell entities owned by the defendants… Eight defendants were charged in Los Angeles for their roles in schemes to defraud Medicare of approximately $32 million.  In one case, a doctor was charged for causing almost $24 million in losses to Medicare through his own fraudulent billing and referrals for durable medical equipment, including over 1,000 expensive power wheelchairs, and home health services that were not medically necessary and frequently not provided… In Detroit, seven defendants were charged for their roles in fraud schemes involving approximately $30 million in false claims for medically unnecessary services, including home health services, psychotherapy and infusion therapy.  In one case, four individuals, including a doctor, were charged in a sophisticated $28 million fraud scheme, where the physician billed for expensive tests, physical therapy and injections that were not necessary and not provided.  Court documents allege that when the physician’s billings raised red flags, he was put on payment review by Medicare.  He was allegedly able to continue his scheme and evade detection by continuing to bill using the billing information of other Medicare providers, sometimes without their knowledge…A complaint or indictment is merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. To learn more about HEAT, go to: www.stopmedicarefraud.gov. 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.

>>> National profile of the publisher in The Tribune papers Jan. 2003 & UNCCH 2004 media study that cites Watchdog Report having 100,000 readers weekly

To read a national story run in the Tribune papers on my life and how this all began done by Orlando Sentinel featured reporter Maya Bell go to: To read the section’s large 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 >>>  And to read a University of North Carolina Chapel Hill study on the media in the Southeast United States that mentions the Watchdog Report with 100,000 readers weekly, done back in 2004 and to read the Southern Media Study go to: 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 … – – Cached.

>>> All photos in the Watchdog Report are taken from public government sites, and the Report goes on line at www.watchdogreport.net on Monday sometime during the day usually. >>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for I am a low cost news service yet I do have to live, thank you! Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times, twice in The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel which ran as a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003 and UNC Chapel Hill naming me one of the top columnists in Florida in a  multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on the WLRN/NPR showTopical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also numerous times over the past decade. Further, I am a frequent guest on WWW.WPBT2.ORG on Helen Ferre’s show Issues, and have also appeared on  Eliott Rodriguez’s show News & Views.

>>> See what was said about the Watchdog Report in the Miami New Times 2003 — Best of Miami — BEST CITIZEN  — Daniel A. Ricker

Three years ago, we said Ricker was our Best Gadfly. Given his dedication and perseverance, this new honor, Best Citizen, is well deserved. Ricker goes to 2,500 mind-melting meetings annually, from the Public Health Trust’s purchasing subcommittee to the Efficiency and Competition Commission to the Alliance for Human Services’ nominating council to the school board’s audit committee. Sometimes he’s the only public observer. Object: to be the Public Citizen for all those out there who can’t attend, and to connect and serve as an information bridge among the special-interest-dominated Miami-Dade governmental institutions that seem so problematic and indifferent to the democratic process.

This month his e-mail newsletter, The Watchdog Report, celebrates its (15^th) anniversary. In a former life, Ricker made a handsome living as an international salesman of heart pacemakers. As the hard-working publisher of Watchdog Report, though, he’s struggling financially — this despite the fact that his weekly compendium of meeting summaries, analysis, interviews, and commentary has become essential reading for anyone involved in public affairs. What his written work may lack in polish, it more than makes up for in comprehensiveness. So raise a toast to the man whose official slogan says it all: “A community education resource — I go when you cannot!

FLORIDA

>>> Will strong state economy be the determining factor for Crist candidacy, despite Scott’s drawbacks as a campaigner and policies for many voters ?

The one question that Florida GOP leaders are asking themselves is will former Gov. Charlie Crist be able to fire up the Democratic Party base in the state and create the necessary enthusiasm as a candidate to make this happen. Crist over the weekend opened up two campaign office locations in South Florida  and one is in Little Havana, the heart land of the Cuban American vote in South Florida and historically a Republican stronghold, but Gov. Scott is still the incumbent which gives him an edge, and while not the seasoned campaigner that Crist is. Scott is expected to raise $100 million for his statewide campaign. However, the governor comes off stiff and he is not a comfortable campaigner that many people don’t know and is a enigma for many and when he walked through a local south Florida mall, only his entourage gave it away he was someone important to the local shoppers who failed to recognize him.

And that was after a barrage of political ads critical of Crist, yet people still don’t easily recognize him in public, and the Watchdog Report saw it once when Scott was stacking the shelves at a Sedano’s Supermarket a couple of years ago. And the Cuban Housewives pushing shopping carts just wanted him and the attendant staff members to get out of the way in the aisle, versus Crist who historically shakes the hands of everyone in the room or in the elevator with a few photos with them sprinkled through the event and as one political insider said that was “Pure Charlie.”

Crist who is calling Scott a  “fraud,” after his medical company that Scott ran was hit with a $1.7 billion Medicare Fraud fine by federal authorities, but the healthcare executive who made “lets get to work,” his mantra during the 2010 campaign was able to overcome that past political obstacle and Crist taking this tact may be old news to many state voters who just see the uptick in the Florida economy and the state economy doing better, but has environmentalists, educators, and other groups crying foul when it comes to Scott and the man is someone many people are not drawn to since he is not a natural campaigner.

However, Crist has his own baggage having been a former Republican, Independent and now Democrat and he is facing former state Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston in the party’s August primary, but she is getting little traction in the statewide polls and is way behind Crist who is hoping to raise some $50 million for his campaign. That has Scott expected to have some $100 million for the race but Crist is also getting a impressive amount of free press in the public domain and his accessibility versus Scott’s more scripted approach with the press is paying dividends for Crist who is leading in the polls by some ten points over Scott who has said in the past he only cares about the “poll on Election Day,” in November.

What about the other statewide races?

The Watchdog Report had my first candidate knock on my door on Saturday afternoon so with 100 days until the primary. Retail politics has already begun and meeting a candidate when they are first starting out is a treat and you really get a chance to know what these people are like in this first setting, that tests the mettle of many candidates’, especially as the summer approaches and to say in the heat that some of the candidates look bushed is a understatement while meeting voters in the district.

Scott

Crist

Rich

>>> Governor Rick Scott: Discovery of a Secret Waiting List at a VA Hospital in Florida is Appalling

Press release: Governor Rick Scott released the following statement about the news that three employees from the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville have been placed on administrative leave after a secret waiting list was discovered. On April 14, the Agency for Health Care Administration’s inspectors attempted to visit the same VA hospital—they entered at 10:30am and left at 11:07am, having not been able to review any documents. “I am appalled to learn that Florida’s brave veterans have been unnecessarily forced to wait for care they deserve to have provided timely.  The discovery of a secret waiting list further heightens my concerns about the federal VA hospital system and how it is failing Florida’s veterans.  Given this news, I am asking the Agency for Health Care Administration’s inspectors to attempt a revisit at the VA hospital in Gainesville.

“Earlier this week, I called for an independent thorough analysis and I renew that call today. The VA has repeatedly denied Florida’s experienced hospital inspectors and the Freedom of Information Act request for documentation has yet to be acknowledged.  I will continue to focus a light on concerns at the VA until they are willing to be transparent. I have met a lot of public servants that work in VA hospitals who care about our heroes, but we must continue to call for accountability from their leadership. The men and women who have fought to defend our county and our freedom deserve more from the VA system.”

Press release: Governor Rick Scott announced that according to preliminary estimates* released today by VISIT FLORIDA, 26.7 million visitors came to Florida in the first quarter of 2014 (January-March), an increase of 2.0 percent over the same period in 2013.  This represents the largest quarter for visitation Florida has ever experienced, exceeding the previous high of 26.2 million in Q1 2013.  The average number of direct travel-related jobs in Q1 2014 was also a record high, with 1,125,300 Floridians employed in the tourism industry – up 3.5 percent from the same period in 2013. Governor Scott said, “Today’s news that we have another record quarter for visitation is great for Florida families. A growing tourism industry is vital to growing jobs in Florida, and creating an opportunity economy. We are off to a great start to reaching our goal of 100 million visitors to Florida this year.”

VISIT FLORIDA estimates that 2.7 million overseas visitors and 1.5 million Canadians came to Florida in Q1 2014, both of which are record highs and represent 1.8 percent and 1.6 percent increases over Q1 2013 respectively.  Estimates reflect a 2.0 percent increase in domestic visitors to Florida in Q1 2014 and show that Floridians took just over 4.2 million in-state pleasure trips during the first quarter. “Experiencing the largest quarter for tourism in our state’s history, including a record number of tourism-related jobs, proves that tourism continues to be a vital force in Florida,” said Tammy Gustafson, Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors.  “These records also emphasize the power of tourism as a way to sustain Florida’s economic growth.”

Tourism and recreation taxable sales for Florida increased year-over-year for January and February 2014 (last reported month), representing a 7.2 percent increase over the same period in 2013.  For Q1 2014, the average daily room rate (ADR) rose 5.1 percent, the occupancy rate for Florida hotels increased 2.7 percent and the demand in rooms sold grew 3.0 percent compared to quarter one 2013. “Florida tourism is maintaining strong momentum with all indicators up across the board for the quarter,” said Will Seccombe, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA.  “With occupancy, rooms sold, average daily room rate and tourism and recreation taxable sales all continuing to climb, we are well on our way to making Florida the No. 1 travel destination in the world.” To view additional Florida visitor data, go the Research page on VISIT FLORIDA’s media website. *Preliminary estimates are issued 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter. Final estimates are released when final data are received for all estimates in the report.

>>> 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

>>>> New Frost Science Museum pulls the plug on construction manager company; will $275 million project need more county money like Arsht Center in 2004?

It has happened, the Patricia and Phillip Frost $275 million new museum of Science at Museum Park in Bicentennial Park has run into trouble http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/05/16/4121231/new-contractor-named-for-frost.html and the Watchdog Report has been concerned about this type of possibility of problems. Since the first public dollars allocated in a countywide bond were allocated to the project, and includes some $165 million of this public bond money, and another $100 million of the GOB was dedicated to the new Perez Art Museum nearby to the science museum and that opened on time and within budget.

However, the public and press was not able to attend the Science Museum’s board meeting’s to get a heads up on any issues that might be developing early on, and that includes the County’s Inspector General being barred from the proceedings. And even worse was Mayor Carlos Gimenez only learned last week that there were some problems with the construction company’s management with the facility half complete. Gillian Thomas the Museum CEO has always been the public face of the project, and it is concerning that these difficulties did not come to light earlier.

Since a significant amount of public money is involved and Gimenez needs to get on top of this issue, for it has the making of not only being delayed, but perhaps forcing the need for more public funds. Something requested at past internal budget meetings and had Thomas always seeking more public funds and she always assured people at the meeting that everything was going well back then. However, it is now clear that was not the case and the community and County may end up holding the fiscal bag since the facility must be completed to avoid another large hole, similar to what happened with the Arsht Center back in 2004, where the County and City of Miami pumped a couple of hundred million dollars more into the project to complete the $472 million twin hall Arts Center.

Further, Gillian gets prickly when she is challenged in anyway and when she first came to the museum around 2003. She attended a county commission meeting and in a presentation essentially demanded the County Commissioners approve a separate bond request for the organization, which commissioners balked at and suggested any funding be included in the $2.9 billion GOB that was being discussed by the body and when voters passed that issuance back in 2004.

The Science Museum got the new financing that it wanted to build this new facility, but much of it since then has been on a wing and a prayer concerning what was going on over there at the construction site. Gillian says it was a difficult decision but the sudden nature of the issue should give County Commissioners pause and what was surprising is at the County’s Cultural Affairs Council over the past years which I cover fairly often. None of these construction problems were ever brought up and the Watchdog Report was surprised at this Miami Herald story for there had not been a hint of such a major issue with the management construction company, Suffolk Construction in the public media domain prior to this story.

Further, the Company Suffolk Construction is also building the new Juvenile Justice Courthouse next door to county hall and that project, while having some issues is going better and it remains to be seen what the final cost will be to complete the Science Museum. And readers should stay tuned and see how this construction issue finally pans out.

What about the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser race in Aug.?

After months of rumors, since State Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami became the Florida Lt. Governor. State Rep. Eddie Gonzalez is expected to announce this week he is running for the countywide job paying some $155,000 in salary. He is currently the head of the Miami-Dade County Legislative Delegation and he told the Watchdog Report last week that he will be probable rolling over some past campaign contributions, that may take a couple of months for this new countywide race, and a post that voters created a few years ago. Currently, there are six candidates running for the County Charter Property Appraiser Office and they are Sonia Alfaro, Albert Armada, Jacqui Colyer, Alex Dominguez, former PA Pedro Garcia and Carlos Gobel round out the current field of candidates.

>>> Water & Sewer Director Johnson jokes his new assignment is as “the toilet czar,” given the billions being spent to correct infrastructure under federal decree

Bill Johnson, the new Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Director in charge of implementing a multi billion dollar replumbing of the county’s extensive sewer facilities that will proceed under a federal judge’s watchful eye since the county entered into a federal consent decree on the matter. The Watchdog Report Tuesday asked Johnson, the former Port of Miami director how this new assignment was going and he joked. “Just call me the toilet czar,” and the long serving county employee is expected to get the job done, even though it is not as glamorous as some of his past assignments over the decades.

What about the issue of sea level rise in the $12.6 billion new water and sewer infrastructure plan?

Bill Johnson last week at a county commission committee meeting said there is a “misperception [by many in the community],” that the $12. 6 billion upcoming upgrades in the water and sewer system plan did not take into account sea level rises, and while not detailed in a federal consent decree agreed to by the county in federal court. Johnson said for years the department has “taken into account these issues,” and has “been very aggressive,” on the matter and is one of the “leading entities” in the nation when it came to “sea level rise,” mitigation here in South Florida and a report on the matter done last year validates these concerns, and the 35 year county employee noted. The department “was highly sensitive to sea level rising,” and its impact on these new projects and it was being factored into the plan he said to committee members last week. Further, Johnson suggested in his opinion the actual projects when completed in the decades to come will cost slightly more and he suggested a more accurate number could be “around $13.6 billion” in the years to come.

>>> Miguel Southwell, the assistant Miami-Dade Aviation Director at MIA was tapped Monday as the new General Manager of the Atlanta airport, the busiest facility in the world and it shows the caliber of employees the county has, said Commissioner Dennis Moss at a commission committee meeting last week. And the Watchdog Report gives the man a Tip of the Hat to Southwell for a job well done here in Miami and helping to finally get MIA’s new terminals finished.

>>> GMCVB press release:  GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES REPORTED FOR April 2014 MARKING 4 YEARS AND 4 MONTHS OF CONSECUTIVE JOB INCREASES Greater Miami’s Accommodations and Food Service jobs increased+3.0 in April 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. This marks 4 years and 4 months of consecutive increased employment in Greater Miami’s Accommodations and Food Service Industry.

Record Greater Miami Accommodations and Food Service Jobs
April 2014	April 2013	% Change
117,300	113,900	+3.0%

>>> Beacon Council press release: County’s most recent employment statistics show positive signs of growth across the board including a two percentage point drop in year-over-year unemployment. “The year-over-year growth in most industries is encouraging,” The Beacon Council President & CEO Larry K. Williams said. “It shows that our local economy is becoming increasingly diversified.”

The numbers analyzed

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate from April 2013 to April 2014 decreased by two percentage points, to 6.6 percent from 8.6 percent. The not seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate from March 2014 to April 2014 decreased by 0.9 percentage points to 6.6 percent from 7.5 percent.

In addition to the decrease in the unemployment rate, Miami-Dade County added 34,600 new nonagricultural payroll jobs or a 3.3 percent increase from April 2013 to April 2014. Miami-Dade County had the second largest year-over-year gain in the State of Florida after Orlando. Improvements in the non-farm payroll jobs can be found in a variety of sectors.

In April 2014, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Miami-Dade County (taking into consideration seasonal fluctuations in the labor force) was 7.2 percent, which is 0.1 percentage points lower than March 2014 and 1.8 percentage points lower than a year ago (April 2013).

The job creation numbers are derived from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics Program (CES), and only account for non-farm payroll jobs. However, the unemployment rates are derived from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program (LAUS), which includes farm payroll jobs as well as self-employed workers.

In addition, the federal government typically conducts interviews in sample households to determine the unemployment rate. Miami-Dade County is one of six metropolitan areas in the United States that uses a different method solely based on a statistical model derived from several data sets.

In Miami-Dade County from April 2013 to April 2014 every major industry sector except Government and Wholesale Trade saw job improvements. The improvements in these sectors contributed to the gain of 34,600 new nonagricultural payroll jobs. Construction, Manufacturing, Financial Activities, and Professional and Business Services all experienced robust gains after having lost a large portion of their workforce during the recession. or more got to www.beaconcouncil.com

Sector	April 2013 – April 2014 Job Change (% Change)
Retail Trade	7,800 (+5.8%)
Leisure and Hospitality	5,300 (+4.2%)
Professional and Business Services	5,300 (+3.6%)
Construction	3,500 (+10.8%)
Ambulatory Health Care Services	2,800 (+5.0%)
Financial Activities	2,300 (+3.2%)
Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities	2,000 (+3.1%)
Manufacturing	1,400 (+3.9%)
Hospitals	1,200 (+2.7%)
Telecommunications	300 (+1.7%)

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Board members Hantman, Mindingall and Regalado fail to get challenger’s so far, board has none of the acrimony of year of years ago

Three school board members on the nine member board do not have challengers yet and Board Chair Perla Tabares Hantman has $53,525 in her campaign war chest, Dorothy Bendross MIndingall has $29,935 in her campaign and Raquel Regalado has $103,064 for her reelection campaign. Hantman, first elected in 1996 is the longest serving member on the board and MIndingall and Regalado were both elected back in 2010, and the board after years of acrimonious meetings prior to that has since been one of the best in the District’s history with few scandals and high academic performance gains since Supt. Alberto Carvalho took the reins back in Sept. 2008. >>> And to review they’re financial disclosure form go to http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/results.cfm

Mindingall

Hantman

Regalado

>>> There was a quick school board Audit and Budget Advisory Board meeting Tuesday and for the first time in years the roughly $4.4 billion public district did not have any findings in a major audit of the nation’s fourth largest public schools district and is another coup for Supt. Alberto Carvalho, just named the nation’s top schools administrator and he was absent from the meeting.

Miami-Dade Schools Selects Blackboard for Communications Solution

Effort Will Improve Communication Efforts between the District and its Students, Parents and Teachers

WASHINGTON – May 15, 2014 – Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) has selected Blackboard to enhance district-wide communications through the selection of its advanced mass notification capabilities, the company announced today. Through this continued partnership, Blackboard works with some of the largest school districts in the country providing their communication solution and offering consulting, including Los Angeles Unified School District and Chicago Public Schools. Following a comprehensive evaluation process of leading notification providers, officials cited their selection of Blackboard’s student and parent engagement solution due to the company’s wide range of innovative products and longstanding experience with providing solutions and services specifically designed for K-12 schools. “We are dedicated to offering our community the best in technology and access, and that means making information available on mobile devices,” said Alberto Carvalho, superintendent for Miami-Dade County Public Schools and the 2014 Superintendent of the Year. “Our parents and students are not only asking for more access to us, but it is widely known that student outcomes improve when communities are more connected to schools. Using technology helps reduce usage barriers and thereby increase engagement.” The district will be able to instantly send texts, instant messages, emails and voice messages in multiple languages about emergency situations and other school-related information, such as school closings, announcements, weather-related information, and more, to the entire district community in seconds. “Schools and districts are not driving communication strategies – students and parents are,” said Mark Belles, senior vice president for Blackboard K-12.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Board approves new $117.4 million AOA agreement with UM Miller Medical School, despite sharp exchange between Dean Goldschmidt and Trustee Lapciuc

Thursday at the almost all day committee meeting the PHT board ratified a new $117.4 million contract for medical services with the University of Miami Miller Medical School and a long simmering issue erupted between former PHT Board Chair Marcos Lapciuc and Medical School Dean Pascal Goldschmidt, M.D. Lapciuc challenged whether UM physicians were diverting paying insured patients, a charge that has been heard before. However, in the past Goldschmidt denied that and has said any physician that did that did this would be “disciplined” but the issue has simmered over the years since UM bought a hospital across the street from Jackson in 2007. http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/05/15/4119846/jackson-approves-um-agreement.html#

Lapciuc after the exchange hugged the Dean for a photograph and UM when JHS was in fiscal trouble did allow a delayed payment plan for the Annual Operating Agreement medical services provided at the time. And essentially UM was also trying to be a team player and work with Jackson since the medical school needs all the intern slots the health system has to train UM physicians which also included UM getting sovereign immunity from the state that limits the cost of private lawsuits brought against the university and was costing up to $30 million in legal settlements in prior years before the Florida Legislature granted this immunity back in 2011.

>>> A Nominating Council meeting Wednesday at Jackson Health System produced a short list of names for the two vacancies on the PHT seven member board. The candidates will now be brought in for about a one hour interview with the nominating Council members and they will ultimately vote on the final four names that will be submitted to the Miami-Dade County Commission for final vote approval of who is appointed. To see the applicants names go to http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/05/14/4116671/finalists-selected-for-jackson.html#

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Miami and County leaders both call for voter approval if new Beckham soccer stadium at FTC site is to be considered, Miami commission could be new wrinkle in the process

The fact that MLS super Star David Beckham is looking at alternative sites to put a new major league stadium and includes the FTC slip site next to the AAA arena. With that site MLS has now added the city of Miami and commissioners to the upcoming discussions, after Miami leaders were not included in earlier discussions going on with Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez and involved a Port Miami possible site that is meeting political resistance.

Since the Beckham group has indicated the FEC site could be considered Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado has stated it would require a vote of Miami residents since it is a waterfront site and County Mayor Gimenez has supported such a vote as well and that vote is slowing the process down that Beckham had wanted to nail down by the end of summer, but the introduction of Miami into the process is a new wrinkle and makes the negotiations more complex. If the past is any indication and what went on with the controversial Miami Marlins botched stadium deal, which is still a hot button in the community and is said to have put a cloud in the publics mind over these new soccer stadium negotiations. http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/05/14/4116889/referendum-appears-increasingly.html#

Regalado

>>> Serial Armed Robber Sentenced to Over 56 Years in Prison

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Manuel Orosa, Chief, City of Miami Police Department, announce that Lionell Sanders, 19, of Miami, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore to fifty-six years and four months in prison, after pleading guilty on December 9, 2013 to conspiracy to commit robbery affecting interstate commerce, and two counts each of robbery affecting interstate commerce and the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

According to information in the court record, from August through September 2013 Sanders and his associates conducted a string of violent armed robberies targeting food delivery drivers and taxicab operators. On at least five separate occasions, Sanders and his co-conspirators placed orders for food deliveries, or requested taxi service, at residential locations where he and others, brandishing firearms, assaulted the drivers and forcibly took money, other personal belongings, and any items to be delivered. Several of the robberies resulted in injuries to the victims of varying severity. This case is, in large part, the result of the Violence Reduction Partnership, launched by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Through this Partnership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its federal and local law enforcement allies have sought to dismantle the most violent criminal networks in various neighborhoods, while simultaneously working with community leaders and concerned citizens to mentor at-risk youths, provide jobs and job training to young families, and help probationers and parolees successfully re-enter society.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the ATF and the City of Miami Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa S. Johannes.  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

>>> Grove residents get to weigh in on what Regatta Park should be May 29

The third public meeting concerning what to do with Regatta Park on the old Grove Convention Center site is scheduled in the coming weeks and people who want to weigh in on the project need to take time and stop in and hear what the city’s leaders are thinking and possible planning.

REGATTA PARK PUBLIC MEETING WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014 6:00 P.M. CITY HALL CHAMBERS 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL  33133 Now that the Expo Center is finally coming down, we would like to take this opportunity to receive public input for the future of Regatta Park.

MEETING AGENDA Introduction Purpose Background Current Status Public Input Wrap-Up / Next Steps This meeting is the first of three meetings that will be held.  The first meeting will serve to receive public input, the second meeting will serve to summarize all findings and the third meeting will serve to present the results of the public process. For background information on this project, please see the Coconut Grove Waterfront Master Plan. More information will be forthcoming as this process develops.  Please stay tuned!

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Political neophyte Mayor Levine getting good marks in first few months on the dais after bitter mayoral race last November

Philip Levine, the new Miami Beach mayor in office just a few months since being elected in Nov. 2014 is getting good marks from local residents a number of people have told the Watchdog Report. He is running the meetings briskly and believes the city administration must be more customer service friendly that recently included a new App to find and park in the congested city where finding a parking spot can be a major issue. Further, the mayor keeps city commissioners on target and speaking to the issues and it is a sea change from when past Mayor Mattie Herrera Bower was at the dais and squabbling among the commission was common place and these meetings were being punctuated with political drama, which many times had the mayor ending the commission meeting suddenly.

>>>PAST WDR:  The City of Miami Beach is rolling out a new App to make finding and paying for a parking lot easier in a municipality known to be a parking nightmare and the city is launching the feature on Monday and below is the press release on the matter.

Miami Beach Parking Made Simple & Easy Launch of New Apps to Find & Pay for Parking from Your Phone (ParkMobile and ParkMe Miami Beach on iPhone and Android Devices) You can find an on-street or off-street parking space and pay for it all from an iPhone or Android cell phone. As an introductory to the new service, ParkMobile user fees will be waived between May 12 – 25, 2014. Registered Miami Beach residents receive 43 percent discount on metered parking in South Beach ($1.00 instead of $1.75 an hour). Registration begins Monday, May 12. The ParkMobile app is also linked to the live parking locator app, ParkMe Miami Beach, which provides live information on municipal parking availabilities throughout the city. ParkMobile ambassadors will be available throughout the week, following the launch, at various on- and off-street parking lots. Both apps (ParkMobile and ParkMe Miami Beach) are free to download on iPhone and Android.

>>> Press release: Meeting Date: May 20th, 2014 Meeting Time: 8:30 AM Meeting Place: New Location!  Abuela’s Cuban Kitchen, 1654 Meridian Ave., South Beach Captain Dan Kipnes will be our guest speaker at the May 20th meeting of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club.  Dan has an extensive knowledge of climate change issues as they relate to Miami Beach and other coastal communities, especially sea level rise and why it is happening.  Dan is the Chair. of the Miami Beach Marine Authority and served on the Miami-Dade County climate change task force. There is no charge for attending and everyone is welcome. David Kelsey, Moderator Visit our web site at www.MBTMBC.com (Miami Beach Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club).

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> “Still the most awesome! Pop culture’s grandest symbol of nuclear apocalypse.” Godzilla at Gables Art Cinema – Entertainment Weekly (read full review here)

Press release: The original King of the Monsters comes to the Gables this weekend with the Exclusive Miami Theatrical Premiere of the 60th anniversary 2K digital restoration of Godzilla: The Japanese Original. “Monster Matinee” screenings are Saturday & Sunday, May 17 & 18 at 1:00 pm. And our regular Gables After Hours showcase returns with late-night “Monster Madness” shows Friday & Saturday, May 16 & 17 at 11:15 pm. These late-night screenings feature 2-for-1 on all our monster beer, as well as blood red pizza combos: get a slice with any of our delicious beers or sodas while supplies last! First released in 1954, this 60 year-old landmark film tells the story of a giant mutated monster that wreaks havoc on Japan, bringing back the horrors of World War II on the island nation. Godzilla: The Japanese Original spawned its own genre and solidified the monster movie as a staple of the cinematic world. Tickets to these screenings are $11.50 and under and can be purchased for Fri. 5/16 at 11:15 pm here, Sat. 5/17 at 1:00 pm here and 11:15 pm here, and Sun. 5/18 at 1:00 pm here, in-person at the box-office, or on the day of the event. Coral Gables Art Cinema

CITY OF NORTH MIAMI

>>> City of North Miami Resident Sentenced in Stolen Tax Refund Scheme

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, José A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Tom Weschler, Chief, City of Naples Police Department, announce that Marie Jean Baptiste, 22, of North Miami, was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Baptiste was previously convicted by a federal jury of three counts of stealing tax refunds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 641 and 2.

According to the indictment and evidence presented at trial, Baptiste received four tax refunds that she knew were stolen, and converted them for her own use and gain. Baptiste participated in a scheme in which fraudulent tax returns were filed directing the tax refunds to be directly deposited into her bank account. After the tax refunds were deposited into her bank account, Baptiste would withdraw the tax proceeds from the bank and various ATMs for her own use and gain.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, IRS-CI and the City of Naples Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gera R. Peoples. 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.

>>> North Miami Man Sentenced in Refund Scam Involving Large-Dollar Fraudulent Tax Refund Claims

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Paula Reid, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, announce that Jeaneno Florent, 38, of North Miami, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, for a tax refund scheme that resulted in the submission of approximately $2.4 million in fraudulent refund claims. The defendant was also ordered to pay $1,226,068 in restitution.

According to the plea documents, Florent caused a false and fraudulent individual income tax return in his own name to be submitted to the IRS in January 2012. The tax return falsely and fraudulently indicated that the defendant worked at Capitol Records, Inc., made approximately $8.7 million and was entitled to a refund of approximately $613,000. In reality, the defendant had not worked at Capitol Records and was not entitled to this refund. Even though the return was fraudulent, and Florent knew the return was fraudulent, the IRS approved payment and a refund anticipation check for approximately $613,000 in the defendant’s name. Florent deposited the check in a bank account in his own name and used the proceeds for his own personal benefit….Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI and the U.S. Secret Service. The case is being 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. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

CITY OF DORAL

>>> Fired Mgr Carollo fires back at Gables press conference, will his replacement come from the ranks of County senior staff ?

Fired Manager Joe Carollo held a press conference in Coral Gables last week and he fired back at the charges that he did not refute when the vote was taken to fire the man by the Council. http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Joe-Carollo-Doral-City-Manager-Addresses-Accusations-Against-Him-in-City-Council-Meeting-227903051.html

What about finding a new Doral manager after all this turmoil?

The Watchdog Report has talked to a number of long time residents about the difficulty of finding a replacement given some of the controversy going on in the city, but many believe a competent manager will be found and could possible come from Miami-Dade County. Where many senior staff are said to becoming frustrated under Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s administration and might be happy to leave and run the up and coming city with a major property tax base despite the politics on the dais and readers should stay tuned and see who finally Doral Mayor Luigi Boria picks to run the prosperous city incorporated back in 2002.

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Commission District 2 race has past candidates looking for political traction,  Rodstrom will be new to district voters and is having to move, but will voters buy into the idea?

With Broward Commissioner Kristin Jacobs leaving the dais in the fall and running for a state House seat. The race for her Commission District 2 seat is bringing some past political candidates back into the fray. Charlotte E. Rodstrom, the wife of former Commissioner John Rodstrom is back after a failed race in 2012, for the commission, a post her husband held for almost 20 years and former County Commissioner Kenneth Keechl wants back on the dais and Terry Williams-Edden rounds out the field of candidates. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-12-04/news/fl-charlotte-rodstrom-county-20131203_1_charlotte-rodstrom-bogen-special-election However, Rodstrom has to move into the District and while she has name recognition because of her years on the Ft. Lauderdale Commission and her husbands past runs for office. Voters are becoming more sensitive to the fact that they’re leaders should know the community they represent and not be the proverbial political opportunist.

Jacobs

>>> 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 Pleads Guilty in Million Dollar Identity Theft Tax Refund Fraud

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), announce that Judes Celestin, 36, of Hollywood, pled guilty for his role in an identity theft tax refund scheme that resulted in the receipt of approximately $1 million in fraudulent tax refunds. Sentencing is scheduled for August 13, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola.

Celestin pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A. At sentencing, Celestin faces a maximum term of 22 years in prison.

According to the plea documents, Celestin set up two Florida corporations – JC Easy Tax, Inc. (“JC Easy Tax”) and Tax Filing Made Easy! (“Tax Filing Made Easy”) – and listed himself as president. He opened and controlled bank accounts for these two corporations at various banks in South Florida. Celestin caused false and fraudulent individual income tax returns to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service in the names of individuals without those individuals’ knowledge or authority. The defendant caused approximately one million dollars in tax refund monies to be direct deposited to bank accounts for JC Easy Tax and Tax Filing Made Easy. Celestin then withdrew this money for his own personal use and benefit. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI. The case is being 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.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

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

COLUMBIA COUNTY

Press release: Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of James Schnorbus and the reappointment of Michael Ellis to the Columbia County Housing Authority. Schnorbus, 67, of Lake City, is a retired criminal investigator for US Customs. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning May 16, 2014, and ending March 15, 2015. Ellis, 57, of Lake City, is a retired librarian. He is reappointed for a term beginning May 16, 2014, and ending March 15, 2017.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> Press release: Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of Nicholas Mulick to the Sixteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission.

Mulick, 64, of Tavernier, is an attorney and owner of Nicholas W. Mulick PA. He received his bachelor’s degree from William Patterson University and his law degree from the Rutgers School of Law. Mulick has been president of both the Rotary Club of the Upper Keys and the Upper Keys Little League. He previously served on the Florida Keys Community College Board of Trustees. He served in the United States Air Force from 1968 to 1972. Mulick succeeds Edwin Scales and is appointed for a term beginning May 12, 2014, and ending July 1, 2016.

>>> PAST WDR MAY 2007: Small but colorful county has its share of colorful and erstwhile political leaders, but with only 85,000 residents not a big player

What can you say about a county with a tourist tag line of the Conch Republic and also includes the eclectic city of Key West? The Watchdog Report would never have reported on anything that went on in the small county with 85,000 residents but they came to my attention because of their lack of taking care of the Homeless population there and not providing a shelter for their domestic violence victims. Since then the elected leaders have moved to resolve some of their social issues rather than to just send them to the larger county to the north Miami-Dade for these services. And to review her financial disclosure form go to

>>> Elected leaders financial disclosures on line at , www.ethics.state.fl.us

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>>> As part of its ongoing efforts to get out the vote, the League of Women Voters of Florida wants to remind Florida voters that Sunday, May 18 marks 100 days until Florida’s August 26 primary election. Many important local races are decided at the primary level, where turnout is traditionally light and votes cast can weigh more heavily in deciding outcomes. This makes voting during the primary an issue of utmost importance.

“There will be something for everyone on the August ballot”, says Deirdre Macnab, League of Women Voters of Florida President. “Even voters registered as independents can cast a vote in local non-partisan races as well as an array of judicial races at the county and circuit levels. In many ways, your vote in the primary can have a greater impact than in November.” Most Supervisors will post sample ballots on their websites in early July. Candidate qualifying ends in late June.

The League urges all Florida residents to register to vote by the July 28 deadline. For information on how to register and step by step instructions for registration, visit the League’s website at www.BeReadyToVote.org. If you are already registered, make sure to check your voter status and get ready!

Florida makes voting easy and convenient by offering three different ways to vote: by mail, early, and on Election Day. Early voting will be available for the August primary. The League would like to remind voters who will be unable to vote on-site that any registered Florida voter can request an absentee ballot by contacting their local Supervisor of Elections.  It is also important to check that your voting information, including your address and signature, are up-to-date. “Early summer is the perfect time to get your voting house in order,” said Charley Williams, LWVF Voter Services Chair. “Call your local Supervisor of Elections office and make sure your voter file is accurate. This is particularly important if you have moved recently or if you haven’t voted in past elections. With one call, you can cover details for both the August and November elections, then relax!”

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER: Primary election: Tuesday, August 26
Deadline to register to vote: Monday, July 28 Absentee Ballots will be mailed: Between July 22 and 29 

>>> The Margulies Collection will be closed for the summer and will reopen in the fall.

EDITORIAL

>>>> Elected Leaders would be doing the public a favor, by getting to the point at public meetings

After watching government for more than 18 years, if I could take one thing I hear from the public about their elected leaders is when they’re speaking is, “to get to the point!” Some officials almost feel if they don’t give a major long statement, laced with the proverbial poor joke or some other form of humor they are not doing they’re job, rather than just inflating their ego.

Further, out bursts that play on ethnic emotions is also not productive in the long run and officials should remember what Mahatma Ghandhi Said? “Make it the strength of your argument and not the stridency of your voice.”

And elected officials should spare the voters this endless drone that I see every week at a host of meetings and there is nothing to be embarrassed about. If by getting to the point a public meeting ends earlier and hopefully these elected officials would have more stamina and be visible less tired and can than go home to their family and friends and listen to the community’s concerns. If they get to the point, and the public and voters say a prayer when they go to these meetings that important issues are discussed in an informed way, political egos are put in check, however briefly, and an actual decision is actually made, and that would be a good thing in today’s challenging put it off world.

LETTERS

>>> 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

JEFFREY L. BERKOWITZ TRUST

RON BOOK

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

WILLIAM PALMER www.shutts.com

Rbb PUBLIC RELATIONS www.rbbpr.com

ROYAL MEDIA PARTNERS  www.royalmp.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

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY  www.fiu.edu

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 COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST: www.miamidade.gov/homeless/

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 SUPT. http://superintendent.dadeschools.net/

MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY www.miamidda.com

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 14^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 800 reports and Extra’s have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over two 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, 2014, 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