Watchdog Report Vol.16 No.5 Jun. 21, 2015 EST.05.05.00 – I go when you cannot-Celebrating 16 Years of weekly publishing

>>> 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 fiscal help and new Supporters and I hope you will consider supporting me allowing me to stay out in the field so that I can keep at this. For now 16 years, 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 will be on Topical Currents WLRN 91.3 FM at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday and readers should listen in as we discuss the hot topics in the community today.

>>> The Watchdog Report will return next week after I raise some money to keep this going even while people carp about their governments, and yet do little about changing the situation. And to my Supporters and Sponsors I thank you for your confidence over the past 16 Years.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>> GOP field heats up with Bush Trump jumping in presidential primary, but how will these men fare in the races?

When it comes to the GOP candidates the past week it was political bookends with former Gov. Jeb Bush finally throwing his hat into the ring at Miami-Dade College, followed the next day by Donald Trump’s semi bombastic announcement at one of his buildings he was running in New York City and when it comes to immigration he wants to build a “Great,” wall with Mexico,” and to make them pay for it. Trump who noted he was worth “$9 billion” said he would be his own man, be tough on China, and the showman developer has added a new wrinkle to the Republican primary race that has a full field of candidates vying  to be the Party’s champion against Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton who also has announced her candidacy.

And critics are wary of Trump given his volatile nature and when it comes to any debates he is considered a loose cannon who may say the most outrageous things at the event and could tank any GOP hopefuls. But it was Bush’s announcement after months of exploring a candidacy that many were waiting for and the thoughtful younger brother to former President George W. Bush seems to have found his political voice after a few years in political retirement and given the controversy of the Confederate Flag in South Carolina recently in Florida’s case. When Jeb was governor and it flew over the Florida Capital. After he was elected he had it quietly taken down without any fanfare and put in a museum, and the issue blew over for him back in the 1980s and while critics carp the nation does “not need another Bush,” Jeb appears to be carving out his own nitch that appears to be more moderate than some of the Party faithful. That still includes members of the tea party.

And Jeb still has to deflect the candidacy of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida run for the presidency and the GCOP Old guard suggest Rubio should wait his turn,” which is what the junior senator says it is “what people said,” when he first ran and won and Bush and Rubio are friends that includes Jeb giving Rubio a ceremonial sword when he was sworn in as Speaker of The Florida House and Bush was the governor.

>>>>Dr. Phillip and Patricia Frost are tapped to get The Greater Miami Chamber, Sand In My Shoes Award for their philanthropic good works and contributions to the community.

The recipient of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce “Sand in My Shoes Award,” on Feb 24^th, will be the “Fourth Couple,” with the honors going to Dr. Phillip and Patricia Frost. For all the community philanthropy gifts and other good works, including A major donation to the new Miami Phillip and Patricia Frost Science Museum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillip_Frost and the University of Miami over the years and, he made his fortune in the pharmaceutical industry and the physician is a WII. veteran and is an Ivy League graduate, The University of Pennsylvania, and he received his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine,  and the power couple well deserve this premier community Award and the Watchdog Report gives them a Tip of The Hat for all their contributions to making Miami a better place for all.

>>> The Miami Herald has finally gone back to its roots with the Investigative reporting series License to Launder, and spend

Thank you Michael Sallah and Joanna Zuckermen Berstein for bringing Investigative Journalism back to The Miami Herald after some of the past Investigative reporters moved on over the years to other papers such as The Washington Post, and the series, License to Launder/Spend is an eye opener and to read the story go to http://pubsys.miamiherald.com/static/media/projects/2015/license-to-launder/spend.html detailing a rogue Task Force of police who spent lavishly with little accountability regarding where some of the money went. And it is an outrageous piece of lack of accountability with people with a badge. http://pubsys.miamiherald.com/static/media/projects/2015/license-to-launder/spend.htmlhe

>>> Press release: As President Suffers Worst Defeat, His Approval stays at 45% By: John Zogby Forbes.com Contributor

President Obama had a pretty awful week. He started with an admission that his administration still had no complete strategy to fight ISIS, then he followed up by announcing that he will authorize sending 450 more military advisors on the ground to train Iraqi soldiers. The no strategy statement was clumsy and the new troop’s declaration was met with jeers by both Democrats and Republicans. And all of this took place before Democrats in Congress dissed him on the Trade Promotion Authority legislation. Whew!

Nonetheless, the President’s approval numbers fell only one point to 45% in a new Zogby Analytics Poll. The massive online poll of 3,225 likely voters nationwide was conducted June 5-10 and has a margin of sampling error of +/-1.8 percentage points.

Please click on the link below to view the full release:
http://zogbyanalytics.com/news/596-as-president-suffers-worst-defeat-his-approval-stays-at-45

>>> Press release: Zogby: Obama recovers trade deal and his weekly grade

John Zogby’s Obama Weekly Report Card is Featured in Paul Bedard’s “Washington Secrets” Published weekly in The Washington Examiner

In his weekly presidential report card, pollster John Zogby can be tough, like when he gave President Obama an F last week for flunking on trade. But Zogby said it was only fair to give the president a much better grade this week after Obama helped to revive his trade deal.

“These report cards are complicated so I am going to explain my process this week. First, the president is coming off last week’s ‘F,’ mainly because of the defeat of ‘Fast Track’ by his own party. This week the House GOP – along with 28 Democrats – voted for ‘Fast Track,’ so it is alive. It is now in the hands of the Senate which has passed it already. Please click on the link below to view the full release: http://zogbyanalytics.com/news/599-zogby-obama-recovers-trade-deal-and-his-weekly-grade

>>> Press release: Zogby: ‘F’ for Obama who ‘lost his base’ on trade deal, fumbled ISIS -John Zogby’s Obama Weekly Report Card is Featured in Paul Bedard’s “Washington Secrets” Published weekly in The Washington Examiner For a president trying to nail down his legacy, this week couldn’t have gone worse, or been more embarrassing for Barack Obama. Starting with a weak response to the ISIS terror gripping the Middle East and ending with the disaster on his trade deal, it was one the president would likely want to forget. Please click on the link below to view the full release: http://zogbyanalytics.com/news/593-zogby-f-for-obama-who-lost-his-base-on-trade-deal-fumbled-isis

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.

State of FLORIDA

>>> It’s over the Florida Legislature passes $78.7 million budget, but Amendment 1 critics cry foul for lack of funding to buy ecologically sensitive lands around Florida

It’s over, the Florida Legislature passed a new $78.7 million state budget and Gov. Rick Scott did not get all the tax cuts, and public schools funding he wished and the governor is sure to be sharpening up his veto pen given some of the pork inserted into the document behind closed doors and while there is $3 billion going to state reserves to keep the Florida bond rating at AAA, cuts were made to public school funding  but environmentalist are howling that funding for Amendment 1 passed by over a majority of voters for the state to buy sensitive lands but did not get the state funding these advocates asked for but smaller amounts are included in the new budget that begins July1 after surviving the governor’s veto.

>>> Former state Sen. Diz de la Portilla roaming Miami-Dade County Hall

Former state Sen. Alex Diaz-de la Portilla was spotted in the chambers of the Miami-Dade Commission and the lobbyist and former state Senator was followed in that office by his brother Miguel who was also a former County Commissioner before running for the state office back in 2010.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> “3,000 horses,” pass through MIA a year says Commissioner Souto

Horse Country in West Dade will have a County Charrette in the future to decide what the community wants to be in the future given the many ranches in the area where some of Florida’s “best race horses come from,” Said Commissioner Javier Souto who also noted that some “3,000 horses,” are shipped through Miami-Dade at MIA and the area  is a economic driver and the discussion was prompted at a Commission Committee meeting after Michael Miller of the Community Newspapers spoke to the officials on the matter.

When it comes to what Miami-Dade will be in “30 years,” County Commissioner Juan C. Zapata suggested the county administration ask the Knight Foundation to weigh in on what planners should be focusing on especially when it came to projected “population,” projections, and where they might live and what should the County government be focusing on when it comes to any infrastructure that might be needed, he has suggested at past committee meetings, and the man  has hit on a good idea given the congestion that includes 40,0000 passengers going through MIA a year and then many of them sightseeing. And while Miami-Dade lost population right after Hurricane Andrew flattened South Florida on Aug. 2092. The population number has surged since then to about 2.6 million residents with some half million of them not being citizens, was said at a recent commission committee meeting and between Commissioners Zapata, Javier Souto and Rebeca Sosa, the Commissioners are keeping a watchful eye on how your public tax dollars are being spent, especially running up to the upcoming budget hearings in September, where taxes are expected not to be raised given the mayoral election next year in 2016.

>>> County IG Cagel saves taxpayers some $19.9 million in waste fraud and abuse for the year says new 2014 Annual Report

The Miami-Dade County Office of the Inspector General has released its 2014 Annual Report and the office has saved taxpayers some $19.9 million in “questionable costs, damages, losses, and lost revenues for the County.” And to read the full report go to: http://www.miamidadeig.org/annualreports/2014AnnualReport.pdf And this is the first report since IG Mary T. Cagle took over the post following Christopher Mazzella who founded the office back in 2008 when the County Commission pushed for the office and the charge  was spearheaded by then County Commissioners Jimmy Morales and Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, now a state Senator and the office is one of the few in the United States Counties, but was created after extensive corruption and waste in a number of the County’s now 25 departments that made extensive news coverage for waste including MIA at the time of the office’s creation  put pressure on politicians to clean up the situation and the office has been diligently doing that since then.

A Message from Inspector General Mary T. Cagle

WELCOME to the official Internet site of the Miami-Dade County Office of the Inspector General (OIG). This site includes many of our published investigative and audit reports, information about our office, and our annual reports. Note the “REPORT FRAUD” button to report complaints confidentially. This site also links to other government agencies that may be of service to you. This site provides you with information about our staff, what we do, our history, and the jurisdiction of the Inspector General.

Your Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners took great lengths to ensure that the Inspector General is autonomous and independent—insulated from any political influences. To help restore public trust in County government, in 1997 the Board of County Commissioners created the OIG to be a watchdog over County practices. The Board of County Commissioners designed the ordinance to ensure that the OIG would be sufficiently funded and independent, so the goal of creating a watchdog could be achieved. The OIG has the authority to investigate fraud, waste, and abuse within your County’s programs and projects, to randomly audit County contracts and programs, and to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of such programs.

In February of 2014, after being appointed by the Ad Hoc Selection Panel and approved by the Board of County Commissioners, I had the pleasure of assuming the role of Inspector General—only the second Inspector General in the history of the County. Thanks to former Inspector General Chris Mazzella, I take the helm of an agency that is accredited by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation and designated as a criminal justice agency by the FBI.

It is my honor and privilege to serve Miami-Dade County as the Inspector General, and I am committed to using my experience and expertise to lead the OIG staff; working with the Commission, Mayor, staff, and the public to carry out the mission of the Office.

My door is open and there is much work to do. We have two distinct yet overlapping functions: audit/contract oversight and investigation. The expertise of the staff is impressive. We will investigate and audit with a sense of purpose, consistent with our statutory mission. We will be thorough and fair, and our findings and recommendations will be based on facts and evidence.

At the end of the day, we all want to live and work in this wonderful community, trusting that our government is honest and efficient and working for the greater good. Thank you for the opportunity to serve. For more go to www.miamidade.gov/ig

>>> County Commissioners give Beacon CEO Williams a thumbs up for working better with Mayor Gimenez administration

Larry K. Williams, the President and CEO of The Beacon Council of Miami-Dade County spoke to the Commission Committee on Transportation and Tourism and he got a warmer welcome from the body than in in the past when the former CEO Frank Nero was under the gun of former Commissioner Lynda Bell who railed against the body but that has changed under  William’s leadership and the Council is working closer with the county administration (especially regarding television programs that reference Miami-Dade) as was recently done on the hot real estate market by CNN to maximize companies coming to Miami-Dade and information packets are available of the opportunities here said staff and Commissioner Dennis Moss thanked the organization for participating in a recent Economic Summit held in South Miami-Dade recently.

What about the Military Affairs Committee?

Gus Cruz the chair of the County’s Military Affairs Committee told County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz that he is leading a “delegation” to Washington D.C. to ask lawmakers with help for “affordable housing,” where “there is none,” in Miami-Dade and the “per Diem, paid to these stationed military personnel is insufficient for the rising cost of living in Miami. Diaz, a veteran Marine noted that the “military was a major economic driver,” and they fought to keep SOUTHCOM and Homestead Air force Base here, he said.

What about international trade and the pharmaceutical industry in S. America and MIA where

The new director of the International Trade consortium noted that pharmaceutical shipments to South America are up “60 percent,” and is a growing industry for the airport and is being actively pursued by consortium staff said the new director a former County employee in a new position and has a staff of five, he said.

>>> County’s health self-insurance program making the targeted savings anticipated says, budget guru Moon to BCC committee

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez during last year’s budget hearings proposed making the County’s health insurance program self-insured believing that some $40 million could be saved in the rising healthcare costs at the county. And County budget guru Jennifer Moon said the plan was on track and I contacted her after she made a presentation at a county commission committee meeting and she wrote back by email, “We are on target to achieve the savings we anticipated.  I tripped because the lady next to me put her foot out in front of me.  She didn’t know I was getting up.

>>>> State Law allowing more public comments is working to make government more transparent and easier for public input

A law passed by the Florida Legislature to allow “a reasonable opportunity for the public to speak,” is resulting in the public to speaking more often on a host of issues allowing more public input into municipal, counties and the school board discussions and is working very well and public comments are bringing many issues to light and while some elected leaders hate the new state law. It is having a positive affect when it comes to public discourse. And has made for a more open discussion with residents who are asking for their time and no longer have to wait for hours until their item is called sometimes almost all day, and while local lawmaker’s Are not wild about this, it is working nicely and the public thanks the Florida Legislature for this new law.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Public School Districts and educational advocates should note that of 136 students who had perfect attendance since first grade at Miami-Dade County Public Schools all were admitted to prestige’s Colleges, such as the “University of Chicago, FIU UM UF,”  and Georgia Tech.,  said Alberto Carvalho at the board’s monthly meeting

Press release: Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall (center) is joined by fellow School Board Members, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and the family of the late Georgia Jones-Ayers after the Board approved a proposal renaming Allapattah Middle School after the civil rights leader.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> President Migoya gets contract extension updates County Commissioners on $ 8.3 million GOB bond for improvements only $100 million or so of that spent

The PHT board approved a new compensation package for CEO and President Carlos Migoya along with the Annual Operating Agreement with the University of Miami’s Miller Medical School to provide medical services to Jackson Health patients.

What did Migoya tell County Commissioner’s last week?

When voters last year approved a $830 million GOB for improvements to the public Jackson Health System, commissioners told the public there would be quarterly reports ( and this is the first one) on how that new money would be used and Migoya last week briefed a Commission Committee on how buckets of this new money was going to be spent. He noted in slides that $150 million would be going to new facilities, that $18.3 million was going into “upgrades,” including $177 million in new infrastructure including $353 million in new IT systems and the president noted of the first $100 million in bond sales that the health Trust total “spending of that amount was $127 million and the administration is selling the bonds carefully, and is “timing cash flow properly,” and we “are not selling the bonds to early,” that he said might incur “unnecessary costs,” to the health trust. And the PHT board also extended the contract with Migoya last week adding a bonus for the former banker who has done an incredible job turning around the beleaguered Trust that for years hemorrhaged red ink, but under his watch after significant union concessions has brought it into the black, no easy feat given the level of charity and uncompensated care it gives to county residents. And for more on this go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article24874744.html

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Sarnoff has done a book of his District 2 accomplishments, never done before in Miami commission history!

The residents and voters of Miami Commission District 2 are stunned to find out that the termed out Commissioner Marc Sarnoff is putting together a book of all the things he accomplished during his time in office, and such a chronicle has never been done before for a Miami commissioner, not even J.L. Plummer after 28 years in office and he lost to Johnny Winton in 1999. But people are wondering if any of this self-congratulation has been done on the public dime and it was written by Sharie A. Blanton whose webpage has listed, Miami’s conscious. Below is what came in on his district newsletter this week.

Sarnoff who only had one year in office after he was elected in 2006, before winning a full four year term the next year. He was low key at first, and at his first inauguration he mentioned “RFK, JFK, MLK,” and others and compassion and empathy is not his strong suit. Versus his first full term election inauguration held in the Grove Convention Center and included a teleprompter at the podium and given there are five commissioners on the dais it looked odd and he has only gotten only more imperious over the years.

>>> Here is the email letter unedited: The Ending Of My Tenure – A Look Back At Many of Our Many Accomplishments

My tenure as a Miami City Commissioner is coming to a close in November. It has been quite a humbling time for me as your elected representative, and I am so thankful for all the support you have given me over the years. I also want to thank those who challenged my decisions and perspective during my tenure. I am a stronger policy-maker and individual because of those challenges and I genuinely appreciate you all voicing your perspectives and ideas to me and my office over my time as a city commissioner.

I asked my office to compile a book of our accomplishments during the past 9 years, and to say it was an arduous task is to put it mildly. Below you will find a quick journey through some of the most important events, decisions, and policy changes conducted by our office. Just simply click on the photo and a new browser will open.

As always, if you have questions or concerns you’d like to share, you can always call our office at (305) 250-5333 or email me at msarnoff@miamigov.com.

>>> And above is from Commission Candidate Teresa Sarnoff’s twitter account featuring Rosy the Riveter. https://twitter.com/hashtag/InternationalWomensDay?src=hash

>>> Sarnoff’s wife claims “Commitment,” to the Community,” but where has she been all these years?

Teresa Sarnoff trying to replace her husband Marc on the dais ran a full page ad in the Miami Herald’s Neighbors Section and her tag line is her “Commitment to the Community,” Coconut Grove essentially even though she is rarely seen at public meetings and other community events that her husband attends in his commissioner capacity. She has raised a huge sum for her campaign war chest and critics carp she wants to buy her way into office after raising over $300,000 for her campaign largely funded by developers doing business with the Commission but she says she is her own woman and her husband is her second marriage.

But she may find some blowback comes with her husband’s book of accomplishments as tries to follow his “lineage,” of falsely saying he was the grandson of Gen. David Sarnoff, who made RCA a powerhouse while founding NBC back in the 1930s. And he got busted for the “lineage,” embellishment after he was elected when Miami New Times called the man’s library in Princeton and a relative told the reporter they did not know who this person was and Sarnoff scrubbed his official webpage of any reference after the story broke but the reporter Frank Alvarado copied the webpage bio and the clear reference that shocked many people because why would anyone do this? Maybe in Princeton but not in Coconut Grove many people have wondered. Further he was asked again if he was part of the Sarnoff family by Richard Ives, the producer of Topical Currents on www.WLRN.org one afternoon before the show. And Sarnoff, still seems to be keeping the “lineage” issue alive after he was asked the question where he answered its “Part of my lineage,” he told Ives.

>> District 2 candidate Sarnoff says “I love to drive,” and will not use commission sergeant-of arms like her husband does.

“I love to drive,” said Teresa Sarnoff when I asked her if she was going to use the sergeant-of-arms like her husband does to take her around Miami very often and is a perk some commissioners over use since they do get an $11,000 car allowance in that position and it involves a sworn Miami police officer providing them protection. And first started back in the early 2000s when now deceased Miami Commissioner Arthur Teele, Jr. pushed the commission having these type of officials. After then Mayor Joe Carollo hired an Israeli security guard for himself, and Teele thought commissioner’s deserved the same protection staff. This is important because Commissioners use it sometimes like Uber to get around including going to a restaurant like Versailles which occurred a few month back when one commissioner was thinking about running for mayor and huddled with his advisors at the iconic Cuban Restaurant, but that story in the Watchdog Report back then did have the Miami Police Chief send out a revised SOP for the sergeants to follow and these officers use must now have some city business to be covered.

>>> A section of Douglas Park’s fence (in Sarnoff’s District) has been pushed down and people are being seen on the contaminated park with some mitigation having been done after the city closed this and other parks because of contamination of the public places.

>>> City of Miami trying to figure out how to clean up Seybold Canal with “environmental pollution concerns,” including “dioxins,” in canal, says asst. Atty. Jackson

Robin Jackson led the discussion on Wednesday, at the Miami Finance Committee meeting Wednesday on how to pay for the cleanup of the Seybold Canal which has  “environmental and pollution concerns,” including dioxin’s and other toxic materials and has been a pollution nightmare for years after Miami Commissioner Arthur Teele, Jr., convened a local Miami committee made up of a host of people from  the environmental community, and brought the issue to light years ago, and while the Miami River has been dredged there was not enough funding to clean the canal and the city has an opportunity to apply for a state loan that could possibly have “zero interest,” said Jackson, an assistant Miami attorney during the discussion but also said, “the zero percent interest rate, could depend on if the money is in the current batch of state money,” she said. She also noted other funding sources could be the Florida Inland Navigation District and possible other sources as the federal government, but city staff also mentioned some of the local homeless population use the canal and it is “a life safety issue,” potentially for them and also includes numerous sunk “vessels,” in the canal, said City staff. ( and Candidates running for the Miami commission should attend these public meetings for you will learn a lot about the  city’s finances and issues) but the Watchdog Report over the year’s is the only one that consistently has attended these meetings and that is wrong for the voters of Miami. Further Jackson note for servicing any bond debt it might be using “storm water revenue, that is not pledged before, aside for debt service,” she suggested as one future option for the Miami Commission, she said.

>>> Miami Commissioners and Chair Willy Gort needs to ask more often if there is anyone from the public that would like to speak to the commission because at Miami-Dade Public Schools Board Chair Perla Tabares Hantman asks all through their meetings if there is anyone from the public that wants to speak on any topic since the new state law requires more public input at from the “public that wants to speak? She asks and she is in stark contrast to the Miami commission meetings and Chair Gort should get some guidance on this matter. Since there is such a contrast versus the county where elected leaders ask often if any public wants to speak. And Gort also urges public speaking after they  run over two minutes, “and in conclusion” he reminds speakers which many times disrupt’ s the person’s train of thought  at the podium. http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/03/miami-commissioner-willy-gort-draws-a-challenger-in-reelection-campaign.html

>>> Commissioners Gort and Suarez want more funding to keep Miami “clean of trash,”

Miami Commissioner Wilfredo Gort is also pushing a “Clean Miami,” proposal trying to get  young people and their parents to not litter and throw trash “out of a car window,” which someone would “get cited for in the past,” said Gort and just  makes the city look bad while clogging up storm drains and contaminating the Bay, he insisted. And Gort has an ally on the dais with commissioner Francis Suarez who “almost” voted “against last year’s,” budget because “there wasn’t taxes going to Beautification,” which he says residents want and deserve,” believing a “certain amount of their tax dollars [should] be invested for beautification,” he insisted last week on the dais at the commission meeting during a discussion by Gort on the matter that has Miami officials working with the schools to get the word out about not throwing trash in the public domain.

What about Miami’s bond holdings?

The City of Miami has some $200 million in bond holdings and the Signa Cyber Security guidelines after a breach a while ago was discussed by one of the board members and Cyber Security in a host of ways is becoming a major worry for municipalities.

What about the Miami Audit Committee?

PAST WDR: Because of the lack of appointments by the Miami commission the critical Audit Committee has not met in the “past year,” and commissioners need to make appointments to this critical oversight board for it also plays an important role in keeping the city on an even fiscal keel.

What about the other candidates for the Dist.2 seat becoming open?

PAST WDR: Teresa Sarnoff has decided to knock on doors with her husband Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff who she wants to follow in his seat since he is termed out after eight years in the office and there is clearly voter fatigue for the man. Who comes off as irritating and has trouble connecting with people and could be the wife’s downfall in the crowded Dist.2 Miami Commission race with a host of challengers who just need to get 50.1 percent to prevail in the primary and the expected general election in late November and having a strong organization getting voters to the polls will be key to any victor.

What about her husband’s net worth?

Sarnoff whose net worth dropped has recovered (Now $1.98 million) and most of the gain is in the value of his real estate compound next to a park in the Grove that is one of the nicest in the City’s Park system.

And When it comes to the Miami Commission District 2 race things are very quiet and the Watchdog Report has seen a couple of candidates in my neighborhood or down at Miami Commission meetings, (That is changing and a couple of candidates were seen at Thursday’s Commission meeting.) but campaign reports show candidate Grace Solaris has raised some $118,820 (up from 57,680) to her likely challenger’s Teresa Sarnoff who has increased her war chest to $389,964., through April 2015. And she was seen knocking on doors in the South Grove last week where she was walking with some women volunteers wearing tee shirts so she is now doing traditional campaigning. And Challenger Ken Russell has come out with his first campaign ad in what is expected to be a bruising race for Sarnoff’s wife. And in the District 4 race incumbent Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez is reporting $23,125 for his campaign and the younger Suarez is facing long time perennial candidate Manolo Reyes who has raised $70,710 and another challenger Antonio J. Diaz has $23,125 for his own campaign but Reyes has been trying to get elected for years. And there are gaps on who contributed this money and the only listed expense was $3,360and to read all the latest campaign reports go to http://www.ci.miami.fl.us/City_Clerk/Pages/Elections/CampaignReports15.asp

What about the Miami Charter Reform and Review Committee with Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez on it?

The City’s Miami Charter Review and Reform Committee has been meeting for months and for some of the members this is not the first time being on such a committee and some good discussion is going on, some that is fairly nuanced but there are number of things that need clarification in the Charter like who can fire the Miami Police Chief after the botched firing of a former Chief by a past City Manager a couple of years ago and perhaps a clarification in the Charter who the City attorney works for. The people, the commission or the mayor, for many of these municipal attorneys when asked who they work for they say for three votes on the commission. Further Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez wants to create a City Transportation Trust noting that the popular Trolley system is running out of money,” and the City needs to set aside general funds for funding, including “sea level hardening,” he said. And upkeep the Vice Chair of the MPO told Charter Review members and Suarez planned to bring the item to the commission in the future possible May 28. And Suarez, the Younger “wants to create a policy that we “set aside,” “monies,” for a “pay as you go basis,” for these needs as the booming city tax base increases but has created a traffic nightmare downtown where “some 200,000 people come to Miami,”  every day says the Miami DDA.

What about Past Charter Review Committees?

Back in 1999 a charter Review committee chaired by Gort created ballot language that was written specifically to force then controversial Mayor Joe Carollo to run for reelection again which he won but it was a real eye opener to what can go on at such a committee which is not the case now.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Mayor Levine says he will seek “reelection” in November, but, says there is still “work to be done

Mayor Philip Levine told the Watchdog Report last week in a phone interview that the media maven and prominent Democratic Party fund raiser will seek “reelection” in November when his first two year term in office is over and he faces the electorate again in the City, that is ground zero for global warming, with water surging up from storm drains that new pumps are mitigating especially during the king tides that periodically occur in the tony community of 90,000 residents that acts much larger, and is a global brand around the Globe. Levine who has shown his frustration with the pace of government believes more people in public service should have “run a business,” first before because some politicians don’t appreciate what the private citizen has to deal with.

>>> Mayors ban together to fight gambling in Florida

Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine are linking up with other Florida mayors to fight the expansion of gambling in Florida and the state legislature is currently trying got come up with some deal but that seems unlikely

>> Mayor Levine press release: Dear Fellow Floridians and Friends,

Please click here to view the ad below, that I was honored to participate in with my fellow Mayors from Bradenton, Orlando, and Miami.

We must fiercely fight efforts in Tallahassee to STOP the expansion of gaming in Florida, especially in my home county of Miami-Dade. Gaming expansion will negatively affect our state’s good brand and quality of life. Don’t be fooled. Stand with us! Sincerely,
Philip Levine

Mayor of Miami Beach

What about the Watson Island project the City of Miami wants to allow?

Beach residents are gearing up to fight the large project proposed by a local developer for Watson Island and has been delayed since voters approved it back in 1999 and was selected because they agreed to pay the highest fees back to the city back then but since then traffic on the MacArthur Causeway has ben horrendous and is becoming a nightmare that this new development would only make worse and the lawsuits are flying.

And had one Miami Beach City Attorney speaking at a Miami Planning and Zoning Board against it recently.

Broward County

>>> Broward Charter Review committee should give IG ability to initiate investigations, let voters decide

The Broward County Commission has formed a Charter Review Committee and they should recommend that the County Auditor be allowed to initiate an investigation like it can be done in Miami-Dade County and while Commissioner Stacey Ritter modified some of that wording after the IG office was created by voters. The office needs the right to initiate investigations if the  new County Office  is to reach its full potential, but there are concerns that will not happen given commissioners picked the people on the committee and would not make the recommendation cut critics charge. For more go to:  http://www.broward.org/charter/Pages/Default.aspx

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Miami-Dade County Animal Services needs your help in finding loving homes for
nine dogs rescued from horrific hoarding conditions

Press release: Last year, Miami-Dade County Animal Services (Animal Services) rescued a total of 17 dogs living in horrible conditions from a residential property. The dogs were brought into Animal Services for evaluation by shelter veterinarians and care was provided. This week Animal Services received custody of the dogs and while some have found homes, nine are still in need of loving forever families.

The remaining nine dogs are available for adoption and it is essential to get these pets into good homes immediately. These pets will be attending an off-site adoption event hosted by Daniella Levine Cava at The Falls Mall on Saturday, June 20, 2015 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in front of Talbots and Chico’s, located at 8888 SW 136 St, Miami, FL 33176. Pet adoptions include spaying/neutering, deworming, age appropriate vaccinations, microchip and FIV & FeLV testing for cats.

Before and after pictures of pets available for adoption:

One dog has already found a forever home while six will be transported to partner rescue organizations. Sadly, one dog was humanely euthanized due to her medical condition at intake. Animal Services is working with legal authorities on this matter.

For more information call 3-1-1 or visit animals www.miamidade.gov

About Miami-Dade County Animal Services

Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department (Animal Services) provides care and refuge for over 27,000 unwanted dogs and cats. Every day, Animal Services staff and volunteers work diligently to find life-long homes for these abandoned animals by facilitating onsite adoptions, hosting off-site adoptions at events and locations throughout the community, and working collaboratively with over 70 rescue organizations who share in our goal of a No Kill Miami-Dade County.

It is the policy of Miami-Dade County to comply with all of the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The facility is accessible. For sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices or materials in accessible format, please call 305-418-7188 at least five days in advance.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES

7401 NW 74 Street

Miami, FL 33166

305-884-1101

Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957), The Fish, c. 1924, gelatin silver print, printed c. 1924, 7 1/8 x 9 1/4 inches

Auxiliary gallery at the warehouse Photographs by Miami artist Annette Bonnier
India’s Elephants

The photographs of South Florida artist Annette Bonnier capture the many facets of elephant’s lives and their interaction with humanity. This collection of photographs is a cultural documentation of elephants in Indian society. The elephant’s role is changing as wildlife conservation and concerns for the health and safety of domesticated elephants are growing. This complex and majestic animal, with its intelligence, intricate social hierarchy, and highly evolved communication skills, is caught in a changing world between the past and the future. For more information visit: http://www.annettebonnier.com

>>> Press release social Miami: 23RD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL MANGO FESTIVAL

Saturday & Sunday, July 11 & 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The lauded ‘king of fruits’ will return to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden for the 23rd Annual International Mango Festival. There are hundreds of mango cultivars grown throughout the world with different tastes, textures and fragrances. This year the festival will feature mouthwatering mangos from the Caribbean island of Jamaica. The two-day festival features the world’s only mango auction, a mango brunch, sampling mango varieties in the Mango Tasting Room (and voting for your favorite), cooking and gardening demonstrations and mango tree sales. Following in the footsteps of Dr. David Fairchild, Curators of Tropical Fruit for the Garden, Dr. Richard Campbell and Dr. Noris Ledesma, have traveled all over the world collecting mango species to grow at the Fairchild Farm. These rare mango collections will be sold to the highest bidder at the exciting Mango Auction on Sunday at 2 p.m. For a gourmet dining experience, don’t miss the Mango Brunch, a fundraiser for the Tropical Fruit Program and Fairchild Farm, that features mango dishes created by South Florida top chefs. It will be held on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets are sold separately, and reservations are a must. Admission to the Garden is $25 for adults, $18 for seniors 65 and up, $12 for children 6-17, and free for Fairchild members and children 5 and under.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables
305-667-1651
www.FairchildGarden.org/Mango

EDITORIAL

>>>> The City of Miami has to become more transparent, people and governments’ have to sue to get public records and gives Miami commissioners transparency black eye

The Watchdog Report back in 1997 first started watching the City of Miami and since then a number of changes have occurred many not that good, but a former Florida Speaker of the House  Richard Pettigrew, in an editorial column in The Miami Herald Friday, hit the nail on the head when he writes how the municipality deals with the almost 50 year old Florida Sunshine Law regarding open records and forces residents and other municipalities to file lawsuits to get access to some public records and it is right on target. The piece was titled “City keeps development deals secret.” http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article22556706.html

The former legislator who represented Miami-Dade County years ago, at one point notes of the efforts, to keep the public in the dark on many city deals the commissioners. Have approved, and notes the local municipal attorney is hired by the commission and as one the past attorneys said when I asked if “he worked for the citizens?” He said “he worked “for three votes on the Miami commission,” and that pretty much set the bar of what to expect from the attorney’s legal advice and that has been seen on numerous occasions over the past years.

Another odd occurrence is when senior Miami assistant managers meet with lobbyists’ socially and over the years I have seen it occur so many times, most recently a couple of weeks ago,  and the average citizen does not get these opportunities to smoooze with senior city staff. And what is funny is how oblivious they are of how bad it looks to the public but they arrogantly don’t seem to care and that is a persistent problem and is reflected when one Miami employee told me what “people do in their free time,” is “their business,” and when I pointed out these people are public figures and have to act in a different manor, the person disagreed. And this is why I started the Watchdog Report May 5, 2010, when Miami was mired in arrests and corruption charges and had a couple of commissioners going to jail and residents never winning any political battles since it was “who did you know,” to get things approved by the commission where long serving Miami Commissioner J.L. Plummer ruled the dais after 27 years and he was a throwback when it came to Miami’s diversity where many times from the dais he said he “hated,” a long list of ethnic peoples and while he lost his election in 20001. He helped push me into the public arena with this throw back attitude and that is where we are today sixteen years later.

LETTERS

>>>>Good afternoon. As you are probably aware, on April 7, 2015, the Miami Historic and Environmental Preservation Board approved the final designation of a “historic resource” for the property at 3529 St. Gaudens Road. The developer filed an appeal to the City Commission to challenge the designation, which appeal was to be heard on June 25, 2015.

We are pleased to announce that, in accordance with our discussion with the developer, the appeal of the historic resource designation was withdrawn on June 1, 2015. The developer has also advised us that some cosmetic renovations and repairs will be performed on the property, after which time it will be offered for sale.

Congratulations and many thanks to all those who have banded together to help preserve this important piece of Coconut Grove history. This success resulted from your hard work and activism and is a testament to the efficacy of an organized and interested citizenry.

As you are aware, there are other historically significant properties in the Grove that are deserving of attention, and we hope that you will remain engaged in your efforts to help preserve them. Of particular noteworthiness is the efforts of City of Miami staff to create historic districts in various Grove neighborhoods—we will keep you informed as those efforts evolve.

Best regards,

Richard Zelman, Esq.

Coconut Grove

>>> The Watchdog Report is going to hit 16 years of weekly publishing and while I have taken a licking over the years including some medical issues I have kept at thanks to my supporters who I thank so very much over the many years.

The Watchdog Report is Celebrating 16 years of weekly publishing since May 5^th 2000 and when I started back then I never thought I would be doing this so long and in some ways some of the community’s bigger public institutions have either gotten better or worse and here is a national story done on why I started to watch government back in 2000  http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog and to all the people along the way that have helped me I thank you from the bottom of  my heart.

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>>> Readers who would like to read the complete University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Southeast United States Media Report.

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

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