Watchdog Report Vol. 15 No.43 EST.05.05.00 – I go when you cannot – Celebrating 15 Years – Late because of IT Issue

>>> 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 www.knightfoundation.org to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no pops-up and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

The Watchdog Report publisher needs help and I hope you will consider supporting me allowing me to stay out in the field so that I can keep at this and report back how your billions of public dollars in government are being spent on a weekly basis. And how to do that is at the end of the WDR. Thank You.

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher Jan.16. will be on WLRN 91.3 FM Topical Currents at 1:00 p.m. hosted by Joseph Cooper and Bonnie Berman www.WLRN.org

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

Ros-Lehtinen Re-Introduces Bill to Relist North Korea as a State Sponsor of Terrorism

Press release – Today U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, introduced H.R. 204, the North Korea Sanctions and Diplomatic Nonrecognition Act of 2015, alongside Reps. Gerald Connolly (D-VA), Matt Salmon (R-AZ), Chairman of the Asia and Pacific Subcommittee, Steve Chabot (R-OH), and Ted Poe (R-TX), Chairman of the Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade Subcommittee. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

“While recent events have reaffirmed the nefarious nature of the North Korean regime, the evidence has been building for years that North Korea should have never been taken off the State Sponsor of Terrorism list in the first place. In 2008, I opposed the Bush administration taking North Korea off the list and, ever since then, I have been advocating for putting North Korea back on because that is the true nature of this murderous regime. Pyongyang has flagrantly violated United Nations Security Council resolutions time and time again and has not honored the assurances given to Six-Party partners.

“From kidnapping U.S. citizens, to repeated missile launches, sinking a South Korean naval vessel, an appalling human rights record, and to the recent cyber-attacks, it is clear that the North Koreans feel emboldened and the U.S. must respond with enforcing and applying stricter sanctions. For our own national security, as well as that of our allies, especially those in the region like South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, we cannot allow North Korea to continue sponsoring terror without consequences

Diaz-Balart Condemns Arrests of Cuban Activists, Including Two on the President’s “List of 53”

Press release: Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released the following statement after Rolando Reyes Rabanal and Luis Enrique Labrador were re-arrested. The two men were on President Obama’s list of 53 political prisoners who were released. They were arrested alongside another activist, Miguel Daniel Borroto Vazquez.

“According to reports, Cuban activists Rolando Reyes Rabanal and Luis Enrique Labrador, who are on the President’s list of 53 political prisoners, were once again arrested while attempting to join a pro-democracy meeting of the Movement for a New Republic.  Another opposition activist who was not on the list, Miguel Daniel Borroto Vazquez, was beaten, arrested, and ultimately imprisoned in El Vivac detention center.

“The President’s flawed and arbitrary list of 53 political prisoners falls far short of a condition that should be non-negotiable: the permanent release of ALL political prisoners.  When the Castro regime re-arrests political prisoners after the President “negotiated” their release, it makes a mockery of the entire bad deal.  But, as the administration has conceded several times, the President is too invested in his policy of appeasement to change course over the regime’s human rights abuses.  It remains an utter disgrace that a decent human rights record, and Cuban prisons emptied of innocent men and women, was not part of the President’s deal.”

>>> Press release: Zogby Report Card: Obama amateurish over Paris anti-terror protest no-show John Zogby’s Obama Weekly Report Card is Featured in Paul Bedard’s “Washington Secrets” Published weekly in The Washington Examiner

Pollster John Zogby reports in our weekly White House report card that President Obama’s failure to show support against terrorism at the Paris protest hangs over him and was amateurish. “The president has been on the offense, talking tough, rallying his old base, and his numbers have been climbing. Despite one poll showing him in the high thirties, most polls have the president above 45 percent approval. Please click on the link below to view the full release:
http://zogbyanalytics.com/news/540-zogby-report-card-obama-amateurish-over-paris-anti-terror-protest-no-show

Sen. Rubio keynote speaker at Goldman-Sachs event at Freedom Tower Monday

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R FL is the featured speaker at a Goldman-Sachs event Monday being held at the Miami Freedom Tower and he may be trying to blunt the momentum that former Gov. Jeb Bush is gaining in his quest to win the White House, that neither man has admitted they are seeking but Bush is making all the moves that he will likely run for president in 2016. And for more go to: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/namarco-rubio-to-speak-at-goldman-sachs-event-in-miami.html

FLORIDA

FDLE Dir. Bailey firing still dogging Scott and FL Cabinet, will Ag. Commissioner Putney suffer from scandal

Gov. Rick Scott is now admitting the termination of FDLE Dir. Jerry Bailey could have been handled better after a firestorm erupted when he was fired or resigned (depending on who you believe Bailey or Scott) suddenly and the incident put the Florida Cabinet in the hot seat and the governor has been dealing with the controversy for weeks now with little abatement and a “independent investigation” of the matter is being considered by the Cabinet.

Gov. Scott still trying to tamp down firing of FDLE Dir. Bailey, sends out another press release on the matter

Gov. Rick Scott is about to release his state budget for the coming year and he has $1 billion in extra revenues that he wants to make into tax cuts on the internet and cable bills but local lawmakers are hesitant to support any cuts in revenue that may come to the state’s 67 counties and municipalities that could see their funding drop if these taxes are cut to what Scott wants some $673 million. But Scott is still being buffeted by the row over the firing of FDLE Dir.  Jerry Bailey and the controversial story still has media legs and continues to dog Cabinet Members and Agricultural Commission Adam Putnam is still unhappy with the whole affair that may come back to bite him if he runs for governor in 2016 and he is considered a GOP star after he was elected to the Congress at age 25 and left the body without scandal after a decade and ran for statewide office back in 2010.  And below is another press release with Scott’s explanation that came in this week

>>> And here is another press release from Gov. Scott on the firing: In case you missed it, please see detailed information below on accusations from Gerald Bailey. Click here to view the full FAQ. In light of recent media inquiries, please find the previously released FAQ below.   Click here to view the full FAQ.  Please attribute the FAQ to the Governor’s Press Office.

Q: Did Governor’s staff direct Bailey to target Interim Orange County Clerk Colleen Reilly as part of the investigation of two escaped inmates?

No, Frank Collins met with FDLE communications personnel to help coordinate an FDLE press conference. Bailey asked to speak with Collins and FDLE communications staff before the press conference.

The discussions with Bailey were about how to provide the most complete account of who could have been involved in the high-profile escape of two inmates, which included both the Clerk’s Office and the Department of Corrections. The discussion was not about targeting any individual. Wrote John Tupps Scott’s Deputy Communications Director

>>> Will FDLE’s continued controversy over FDLE Dir. Bailey’s resigning or firing dog Gov. Scott in the months ahead? Tries to dispel it with a press release but will Ag. Commissioner Putnam buy into it?

With The Shake-Up at FDLE, the new Gov. Rick Scott administration is getting off to a shaky start when it comes to transparency and good governance and conflicting charges are flying about what exactly went down with the termination of the long serving Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Director Gerald Bailey and whether he was fired or resigned as the governor said. But the controversy continues in the media and is becoming a major distraction for Scott, “who is quoted saying Bailey did a great job [and is being petty,” and a further news story in the Herald shows the debate will not be going away. Since the law enforcement agency has a rich history of being apolitical and not getting involved in political matters.

And while Gov. Rick Scott is still being hammered over the firing, of Florida department of Law Enforcement Director Gerald Bailey. Some of the Cabinet members are calling for an independent investigator be used to investigate the matter. That caught Florida Cabinet members, Attorney General Pam Bondi, CFO Jeff Atwater taken unaware when asked by the press about the firing. Further, Adam Putnam a former congressman for a decade prior to taking state wide office in 2010 is considered to have a bright political future and potentially a gubernatorial candidate in the next cycle in 2020 and he is starting to take the lead in the matter and Putnam knows how serious the ramifications could be of the possible political intrusion with the FDLE that has a long storied history of being a nonpartisan state law enforcement arm but the controversy whether Bailey was fired by Scott and his contradictory statement by the governor that Bailey quite, which the special agent denies since Bailey was set to retire in just a few months which also puzzles critics. And for Putnam the political stakes are the highest and he needs to be the point of the spear in getting this matter cleared up for the longer it festers and lingers it will be corrosive not only to Scott but how the Florid Cabinet is viewed as a whole  and that dark cloud may well infect Putman’s future political career if not resolved for he is in a position to do something about getting to the root of the story and while below is a press release from the governor’s office on the controversy trying to end the debate and it remains to be seen if this explanation will tamp down the controversy, especially since Putnam is a longtime Floridian and he has the reputation of being a straight shooter.

Putnam

What do we know about Putnam’s finances?

Putnam through Dec. 2013 had a $7.8 million net worth and to read his full disclosure form go to http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/Forms/2013/234671-Form6.pdf

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. >>> Update: Two encouraging meetings… The first, a visit from the Governor to the Rainbow Intergenerational Child Care center in Little Havana where he discussed his early learning priorities. That includes his support for “Help Me Grow,” a statewide parent resource system where parents would be able — via phone and online — to get and she thought answers to questions about their child’s development and connected with the proper resources. The second, a meeting with future House Speaker, Rep. Jose Oliva from Hialeah. He’s a father of three, a real reader of history and student of policy, and committed to better understanding early learning. Dave Lawrence, Chair The Children’s Movement.

• 85 percent of brain growth occurs by age 3.

• Early learning is a continuum between before birth and age 8. (“Families are the ultimate pre-pre-school,” wrote Clare Huntington in The New York Times last September, adding, “I don’t want to rain on the pre-K parade, but we can’t pretend that school preparation begins at age 4. Four is better than 5, but zero is better than 4.”)

All that brings to me to a Miami-Dade Public Schools initiative focused on the transition from child care to kindergarten. This week I spent time at the superb YMCA in Allapattah, a bit north of downtown Miami. I spoke with Drs. Maggie Abrahante and Marisel Elias-Miranda, two key people responsible for early childhood programs that the superintendent has made a priority in this nationally honored school system. They’ve put together an excellent handbook for parents of children headed for kindergarten, and also:
• Five retired school administrators with a special interest in early childhood already have met with 400 child care center directors to give them a sense of what school is all about and the expectations for children.
• Principals are meeting with center directors.
• Parents are offered superb neighborhood workshops, one of which I attended.

Wouldn’t that be smart to do in every school system?

Dave Lawrence
Chair
The Children’s Movement of Florida

And if you would like to see you’re County or state elected leaders financial

Three of the basics of building a real movement for all children: • Nothing is more important than a caring and knowledgeable parent. (Know that 71 percent of American mothers with children between birth and age 5 work outside the home, meaning high-quality, brain-stimulating child care is a major necessity.)

Record Miami-Dade County Tax Collections 2% Hotel Food & Beverage Tax December 2014 December 2013 % Change vs. 2013 $699,623 $625,717 +11.8% 2% Tourist Development Tax December 2014 December 2013 % Change vs. 2013 $2,332,684 $2,142,399 +8.9% 3% Convention Development Tax December 2014 December 2013 % Change vs. 2013 $7,602,867 $7,092,124 +7.2%

Soto

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL

District is revving up $1.2 billion GOB school upgrades program, 400 schools will get some IT upgrades, or facilities

The nation’s fourth largest public schools district is kicking off its massive $1.2 billion GOB program to upgrade and improve all the district’s around 400 schools and there is an independent board watching to see how these new public monies are being spent and there has been concern regarding the diversity of the people getting any of these new contracts and Supt Carvalho has stated the district is working hard to have this demographic diversity as the new projects are rolled out.

Press release: Miami-Dade -DCPS TO HOST BOND PROJECT KICK-OFF EVENTS

Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho, School Board members and community leaders will participate in a series of special events taking place across Miami-Dade County to kick-off school bond projects resulting from the overwhelming voter approval of the $1.2 billion General Obligation Bond. The bond will be used to modernize and construct school buildings throughout the district, expand student capacity, enhance facility safety, and provide technology upgrades at all schools.

Upgrades and new buildings for school sites are well into the design process, in preparation for construction. New wireless infrastructure has been installed, paving the way for schools to move into the digital age.

By taking full advantage of today’s technology and digital learning environments, and replacing or updating aging school buildings, the school district is making it possible for all students to have access to cutting-edge academic programming and modern safety and security measures.

Scheduled events include:

Friday, January 23, 2015 9:00 a.m. Shenandoah Middle School 1950 S.W. 19 Street Miami, Florida 33183 (Estimated Value: Approx.: $7.2 million)	Friday, January 30, 2015 9:00 a.m. American Senior High School 18350 N.W. 67 Avenue Miami, Florida 33015 (Estimated Value: Approx.: $7.4 million)
Thursday, February 5, 2015 9:00 a.m. Cutler Bay Academy 19400 Gulfstream Road Cutler Bay, Florida 33157 (Estimated Value: Approx.: $12.6 million)	Friday, February 13, 2015 9:00 a.m. Miami Sunset Senior High School 13125 S.W. 72 Street Miami, Florida 33183 (Estimated Value: Approx.:$5.8 million)

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

FIU Wertheim College of Medicine ramping up for full complement of 120 medical students, next year would like more intern slots at Jackson

The Florida International University Wertheim College of Medicine is gearing up to reaching its “full capacity” of students at the medical school that would have “120 medical students per class, said an assistant Dean covering for Dean John Rock, M.D., at the PHT board meeting a few weeks ago and FIU will be sending four interns to the main Jackson Memorial Hospital campus “for training.” And she hopes more” FIU interns can get slots for training,” since physicians tend to stay in the community’s they train in.

>>> Press release: Please hold Wednesday, March 4th, 2015 to reconvene the Public Health Trust (PHT) Nominating Council at 11:00 AM at Jackson Memorial Hospital, located at 1611 N.W. 12^th Avenue, 1^st Floor, in the West Wing Board Room (see directions below).  The agenda will follow the week prior to the PHT Nominating Council meeting.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Two more candidates join the pack of candidates running for Commission District 2 seat, somehow DDA gets dragged into Dist.  2 commission race

The Miami District 2 race is heating up with two new candidates entering the field that now includes Bonnie Lorry and Seth Skarley and they will be facing Marc Sarnoff’s wife Teresa who while having a hefty campaign war chest  is expected to face a brutal campaign that has already brought in the Downtown Development Authority (DDA)into the elections and the board is chaired by Sarnoff and he has another close legal confident on the board and the dust up was because of a past law suit brought by another District 2 candidate Grace Solaris who is said to have mixed feelings about the  DDA but the fact a local development authority even got embroiled in the race has raised a lot of eyebrows  and is consistent with Sarnoff’s perceived governance philosophy of What Would Machiavelli Do (WWMD).  For more on the DDA story go to http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/02/downtown-development-authority-thrust-into-miamis-district-2-campaign.html

What about Commissioner Suarez’s reelection?

Commissioner Francis Suarez is also up for reelection and he has three challengers and the younger Suarez is the Chair of the City of Miami Charter Review Committee and he has said he will not attend the community hearings in the coming weeks because he did not want to inhibit public input and was concerned that would happen if he attended. Suarez whose Commission victory a few years ago opened the political gates to his father Xavier Suarez’s political rebirth after the son won. The elder Suarez was a former mayor of Miami but a number of incidents had made him radioactive with Miami voters and the media because of a variety of things that earned the father the nickname “Mayor Loco,” in the media and since 1997. Suarez an attorney has lost all the past elections and there is speculation that he will run for Miami-Dade County Mayor facing off against Mayor Carlos Gimenez who is looking to also have to deal with school Board Member Raquel Regalado who is eyeing to become the first women mayor of Miami and she is getting the backing of auto magnate Norman Braman since he and Regalado are suing the County on the use of $9 million in GOP funds to help fund infrastructure for the private attraction Sky Rise a 1,000 foot structure at the base of Bayside Market and was  sold in a voter referendum as not needing any public financing (Even though there had been a request for some state funding that did not pass in the state legislature last spring).

What about the Miami Charter Review committee?

With two members of the Miami Charter Review Board quitting, George Knox, the Vice Chair and Grace Solaris a candidate for the District 2 seat. The Charter Review Board elected Jan. 26 Stanley Krieger as the Vice Chair of the committee and Commissioner Francis Suarez is the board’s chair.

Village of Coconut Grove

When it comes to name calling by Playhouse advocates, M-DC Cultural Affairs Dir. Spring says he “has been called worse”

With Architectonica winng the contract to create the conceptual plan for the Coconut Grove Playhouse contract that has yet to be approved by the County Commission to draw up possible plans for the iconic Grove Theater. The choice of the firm brings together some strange bedfellows since the architect will likely be Jorge Hernandez who was caught up in controversy regarding the Miami Marine Stadium deal with Miami and The man has close ties to controversial Grove businessman Manny Alonso Poch and his past controversy and conflicts had Marine Stadium proponents withdrawing and removing Poch from the stadium’s not for profit board. And any role Poch might have with Playhouse is unknown but local advocates on https://www.facebook.com/saveourplayhouse

have called and vilified County Cultural Affairs Director Michael Spring who is being referred to as “God” and when I asked Spring about the controversy he noted “I Have been called worse names,” he said Tuesday at a Commission meeting.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> A residents thoughts on massive Miami project on Watson Island and traffic impact on Beach residents

Dear Neighbors and Friends of South of Fifth, Thank you for the outpouring of emails (more than 200) in opposition to the outsized development project approved by the city of Miami for Watson Island.  And thanks also to the couple of dozen neighbors who came in person to yesterday’s hearing at City Hall, adding to what turned out to be a packed auditorium before the Mayor and all the Commissioners.  After hearing from the public, a Miami city official addressed the Commission.  Under questioning from Commissioner Grieco, the Miami official admitted that the current traffic study for Watson Island did not examine the potential impact on Hibiscus, Palm, Star and Terminal Islands, nor at the MacArthur and Alton or MacArthur and Fifth Street intersections.

As a result of what it heard, the Commission voted unanimously to approve a new comprehensive traffic study – potentially costing $200,000 – and directed the City Attorney to examine all options, including legal remedies available to Miami Beach.

Many thanks to our city officials for taking swift and proactive steps to try and protect the best interests of Miami Beach residents.  And also many thanks to local community activists led by Frank Del Vecchio, Stephen Herbits and Peter Ehrlich, as well as the presidents of neighboring associations in West Avenue, Palm, Hibiscus, and the Collins Waterfront group.

For those who want to see more about yesterday’s hearing, read the following story on the Local 10 website, and watch the 2.5 minute TV clip about the controversy. And you will see how the emails you sent were cited in the story.

SOFNA, by Gerald Posner, Secretary, and Dawn McCall, Commercial Director (both of whom represented SOFNA at today’s hearing) http://www.local10.com/news/miami-beach-residents-angry-about-watson-island-megadevelopment-project/30704566

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

Palmetto Bay and Pinecrest will be getting new county fire rescue facility on land owned by a church

The Village of Palmetto Bay and Pinecrest will be getting a new Miami-Dade County Fire and Rescue facility and the land for the facility is being bought from a church said county staff and the only people fighting the facility one local land owner but staff said it will provide needed service in the growing rea said county staff at Tuesday’s County Commission meeting.

BROWARD COUNTY

Former Sen. Nan Rich to run for Commission Dist. 1 seat after failed gubernatorial Democratic primary loss to Crist

For state Sen Nan Rich, D Weston is said to be going to run for the Broward Commission District 1 seat, now held by Commissioner David Kiar. and Rich after a failed gubernatorial campaign is said to have the best name reconition after the head of the Democratic Party Mitch Caesar decided to bow out of the race and Rich is a diehard Democrat and she is a political institution in the overwhelmingly Democratic Party stronghold. However, during the November gubernatorial election that pitted her in the Democratic Party primary against Charlie Crist who was seen to have better chance of beating GOP Gov. Rick Scott http://eyesonnews.com/author/buddy-nevins/ http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/02/with-dem-chair-mitch-ceasar-out-of-way-nan-rich-clears-field-for-broward-county-race.html

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-broward-sheriff-race-20150204-story.html

OMMUNITY EVENTS

South Florida Economic Summit Returns in two weeks

Special $99 Full Program Rate for Leadership Miami^® Participants & Students

The Greater Miami Chamber’s 2015 Economic Summit will explore top matters such as Closing the Skills Gap, Breaking Out of the New Normal, and dive into Miami’s current economic status in order to search for solutions to various concerns. The half-day program on January 29 at Jungle Island is geared toward learning about South Florida’s business strengths and opportunities for growth from CEOs and key industry leaders with a Luncheon address from R. Donahue Peebles, Chairman and CEO of the Peebles Corporation and Governor Rick Scott*. Confirmed speakers to date include: Norman Braman, Chairman, Braman Management; James Glassman, Managing Director and Head Economist for Commercial Banking, Chase; Julie Grimes, Managing Partner, Hilton Bentley; Michelle Henry, VP Sr. Philanthropy Manager, Chase; Avra Jain, Developer; Manny Medina, Founder and Chairman of the Board, emerge Americas, Allen Morris, Chairman and CEO, The Allen Morris Company; Beth Neuman, President and CEO, Starboard Cruise Services; Dr. Eduardo Padron, President, Miami Dade College; Doug Yoder, Deputy Director, Miami-Dade Water and Sewer with Moderator: Helen Aguirre Ferré, Bilingual Radio, Print and TV host; political analyst and Master of Ceremonies: Tom Hudson, Vice President of News and Special Correspondent, WLRN. *denotes invited. Contact: Liana Ventura, 305-577-5445 |lventura@miamichamber.com

Register Online

The Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida is calling visual artists in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties to submit artwork to interpret A Man Among the Peoples, that will coincide with an exhibition on the life, art and legacy of late Overtown artist, Purvis Young. Selected artwork will be displayed in the lobby of The Historic Lyric Theater as part of “Soul Basel Overtown: A celebration of Art, Music and Culture in Colored Town”.

This an art festival taking place from December 3 – 7, 2014 in Miami’s Historic Overtown District. We encourage imaginative expression in the interpretation of the theme. This project is designed to highlight the work of South Florida artists among others that will be displayed during Art Basel weekend. In addition to the public, museum professionals and art critics are invited to attend the festival. Entries will be accepted via email. Deadline to apply is Monday, November 17, 2014.To enter or for more information, please contact Adia McKenzie at amckenzie@theblackarchives.org or 786-708-4

CLIMATE ACROSS THE CURRICULUM

Professional Development for K-12 Administrators and Teachers

in ALL Disciplines

Caroline Lewis, CLEO’s Executive Director, will lead this interactive workshop that includes a Q/A session with a panel of climate scientists & other experts in the field.

Climate Leadership Training Science | Solutions | Communication Join Us January 24, 2015 Designed for teachers, administrators, and all citizens interested in knowing: * Basic science of climate change * Promising efforts & solutions * How to simplify all of this; AND * When, where, & how to include this in your classes and schools Training includes panel discussion with climate experts, including: Dr. Ben Kirtman, UM & IPCC John Morales, NBC6 & ClimaData Corp. Dr. Maribeth Gidley, UM & NOAA (invited) VIEW PANELISTS BIOS ** 7 Master Plan Points will be awarded to eligible trainees. ** VIEW THE FLYER The CLEO Institute Offers formal and informal trainings, events, and forums to bridge the divide between science and society on this urgent issue. Drives the issue across boundaries, from classrooms and town halls to the halls of Congress. Climate change is a challenge that requires commitment, creativity and ingenuity – from all of us. Provides our leaders the needed support of a well-informed public. Tackling climate change means addressing it at every level and in all communities. The CLEO Institute is a non-profit organization That provides Climate Leadership Engagement Opportunities to bridge the divide between science and society on this urgent issue. Learn more: visit www.cleoinstitute.org or contact us: info@cleoinstitute.org / 305.284.0908 Our office is located at Pinecrest Gardens 11000 Red Road, Pinecrest, Florida 33156 Registration for MDCPS Teachers All others: Email Marissa@CLEOInstitute.org to register Registration is REQUIRED. Light refreshments will be served. ALL FEES WAIVED! When Saturday, January 24 Time 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Where University of Miami Cox Science Center, Room 126 1301 Memorial Drive Coral Gables, FL 33146 What “Climate Across the Curriculum” Climate Leadership Training View More Info Quick Links Directions About Donate Stay Connected

To view this message online, visit http://www.miami.edu/communications/evites/des/steinem/index.html

Children’s abuse advocate Lauren Book publishes first children’s book

It is with great pride that I am letting you know of some great news about Lauren and her latest work! Lauren has once again become a published author. Lauren’s first children’s picture book, titled, Lauren’s Kingdom will be released March 9, 2015. Lauren will launch the book at the flagship 59th Street Bloomingdale’s store in New York City on March 7^th, but I would like to invite you to pre-order a copy or more today for $16.99 at one of the following links:

– Books-A-Million: http://bit.ly/1C43p5S

– Amazon (be sure to use Amazon Smile to benefit Lauren’s Kids!): http://bit.ly/1xWdHhV

– Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1telGdo

Lauren’s Kingdom is the story of a young girl named Lauren who lived with her loving family in a small stone house by the sea. Her radiant smile and sweet disposition warmed the hearts of everyone she met, and she loved to play pretend…but things changed the day a new babysitter came into little Lauren’s life. With the help of her best friend Rodney, Lauren finds the courage to use her voice and face her fears. Set in the fanciful backdrop of a young girl’s imagination, Lauren’s Kingdom carries a message for children everywhere: If you’re choking back tears and your heart’s filled with fears…you know very well, it’s OK to tell. And there’s a message to parents and other adults, too: Listen.

Presales of the book are critical in the early days of its release. Help us propel this new children’s work that is so important to best seller lists across the country. Please take two minutes right away to order your copy and urge others to do the same.

Proceeds from Lauren’s Kingdom book sales go toward The Lauren’s Kids Foundation — a registered 501(c) (3) organization — and its mission to prevent child sexual abuse through education and awareness and help survivors heal with guidance and support. For more information, visit LaurensKids.org.

Thank you for your support,

Ron Book

>>> About the Black Archives History and Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc.:

The Black Archives History and Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc is a non-profit organization founded in 1977 by Dorothy Jenkins Fields, Ph.D. With a mission to not only preserve the documentary and photographic history of black South Florida, but also to enrich the present and protect the future through the revitalization Miami’s former black business and entertainment district, Overtown. The Black Archives and its programming are supported by the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency, Miami-Dade County, The Knight Foundation, Coca-Cola, Macy’s, The Design Group Miami & Drummer Boy Sound. For more information on The Black Archives of South Florida visit www.theblackarchives.org.

>>> The Margulies Warehouse will be reopen at the end of October and all adult admission charges $10.00 will go to Lotus House Women’s and Children’s Shelter in Overtown and students are free. For more go to http://www.margulieswarehouse.com/ and the Lotus House Gala will be Oct. 25th for more information go to http://lotushouse.org/

EDITORIAL

>>> Miami-Dade County Ethics Commission proposes “Honor Code” for County employees but would it make a difference, or open up people to blackmail?

The Miami-Dade Ethics and Public Trust Commission’s idea of having a County “Honor Code” has merit but the question also is will anyone follow it except for a few select people and since all county employees have gone through Ethics training would such an honor code be respected since even now if someone does not report wrong doing they are complacent and have contaminated themselves and would an honor Code just come back and open more employees up for intimidation or blackmail if they had not reported a violation and the Honor Code while a good idea is a double edged sword that might work in a County where many municipal attorney’s work for just three votes on the dais, versus what is good for taxpayers something the Watchdog Report was told years ago but by a municipal attorney and that comment appears to be a pretty fair representation of many people’s attitudes and can be seen by how people resist the Public Records Laws.  And here is what the County’s Ethics Commission is proposing on the matter.”Mr. [Joe] Centorino also presented the implementing order to establish an Honor Code for Miami-Dade County employees and politicians.  The proposed Honor Code, which was approved by the Ethics Commission last year, requires county staff and elected officials  – among other things — to protect the public interest above any personal or institutional interest and loyalty and report gross ethical misconduct within the government.  The Honor Code and Implementing Order will be submitted to the Board of County Commissioners for approval,” states the Ethics commission press release on the matter and its Director’s comments on the legislation.

LETTERS

>>> Hi, Dan, and I hope all goes well for you in the New Year. Firstly, thanks for your continuing work with the Watchdog Report.

I’m writing to clarify a small point in your recent article of 1/9 re Marc Sarnoff and the Home Depot campaign. (I’m a director of the Grove First group that organized that campaign and I am the person that developed the Grove First strategy.)

Our strategic objective was to stop the construction hard not of a large-scale big box store and retain a grocery/food market in the neighborhood.  Our approach was to constrain the tenant (Home Depot) to operate within the then-existing zoning laws without variance. Ultimately Home Depot agreed to all conditions.

Since then, and generally speaking, Home Depot has operated within the agreed constraints.  The impact of the operation on the nearby community has been minimal and some would argue beneficial.  Milam’s food market was able to remain, renovate and expand.

The members of Grove First would therefore consider the “Home Depot” campaign a success and we are grateful for the support of the many people–Marc Sarnoff central among them—that made it possible.  (Len Scinto, a Grove First director, is copied.)

Mel Meinhardt

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