Watchdog Report Vol. 15 No.6 June 22, 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

>>>> Sen. Cruz tests the water in South Florida as lead speaker at local GOP Lincoln Day Dinner

U. S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tx was the featured speaker over the weekend at the GOP Lincoln Day Dinner  http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/06/20/4192112/sen-ted-cruz-visits-miami-as-long.html and the potential presidential candidate and former Cuban American is a political counter point candidate to Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, R-FL, who is also eyeing a run on the White House in 2016, but Cruz understands the importance of South Florida not just in votes but as a fertile fundraising area and the local GOP has a history of pulling together once the party’s champion has been picked in residential races but for some Republicans, Some of Cruz’s positions on immigration is different from their own and Rubio has been more vocal and flexible on the subject suggesting the nation’s immigration policy is not working and needs new federal legislation that has stalled in Congress probable until the upcoming mid term elections are over in November.

>>> 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,  —  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

>>> Sen. Nan Rich is in, will face Crist in Democratic Party primary, prior to Gov. Scott general election showdown

Well they’re off with state Sen. Nan Rich D- Weston, qualifying as a Democratic gubernatorial candidate and her primary opponent is former GOP Gov. Charlie Crist, now running as a Democrat and Crist will likely be facing GOP Gov. Rick Scott and Crist is leading Rich in fundraising and statewide polls while she has been running a insurgent campaign and she has a strong base of volunteers including major support of the state’s nurses. A large and motivated voting block and Crist has declined to debate Rich and that could become more of an issue as the Aug.18 primary closes in for the people’s governor, who historically has never shied away from a debate. http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/06/21/4193124/chasing-charlie-crist.html

>>> And it’s good to be an incumbent legislator and 43 percent of the unopposed incumbents were reelected Friday ay at noon, www.miamiherlad.com to another term and some local senators have been reelected including Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah and incumbent state Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami has another four year years in the upper legislative body.

What about write-in candidates?

While write in candidates this election cycle were less than in some past years like in the early 20000 time frame, that had hundreds of voters disenfranchised since their was  a write in candidate in the party primary, and back then I checked on some of these candidates and one candidates address did not exist, another had their phone disconnected. After I contacted them concerning a story on the matter and how they were disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of county voters since if it was a Republican write in candidate, Democratic Party voters could not participate and GOP party officials defended this by saying it was the GOP’s primary and why should they be swayed by none party voters in they’re own primary. But over the decades write in candidates have become a double edged sword for some races but their names on the ballots given the current rules do deprive thousands of voters across the state to vote on many of their elected state official’s that will represent them in their state capital..

What about the controversy of Crist’s new found wealth since he left public service and used to have a net worth of around $4720, 000 and he is now a millionaire?

The people’s governor took a hit recently when his financial disclosure showed his wealth had increased dramatically since Crist left office in 2010. However, people forget that Christ has been in public office for years. Since he was a former Florida Attorney General, Commissioner of Education and state senator and he is a frugal man on the whole but his new wealth that only becomes a issue because Crist says he has “lived from pay check to paycheck,” his whole life and to a great extent that is true for the politician facing Scott with a $100 million war chest that dwarfs his own fundraising of around $12 million. http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/06/18/4187102/charlie-crist-insists-his-newfound.html#

>>>> State Approved Purchase of 155 Acres for Conservation ~Also Approved $27 Million in Non-Conservation Land Sales~

Gov. Scott press release: Today Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet, as the Board of Trustees, approved the purchase of more than 155 acres of property adjacent to the Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park in central Florida and approved the sale of surplus, non-conservation lands totaling more than $27 million.

Governor Scott said, “It is important that we invest in preservation of the state’s valuable natural resources like land and water so they are available for Florida families for generations to come. I believe in being a good steward of state resources and believe today’s approval of the sale of certain properties and acquisition of conservation land is both win-win scenarios.”

“Audubon Florida applauds the decision by Governor Scott to allow the sale of non-conservation lands to put the funds into preserving the environment,” said Executive Director of Audubon Florida Eric Draper. “The Wekiva-Ocala Greenway is a long-sought and high priority for Florida Forever. Today’s purchase brings us one step closer to a ribbon of green stretching between two of Florida’s largest parks. The Wekiva-Ocala Greenway provides waterfront access for people and provides a corridor for bears and other wildlife.  We are excited that additional land acquisition is planned for the Greenway.” “I applaud the Cabinet’s approval of the 2014 Florida Forever work plan today that includes acquisition priorities that will further land and water resource protection in Florida,” said Janet Bowman with the Nature Conservancy. “We look forward to the proceeds of the sale of non-conservation state properties approved today being used to purchase Florida Forever conservation priorities as soon as possible.” The Board of Trustees approved the acquisition of more than 155 acres of property adjacent to the Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park. The property within the Wekiva-Ocala Greenway protects the Little Wekiva River and St. Johns River basins by preserving natural corridors connecting Wekiwa Springs State Park, Rock Springs Run State Reserve, the Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park and Hontoon Island State Park as well as the Ocala National Forest. The springs, rivers, lakes, swamps and uplands stretching north from Orlando to the Ocala National Forest are an important refuge for the Florida black bear, as well as other wildlife such as the bald eagle, swallow-tailed kite, Florida scrub jay and wading birds. The parcel will be managed by the DEP’s Division of Recreation and Parks as an addition to the Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park, providing passive recreational opportunities.

The eight parcels of land approved for sale include four correctional institutes that are no longer in use and the acreage they sit on. The properties approved for sale include: Broward County Correctional Institute (66 acres), Glades Correctional Institute (211 acres), Hendry County Correctional Facility (1,110 acres), Hillsborough County Correctional Institution (135 acres), and other non-conservation surplus land sales in Lee, Miami-Dade, Volusia and Monroe Counties. The 2014-2015 Florida Legislature gave DEP spending authority to utilize up to $40 million of the proceeds of non- conservation land sales to acquire valuable land needed for conservation and public recreation. For more specifics on each parcel approved for sale, click here. https://www.fldepnet.org/public-notices-access-view/1406

>>>> Press release: A statement from Dominic M. Calabro, President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch:

“Florida TaxWatch commends the Florida Legislature and Governor for approving a measure to increase accountability in state government by ensuring inspectors general are truly independent from the agencies they serve. The internal watchdogs of our state’s public offices can now more effectively advocate for the hard working taxpayers of Florida due to this landmark reform.

“Because of the commitment by Representative Raulerson, Senator Latvala, and Governor Scott our taxpayers can be sure their state government is truly accountable to them.

“In 1983, Florida TaxWatch first recognized the need for independent review and monitoring of state agency activities and called for the Office of the Inspector General to be established in Florida, and we were pleased that the Legislature adopted that recommendation. Since 2010, Florida TaxWatch research has called for greater independence of inspectors general, and I applaud the Legislature and Governor for again making increased government accountability a priority by passing this important reform.”

http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/04/30/4088964/crist-leads-gov-scott-by-10-points.html

Scott

Crist

Rich

>>> 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

>>> With The Miami Herald detailing a story on possible further budget cuts from the Mayor Carlos Gimenez administration, especially, in regard to the Miami-Dade Police Department, possible up to 450, let the budget battle begin in the commission chambers

\http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/06/19/4189565/miami-dade-budget-cuts-could-eliminate.html# The game of budget chicken is heating up as the county commission begins reviewing the mayor’s final, yet to be submitted budget, that is still evolving through July, but it is clear some hard decisions will have to be made in the future months, that also include some commission races and it is unlikely any incumbent is going to raise taxes or campaign on higher taxes and while property taxes have increased, it is insufficient to cover rising expenses in a host of departments but the 13 member commission will have to grapple with this funding dilemma in the weeks ahead to the final fiscal document.

>>>> PAST WDR: Is conflict developing over 2.9 billion GOB funds going to other commission districts

Ramifications of redistricting of the 13 commission districts in 2012 are rippling through the county’s 2.9 billion GOB program passed by county voters in 2004 . The problem is some approved projects in one District are now in another commissioner’s and Commissioner Javier Souto bristled because of the ramifications and the money he considered solely for his district use. However, the discussion on the matter got heated and the problem will likely raise its head on the dais in the future.

>>> Finance Committee Chair Bovo wishes more commissioners would attend budget hearings with the clock ticking running up to the public budget hearings in Sept. and Mayor Gimenez is facing a $200 million hole in the upcoming budget that must be filled. And Bovo and Commissioner Juan Zapata had  extensive discussssions on how Convention and Development Tourist (CDT) taxes are used and how these monies get allocated and will ultimately be paying for the debt on the new Florida Marlins Stadium that after financing could cost around $2.3 billion with the bulk of the bond payments in the later years and why Zapata does not want to drop this fiscal nightmare on future commissioners and wants a better plan in place of how these CDT funds are spent and future obligations for the funds, and could also be used for such projects as Baylink, a proposed mass transit project from Miami to Miami Beach.

County Commissioner Estephan Bovo has been holding budget hearings for months since he is chair of the Finance Committee and there is a $200 million gap in next year’s budget that begins Oct. 1 and the lack of funding has segments of the community in a uproar when it comes to cuts in the library District, or the animal Services budgets and in cultural programs.

Bovo is going through all the 25 county department budgets and he wished his other 12 commissioners attended the meetings so they could give they’re input early to the administration of Mayor Carlos Gimenez what the body’s budget priorities are and what other commissioners think, he said Monday.

Further, when it comes to the new Miami Science Museum being constructed in Museum Park and its management contractor being dismissed recently. No one was talking at Miami-Dade County about the new wrinkle in the project that got a $275 million slug of public GOP money from the county and the Watchdog Report asked County Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Cultural Affairs Director Michael Spring and both said they were aware of some issues, but “no more money” was coming from the county they both suggested, since the County has a $200 million budget hole to plug and when it comes to finding spare money as in many past years, “there is no more magic,” in the county’s budget since some $4 billion has been cut out of the county budget since around 2008, said one long time experienced budget expert at the county.  And the reason the Watchdog Report is so interested in what is going on over at the Frost Museum and if there will be a need for money to finish the impressive, but complex facility, it is because there is now no more money and while the Museum has raised some $80 million on its own. It is unknown if the organization can fill in any fiscal gap. And here is the Museum’s website that talks about a new management company being selected and Spring told the Watchdog Report that the “project will not become a PACT II ,” he assured me. He said last week the “Miami Science Museum is just getting re-organized and they have not asked for any money,” said Spring, the County’s Cultural Affairs Director. http://www.frostscience.org/blog/ http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/05/16/4121231/new-contractor-named-for-frost.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/24/miami-science-museum-breaks-ground_n_1298730.html

>>>> Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust will have three member search committee looking for new CEO after Fernandez says sayonara and goes to academia

A three member selection committee will be convened to review applicants to replace the retiring Director of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust Hilda Fernandez who is going to a academic position but has played a key role in the Trust over the years and getting a suitable replacement is seen as critical to maintain the success of the Trust that for years has been a national model an free of any major scandals with the public money. PAST WDR: It has happened, the Patricia and Phillip Frost $275 million new museum of Science at Museum Park in Bicentennial Park has run into trouble Editor’s Note: I have continued to write about this because the Museum has yet to respond how they will be dealing with the issue. Though Michael Spring says the organization is reviewing the situation but definitely “no more public” money would be contributed. Thouhttp://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 widely respected and while a number of  is also building the new Juvenile Justice Courthouse next door to county hall and that project, while having some change order 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.

>>>> PAST WDR: May 3, 2013: What about the Miami Science museum?

The Frost Science Museum is also relying on private donations to augment the $165 million that is financed by the county’s GOB bonds for the new cutting edge design costing $275 million and includes the Frost donation of $35 million and $10 million from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org and there is “$25 million in transitional costs,” in the future said senior staff. Gillian Thomas, hired in 2003 has been a persistent advocate of a new museum and leaving the much smaller site that was once part of Historic Vizcaya located across the street and once told county commissioners the museum would strike out on their own with a proposed bond, but the organization was included in the massive bond program approved by voters in 2004.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/23/2658056/new-science-museum-to-break-ground.html

>>> GMCVB press release: RECORD ACCOMMODATIONS AND FOOD SERVICE JOBS IN GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES REPORTED FOR MAY 2014 MARKING 4 YEARS AND 5 MONTHS OF CONSECUTIVE JOB INCREASES

Greater Miami’s Accommodations and Food Service jobs increased +2.9% in May 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. This marks 4 years and 5 months of consecutive increased employment in Greater Miami’s Accommodations and Food Service Industry.

Record Greater Miami Accommodations and Food Service Jobs
May 2014	May 2013	% Change
116,600	113,300	+2.9%

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>>> Supt Carvalho calls for federal help with sudden influx of Honduran students, because of local political turmoil, costing District millions

Once again Supt. Alberto Carvalho has sounded the alarm concerning the surge of students arriving from war torn Honduras? And some 300 students have arrived in a three month period he told the school board last week at its monthly board meeting. He noted they were enrolled in the nation’s fourth largest public schools system. But other school systems around the nation get federal funding for this new arrivals such as in Arizona, Texas and California..http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/06/18/4187214/dade-school-board-to-seek-extra.html# And Carvalho will be seeking greater federal funding to pay for this unexpected student influx he told the board, but the issue is costing the district big time and is just another example of some of the unique aspects of Miami-Dade’s public schools. Further Carvalho was also named best Politician in Miami New Times Best of Miami and the shout out is well deserved.

What about New Times Best of Miami?

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2014/06/best_of_miami_2014_heres_some_of_the_best_people_in_miami_in_this_years_issue.php

>>> Press release: SUPERINTENDENT TO SEEK FEDERAL FUNDING FOR EDUCATION SUPPORT OF FOREIGN-BORN STUDENTS, RECENT ARRIVALS

Miami – Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho will seek additional federal assistance to fully fund the cost of providing education support to foreign-born students and to ensure the District has the necessary resources to educate these students.

Prompted by an increase in immigration into the United States by families with children and by unaccompanied children of all ages, Carvalho proposed to the School Board at its June meeting that the district request federal assistance to ensure District operational readiness to support the education needs of foreign-born students.

“We are in the business of teaching children regardless of where they are born, what language they speak or their socioeconomic status,” said Carvalho. “There is a significant shortcoming in addressing this issue, so we are seeking federal help to increase the tools and resources to carry out our mission.”

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) enrollment data indicates a spike in the number of foreign-born students from Central American countries, especially Honduras. The District incurs an additional cost of approximately $1,959, over the FTE amount generated to provide necessary services to foreign-born students from local funds not reimbursed from federal and state dollars.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> BCC goes with Dr. Lipof and Patino as new JHS trustees, rebukes Nominating Council recommendations chaired by Commissioner Edmonson

The Miami-Dade County Commission voted on the slate of candidates submitted by the Public Health Trust Nominating Council made up of people that interviewed the candidates, but the Council’s recommendations were ignored and the first choice Peter Bermont was not appointed by the commission and the experienced financial advisor did not make the commission cut and he clearly was a top notch candidate. But the County commission periodically over the years has let a number of under performing trustee stay on the board yet ignores the community board they created to select and interview the applicants. The Watchdog Report has no beef with the selected new two trustees, but interview process is a time consuming activity and the commission should at least consider some of the Council’s recommendations. Here is the legislation language on the ranking candidates: Nominating Council’s order of preference, the list of nominees is: (1) PETER L. BERMONT; (2) IRENE LIPOF; (3) RALPH G. PATINO; and (4) DANIEL A. KAVANAUGH. The commissioners selected Lipof, and Patino For more go to : http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/06/17/4184221/new-members-appointed-to-jackson.html# And with a new updated medical campus slated, that is why these new trustees are so important and more can be read in the longer story www.miamiherald.com/2014/06/18/4187010/jackson-health-unveils-ambitious.html# and how JHS plans to use $830 million in GOB money passed by voters last November that must be spent wisely and with minimal political meddling in the projects..

>>>>Upcoming BCC legislation: TITLE RESOLUTION APPOINTING TWO (2) VOTING TRUSTEES TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE 2014-2016 TERM, Board will vote on candidates Jun.17 at BCC commission meeting.

BODY,WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 25A-3(d) of the Code of Miami-Dade County, the Public Health Trust Nominating Council convened for the purpose of determining its recommendation of nominees to be submitted to the Board of County Commissioners for appointment as voting trustees to the Public Health Trust Board of Trustees; and WHEREAS, there are a total of two (2) vacancies, to wit: a vacancy created by the May 31, 2014 expiration of the term of incumbent Trustee, Irene Lipof; and a vacancy created by the resignation of former Trustee Stephen S. Nuell; and WHEREAS, Section 25A-3(d) further provides that the Nominating Council shall submit to the Commission a list of nominees containing a total number of names equal to the number of vacancies plus the names of two (2) additional nominees and that the Commission shall select and appoint the voting trustees from that list; and
WHEREAS, as reflected in the attached memorandum and, additionally, in the Nominating Council’s order of preference, the list of nominees is: (1) PETER L. BERMONT; (2) IRENE LIPOF; (3) RALPH G. PATINO; and (4) DANIEL A. KAVANAUGH. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board hereby appoints as voting trustees to the Board of Trustees of the Public Health Trust the following two (2) persons from the list of nominees submitted by the Public Health Trust Nominating Council: ___________________________________ and ______________________________. Each Trustee hereby appointed shall have a term expiring on May 31, 2016.

PAST WDR on new PHT applicants: The candidates all interviewed well and they all said they could be independent in they’re votes and the candidates selected will have a “learning curve,” said Lipof a current PHT board member and all of them committed to the some 30 hours of time that is necessary to serve on the board. Joe Ariola noted in the interviews that this is a volunteer post and he asked “what is your motivation because it is a “tough job” where “no one thanks you,” for your service, “but if anything goes wrong,” the appointment “kicks you in the butt,” the PHT board’s vice chairman observed. And being a PHT trustee means you are in the public eye and given the critical juncture the Jackson Health System is at now that voters approved an $830 million bond for major infrastructure improvements and while another oversight board to watch over this new money is going to be created. The PHT board is where the real work and decisions are made and these applicants all bring the anticipated skills, and lack of conflict of interests and temperament that is expected to be needed in the coming years. The question of having enough time to effectively serve on the JHS PHT Is of important because in the past, some applicants have said it was not a problem, but then their attendance was spotty and this is a big time high profile position and you are a public figure since you essentially represent the County Commission and fall under the watchful eye of the county’s Inspector General’s Office. The Public Health Trust Nominating Council chose four candidates for the two slots open on the seven member PHT board. And the selected candidates that must be approved by the county commission by a vote sometime in June.

>>> Baptist Health South Florida gets approval to build new Cancer and Proton Center by 8 to 0 BCC vote, extensive out reach with neighbors key to lack of controversy in commission chambers before vote

Baptist Health South Florida got approval for a redesign of its main campus on Kendall Drive for a world class Cancer Center that will include the areas only Proton Center in the region last week at a Miami-Dade County Planning and Zoning Board meeting Wednesday, by an 8 to 0 BCC vote by commissioners.

Baptist prior to the submission had met with a host of neighbors and condominium associations for more than a year prior that also included 10 community meetings and there were no dissenting speaker which is rare in such a public hearing. Baptist is expanding its medical brand to be a world-class destination center and this will be the first Proton Center in the Caribbean and Latin America and the project will bring thousands of new jobs to the area, said Baptist Health South Florida CEO Brian Keeley to county commissioner’s during the presentation. Editor’s note: Physicians at South Miami Hospital saved my life back in Feb.2008 and I am forever grateful for that medical treatment.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>>> Dormant Watson Island project will be contentious issue at Thursday’s commission meeting

The long dormant Flagstone project on Watson Island is generating controversy since voters in 2001, first approved the large scale mega project with a mega yacht marina, but insiders had been saying was an undervalued deal and is detailed in

http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/06/21/4191898/13-years-after-an-agreement-for.html# And Commissioner Frank Carollo has been bird-dogging the issue for years on the dais and the fact the deal was worth a lot more than the city was getting is heating up and this Tuesday’s commission meeting is expected to be lively when it comes to the project’s status and value.

VILLAGE OF COCONUT

>>> County press release: SW 27 Avenue from Tigertail Avenue to SW 28 Terrace; Project No. 20120032: Work includes, but is not limited to, reconstructing the existing two-lane road with raised landscaped medians, on-street parking, bike lanes, sidewalks, curb and gutter, storm drainage system, signalization, traffic calming circle, pavement markings and signage, decorative lighting and demolition of a building encroaching into the right-of-way.  The work of this project also includes, but is not limited to, furnishing and installing ductile iron water mains along SW 27 Avenue between Tigertail Avenue and Coconut Avenue, City of Miami, Florida. Construction is anticipated to be completed by June 30, 2015.  Mainline Closure: Motorists are advised to expect delays, seek alternate routes or follow the maintenance of traffic (MOT) signs or detour route.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> 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

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

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

>>>> Press release: Governor Rick Scott taps Ryun “Jayer” Williamson as a County Commissioner of Santa Rosa County.

Williamson, 35, of Pace, is the vice president and chief operating officer of Williamson Electrical Company.  Williamson is the founder and a member of the Santa Rosa Young Professionals club, a member of Santa Rosa Kid’s House and the president of the Navy League of Santa Rosa County.  Williamson received his bachelor’s degree from the University of West Florida.  He is appointed to fill a vacancy created by the passing of Jim Williamson, for a term beginning June 18, 2014, and ending November 11, 2014.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> 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

>>> Miami must learn how to do big projects on time, in budget and without defects, as community waits for port of Miami Tunnel to open

The Watchdog Report was skeptical that the $1 billion Port of Miami tunnel was actually on budget and on time and the weeks since the preliminary high profile ribbon cutting, new delays and problems continue to surface. http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/06/17/4184878/mishaps-keep-miamis-porttunnel.html# And it once again validates how difficult it is to get a major project done in budget and actually open on time and why the Watchdog Report is concerned about the construction of the new Miami Science Museum or be it the new Miami Marlins stadium with a leaky roof. For there is a long list of large scale projects in South Florida that have had a poor track record and the Port Tunnel is moving in that direction if repairs and solutions are not soon found and the tunnel actually opens.  Residents should keep their eye on this important and expensive project for it is also key to the Port of Miami and its ability to generate the revenue necessary to cover the massive bonds that have been sold but have significant debt payments that must be covered, and leaders should not allow the tunnel to become dormant, but must, once safety has been established, be open for it is becoming another Miami moment, which is not a good thing.

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

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